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
Chris
December 3rd, 2011
8:34 pm
I knew the game was over early in the 3rd, btw.
Lazer
December 3rd, 2011
8:34 pm
Blazer…you surprised? Did you watch any football at all this year?
Big Jacket
December 3rd, 2011
8:34 pm
This game was a lot closer than the final score indicated. Just needed to get Crowell started. He only got 10 touches for 14 yards. I believe if he had gotten 20 touches he could have gotten 30 yards. Also, just take away the 5 LSU TD’s in the 2nd half, and I believe the Dawgs would have won. What say you?
Big Dawg
December 3rd, 2011
8:34 pm
Congratulations to LSU; who is a great team and showed they were the better team today in the Georgia Dome. They deserve to be SEC Champs and to play for the National Championship.
Go SEC and go Dawgs
ty webb
December 3rd, 2011
8:34 pm
Enter your comments here
War Dang Dawg
December 3rd, 2011
8:34 pm
That was a beatdown for sure, but winning 10 out of 11 to close the season is something to build on.
The “Honey Badger’s” premature flip to the ref on that non-touchdown was maybe the biggest brain fart I’ve ever seen in a high stakes game. What the hell was he doing? He’s lucky the upstairs ref fell asleep on that one.
I don’t know if Richt is all the way back, but he’s definitely earned another year. Beating Tennessee, Florida, Auburn and Tech in the same year is what Georgia football should be about. I’m already looking forward to 2012.
GT fan in SC
December 3rd, 2011
8:34 pm
I gave a good comment to UGA, but (Just curious) all UGA bloggers do when yall beat TECH or TECH loses to another team is rag TECH. If you dish it, be prepared to take it.
UGA fraud
December 3rd, 2011
8:35 pm
Only UGA fans can take solace in winning 10 games with that schedule…UGA 2011 SEC moral victory champs!
Herschel Talker
December 3rd, 2011
8:35 pm
Schultzie:
This game affirms what any of us who know anything about football have been saying the entire season. Richt is totally clueless when it comes to how to prepare for the big games. Sure he can beat the Kentuckys and Vandys and Florida’s worst team in 20 years and Tennessee’s worst team in 20 years.
Richt benefited from a streak of ten easy games. Now the disillusioned fans and administration will reward him an extension for leading us to mediocrity. Give him an extension if you are happy with mediocrity.
FIRE MARK RICHT!
HT
Lazer
December 3rd, 2011
8:35 pm
NEXT14…what’s azzz? SpeaK english idiot.
The Honest Truth
December 3rd, 2011
8:35 pm
Let’s face it – LSU is a superior force due to the fact that they are 3 deep at most positions and 4 deep at some. EVERY top notch athlete in Louisiana wants to go the LSU. Texas, Arkansas, and Mississippi DO NOT raid the state of their top athletes. I am a
Georgia boy who recently moved to Louisiana and can see the cultural differences. Back in Georgia you have Alabama, Auburn, Tennessee, Florida and South Carolina coming in and getting at least 50 % of the top athletes each and every year.
Georgia Dome Staff
December 3rd, 2011
8:36 pm
I told my Director that we should not invite the Bulldogs back to the Dome ever again. Their fans demanded Kool-Aid, and unfortunately we only serve Kool-Aid on Sundays…when the Falcons play.
War Dang Dawg
December 3rd, 2011
8:36 pm
And if there’s a better team than LSU, I’d love to see them. Good luck in the rematch Bama, you might have caught LSU on an off-night earlier this season. And still lost at home.
ApopkaDawg
December 3rd, 2011
8:36 pm
My word!!! Heading into 2012, we need to open up the QB race and have Crowell at least 3rd on the depth chart. CMR, how about putting Mason and Malcolm in. Your getting NOTHING out of Murray and Crowell, facing the No. 1 team in the land. What could it hurt? I know I’ll hear from all the Murray lovers here and I’m not saying he’s not a good QB, but when you have a 5′11 guy who can’t see over his huge O-Line and ends up leaving the pocket b/c he can’t see, that’s a problem. Especially when you got a ligit 6′2 guy behind him that has outperformed him in EVERY scrimmage. Likewise, you guy a hard running, LARGER back in Malcolm that doesnt get arm tackled by D-backs and doesn’t take himself out of the game every time he breaks a nail. My word the Players are there USE THEM!!!
tgraa
December 3rd, 2011
8:36 pm
oh Lazer i guess that you should be made aware that God answers he just does not always give us what we want instead he gives us what we need at the time. Through losing 3 of 13 games does not satisfy you maybe you should switch to another team. Oh that is right everyone loses some games sometimes. Maybe you should choose a cheater to go along with that language you hide behind. UGA played great they just played out.
