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
Tell us what you think about the site
Customer Care »
Vacation stops, manage subscriptions and more
AJC Services
Sections
Other Editions
Visitor Agreement | Privacy Statement
© 2013 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
990 comments Add your comment
JB
January 3rd, 2012
1:16 pm
I do cringe when Murray runs on the field on his tippie toes, just say’n. They call him ‘Prancer” on the dawg pay site.
duronimo
January 3rd, 2012
1:16 pm
Pick any college football game on Sat and you will invariably see two teams playing up to or beyond their abilities. The Peach Bowl is an example of this. It was an entertaining, fast paced game. Both Auburn and Virgina played hard …. the entire way. Auburn prevailed because their OC’s game plan kept the other team off balance the whole way. By way of contrast, UGA games seem bland, plodding and ugly. They struggle and underachieve. For three years now, they have been frustrating to watch.
Dawglasville
January 3rd, 2012
1:16 pm
A loss always brings out the parasites. Your parents must be so proud.
GJones88
January 3rd, 2012
1:17 pm
Yes, Aaron Murray is super talented. I think he should go pro now.
Tucker
January 3rd, 2012
1:17 pm
CMR will never be tried for impersonating a big time SEC football coach because there is not enough evidence.
DawgGone
January 3rd, 2012
1:19 pm
If you look at the whold picture Aaron Murray is not a winning quarterback. He pads his stats in meaningless games and I think is 0-whatever in games when teams are in the top 25. BUT HE STUDYS HARD. The sad part is that we have some great youn receivers coming back and if we had an OC with have a brain ( BOBO HAS GOT TO GOGO ) we we hire an OC that knows how to run the spread offense and utilize the receivers potential. The sad part is that Mark Ritch thinks Murray is a star QB. We have Hutson that broke passing records in GA and the kid from NC that broke passing records there and all Murray has done in high school is break a leg but he studys hard. Let’s face it Murray is too slow getting rid of the ball and makes poor decisions in big games and cannot hold onto the ball, but he studys hard. Maybe McGarity will do what we brought him in for and fire ( BOBO HAS GOT TO GOGO ) cause CMR will not. Please hire a top OC like we did with Grantham ( who saved CMR’s @#$ ) so we can compete with Alabama and LSU. Just let Murry keep studying but please keep him off the football field.
bruce mac
January 3rd, 2012
1:19 pm
I don’t blame it on Murray. CMR puts him a position to lose. He calls bombs on first down, runs up the middle on second and now it is 3rd and 8 or 9. So what is Murray supposed to do, bale out this stupid play selection on every series. And the guy does bale us out a ton. He is constantly swimming up stream (playing behind the chains) trying to overcome an offense with no imagination. I love the Dawgs but am more convinced than ever that we need a big time offensive coordinator or CMR will not last much longer. His 90’s style FSU offense does not work anymore, face the facts.
JB
January 3rd, 2012
1:19 pm
bill arp……GREAT POINT.
Ted M
January 3rd, 2012
1:20 pm
I’m wondering…for anyone who has crack research skills… has any team that opened the first OT on defense and intercepted lost the game other then UGA?
Nerds! Nerds! Nerds!
January 3rd, 2012
1:23 pm
Murray sucks, fo real. He looks looooooooooooooost out there. I don’t blame Bobo or Richt. Murray HAS TO GET THE JOB DONE. He single handedly lost to South Caroling and MSU. Protect the ball and we win big both times. Its sickening how careless he is with the ball.
JB
January 3rd, 2012
1:23 pm
I knew going into overtime we were doomed, because “coaching” comes into play.
Dink
January 3rd, 2012
1:24 pm
Playing not to lose instead of playing to win. I have never been more disgusted with Bobo and the play calling.
JB
January 3rd, 2012
1:24 pm
I think the head guy at Buford high could get more out of this program
bruce mac
January 3rd, 2012
1:24 pm
And by the way, for all you experts that keep saying UGA has played a weak schedule. It is the 7th toughest schedule in the country. So put that in your moron pipe and smoke it. GO DAWGS!!!
JB
January 3rd, 2012
1:25 pm
bruce mac……………….where did you see that?
