It was an awful loss, but it wasn’t the end of UGA’s ascent
It wasn't the greatest homecoming for Georgia's Aaron Murray, was it? (AP photo)
Tampa — This was a bad loss, OK? This was a really bad loss by a team that had positioned itself to win by two touchdowns until its quarterback began throwing the ball to the wrong team. But in the grand scheme — and by “grand” I mean a distance of Grand Canyon dimensions — losing to Michigan State might be a good thing for the Georgia Bulldogs.
A year and two days ago, Georgia was wondering how how long it would take to rise from 6-7. To the Bulldogs’ credit, they rose to 10-2 and to the SEC East title in the span of 11 months. In its final two games, Georgia proved its transformation from underachiever to champion is not yet complete.
In the SEC championship game, Georgia led LSU 10-0 but lost 42-10. In the Outback Bowl here Monday, the Bulldogs led Michigan State 16-0 and had outgained the Spartans 217 yards to 81 when, four minutes into the third quarter, Aaron Murray scrambled to his right and saw Tavarres King near midfield. Murray thought King would backtrack. Instead King ran deeper. Murray’s pass, directed where King wasn’t, was intercepted. With that, a game Georgia had dominated began to unspool.
Said Mark Richt, Georgia’s coach: “Aaron had plenty of space. He was being pressured, but he wasn’t under duress.”
Had Murray scrambled for a modest gain, had he flung the ball out of bounds, Georgia might well have won this game breezing. The interception gave the Spartans a lift they hadn’t really earned, and therein hangs a lesson.
Said Todd Grantham, Georgia’s defensive coordinator: “Good teams are always going to make plays. You have to learn to put teams away, and there’s a learning curve for that. You’ve got to educate yourself. You’ve got to go through things.”
What Georgia went through the rest of this excruciating day was a crash course in comeuppance. Ahead and in control, the Bulldogs blew that 16-point lead, surged back ahead inside the final seven minutes, saw Michigan State tie it with 19 seconds left in regulation and managed to mess up three overtimes as badly as three overtimes can be messed up. It was as if the Football Fates said, “Yeah, you’re young and you’re talented, but you’re not there yet.”
Bacarri Rambo intercepted a Kirk Cousins pass at the beginning of overtime, and that should have been that. But Richt, choosing to err on the side of extreme caution, opted to have Blair Walsh try a field goal on third down from the 25, which is where you get the ball to start an overtime. Sure enough, Walsh missed. (A low snap contributed.) Two more overtimes would follow, and finally it ended with a Walsh kick being blocked.
Georgia’s offensive yield in the three OTs: Eight plays for minus-4 yards. Indeed, Michigan State — which managed two first downs in the first 35 minutes — would outgain the Bulldogs 391 yards to 339. Georgia couldn’t run a lick, and 20 Murray completions were offset by two interceptions, a lost fumble and four sacks.
The second Murray interception was returned for a touchdown, the fourth time this season a Murray throw yielded six opposing points. Three of those came in losses. As superb as Murray can be, there’s still a bit of the wild point guard in him: He can keep both teams in the game.
Said Mike Bobo, the offensive coordinator: “We’ve just got to do a better job as a team of protecting the football.”
Said Richt: “You’ve got to respect the ball.”
Somehow Georgia contrived to lose on a day when Brandon Boykin, ostensibly a defender, scored three times (tackle for safety, punt return, pass reception). Somehow the champ of the SEC East lost to the champ of the Big Ten Legends Division, and we all know the SEC shouldn’t be losing to the Big Ten in a bowl game. That said …
This ugly loss does not — repeat, does not — invalidate the 10 games Georgia won in 2011. This game is not — repeat, is not — proof that these Bulldogs will never win anything big under Richt. Yeah, it was a wretched ending to a turnaround season, but the turnaround stands.
Said Boykin, a senior who was the game’s MVP: “We made huge strides from 6-7, but great teams finish when they’re supposed to. The LSUs and Alabamas — there’s a reason they’re going to the national championship game. We held LSU to 12 yards in the first half and didn’t finish. We had the lead today and didn’t finish. Once they figure out how to pound a team and not give up anything, Georgia can be special.”
Said Richt: “At the moment, this one hurts. But in time it will heal.”
