Georgia goes up 10-0, then goes down hard to LSU
After early success, it was a difficult night for Georgia's Aaron Murray. (Johnny Crawford/AJC)
(UPDATED: 9:20 p.m.)
This is when all involved with the Georgia program will tell themselves, “Well, we got here.”
They will cling to the fact an inspired defense allowed LSU only 12 yards and zero first downs in the first half. They will bang their heads against the fiberglass Uga’s throughout downtown Athens over the what-might-have-beens, if two dropped touchdown passes on their first two possessions hadn’t left the team with only a field goal. They will grit their teeth as they mold toy Honey Badgers out of Play-Doh, then crush them with their fists.
But in the end, the Bulldogs’ return to the SEC Championship game after six years resulted in an ugly tilt on the scoreboard. The final: LSU 42, Georgia 10.
That might not tell the whole story. But it reaffirms what we sort of knew: Despite the season’s 10-game winning streak and the remarkable resiliency we witnessed after a 0-2 start, the Bulldogs just aren’t there yet.
“It doesn’t seem real right now that our momentum stopped,” said tight end Aron White, whose first-quarter touchdown gave the Dogs a 10-0 lead. “It really catches you off-guard when all of a sudden the accolades and the wins stop. It’s definitely going to take a while to get over. But at the end of the day, I don’t think a loss to the No. 1 team in America from the best conference in America is going to take away from the season we’ve had. We can’t say we’re the best, but we can say we were pretty damn good.”
Hard to believe, the Dogs led 10-0. They would have rejoiced more if they didn’t believe that it should have been 21-0, the residue of dropped touchdown passes by Tavarres King and Malcolm Mitchell. They will wonder how a game in which they once held a 134-7 advantage in totals so completely spun out of control.
“Basically we lost the momentum, they gained it and we couldn’t slow it down,” coach Mark Richt said.
Three months ago, the Bulldogs left the Georgia Dome after a 35-21 loss to Boise State, leaving most wondering about their direction, their resilience and, most of all, Richt.
That shouldn’t be the case any more. But the sting of 42-10 losses tend to sting a while.
Following White’s touchdown, the Dogs’ next 10 possessions resulted in seven punts and three turnovers (all leading to LSU touchdowns). The Bulldogs saw a game that they were implausibly dominating get turned around by a gravity-defying punt returner known in the swamplands as the “Honey Badger.” Sophomore Tyrann Mathieu returned a punt 62 yards for a touchdown in the second quarter to give LSU what the offense couldn’t: points. Then he brought back another one 47 yards early in third quarter – unofficially breaking seven tackles along the way. That set up a second touchdown and gave the Tigers a 14-10 lead.
Richt on Mathieu: “I’ll be honest: I enjoy watching the guy play football, other than when he plays against us.”
Soon, it was like somebody pulled the stopper out of the bathtub.
A fumble by quarterback Aaron Murray led to another touchdown. The Dogs’ wore down on both lines. LSU then ran them into the ground. The SEC championship was theirs, and the Dogs’ 10-game winning streak was over.
By midway through the fourth quarter, a Dome crowd that was two-thirds Georgia fans was two-thirds empty with a decidedly purple-and-gold tilt.
The Dogs will have a few weeks off before their bowl game. They’ll need it to recover — mentally moreso than physically.
About the what-might-have-beens: The Bulldogs’ defense forced six straight three-and-outs. But that success didn’t carry over to the offense. King dropped a third-down pass in the end zone on the first drive, forcing the Dogs to settle for a 40-yard field goal by Blair Walsh. Malcolm Mitchell dropped a third-down pass at the LSU 5-yard-line on the second drive, seemingly preoccupied with turning to run into the end zone. This time, Walsh missed from 45 yards.
A 10-0 lead against No. 1 just isn’t good enough when it should be 21-0.
“We wanted to have a better show then we ended up showing for 60 minutes,” Richt said.
It was a good show for a short while.
