Aaron Murray may be playing his final game for Georgia
Aaron Murray and Mark Richt have been together for three seasons. This may be it. (Brant Sanderlin)
ORLANDO – Before this season began, Aaron Murray set a plan for the next two years — not for football, but for a doctorate program in industrial-organizational psychology. Call it an academic and career game plan.
“It’s a pretty big field nowadays,” Murray said in August. “A lot of companies are hiring I-O psychologists.”
Aaron Murray plays a football game Tuesday. There is a very good chance it will be his final football game for Georgia.
This is pure conjecture on my part. It is based on the fact that Murray, as much as he loves college football, has other things going on in his life. He has other things he wants to try. He’s a different kid.
“You mean mature?” Murray said, smiling.
“No,” I responded. (He laughed. Know your audience.)
I presented my theory to Murray, that Georgia’s game against Nebraska in the Capital One Bowl would be the end of this chapter in his life. I asked him if my read on him, his mindset and aspirations was correct. He responded without actually answering.
“I definitely have other things [I want to do],” he said. “My whole life, my mom has talked to us about setting goals and thinking about what we want to do in our life. So I’m a very goal-driven person. But I can’t predict the future. I can only live day by day.”
So are you going into this game with the thought that it could be your final game at Georgia?
“No. It’s just another game. I prepare hard for all of them.”
Never try to out-think a psychology major.
Murray is the first quarterback in SEC history to have three straight 3,000-yard passing seasons. In the last two years, he has thrown 66 touchdowns against 22 interceptions, won two SEC East titles and went 21-6. Four weeks ago against Alabama, he and the Bulldogs came within one tipped pass of going to the BCS championship game instead of the Capital One Bowl.
His biggest problems have come in the postseason, with two SEC title losses (to LSU and Alabama) and two bowl game losses (to Central Florida as a freshman and Michigan State last season). If Murray decides to come back, it will be because conference and national championships have eluded him.
I’m just not sure that’s going to do it.
Could he improve his NFL draft stock by coming back? Probably. He battled some consistency problems this season, as evidenced by his completion percentages against South Carolina (35.5), Florida (50) and Alabama (54.5), and his five interceptions in those three games. But this also is considered a weak draft class for quarterbacks. Sometimes an extra season leads NFL scouts to find more flaws. There’s also the potential for injury.
But the potential for improving his draft stock — and right now he’s projected as high as a late first-rounder but more likely second or third round – may not be a big deal for Murray He already has his career blueprint: college football, NFL, I/O psychology.
Save the absence of a conference title and playing for a national championship, Murray has experienced as much as any college football quarterback can expect. He stepped in with Georgia at the bottom, going 6-7, losing to Central Florida in the Liberty Bowl in 2010, and then starting 0-2 in 2011. He was there for the program’s turnaround (21-4 since).
With Georgia losing so many players on defense, it’s debatable how strong the Dogs’ chance will be next season.
Murray recently said the loss to Alabama was causing him sleepless nights. On Saturday, he provided this update: “It’s out of my mind now. But I’ll always have memories of it. That game will be replayed on TV for many years.”
He joked that when he’s in retirement, “Maybe by then I’ll figure out a way to tell everybody we actually won the game.”
The next game hasn’t had the same buildup. It won’t have the same ramifications. But a win likely would leave the Dogs as a top-five ranked team and finally allow Murray to end the season with a victory.
“I have yet to win a bowl game, so this is my opportunity to hopefully finally win one and send the seniors off,” he said.
And possibly himself.