Rob in Chapel Hill
January 3rd, 2012
1:26 pm
For me, more than the interceptions and missed/blocked field goals, the most painful failure was the inability of the Dawgs to run out the clock toward the end. They never should have had to give MSU the ball again. Very, very frustrating. I agree with some folks, that Richt/Bobo were way to conservative and uncreative with those running plays toward the end. Surely some kind of simple play-action there on second or third down would have been effective. Or heck, bring in Samuel and Ogletree to block, and take another shot down field. An interception in that case would not have been too painful. It seemed clear to me and probably most folks that MSU was going to march down the field if we had to punt it back to them, no matter how deeply Butler might bury them. Our D was tired, and Cousins was starting to click. But in spite of it all, Go Dawgs in 2012. One final note: I wanted to strangle Jon Gruden after he mentioned “bubble screens” for about the 100th time!
Mr. SEC
January 3rd, 2012
1:26 pm
Murry sucks! Talks before the game with some media about UGA winning a NC next year, he is on some serious crack!
BoBo sucks worse!
OL sucks the most!
CMR is begining to suck in having the balls to do what is right for UGA, fire Bobo.
If CMR does not fire Bobo, fire CMR, hire Grantham for HC; I grant you he will have the balls to find a OC that does not go brain dead and somebody that can not put, (not one this year) a complete game plan and stick with it!
Crowell sucks, sucks, sucks, sucks, sucks, sucks! No Guts!
DawgGone
January 3rd, 2012
1:26 pm
bruce mac you related to Murray. Bobo gotta gogo calls the plays. CMR even stated that he wanted to pass on the last series but got over ruled. Murray has never won a big game and never will but he studys hard. We have two better passers on the bench and now probably one or both may transfer. If we keep Murray and Bobo gotta gogo another year we are doomed. CTG bailed out the hold team this year.
Mike
January 3rd, 2012
1:27 pm
@bruce mac – agreed 100%. The gameplan and offensive preparation is awful. Bobo completely forgot Orson Charles was on the field, and the O line just flat out stinks. It gets whipped every game, which Bobo needs to realize in his planning as well. Murray is not to blame for this. As you pointed out, he is in far too many 2nd or 3rd and long situations. Mason and LeMay would do no better, and likely do a lot worse. The answer isn’t to turn the reigns over to a QB with no experience.
Mr. SEC
January 3rd, 2012
1:27 pm
One more sucker, Walsh, Pre-K school kids kick better than you!
Good Looking Stripper
January 3rd, 2012
1:27 pm
Georgia will not win the SEC East in 2012. They will find ANOTHER way to lose a game they were supposed to win
Jim
January 3rd, 2012
1:28 pm
Murray is a good quarterback, but not a great one. He is a turnover machine in big games. He has proven that he is not a big game quarterback.
As for Bobo, will Richt step up and replace him? Probably not. He waited two years too long to replace Martinez.
As for recruiting, LSU and Alabama are oversigning stars. UGA awarded 7 to 8 scholarships to walk-ons this year. UGA and Richt have not even signed the limit for the past two years and it does not appear we will this year. This speaks to DEPTH, which we do not have.
South Carolina DAWGS
January 3rd, 2012
1:28 pm
Agree with Vance above – our play calling in Outback late was “not to lose”. You can not do that – football is a game where you get your enemy DOWN and you beat his BRAINS in. BoBo does not understand that and we will PAY until he does or he is replaced. Enough said today. We did not lose- we were out coached and out played in second half – just like LSU……
bruce mac
January 3rd, 2012
1:28 pm
RPI rates teams and strength of schedule. Computers don’t lie and have no prejudice. Facts are facts. Bama and LSU are number 1 and 2, Dawgs 7th.
Flat Tire on I-95 in Jacksonville
January 3rd, 2012
1:28 pm
I posted this article on Bobo’s comments after the KY and was slammed by the Kool-aid crowd
Just want to post it again for all those idiots who still cant come to reality that this coaching and its conservative mindset, will be lucky to ever beat a good team
Read the attitude BOZO had
http://www.macon.com/2011/11/19/1792650/from-the-locker-room-we-aint-apologizing.html
SavDawg
January 3rd, 2012
1:29 pm
If you read VANCE DULY and SoGaDawg’s post they’ve said it all. That is GA Football in a nutshell. Love the Dawgs but Our offenence playcalling is just that!!!
I can’t remember when we had a dominatind off line!!!!
The Ole Gamecock
January 3rd, 2012
1:30 pm
“Would’ve, Could’ve, Should’ve…” Yep! Same Ole Georgia. SMH
Murray’s nickname around the SEC – and Colorado and Lansing, Michigan is Apple ‘Turnover.’
See ya in October! You can run but you can’t hide.
Lattimore > Murray + Crowell
godawgs82
January 3rd, 2012
1:30 pm
Biggest offensive line in all of football (NCAA or NFL) but we cannot run successfully between the tackles. Bobo has got to go. His playcalling was terrible, especially in 4th quarter. And thank goodness Walsh is leaving. He had a terrible year and a terrible game.
