UGA’s Murray: ‘We could have pulled out a couple more wins’
A Murray moment: Tavarres King snags a touchdown. (AP photo)
A note: This ran in today’s print AJC. I present it to you, our digital patrons, in the interest of full disclosure.
Tampa — Aaron Murray tried to put on a happy face, but it was a struggle. Georgia’s quarterback returned home for the Outback Bowl and will leave not as a conquering hero but as one of the causes of his team’s demise.
“I think the whole Dog Nation is very excited about this team,” Murray said afterward. “I know we’re very excited.”
The blare of a turnaround season was muted by the doings here Monday. Georgia led 16-0 but lost 33-30 in three overtimes, and the crazy game turned in the third quarter on two Murray interceptions. The first led to Michigan State’s first touchdown. The second became the Spartans’ second touchdown, and it marked the fourth time this season a Murray interception had been returned for a score.
On the first interception, Murray scrambled right and spotted Tavarres King open over the middle. He expected King to backtrack. Instead King turned and went deeper. Murray’s pass was intercepted by a diving Darqueze Dennard.
“There was a little miscommunication in the scramble drill,” Murray said.
The second interception, also taken by Dennard, was a product of a quick Murray read and a tipped throw to his left. “It got nicked,” Murray said, “and got a little off-course.”
Dennard’s 38-yard return cut Georgia’s lead to two points. Asked if he felt he’d let the grasping Spartans back in the game, Murray said: “I don’t think so. We were still up 16-14. We still kept playing. Our guys have shown all year they’re not going to fold.”
Michigan State took a 20-19 lead with 8:22 to play, whereupon Murray led Georgia’s best drive of a halting day. He threw four passes, completing three, for 83 yards and ultimately a go-back-ahead touchdown to redeployed defender Brandon Boykin. Then Murray found Malcolm Mitchell for a two-point conversion. Georgia led 27-20 with 6:44 to play.
But it wouldn’t hold. The Bulldogs couldn’t run out the clock, choosing to run up the middle to force the Spartans to use their timeouts, and were undone when Michigan State tied it with 14 seconds remaining in regulation. In overtime, three Georgia possessions lost a total of four yards. Murray threw four passes in the OTs, all incomplete.
Murray’s final numbers: Twenty completions in 32 attempts, 288 yards passing, two touchdowns, two interceptions, one lost fumble, four sacks. Not the worst day ever, but not good enough.
Asked about Murray, coach Mark Richt said: “Aaron’s future is very bright. He’s one of the best quarterbacks in the country in my mind and he’ll be one of the better quarterbacks who’ll be returning. He’s a guy we’ve got an awful lot of faith in. He’s human; he’s going to make mistakes.”
Speaking of 2012, Murray said: “As a team, we’re definitely excited about the future. But we definitely could have pulled out a couple of more wins.”
Someone wondered if this loss, coming as it did 4.6 miles from Plant High, Murray’s alma mater, hurt worse than the others. “It’s the same,” Murray said. “A loss is a loss.”
By Mark Bradley
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990 comments Add your comment
Flat Tire on I-95 in Jacksonville
January 3rd, 2012
6:08 pm
GEORGIA TECH HAS 4 NATL TITLES,MUTTS HAVE 2
Actually if you count titles like Tech does UGA has 5
GTBob
January 3rd, 2012
6:08 pm
But the fact remains that CEO’s are not Engineers they are business majors from schools like UGA.
Nice try but GT’s business school is ranked higher then UGA’s and had produced many CEO’s of major corporations. If you want to be a CEO then GT is the better school. If you want to be an engineer then GT is still the better school.
Lowcountry Bulldawg
January 3rd, 2012
6:09 pm
True Altahama about both accounts. Also how do these blogs end up being a, “My dad can beat up your dad” crap? Hell both schools are fine institutions
Lowcountry Bulldawg
January 3rd, 2012
6:10 pm
Valid points Alt and how do we get these blogs turned into “My dad can beat up your dad”? Both schools are fine institutions so Tech fans just back off that argument.
