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
funny...
January 3rd, 2012
10:22 pm
Same old crap. O line can’t hold blocks for the ultra intricate and time consuming routes Bobo/Richt draw up for the receivers.
On Georgia’s first offensive play of overtime, Marlon Brown’s defender fell down. Aaron Murray threw the pass to where Marlon Brown should have been (out route). Marlon Brown ran a crappy route. Ball hit four yards in front of him. Don’t know if anyone else caught that.
Jesus Christ
January 3rd, 2012
10:23 pm
Murray is a garbage athlete. My 10 yr old brother could start at QB and beat Vandy and the other patsies tharpt Murray defeated. He is a redneck.
AltamahaDawg
January 3rd, 2012
10:25 pm
.sigh……….good lordy………great, you never “said’ you wanted him fired. You were fully supportive.Just felt like it was helpful to complain ad nauseum about every thing he said and everything he did and opine how much better off we would be if he were not the coach. but never wanted him fired.. Super. no idea how I could have mistaken that.
So now that you DO want him fired, what is your new plan?
funny...
January 3rd, 2012
10:25 pm
I’ll agree with the above statement too. Georgia football has never been the same since Willie Martinez’s defense completely folded against Alabama in 2008.
Mobile Dawg
January 3rd, 2012
10:26 pm
You and Alt have an old fashioned crusade style joust going. No one ever wins these, it just depends on what you want to get out of being on a blog. I try and maintain some manner of civility, stay away from the name calling, and give my opinions as I see them. Sometimes I may reconsider based on someone elses comments. I also think that after reading Altamaha’s posts for the last few years he is yanking your chain every now and then. Bottom line is Richt is slow to adapt, our coaches don’t know how to make adjustments, and we’re a very mediocre team. If and when we get championship caliber talent, and I believe we’re “fairly” close, our coaching will screw it up.
funny...
January 3rd, 2012
10:27 pm
I’ll tell you a good plan. Ralph Friedgen is sitting at Lake Oconee collecting a $1 million check for fishing.
Go hire Ralph Friedgen for a mill and have him run the offense. Don’t have to let Bobo go, just take away the OC part.
AltamahaDawg
January 3rd, 2012
10:27 pm
No I could live without Coach Bobo. I’m sure there are plenty of good OC to replace him with.
funny...
January 3rd, 2012
10:28 pm
I got an interesting text late in the game from a “non partisan” watcher.
“Why does halftime always hurt Georgia?”
I had no answer.
Flat Tire on I-95 in Jacksonville
January 3rd, 2012
10:29 pm
Mobile Dawg
“If and when we get championship caliber talent, and I believe we’re “fairly” close, our coaching will screw it up”
They did that in 2007 and 2008.
Mobile Dawg
January 3rd, 2012
10:31 pm
I thought we had a great chance last year when we took a look at Ralph Friedgen. We had the resources to lock him up but didn’t do what it took to get it done. I like Bobo, he’s proved he’s a good recruiter and a valuable asset, just not as OC.
funny...
January 3rd, 2012
10:33 pm
Because Friedgen is collecting like $1.3 million from Maryland to not coach this year.
He has that buyout thing in his contract. He made more money to not coach this year.
I know this is stupid internet talk but I know a guy that played at Citadel when Friedgen was there, they still talk, Friedgen was “interested” in Georgia.
I say “we” – the anonymous fans – push very hard for something like this.
Erk Russell's Dog
January 3rd, 2012
10:34 pm
Altamaha Dawg
Bobo says he is not ready to move up , what OC job would be better than the one he has?Just what does that mean? Has an offer ever been made that Bobo turned down? Of course if there are not any offers it is easy to say you are not ready to move up to be a HC. As for having a better job than OC at UGA well I guess it is ,when you are not held accountable by your boss for the failure of your offense in every big game you have coached for the last 3 years. I still think CMR is the true OC ,comments Bobo made in the press about the 3 running plays called on the last UGA drive before MSU tied the game,made it sound like CMR was calling the plays.