Some of you might consider those empty words. But we need recall another bowl loss, the Music City defeat by a Boston College team of no special distinction, that capped Richt’s first season. It was easy that day in Nashville to claim that Georgia was still the same old Georgia, but soon it wasn’t. The next year the Bulldogs went 13-1 and won Georgia’s first SEC title in two decades.
By Mark Bradley
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1,128 comments Add your comment
kerryb
January 2nd, 2012
9:21 pm
I love it when Gator fans try to make the 3rd tier Big 10 team they beat look better than they were. Face it, the team you were playing today was not that good. It was a bowl game you should have won and barely did that.
The Monger = Obvious Tech troll
January 2nd, 2012
9:21 pm
Good one, loser
mission man
January 2nd, 2012
9:21 pm
richt can’t coach a lick against good teams, but will get a long term contract because he is a “nice guy!” SEC schools—appreciate that!!!!
MSU mother
January 2nd, 2012
9:22 pm
Knew when I heard the score was 16-0 going into the half Georgia would blow it. Though I love the Dawgs, they don’t know how to put the game away. And MSU isn’t a slouch team–any other year, they would have won the Big Ten outright and been invited to the Rose Bowl.
Chris
January 2nd, 2012
9:22 pm
time to celebrate
we need crowell. Poor kid has had a tough year. The trainer took him out today cuz no player could play on a bad ankle.
Bradley is a homer
January 2nd, 2012
9:22 pm
Mark,
You are such a homer!!! Why not be an objective, professional journalist?
guess it pays more to be a cheerleader, just need a skirt.
Cuz
January 2nd, 2012
9:22 pm
kerry, stop. You are making too much sense.
Erk Russell's Dog
January 2nd, 2012
9:22 pm
Dawg enufF
CMR’S base salary would rise to 3.5 million with a one year extension. If he winns the SEC championship his contract would extend for 2 more years at 4.5 million a 3 year extension at 13.5 million not exactly chump change for the way the program has performed the last 3 years.
Snoop Dawg
January 2nd, 2012
9:22 pm
Crywell will never win a Heisman. He can’t even complete a series without getting hurt or winded…
TampaGator
January 2nd, 2012
9:22 pm
Mark….
Since it happened back then…..I am sure that the same thing would have happened today……God forbid…..you are now thinking like KerryB.
Flat Tire on I-95 in Jacksonville
January 2nd, 2012
9:23 pm
kerryb
“Gator fans have been drinking their own kool aid for a long time”
wow
now thats a stupid statement
umm
I think FL has won 3 national titles played for 11 SEC championship games in the last 20 years. and what has UGA done in 30 nothing even close
the fan drinking their own kool-aid is UGA fans like you
oh and I think FL rebounded quickly after 3 yrs of the Zook and won 2 national titles. and what did UGA do nothing
@ TampaGator
January 2nd, 2012
9:24 pm
Get off it. You played in a home bowl named after your own program against a horrible team. UGA giftwrapped their game today for the Spartans, sure, but at least they had serious competition against a team not anticipating an entirely new staff in a matter of days. The Gators suck
Phil
January 2nd, 2012
9:24 pm
kerryb
No I wouldn’t have. King had the game of his life. Like I said earlier, a pass play in the endzone would be a higher percentage than Walsh actually making one. Did you have confidence when you saw Walsh trot out on the field? I didn’t, I knew he was going to miss it.
Chris
January 2nd, 2012
9:24 pm
i love how people are now criticizing mark bradley??? he isn’t even a uga fan! he is just saying what he saw and what the coaches said
Flat Tire on I-95 in Jacksonville
January 2nd, 2012
9:24 pm
kerryb
“Gator fans have been drinking their own kool aid for a long time”
wow
I think FL has won 3 national titles played for 11 SEC championship games in the last 20 years. and what has UGA done in 30 nothing even close
the fan drinking their own kool-aid is UGA fans like you
oh and I think FL rebounded quickly after 3 yrs of the Zook and won 2 national titles. and what did UGA do nothing
I think you ought to shut your mouth quickly
JB
January 2nd, 2012
9:24 pm
I’m back from 8 o’clock. O’reilly was back. looks like Mitt is our Horse this year, but the liberal press aside, I think the head of the Taliban could beat Barry.