Flat Tire on I-95 in Jacksonville
January 3rd, 2012
6:12 pm
Alex
Thugs are born and bred on the Streets of North Ave
Flounder
January 3rd, 2012
6:13 pm
“The blare of a turnaround season was muted by the doings here Monday.”
That should read “The BLAIR” of a turnaround season was muted … LOL.
Flat Tire on I-95 in Jacksonville
January 3rd, 2012
6:14 pm
If you want to learn how to transport 100lbs of dope in the trunk of your car GT is the school for you
DawgFan1987
January 3rd, 2012
6:14 pm
@GT Bob
You’re bragging about an engineering school that isn’t even the best in it’s conference. Sooooooo many people are clamming to get to tech for an MBA…….i bet the admissions office is overwhelmed.
Cindy Hendrix
January 3rd, 2012
6:15 pm
there are times when the HC has to take a gamble to win the big game oar all the games he might not like to do it or to be comfortable doing it but let’s give it a try & see if it works Tommy Tuberville did this & guess what folks he won games by doing it!! If Our QB is having problems not getting the job done bring in 1 of our backups to see how well he does if he can score points & help win the game go for it!! If our regular QB gets his nose bent out of shape then he will do better in practice to keep his job & during the game he will realise it is what you have to do as a team efort to win the game & support the player or coach. Also if our kicker is having trouble missing too FGS then rotate like we did before it worked out well for us espescially in a big bowl game!Also Bobo just does not seem to have what it takes to be the Offensive coorordinator when the O is not working it makes it harder on our D which is much improved please give TG a raise& keep him at UGA!! Bottom line you do whatever it takes to win the game!! keep Bobo at QB coach & maybe with recruting someone else may have to step in to see that this done & please we need a special teams coach how about Kevin Butler 1 of our best kickers!? I can’t think of a better man for the job AS ALWAYS GO DAWGS SIC EM WOOF WOOF GATA!!
Bad Dawg
January 3rd, 2012
6:15 pm
Low Country, I see you have finally seen the light with Aaron Murray, I believe you were defending him a couple weeks ago.
Daddo, You speak the truth sir. I hope he throws for 4000 yds and 40 td’s next year and leaves for the NFL but not likely because on ESPN Todd McShay said that he would take Tyler Wilson over Aaron Murray “by a longshot”. He has a little Joe Cox and Reggie Ball in him lol.
DoctorC
January 3rd, 2012
6:19 pm
Aaron Murray is very similar to Quincy Carter…lot of talent, but his mistakes often cancel out his great plays especially in close big games. All season long, Hutson Mason has been denied an opportunity to play and if there was ever a golden opportunity to let him play it was in the bowl game when UGA was up 16 – 0. Heck, it is a bowl game and a fantastic chance to give your number 2 player a chance to get some experience and show what he can do. Instead, Richt/Bobo stay with Murray all the way and he throws two picks and changes the entire nature of the game. Hutson Mason played one of the best high school state championship games at quarterback in the history of Georgia football and was asked to come to UGA to compete – he has not eeen given a fair chance and it appears he never will. I would hate to see him transfer, but I would not blame him for doing so after never being given ANY appreciable chance to compete or play.
WUZZADAWG
January 3rd, 2012
6:19 pm
Murry, you beat every team you played that had a worse record than you. Could have won a couple more games, probably not. Which 2 of the 3 losses are you thinking about?
well Johnny
January 3rd, 2012
6:20 pm
fine, but UGA is the #1 “party school” and our football team is more awesomer at recruiting. plus we do cool stuff like blackout and underarmor uniforms
“““““`
US News Ranking
GT: 36
UGA: 62
Endowment Size
GT: $1.5 BILLION
UGA: $600 million
Avg. Starting Salary
GT: $59,000
UGA: $44,000
Football
GT: 4 National Titles (1990)
UGA: 2 National Titles (1980)
Basketball
GT: 2 Final Fours, Chris Bosh, Derrick Favors, Thaddeus Young, Jarrett Jack
UGA: 1 Final Four.
