After Boise State, Murray foresaw Georgia in SEC title game
Aaron Murray brings something to Georgia's offense far more important than statistics. (Brant Sanderlin/bsanderlin@ajc.com)
ATHENS – Several weeks ago, when Georgia was looking like Liberty Bowl bait and Mark Richt was waiting for that first thrown rock through his office window, Aaron Murray did something rather unexpected. He prophesied an SEC championship game for the Bulldogs.
We can’t be certain if this should be attributed to Murray’s unwavering confidence or the fact that he had just been hit in the head 37 times by Boise State. But the sophomore quarterback walked out of the Georgia locker room after the Bulldogs had just laid a 35-21 egg against Boise State at the Georgia Dome to open the season, met up with his former high school coach and uttered these words: “Coach, we’re going to the SEC championship.”
At that point, Robert Weiner, Murray’s coach at Plant High School resisted temptations to alert medical personnel who might still in the Georgia Dome. He had seen this side of Murray before, like when the quarterback was sprawled on the field with an apparent broken ankle during his senior season at Plant and he told Weiner, “Get me ready for the second half.” (Didn’t happen. But Murray made it back from a four-month injury in seven weeks, in time for the playoffs.)
So how did Weiner respond to Murray’s comment?
“I just said, ‘Alright, Aaron,’” he said, laughing. “I wasn’t too sure. But I’ve seen what Aaron can do. With most people, you blow off a comment like that as blind optimism. But Aaron started going through the rest of the schedule with specifics on each game. He said, ‘You’re coming back here to the Georgia Dome at the end of the year to see us.’ I guess he was prophetic.”
Murray said he felt confident because he saw talent and heart. “We just weren’t ready for that game yet,” he said.
When asked about his prediction, he said, “Based on how we played that game, I would’ve thought I was crazy, too.”
One 10-game winning streak later, Bellevue is firmly in the rearview mirror.
The Bulldogs are 13-point underdogs to unbeaten LSU in Saturday’s SEC championship game. Murray is the X-factor. He has been great lately and he will have to be great against LSU because there’s no guarantee of a decent running attack with the hobbled Isaiah Crowell.
But his strength is his calm demeanor. At 0-2, the house was burning down and Murray was brushing the ashes off his jersey. All Georgia players get credit for not caving early, but the quarterback is the one in the middle of the huddle.
“I understand that even though I’m only a sophomore, there are players who are looking at me,” Murray said. “When you play the quarterback position you have to stay even-tempered.”
Weiner, who drilled that into him, said, “I never doubt two things about Aaron: His will to win and his ability to mobilize the people around him.”
That’s how football teams win 10 straight after losing two. The Dogs didn’t suddenly become faster or stronger. But they grew up and found ways to win. Murray battled some consistency problems earlier this season but leadership and resolve never were problems.
Said Richt, “If things are going rough and your quarterback spits the bit, you’re in big trouble. But if you can stand in a gap and stay strong and keep fighting, your quarterback can pull you out of a bad situation. Nobody questions Aaron’s toughness, mentally or physically. No one questions his dedication. He’s got everybody’s respect.”
Murray is likely to be a four-year starter. By the time he leaves Athens, he’ll likely own every career passing mark at the school. But he said earlier this week, “Championships [are] all that matters. My goal is to win a few while I’m here, and my first one, my first opportunity, is this weekend.”
The odds are long. But the odds were long on Georgia getting here. To most people, anyway.
By Jeff Schultz
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446 comments Add your comment
bitter dawgs fan
November 29th, 2011
5:38 pm
its all about the —O—line. always will be—–friend——get it———-go dawgs
5150 UOAD
November 29th, 2011
5:38 pm
@5150……………..you freaking MORON this is a JEFF SCHULTZ BLOG.
Dawg48
November 29th, 2011
5:40 pm
5150
Man you have a target on your back! Lol
Do you think it’s a counter punch to Ohio st with Meyer ?
roughrider
November 29th, 2011
5:41 pm
5150: How old were you when Tech last won a bowl game?
True SEC East Champs
November 29th, 2011
5:42 pm
“Murray foresaw Georgia in SEC Title Game” Really?
I wonder what his thoughts were during the South Carolina game when he tossed the Int returned for a TD & when Clowney created the game-winner fumble recovered by Ingram for the TD? Hmmmm
Fact: The Gamecocks are 9-0 vs. Georgia, Florida, Tennessee, Bama and Clemson in the past two years.
Football Fan 14
November 29th, 2011
5:42 pm
Preston last time I looked Drew Brees was only 6′ but he is a future Hall of Famer. Mike vick is 6′ and just signed a 100 million dollar contract. Murray is more a Steve Young type than Doug Flutie anyway. I am sure next year well will hear Mel Kiper jr. mentioning Aaron Murray.
bitter dawgs fan
November 29th, 2011
5:44 pm
will say though—–conner shaw looked as good as vick in the clemson game—running the ball
—hope murry puts on running—————————————shoes——————-yo===========go dawgs
The Ole Ball Coach
November 29th, 2011
5:47 pm
Ole Lady luck was with us tonight, Ole Lady luck just saved our whatcha_mu_callits. My gawd we hunkered down look at the sugar falling from the sky, look at the sugar……….
