Mark Richt: "When you start thinking you're pretty good is when you get whupped.''

Quick hits from coach Mark Richt's press conference today before FAU game:

***"Had a good practice. Full pads, a lot of run game. We did a good job. I thought the first half of practice was actually very good. I thought the second half of practice they started to break down a little bit – similar to our ball game. I think we to a slight degree lost a little focus."

*** On the season-ending injury to redshirt freshman linebacker Jamie Gordinier and what happens next: "Gordinier getting hurt early in the game, I mean it's sad. Anytime a guy gets hurt and can't play the rest of the season -- they work so hard...It's hearbreaking...And then it also puts pressure on the rest of the team...We've lost depth across the board in defense and in special teams. We hurt when guys get hurt...Guys have to rise up, but it puts pressure on your second team, it puts pressure on your scout team, it puts pressure on your special teams. The more attrition you have the tougher it is for everybody to stay healthy.''

*** On productive safety Jaquan Johnson observing and practicing with the linebackers today: "A nickel back is basically a SAM (strong-side) linebacker. That's basically what he is. So will he play that in a 2-receiver set? I don't know. If he has to he will. But a lot of people are three- and four-receiver sets, so we're in a lot of nickel anyway. We can play with just two linebackers in those situations.''

 *** "Offensively, they go about as fast as a team can go,'' (on FAU) said Richt.

*** Richt, when asked if he's kind of looking forward to more adverse situations this week: "(laughed) I mean, I'm human. I like it when I don't have to fret too much when I look at tape. These guys present a challenge... They have a lot of confidence in their cornerbacks. They play a lot of press...''

 ***"It was great to see [FB] Marquez [Williams] score the first touchdown of the year…We do believe in having a lead blocker, not every play."

*** Richt on if he likes the local rivalry aspect: "There are a lot of teams in the state. You could play just about the whole schedule here in this state. I don't get too involved in making the decisions on the schedule... Tell me who we're going to play, where we're going to play and let's go...''

*** Richt on his decision not to allow freshmen to talk to the media today: "No freshmen today was basically a one-day decision made by me. The whole team is human obviously. When people say, 'Wow, you did great. You did great. You did great,' the more of that, the less they tend to focus and all of a sudden they start believing, 'Man, I'm pretty good.' And when you start thinking you're pretty good is when you get whupped...I'm just trying to help them focus...I'm just trying to slow down the train just for a little bit to let them settle a little bit.''

From during our 15 minutes of media viewing:

***Defensive end Trent Harris was practicing with a large, soft-padded cast on his broken left hand.

*** Sophomore safety Jaquan Johnson was observing and practicing with the linebackers. Richt said he's nickel back, and if UM has to, it can play with only two linebackers. 

*** Defensive tackle Courtel Jenkins, who limped off the field in the fourth quarter against FAMU, was riding on an exercise bike -- without moving his right leg.

 SUSAN MILLER DEGNAN