Georgia earns respect in defeat, but loss not easy to take
Kenarious Gates drops to a knee as Georgia lost SEC title on game's final play. (Curtis Compton/AJC)
This was the day when representatives from every other conference, when every critic weary of the SEC’s six-year-plus rule in college football, should have come to the realization, “Oh. So that’s why they’re the best.”
Georgia and Alabama looked like the two best teams from the two best conference, if not the two best teams in the nation, and they just played a conference championship that saw four lead changes in the second half and the game not decided until the game’s final play.
What would happen if Georgia and Alabama played 10 times?
“It probably would look like that every game,” Bulldogs wide receiver Tavarres King said. “And there would be several different outcomes.”
Georgia doesn’t have that luxury. The Dogs lost the SEC championship game 32-28 at the Georgia Dome. They came that close to playing for a national championship.
They had a chance at the end, with quarterback Aaron Murray having driven the team from its own 28 to the Alabama 8 with 15 seconds left. At that point, we can debate whether Murray should have spiked the ball to reset the offense. But suffice to say, the game ended with a tipped pass that was caught at Tide’s 5, the final seconds ticked off and one team celebrated its impending berth in the BCS championship game while the other collapsed in exhaustion, uncertain of its bowl status.
The irony here was that Georgia probably gained more respect in defeat than in any of its 11 victories. The Dogs were criticized for a perceived soft schedule, for the way they were physically hammered be South Carolina, for the hiccups at Kentucky.
Yet on Saturday, even the opposing coach, Nick Saban, was moved to comment: “I think it’s a crying shame if Georgia doesn’t get to go to a BCS bowl game. That game came down to the last play. It’s ridiculous. Some teams are 7-5 and talking about winning their conference and going to a BCS bowl game? Something’s not right here.”
So yes, the Dogs proved their worthiness on this day.
Coach Mark Richt has made the program relevant again in the SEC, and therefore on the national scale.
Afterward, Richt said, “I told them I was disappointed. But I wasn’t disappointed in them.”
That said, Georgia lost to a better team.
Alabama was the superior team physically. The Tide rushed for 350 yards, led by Eddie Lacy (187) and T.J. Yeldon (154). The physical domination started with the Tide’s offensive line taking over the game in the second half, blowing open holes in Georgia’s defensive front. It continued with the Dogs, clearly worn down and drained, began to miss tackles.
“[The defense] got tired of being run against — I could figure that one out,” Richt said. “We just got knocked off the ball.”
At some point, it figured Alabama would try to get Georgia to bite on play-action, and that’s exactly what happened. With the Dogs leading 28-25, Alabama had a first down at the Georgia 45 when quarterback A.J. McCarron faked a handoff, stepped back and hit wide receiver Amari Cooper streaking down the left sideline, behind cornerback Damian Swann. The touchdown put Alabama, which once trailed 21-10, up 32-28 with just over three minutes left.
The Dogs had two more chances. They went three-and-out on one possession and quickly had to punt. They used their last two time outs during Alabama’s possession but forced the Tide to give up the ball one more time. They got the ball back with 1:08 remaining.
“We’ve had plenty of one-minute drives during the season so it’s not like guys were freaking out or anything,” Murray said later. “We were just like, ‘Let’s play ball.”
On the fourth play of the drive, Murray had a pass tipped and intercepted at midfield. But he and the team got a reprieve when the play was reversed by replay, which showed the ball hitting the ground. The quarterback then completed consecutive passes to Arthur Lynch, King and Lynch again. The ball was now at the eight with about 15 seconds remaining.
Richt decided to keep going and not have Murray spike the ball to stop the clock. “Even spiking the ball takes time,” Richt said. “We had a play called.”
The play was fade route to Malcolm Mitchell at the back of the end zone. But there were only nine seconds left when the ball was snapped, Murray’s pass was tipped at the line and Chris Conley caught it in traffic at the five (first instinct). He was buried and time ran out.
Richt: “In that play you want a touchdown or an incomplete pass.”