RIP Larry
Northern Sympathizer
November 29th, 2011
5:49 pm
To address the article, I disagree that Murray is the X-factor. I think the X-factor is the backfield. I don’t think Murray can beat LSU solo, even though he is good.
5150 UOAD
November 29th, 2011
5:49 pm
48 no I don’t think so. I think Mullen knows he can’t get a lot better at Miss St. I think the SEC will learn what the ACC learned earlier this year. When you have a few great coaches and programs other great coaches will not want job openings at other teams in the league. they don’t want to work that hard to try to overcome the Great Coaches competitive advantage.
Northern Sympathizer
November 29th, 2011
5:51 pm
I see the Bobo bashers have gotten a running start at the weekend. I suppose at 4:00 pm Saturday, ya’ll will be lighting the Bobo-effigies. If our offense makes it to 21, I don’t want to hear squat about Bobo!
Tide is a rollin
November 29th, 2011
5:51 pm
Murray needs to call Spurrier and thank him for not yanking Garcia out of their game with Auburn. That cost the Cocks that contest and allowed yall Dawgs to win the east.
5150 UOAD
November 29th, 2011
5:51 pm
I said it before and I say it again……………All things being equal the only thing that isn’t champion material is BOBO.
Orange11
November 29th, 2011
5:52 pm
“After Boise State, Murray foresaw Georgia in SEC title game”
At that point in time the only thing Murray foresaw was picks and fumbles, 2 which were returned for scores enroute to giving SC the game. Not sold on this guy at all. He gets to say hello to his old buddy, Zach Mettenberger (LSU) next year. Gee I wonder who is going to win that one?
Dawg48
November 29th, 2011
5:53 pm
I think if they offer him he will be up at Penn st…….
Football Fan 14
November 29th, 2011
5:53 pm
5150 I think any coach in the SEC west who is offered a good job {Petrino UCLA or Mullen PennSt.] would jump on it just so they would not have to compete with LSU or Ala for talent and titles.
Dawg48
November 29th, 2011
5:56 pm
Football fan 14
Has petrino UCLA come up?
Have not heard that….
I agree if penn st offers he will go.
5150 UOAD
November 29th, 2011
5:59 pm
Peterson to UCLA.
Finebalm
November 29th, 2011
5:59 pm
LSU DOES NOT RESPECT US. THEY MUST RESPECT US.
Dawg48
November 29th, 2011
6:01 pm
5150
Peterson makes more since….
Are you going to watch GT northwestern tonight?
Delbert D.
November 29th, 2011
6:03 pm
5150 – You said Georgia might get a shot at Houston in the Bowl game? I assume you meant Sugar Bowl. If Georgia wins, yes, if LSU drops to #2. If Georgia loses, maybe. It depends on how many BCS slots the SEC gets, but I can’t see them not taking the SEC champion if Georgia wins. CBS was going with projections on Saturday night that Michigan would play Houston in the Sugar Bowl. At any rate, South Carolina will probably be ranked higher with a 10-2 record vs. Georgia’s 10-3 record, and they would get the next highest bowl.
Dawg48
November 29th, 2011
6:06 pm
Delbert D
Are you thinking out back mich st or Ohio st?
5150 UOAD
November 29th, 2011
6:07 pm
48 Yes I think I will watch the Bball game.
Delbert I thought the Sugar HAD to take a SEC team.
Delbert D.
November 29th, 2011
6:09 pm
ESPN: “Ohio State unveils Meyer as coach.” That sounds creepy.
Tide is a rollin
November 29th, 2011
6:10 pm
Murray needs to get in touch with Spurrier and thank him for not pulling Garcia when USCe played Auburn. That’s what cost USCe that contest and got the Dawgs to ATL.
Dawg48
November 29th, 2011
6:12 pm
Tide is a trolling
Is the back door still open to the NC game?
Dawg48
November 29th, 2011
6:13 pm
Enter your comments here
murray v. the staph infection
November 29th, 2011
6:15 pm
hmm…notice what happens when you WORRY ABOUT LEADING YOUR FOOTBALL TEAM instead of….
bench pressing kegs
having dinner with NFL QBs that you don’t listen to (Staubach, Aikman, All three of the Mannings – who said ’stay in school, son.’)
or looking up your draft status.
i don’t care if aaron murray throws 60 interceptions on saturday night…he has already eclipsed everything that stafford ever did… and how is that, you might ask?
by leading us to an SEC championship game appearance….only trip we made to atlanta with staph was courtesy of chick fil a……
Delbert D.
November 29th, 2011
6:16 pm
5150 – It’s in the fine print. I think you are right. The rules allow 2 teams from 1 conference meeting in the BCS CG. The champions from 6 BCS conferences get 6 of the remaining slots. So, Georgia gets in if they win. My read is that if LSU wins the SEC CG and remains #1, the Sugar Bowl gets 2 at large slots.
