As Georgia football prepares for a noisy road matchup in Starkville, a pair of Bulldog veterans met with the media to discuss focus, leadership, and accountability. Long snapper Beau Gardner and offensive tackle Earnest Greene III both emphasized Georgia’s trademark mindset, discipline in the details and pride in the process.
Here are two main takeaways from their media session earlier this week.
1. Gardner embraces the noise — and the routine
With Davis Wade Stadium’s cowbells expected to be deafening on Saturday, Gardner isn’t losing any sleep over it.
”They noise doesn’t really change my job at all,” Gardner said. “It’s the same exact thing, eight yards or fifteen yards. I’m trying to put it on the money. I just lock in on my visual cues and don’t pay attention to the noise.”
For Gardner, sucess comes from repetition and chemistry, something he’s built through hours of work with Georiga’s kicking duo of punter Brett Thorson, kicker Peyton Woodring, and holder Gunner Stockton.
”They’ve definitely raised my level,” Gardner said. “When I do my job really well, they tend to do their job really well. We just keep working on the little things and not getting bored with the small details. “
He also praised Stockton’s transition into the holder this offseason, calling him “Fantastic.”
”That position’s all about reps,” Gardner said. “We’ve gotten tons of them together, and the coaches make sure we get that time.”
Even when mistakes happen, like Thorson’s mishit punt against Florida, Gardner said the focus stays on encouragement, not criticism.
”You just remind who he is,” Gardner said. “He’s a really, really good player. You keep him confident and excited to perform.”
2. Greene III finds gratitude and grit in his return
After battling a lingering back injury earlier this season, redshirt junior tackle Earnest Greene III made his return against Ole Miss, and it meant more than just another game.
”It meant everything honestly,” Greene said. “You never take anything for granted. Being away from the field and the guys — it kind of eats at you. So i just attacked my program as hard as I could to get back with my teammates.”
Greene credited Georgia’s strong culture and his teammates support for helping stay mentally grounded during recovery.
”The guys really kept me in it,” Greene said. “They made sure I still felt loved and part of the team. That’s just the culture Coach Smart built here.”
Now healthy, Greene is focused on leading a group that’s finding its rhythm again after early-season injuries. He emphasized Georgia’s depth and the value of younger linemen who were forced into early action.
“At Georgia, we take pride in having depth at every position,” Greene said. “We’ve always rotated six or seven guys, and that’s a real advantage. No matter who’s in, we expect the same standard.”
Looking ahead to Mississippi State’s defense, Greene said the front presents multiple challenges, but Georgia’s preparation is the key.
They’re a multiple defense,” he said. “They do a lot of different things up front — movement, blitzes, coverages. We just have to execute and communicate.”
Final snap
With veterans setting the tone, the Bulldogs are leaning on the culture Kirby Smart has built, one rooted in connection, resilience, and detail, as they look to keep winning in SEC play.
Kickoff between Georgia and Mississippi State is scheduled for noon EST on Saturday, Nov. 8.