Kinda awkward I guess.... Richt gives Mettenberger's mom the week off By Chip Towers ATHENS – Tammy Mettenberger has the week off. That is the first and most tangible sign that there is a little something different about this week’s game between No. 9 Georgia and No. 6 LSU at Sanford Stadium. The Tigers are led by quarterback Zach Mettenberger, who, of course, started his career with the Bulldogs and grew up 10 miles south of Athens in Watkinsville. Tammy Mettenberger is his mother and she has worked in the football office as an administrative assistant for almost Zach’s whole life. That, of course, means Georgia coach Mark Richt and offensive coordinator Mike Bobo have known Mettenberger for practically his entire life. So rather than face a week of weirdness as the Bulldogs’ plot Mettenberger’s undoing as the quarterback of a Top 10 opponent, Richt told Tammy she was excused from her normal duties. “She loves her son,” Richt said. “Obviously it’d be awkward for her to be hanging around. So she won’t be in this week. I told her to enjoy it. Go have fun and enjoy some things you normally couldn’t do this of year and enjoy it. We’ve been knowing Zach since he was a very young kid. We all really like Zach and want the best for him. We just don’t want him to win this weekend. That’s about the only thing that’s different than normal.” Mettenberger signed with Georgia in 2009 – the same year as current UGA quarterback Aaron Murray – but was dismissed in April of 2010. That was about a month before pleading guilty to sexual battery charges in Lowndes County for an incident that took place in Remerton on spring break. Mettenberger then transferred to Butler (Kan.) Community College and played a year before signing with LSU. He has been the Tigers’ starting quarterback the past two seasons. Richt said he didn’t plan on addressing Mettenberger’s return with the team in any way. “I won’t bring it up other than trying to defend the quarterback who happens to be Zach Mettenberger,” Richt said. “But, I mean, we’re not going to talk about him being Zach Mettenberger as much as he’s 6-foot-5, 230-whatever-he-is and can sling it. We’re going to do the best we can to defend him and defend their offense. But we’re not going to get into anything other than he’s an opponent we’re trying to defeat.” Mettenberger returns to Athens as the second in the SEC in pass efficiency (193.6) and fourth in passing yards per game (256.5). Georgia’s Murray leads the league in both those categories. Mettenberger and Murray were competing for the Bulldogs’ starting job heading in the 2010 spring practice. “There are a lot of things that are similar about him, his physical size and his ability to throw the ball,” Richt said. “We had him some summer camps before he even out of high school and we knew he was going to have a really big-league arm. So he still has that. Obviously he’s gotten better over time. But he just seems very confident, he’s playing on a great team with some great backs and receivers and some big strong linemen up front. I’m sure he’s benfitting from his new coordinator and a great defense. They’re winning and they’re excited.” LSU is coming off a 35-21 win over Auburn in which tailback Jeremy Hill ran for 184 yards and three touchdowns. The Bulldogs defeated North Texas 45-21 in a game in which Murray had 408 yards passing and accounted for four touchdowns. Some other news from Sunday: Georgia and LSU both retained their Associated Press rankings from the last week, 9 and 6 respectively. The Bulldogs remained 10th in the USA Today/Coaches’ poll. Richt said tight end Jay Rome aggravated his left ankle injury in the first quarter against North Texas but that Rome is not being counted out for Saturday’s game. On playing their third top-10 opponent in the first four games, Richt said, “being through it before should be helpful.” Richt ruled out a “blackout” for Saturday’s game. Georgia did that the last time ESPN College GameDay originated from campus and the Bulldogs’ lost 41-30. Share Previous Posts GameDay coming to Athens for Georgia-LSU Sparse crowd on hand for Georgia-North Texas UGA board approves $3 million for football practice facility
I like Richt !! I was wondering about Mett's mom employed in the football office. If Richt's wife was employed as Miles' secretary, could you imagine the backlash against him and the meltdown if Georgia won? That would be epic...I'd even get a torch and pitchfork and join the revolution.
