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
8:19 pm
Altamaha Dawg
Just Another stupid comment from you kool-aid chairman
“I’ve never seen you say a thing in here that doest start and end with “this (name) co-ordinator”
Really
Thats all my posts
I havent said anything about Richt,
I never talked about the demands from the athletic department on the fans to pay so much for so little results
I never talked about Michael Adams
I never talked about the Dooley years
I never talked about the 10 win season mindsets
I never talked about Richts record against top 25 record or top 10 records
I never talked about the idiots who come on here talking trash about pre-season National Championships
I never talked about replacement coaches
oh
I never bash Tech on here almost everytime
No I just start and end “this (name) co-ordinator
You always come on here with no facts but your stupid opinions with nothing to back it up with
007
January 3rd, 2012
8:19 pm
duh That was great. Now come up with something about the pitiful offensive line. Maybe they could wear dresses.Enter your comments here
Bad Dawg
January 3rd, 2012
8:19 pm
P. Bull Terrier, The response by myself and other fans I assume is after the frustration that has built up over several years. This same crap has been going since like 2006. I don’t change my tune after every game, I look at the facts and over the course of this season. This year UGA lost to all the best teams with no upsets, last year UGA lost to all of the best teams with no upsets. This is the first year though in a while that UGA did not lose to a team that it was supposed to beat. It was somewhere between an average and above average year, and with the resources in the state of Georgia that is uncacceptable. It has been going on for too long, its time for a change. Unless you are satisfied with mediocrity, wins versus nobodies, and being constantly embarrassed on the national stage then hey be my guest.
Shankapotomus
January 3rd, 2012
8:19 pm
From 16-0 domination to falling apart the 2nd half. Is it coaching ? Probably.
Buzz 2011
January 3rd, 2012
8:20 pm
Read Mark Bradley ……Bradley opines that when the Dawgs lose , it is only a mirage not really a loss. The Dawgs are no doubt a powerhouse without peer, but my goodness son.
Now, when the Yellow Jackets lose, well it’s just a loss or lack of expertise.. Let me think,
didn’t both teams lose as a result of missed field goals…
SOUTH GA DIRT ROAD SCHOLAR
January 3rd, 2012
8:23 pm
DAWG fans if you are satisfied with 9 or 10 wins every year, CMR your man!!!!
Buzz 2011
January 3rd, 2012
8:25 pm
How can the Dawgs get South Carolina removed from their 2012 season.. SC was by far the better team and could have shown much better against the mighty Bayou Bengals..
Lowcountry Bulldawg
January 3rd, 2012
8:26 pm
Bad Dawg-
I have proudly defended AM and CMR up until yesterday. I cannot get the image of CMR laughing and shaking hands with a MSU as the game was going on. I know he is a nice guy and all but damn when the game is going on forget being St. Richt to the opposing team. Remember you get paid 3 mill to kick that teams ass not high five the players during the game. AM simply makes to many mistakes and will NEVER win the big game. Put Lemay in and lets see what he can do. Fire Bobo go get a high octane OC that will rejuvenate this offense.
AltamahaDawg
January 3rd, 2012
8:27 pm
Sure, but you also said in here a few weeks back( when we were winning) how all your post meant that you wanted to keep Richt as the coach, so I figured you didn’t really want me “literally” quote you on ever single post.
.
Erk Russell's Dog
January 3rd, 2012
8:27 pm
Buzz 2011
The missed FG’s were the only things in common,Tech lost to a bunch of Youths ,I mean Utes.
Lowcountry Bulldawg
January 3rd, 2012
8:27 pm
with a MSU player it should read…
The Missing Dawg
January 3rd, 2012
8:28 pm
I was at that game, and Georgia got their butts whipped in the second half. Murray is a good kid, but he shouldn’t be yapping after that performance. Richt continues to make bad, game losing decisions, and that is just poor coaching. If the OT fieldgoal had been good, it would have been a great decision, but these things seemingly never work out for Richt. On the way back from the game, I sat in the Birmingham airport and read the Birmingham News–not a great paper with not so great writers. One writer said, “Richt will never win a NC or a Conference Championship because he either cannot or will not put teams away.” He puts away the Coastal Carolinas but struggles against Vanderbilt and a bad Florida team, and Betty White blocks better than Crowell.
