Richt to stick with Cox

ATHENS, Ga --- Georgia coach Mark Richt has announced that Joe Cox will continue as starting quarterback for the Bulldogs.

Richt released a statement Monday saying staff members unanimously decided that Cox gives the team its best chance to win. Still, he said sophomore Logan Gray will get some playing time at quarterback Saturday against Tennessee Tech (5-3) in Athens.

There were questions about Cox's position after he was booted from a 41-17 loss to top-ranked Florida on Saturday after throwing three interceptions. Gray also struggled, throwing an interception that was returned for a touchdown.

At 4-4, Georgia finds itself mired in a slump after blowout losses to two of its biggest rivals in the last three games. But the Bulldogs say finger-pointing is not in this team's character.

"It starts with the type of guys on the team," Cox said. "I don't see any of that going on and that's a good thing. But what brings people together is tough times. We've got to keep pushing and keep trying to get better every week and go at it the best we can.

"Everybody wants to finish up the season strong, especially the senior class," he said. "The young guys feel that way, too. They don't want us leaving on a bad note. They don't want to be caught in a hole where they have to come back from a horrible season next year."

Instead of singling out teammates, Georgia's players say that they're absorbing the criticism as a group.

Creating a cooperative and supportive environment within the team has been a priority since last January, and those bonds have been tested this season.

"We set the grounds of being as close as we are in the offseason," tight end Aron White said.

"We've been working and getting behind each other throughout the season. We care too much about each other to start pointing fingers and blaming this guy or that guy or blaming the play calling. That's not something we do around here.

"It is frustrating sometimes with the season going the way it has been. But this team is sticking together and this team isn't going to fall apart when things are going bad."

Despite the loss, the Bulldogs played better against the Gators last Saturday than in the previous season, but its progress against mistakes has been slow.

"If we're truly men of integrity like we try to be, when things don't go well, we have to work as hard just like when things are going great. And we plan to work hard," White said.

"There have been teams over the years that give in, and we're not going to be one of those. We'll keep fighting and practicing hard each week like we have been. That's our goal: to keep chopping wood."