By Jeff Schultz
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1,203 comments Add your comment
timbo
December 4th, 2011
1:07 am
And what is up with all this Todd Grantham praise? The dude is a tool. His defense gave up 35 points in the 2nd half! Boykin got steam rolled by that freshman RB, and where was Jarvis Jones? He is nothing but a hot-head (remember the Vandy game?) coaching a bunch of thugs. At least Richt is a decent human being.
Ace70
December 4th, 2011
1:07 am
Your Mother Punk. Don’t get mad at me because you got your A** handed to you tonight. Just “wait until next year”…*LOL**
Just Wanna Say
December 4th, 2011
1:07 am
I’m a woman — trapped in a man’s body.
Fails again..
December 4th, 2011
1:08 am
Bobby Cox Jr?
Crowell
December 4th, 2011
1:09 am
I tell you one ding tho. I be tired of you fans hatin on me. I told ya i have tons of heart an Im not gonna keep poformin if ya dont sapport me biotches. I a player, you da fans. Dats how it is. I play da football. You watch. Yous no expert unless you da coach.
Just Wanna Say
December 4th, 2011
1:09 am
Aww. Look at the idiot trying to be funny. Good one.
timbo
December 4th, 2011
1:10 am
How bad would it have been if LSU showed up in the 1st half?
Just Wanna Say
December 4th, 2011
1:10 am
Ace70,
I’ll claw your eyes out!
timbo
December 4th, 2011
1:12 am
Congrats on winning the 1st half 10-7, but you lost 35-0 in the 2nd half. I wonder if they have shirts and hats for winning the 1st half?
Just Wanna Say
December 4th, 2011
1:13 am
Seriously man? Just gonna start posting as me now. Having nothing credible to say, so this makes sense. Typical dumbass response.
Crowell
December 4th, 2011
1:13 am
I glad da game over. No mo games an drug tests for almo a month. I gon blaze all nitteee long. Jus hop on here 2 see what ma fans think of me. I see you talk trash bout me, I not gon perform fo yall.
timbo
December 4th, 2011
1:13 am
We tried to tell you dawg fans, but you didn’t listen.
honebadgered LOLOL
December 4th, 2011
1:16 am
You can put that 1st half championship in the trophy case with all of your 10 win championships!!! LOLOLOL. They probably do have a tshirt for you guys winning the 1st half…too bad it will end up in Cambodia HAHAHAHAHAHA
dawgraider
December 4th, 2011
1:17 am
I am sorry, I didn’t realize that I am in GT blog, my apologies……
Morons….. dawg played as they played…..What were you expecting as the outcome? Be a Dawg supporter, or just find a new school to support… what about the CPJ and trade school for a change… you don’t have to go through this torment.
Just Wanna Say
December 4th, 2011
1:17 am
We got the beat-down of a decade tonight. I need a man-hug.
Just Wanna Say
December 4th, 2011
1:19 am
I’m wearing high-heels.
Honeybadgers eat bulldawgs
December 4th, 2011
1:19 am
Just think if LSU had shown up the whole game, and not just the 2nd half…you guys would have lost by 60 LMAO. 42-10. CTG’s D could only do so much.
ken
December 4th, 2011
1:19 am
I felt bad for Jarrett Lee he did a good job all season for LSU and should have had his shot at this game.
Just Wanna Say
December 4th, 2011
1:21 am
Everyone knows that there aren’t but two people on this blog. I, I mean ‘We’ keep changing names.
WnE
December 4th, 2011
1:21 am
Bobo and Richt need to go. Our DC can only hold a good offense for so long. FIRE MARK RICHT and get some good blood in at HC. No reason to lose by 5 touchdowns.
Just Wanna Say
December 4th, 2011
1:23 am
Seriously guys. Just ignore the ridiculous comments from the non-credible guy trying to post as me. Anyway, well said dawgraider. We went from 6-7 to possibly 11-3. Nice turn around. our team is extremely young overall, and we are only using a few key players. Recruiting has picked back up. Program seems like its heading back in the right direction. This is one of the best LSU teams of all time. Oh, and hopefully Crowell will grow up. Incredible talent to waste. Not looking to promising right now though. Hopefully we’ll be getting the future RB in a few days.
timbo
December 4th, 2011
1:24 am
The same DC that his defense gave up 35 points in the 2nd half?