Lazer
December 3rd, 2011
8:37 pm
Suck it all you UGA haters…bottom line…you’re on a UGA blog in Atlanta talking trash… on your computer… about something you hate… #winning.
mark
December 3rd, 2011
8:37 pm
SHOW ME A GOOD LOOSER AND I’LL SHOW YOU A LOOSER,HOWS THE PUNCH? FIRE RICHT TODAY
NEXT #14
December 3rd, 2011
8:37 pm
HEY LEXDAWG,JB & THE REST OF YOU LOSER DAWG FANS…………….SEE YOU IN N.O.!!!! MY BAD SEE YOU NEXT YEAR IN T-TOWN CHUMPS!!!!!
Ga Dome hates UGA
December 3rd, 2011
8:38 pm
So when does the uga fans start chanting SEC SEC SEC …
UGA fraud
December 3rd, 2011
8:38 pm
UGA = most overrated SEC program in conference history.
Fansince66
December 3rd, 2011
8:39 pm
If the punt return in the first half did’t burst the bubble, the fumble
by Murray at the start of the third quarter did. He seems to do that at the most in-opertune times, and always deep in our territory. Can you say
South Carolina, LSU. You could see the defense deflate.
DP
December 3rd, 2011
8:39 pm
Didn’t expect a miracle, but after the 1st half, was expecting more than what we got from UGA in 2nd half…….again, gotta tip your hat to LSU, they came out played like the #1 team in the 2nd half.
As for UGA, it’s time for Richt and staff to go to work recruiting the best players in GA. Please learn to recruit GA, it’s sad to see the best players consistently leaving GA for Alabama, Florida or LSU, because Richt doesn’t recruit this state half as hard as he does Florida. Richt has to recruit a top 5 class every year and not recruit prima dona’s who have crap for brains.
Technically Correct
December 3rd, 2011
8:39 pm
That sound you hear is the sound of a scalded dawg heading for the hills…
Georgia Dome Staff
December 3rd, 2011
8:40 pm
Okay, so I’m cleaning up the locker room after the Bulldog’s left, and I noticed that one of the UGA players left something behind. Will someone get in contact with Crowell, and let him know that he forgot his Dave & Buster’s application?
apopkafldawg
December 3rd, 2011
8:40 pm
Another signature second half collapse by the dawgs. Like Tony B. said during the halftime show, Georgia is a good 30 minute team.
Procrastinator
December 3rd, 2011
8:40 pm
I hate to say I told you so (Actually I don’t) but the SEC East champ is nothing but the tallest midget. Until UT and UF get their programs turned around, the championship game is just a full pads practice for the west champ.
OleDawg
December 3rd, 2011
8:41 pm
Crowell needs to be at Jax State with Ealey.
harold
December 3rd, 2011
8:41 pm
RICHT WILL NEVER TAKE UGA TO A NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP. HE IS A 9-3/8-4 COACH. EVERYONE OUT OF DIAPERS THAT UGA BEAT 10 TEAMS STRAIGHT( ALL UNRANKED) AND THEIR SEC FOES HAD A LEAGUE RECORD OF 14-47.
CHAVIS JUST DIALED UP BOBO. UGA WAS ABUSED. I MEAN THE DAWGS GOT DEMOLISHED. UGA IS LIKELY ONLY # 4 IN THE WEST.
UGA PLAYED WELL ENOUGH IN THE FIRST HALF TO PISS OFF LSU. THEN THE HAMMER FELL. LSU BEAT UGA WORSE THAN THEY DID TENNESSEE AND MOST OTHER SEC SCHOOLS. MURRAY WAS HORRIBLE AS CBS SAID.
WAY TO GO UGA. YOU COMPLETELY EMBARRASSED THE EAST! IT IS TIME FOR RICHT TO GO! HE WILL NEVER TAKE UGA WHERE UGA WANTS TO GO!
dogdawg
December 3rd, 2011
8:41 pm
We need a running back PERIOD! From what I saw of Crowell he needs to GO.
