Bulldog Nation feels a profound sadness mixed with immense pride
UGA football staffer Bryant Gantt consoles Jarvis Jones after Saturday night's game. (Brant Sanderlin / AJC)
Just as I imagine it will take a while for Mark Richt’s Bulldogs to shake off the hurt from their close call with destiny Saturday night in the SEC Championship, the disappointment of the so-close loss to Alabama also is going to linger with the Bulldog Nation.
Talking to and hearing from fans Sunday, the overall mood was one of profound sadness over just how close this team came to playing for a national championship mixed with immense pride over the never-say-die effort the Dawgs gave in the Georgia Dome against the most elite of college football programs.
Only the most ignorant of so-called fans were expressing anger toward the coaches and players over the Bulldogs’ loss. More representative were those UGA students and fans who were on hand in Athens late Saturday night to greet the returning team buses with cheers, applause and chants of “It’s great to be a Georgia Bulldog!”
Such a classy display of support filled me with what the folks at Butts-Mehre like to call Bulldog Pride.
Zack Watson of the UGA Spike Squad shows how most of us felt after the loss to Alabama. (Curtis Compton / AJC)
But now many of us just feel drained. Several fans said they found they actually felt worse about the loss Sunday, once the adrenalin generated by the exciting match had worn off, than they did immediately after the game ended. I know I woke up at 5:30 a.m. Sunday and couldn’t get back to sleep because the game and its many turning points and near misses kept replaying in my mind.
Fortunately, there was a bit of good news Sunday afternoon to buoy Bulldog spirits as the feared fall to a lesser bowl in the wake of the championship loss didn’t happen. The Dogs might not be getting the other BCS spot in the Sugar Bowl, as even Bama coach Nick Saban said they ought to, but Georgia got the next highest available spot in the Capital One.
Hopefully, the resilient support for the program will translate into UGA selling all its tickets to the Orlando game, because as was pointed out on the postgame show Saturday night on the Bulldog radio network, how well a fan base travels factors into future bowl selections. (Tickets are now on sale to the general public.)
Likewise, let’s hope the players — even those who stuck around for another year of college ball just to try for a shot at the BCS, didn’t make it, and soon will be departing Athens — are able to rededicate themselves to ending this season on a high note. Win the bowl game, do it in the same impressive fashion that they took the battle to the Crimson Tide, and they’ll be rewarded with a Top 5 finish and the designation of a great team that fell just short of winning it all.
The Dawgs didn’t achieve their season-long goal of making it to the BCS game in Miami or winning Richt’s third SEC title, but as I’ve said before, anyone who considers this season less than a rousing success already deserves a dose of cold, hard SEC reality such as has been experienced in recent years by the loyal followers of the Tennessee Vols.
As Sanders Commings said after Saturday’s loss, “Any time you win 11 games in the regular season and go play for the championship, and lose the way we did, it’s a good season.”
He added: “We’re sad but we can’t be disappointed.”
Let his attitude provide a model for fans as well.
The Bulldogs did not fail against Alabama. They gave it everything they had and nearly beat a team that was already stamped with greatness. To paraphrase the UGA players’ motto for the season, our team “ran out of time,” as Richt said Saturday. But we should have no regrets.
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338 comments Add your comment
Flat Tire On Hwy 441 in Athens
December 3rd, 2012
2:12 pm
Thank God for Reggie Ball
Wait a minute you are not allowed to bash Grantham
Thank God for Reggie Ball
December 3rd, 2012
2:26 pm
I think Grantham is a fine defensive coordinator and I love his passion and his scheme. He had a bad year. That’s all, nothing more. But a bad year it was. I did not like some of the personnel moves he made particuarly on the defensive line in the Bama game. He was trying to use John and Jordan Jenkins at the end spot. Also I felt he stuck with Gilliard too much throughout the season and Herrera wasnt getting on the field enough. It doesn’t change my opinion of him though.
Flat Tire On Hwy 441 in Athens
December 3rd, 2012
2:32 pm
Thank God for Reggie Ball
Next year we will see if Gratham is worth his pay
Last year we couldnt stop good teams and this year we had moments but thats about it
If next year is the same then Richt needs to move on but he wont and thats been my criticism of him
Bulldogs for Muschamp Lifetime Contract
December 3rd, 2012
2:37 pm
Florida playing Louisville???