By Jeff Schultz
The last 10 from the digital jukebox
– Progress pleases McGarity, but he’s still not ‘comfortable’
– Predictions: It’s time for bowls(!), contest (!) and BCS (ugh)
– NFL playoffs about QBs and coaches — and Falcons have a shot
– Falcons understand that wins, No. 1 seed only set stage
– Short takes: Matt Ryan back to MVP level in last 2 games
– Falcons respond as great teams should in win over Lions
– Live: Falcons seek No. 1 seed, AJC endures without D-Led
– If last week’s Falcons were for real, we’re about to find out
– Falcons’ line on a roll, now gets rematch against Suh
Tell us what you think about the site
Customer Care »
Vacation stops, manage subscriptions and more
AJC Services
Sections
Other Editions
Visitor Agreement | Privacy Statement
© 2013 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
259 comments Add your comment
Jaye Byrd
December 31st, 2012
12:02 pm
Best of luck to Murray, he will be successful in life, but not in football. He gives it his all and has athletic talent but not the intangibles. The play in the SECCG where he got clocked was illustrative. After an interception, you’d like your QB to become a legitimate member of the defense and hustle to be in position to make a tackle if necessary. Instead Murray passively became a spectator like the rest of us. The basic problem is he just isn’t a real leader and all the nice stats in the world can’t offset that.
Thomas Brown
December 31st, 2012
12:11 pm
“The NFL combine tells the tale”
5′ 11 and 1/2 and 4.81 in the 40-yard dash, billed for 5 years now as a dual-threat quarterback. Now, he is the best quarterback we have. But, in no way, should he have taken all the snaps – none of the last 3 years of 27-13.
Joey
December 31st, 2012
12:12 pm
Yeah Jaye,
Brady, Manning, Rodgers were all “leaders” when they were 22 yrs old.
Not to mention Washington, Lee, Patton, and Schwarzkopf.
All leaders of men while in college . . .
Wet Willie...keep on smiling
December 31st, 2012
12:15 pm
Tuff crowd in here today.
Joey…AJ has two NC rings and maybe he gets a 3rd next week. AJ is 6 3 or better and he’s hurt and has been for since the Miss State game. He will most likely get another cleanup with the Andrew’s folks again after the NC just as he did last year on that shoulder. If Murray stayed two more years he would still go in the 3rd round regardless to his stats. He will have to prove himself at the combine and then on a NFL roster. He has proven over the years he has a case of being colorblind when the pressure gets after him. Bama didn’t have a pass rusher to apply any pressure for the most part and that is why he did pretty well last month!
Thomas Brown
December 31st, 2012
12:16 pm
Aaron Murray, if he beats Nebraska, would have to go 14-0 next season with a new defense and facing top teams too, just to TIE David Greene’s UGA Record at 42 wins.
That’s not happening.
Joey
December 31st, 2012
12:18 pm
Drew Brees 6′0″ 4.77 in the 40 yard dash.
Aaron Murray 6′1″ 4.81 in the 40 yard dash.
Not a lot of difference there . . .
Look, I’m done arguing about Murray, TB. We both love the Dawgs and this is unnecessary.
The NFL Draft will give us an idea of who is right, if Murray even decides to give it a try.
Truce?
Thomas Brown
December 31st, 2012
12:19 pm
Aaron Murray NEVER has been a leader here.
His teammates told him that.
He knows it.
We all know it.
If you gave me Todd Gurley and Keith Marshall, I would hand the ball off to them until they puked. All he wanted to do was pass the damn ball.
Thomas Brown
December 31st, 2012
12:21 pm
Good Lord, Joey…
…now Aaron Murray is
DREW BREES ?
Really ?
Joey
December 31st, 2012
12:22 pm
Wet Willie, I wasn’t putting AJ down at all, but as you know, he has the BEST:
Coaches
O-line
Running game
And I am talking about pure passers, and I think Murray is the better of the two.
Just my opinion.
Thomas Brown
December 31st, 2012
12:24 pm
I’ve always like you Joey.
I don’t, therefore, need a truce with you.
I read the guy at the top of this page reply that Aaron Murray was not a leader. He’s right. So, I told him so.
I read you write that you want Mark Richt gone. You’re wrong, so I wrote to you why.
