Carson Beck Press Conference
Carson Beck Press Conference
Transcript
00:00 [BLANK_AUDIO]
00:10 >> Hey Carson, we asked Coach Smart what was the key to kind of keeping you around
00:15 and retaining you as a football player here just by having to sit for a couple years.
00:19 He directed the question to you, so
00:21 what was the key to sticking around in Georgia, and why is that?
00:25 >> Kind of my answer to that is the camaraderie that we have,
00:29 the connection that we have here at the University of Georgia.
00:31 I think it's unmatched to other places.
00:34 Obviously, I can't compare because I haven't been anywhere else.
00:36 But from things that I've heard from people that have been other places,
00:40 the connection here is something that we strive to have.
00:43 And I think that's one of the biggest things that kept me here all these years.
00:47 >> Carson, you're gonna start in a week and a half, the first game.
00:52 How long does it feel like it's been since your senior year in Seminole when you
00:56 last started a football year?
00:58 >> That's crazy.
00:59 I mean, obviously, it's been a long time.
01:01 It's felt even longer than I feel like it actually has been.
01:04 I mean, it's been, what, four years almost since I've started in a football game.
01:09 And obviously, I'm really excited, so I'm looking forward to it.
01:13 >> Carson, when you look at all camp,
01:17 how would you evaluate how you've performed these last few weeks?
01:20 And what has been your biggest focus,
01:22 things you've wanted to improve before the season?
01:23 >> I think I've performed well.
01:27 I think there's always room for improvement.
01:29 You can never be perfect, especially as a quarterback.
01:31 The biggest thing I think I've tried to improve on is third downs,
01:36 just being consistent, being efficient.
01:38 Obviously, our defense throws a lot at us, so we get a lot better as offense.
01:42 But that's definitely one of the biggest things I've been working on.
01:44 >> Yeah, I understand it might have been Monday or Tuesday this week where you got
01:50 kind of the official word on the quarterbacks we're talking to.
01:53 Can you just talk about how that conversation went and
01:57 Coach Mark said that he actually thought all the quarterbacks have
02:00 kind of performed better since that happened.
02:02 Is there sort of a galvanizing effect to kind of knowing what your place is now,
02:08 for sure?
02:08 >> I mean, yeah, like you said, the conversation was just very simple.
02:11 I mean, it was straightforward.
02:12 He told us all what was gonna happen.
02:14 And I don't think it's changed much, at least in my mindset.
02:18 I mean, I think we've all performed really well during fall camp.
02:20 But it is good to know that you're the guy, but
02:23 it hasn't changed my approach towards practice or
02:26 my approach to watching film or anything of that sort.
02:29 So it's all maintained the same.
02:30 >> Obviously, you wanna go out there and validate it,
02:35 but getting in the starter, especially after all the time you've been here,
02:38 what did that mean to you personally?
02:41 >> I mean, obviously, it means a lot.
02:42 I've put in a lot of time, work, effort.
02:44 I mean, I've been grinding the past four years, and
02:47 to finally see that come into fruition and pay off.
02:52 It's obviously a really exciting time.
02:53 >> You just kinda talked about how you thought all three of you guys
02:58 played really well during spring and summer.
03:00 Does it mean more to you knowing that you did beat out two really talented guys in
03:05 that room to earn the spot?
03:06 >> I don't think any of us ever really looked at it as a competition.
03:11 I think each and every one of us were just focused on things that we could do to
03:15 improve individually.
03:16 And ultimately, that the coaches were gonna put what they thought should be out
03:19 there, so.
03:22 >> Warren told us that after the first national championship,
03:24 you and him had a conversation where you said, hey, I want one of my own.
03:28 What do you remember about that?
03:29 How much did that play a part in you sticking around?
03:32 >> Well, obviously, it's different to be a part of a national championship team and
03:38 actually win a national championship.
03:40 So when I was in high school, I mean, we won the state championship, obviously.
03:43 I was the guy at that time.
03:45 And that's an amazing feeling.
03:47 I will never, I haven't done that in a long time.
03:51 Hopefully, I can replicate that, but that's kind of what that means.
03:54 Obviously, there's a difference between being a part and
03:55 then obviously winning your own.
03:57 >> Tell me about the success the last two years.
04:01 Do you feel any pressure?
04:03 Do you embrace that?
04:04 >> I definitely embrace it.
04:05 Kirby makes it super challenging in practice.
04:10 He applies pressure every single day.
04:12 Our defense applies pressure.
04:13 Obviously, there's pressure.
04:16 There's always gonna be pressure.
04:17 But I think we do a good job at putting ourselves in situations where
04:23 once we do get out on the field, that it's just like another day in practice.
04:26 Makes it easier.
04:27 >> You've had various hair lengths throughout your career.
04:32 You shaved it down right before this pivotal ball camp.
04:35 Why'd you do that?
04:36 >> It's been super hot outside.
04:38 And the past two summers, I had long hair.
04:42 So I was dying during the team runs and stuff.
04:45 It was way too hot for hair.
04:46 So I just decided to shave it all off, make my life a little easier.
04:49 >> We've heard a lot of talk from the defensive linemen.