Be honest
January 2nd, 2012
9:24 pm
Georgia knew the type of program that we’regetting with CMR. He’ll win the East sometimes, maybe even the SEC when the conference is down, but that’s it. The program is not going to be a serious contender on a national level. CMR put together a nice run this year, but he still lost 4 games. Coming off of a losing season, that would be enough to get him fired in Tuscaloosa, Baton Rouge or Gainesville. In Athens, we give him an extension. And nothing at UGA will change…
Cuz
January 2nd, 2012
9:24 pm
Tampa, I never dream of NC’s.
I have been known to covet an SEC title. But so do many.
Glad you guys beat tOSU.
Harry Stone
January 2nd, 2012
9:24 pm
UGA got a pass this year to make it to the SEC Championship Game. The same will be true in 2012. The way UGA plays football it should become part of the ACC.
Zook > Richt
January 2nd, 2012
9:25 pm
The incompetent ron zook against the great Mark richt:
2002 richt loses to zook and mediocre fla
2003 richt loses to zook and mediocre fla
2004 richt barely beats mediocre fla the week zook is fired
Congrats!!! Keep richt!!!
TampaGator
January 2nd, 2012
9:25 pm
KerryB……
Florida led the entire game today after the early 7-7 tie. Ohio scored late to make it as close as it was. Florida’s defense dominated the game….and their special teams…..including a kicker that does not miss very often….but you would not know about that kind of thing.
Again…..
Ohio State beat Wisconsin…..a top 10 team and Big Ten champion…..who did Georgia beat this year?
@ mission man
January 2nd, 2012
9:25 pm
Good thing your team is in the laughable ACC then, ehh cheat fan?
Flat Tire on I-95 in Jacksonville
January 2nd, 2012
9:25 pm
kerryb
I think FL has won 3 national titles played for 11 SEC championship games in the last 20 years. and what has UGA done in 30 nothing even close
oh and I think FL rebounded quickly after 3 yrs of the Zook and won 2 national titles. and what did UGA do nothing
JB
January 2nd, 2012
9:26 pm
TampaGator…………For the love of God, I can’t you have this much interest in our program.
Cuz
January 2nd, 2012
9:26 pm
Mark you do know that Jasper did not fumble the ball.
Tech was playing ineligible players. No fumble nor game happened that year.
JB
January 2nd, 2012
9:26 pm
s/b can’t believe
Go DAWGs
January 2nd, 2012
9:26 pm
2 losses and the idiots come back out of the woodwork. I would much rather have Coach Richt and a competitive team than a program with no character and “win at all costs” approach. If you love the G then don’t show up on these boards and show your backside. Stand up and support your school. I know this one stings but it will pass . . .
See you next fall!
ICro's Dreads
January 2nd, 2012
9:26 pm
ICro will be wanting a lot more carries in 2012—or he not happy. he want to be the focus of the O. Bobo better get him the $%##@ ball!
@ be honest
January 2nd, 2012
9:26 pm
Wow, way to put your balls out there. “Predicting” how many losses UGA will have after the fact.
Yech fans crack me up.
JB
January 2nd, 2012
9:27 pm
Richt ain’t going nowhere…………..which means Bobo ain’t leaving………More to come
So who thinks if
January 2nd, 2012
9:27 pm
Grantham will be back?
1980!!
January 2nd, 2012
9:27 pm
only title, 31 years ago! YES!!! bring back buck, hershel and lindsey!
kerryb
January 2nd, 2012
9:27 pm
Phil, I have to admit that I was nervous. Kevin Butler made a good point when I heard him on the radio. He asked why they had Murray run to the center he field to set that up. A regular special teams coach would have known that most of Walsh’s misses faded to the right. If we would have stayed on the left hash he might have made it.
TampaGator
January 2nd, 2012
9:27 pm
Cuz…..
Don’t remember you posting name from the past. But you seem to be a reasonable Dawg fan. Welcome……if you are new. You will find that I enjoy having decent and intelligent posts with folks….and enjoy bantering with those who do neither.