I read you write that Aaron Murray is Drew Brees. You’re wrong, so I wrote to you why.
Thomas Brown
December 31st, 2012
12:27 pm
Aaron Murray, national championship on the line, looked at the sideline and as always THEY STEERED HIM WRONGLY.
AJ McCarron always in that situation, spikes the ball and then looks to the sidelines.
AJ McCarron – you’re right – is not as good a Quarterback passing the football as Aaron Murray; he’s just the better quarterback.
Joey
December 31st, 2012
12:35 pm
TB, I’m not gonna post the stats but look at Murray’s stats compared to Brees’ last 3 (he hardly played in his first).
Identical completion % and TD passes, but Murray is oodles better in INTs and yds per attempt.
And Murray did it in the SEC!
Now I have no idea how that will translate to the next level, but neither do you.
And by the way, yeah, I’d like Richt to move on, but have stated over and over that HE has earned the right to decide when he should go.
Selling Points
December 31st, 2012
12:37 pm
Lets really look at the 2013 Football season for the UGA Bulldogs; NO Disrespect just Realism.
UGA will lose MOST of their KEY players from a good/great defense in 2012.
Very little playing time and experience for the Defensive Secondary
Big Uglies in the middle of the UGA defense will be gone. Big Holes to fill.
USC will be better in 2013
Florida will be better in 2013
Vanderbilt will be better in 2013, and will be a force to reckon with
Tennessee will play a hard nose style football in 2013, expect them to be better fundamentality.
Missouri will be better with all of their OL returning who were injured in 2012 pre season
Kentucky will be rebuilding if they can find a QB
LSU is on the schedule and will out physical UGA
Clemson returns most of their offensive playmakers who will run up and down the field on UGA.
The UGA team will have a let down in 2013 and UGA fans should just learn to live with the facts.
Joey
December 31st, 2012
12:41 pm
…..and before you bring up yards, Brees threw 600 more times in his 3 seasons than Murray. Murray woulda killed him there too, with 600 more attempts.
And Murray is not Brees – but he was a little better than Brees in college, so . . .
Thomas Brown
December 31st, 2012
12:41 pm
If you have 3 throws to the end zone from the 5-yard line, you certainly can get a better match-up than their 1 pass defender on the guy you’re trying to force it to with the heebie-jeebies demonstrably presented as your entire credentials forever. Aaron Murray could have thrown that one away when he saw the coverage. He would’ve had 2 more plays to get an advantage over where their 1 pass defender was and throw it somewhere, anywhere else.
This microcosm of his games 27-13 over three years, is what it has always been – other than Florida on that 1 third-down conversion all day. Had David Greene made 1 third-down conversion 2002 against a team who made not the AP Poll Top 25 nor the Coaches’ Poll Top 25 even with their win over us 2002, David Greene would’ve won us a national championship in 2002.
David Greene had 1 good game, in his Freshman season 2001 beating # 4 Tennessee on the hob-nailed boot, a feat unrepeated in all his 4 seasons’ here.
Aaron Murray beat 1 team in his entire career here, and played like crudola in that game – except for that 1 third-down conversion.
The NFL is not waiting on Aaron Murray.
The NFL is waiting for a quarterback who can throw the football between the lanes, and unfortunately, Aaron Murray has NEVER done that – as Drew Brees does every time he throws the football.
Aaron Murray has ARRIVED, where Drew Brees believe he has to prove himself on every play.
That’s the difference.
Selling Points
December 31st, 2012
12:45 pm
Aaron Murray will be a good quarterback in the NFL for one reason. He is a Football Rat, and studies, works hard and has the desire to be good, with that said, he will need to be on a team that has a system that allows him to work with a great TE and Possession style recievers.
Joey
December 31st, 2012
12:51 pm
Selling Points,
UGA will go 14-0 in 2013 and win it all.
That is SPECULATION. Do I believe that? No.
