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
DawgFan1987
January 3rd, 2012
7:16 pm
@Stinger
you’re a coward
Tim
January 3rd, 2012
7:18 pm
Has Crowell announced his intent to tranfer?
Big D
January 3rd, 2012
7:22 pm
Shoulda, woulda, coulda. Typical uga BS.
IlliniDawg
January 3rd, 2012
7:23 pm
Wow, TechNerds feeling a little p&n!$ envy it seems. Insecure, inadequate, unhappy, jealous people tend to lash out in irrational and irresponsible ways. Sad… very sad.
JRW7
January 3rd, 2012
7:24 pm
This is a terrible loss. We gave the game away. CMR and CMB coached way too conservative to win. Aaron Murray can’t win the big game, 3 turnovers by Murray let MichiganState back in the game. AND CMR kicks FG on 3rd down?????? This coaching staff will win you 10 games a season, no more, NO MNC from these offensive coaches.
Flat Tire on I-95 in Jacksonville
January 3rd, 2012
7:26 pm
Altamaha Dawg
Stop making excuses
Richt has been a head coach for over a decade and an asst for another decade
He should know by now what he needs but he doesnt
Grantham went and got a big lineman right away because he knows thats what you need,
Richt and Bozo went out and bought books on Energy Vampires
For someone that claims they helped turned around a million dollar company you have the most excuses for two inept coaches I have ever seen.
SOUTH GA DIRT ROAD SPORT
January 3rd, 2012
7:28 pm
10 wins is as good as it ever gets with CMR and CMB, DAWG NATION, are you content with that?
IlliniDawg
January 3rd, 2012
7:29 pm
The hatred and venom spewed on Aaron Murray here is incredible. Almost makes me think that you all are like that whack-job that just killed the Park Ranger with a high-powered rifle – and if you had the chance you would do the same to AM or CMR. You guys need to settle down. It is just a game, and the guy is only a college kid.
Flat Tire on I-95 in Jacksonville
January 3rd, 2012
7:29 pm
Stinger
The definition of STUPIDITY really?
losing to that team 10 times out of 11 is called the definition of stupidity.
I bet they have a picture of GT football in Websters dictionary by stupidity.
wally
January 3rd, 2012
7:31 pm
2011 is history, yes the bulldog nation loved those ten wins. If you did not you are lying. 2012 is nine months away, The game I would like to see Georgia win most next year is the one in Columbia, Right now I am predicting a loss. Steve Spurrier is a better coach, he has always out coached CMR, they will have Lattimore back their QB will be better than Murray. It is scary, but I would not be surprised at an 8-4 season. a lot of returnees, but let us admit it the Dogs are not a winning football team. We beat a lot of softies this year, but common sense tells me they cannot do that every year. As bad as I hate to admit it the Division will go to USC.
Noneya
January 3rd, 2012
7:31 pm
Yeah at least one more against Michigan State.
Days In The Lives Of Falcons Fans
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-QKLJ4wY_yQ
SOUTH GA DIRT ROAD SCHOLAR
January 3rd, 2012
7:32 pm
I love the UGA DAWGS, BUT I know we can’t compete with LSU and BAMA with CMB!
dawgs2004
January 3rd, 2012
7:33 pm
Quit turning the ball over so much would help!!!!!!!!!!!! 3 more yesterday.
IlliniDawg
January 3rd, 2012
7:35 pm
@wally: you may be right, but I think there is an equal chance that we run the table and end up top of the East. Lattimore coming back from an ACL is not an insignificant thing – and not many running backs have done that successfully. And although Shaw had an impressive run there at the end of the season, I’m not sure anyone would say he’s better than Murray.
Erk Russell's Dog
January 3rd, 2012
7:36 pm
Flat Tire
Could not have made a better response to Stinker than you did.
Flat Tire on I-95 in Jacksonville
January 3rd, 2012
7:38 pm
wally
With our schedule next year and talent; Miles, Saban, Meyer, Carol, Spurrier, Patterson, Peterson would go 12-0
but Marky Mark and Mike Bonehead wont they will find a way to lose at least 2 games and blame it on player execution for the 12 season in a row
university of football
January 3rd, 2012
7:39 pm
If Tech could recruit all the low intellect thugs that georgia gets, they would have 5-10 national titles by now! Just win baby!! top recruiting classes, but they still lose to average teams like mich state! Richt—pure genius!!