In between is trouble. In between ended the game. Georgia was that close going to the national championship game. That’s something they will have to live with.
By Jeff Schultz
If you blinked, you missed a blog
• SHORT TAKES (UGA): Dogs should’ve spiked the ball
• Braves dump a pitcher (Hanson) they once viewed as gold
• Falcons’ offense hits a wall (but as usual it doesn’t matter)
• Braves need this free agent splurge on B.J. Upton to pay off
• Weekend Predictions: Georgia pulls the upset but Tech goes down
• Georgia’s best chance vs. Alabama may be to step on the gas
• SEC title would mean Georgia’s return to elite status
• Georgia playing at level we haven’t seen under Richt
• Upsetting Georgia would give Tech needed boost for future
• Vince Dooley: Joy from Georgia’s resurgence, pain from son’s firing
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754 comments Add your comment
dddf's
December 1st, 2012
11:33 pm
Bacarri Fudge!!!! OMG, please tell me his mother married an 80’s action star who then adopted young Bacarri. Or did he change his name to RAMBO? Was Bacarri Huge Penis Millionaire taken? Please enlighten me as to how Bacarri Fudge became Bacarri Rambo. I bet it’s an awesome story truly befitting a fine institution like UGA.
Shack
December 1st, 2012
11:33 pm
Kreedham what have u been smoking or r u just low intelligence? This was your one big shot…. No one outside of Athens wants to see Georgia again…. They’ve seen enough. U CHOKED!
. Go turn on the Dvr and watch replay of the Georgia-ga tech game and pleasure yourself… You’ll feel better
Slimjr
December 1st, 2012
11:33 pm
If Bama and Georgia played 10 straight times, Bama would 10-0 and CMR and his Dawgs would go 0-10..Yawn.
2-15, no he can’t win the bigs games. Always go with other guy..Its a very easy choice.
Why?
December 1st, 2012
11:36 pm
Hope Notre dame pulls upset and saban goes back to nfl and fails lol
Slimjr
December 1st, 2012
11:37 pm
CMR needs and NFL job….
Buzz 2011
December 1st, 2012
11:40 pm
Who did you pick to win this game Jeff Schultz?
Dogs are lower level SEC as per past 10 years, sorry..
Buzz 2011
December 1st, 2012
11:40 pm
Who did you pick to win this game Jeff Schultz?
Dogs are lower level SEC as per past 10 years, sorry..
Dr. Phil
December 1st, 2012
11:42 pm
Richt needs to learn that penalties DO matter and pre-game smack talk is counter productive. Richt blew the spike call and is incapable of admitting his own mistakes. It was a good Georgia effort, but as usual, the best coached team won. Richt will not win a conference championship while Saban is at Alabama, and he will never win a national championship.
Whiznot
December 1st, 2012
11:42 pm
Georgia looses the big games because of the coaches not the players. Murray knew that the right play was to spike the ball and regroup but he was idiotically overruled by Richt. When a good quarterback is empowered to make decisions teams are dominant. Look at the pros and see how much authority Brady and both Mannings are given. Richt and Bobo should recede into the background. Let the quarterback do the play calling.
Will
December 1st, 2012
11:42 pm
It’s amazing. Tech fans are on here after their loss and they are now 6-7 which requires a waiver just to get to the Toilet Bowl.
playmeortrademe
December 1st, 2012
11:43 pm
respect and $2.50 will buy you a grande coffee at Starbucks.
Richt is paid to win these types of games, but he doesn’t. The national media may respect Georgia for about half a season next year until they lose one or two more big-time games. But I don’t care if Lee Corso, Kirk Herbstreit and the President himself respect UGA more after today. The winning is all that matters in this game. In six weeks the UGA program may still have some respect, but Alabama will be holding that trophy and can call themselves champions, because they knew how to win tonight…..and they’ll have far more respect than UGA because of it.
