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
please
January 2nd, 2012
8:30 pm
auburn was ranked when we played, I believe tech was also when we played, we beat both, reality dawg, Ga has had its best years under Richt, Dooley only had 3 really good years, one great with the greatest back in college football history, what I am saying is Ga does not have the tradition that some of you like to think we have, Mark Richt is probally the best coach Ga. has ever had. base on winnig percentage
allbarnfan
January 2nd, 2012
8:30 pm
Mark, what did Richt say about the 3 runs for nothing by Samuel (what is that guy, like an 8th year senior?) on the last O series in regulation??? Talk about taking the game out of your qb’s hands — that took it away from the entire offense! Maybe Bobo called it but Richt could have called bs. And what was he joking about with that M State lineman just before that series when he should have been coming up with a way to get a freaking first down?!? And what did Grantham say about his defense’s utter implosion on M State’s last drive. Suddenly their totally mediocre qb looked like Johnny U back there. Godalmighty that was awful….kicker may be remembered as the goat but it took a total team and coaching staff effort to screw this one up that bad.
kerryb
January 2nd, 2012
8:31 pm
snowman, why don;t you just go follow LSU or Bama and jump on that bandwagon
Atticus
January 2nd, 2012
8:31 pm
1eyed……you forgot to add……take Bobo and Crowell out back and beat they ass…..
NYC Dawg
January 2nd, 2012
8:31 pm
Mark, good correlation. I was at that Music City Bowl game in Nashville…and it stung. I happen to have family with BC connections, which made it all the worse. But that game was similar to today’s debacle. UGA looked awesome early in the game, with Fred Gibson, David Pollack and David Greene displaying so much talent. The BC fans I was sitting near were saying things like “Wow, Georgia is just so much more athletic than we are.” I told them to just wait…we will make plenty of mistakes and let BC back in the game. And of course we did.
I still remember that game, because it painfully reinforced the lesson that a team that is disciplined, well-coached and fundamentally sound (as BC was) will beat a more talented, but undisciplined and unsound team, every time.
kerryb
January 2nd, 2012
8:32 pm
snowman, all I did was answer your comment with what Crowell has said. No need to get all crazy.
1eyedJack
January 2nd, 2012
8:32 pm
I didn’t have a hat on or I would’ve tipped it to MSU. I had already thrown it down, stomped, and kicked it.
TampaGator
January 2nd, 2012
8:32 pm
Three very clear signs the point to Georgia’s ascent to greatness……
1. Get blown completely out by LSU in the SEC title game.
2. Get overlooked by the Capitol One Bowl even though the team went to the SEC title game.
3. Lose in the Outback Bowl to a team that Bama blew out the year before….in the Capitol One Bowl.
Obvious, to every one with complete blinders on…..that Georgia is “one the verge of greatness.”
Yeah Boy!
Ted M
January 2nd, 2012
8:32 pm
Murray is starting to remind of Tony Romo…flashes of brilliance coupled with overly forced plays that kill you in the end.
7576DAWG
January 2nd, 2012
8:32 pm
It’s OKAY TO LOSE A GAME IF YOU DON’T MAKE THE SAME MISTAKES WHEN YOU LOSE AGAIN. You have to learn from your mistake’s .
Our last three loses were carbon copies of each other:
1-Three Murray turnover’s.
2- Walsh missing a game winner
3-Defensive playing light out but getting no help from inept offensive play calling.
4- Too conservative of offensive play calling when game is on the line.
I know McGarity doesn’t like to get involved in the individual coaches evaluation but I don’t think CMR will still think Georgia can find a better offensive coordinator than Bobo. Surely CMR can’t think that Bobo is our answer when the proof say’s different.
Saban
January 2nd, 2012
8:33 pm
let the good times roll.
GTBob
January 2nd, 2012
8:33 pm
Only UGA homers like Mark even think UGA is on an ascent. Seriously, open your eyes for a few minutes.
Inferiority Complex
January 2nd, 2012
8:33 pm
“”"”"”"”"”Mark, what did Richt say about the 3 runs for nothing by Samuel (what is that guy, like an 8th year senior?) on the last O series in regulation??? Talk about taking the game out of your qb’s hands — that took it away from the entire offense! Maybe Bobo called it but Richt could have called bs. And what was he joking about with that M State lineman just before that series when he should have been coming up with a way to get a freaking first down?!? And what did Grantham say about his defense’s utter implosion on M State’s last drive”"”"”"”"”"
Mark will have to get back with you later, he is too busy right now down on North Avenue looking for some dirt on Paul Johnson.
kerryb
January 2nd, 2012
8:34 pm
TampGator, they got blew out by Bama LAST YEAR not THIS YEAR. Don’t pound your chest because you beat a third tier Big 10 team this year. UF is not as close as UGA to being there.