What a joke
Our opponent is better
Who backed in SSI? 17-9
Thank God for Reggie Ball
December 3rd, 2012
2:37 pm
@Flat Tire
the Florida game was Grantham’s finest work. Some of the blitz schemes he dialed up were things of beauty. The one Rambo sack was scary
Bulldogs for Muschamp Lifetime Contract
December 3rd, 2012
2:55 pm
flat tire you are far too stupid to realize how big of a moron you are
Flat Tire On Hwy 441 in Athens
December 3rd, 2012
2:58 pm
Bulldogs for Muschamp Lifetime Contract
The guy who argued with me by saying I was wrong to say this coaching staff will lose 2+ ballgames every year is calling me a moron
Ok
SSIgator
December 3rd, 2012
3:06 pm
Yeah, I can see where UGA would think Nebraska is a worthy opponent – in each of their three losses they gave up 500+ yards per game most of it rushing. Yeah, I can see where UGA could relate to that. Enjoy the Citrus bowl and say hi to Mickey & Minnie.
DAWGMAN
December 3rd, 2012
3:09 pm
Aw what the heck!
Let’s try for Kirby Smart!
Let’s offer him contract money that will make EVERYBODIES eyes bug out!
How many of us are ready for that?
Thank God for Reggie Ball
December 3rd, 2012
3:10 pm
@SSIgator
yes we all know how mighty the Louisville Cardinals are
Flat Tire On Hwy 441 in Athens
December 3rd, 2012
3:15 pm
Bulldogs for Muschamp Lifetime Contract
Need something more than moronic name calling
SSIgator
December 3rd, 2012
3:16 pm
For those UGA fans that are unhappy about who the Sugar Bowl chose, feel free to contact them and voice your displeasure – http://www.allstatesugarbowl.org/site50.php and I am sure they will correct the situation to fit your wishes.
SSIgator
December 3rd, 2012
3:20 pm
Flat Tire On Hwy 441 in Athens -
Don’t hold your breath. Lifetime – aka Patrick aka True Dawg Fan aka whatever does not have it in his DNA.
Thank God for Reggie Ball
December 3rd, 2012
3:21 pm
Oh I have no complaints, by the (crappy) rules they got it right. Just please unless your playing a team ranked at least in the top 20 don’t talk trash about UGA’s bowl opponent
)))17-9(((
SSIgator
December 3rd, 2012
3:25 pm
Also, for the UGA fans that do make the trip to Disney World, when you all get together to tailgate before the game, please check each others signs this year to make sure DAWG is spelled properly. Bad enough you lost to MSU last year much less advertise to the viewers watching the game that you cannot spell your own nickname.
Flat Tire On Hwy 441 in Athens
December 3rd, 2012
3:26 pm
Anyone heard from……
Sammy aka Dizzy aka Columbus aka Izzy aka Mystic
Captain Kirk
Lobosolo
NCDawg
SSIgator
December 3rd, 2012
3:29 pm
Uh, sorry, but I do believe it was you that brought up the subject of bowl opponents – not me. It is out of my domain and really doesn’t matter to me since all of the other games are just for window dressing. The real prize is waiting in Miami.
Bulldogs for Muschamp Lifetime Contract
December 3rd, 2012
3:29 pm
17-9 still stings
2 in a row
Gators backed into BCS and are playing a joke opponent
Facts always trump juvenile insults
DAWGMAN
December 3rd, 2012
3:30 pm
One more thing!
David Pollack is a working professional now. Seems like his paid opinion was spot on.
Anyone who suggests that he is not a true Bulldog Nation citizen of the First Magnitude is detached from the reality most of us experience. His excellence as a football player as displayed on the field time and again, cannot be disputed. What a magnificent player!
Oh to be a fly on the wall when he and Greenie talked some ball!
Flat Tire On Hwy 441 in Athens
December 3rd, 2012
3:32 pm
Unbelievable;
Im sitting here listening to the Finebaum show and we have UGA fans calling the show talking crap to an all Bama show about you got lucky and we are going to beat you bad when we meet in 2 yrs
Seriously Ive never seen such stupidity in my life even after another big game loss and yet another loss to a ranked team
No wonder why we havent done anything in 32 years
Thank God for Reggie Ball
December 3rd, 2012
3:33 pm
SSIgator 3:06 P.M.
“Yeah, I can see where UGA would think Nebraska is a worthy opponent – in each of their three losses they gave up 500+ yards per game most of it rushing. Yeah, I can see where UGA could relate to that. Enjoy the Citrus bowl and say hi to Mickey & Minnie.”