Will
December 1st, 2012
11:43 pm
8-5 Wisconsin is going to a BCS bowl game…and 11-2 UGA which came within 5 yards of a national title is not. What a system.
Flat Tire On Hwy 441 in Athens
December 1st, 2012
11:43 pm
Nah I dont need to shut up
who needs to shut up is you pre-season National Champion know it all’s who think UGA football is back; who also come on hear and talk smack when we have nothing to talk about since 82 and act like losing big ball games constitutes UGA being great just because they showed up to the stadium to play in the big game
Buzz Belle
December 1st, 2012
11:45 pm
Jeff-no loss is easy for any team. My Jackets almost pulled this game out also tonight, went down to the last 1.5 minutes. I am just as sad as the uga fans are for their team. Why not ONE picture, not one story on the front page, all day long about Ga Tech? Nothing, all day long. Why? There are two colleges in this state, both going for conference championships, one gets covered. One lost by 4, one lost by 6. Fair? I think not.
dddf's
December 1st, 2012
11:45 pm
I googled it. He changed his name in grade school!!!! “When people see the name ‘Rambo’ on the back of my jersey, they expect me to be a hard-nosed killer with a scarf around my head and paint under my eyes,” Cannot make this stuff up!!!
What do they think when they see the name Bacarri? Seems like his work was only half done. Natural fit for the UGA defense. And who in the hell let’s grade school aged kids legally change their names? Oh well, he’ll always be Mr. Fudge to me. Or Mr. Huge Penis Millionaire. DDDP’s and DDDP’s!!!!
Pitbull
December 1st, 2012
11:46 pm
I thought both teams played an excellent game and it was a classic.
Proud of my dawgs. Wish we had clocked it with the 14 or so seconds left on the clock and set up two or three pass plays.
I understand what happened though. Georgia was going to hit a quick pass to the receiver in the end zone at the pylon, but an Alabama lineman tipped the ball and the other receiver being a football player saw it in the air and grabbed it and fell down.
It was a great game. Hold your heads up Dawgs.
You have a bowl game to win.
dddf's
December 1st, 2012
11:47 pm
Pardon me, DDDF’s and DDDP’s.
kral
December 1st, 2012
11:48 pm
I just wish flat you could have been in the locker room to give the post-game talk or beat down..then you might would feel better and fix that tire and get home safely
Why?
December 1st, 2012
11:49 pm
So now braves lost, UGA lost, tech lost, falcons 11-1 divisional round loss is coming man this state makes feel horrible. One stupid title in 95 all these chances and nothing. Why even follow the falcons I mean really 11-1 should be 1-11. We all no what is coming
Bama Fan
December 1st, 2012
11:49 pm
I for one was very impressed with UGA players and coaches. They were all first class and deserve to go to higher bowl than UF. You UGA fans have a damn good coach.
Bill Garner
December 1st, 2012
11:53 pm
Proud of Georgia! Proud of Aaron Murray! And proud of our Coach! Could have spiked the ball yes! But the call he made was fine! Alabama was on its heels! Go for the jugular! That was Coach RIcht’s thought! I like it! It just didn’t work out!
Proud of Georgia!
Tech fan
December 1st, 2012
11:56 pm
Anybody know where we can get a waiver?!
icedawg
December 1st, 2012
11:56 pm
The DAWGS played their hearts out. The Tide’s offensive line overpowered us in the second half. The defense was worn down and out. But we were still in it to the end. This was a one of the best football games I’ve seen in a long time. A good ole fashioned slug fest. Too bad someone had to lose and of course that was us.
Flat Tire On Hwy 441 in Athens
December 1st, 2012
11:56 pm
kral
the problem I have is the consistancy to which our fanbase embarrasses itself by all the mouth running every year and before almost every game
We havent done nothing in 32 years and we have only beaten 1 top 20 team in 4 yrs; we are 1-11 vs the top 10
and yet the comedy continues with all the mouth running from our fanbase
sorry if the truth Ive been saying hurts but like ive been saying for years our program is going nowhere until our coach learns to bring in good asst’s; starts believing in special teams recruit players who dont want to embarrass the program with criminal acts and smash mouth football and going for it all when it needs to be done
until then expect to get beat in big games and lose to top ranked teams
it is what it is
December 1st, 2012
11:57 pm
this is the funniest post:
GatorGuy
December 1st, 2012
10:49 pm
So here’s a riddle?