Hit A Single
December 4th, 2011
1:25 am
Ken – I agree. How do you not play Lee more tonight? If LSU had not had him the first 4 games where would they have been? Seeing more of this in big time football. Coaches could care less about loyaty and team. They cater to certain kids. Look at Malcom for UGA. Why did he come in late with the game out of hand. He finished strong against Tech. And we play the two thugs Thomas and Crowell. It makes me wonder.
Hit A Single
December 4th, 2011
1:29 am
Worst officiated big time college football game I have seen in along time. Long discussions on every flag. On the clock, just say the clock is being kept on the field instead of stopping and giving the time every 10 seconds. Also many block in the backs, late shots and a toss to official before Matheui crosses goaline. Very poorley managed game.
Jwill
December 4th, 2011
1:31 am
Hey, bulldog nation you guy’s are crazy fire CMR! He is not the problem MIKE BOBO the POPO the problem! So go ahead fire CMR but guess what I see RAY GOFF in your! Doesn’t Tennessee say the same thing about PHIL FULMER!
schultz likes ASG
December 4th, 2011
1:33 am
Well Richt did u kiss u wife again after bein kissed by LSU 42-10…Lovely coach had no fire in his eye just a Ford Ranger truck takin his stuff out of Georgia.Adams U fired to as President of UGA too.Murray played like he was lost out there just like Boise state did ran over anyone even Richt dog could not stop….Thanks for winnin one for Larry Munson U lousy coach sure must be a thrill see u stand there as Crowell quit playin.. Murray quit and rest team look like Georgia state out there! By Mark Richt u may been 10-3 but you should be Fired !
RealitySetsIN
December 4th, 2011
1:34 am
42-10…..still a LONG ways to go to be a top tier team despite a coach making top 4 money….
Hit a single has a sandy vaj
December 4th, 2011
1:34 am
Worst officiated game? That’s what you’re going to cry about? your dawgs got destroyed tonight. Your vaunted D lost by 5 touchdowns HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAHAHAHAHAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA
There is always next year. Dream team. Going to win it all. I hope that secondary violation to get Crowell on the team was worth it.
Hit A Single
December 4th, 2011
1:36 am
On the other hand,
If UGA had won the game, then I would have said it was the best officiated big time college football game I have seen in a long time.
I can whine about the badger tossing the ball out-of-bounds all I want. The truth is that there wasn’t a Dawg around when it happened. Removing his score would have not affected the outcome whatsoever.
aarh
December 4th, 2011
1:40 am
Don’t blame Aaron Murray people. He didn’t have much time to throw. The O-Line couldn’t block LSU’s defense. Once they started penetrating our line he didn’t have much of a chance. It’s a team game people. LSU’s #1 in the nation for a reason. It’s not like UGA’s the 1st team that they have blown out. UGA has had a pretty good yr., & they aren’t quite there yet as far as being able ot compete w/ the LSUs of the world, but if they can win their bowl game, & finish w/ only 3 loses, & have wins against Tenn., FL. AU & Tech in one season…especially after the 0-2 start, then I’ll take it. I know a lot of those teams are down, but all teams are down at some point, & winning those games is a big deal. I think it’s a step in the rt. direction. At least they beat the teams they were supposed to, which is more than I can say for last yr.
Jwill
December 4th, 2011
1:42 am
Man all this hating on a 18yr. old freshman! Who let face it is immature but YOUNG is ridiculous CROWELL IS FRESHMAN PEOPLE! Three more years to go let me asked how were you at 17-18 years old?
Aaron Murray
December 4th, 2011
1:43 am
Yeah,
Don’t blame me. I didn’t even know what a Honey Badger was until tonight.
WnE
December 4th, 2011
1:44 am
aarh, you are exactly what is wrong with our fanbase. AU & FL are terrible. TN didn’t even go to a bowl game. FL & TN are arguably 2 of the worst teams they have fielded in 20 years. By all means, KY, FL, & Vandy SHOULD have beat us (on a side note…Vandy was really close to having a 9 or 10 win season).