Baseball
GT: Mark Teixeira, Nomar Garciaparra, Kevin Brown, Matt Weiters
UGA: Gordon Beckham.
Golf
GT: Matt Kuchar, Stewart Cink, David Duval, Bryce Molder
UGA: Bubba Watson.
GT is a GLOBAL brand. UGA is a regional brand.
It appears obvious that UGA is the “flagship” in name only.
Flat Tire on I-95 in Jacksonville
January 3rd, 2012
6:20 pm
Arron Murray 20/32 288 yds 2 TD’s 2 INT’s
Kase Keenum 27/50 300 yds 1 TD 3 INT’s
Murray is to blame???
Not by those stats
I think you should Take a look a look at the coach who hasnt beaten a top 20 team in 3 yrs
CMAC22
January 3rd, 2012
6:23 pm
could have won more if this guy weren’t the QB!!
GTBob
January 3rd, 2012
6:25 pm
You’re bragging about an engineering school that isn’t even the best in it’s conference. Sooooooo many people are clamming to get to tech for an MBA…….i bet the admissions office is overwhelmed.
I’m not sure how many people are applying but I do know it is one of the top 30 programs in the country and is ranked about 30 spots higher then UGA’s program. Also, what engineering program in the ACC is ranked higher then us?
DawgFan1987
January 3rd, 2012
6:26 pm
gee whiz…..are you guys really going to blame a 2nd yr QB? you act as if the ship began to sink when Murray arrived on campus
KOOL AID DRINKERS
January 3rd, 2012
6:27 pm
the sun will come up again for you Koolaid Drinkers. After signing day in Feb., you morons will once again hold a parade and beat your chest about how this will be the year like you do every year for the last 31 years and counting.
Just remember since you don’t play anybody in the 2012 regular season, your players won’t be ready for the freight train that will run over them in post season. Hard to get a gauge when you whup up on the Sisters of the Southern.
And once again, you wil all drink the Kool Aid when Suntan Head preaches his sermon.
bwahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha
KOOL AID DRINKERS
January 3rd, 2012
6:30 pm
boohoo on this blog…don’t worry inbreds..the sun will come up again and after the Feb. signing day, you all will be beathing your chest and holding a parade celebrating how 2012 will be the year just like you have the past 31 years and counting,
Just know since you don’t play anybody in the 2012 season, your 5 stars won’t be able to get a gauge on the freight train that will run over them if and when you get to post season.
Keep on drinking that Richt Kool aid.
KOOL AID DRINKERS
January 3rd, 2012
6:31 pm
boohoo on this blog…don’t worry inbreds..the sun will come up again and after the Feb. signing day, you all will be beathing your chest and holding a parade celebrating how 2012 will be the year just like you have the past 31 years and counting,
Just know since you don’t play anybody in the 2012 season, your 5 stars won’t be able to get a gauge on the freight train that will run over them if and when you get to post season.
Keep on drinking that Richt Kool aid. bwahahahaha
DawgFan1987
January 3rd, 2012
6:32 pm
@ GT Bob
So tech is better than: Duke, Virginia, VT, NC State, BC, and Wake?
Get real! We can all find random polls and facts to support our argument. By the way…..if it weren’t for the myriad amounts of graduates from other colleges in the state and those “stupid UGA fans” paying taxes….where would you get the money for your research? i’ll ask this again…..how bout researching technology to create a robot that can protect the campus?!
Flat Tire on I-95 in Jacksonville
January 3rd, 2012
6:33 pm
DawgFan1987
Thank You
Richt hasnt won a big game since 2005.
But Murray’s high school career is to blame for Richts mediocrity the last 6 years
Delbert D.