If a tree falls in the woods, and lands on Bobo, does Murray spike the ball?
Albert Einstein
December 2nd, 2012
12:00 am
I’ve been reading the posts on this blog and now have more worries about our country going forward than the total f-up that is Barack Obama (who was referenced by a previous poster). Can most of you read and write? Seriously. Did you actually watch the game? If you did you saw a game that went down to the last 5 seconds. I didn’t say 5 minutes or 55 minutes. Five seconds. If not for an athletic but unwise move by a receiver and UGA has two more shots to win and, odds are, they do. So it is moronic for all of you Mensa Society members (haha) to rail on Richt and Murray. Get a life losers. Alabama won. UGA played the best team in the nation and lost in the last 5 seconds due to a kid making a terrible mental mistake. It wasn’t the quarterback nor the coach. A player on the field screwed up royally. Lay off the criticism. It was a great game. As an aside. Your team just barely lost the in the championship game in the toughest conference and you are calling for the head of your quarterback and coach. You are morons and not worthy of any response. Please ask Mommy to let you stay up later tomorrow night as the Simpsons are on at 8 p.m. Get a life losers.
Bama Fan
December 2nd, 2012
12:01 am
#12 Nebraska 31 and Wisconsin 70..unbelieveable and what bowl will they go to..
it is what it is
December 2nd, 2012
12:04 am
so Baccari’s last name if Fudge? I thought it was Brownies
Pete
December 2nd, 2012
12:06 am
I’m proud of the Dawgs but am tired of moral victories. This was our best shot and we were outcoached again. Don’t blame Murray. Blame the coaches. Does anyone think now after this game we will ever win the big one with this coaching staff? After 12 years, I think Richt has proven he’s a great recruiter but only a pretty good coach As long as he’s coach, we will continue to be mediocre some years and good some years but never great. Apparently that’s good enough for a lot of people. And maybe it should be. He’s a fine person and good role model. I do think Grantham is very much over-rated. Van Gorder will be looking for a job. I say let’s get rid of Grantham and go after Van Gorder. Since he’s been gone, we’ve never had a team as good as when he was our DC.
STFU
December 2nd, 2012
12:10 am
Flat…….no, you need an a– whooping and we don’t need you or want you claiming your support our team or program (as someone who went to UGA). You are a loser in then largest sense.
bamaguy
December 2nd, 2012
12:13 am
Tell me the story again Pa Pa about how the Dogs won the big games back in the good ole days?
Red Dog
December 2nd, 2012
12:14 am
I have heard many terrible things said about our coaching staff and the players because they lost. This was a great game! Georgia has nothing to be ashamed of. This team played their hearts out and left nothing on the field. You can’t ask anymore. We should be proud of our players and our coaching staff. Wake up Georgia fans, Georgia is an elite program right now. Georgia will continue to do well next year. We played in the SEC championship game two years running. That is a big deal and Georgia will have more opportunities. Go Dawgs!!!
ole man
December 2nd, 2012
12:15 am
UGA lost on the field in 2nd half when Ala’s two running backs got 150 yards each..that was not Richt on the field playing that was 18, 19 year old kids busting their a@@ to stop them. Richt is #1 and alot of schools would pay big bucks to get him. Where you going to get someone better? Damn man you 11-2 and bitching…
paul carrodus
December 2nd, 2012
12:16 am
sucks to lose, but at least we showed up! Bama won the battle in the trenches as well as the gamem
coondawg69
December 2nd, 2012
12:17 am
spiking the ball takes time? Wow Shocker…. guess what…. when you spike the ball you have time for 2 more plays….. even run it with Jasper Sanks…. if he still had eligibility left!!!!