FIRE MARK RICHT!!!
The Honey Badger
December 4th, 2011
1:44 am
Aaron,
I made you squeal ‘aarh’!
bad refs!
December 4th, 2011
1:46 am
Georgia got hosed by the refs the whole game—lsu got all the breaks. That first TD should have been a touch back. I’m tired of this.
smart dawg
December 4th, 2011
1:47 am
Hit a single, if you watched carefully you would have seen the ref already had his hands in the air signaling (another) TD when the ball was tossed to him.
But it really doesn’t matter, 32 unanswered points.
LSU put 7 on the board without a 1st down.
Bad Ref
December 4th, 2011
1:50 am
He wouldn’t sit. He wouldn’t heel. He wouldn’t beg. He was a Bad Ref.
Bad Ref!
What else can I cry about tonight?
Bubba from Trailer Park
December 4th, 2011
1:51 am
NiCe Season!
I thank wer nashunally relavent vent.
who dat!!!
December 4th, 2011
1:52 am
lsu blows out GA—national title for lsu coming up
saints beat falcons—super bowl coming up
let the good times roll!!!!
Bubba from Trailer Park
December 4th, 2011
1:52 am
It wuz the rfreez fault.
Bubba from Trailer Park
December 4th, 2011
1:53 am
we wererere lotz clozer to beetn Boyzee
Bubba from Trailer Park
December 4th, 2011
1:55 am
Congrats doggies!
Start and end your season with a home ass – whippin at home in the dome.
0-3 vs. top 30
10-0 vs. 31-117.
Laughing stock of trailer park
ce town
December 4th, 2011
1:56 am
what’s that? crowell just took himself out of the game again!!! all that weed leads to brittle bones!!!
schultz likes ASG
December 4th, 2011
1:56 am
You think Richt ready watch when Alabama n auburn switch to East when Mizzu tigers and Texas A&M Join in SEC in 2012
Jwill
December 4th, 2011
1:57 am
Like I said fire Mark Richt if you want to and UGA will crumble just like Tennessee so pick your poison CMR or Ray Goff no BCS Bowl or SEC Title Game for another 10 years choose 10-3 or 6-6 occasionally 8-9 wins with new head coach pick CMR haters!!! You know the sad thing about SOUTH CAROLINA would have love the chance to play LSU! Here we bitchin and moaning about a far more dominant team in LSU that we loss to! Look UGA 1-2 AWAY FROM BREAKING THROUGH SO BULLDAWG NATION BE PATIENT!
bama title #14!!
December 4th, 2011
2:00 am
mark this down—bama will beat lsu by 10 in the title game. That first loss was a fluke—bama missed a bunch of easy FGs. In the title game, Trent runs wild and bama rolls it up—title #14!!!! Roll tide!!!!
schultz likes ASG
December 4th, 2011
2:01 am
Reason why since Missour n Texas A&M are west of Us so they be in west where LSU tigers stay put and auburn and alabama crimson tide move to East divison which means. Georgia will not see East title again…. U see alabama vs LSU in SEC title game in 2012 in atlanta folks that me idea and see why not alabama n auburn move in east they near us so that be Move folks!
26 teams this season alone have 10-Win Seasons. And, we beat NONE of the 26 teams with 10-Win Seasons this year.
December 4th, 2011
2:01 am
Don’t imitate if you cannot emulate.
01-TB Isaiah Crowell Freshman couldn’t hide 2nd suspension
02-TB Carlton Thomas – 3rd suspension again for 4 games
03-TB Boo Malcome – recruited here injured, Suspension too
04-TB Washaun Ealey – Jr. – Transferred to Jacksonville State
05-TB Dontavius Jackson – would be RJr transferred to UAB
06-TB Caleb King – would have been senior 2011, flunked out
07-TB Richard Samuel – ankle surgery Thursday after Florida
2002 there only was 1 other SEC team ranked in the Coaches’ Poll Top 25 – a 4-Loss Auburn.