RM
January 3rd, 2012
7:39 pm
The game never should have went to OT. All UGA needed ws 1 more first down and they would have run the clock out. But, what do they do? They go ultra conservative and get 2 yards on 3 plays and punt the ball. As soon as they did that I told my buddy they were going to lose the game. Why go so conservative with almost 2 minutes on the clock? It was a BOWL game for crying out loud! That’s the time to stay aggressive and run the clock out. It’s not a regular season game… Frustrating!!!
Bad Dawg
January 3rd, 2012
7:40 pm
IllininDawg, I would probably take Conner Shaw. He manages the game well, is mobile, good kid, and can win without one of the nations best running backs. Only one loss as a starter too, sounds good to me.
Murray in 2012!!
January 3rd, 2012
7:40 pm
In 2012, Murray will be the best QB in the SEC! With ICro, Marshall and Davis, the Dawgs O will light it up! Dawgs win the SEC east again!
T-DAWG
January 3rd, 2012
7:41 pm
Are you kidding me? You are up 16-0 and let a team to score 14 points off of turnovers and you say you did not allow the other team to get back into the game. Which game are you playing or watching? Until he owns up to his mistakes and works to get it better in the off season, the same issues are going to occur next year. Rich has no choice at this point but to rally behind is starting quarterback but bet you that the LeMay and Hutson will get plenty of looks this spring to ensure they are ready in case these melt down continues.
“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.”
JRW7
January 3rd, 2012
7:41 pm
Your right, CTG has greatly improved our defense, BUT UGA will never win the big games with CMB! Maybe one day, CMR will see this too!
Bad Dawg
January 3rd, 2012
7:44 pm
Flat Tire, You are dead on but who do you think is a suitable hire for UGA. My favorite option is Chris Peterson but I don’t think that will happen. Any suggestions?
IlliniDawg
January 3rd, 2012
7:44 pm
@BadDawg: it would take at least one full season of that kind of performance to convince me that he is as good as Murray. But the bigger point here is, why all the hating on a record-setting QB who has only played two years? If he doesn’t improve next year, then maybe he is one of those guys who reached his potential early and doesn’t have much upside. But the guy is just a redshirt sophomore.
Flat Tire on I-95 in Jacksonville
January 3rd, 2012
7:44 pm
university of football
Tech does recruit those thugs
Tech has been on probation more than UGA has the last 20 yrs due that
Flat Tire on I-95 in Jacksonville
January 3rd, 2012
7:46 pm
Bad Dawg
Gary Patterson would be my next choice after Peterson,
I would also consider the Air Force Coach after that or throw a salary at John Gruden after that
Bad Dawg
January 3rd, 2012
7:48 pm
IlliniDawg, I am not too big on stats. The wins are what I am focused on and more importantly the wins in big games. He could break every single NCAA record and I could care less unless he wins some meaningful game. It is not all his fault though, the head coach deserves ever more blame.
Erk Russell's Dog
January 3rd, 2012
7:50 pm
As far as talent Goes at UGA. I hope they have some OL recruits coming. The OL ’s performance against MSU was pitiful. They whiffed on more blocks than Alex Gonzales whiffed on 0-2 sliders in the dirt .
Re-assign Bobo ,let CMR call the plays like he used to do when he first came to UGA. Hire a first class OL coach and get back to running the damn ball. That 3rd and 1 that turned into a 4th and 1and wound up being a turnover on downs in the 1st quarter yesterday shows the true weakness of the UGA offense.
IlliniDawg
January 3rd, 2012
7:50 pm
@Flat Tire: put down the bong, or the meth pipe, or the Wild Turkey, or whatever the hell it is that is giving you these delusions. Richt is going nowhere. I know that you despise him deeply – that your hatred for him runs very very deep. But unless something bad happens to CMR, he is the coach for the next 3-4 years. Maybe try to direct your passion for UGA football in a more constructive direction.