Mobile Dawg
January 3rd, 2012
10:35 pm
Flat, Richt truly doesn’t get it, he continues to make the same mistakes over and over. I said 4 years ago he was a work in progress, he continues to struggle with the same things he did then. He’s proven, over and over, he’s shown us all he’s capable of. Until he surrounds himself with some great minds with coaching ability he will continue struggling. McGarity may force him to make an OC move.
funny...
January 3rd, 2012
10:35 pm
I like Bobo too. Dude is a dedicated Dawg. He and Richt obviously have either lost or can’t find the “edge”.
Watch all these other games on TV, they have something that Georgia doesn’t. Quick plays, smart plays, tricky plays, inventive plays. Georgia does NONE of that.
Flat Tire on I-95 in Jacksonville
January 3rd, 2012
10:36 pm
The current plan is to secure a 3-5 year contract
“To save the recruits” wink wink
But if I were Mcgarity Chris Peterson and Gary Paterson would have gotton a call this morning
I would have never brought up contract extension period, he has 2 yrs left there is no need for contract talks
But since we all know that Richt and the Circus is back for another assured 2 losses next season
He would be told 12-0 season with a bowl victory or 11-1 with an SEC championship period
The schedule warrants that
AltamahaDawg
January 3rd, 2012
10:38 pm
Lowcountry, putting aside a complete HC change for the sake of argument, can you decribe 2 or 3 actual things that would have been (or could prove to be) further improvement that would have made this a better team on the field?
When you say “not enough”, what does that mean? Would having a deeper OL with true tackles make any difference? How about if we had an established RB, with capable back-ups and not needing to use freshman and walk-ons? better? win one or two more, probably?
I guess my point is that it just seems to me that its easier to fix the known issues. And I think you are discounting that some very MAJOR changes are just now a year or two old now.
AltamahaDawg
January 3rd, 2012
10:43 pm
I have no idea what HC offers have not been offered/ or rejected by Bobo.I suspect university do not make a habit of going into the newspaper and forcing coaches to respond to job that they arent offering.
Do we know what jobs HC jobs have not been offered to all the guys on sabans/miles staff last year?
P_The_Ricker
January 3rd, 2012
10:45 pm
barring injury, for anyone who thinks that Murray will not be the starting qb for his entire tunure at UGA……just take a look at blair walsh, uga is stuck w/ him.
once you start for an entire season….there’s no way richt will ever allow you to be replaced/benched.
you’d think w/ richt being a career back-up player in college that he’d be more for wanting to give other players a chance.
Mobile Dawg
January 3rd, 2012
10:45 pm
I know you’re not asking me Alt, but it’s painfully obvious to me that they have not utilized the talent they have properly. Bobo just doesn’t seem to have a feeling for the flow of the game. Sometime I feel like he learned on a video game. Seems to me an OC should have a vision for the game, looking one, two, or even three plays down the road. I don’t think Bobo can think on the fly.
Flat Tire on I-95 in Jacksonville
January 3rd, 2012
10:46 pm
How about using the TE’s more
How about putting Mason in when Murray starts his screw ups like Spurrier would do
How about having the common sense to stop running up the middle when its not working
How about putting the FB dive back into the playbook
How about using the I-formation more
How about throwing more crossing patterns instead of those screen passes to the sideline
How about having the sense to not kick it to the honey badger
How about having the mindset to put away teams when you have a big lead
How about continuing to stick with plays that are successful until they stop it
How about passing to the RB’s and FB’s more
Mobile Dawg
January 3rd, 2012
10:49 pm
I think CTG will be a hot commodity, not much talk about his contract. That would be the ultimate Richt blunder if he got away.
AltamahaDawg
January 3rd, 2012
10:51 pm
No I wasnt asking what your “pretend you are the AD” plan is. I am saying what is YOUR plan as a fan, as a poster in here for the next 8 months is?
He has to go, but he is not. And you are going to do?????? what?
You said before that the rest of us are the ‘real problem” with our just going to games, having a good time, and drinking our JimBeam and not DEMANDING change, so is that your plan now that you have drawn your line in the sand?
funny...
January 3rd, 2012
10:51 pm
I can also tell you that Richt promised both Mason and Murray that Mason would see playing time when Murray struggles.
In fact, Richt told Mason that he would get at least an alternating series with Murray at Ole Miss.