______________________________________________________________________________
SSIgator 3:29 P.M.
“Uh, sorry, but I do believe it was you that brought up the subject of bowl opponents – not me. It is out of my domain and really doesn’t matter to me since all of the other games are just for window dressing. The real prize is waiting in Miami.”
________________________________________________________________________________
hmmmm….. interesting
Thank God for Reggie Ball
December 3rd, 2012
3:35 pm
I see Muschamp Lifetime Contract said something about it but dont point a finger at me.
SSIgator
December 3rd, 2012
3:37 pm
For UGA fans frequent trips to Florida bowl games:
http://www.stayhereplayhere.com
another possible investment option.
Flat Tire On Hwy 441 in Athens
December 3rd, 2012
3:37 pm
DAWGMAN
I totally agree
Pollick has a job that involves giving objective opinions about every team and not delusional kool-aid
I guess the kool-aid crowd expects Pollick to pick UGA in every game they play instead of being knowledgeable and objective
But Ive found on here that no one can handle facts instead they use name calling and go pull for another team instead of facts
Thank God for Reggie Ball
December 3rd, 2012
3:42 pm
@Flat Tire
Yes, PollAck does fine work at ESPN. I had no problem with PollAck picking Bama, someone asked me about an hour before kickoff if I had $10,000 to bet on this game who would I pick, I said Bama. I believed we could win but I felt they were the better team by a slim margin and sure enough that is exactly what happened.
But no, PollAck is a DGD for life!
Caleb King
December 3rd, 2012
3:46 pm
Pollick has no business on ESPN. He does not know what he is talking about. That is where Bobo needs to go.
Caleb King
December 3rd, 2012
3:48 pm
Take Jessi Palmer’s hands away and he cannot talk.
Caleb King
December 3rd, 2012
3:51 pm
Kirby Smart needs to be the next head coach at UGA.
DawgFan1
December 3rd, 2012
4:14 pm
It’s great to be a Georgia Bulldog!! Now take the same intensity that you played with against Alabama when you play Nebraska!!
Evansdawg
December 3rd, 2012
4:38 pm
I’ve never been so mixed with pride and sorrow at the same time. I don’t think I’ve ever been more proud to be a Dawg in my life, either. I’ve always been extremely prideful in my UGA loyalty and have the piece of paper on the wall to prove it. But…for some reason, it just welled up inside. I think I love this particular team more than most. There is something about them that just makes me beam with Bulldog pride. We lost a lot of national prominence the previous few years, and Richt brought us back from the darkness into national prominence once again. He’s a winner. And…he’s our coach. DGD!
Evansdawg
December 3rd, 2012
4:39 pm
Additionally, coaching envy is what gripped Auburn, and look where it got them! Enough of the insanity.
Dawg89
December 3rd, 2012
7:08 pm
I wonder if Bobo or Grantham will get a call from any of the schools with coaching vacancies? Any word on that Bill?
Dawg Squeeze
December 3rd, 2012
7:35 pm
I got your point of pride……33 years and counting for this “elite” program.
Dirty Dawg
December 3rd, 2012
7:39 pm
So any ‘what ifs’…including ‘if’ we had hit that long field goal attempt earlier in the game, all we would have needed to win on that last play would have been another one…
Cedrick
December 3rd, 2012
8:00 pm
Its pretty funny reading some of these comments about a moral victory. What a lot of people need to understand is that a lot of us know the Dawgs gave their all in this game but AGAIN this team comes up short. I know all of you feel like people have been bashing CMR and Murray but we have not. We have been stating facts! THe fact is in the 3 years Murray has been a starter he has won exactly (1) big game (barely) this year against Florida. CMR has been our coach for 10 years and we have not come close to a BCS title game until this year. If you enjoy moral victories then CMR is your coach.
I desire a team to win BCS title games and thats why Saban is about to be a LEGEND!!!!!!!
I know the truth hurts sometimes and this one stings alot
MattGT
December 3rd, 2012
8:59 pm
I haven’t heard of the CapitOl One Bowl. The CapitAl One Bowl, yes.
