John Lilly coaches tight ends at the University of Georgia.CHARLOTTE, N.C. — With 505 total yards and 305 rushing yards against the nation’s third-ranked rushing defense, John Lilly’s debut as Georgia’s play-caller was a smashing success.
Lilly was replacing Mike Bobo, who left last week for the head-coaching job at Colorado State.
“It’s a little different from the spring game, I’m not going to lie,” a smiling Lilly said after Tuesday’s night’s 37-14 throttling of Louisville. “I had a lot of confidence, and our whole staff had a lot of confidence in our players, and I know how well-prepared they are. I don’t want to sound overconfident or arrogant, but that’s what we expected to happen.
“I knew they could execute at a high level if we put them in position, and that’s what we did. Of course, the fact Nick Chubb got on the bus helped.”
Chubb rushed 33 times for 266 yards and two touchdowns to help the Bulldogs transition from the loss of quarterback Hutson Mason to concussion-like symptoms late in the second quarter. Head coach Mark Richt called Lilly’s play-calling performance “beautiful.”