Atticus
January 2nd, 2012
8:35 pm
Ted, the difference is Aaron Murray is a soph and for two years has had no running game or a great OL. Romo is an experienced veteran who has played many years.
TampaGator
January 2nd, 2012
8:35 pm
Georgia has been in an “ascent to greatness”……ever since 1981. And they have been on the “verge of greatness” every summer.
Yeah Boy!
RTR22
January 2nd, 2012
8:35 pm
Here doggie, doggie. Want a piece of Bama? Sparty did as well. Crowell thanks for choosing JawJa
Make sure and watch some real SEC fb next Monday night. Roll Tide
Pago Pago DAWG
January 2nd, 2012
8:35 pm
Did you notice hardly any “dead locks” on Sparty, Wisc/Oregon?
kerryb
January 2nd, 2012
8:36 pm
GTBob, at least someone talks about UGA being on the ascent. You NEVER hear that about Tech
savdiddydawgsince76
January 2nd, 2012
8:36 pm
After watching the entire game and taking 2 hours to process the lost, this is my position for 2012. 1st and foremost I feel that this year is the do or die year for Coach Richt. Offensively, we still struggle to put games away. There is really no reason that our defense should have been back on the field for that last drive other than the fact that Coach Bobo went ultra-conserative again. Gholston and Worthy (I think I spelled his name correctly) went H.A.M. However when Murray wasn’t caught up in his own hype, he completed more deep balls than at any other point this season. The only game that he completed more deep passes was against New Mexico State. And sadly, Coach Bobo found no play options for Orson Charles. I’m sorry but I think he was a 1st Team All-American. But for whatever reason, this has become the Georgia way. With that said, Coach Grantham will be a hot commodity this winter as a Coordinator elsewhere. Bringing Alex Ogletree into the box and the signing of Big John Jenkins shows the improvement that the defense has made. Although we were pounded by LSU ,that was more so because we kept the defense on the field. Kirk Cousins was harassed all day. Its sad that after everything Boykin, King and Ogletree did today, Aaron Murray threw it away. I guess my real issue is knowing that Hutson Mason is looking to transfer or Christian Lemay is on the bench, there is no way your QB can continue to play so poorly in critical moments and not feel some heat. Loyalty has gotten us what the last couple of years? The time is now to change the momentum and fortunes for a good but not yet great program. Hire a new offesnive coordinator, make Bobo a QB coach and hire a Special Teams Coach. Otherwise, we have 2013 to look forward to and hopefully Chip Kelly will find Athens inviting enough to leave the pockets of Phil Knight and the University of Oregon. Could you imagine the players he could recruit to Georgia? Oh well these are just my thoughts and know that I love UGA football. I am just sick and tired of being sick and tired!
TampaGator
January 2nd, 2012
8:37 pm
KerryB….
Ohio State lost to Michigan State……10 to 7.
Ohio State beat Wisconsin…..who is giving Oregon all they can handle.
Florida is an improved offense from winning the SEC East again…….and their defense might be the best (next to LSU) in the conference next year.
KEEP DREAMING.
Atticus
January 2nd, 2012
8:37 pm
Pago…..I noticed them on Jarvis Jones and he is a bad ass…..so what’s your point?
Isaiah Crowell
January 2nd, 2012
8:37 pm
‘Dem micigan playaz hurt my ankel! screw u fans i will jus play 4 jacksunvile state ‘nes year!
Victor Johns
January 2nd, 2012
8:37 pm
Tired, Tired, Tired,,,,, what this team needs is Endurance, strengthen and conditioning to get them past 1st half ….if they are not going to win it in 2 quarters, because they sure look like tired worn out puppies by the middle of 3rd quarter every game
jack bull
January 2nd, 2012
8:38 pm
Ted’s right, A Murray is the Tony Romo of college football.
Change the Logo
January 2nd, 2012
8:38 pm
The big G needs to be changed to a giant L for LOSERS……..a team that has been a bunch or FRAUDS and PRETENDERS since the beginning of the season – and the biggest LOSER of all is Mark Richt!!!!
Truthspeaker
January 2nd, 2012
8:38 pm
Dawgs beat noone this year. Their 4 toughest games, 3 at “home” and the Bowl,…all losses. They catch another break next year after escaping the road trip to Bama and not playing LSU or Ark…but still would be ranked no higher than 4 or 5 if they played in the West…and probably a preseason 2-3 in the East in 2012. Richt is a very good coach…the program is just what it is…mid-tier SEC.
75dawg
January 2nd, 2012
8:39 pm
This loss falls squarely on Aaron Murray just like the South Carolina loss. The quarterback’s first responsibility is to protect the ball when you’re ahead.
RTR22
January 2nd, 2012
8:39 pm
Give Richt a multiyear extension.
kerryb
January 2nd, 2012
8:39 pm
TampaGator, Georgia beat UF. Tell us how great your recruiting is going. And No, UGA will have the best defense next year with 9 returning starters.
Next season...
