Dawgs have nothing to be ashamed of after epic battle with Bama
The inability of the Georgia defense to stop Eddie Lacy allowed Bama to get back into the game. (Curtis Compton / AJC)
So, which hurts worse, getting blown out in the second half of an SEC Championship like last year, or coming tantalizingly close to a trip to the BCS title game, as the Georgia Bulldogs did Saturday night?
Both results are tough for the players and fans to take, but at least Mark Richt’s 2012 team knows it took the best team in college football down to the wire, and in the end was four yards and about 3 seconds away from playing for the national championship.
This latest SEC Championship loss was emotionally draining, no doubt, but the Dawgs have nothing to be ashamed of in their heartbreaking 32-28 loss to the Crimson Tide.
And while Georgia might not have gotten the win, no one can say quarterback Aaron Murray didn’t step up in a big-time game. Despite Bama’s Eddie Lacy and T.J. Yeldon running wild as the Tide’s powerful offensive line wore down the Georgia defensive front seven and got Bama back in the game after Georgia led by 11 points in the third quarter, Murray kept his team in the game with his arm, completing 18 of 33 passes for 265 yards and a touchdown.
Alec Ogletree scores on a blocked field goal to put Georgia back in the lead. (Brant Sanderlin / AJC)
It was an up and down night, with the lead changing hands several times. Even special teams play, often a chink in the armor for Georgia, had its good and bad moments. The Dogs missed a field goal, but they made a first down on a fake punt and blocked a Bama field goal that Alec Ogletree scooped up and returned 55 yards for a touchdown.
In the end, it was traditional grown-man SEC football that won out. Just as Nick Saban predicted at halftime, the team that ran the ball better in the second half won, as Bama set a new SEC Championship game rushing record with 350 yards on the ground. Of course, he was hoping that would be the case because he knew that running was the only way his team was going to beat Georgia, as his offense simply couldn’t handle the Dogs’ pass rush.
Ironically, it was one of those rare occasions when Georgia had a running back break the century mark, as freshman Todd Gurley ran for a very tough 122 yards, and yet lost — because Alabama had two backs go for more than 100 yards as Lacy had an amazing 181 yards and freshman Yeldon got 153.
Yes, there are things you could quibble about, from Georgia’s continuing penchant for committing unnecessary infractions to the inconsistent officiating to some of Mike Bobo’s playcalling on key three-and-outs, the amount of time it took Todd Grantham to adjust to the Tide’s rushing attack in the third quarter, Bacarri Rambo biting on the wrong receiver on the play-action pass that won the game for Bama and, most all, the perplexing decision by the Georgia coaching staff not to spike the ball after Artie Lynch got the ball down to the Bama 8-yard line with 15 seconds remaining on the clock.
Richt’s explanation of the latter decision after the game made little sense; he said spiking the ball would have eaten up 2 or 3 seconds, but the Dogs easily ran off that much time before the ball was snapped on the failed fade pass that was tipped and ended up being the last play of the game. Yeah, you can’t predict a ball will get tipped, but a spike would have guaranteed the Dogs at least two shots at the end zone.
Oh, well.
All that aside, Georgia gave the Tide all it could handle in an absolutely thrilling contest. And at least CBS analyst Gary Danielson now knows just how “real” Georgia is. And so does an Alabama team that makes it to its second consecutive BCS title game by the skin of its teeth.
Feel free to share your thoughts on this classic Georgia-Alabama showdown.
Got some thoughts on the Dawgs or a question for the Junkyard Blawg? Send it to junkyardblawg@gmail.com.
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189 comments Add your comment
Skokie Dog
December 2nd, 2012
7:58 pm
I enjoyed the game yesterday–as entertainment. And since many contributors here believe that it is sacrilegious to criticize the U.Ga. coaching staff and most of the players, my suggestion to those who find accepting defeat difficult is to adjust your minds and expectations, as I have done already. If we’re being honest with ourselves, we know that college and professional football are about money and revenue. The games are entertainment, so the high salaries for coaches are justified by the profit margins. If the team habitually loses “big” games, some coaches lose their jobs. As someone already observed above, that’s not likely to happen at U.Ga. So, if you just view the games as entertainment, you’re being realistic, and it’s easier to accept defeats, whether they are blowout losses, like the one earlier this season, or near misses, like the game yesterday. If you’re investing too much of your money or emotions in this organization, you’re likely to be disappointed.