Bad Dawg
January 3rd, 2012
8:28 pm
IlliniDawg, Championships are the true measure of a champion right? You mean to tell me that you are ok with not winning a national championship in 31 years? I could understand if this was a talent dry state but the amount of resources in this state is too great for such constant mediocrity. Tenn, Fla, Ala, LSU, and Aub have all done at least once. So why not UGA and please don’t give me the stuff about Richt is such a great man because its not about that, he is payed to coach at the highest level of college football and as of late he has done little to nothing. If he was payed to be a great man then hey I’d give him a lifetime contract.
Lowcountry Bulldawg
January 3rd, 2012
8:30 pm
Also note people worried about Lattimore. He tore his knee up. He maybe back next year but who knows at what strength. He may have to come back for his SR. year depending on how he rebounds. South Carolina in no way can rely on Lattimore carrying them to another 10 win season when he is coming off a big time knee injury.
Erk Russell's Dog
January 3rd, 2012
8:32 pm
Buzz 2011
If CPJ would put Kool-Aid on the Menu at his Fish-fries maybe MB would call Tech Dream Team 2.
mark
January 3rd, 2012
8:34 pm
Grantham is your dang head coach,give him the job and get out of his way,he reminds me of Erk, and we all know now what we would have had if he would have been our head coach instead of the DC.,I am now believing Richt doesn’t know offenses either,clean house today.
Jamie
January 3rd, 2012
8:35 pm
Ga. is long overdue for a new coaching staff. Don’t change your coaching staff and Ga.will always just be an average football team. Yeah you won 10 in a row but look at your schedule, throw an LSU or a Bama in the mix and you wouldn’t have won the East. Embarrassing that’s what it was, so for 2012 you have another chance to when the East. Why? Ga.will not be playing LSU or Alabama. Bobo has got to go and so does Mark Richt. National Championship for Ga., not until you make some changes. It’s just sad to watch Ga.get hammered by a team we should have beat. We are a first half team, that’s all.
Birmingham Jacket
January 3rd, 2012
8:38 pm
Ron Paul would make a fine UGA or GT coach.
AltamahaDawg
January 3rd, 2012
8:38 pm
No we don’t pay him to be a nice guy. We pay him to run a clean program, represent us well, send our young men into life, win the division our fair share and put together teams capable of making a MNC runs every few years.
Gamecockrock
January 3rd, 2012
8:39 pm
We didn’t rely on him entirely to get to 11. Got quality depth at RB now. Besides Latti has until October now. With his work ethic he will go for his usual 175 against UGA. You won’t have an answer for Shaw either.
Snoop dawg
January 3rd, 2012
8:40 pm
Altamaha dog and dog in lex are just paid shills for mark richt. Think how many he can buy with the millions in unearned income he receives each year from Uga…
You are chumps and are being scammed by richt and his surrogates…
Bad Dawg
January 3rd, 2012
8:41 pm
LowCountry, I feel the same way. I mean Mark Richt just does not have that killer instinct like a Les Miles or a Nick Saban. For that matter he should just look at Todd Grantham as an example. I talked to a friend of mine and an Alabama fan and he was telling me how this Michigan State is a little better that the team that played last year but he was saying how Saban made them quit so early on they never had any hope of winning. A couple Aaron Murray turnovers, bad play calling, and poor coaching and you lose the game but I figured this would happened. Nothing is going to change until there is some shakeup in the offensive coaching staff and a culture change.
Jason
January 3rd, 2012
8:46 pm
Today I listened to the Philadelphia Eagles News Conference on the NFL Network, and wished the Georgia AD Mr. McGarity was watching as well. Owner Jeffrey Lurie gave an indepth report of the analysis he did before deciding to bring back the coaching staff. He stated that he did not base the decision on the wins late in the season because the success was against teams that were struggling, but he took into account Andy Reid’s record and the history of him bouncing back after poor seasons, together with the way the players still respond to him.
Having said all of that Coach Richt is deserving of an extension of three years; it would be unwise to grant an extension beyond three years based on victories over Old Miss, Miss State, Tenn, Fla., with a QB on one leg, Vandy, Kentucky, Auburn, which had a down year after last year NC, and GT.
I truly like Richt and hope he will bring up the Georgia Program to the levels of Alabama, LSU, Florida. Three years should be sufficient time for him to prove that he can do so.
Flat Tire on I-95 in Jacksonville
January 3rd, 2012
8:49 pm
Altamaha Dawg
“When we were winning” really
Your going there
LOL
Lets see when we were winning I never argued with you and the other kool-aid drinkers that Richt did not deserve a contract extension until after next seasons results
You do remember that one
Here is another shovel, the hole your digging is going to wear that shovel you have out
AltamahaDawg
January 3rd, 2012
8:49 pm
Well, except that I am not a “chump” by any stretch and the little pretend character that you act out in here is hardly a credible judge of that.