January 3rd, 2012
6:33 pm
A quote from Return to Glory earlier: “MSU: 1st overtime defense forces a turnover, again if players do THEIR job we win,,thus the missed field goal and a loss.”
A 42 yard field goal attempt to win on 3rd down is inexplicable, considering the inefficiency of the kicker this year. Bad call, Coach.
Tech is Great
January 3rd, 2012
6:35 pm
The oxymoron of the year:
University of Georgia student athlete
Arizona Dawg
January 3rd, 2012
6:36 pm
Murray – Just shut the he77 up.
DawgFan1987
January 3rd, 2012
6:37 pm
@ Flat Tire
I love all the things Richt does for the program, those young men that come from troubled backgrounds and locations, and the respect he has for faith and family…….BUT im fed up with the lackluster performance of the program over the last 5-6 years. I want to see him “get angry” and light a fire under our guys.
bitter QB
January 3rd, 2012
6:39 pm
the game speaks for its self, it takes courage to fire a guy who is better at selling ford f-150
=========================trucks———problem with the leaders
———–none have any ———BACKBONE————-RICHT WILL CO0NTINUE
To: KOOL AID DRINKERS
January 3rd, 2012
6:39 pm
Ahhhhh, come on kool aid – get your head out of the toilet. That brown water is no longer tea. And that brown tobacco really isn’t tobacco.
Whiskey Breath
January 3rd, 2012
6:40 pm
Haven’t we blamed every assistant since Richt has been there? I knew Bobo’s day was coming. Every assistant get’s blamed at Ga. Never is Richt’s fault is it? CMR will let Bobo take the heat.
volquest
January 3rd, 2012
6:41 pm
Please UGA play LSU, AL and ARK next year to see where you really are. You can’t keep dodging them forever,,,
CMR
January 3rd, 2012
6:41 pm
You know, it’s sunny year round down in Florida. They don’t even need tanning beds.
Flat Tire on I-95 in Jacksonville
January 3rd, 2012
6:42 pm
Murray is the reason we were blown away against AL in 2008
Walsh is the reason we have lost to FL almost every year
Hershel Walker left at halftime against LSU thats why we were blown away in the 2nd half
Eric Zeir didnt flush the toilet thats why Richt hasnt beat a top 20 team in 3 yrs
Water Girl didnt stir the kool-aid good thats why we lost to Boise
Bad Dawg
January 3rd, 2012
6:42 pm
A second year quarterback? He has been on the team since the last time UGA played Michigan State. He is a redshirt sophomore, so he is more like a junior. I see no one making any excuses for any other juniors on the team. Richt and Bobo deserve even more blame but Murray has to be held accountable as well.
bitter QB
January 3rd, 2012
6:42 pm
RICHT IS LIKE OUR GOVERNMENT——what ever comes out of his mouth—-is a LIE
———————-GOING TO CHRUCH——DONT make you a good football coach
richt use’s people through chruch——–stop being fooled people—–he only cares about himself
BILLDAWG
January 3rd, 2012
6:42 pm
UGA defense got a lot better after getting rid of Marinez and getting someone who knows how to coach defense. WHY CAN’T RICHT SEE THAT THIS IS WHAT HE NEEDS TO DO WITH THE OFFENSE?
Bobo is not a good O.C.!!!!!!! Keep him as a QB coach if he wants to stay at UGA, but get a proven O.C. so we have a chance to play at the top level. This bowl game should have been all the evidence needed to make a change in the O.C.