04:53 We've talked to you for the past couple of days on how high they're on
04:56 the offensive linemen.
04:57 They've called them the best in the entire NCAA.
05:00 I mean, you're playing directly behind them.
05:02 What have you seen and what have you felt from those five guys up front?
05:06 >> I mean, obviously, they're incredible.
05:08 And it's those confidence in me to sit back there and
05:12 maybe I can hold the ball half a second longer, a second longer.
05:15 And get through my entire reads, cuz I have trust in them to get the job done.
05:20 And obviously, it makes it easy when you have one of the best offensive linemen in
05:23 the country to just hand the ball off and let your running backs go to work as well.
05:27 >> Yeah, Carson, I'm curious.
05:30 What was the key to making sure you were developing and
05:32 becoming a better football player with maybe without a lot of reps over the last
05:36 couple of years?
05:36 How have you been diligent about improving?
05:38 >> I guess without getting a lot of reps.
05:42 I mean, the biggest thing comes to the mental side.
05:44 And as hard as it was and as hard as it can be to be the backup and
05:49 still prepare like you're the starter, like you're gonna go out there.
05:51 It's something that I tried to do week in and week out no matter the opponent.
05:56 So my mental is already kind of set.
05:59 So I know what that looks like to prepare as a starter even though I haven't
06:03 obviously started yet.
06:05 >> Carson, in terms of how much pressure should be on you,
06:11 are you looking at this as I'm QB one, I want that pressure.
06:16 It's on me or are you looking at it more as I'm one guy on this very talented team?
06:22 >> I mean, I think each and every one of us has our own pressures and
06:26 pressures to fulfill and whatnot.
06:28 But I think the only thing that I can do is just be myself every single day and
06:32 just try to win each and every single day.
06:33 So what we got practice today, I'll go out there and
06:36 just focus on the reps that I have.
06:39 Each individual play, see what I can do the best and
06:41 then we'll move on to the next day and the next day and here I am.
06:44 >> Did you ever consider transferring in?
06:48 So how close did you come or did any schools reach out to you during the process?
06:53 >> I mean, obviously, there's always thoughts whenever you're a freshman,
06:58 sophomore, things get hard.
06:59 Workouts are hard, practice is hard.
07:02 You're not getting much playing time, reps.
07:05 But no, there was never really a time where I was like, I'm leaving,
07:08 I'm getting out of here.
07:09 I mean, there's always thoughts, but I mean, that's really all.
07:12 >> Kind of following that up, I know it's not easy sitting watching, but
07:17 what was your biggest takeaway watching Stetson in the last couple years?
07:20 From a quarterback perspective, what's your takeaway?
07:23 >> I think the biggest takeaway for him, I mean, he caught it the worst at
07:27 quarterback.
07:27 I mean, I think a lot of people really hated on him a lot.
07:30 And you can see that all over the Internet.
07:32 He just maintained and just kept his head down and kept going.
07:36 I'd say that's the biggest thing that I learned from him is that you just have to
07:39 do you, you have to be you.
07:40 And honestly, it doesn't really matter about the noise that's going on around you,
07:45 as long as you control your actions and your effort towards the end.
07:48 >> Coach, you were always telling us about Branson getting hurt.
07:52 And it's been a position where you guys have dealt with a few injuries and
07:55 fall camp.
07:55 What is your confidence in this running back group and
07:58 what they're gonna bring to the table this season?
07:59 >> Well, I mean, I have ultimate confidence in every position group,
08:02 obviously.
08:03 I mean, I trust Coach Smart, I trust Coach Bobo, Coach Schumann,
08:07 obviously on the defensive side to put the best guys out there that are gonna help us
08:12 win and compete and ultimately succeed at the end of the day.
08:17 >> All right, time for two more questions.
08:19 >> One of the news of you being named to start with out in the public was Stetson or
08:22 any other former teammates reach out to you to congratulate you?
08:25 And what did they tell you when they reached out?
08:28 >> Yeah, I mean, there are a few guys that reached out.
08:29 I mean, obviously a lot of people back at home, friends from high school and
08:34 whatnot, and my phone was blowing up.
08:36 And there's a lot of congratulations and stuff.
08:38 I mean, a lot of people that know me have known how hard it's been to get to this
08:43 point and how patient I've had to be and the work that I've had to put in.
08:46 So obviously people are very congratulatory and stuff, and
08:50 I'm just excited about it.
08:55 >> Was there a moment where it really hit you that you're the starting
08:58 quarterback of the University of Georgia?
09:01 How does that feel?
09:02 >> I mean, obviously this whole entire year, I mean, I've been working for it,
09:07 grinding for it, and I kind of expected that for myself.
09:12 But to actually hear it go live, I mean, it meant a lot to me.
09:17 It's just something to see all the hard work pay off,
09:21 kind of like I've been saying this whole entire time.
09:22 And sometimes it's hard to be patient in a world where everything is so
09:26 immediate with social media and the Internet, and everybody wants stuff now.
09:30 Just seeing that patience pay off really hit home with me.
09:35 >> Thank you, Carson.
09:36 >> Thanks, Carson.
09:37 [BLANK_AUDIO]