Kang Question
December 3rd, 2012
9:28 pm
People have been saying and I have heard chuck Kang Oliver could not get into uga. What do you say about what other people are saying?
oakwood dawg
December 3rd, 2012
9:28 pm
I am so proud of our team. We almost pulled it out. The thing that really bothers me is the gaytors going to the sugar bowl to play a team that Ga. Tech would beat. I wish we could play the gaytors again. I’m sure we would beat them by at least 20 points. How does that grab you ssigator?
phil
December 3rd, 2012
9:41 pm
Yes, we did fail….
kgator33
December 3rd, 2012
9:44 pm
wow! all this AJC uga love with being proud of Georgia losing. Seriously? They lost the SEC title game havent played for a national title in 30 plus years in the mean time LSU, Auburn, Alabama, Florida in their own conference are winning titles. This year Georgia had a cake walk of a schedule playing only 2 ranked teams all regular season and only 3 teams with a winning record. Yet once again they blew it. But UGA fan should be proud of losing. lol! Wow! I guess whatever makes going to the Capital One bowl feel better
phil
December 3rd, 2012
9:47 pm
Dawg89
December 3rd, 2012
7:08 pm
I wonder if Bobo or Grantham will get a call from any of the schools with coaching vacancies? Any word on that Bill?
*********
are you serious? Not a chance.
phil
December 3rd, 2012
9:49 pm
Kgator33 is exactly right….
We have to stop being proud and accepting of failure.
Which is exactly what losing is. Pathetic failure.
RJ
December 3rd, 2012
10:11 pm
Monger in all of your so called games played did your team ever lose? These guys played their hearts out and came up short. You or no one can predict what a Kirby Smart team would play like. I do believe the Dawgs had 400 yards of offense and the Bama defense allowed them to move the ball 80 yards for a potential game winning last play. If you were in charge we probably would be in the kind of shape Auburn and Tennessee are in right now but hey your but is not on the line.
The Ole Ball Coach
December 3rd, 2012
10:18 pm
The Monger is coach Paul Johnson
the old coach
December 3rd, 2012
10:27 pm
The monger. I bet he looks just like he sounds. Four foot eleven 365lbs. Does not know his A## from the pigskin that hen thinks he knows so much about never played the game and trying to relive his life through the Dawgs because he never got any playing time at the pop warner level. I hope you never enter another post.
playmeortrademe
December 3rd, 2012
10:30 pm
Look, you can’t convince the moral victory crowd that Richt is never going to make UGA a championship-level program, despite the overwhelming evidence, just the same as you can’t convince Obama supporters that he has done absolutely nothing as President, despite the overwhelming evidence.
Nothing will change until the people who matter, AD Greg McGarity and the select few that give him the most $$$$$$$$$, decide they’ve had enough of the moral victories under Richt. It’s a shame that they are too scared to take the risk of trying to lure a good head coach from another program like Patterson, Briles, or Fitzgerald.
DirtyDawg82
December 3rd, 2012
10:47 pm
Anyone who believes that pride and commitment to giving all you have, all that you are, and leaving everything ounce of yourself on the field at the end of the game, even in a losing cause, is not worthy of praise and appreciation has never played the game or competed at any higher level. Anyone who would fault the players or staff in this loss, a game for the ages, must only value winning as the sole measurement of achievement. I learned more about myself and my players in a loss than in games won. What I saw was a team that should have quit from exhaustion, but did not. An exhausted defense reached down for something they didnt even know they had in that last defensive stand, and the offense executed like a champion. They simply ran out of time. Glory Glory to Old Georgia. Nothing more needs to be said.
Strat Cat Dawg
December 3rd, 2012
11:42 pm
One good thing about those whiners and trolls- they keep Bill’s numbers up! GO DAWGS!
Strat Cat Dawg
December 3rd, 2012
11:51 pm
Love it when people punctuate their rants with political insults as if to prove their so-called point. That’s truly brilliant and lends great credibility to whatever you’re arguing. Why not toss in race, too?
Macon Jacket
December 3rd, 2012
11:57 pm
Any UGA fans hanging their heads or criticizing this team are crazy.
I’m a Tech fan, and although the expectations are certainly higher for UGA, you have to be proud.
This 2012 Georgia team is the best the state has fielded since 1980.
And personally, I think you replay this Bama game 10 times, UGA wins 6 or 7 times.
UGA and BAMA are 1 and 2 in the country this year.
With your excellent recruiting and coaching, you will be back to this opportunity sooner than later.
I’m just sorry our poor leadership did not get us to the Big 10. It would have improved our recruiting and ability to be more competitive.