DawgFan1987
January 3rd, 2012
6:42 pm
these tech idiots act as if all their “student-athletes” major in engineering programs. Nevertheless…why are you salt dropping on kids that come from terrible social and economical areas and use football as a way of educating themselves. This is why no one outside of Midtown cares about tech…..you jerks act as if you’re the best thing since sliced bread and that all else doesn’t matter. Last time i checked….Tech wasn’t an ivy league that produces the most fortune 500 CEO’s. you argue with UGA people about academic stats and neither school is in first place in those categories…..
bubba4dawgs
January 3rd, 2012
6:46 pm
There was absolutely no sense in losing this game!!! The Dawgs simply imploded!! Coaching or should I say non-coaching played the biggest part! Murray, you’re being a bit naive in thinking everybody is happy with the team! Listen, this team given all the talent they have should not implode like they did! And, being a second year quarterback, you definitely shouldn’t be making the mistakes you do like all the sacks you simply go into a fetal position with. Hey man, throw the ball away! Stop going the other way. This was a critical game and you give away touchdowns with picks and then say they weren’t that critical to the game!! Come on!! We need to get Lemay ready!!
Tech is Great
January 3rd, 2012
6:50 pm
Just admit the truth dog fans. What you have is 50% a semi-pro football program and 50% a correctional center.
Cobb Dawg
January 3rd, 2012
6:52 pm
I think we just scored again on Tech.
J Bo
January 3rd, 2012
6:53 pm
No Aaron, not could but should is the word you need followed up with but I screwed up!!!
DawgFan1987
January 3rd, 2012
6:53 pm
@ Tech is Great
Who makes it a correctional center?
Blackland
January 3rd, 2012
6:55 pm
LOL, Carolina will continue to beat you beacuse we have Spurrier and he just likes to beat Georgia. Your team is soft, this is your problem….
ARdawg
January 3rd, 2012
6:55 pm
Delbert
The game was won despite the horrific play calling. It was handed to MSU in the final 3 minutes of regulation. A HC completely content to draw run it up the gap even after it didn’t work the previous 50 times. Attempting to put the onus back on the defense when all the offense needed was a 1st down. If that wasn’t enough, taking a knee with 15 seconds on the clock. Then came the atrocious attempt to kick a 45 yard FG on 3rd down. We have a coaching problem and that starts at the top, not the middle tier
Knowall Moreno
January 3rd, 2012
6:59 pm
No kidding Aaron??? Sure, if you would quit throwing picks & fumbling & Walsh could remember how to kick, we surely would have won the Carolina game & the bowl game that you guys GAVE away, that would put us at 12-2, not bad but still cant beat LSU, Boise, or Bama, we need more pieces to compete with the elite teams!
DawgFan1987
January 3rd, 2012
6:59 pm
@ Blackland
What’s Spurrier record at Carolina vs. UGA?
AltamahaDawg
January 3rd, 2012
7:04 pm
Grantham wouldn’t look nearly as good if his line was thin, and out of position, and he had walk-ons playing LB’s half the year. Get whomever you can name at OC, till we fix those problems, it really won’t change a thing, other than the next “name” of the unpopular OC in a long line of such.
Say What?
January 3rd, 2012
7:05 pm
I don’t remember much about the Boise game ‘cept that we stunk in all aspects of the game. But as for the other 12, Aaron Murray had a big hand in throwing the game away, or played bad enuff to prevent the Dawgs from putting the game away. Doesn’t seem to have that ‘extra’ that’s needed to be great. Won’t be nothin more than a ‘program’ qb. BUT, the ONE thing that just chaps my arse is our offensive line. Are they just that weak? We don’t seem to be able to push anybody. Vern Troyer couldn’t find a hole in that line. Them boys need to get in the weight room and not leave til they can push a schoolbus.
superDawg
January 3rd, 2012
7:07 pm
Coulda, woulda, shoulda, DIDN’T !!! I have had it with these clowns. We will never win another Championship as long as these clowns are our coaches. We have the greatest talent in the Nation. I know we do because CMR said we are approaching Greatness; however we still can’t win the big ones. We continue to choke and I don’t see it getting any better.
BILL KING
January 3rd, 2012
7:12 pm
JUST WIN BABY !!!!!!!!!
Stinger
January 3rd, 2012
7:14 pm
You jerks are so funny. You get all hyped up and fall flat on your face year after year. The definition of STUPIDITY is doing the same thing over and over. You recruit these so called 4 and 5 star thugs and can’t win.