I admire the team’s effort yesterday, but U.Ga. again found a way to lose a hard-fought game. Others on the blawg have identified specific problems with the ‘Dogs’ performance. (Did anyone else find it remotely ironic that our team’s last play failed because the pass was tipped?) Remember that the coaches will collect their checks, and the players who graduate and play in the NFL will earn their money eventually too. I do think it’s laudable that U.Ga. has improved the graduation rate of the student-athletes since I was enrolled, and that’s another important measure of success.
The online edition of Friday’s Wall Street Journal characterized Georgia as “the Miss Congeniality of the SEC.” That sounds about right to some of us fans, like it or not. The fact that we don’t agree that everything at the U.Ga. Athletic Association and on the field are just perfect doesn’t mean that we need to go away. It just means we need to be realistic about our expectations. I am now and have been since the Sugar Bowl loss to West Virginia, on the same Georgia Dome field as yesterday’s game.
Thomasville Dawg
December 2nd, 2012
8:06 pm
The reality of the situation is due to undersigning and disciplinary issues we have about 15 less scholarship players than Alabama. They were able to sub in and out the whole game and were fresh in the end. Meanwhile, we had the same 14 to 15, and more importantly 4 to 5 on the d-line, play the WHOLE GAME. Our offensive gameplan was great: go fast and keep them on their heels. But unfortunately it put our defense on the field for most of the game and our lack of depth showed off. You can complain about Richt for putting us in the situation of lacking depth but his game management and planning for THIS GAME was great and I was proud to be there cheering them on and to see it in person. For those saying we’re settling for mediocrity, the reality is with the exception of one magical season Dooley and Richt are exactly the same in terms of success and I’m proud to have him as our coach. One year we’ll break through but I’m proud that man is our head coach.
MaconKnight
December 2nd, 2012
8:10 pm
I thought bobo played it safe after they had scored and converted the 2 point play to make the score 21- 18 what with about 5mins and some change bobo calls a wideout screen no gain a hand off to gurley and he picks up 9 and 3rd 1 we run gurley again. And he gets stuffed. 4th down we punt. I thought at that moment we should have went for it. They had just scored and we put the defense right back on the field after not converting a 1st down. I thought we were playing not to lose at that point. Well we all can nik pick all we want. Fact is the players gave all they had and we need to embrace there effort they came up 4 yards short. Still and will always be a DAWG but just maybe the o coordinator needs to resigns you cant call plays scarec trying to out duel your buddy smart. And no smart wouldnt be a good head coach.
Russa
December 2nd, 2012
8:13 pm
“Dawgs have nothing to be ashamed of after epic battle with Bama”
all it says to me is how much greater Saban is than Richt. Saban is about to win his 4th National Championship in almost 10 years and this is the closest Richt has EVER come to even playing for the National Championship.
“no one can say quarterback Aaron Murray didn’t step up in a big-time game”
they can say he’s 1-5 against the Top 10
Tndawg
December 2nd, 2012
8:18 pm
So listen haters, we ended up 5, count them, 5 points away from playing for a championship. Our field goal kicker gets that earlier field goal and Murray spikes the ball with 5 seconds left, and we are SEC champs. Why in the world do we have to always get back to firing Richt?
old guy
December 2nd, 2012
8:21 pm
second guess,second guess, second guess! Great game coach and don’t let the know nothings get you down. Great game Murray!
Buzz-off
December 2nd, 2012
8:29 pm
One comment and I’m taking it in:
KIRBY SMART WITH EXTRAORDINARY (NFL) TALENT COULD NOT EVEN SLIGHTLY SLOW DOWN UGA……..WE JUST DIDN’T MAKE THE PLAYAT THE END OF THE GAME (poop happens). IT HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH KIRBY…..SO WHY IN THE HELL DO SOME IDIOTS THINK HE IS BETTER THAN CMR BECAUSE HE ISN’T EVEN CLOSE…….GIVE IT A REST!