Just like that post of yours @ 12:37, it’s a guess.
By the way, you forgot to mention our youthful O-line will be more experienced.
Both of our huge Tight Ends will back.
All of our quality RBs will be back, bigger and stronger.
Michael Bennent will be back.
And contrary to what you say, our D was not “great” this season, but it may be next season, with the huge recruiting class, and JC transfers.
And make me laugh about Clemson, or any other ACC team. Our punter will never get on the field . . .
Joey
December 31st, 2012
12:54 pm
Like I said.
We will see in April . . .
Buckeye
December 31st, 2012
12:54 pm
Joey,
And, he offers me a taste of one of his jumbo shakes?
Buckeye
December 31st, 2012
1:04 pm
“Tub” Jenkins”
Burp
Burp
Nap time!
Joey
December 31st, 2012
1:07 pm
Haha – more like, he picks you up and SHAKES you, Buckeye . . .
Selling Points
December 31st, 2012
1:09 pm
Joey
December 31st, 2012
12:51 pm
Selling Points,
UGA will go 14-0 in 2013 and win it all.
That is SPECULATION. Do I believe that? No.
Just like that post of yours @ 12:37, it’s a guess.
By the way, you forgot to mention our youthful O-line will be more experienced.
Both of our huge Tight Ends will back.
All of our quality RBs will be back, bigger and stronger.
Michael Bennent will be back.
And contrary to what you say, our D was not “great” this season, but it may be next season, with the huge recruiting class, and JC transfers.
And make me laugh about Clemson, or any other ACC team. Our punter will never get on the field . . .
_________________________________________________________
Yes it is pure Speculation, but it is speculation based upon facts not by hopefullness.
UGA will NOT be near as good on defense and the schedule is much much tougher based upon how the games line up week after week. Getting ready for 6 tough games in 8 weeks is tough and with a complete new group on defense the Offense will be required to produce and not make mistakes. Murray is gone and many fans of UGA think Mason is better, but if Mason were better he would certainly have been playing in front of Murray the past three seasons but he was not.
Just to make a second point, the UGA line was NOT that Good either this past year, they had better be better next year or Mason will have to watch from the Sidelines.
Do you realize that haalf of the JC players brought in to the SEC never work out and are average players at this level? UGA had better have a GREAT Recruiting class with players who can contribute immediatley and as of today there are only 1 or 2 players in that class that will make that kind of impact for UGA in 2013.
Wet Willie...keep on smiling
December 31st, 2012
1:10 pm
Bad day to be a NFL coach on a losing team…just saying. If Gruden doesn’t take an NFL gig this year then he will never. Where will they find the coaches to replace on those fired before coffee this AM? I do believe the Jets keep Rex because even as bad as he might be trying to find someone better would be very difficult. Have a great New Year everyone. Hope all your favorite teams play well. Roll Tide
Thomas Brown
December 31st, 2012
1:11 pm
“Aaron Murray was a little better than Drew Brees in college.”
On 229 rushes has 207 yards 09 TD, Aaron Murray college starter.
On 243 rushes has 891 yards 12 TD, Drew Brees college starter.
This told the NFL that Drew Brees was TOUGH.
09,664 yards passing Aaron Murray college starter.
11,560 yards passing Drew Brees college starter.
40 games Aaron Murray college starter
36 games Drew Brees college starter
Drew Brees beat who made :
# 11 AP Poll Michigan 2000
# 23 AP Poll Wisconsin 2000
# 07 AP Poll Michigan State 1999
# 18 AP Poll Minnesota 1999
# 10 AP Poll Kansas State 1998
Aaron Murray in his 40 college starts beat # 4 Florida and looked like crudola in that 1 game.
Aaron Murray has beat no other team who made the AP Poll Top 25.
And, Aaron Murray is NOT a little better than Drew Brees in college. The only are where Aaron Murray is a “LITTLE” compared to Drew Brees, is that Drew Brees is 6 feet tall, and Aaron Murray, isn’t.