NEXT #14
December 3rd, 2011
8:41 pm
lazer girl…..THATS THE TASTE IN YOUR MOUTH FROM YOUR “BACKSIDE” IDIOT!!!YOU KNOW……..THE ECOLI CAFE YOU BUTTHOLE!!!
LakeDawg
December 3rd, 2011
8:41 pm
First of all, the Murray bashers are idiots. Second, if Crowell doesn’t have any heart now, he’s not gonna miracously “mature” and gain one. Heart is developed at an early age…you either have it or you don’t. Crowell doesn’t. He’s a five star prospect that produces like a two star walk on. I would say keep him and see if he can somehow help us down the road, but he’s a cancer. Give him his walking papers. Start Malcombe in the bowl game.
Go Dawgs
December 3rd, 2011
8:41 pm
Lazer you are stupid! YOU SUCK so shut up! Thank you
Poopdawg
December 3rd, 2011
8:41 pm
Wow Chris, you accurately predicted? You must be really really smart?
Chillahill
December 3rd, 2011
8:41 pm
Yea let him wear #1. True true colors . No heart! Quit lay down. But will fight ya/ or at least push ya when its the most improper time. I quote CMR on the sidelines after #1 got flagged… Are you stupid? We had a first down, Hey Issah are you stupid? Maybe should have checked that out b4 tonite coach!! Ya think!
george
December 3rd, 2011
8:42 pm
last 2 sec championships= 98-27. The east is such a damn joke.
UGA fraud
December 3rd, 2011
8:42 pm
When you put Crowell in the I during a recruiting trip what do you expect? Probably not a team player.
cloudodust
December 3rd, 2011
8:42 pm
LSU takes the punches early and trails by only 3 at the half. Fans hadn’t even settled back into their seats and the rout was on. At least UGA earned a chance to do what the best of the SEC West couldn’t do and for that, I give them credit for getting there but they came away no better.The East is weak 2011 and the East Champ proves the point Saturday night. Good year UGA, great year LSU. I look forward to a LSU-Alabama rematch. They are the best in the country.
Sam
December 3rd, 2011
8:42 pm
Sorry dawgs! We were rooting for you. Just one of them nites. And here’s the kicker
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S_JKwgwFY3g
tgraa
December 3rd, 2011
8:42 pm
even great teams often lose to greater teams LSU is far superior to everyone that have played with maybe the exception of Alabama. I would think that you fair weather fans should be ashamed. I guess you have never lost at anything.
OkieDawg
December 3rd, 2011
8:42 pm
I just hope we re-group and get ready to show up for a bowl game. If we lay an egg like we did last year against UCF then I’m not sure how much progress we have really made. Our schedule as we all know was really weak. Maybe, CMR will realize the biggest weakness we have is Crowell and Bobo. Not sure I can take much more of either one. One’s a thug and the other a dud. You decide who is who. But, I love those DAWGS…..Forever!
Same ole Crap
December 3rd, 2011
8:43 pm
Dawgs and Richt choke once again in a big game. Fire this clown NOW!
camm
December 3rd, 2011
8:43 pm
crowell has heart….he jus doesnt feel like he has too prove anything he need another rb too push himmm and he is very much outta shape i kno himm
What's a hobnail?
December 3rd, 2011
8:43 pm
How did those hobnail boots in your face feel?
KDawg
December 3rd, 2011
8:43 pm
Hey, look. What a surprise. The low class Louisiana trailer park trolls are on the UGA blog again. You get dialup from shady acres there?
Dawg48
December 3rd, 2011
8:43 pm
Ken malcome deserves the start in the bowl game he ran hard the past two games
jaglaw
December 3rd, 2011
8:43 pm
Hasnt the easy won 11/20 sec champ games.? Dude..get with reality. Sure the east is down this year but it comes and goes.
atgotbling
December 3rd, 2011
8:43 pm
Difference was not talent ,but depth. Dogs starters more than proved those morons wrong who claimed no UGA players would make LSU’s two deep. They got to see UGA’s starters dominate LSU’s if they want to admit it or not. The difference was overall depth. Makes you wonder how LSU is able to keep all those players happy.
LakeDawg
December 3rd, 2011
8:43 pm
Question: How many rushing yards does Crowell have in the past three games?
Poopdawg
December 3rd, 2011
8:44 pm
Little harold your irrelevant.
mike addington
December 3rd, 2011
8:44 pm
Disappointing to let one fumble cause the team to lose their intensity. I was pleased with the coaching. I miss the days when UGA played to the very last whistle.