Thouse
December 2nd, 2012
8:29 pm
Richt didn’t think UGA needed a Special Teams coach? Guy misses field goal in SEC Championship, costing you the biggest year in 30+ seasons? Mark Richt’s so stubborn, and made a bad decision. Grantham could coach ALL the LB’s, Olivadotti’s ILB’s got SCHOOLED by BAMA and RUN ALL OVER. His position should be eliminated, and UGA should hire a Special Teams coach.
Thouse
December 2nd, 2012
8:33 pm
Ace Sanders punt return for td almost cost UGA this year but SC lost 2 games after that, last year’s HoneyBadger returns 2 punts cost the 2011 SEC Championship. Now the missed field goal costs UGA the 2012 National Championship? No Special Teams coach needed?
mgnolia, tx tom
December 2nd, 2012
8:33 pm
350 yards against our storied defense. we suck on defense. get rid of fat boy and worhtless grantham
Thouse
December 2nd, 2012
8:34 pm
The interception Murray threw again was catastrophic and cost UGA 3 points. Without that, it’s 29-28, you spike the ball on the 8 yard line and try to kick a short field goal for the win.
I think Murray had 3 turnovers in the 2011 SEC Championship.
WOW.
Buzz-off
December 2nd, 2012
8:34 pm
Russ a
You are totally full of goose squeeze
Even the BCS Countdown called it an “epic battle” 1 minute ago. Don’t forget Bama has the top 1 or 2 recruiting classes every year for the past 4 years and Saban nearly lost. I wouldn’t call that superior coaching.
Buzz-off
December 2nd, 2012
8:37 pm
Thouse
Are you stupid or impaired…..or both?
Thouse
December 2nd, 2012
8:37 pm
UGA gave up 42 points in the 2011 SEC Championship, and 32 in the 2012 SEC Championship. Why? Special teams and defense in 2011, and defense in 2012. LSU held Alabama to 21 points, A/M held Alabama to 24 points and UGA gives up 32 points?
Why we keep losing big games
1. Defense can’t hold teams to under 25 in big games (besides Florida game)
2. No Special teams coach
3. Poor play at QB in big games
Thouse
December 2nd, 2012
8:39 pm
Texas A & M beat Alabama with:
1- Great QB play in a big game
2- Great red zone defense
3- Held Alabama to under 25 points
QB was all the difference.
Thouse
December 2nd, 2012
8:44 pm
How some of you feel all warm & fuzzy after going 1-11 in the last 12 big games says a lot about you.
1-11 record against great teams in not acceptable.
BIG CHANGES MUST BE MADE OR NOTHING WILL CHANGE.
ugaclassof2004
December 2nd, 2012
8:46 pm
I want to thank most of the Alabama fans for their classy remarks. Y’all have a great program, and Nick Saban is a phenomenal coach, just love the his mentality and the things he says. I was also pleased with the way Richt and his team competed. Effort like that gets my undying support every time.
That game was like Rocky vs. Apollo Creed. Wish it would have been Buster Douglas vs. Mike Tyson
. But seriously, how great is SEC football? I think that was the greatest SEC Title Game ever. The Florida vs. Alabama games might have been more high profile, but in terms of the actual action on the field? No way. Bama vs. UGA trumps them all.
ugaclassof2004
December 2nd, 2012
8:47 pm
I want to thank most of the Alabama fans for their classy remarks. Y’all have a great program, and Nick Saban is a phenomenal coach, just love his mentality and the things he says. I was also pleased with the way Richt and his team competed. Effort like that gets my undying support every time.
That game was like Rocky vs. Apollo Creed. Wish it would have been Buster Douglas vs. Mike Tyson
. But seriously, how great is SEC football? I think that was the greatest SEC Title Game ever. The Florida vs. Alabama games might have been more high profile, but in terms of the actual action on the field? No way. Bama vs. UGA trumps them all.
ugaclassof2004
December 2nd, 2012
8:49 pm
P.S. Those of you bashing Richt and Co. can seriously go to hell right now. I too have been hard on Richt in the past, but he had those guys ready to play last night. We just lost to a better team.
jlp39
December 2nd, 2012
8:50 pm
To those posing as UGA fans that want Kirby Smart as a coach, please tell me what you saw out there that you liked. We ate their secondary alive and we were missing two of our top receivers.