Joey
December 31st, 2012
1:42 pm
OK, if it shuts you up, you are absolutely right TB.
Undeniably correct.
Murray will never get drafted, and will never make a team, even if he plays for free.
His career is OVER.
So says Thomas Brown.
Joey
December 31st, 2012
2:14 pm
Selling Points,
So your negativity wasn’t “based on hopefulness?”
Hey we appreciate your concern, but worry not. We can beat anybody on the schedule, and we can lose to 3 or 4 teams on our schedule.
Other than Alabama, who else can say different right now?
Thomas Brown
December 31st, 2012
2:15 pm
He will never throw a pass in the NFL, not this year, never.
Thomas Brown
December 31st, 2012
2:19 pm
Who are the top teams next year, when we don’t have our defense, who will be drafted by the NFL after the next game ?
Stanford
Alabama
LSU
Oregon
Notre Dame
Texas A and M
Ohio State
South Carolina
Oklahoma
Florida State
Clemson
Oregon State
UCLA
Southern California
Boise State
Michigan State
Ole Miss
archie
December 31st, 2012
2:42 pm
@Thomas Brown: With all due respect, Tony Dorsett had already played in at least two Super Bowls by the time January 1, 1981 rolled around. He did play for the University of Pittsburg (in the mid 1970’s) true enough. My memory of the 1981 Sugar Bowl includes a tenacious quarterback for Pitt named Dan Marino and his determination to complete ONE “Hail Mary” pass that night (which he finally did).
DawginLex
December 31st, 2012
2:58 pm
He’s coming back. He has slipped up and said a couple of things recently that gave it away.
He said he is going to work on his footspeed so he can make plays. He knows he is not ready. He loves college too
He is coming back to settle the score with Bama next December
Thomas Brown
December 31st, 2012
3:00 pm
Yes, that was pointed out that as a student I saw Tony don’t call me Tony Anthony Dorsett Sugar Bowl – boy I hated that bowl game too.
About as much as I hated the Boise State game last year.
Thomas Brown
December 31st, 2012
3:01 pm
We will not be in The SEC Championship Game next December and Alabama is not on our schedule. There will be no evening on the record with a much better Alabama 2013 than they were in 2012. Scary better Alabama 2013, with all their freshmen starting 2012 at key positions.
Moist Dawg
December 31st, 2012
3:15 pm
I just dont get it. Murray has a chance to come back and play on the most hallowed ground in sport, why would he even consider going to the pros?
DawginLex
December 31st, 2012
3:20 pm
What was so great about our defense in 2012?
The kids were stupid in the offseason and didn’t get to play together the entire year and it cost us.
Next year we have loads of young talent. Our offense will be one of the best in the country. It won’t take a 1985 Bears defense to win next year.
Wet Willie...keep on smiling
December 31st, 2012
3:22 pm
Thomas…don’t mess up the Dawgs holiday with your Bama forecast! Nick redsirted 6 stars of the future due to the talent ahead of them. Nick believes Dalvin Tomlinson will really be a very good player. The class Bama signed last Feb 2012 will go down as better than the 2008 class and that class is the gold standard of college football. 12-2,14-0,10-3,12-1,12-1 with one to play.(redshirts from the 2008 class).
DawginLex
December 31st, 2012
3:23 pm
All the idiot haters who selectively talk about our record against ranked teams only after the year is over are going to have to admit that our 2nd best game of the year was beating Vandy who will go 9-4 and end up ranked.
Thomas Brown
December 31st, 2012
3:23 pm
Well, yeah, but I am a Dawgs fan and you guys was lucky.
Thomas Brown
December 31st, 2012
3:25 pm
Yes, all Vandie has to do is win their 1st bowl game since World War II and they will not be # 27, assuming we can beat Nebraska for them to move into the Top 25.