Hutson’s entire family traveled to Oxford. He never played.
Hutson is gone guys. So if your hopes are for Mason to win out. Save it for LeMay
Lowcountry Bulldawg
January 3rd, 2012
10:51 pm
ELIMINATE THE FB POSITION AT UGA!!!!
To much talk about a damn FB. Spread it out all the time. Go
King
Bennett
cHarles
Mitchell
One back set….
Figgins would never have played FB. 6′4 270 FB never works. Said it before the season and loo what happened. He was wasted.
Space and formations.
Erk Russell's Dog
January 3rd, 2012
10:54 pm
Altamaha Dawg
I was responding to your comment that Bobo said he was not ready to move up or on. this makes him sound like he has no ambition to move up. Or maybe worse he thinks if he stays put he will be CMR’s successor.
AltamahaDawg
January 3rd, 2012
10:55 pm
I’m not asking your plan as ‘pretend’ coach, or “if I were AD”.Ii am asking you as a fan, as a poster in here, your plan.
You said before the rest of us were the real problem for not demanding change, so now that you have drawn very clear lines in the sand…..what is your plan if they don’t fireRricht?
funny...
January 3rd, 2012
10:57 pm
We certainly have the receivers for 4 WR set.
They worked all summer and fall on that spread type offense.
We ran a spread a lot this year. The problem was Murray never kept the ball on the “option” play.
The backs rarely followed Figgins. Crowell never knew the play. How many times did he have to ask what we were doing?
Keith Marshall, get ready man, you’re next.
AltamahaDawg
January 3rd, 2012
10:58 pm
I think it makes him sound smart enough to know he isnt ready to be a HC at any large school after only 4 yrs of being a OC at a pretty young age. Or reaslistic enough to know that HC at a small school in west Texas isnt a good trade off for moving his very large family away from his dream job right now.
Lowcountry Bulldawg
January 3rd, 2012
10:59 pm
Well thank you for saying that Murray sucks! Go get a OC from Okie St or another team that can run the spread and see what happens.
WE WILL NOT BEAT BAMA OR LSU playing as we are now. FACT!
funny...
January 3rd, 2012
11:00 pm
LOL at Bobo’s intentions. Pretty sure no on here knows that.
If I had to venture a guess Bobo is pretty happy in Athens. I want guys like that, but it’s obvious his responsibility with the offense outweighs his ability.
I’d love Bobo to stay in Athens. He’s a Georgia guy. But Georgia is at their max for coaches. Someone would have to go.
STEPHEN A.DAWG: UGA has sold its SEC soul for a ACC OC as its Head coach.
January 3rd, 2012
11:01 pm
I’d rather win a MNC with a dirt bag coach than to settle for mediocrity with a holier than thou coach who can no longer win games against top twenty teams. I love UM’s Jimmy Johnson he was no dirt bag, but a take no sh!t winner in the college and pros. You must be a fool if you would rather have has-been Richt over vintage JJ in coaching. There’s no comparision. JJ was the best. No doubt about it !
AltamahaDawg
January 3rd, 2012
11:01 pm
tire,Ii wasn’t asking you your plan as armchair co-ordinator or pretend AD. I was asking YOUR plan as a fan, and poster. Now that you have drawn clear lines in the sand (we agree you officially want Richt fired now, right?) and if they don’t, your plan is?
funny...
January 3rd, 2012
11:02 pm
I disagree. This team can beat ANYONE. They proved they could shut down LSU.
Mark Bradley said it best: (paraphrase) “Aaron Murray has the ability to keep both teams in the game”
Lowcountry Bulldawg
January 3rd, 2012
11:03 pm
Also note that Va Techs 3rd string kicker is making FG’s while our all time leading acoring was sucking on raw eggs. 3RD STRING KICKER!
AltamahaDawg
January 3rd, 2012
11:03 pm
I wasn’t asking for your the plan as armchair co-ordinator or pretend AD.
Flat Tire on I-95 in Jacksonville
January 3rd, 2012
11:04 pm
Just find someone that wants to win,
when they have a lead they step on the gas
They dont know the word conservatism
And they can make adjustments
AltamahaDawg
January 3rd, 2012
11:04 pm
I was asking YOU, your plan now?