On a different note, Please put Jay Rome in the game!!!
Thouse
December 2nd, 2012
8:59 pm
Can you believe Grantham’s defense gave up 350 YARDS RUSHING!!!! Kirby Smart held UGA to under 120.
Thouse
December 2nd, 2012
9:01 pm
The UGA defensive plan was a bad one.
Either commit to stop the run, or not allow a deep pass.
UGA allowed BOTH????? rAMBO GOT BEAT ON A DEEP BALL, AND THEN sWANN GOT BEAT ON A DEEP ONE TOO.
Fire Richt People Are Plain Stupid
December 2nd, 2012
9:14 pm
Fire Richt? You Richt haters are what gives college football fans a bad name. idiots. I graduated from UGA and you UGA coach bashers are just so little in the brain.
bubba4dawgs
December 2nd, 2012
9:15 pm
Right on, Tampa Dawg!! This was a game that begs the statement; “coulda, woulda, shoulda”! I see one play that I thought would have made sucha big difference in this gam and that was the 2 point conversion that Bama made. CMR should have called a time out and gotten his team ready and lined up properly. They weren’t even set for the play and of course got beat badly. Those two points turned out to be huge as the score would have wound up 30-28 making a field goal by the DAWGS to win. Then those precious minutes at the end would not have come into play. Oh well, I’m so very proud of the DAWGS anyway and believe it will be the loss will be a driving force to return hopefully next year, if not, soon!
geoSTORM
December 2nd, 2012
9:23 pm
Didn’t have a horse in this particular race, but enjoyed a great game.
Didn’t see it mentioned here, but only read first two board, and this one. IMO, fans watching were denied an even better finish…to have only 2 plays in that last 30 seconds…and why wasn’t there a call to clock the ball with 15 seconds left?
I thought dawgs would be able to run 2-3 plays down there, in the last 12-13 seconds, if they had clocked the ball…I was certain they were going to get over on Bama, in those last seconds, and frankly still feel they presented the tougher match-up for ND.
Terry
December 2nd, 2012
9:25 pm
To all fair weather Georgia fans: Georgia scores more points and touchdowns this season than any team in UGA history. We competed down to the last seconds of the Sugar Bowl to a Alabama team most likely headed to its third national championship in four years. Alabama has held a slight edge in recruiting which national championships will grant you. Georgia competes with the elite footballs teams when we just compete in the SEC Conference with six teams in the top ten in the BCS standings, the SEC’’s strongest field ever. Now we are competing at the highest level on one of the largest stages. The belly aching Georgia fans who don’t realize how strong the competition is in the SEC and that winning every game isn’t possible. The fans who bad mouth Mark Richt and Mike Bobo after this loss, when the game was lost by a defense full of potential 1st rounders. These clueless Georgia fans stand in the way of us closing the narrow gap in recruiting to get the best of Alabama the next time we play them. After Georgia’s 1982 team lost the Sugar Bowl in our last attempt at a national championship, the fan base stood solidly behind the Dawgs and were proud of their accomplishments. Why not now?
Mobile Dawg
December 2nd, 2012
9:27 pm
I haven’t perused every board, or read every comment. But what I’ve seen, not one regular poster has had anything negative to say about the Dawgs. All the negative comments are from losers coming out of the woodwork, not Georgia folks.
Miamidawg
December 2nd, 2012
9:38 pm
nothing to be ashamed of after epic battle with Bama… ya sure.
Bama is playing for their 3rd in four years and we’ve got nothing to be ashamed of. How about we forget about shame and focus on anger on an opportunity squandered and work next year to finish the drill.
DawgVoiceofReason
December 2nd, 2012
9:47 pm
Bill (and others espousing the same false premise),
I quote Bill, “a spike would have guaranteed the Dogs at least two shots at the end zone.”. Why does anyone think that? There are no guarantees on the outcome of plays following a spike or at any other time. Spiking or not spiking the ball had nothing to do with what happened and would not have prevented the same result. The tipped pass and result of the play that resulted had everything to do with what happened at the end of the game. To point out the obvious, knowing what happened, if we had it to do over of course they would have done something different (perhaps perhaps simply calling the same play to the other side) but at the time it was run the play had the advantage of preventing Bama from changing defenders and from preparing for the play. Their linebacker just made a spectacular play to tip the ball.