January 2nd, 2012
8:40 pm
The eternal next year begins again for the dawgs….
TampaGator
January 2nd, 2012
8:40 pm
KerryB……This is what I posted:
“Lose in the Outback Bowl to a team that Bama blew out the year before….in the Capitol One Bowl.”
What are you saying?
1eyedJack
January 2nd, 2012
8:40 pm
It seems this was the year of the epic collapse in Georgia. The Falcons could well be next.
Ray Goof's Hat
January 2nd, 2012
8:40 pm
Losing to a Conference USA team last year was bad enough, but now a Big 10 team??? Even Houston was able to pummel its Big 10 opponent. Nice job, leghumpers. Fooled by CMR and Bobo again. And to think that you were so close to getting new leadership. Now all you have is a meaningless SEC East title and more years of the same of disappointment.
Flat Tire on I-95 in Jacksonville
January 2nd, 2012
8:41 pm
Am I right
The only big 10 team that has won a bowl game is Michigan St
And we have people on here saying Michigan St is a good team
LOL
No
The UGA coaching saw top 25 team next to Michigan St name on the score board and ran back into the locker room and hid
Gator On The Loose
January 2nd, 2012
8:41 pm
>>>>>TampaGator, Georgia beat UF. Tell us how great your recruiting is going. And No, UGA will have the best defense next year with 9 returning starters<<<<<<
Maybe that would help with a rematch with UCF
2nd post of the day from 1/1/12...
January 2nd, 2012
8:42 pm
GT is a 4th rate High School Team
January 1st, 2012
11:56 am
GT can really compare with other national power houses with their whining abilities.
——
Can’t compete with the Dawg Nation in that category
Buzz 2011
January 2nd, 2012
8:42 pm
Never heard of any SEC team running for only 51 yards…That was not per quarter, that was for the entire game!! GT gains that many yards on one carry..
Chris
January 2nd, 2012
8:42 pm
im a hugge murray supporter. He is a great player. But he played very bad today in the biggest moments. The pick six was tipped so thats a tough break and the 1st pick was just a weird play but he was just raddled the whole second half with good reason because we couldnt block. Tyson, boykin, ben jones, butler and figgins are the only seniors we will miss. Anderson walsh and glenn played terrible today. i dont see how cordy glenn is a 1st round pick?? Anderson and burnette didn’t block anybody all day. I like what i saw from malcome even with little blocking. We will have a great team next year. I hope we use this loss as motivation that we know that we aren’t there yet. Rambo, washington, and orson i hope yall come back to be dawgs one last time! Goo dawgs and see yall next year
DawgDays
January 2nd, 2012
8:42 pm
its simple, BOBO HAS GOT TO GOGO….plain and simple
TampaGator
January 2nd, 2012
8:42 pm
kerryB…..
I watched Boise, South Carolina, LSU, and Michigna State put up numbers on your defense that my investment consultant would be proud of……..
I would not trade one returning Gator defensive player for one returning Georgia player, except for Jones and Ogeltree.
TDone
January 2nd, 2012
8:43 pm
The AJC and Mark Bradley have a double standard when it comes to Tech and Georgia. It’s so obvious, it’s sickening.
Mike Bobo
January 2nd, 2012
8:43 pm
Guys, I just needed one more play! I’m telling you! I had the perfect idea! I was going to run Carlton Thomas up the middle! It would’ve worked I guarantee it!
John Galt
January 2nd, 2012
8:43 pm
Bobo lost this game in the last 3:30 of the 4th quarter- MSU should never have gotten the ball back.
will
January 2nd, 2012
8:43 pm
Kill Richt, Kill Bobo, 10 wins is not enough. If you can not win 14 and a national champioship every year then fire them all every year until a coach does. Chant along KILL, KILL, KILL. Sober up all you lovely UGA fans then chant again. KILL, Let them rot. Get a life it is a football game-oh sorry forgot most of you do not have a life.
kerryb
January 2nd, 2012
8:43 pm
TampaGator, i said they lost last year to Bama Not THIS year. Last year has nothing to do with this year. They also beat a #10 Wisconsin team this year and Michigan. They were no slouches like Ohio State was this year. What I’m saying is that UGA had the tougher match up than UF had today.
Chris
January 2nd, 2012
8:43 pm
Buzz 2011
have you heard of an acc team that has lost 10 out the last 11 years to that sec team and lost to utah???
GTBob
January 2nd, 2012
8:44 pm
That’s true kerryb. It’s a shame our fan base has common sense and doesn’t try to convince ourselves we are about to win a championship every year.
TampaGator
January 2nd, 2012
8:44 pm
KerryB….
Are you not the one that Florida has fallen to the same level with Vandy?
Well……I think that would be Georgia, since Georgia and Vandy are the only two SEC teams that have lost bowl games.
Chris
January 2nd, 2012
8:45 pm
keep believing that tampa gator