Mobile Dawg
January 3rd, 2012
11:04 pm
Seems like every year one of our strengths, turn into a weakness. How do we fix that?
Lowcountry Bulldawg
January 3rd, 2012
11:04 pm
funny….
They can beat anyone for 30 minute….
LSU
MSU
Then they stop coaching the game. Blame Richt, Bobo for not maintaining the edge a ELITE team has.
I guess you are happy with 30 minute champions.
funny...
January 3rd, 2012
11:05 pm
I was posed another interesting question. What if Georgia broke the mold and kept Richt but as the OC, Grantham as DC, and got someone to head up the team. Like a Tommy Tuberville (not saying him, but someone along those lines)
BabsTolstoy
January 3rd, 2012
11:05 pm
Even though Auburn ended up a lowly 8-5 and got our behinds handed to us by the mighty dwags usem fans are happy, delirious even, given we’re still riding high over our NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP. It remains a glorious feeling. I wish you dwaggies could know what that is like, particularly you young ones born after 1975 too young to remember the last one. Alas, you do not, and from what the world saw yesterday you will not anytime soon. You see, grasping the highest rung requires courage, confidence, and a ne’r do well zest you bozos lack, and will continue to lack as long as that play it safe sissy boy coach of yours keeps cashing his checks. Meanwhile I and my brethen will be polishing our hats and trophies lying in wait for the next one which surely will come, because when you get it once the next one is easy. You know how to do it.
Flat Tire on I-95 in Jacksonville
January 3rd, 2012
11:07 pm
You asked me what my new plan was
The one who makes the decisons is Mcgarity the AD
I told you if I was Mcgarity I would call Peterson or Patterson
Thats the plan. Can you read
funny...
January 3rd, 2012
11:08 pm
I hear you dude. I agree. Halftime should not be Georgia’s biggest threat.
And I think you’re right.
The players can obviously show up and play with anyone.
Now the schemes and playcalling have to get better, the turtle shell analogy was used earlier.
Bobo’s second halfs were always deep pass, deep pass, run, punt or run, run, deep pass, punt.
All of us watching know what is coming next. Obviously the opponent does as well.
Lowcountry Bulldawg
January 3rd, 2012
11:08 pm
Atl—
My plan? Go find the 21st century Steve Spurrier. At whatever costs. 4-5 million a year? This program flaunts its budget? Then go make it happen.
Flat Tire on I-95 in Jacksonville
January 3rd, 2012
11:11 pm
Altamaha
The problem with you is you cant admit your wrong
at least Low Country has the better sense to realize we need a change
all you do is continue to offer excuses then try to twist what people say
funny...
January 3rd, 2012
11:11 pm
though I do like Lowcountry’s idea of just throwing an armored car of money at Chris Petersen.
CP overachieves with lesser talent than the SEC can you imagine what he could do with this Georgia team? Wow.
STEPHEN A.DAWG: UGA has sold its SEC soul for a ACC OC as its Head coach.
January 3rd, 2012
11:13 pm
Why won’t Bobo apply for Terry Bowden’s old job at Div II North Alabama. They still are accepting applications for head coach. The kicker Walsh has no remaining eligibility. That’s good. We wish him the best in his tryout for the National Soccer League. Hopefully Aaron Murray will transfer to FAU after he gets beat out at QB after spring practice. He should have went to Florida Atlantic in the first place as he is not starting QB material in the SEC. I hope Crowell takes the red-shirt in 2012 that he should have been allowed to take in 2011 if UGA had a head coach that was capable of making logical decisions in player management and development.
To boars trolls
January 3rd, 2012
11:14 pm
Shoot Murray lucky we didn’t lose two more, not win two more. Jump balls on 4th down in Florida, vandy sucks so they didn’t know how to beat us…….need I say more.
Need a new coach, if he won’t get rid of his OC, then head guy should go.
AltamahaDawg
January 3rd, 2012
11:15 pm
yes, i can read. can you? you are not Greg Mcgarity. I asked YOUR plan, as you, a fan, a poster.
AltamahaDawg
January 3rd, 2012
11:15 pm
What excuses?