TheTruthHurts
January 3rd, 2012
7:51 pm
McGarity will show us how stupid or smart he is by the length of the contract extension he gives Richt. Richt does not deserve one, but McGarity or somebody up the chain seems hell bent to give him one in spite of his weak coaching performance. No contract extension would be best, but 2 years would be bearable. With only two years added, it wouldn’t be too great a hardship for a program that took in $64 million dollars to buy Richt out and get rid of him in a couple of years when things don’t improve. Notice the use of “when” and not “if”. Anything more then two years would indicate that McGarity is as stupid as the UT athletic director that extended Fullmer’s contract only to buy him out the next year for $6 million. And one thing you got to say for Fullmer. He had a national championship ring. Something Richt will never have as a head coach.
Bad Dawg
January 3rd, 2012
7:51 pm
Yeah those are all great choices but what would it take to get Richt or at least Mike Bobo ran out of town? Would Michael Adams have to get canned?
duh
January 3rd, 2012
7:52 pm
Run, Bobo, run. See Bobo run the ball. See Bobo lose games.
Phil
January 3rd, 2012
7:53 pm
Let’s face it, it’s going to be extremely hard to win another SEC crown under Richt. That would mean getting by Alabama, LSU, Arkansas and South Carolina. Richt cannot match up with the coaches of those schools. We won the East this year but only because we got help with South Carolina. Alabama and LSU are going to dominate the conference for years to come. We have to upgrade to be on the same level as them. Richt and Bozo are no match for them. I truly believe we have the atheletes that can compete. But with Richt and Bozo, our chances are slim to win another SEC crown.
With that being said, are we content with Richt to win us 8-10 games per year but never get us to a National Championship game? I think Alabma and LSU will force our hand to upgrade. McGarity has to realize this. Any coach that will send out a horrible kicker to attempt a 42 yard FG on 3rd down has all but lost his mind. Once again, McGarity should also realize this.
Bob-Bob Baran
January 3rd, 2012
7:54 pm
Hey Munchkin (aka Murray), “Woulda; coulda; shoulda”……How about just winning….you looked like a Rookie yesterday!
fla dawg
January 3rd, 2012
7:58 pm
jeez mark bradley… I am a fan of yours and also a dawg fan but that article was a complete waste of space. you should be embarrassed.
Flat Tire on I-95 in Jacksonville
January 3rd, 2012
7:59 pm
Bad Dawg
Adams needs to go
By the way read this article; towards the bottom it talks about the joke we have as our school President
http://blog.al.com/press-register-sports/2010/07/finebaum_richt-er_scale_weak_a.html
Bob-Bob Baran
January 3rd, 2012
8:00 pm
Couple more victories??? Boise State…NO; South Carolina…NO; LSU…HELL NO; Michigan State…NO…..and you shoulda lost to VANDY!
Pago Pago DAWG
January 3rd, 2012
8:02 pm
I think The Dawg Nation agrees…Bama plays every year to be a Champion.
I think The Dawg Nation agrees…UGA plays every year to try win SEC East
JRW7
January 3rd, 2012
8:05 pm
It all comes down to one thing,, WE GAVE THE GAME AWAY!!!!!!
Flat Tire on I-95 in Jacksonville
January 3rd, 2012
8:06 pm
Pago Pago DAWG
Sorry but you are wrong
UGA plays every year to try to win 10 games
P. Bull Terrier
January 3rd, 2012
8:07 pm
99% of the people on the AJC blogs don’t deserve to ever see their team win a championship in any sport. Bulldogs, Yellow Jackets, Falcons, Braves, Hawks, or whatever other team – it’s all the same. After every win, our team, coaches and players are the greatest ever. After every loss, all of the coaches and all of the players should be fired and replaced by people who weren’t good enough to take the position in the first place.
Flat Tire on I-95 in Jacksonville
January 3rd, 2012
8:08 pm
P.Bull Terrier
I fall in the 1%
JRW7
January 3rd, 2012
8:09 pm
PHIL, you are right on, CMR and CMB can’t match up with the SABINS and the MILES!
AltamahaDawg
January 3rd, 2012
8:09 pm
No idea what “excuses” you are talking about .I’m posting about realities and you are making up banalities. As I have had to call you out on now, what 29 times? try disagreeing with some point that I actualy made.
Richt has recruited all the top RB, and about 2 dozen linemen recently, but they have not worked out. (or havent yet and some WILL) and PLENTY have in the past. Just not at this point. They know what they need, they talk about it all the time. You are telling me that Grantham recruited ONE player and that is some stark difference. sure.