Why is everyone so obsessed with the idea of spiking the ball? Is it just because that is what is typically done? There are examples where not spiking the ball worked and there are plenty of examples where spiking the ball did not win the game. So many of you accuse the coaches of “not playing to win but playing not to lose”. This was an example of being prepared (they already had called the play to be run) and our players knew what to do. It just didn’t work out.
Tampa Dawg
December 2nd, 2012
9:56 pm
DawgVoiceOfReason – AMEN! The world of sports fandom is full of folks that live a comfortable life, and dont regularly make decisions when major stakes are on the line – where seconds matter. Folks who’s biggest decision of the day is which font to use on their report or do I get the burger with cheese, or without. They want to second guess everything from the comfort of their couches while living a life of relative ease.
So what if we spiked, Smart dialed up a blitz, sacked Murray for a loss of 5 and time ran out?
You know what those same men would say (and I use the term men loosely) – WHY DIDN’T WE HAVE A PLAY ON HURRY UP OFFENSE TO USE?
Stop living in the world of WOULDA-SHOULDA-COULDA (thanks bubba4dawgs – stealing that). Game is over – focus on Nebraska, and then use ALLLLLLLL this pent up disappointment they definitely have and channel it into every – flippin- game next year.
What happens to those that focus only on a defeat? You stay defeated.
DawgVoiceofReason
December 2nd, 2012
9:57 pm
To answer Bill’s question about this year versus last year. Of course this year is far more devastating. We fought to and were in it until the very end. We were so close to playing for the national championship and we had a legitimate shot to win both games. Last year we were not expected (by most reasonable folks) to even be in the game with LSU because we had NO RUNNING GAME at all. Even winning that game last year would not have put us in the National Championship picture. This one hurts because of the meaning of the game, the opportunity at hand, the effort we gave, the potential for an unbelievable comeback and beating one of the great programs of all time. It is also very unfortunate that Murray, while perhaps somewhat more respected for his heart and resolve (recovering from one of the all time cheap shots by the Bama lineman), will still have the criticism of not winning enough “big games”. Coach Richt also, who took risks in the game to try to win it, will also bear the brunt of any criticism until we break through again.
Bill King
December 2nd, 2012
10:13 pm
DawgVoiceofREason:
Of course, you’re correct. It is not guaranteed that they could have gotten two plays off if they had spiked the ball. But the chances are better that they could have done that than Richt’s plan of somehow getting THREE plays off in 15 seconds without spiking the ball.
C From Marietta
December 2nd, 2012
11:27 pm
@ Crimson Pride
You are exactly right. Thanks for the words of wisdom.
Now go beat the crap out of ND!
MARK RICHT IS MY MAN AND I HOPE HE STAYS!
If you want Coach Richt gone. Then, you will be crying for many years to come.
C From Marietta
December 2nd, 2012
11:30 pm
@ Terry
You are right! Good words.
C From Marietta
December 2nd, 2012
11:34 pm
@ Thouse
Your no UGA fan. Go back to the Tech blog where you belong.
If you are UGA fan, PLEASE find another team. We don’t want you in the Bulldog Nation!
Sharkdawg
December 2nd, 2012
11:54 pm
DAVID POLLACK IS A SELL OUT”……..
Smit
December 3rd, 2012
9:02 am
Only 1 or 2 fans left who are satisfied with going 1 & 11 in last 12 big games. C from Marietta and Bill K. Everybody else is angry and fed up with being the loser 10 out of 11 times.
Fan talk: Did Georgia get shafted by the the BCS? | UGA: The Junkyard Blawg
December 6th, 2012
10:18 am
[...] Dawgs have nothing to be ashamed of after epic battle with Bama [...]
After further review
December 6th, 2012
1:17 pm
Monger (and the other Georgia “fans” complaining): two quotes for you -
1) “Any fool can criticize, condemn and complain and most fools do.” Ben Franklin
2) “Any fool can criticize, condemn and complain – and most fools do. But it takes character and self control to be understanding and forgiving.” Dale Carnegie