2005 Mark Richt (DJ Shockley) won The SEC Championship Game vs LSU who ended up # 6 in the nation and Alabama ended up # 8 and Georgia Mark Richt ended up # 10 in the nation. Therefore, UGA in 2005 ended up the # 3 best team in The SEC in EVERY POLL for 2005 season.
Mark Richt plays Favorites. He cleared the tailbacks while they were still here trying to LURE Isaiah Crowell to UGA at Sanford Stadium. Empty Tailback, Mark Richt makes the players line up without a tailback as recruiting violation. Can you picture yourself here. He runs off 3 Starting Tailbacks to give us Isaiah Crowell. Nice Mark Richt. Don’t let the door hit you on the butt on your way to Happy Valley with your BIBLE THUMPER non-Bulldog football fans talking about your “2 SEC Championships” 1 of which found you actually # 3 ranked in The SEC and the other – well there only was 1 other SEC team ranked in the Coaches’ Poll Top 25 a 4-Loss Auburn. No legitimate SEC Championship.
Mark Richt plays Favorites. This SEC Championship Game ended up with us AHEAD in the game 10-7. Not because of the OFFENSE. Because the OFFENSE sucked. It squandered opportunity after opportunity handed to it by Todd Grantham. Note if you will how Mark Richt criticized and disagreed with EVERYTHING Todd Grantham said and did ALL SEASON LONG. So, up 10-7 little Aaron Murray calls his own number to try to get extra yards running the football. You so-called fans in here saying ONLY AARON MURRAY SHOULD EVER GET A SNAP even against the 10 hapless opponents he barely beat in a row. 1 of 26 teams 2011 season who get 10-Win Seasons. What does Aaron Murray, up 10-7, against LSU do ? He fumbles. He has fumbled the ball and run for 1 yard and gone 0-8 vs the 8 teams who finish that season in the top 25 and done at the WORST POSSIBLE MOMENT every single game. What does he do on the sidelines. Yes, I was watching him. He pouted. I am certain the TV cameras did not show him pouting after his fumble.
macon dawgs
December 4th, 2011
2:03 am
at least ga beat lowly tech—GA owns this state!!!!!!
26 teams this season alone have 10-Win Seasons. And, we beat NONE of the 26 teams with 10-Win Seasons this year.
December 4th, 2011
2:03 am
Sitting there shaking his head.
When he fumbled it, did they show how he just SAT THERE ? You could see the ball coming out as he was still running the ball. He just SAT THERE. Made no effort to get the ball. Didn’t even look to see if it was right at his feet. Which it was. Just SAT THERE. Tyrann Mathieu Honey Badger picked the ball up for LSU and THAT WAS THE GAME. GAME OVER. The Defense which had not allowed a 1st Down the entire 1st half is handed the field INSIDE THE RED ZONE. 2 plays later, THE GAME IS OVER. 10-14. Game OVER.
Aaron Murray pouting on the sidelines. What does he do next ? INSTANTLY, right on cue he goes right back out there and DOES IT AGAIN. The goes back and JUST FLINGS THE BALL UP WITHOUT REGARD to where it comes down and throw HIS 1ST INTERCEPTION of the game. There would be OTHERS. In fact, at that point in the game, he should have already have thrown 4 interceptions. But, he threw this interception. And, then down 10-14, GAME OVER. He gives the Defense another TD scored against them with the ball AGAIN IN THE RED ZONE. He would do THIS, 3 times before Mark Richt FINALLY YANKED HIS SORRY LITTLE ONE-MAN BAND BUTT. Now, it is 10-21. He would, as I say, do it AGAIN. 10-28.
10-35.
10-42.
42 UNANSWERED CONSECUTIVE POINTS. Just as in 2008, this is NOT BECAUSE OF THE DEFENSE. The OFFENSE HAS TO PLAY LIKE DEER IN HEADLIGHTS to allow 42 unanswered consecutive points.
And, averaging # 7 recruiting class all 11 years, averaging both Scout and Rivals all 11 years, Mark Richt PLAYS FAVORITES.
Obviously, Aaron Murray is NOT The best Quarterback in The SEC or ANYWHERE ELSE.