Tide is a rollin
November 29th, 2011
6:18 pm
Dawg48….. you better believe it is. Yall played two quality teams this season and we see how that worked out for yall.
Old Coot
November 29th, 2011
6:19 pm
@5150 UOAD
The Sugar Bowl won’t get an SEC team if Bama and LSU play for the NC, unless Georgia defeats LSU and wins the SEC Championship. That would create 3 Automatic Qualifiers from the SEC, assuming that Bama and LSU remained at 1 & 2 even after the Georgia loss.
Hmmmmm
November 29th, 2011
6:19 pm
The sUGAr Bowl takes the SEC champ winner. If it is LSU and they are picked to go to the BCS champ game, then the sUGAr gets to oick two at large bids, like Michigan and Houston.
If UGA wins, then the sUGAr gets UGA and the last at large pick., probably Houston.
In no scenario can uSC or Arky get a BCS bid.
Dawg48
November 29th, 2011
6:19 pm
Delbert D
The only way 3 teams from one confrense can go to bcs games is if two are ranked 1&2 and play for NC and the third team win the confrense championship.
5150 UOAD
November 29th, 2011
6:20 pm
48…………the backdoor to the MNCC might not be open for Tide rolling, but the backdoor to his sister’s house is Always open. LOL
Cause
November 29th, 2011
6:22 pm
5150 are you a homo
Dawg48
November 29th, 2011
6:23 pm
5150
I here his back door is always open to!
5150 UOAD
November 29th, 2011
6:23 pm
I will just wait until after this weekend to worry about BOWL GAMES. The BCS talk has changed the last 3 weeks so I will just wait on all the bowl talk. LOL
Old Coot
November 29th, 2011
6:24 pm
It could happen. LSU and Alabama are so far ahead in points that it would be difficult for anything left in this season to knock them down below the #2 spot. I don’t see Georgia winning though. Looks like no Sugar for the SEC this year.
Delbert D.
November 29th, 2011
6:27 pm
Dawg48 – The BCS at-large spots are politics, and the conference tie-ins below that even moreso. The Sugar Bowl gets 1st pick because any bowl that loses a team to the BCS CG gets it, except the Rose Bowl. The Rose Bowl policy is that if the PAC-12 champion is in the BCS CG, The PAC-12 spot goes to a top 14 ranked non-BCS team. Last year it was TCU. That is the best I can figger it out.
Dawg48
November 29th, 2011
6:28 pm
It’s complicated
5150 UOAD
November 29th, 2011
6:31 pm
It’s complicated? Like Marriage? Just when you think you know the rules She/BCS changes them.
Paul in NH
November 29th, 2011
6:31 pm
Aaron Murray has played excellently for UGA in 2011 – he has been so good that I haven’t heard Christian LeMay’s name in weeks. LeMay needs to hope Murray goes pro after 2012, otherwise he will be playing DJ Shockley to Murray’s David Greene.
Ebenezer Scrooge
November 29th, 2011
6:32 pm
LSU 35, Dawgturds 6
Keep swilling the Kool-Aid, you dummies. And watch for LSU to hand Murray his head on a plate.
JBeasy
November 29th, 2011
6:32 pm
UGA lost to the best two teams they played this year.
Signature victory- An unranked Georgia Tech?
Weak schedule. And a bunch of hype from AJC and delusional Dawg fans.
Get ready to get that butt whopped on Saturday.
Dawg48
November 29th, 2011
6:35 pm
Just saw on dawns 247
Kirby smart top pick for old miss
And Nick saban top pick for Jacksonville jaguars……
Dr. Morpheus
November 29th, 2011
6:36 pm
It’s good to see the Bulldog Faithful (well, the somewhat faithful) getting pumped again and starting to believe in our team. We know our D can keep us in the game. The question I’m having is, can we move the ball and score on the deep and fast LSU D? Offensive game plan, play-calling, and, of course, execution, can we do it? Do we have to have a turnover or a big return or can we do it the old fashioned way on offense? Can we drive on them or bust some big plays? It’s encouraging to see we’re not intimidated. Do we dare to believe?
Old Coot
November 29th, 2011
6:36 pm
Projections:
BCSCG – Alabama vs. LSU
Sugar – Michigan vs. Houston
Rose – Wisconsin vs. Oregon
Fiesta – OSU vs. Stanford
Orange – Virginia Tech vs. West Virginia
Georgia gets Kansas State in the Cotton Bowl.
Tech gets Utah in the Sun Bowl.
artful codger
November 29th, 2011
6:36 pm
Murray will get his NFL shot, but won’t leave early…only the physical prototypes get that opp. He is at UGA for two more.
Dawg48
November 29th, 2011
6:38 pm
Whopped
http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=whopped
Old Coot
November 29th, 2011
6:38 pm
@Dr. Morpheus
Georgia has maintained a tie game so far. Looks good for the next few days.