Jon Lanz
January 2nd, 2012
9:27 pm
How many running backs played today? Typical BS from Richt. Crowell needs a tampon. Richt has no balls. They will find a way to lose 3 games next year. Laughing stock of the SEC.
dawgster
January 2nd, 2012
9:28 pm
Well just got back from game, and no not too happy right now, but when I calm down as many of you will, I will realize that we improved greatly this season, and should continue to improve…I’m not going to trash the coaches or players, we saw the game and know what happened…didn’t agree with many of the play calls, but until we get some kind of consistant running game, this is what happens…The coaches know this, so its not a secret…Our patchwork running game is not going to be successful against a defense as stout as Mich St. who I believe was ranked 5th in the nation overall..not too lousy….That being said the dawgs have go to improve special teams plays, especially with the field goal kicking, but Bama could say the the same thing…Blair has been reliable until this season…as far as the decision to play it safe in OT and kick the fg on third…Probably the right thing to do most times, but considering our fg input this season I thought we should have attacked their defense with some short passes or some screens…I think there is plenty of blame to go around, coaches, players, etc…but we still are a long ways from where we were last year…Anyone that can’t see that knows little about football….As far some of the other regulars on here…go ahead and poke fun at the dawgs..funny that the teams we beat want to pop off…but hey we as dawg fans probably do the same…Now I’m sure everyone will call me a homer…thats fine…but I see improvement and i would expect more improvement next year based on the talent and recruiting class we hope to finish with….
Oh, on a closing note…at this time, Murray gives us the best chance to win, however, I believe next season, there needs to be certain people knowing that will have to compete to keep the starting job…go dawgs and great season, even though I have a bad taste right now…
JB
January 2nd, 2012
9:28 pm
We could be Tennessee……………Think they would kill for 10 wins about now….LOL
@ TampaGator
January 2nd, 2012
9:28 pm
UGA beat the team that beat the team that beat the Big 10 champion you incompetent inbred.
Are you serious with this?
dean
January 2nd, 2012
9:28 pm
Seems we were saying the same thing after the 2007 season. Where did that get us? time for a new OC! Sick of this
FRED
January 2nd, 2012
9:28 pm
We are a 30 min football team period. Murray is not a winner in big games. Riche is not now nor will he ever be a winner in the big game. Grantham saved riche’s job this year.Did i miss it or did we not throw 1 pass to Charles the whole game. Riche took for ever to replace Martineze how much longer to replace Bobo?
SEC fan
January 2nd, 2012
9:29 pm
I root for all SEC teams in their bowls-nice job, mutts. It should’ve been a clean sweep of the Big 10, but Georgia CHOKED it away. this team was smoke and mirrors all year. Their signature win was over the worst florida team in 30 years and they proved they aren’t ready for the big time. next year, look for south carolina to take the dvision while florida finishes second!
kerryb
January 2nd, 2012
9:29 pm
I-95, get off the past we are talking about the future and the state of the programs NOW. Geez
no more dawg
January 2nd, 2012
9:29 pm
i’m tired of georgia loosing to any good team they play. richt needs to win the sec next year or he can hit the road!
TampaGator
January 2nd, 2012
9:30 pm
JB…..
I have a lot of interest in the Georgia program…..but less and less every year. But I do enjoy reading and posting on the best sports blog sites in the country……the AJC. They have it down.
CMR
January 2nd, 2012
9:30 pm
It’s a shame we’re not part of the Big 10. I think we could be really competitive.
Grantham's money
January 2nd, 2012
9:30 pm
$750,000? not enough for grantham—he wants a huge raise or he’s looking around!
ColumbDawg
January 2nd, 2012
9:31 pm
Fire Richt Now! Immediately! He is a dead man walking!
JB
January 2nd, 2012
9:31 pm
no more dawg……………………Adams and McGarity are about to add 3 years to his 2 left. It’ll be this way awhile longer.
Go DAWGs
January 2nd, 2012
9:31 pm
SEC fan – our signature win was 45-7 over the defending national champs – not FLA.
kerryb
January 2nd, 2012
9:31 pm
Cuz
January 2nd, 2012
9:24 pm
Tampa, I never dream of NC’s.
I have been known to covet an SEC title. But so do many.
Glad you guys beat tOSU.
______________________________________________________
I agree. You concentrate on winning an SEC Title that’s the only thing you control. The rest is a popularity contest ask Okie State.
Gator fans, after all of your smack talking I can’t believe that I was pulling for you to win today. Won’t make that mistake again.