DawginLex
December 31st, 2012
3:25 pm
Bama will go 12-0 next year
A&M will get destroyed at home by Bama because of the OL leaving
Florida will not scare me as long as Driskell is playing QB
Joey
December 31st, 2012
3:39 pm
Oh Lord!
Somebody’s got to re-configure the “Murray’s record vs ranked teams-issue.”
James Franklin is a football coach . . .
Thomas Brown
December 31st, 2012
3:50 pm
You mean from 1-11 to 2-11 ?
And, the only good game he had then would’ve been against # 27 Vandie
Thomas Brown
December 31st, 2012
4:02 pm
Opponents who made AP Poll Top 25 :
——-LOST—–
(1) # 1 Auburn 2010
(2) # 12 Arkansas 2010
(3) # 15 Mississippi State 2010
(4) # 21 Central Florida 2010
(5) # 22 South Carolina 2010
(6) # 2 LSU 2011
(7) # 8 Boise State 2011
(8) # 11 Michigan State 2011
(9) # 11 South Carolina 2012
(10) # 2 Alabama 2012
+++++WON+++++
(1) # 4 Florida 2012
1-10 as Starting Quarterback vs teams who made AP Poll Top 25
nofootballincollege
December 31st, 2012
4:18 pm
Murray needs to talk to Barkley before deciding.
Manziel is a freak – a great QB this year. He was about a half step ahead of Bama defense all game. However, he may be an ankle injury away from dropping to good.
Vandy wins.
8 wins to go. SEC SEC SEC SEC
Tough love
December 31st, 2012
4:20 pm
Moist Dawg,
Most Hallowed Ground?
Oh my god please stop drinking , I just spit out my champagne while watching the Tech game.
Stay Aaron, what's the rush to become an HR dept. Bob Newhart?
December 31st, 2012
4:28 pm
Yeah, and all the jerks that constantly bash the kid might have given him the idea that he doesn’t need their crap anymore, so he might move on. Stay one more year and improve NFL status while breaking all the records. Screw the bozos that bash you. They don’t know %$#^.
Heck, eventually become a sports psychologist. It helped people like Smoltz. Better fit than a working for a human resource department. How boring. You’ll be seeking analysis from Bob Newhart in a job like that, as not to go crazy.
woof woof
December 31st, 2012
4:43 pm
Do we have to listen to Brent Cheeseburger call the GA game on tv?
He’s the pits. The only timne he was ever good was on The NFL Today show. Along with Phyllis George. Mmmmmm Mmmmmmm Good
Mark Richt is a younger version of John Cooper
December 31st, 2012
5:02 pm
sounds like Joey and Lex have pre-ordered their 2013 pre-season national championship gear…30+ years now…congrats….nobody in America better from mid-January to late August…idiots…
Marquis de Mercury
December 31st, 2012
5:10 pm
I-O psychologist? Just what corporate America needs, more crap flowing out of HR. Oh well, those who can perform on the big stage do…Those who can’t, teach.
Marquis de Mercury
December 31st, 2012
5:10 pm
I-O psychologist? Just what corporate America needs, more crap flowing out of HR. Oh well, those who can perform on the big stage do…Those who can’t, teach.
Game Changer
December 31st, 2012
5:48 pm
@All
UGA football players academics are being looked at by the ncaa, similar to the situation at UNC a couple of years ago. UGA AD, Coaches and some administrators are very aware as many current students are that football players are having their school work done by others, then turning the papers in etc., this couldn’t be any more evident than a recent player loss off the team for academics for not even CHANGING THE NAME ON THE ASSIGNMENT TO HIS NAME. NOT KIDDING, this is not the first occurance of this, football players handing in papers to teachers and were to dumb to change the name on the paper written by others to their own name. Many of the papers can be tracked further because they are being email in. The state of Georgia is top 5 in number and quality of football players yet we recruit and sign many of the dumbest idiots available, WHY??