Sorry man, the problem with us is that I find it more interesting to look at a bigger broader over time concepts.But that’s just me. I’ve never seen you say a thing in here that doest start and end with “this (name) co-ordinator” That bores me.
Bad Dawg
January 3rd, 2012
8:10 pm
That’s a great article Flat Tire thanks for the link and yes the standard here in dawg nation is 10 wins and competing for the SEC East. Wins over Florida, Auburn, Tennessee, and Georgia Tech have to be apart of those ten wins as well. A culutre change is badly needed in Athens.
TampaGator
January 3rd, 2012
8:13 pm
Energy Vampires
Verge of Greatness
Acsending to the Top
I wonder what the next great slogan will be. Oh….I forgot…….
SUMMER IS THE TIME TO MAKE DREAMS COME TRUE.
Yeah Boy!
Erk Russell's Dog
January 3rd, 2012
8:14 pm
Altamaha Dawg
31 years and counting if your concept gets any broader or bigger it will block out the sun.
STEPHEN A.DAWG: Grantham for UGA HEAD COACH after Richt.
January 3rd, 2012
8:14 pm
UGA has sold its SEC soul to become mired in mediocrity on offense. To end the mediocrity and incompetency which currently plagues Georgia, the AD McGarrity must mandate that Richt must:
1) Totally overhaul and scrap the pass-first 90s FSU offensive playbook. Georgia, for the past 11 years under Richt, has been ACC-FSU lite (minus their 93&99 titles) in predictable scheme and disguise. Hire a real OC and tell Bobo to burn all the old 1990s film of the Richt-led FSU offense and accept a “voluntary” demotion to recruiting coordinator.
2) Develop a SEC/ pro style power running attack. This is nothing new to the UGA faithful who have waited well over 2 decades to see a return of a dominate run game. Build depth in the O-line & quality SEC calibre RBs,FBs and bring the TEs back into the offense in traditional roles.
3) Open up a un-biased competition at QB. The play from that position MUST improve if UGA is going to attempt to get to the next level. Murray has started the last two seasons and is 16-11 for those starts. Murray has yet to perform to acceptable levels against top twenty competition and has no signature victory to date, but many signature poor performances in big games. It’s time to give Mason and Lemay a chance to compete against Murray for the starting QB position. No doubt about it.
4) Bring in a Special Teams coach and stop relying on the talent of uncoached punters and kickers. Keep the walk-ons on the bench on kick coverages against dangerous kick returners.
UGA lost the first two games to quality opponents, then won ten in a row from below average opponents, only to lose the last two games to quality opponents. So in the end the Dawgs are still average or the best of the worst. Which means UGA is still mediocre when compared to LSU or ‘Bama in the SEC. Thus Richt really doesn’t deserve any increase in pay with only a one year “conditional” extension to his current contract that still has two years on it. If these changes are not made UGA has NO chance of ever winning the SEC title or the MNC with Richt as head coach. And UGA will continue to sell its SEC soul for ACC level mediocrity while residing in the SEC.
IlliniDawg
January 3rd, 2012
8:15 pm
You guys seem to be completely obsessed with National Championships as the ultimate measuring-stick of a coach. Well, here are just some of the d-bags and a-holes with NCs and/or big-splash success – many of whom also put their programs on probabtion. I don’t think too many folks in Dawg Nation would want the likes of these as our coach:
Jimmy Johnson
Barry Switzer
Pete Carroll
Nick Saban
Lou Holz
Danny Ford
Charlie Pell
Rick Neuheisel
Rich Rodriguez
Etc
TampaGator
January 3rd, 2012
8:18 pm
Reality check Dawg fans about your OL…..
MSU had two players who will be starting in the NFL soon…..and the rest of the players on that defense were real good as well. Wisconsin had trouble blocking them and they have an outstanding OL. You guys are simply amazing. Georgia’s OL was at best, average, all year. Of course, they would have difficulty blocking the MSU defensive linemen…..that are way above average.
P.S……Florida’s defensive line is going to be way above average next year….maybe great. Linebackers are excellent, and the secondary covers like the dew. The offense just needs to get better, and I think it will. But….of course…..Florida is terrible. Muschamp can’t coach. And Florida has no talent. Yeah Boy!