Who needs to settle a bunch of confused 20 year olds (Mike Conley’s words… he admitted he should have dropped the ball… ok, so he’s stand up!!!) …… not coaching. dang, this one is going to sting longer than that 2001 Auburn mis-managed game!!!!
jpaul
December 2nd, 2012
12:17 am
Dogs Rock!
Sandra
December 2nd, 2012
12:18 am
The was the best I have seen in awhile. Alabama just wore the defensive down with their running game. Saban had a plan, he told that plan at the start of half-time. Whoever has the running game will win. That said, GA did their best. GA should get either the Cotton Bowl or Orange Bowl.
jpaul
December 2nd, 2012
12:20 am
Game could have gone either way Tide Won and I have to respect that. Dogs should have and could have won.
jpaul
December 2nd, 2012
12:22 am
And I had reservations in Miami!!!
Ted
December 2nd, 2012
12:24 am
Coulda, woulda, shoulda….HAHAHAHAHA DAWGS lose. I don’t care for Alabama either but was getting tired of all of the sports blowhards in this town talking up UGA.
Athens
December 2nd, 2012
12:26 am
Bama alums and fans were very gracious after the game. For a team that just won the SEC, they were very quite coming out of the Dome (unlike the morons we have on these sites).
Hairy Dawg
December 2nd, 2012
12:27 am
Our players and coaches have some things to be ashamed of after this game. As for the fans? Well, we don’t go out there and play. All we can do is complain and bemoan what might have been. If nothing else, we learned that our defensive front was not physical enough to handle an extremely talented offensive line. That front seven will be different next season, so there is a possibility for improvement in spite of the expected heavy losses there. Let’s hope the new guys can show those newly-minted NFL rookies how it’s done in 2013.
ole man
December 2nd, 2012
12:29 am
Prolly Cotton Bowl because of stupid system…Richt said they didn’t spike ball because they had plays already called. Same thing happen before half when Ala didn’t us two time out and had to go for FG. Players make mistakes..I couldn’t be more proud of Staff and players. Everyone wants to win..UGA come up 1 play short. If you are a real fans then support your Coaches and Team.
CigarDawg
December 2nd, 2012
12:29 am
Congratulations, Alabama. You proved that you are true champions and I hope you crush those filthy papists in Miami.
I will form a line for all you blind homers to kiss my ring. Lack of discipline, lack of toughness, horrible play calling and Murray’s inability to get up for big games bit us in the behind again, just as I have been saying all season.
All you Richt apologists can come to the front of the line to kiss it. Always a bridesmaid and never a bride as long as Richt is our coach.
Athens
December 2nd, 2012
12:33 am
@Cigar………why don’t you stick where you would enjoy it most..
ole man
December 2nd, 2012
12:34 am
Players and coaches have nothing to be ashamed of…they bust their a@@..what game was you watching. How many games have you played hairy dog? notice I said dog because your not a dawg.
He Hate Gator
December 2nd, 2012
12:40 am
The lack of a spike did not cost the game….it was lost when they could not tackle the Bama running backs….
ole man
December 2nd, 2012
12:45 am
UGA will be back next year bigger and better..God Bless USA we need it..goodnight.
CigarDawg
December 2nd, 2012
12:48 am
For the record, our boys have absolutely nothing of which to be ashamed after this game. Young men, you showed up and fought valiantly, playing your best game of the year against your most difficult opponent. Hold your heads high and get ready to crush whoever your bowl opponent might be.
It’s your coaches, who failed to prepare you and coach you to victory tonight who should be ashamed. You are the more talented team and deserved to win, but your overpaid coaching staff just doesn’t possess the drive or the ability to have given you the tools to win. Enjoy your careers in the NFL where you will be provided all of the tools necessary to win.
CigarDawg
December 2nd, 2012
12:50 am
Athens, please do not project your h0m0er0tic fantasies onto me. Go back to your mom’s basement and cry yourself to sleep.