Bad Dawg
January 3rd, 2012
8:49 pm
AltamahDawg, dawg nation is still waiting for a few MNC runs.It has been 6 years since his last SEC championship, prior to this year and a few instances this season there were strings of arrests and suspensions by players he recruited, and UGA football has become the laughing stock of the SEC. So I would say he is not performing up to his lofty expectations. He had a good run from 2001-2007 but with the addition of coaches like Nick Saban, Urban Meyer, and Bobby Petrino in the SEC, Mark Richt has fell to the middle of the pack. If UGA wants to be a top 10 program then they need to find a new CEO for there football program.
Flat Tire on I-95 in Jacksonville
January 3rd, 2012
8:50 pm
Altamaha Dawg
When we were winning really
Your going there
LOL
Lets see when we were winning I never argued with you and the other kool-aid drinkers that Richt did not deserve a contract extension until after next seasons results
You do remember that one
Here is another shovel, the hole your digging is going to wear that shovel you have out
Atlanta Dawg
January 3rd, 2012
8:50 pm
FIRE BOBO
AltamahaDawg
January 3rd, 2012
8:51 pm
“laughing stock” really?
If they read these blogs much, perhaps.
AltamahaDawg
January 3rd, 2012
8:54 pm
I know somebody was chasing you all around the room with multiple quotes about you wanting Richt (not to be the coach any longer), and you couldn’t backpeddle fast enough.
Gatorhater
January 3rd, 2012
8:57 pm
Did Murray really say the two interceptions didn’t have anything to do with letting Michigan St back in the game!!!!! I beginning to think he has some issues with grasping reality…..he’s been the reason we lost in the last two games(LSU and MS) because of turnovers coming out of halftime!!! Did he really say that wasn’t the reason MS got back in the game!!!! Reality check needed!!!
Jawjah Puppies are a bad, delusional team
January 3rd, 2012
8:57 pm
Just sad to read these comments….hope is not a strategy…you should get the book, puppy fans….
LSU 42 Puppies 10
Sincerely,
LSU aka BCS Champs on 1-9-12
Bad Dawg
January 3rd, 2012
8:58 pm
Jason a three year extension for what? Why reward mediocrity? Richt has two more years left on his contract and that is long enough to prove that he deserves to be UGA’s head coach. 2007 was the last time UGA finished with a top 10 team. Last 4 years have been unbearable, I have watched UGA go from preseason #1 to the laughing stock of the SEC under coach Mark Richt’s direction. If he gets an extension I will no longer buy season tickets as it is embarrassing to watch his teams play against quality opponents. Andy Reid and Mark Richt are alot a like though, both have dream teams but can’t win the national championship but at least Andy got his team to the big game. Mark’s been here 11 years and he has the oppurtunity of a lifetime next year with that seemingly easy schedule but if he botches it up again then McGarity will have to strongly consider moving in another direction.
fair and Balanced
January 3rd, 2012
8:58 pm
My Dad use to criticize Dooley for conservative play calling. The only difference now is that we can’t move the ball forward on those 3rd and 3 plays via the run. Dooley’s teams got those first downs. We beat Notre Dame for the NC without a completed pass. This team completes a lot of passes, but in the clutch, versus a good team – we come up short. OL is poor. To lose to MIS is inexcusable when the defense and special teams provided a 16 point lead. Something has to change on this coaching philosophy and maybe it will if we get a better line on offense. But right now, this loss hurts and the blame has to go to primarily to Richt, down thru Bobo and of course Murray in a poorly played game.
Flat Tire on I-95 in Jacksonville
January 3rd, 2012
8:58 pm
AltamahaDawg
If you read one of my earlier posts today I said that I have been critical of this staff before during and after the season, but I never said Richt needs to go until after yesterday
Richt needs to go
John
January 3rd, 2012
8:59 pm
The best thing about LeMay is, he hasn’t learned Bobo’s playbook. Of course, CMR will never give him a legitimate shot at the position.
AltamahaDawg
January 3rd, 2012
9:00 pm
My guess is that you need to just go ahead and notify the ticket office.
Flat Tire on I-95 in Jacksonville
January 3rd, 2012
9:01 pm
Altamaha Dawg
And I couldnt backpeddle fast enough
Really
How is that idiot
The guy saying I said Richt should be fired all year
I never said Richt should be fired
And I asked him to prove it which he could not
How is that back peddling bud
Recruits
January 3rd, 2012
9:01 pm
To all DAWG recruits: think about it– do you really think CMR will last your 4(5) years– I dont think so. If you are going there because of CMR (Theus), think about it. Read all the comments above, the heat is on and it will get worse next year when they go 9-3 with the easy schedule. He want last 4 years- coaches today usually don’t
AltamahaDawg
January 3rd, 2012
9:02 pm
Sure, tire.
How bout them BEES!
January 3rd, 2012
9:02 pm
Shoulda, Woulda, Coulda.
Bad Dawg
January 3rd, 2012
9:03 pm
Jawjah puppies, If you really were an LSU fan I would respect your comments but hiding behind the #1 team in the nation and posing as a fan is pathetic. LSU has bigger and better things to worry about than what is going on at UGA.
Altamah, Yes I said laughing stock, talk to fans of any other SEC school and they will ridicule UGA football. I’ve even been laughed at by a Vandy fan for being a UGA fan. I advise you to check other SEC football blogs and see what they are saying about UGA.
Phil
January 3rd, 2012
9:04 pm
Richt hasn’t had any offers from any other schools. There has been a rumor or 2, but nobody has gone after him. That should tell you something, nobody esle wants him either.
I preached all last year that we should have gone after Jim Harbaugh. Harbaugh could have competed against Saban and Miles. Richt and Bozo can’t for crying out loud. There are a few others out there that could compete as well. We have to upgrade, staying the status quo with Richt and Bozo will just be more of the same. Why is this so hard to understand?
Tom
January 3rd, 2012
9:05 pm
Murray, its not your fault. You are carrying this team on your shoulders and its not fair. If not for you, Boykin, and the D, Georgia wouldn’t have gotten to the Outback Bowl.
Crowell is OVERrated. MIKE BOBO SHOULD BE FIRED. Less than two minutes left in the game and a running play on 3rd and 8? What an idiot!!!!!!
We never established a running game, no clear identity on offense. I will commend Grantham for having the Defense prepared. They did a tremendous job. The Defense did their job, but of course the offense couldn’t put the game away.
Dawgboy
January 3rd, 2012
9:08 pm
Could the college version of David Greene take the current team to a win over Michigan State? Yes. Could the college version of Mathew Stafford take this team to a win over State? Maybe. Could Hutson Mason (if he had been allowed to have a little more game experience) take this team to the win? Yes. The reason – Greene and Mason are mistake-free winners.
UGA fan...not fanatic
January 3rd, 2012
9:09 pm
orson charles told coaches he was going pro…so booboo and richt took him out of the game plan. i know this to be true. uga insider told me.
Bad Dawg
January 3rd, 2012
9:10 pm
“@RadiNabulsi: #UGA commit Marshall Morgan knocks down a 47 yd FG at the Semper Fidelis All American Bowl” set to replace Blair Walsh at K
Hallelujah
Flat Tire on I-95 in Jacksonville
January 3rd, 2012
9:10 pm
Altamaha Dawg
Sure Tire
Thats your come back; typical no facts just what comes from your mouth
I bet your one of those dictator bully guys when your at home with your family like you are on this blog
“What you say is the word and it cannot be altered because Im the great and powerful Altamaha Dawg”
but at work your nothing more than a pushover
Erk Russell's Dog
January 3rd, 2012
9:15 pm
I hope McGarrity does not immediately extend CMR’s contract. Give him a $$$bonus for winning the SEC east,even though he backed into it. Make any yearly extension dependent on winning the SEC next year. Win the SEC in 2012 and get your 3 year extension,if not enjoy a buy out or a lame duck year in 2013. I guess the same terms could be in effect for 2013 ,but I think CMR would take the buyout.Jimbo will be run out of Tallahassee by then, and CMR could land in the ACC where he belongs.He would only have to compete with CPJ and Dabo instead of Miles and Saban.
CaliDawg
January 3rd, 2012
9:19 pm
How much of the playbook can Bobo use when his QB has a tendency to turn the ball over so often? I’m not trying to be an apologist, but it’s gotta be tough calling plays when you have to be thinking about protecting your own defense from being tossed right back on the field in the midst of trying to score points.
I’ve been saying it for two years now and people still look at me funny. Murray has very small hands and has trouble gripping/throwing the ball with accuracy. There’s no other reason for some of the passes so poorly thrown, thrown way over receivers’ heads, so far out of bounds on out patterns, so under thrown or wobbly that end up landing near nobody and we all assume the ball “must’ve been tipped or something”. It’s a factor in the fumbles and interceptions. Gloves on, gloves off, cold weather, hot and sweaty weather, rainy weather…it’s always a crapshoot.