We need a new OC if we want to go the “the next level”. Forget competing for NC unless we do this. We were lucky to win those 10 in a row…..none currently ranked in top 25. In reality, we are not that good right now.
MountainDawg
January 3rd, 2012
1:32 pm
UGA needs some re-tooling on offense…play calling, OL play & overall execution. They should have utilized Charles & Bennett alot more. UGA should’ve won the game yesterday no doubt. Murray has some talent & potential, but needs to fine tune his game (pocket savvy, reading defenses & decision making).
dawgman
January 3rd, 2012
1:33 pm
TRUTH IS GEORGIA LOST TO EVERY GOOD TEAM THEY PLAYED. HOW IS THIS PROGRESS? WE NEED MORE PLAYERS ON DEFENSE AND A NEW OC. BOBO IS NOT SEC MATERIAL.
bruce mac
January 3rd, 2012
1:33 pm
Dawgone, I am not saying Murray is the next Andrew Luck. I just think CMR is the bigger issue. And to say he got overruled by Bobo is more than ignorant. He is the friggin Chairman of the Board, he cannot be overruled, period.
FalconUGAFan
January 3rd, 2012
1:34 pm
Spare me the kool-aid comments, but Murray will be our QB next year. He threw 2 picks, but thats ancient history. Murray if you are reading this, I am one Dawg that has your back. Dust yourself off and get our team ready for next season.
DocDawg
January 3rd, 2012
1:34 pm
The cupcake schedule (Tenn and Fla in disarray, Mizzou instead of the tide, jokes out of conference) will hide a multitude of sins until we are yet again run out of the stadium in the Championship game and embarrassed in a bowl game. The entire culture needs to change and it starts with Richt.
UGA Insider
January 3rd, 2012
1:36 pm
SEC Observer,
Because he wants the job and the $4,000,000 that comes with it. He is holding out for this job as is Kirby Smart. UGA ranks #7 on the Forbes list and this is a very lucritive job. Also, if you can somehow win 1 MNC then you are basically a cult hero in GA for the next 50 years. This is a huge job in coaching circles.
DawgGone
January 3rd, 2012
1:36 pm
bruce mac read the article. CMR states he wanted to pass on the last series but was over ruled. The article does not say who over ruled CMR just that he was over ruled. Could have been the water boy. I don’t know. All I know is that Murray studies hard.
bruce mac
January 3rd, 2012
1:37 pm
Would you morons quit repeating what you heard on ESPN. Dawgs played number 7 toughest schedule in the friggin country. Have some original thought, please.
let me hear those chickens!
January 3rd, 2012
1:37 pm
Nebraska gained 12 yards in the final 25 minutes. 6 sacks. Ask Clempson what my chickens did to their high-powered ACC-leading offense the last week of the season.
Mr Murray, we can’t wait to face you again. You’re our little female doggie! GO GAMEC-CKS!
North Over South
January 3rd, 2012
1:38 pm
Mark Richt can’t beat a team over 500 or better just look at his record
on the verge
January 3rd, 2012
1:38 pm
relax—the dawgs lost, but they are ascending, on the verge of greatness. In a few years, they will be at the top. Richt has a plan.
NeoDawg
January 3rd, 2012
1:38 pm
I think my nephew in Michigan, who I doubt has seen UGA play before yesterday, said it all when he asked me ‘What was with that play calling late in the game?’ My only answer was ‘Bobo Ball’ – we see it every game. Don’t know why Orson would return next year when they only TRIED to get the ball to him one time on an inside shovel pass. Especially after Richt recently said that he isn’t a traditional blocking TE but is so much more of a threat – and then we don’t even try to get him the ball.
And why Bobo thinks long developing sideline passes are the best way to beat a smothering pass rush is beyond me. Someone needs to take him down on the field and introduce him to the space BETWEEN the hash marks and disabuse him of the belief that you never THROW it there but always try to RUN it there. MSU figured that out and hurt us in the second half with passes over the middle. Did you hear their QB on the sideline telling his receivers that after their first TD and conversion? Must be nice to have an OC that makes adjustments. My God – even Herbstreit said there was no way MSU was going to come back at halftime. Bobo seems to be the ‘Rainman’ of OCs – ‘definitely, definitely run it between the tackles – definitely between the tackles.’ Like the segment on ESPN – ‘C’mon Man!’
bruce mac
January 3rd, 2012
1:39 pm
The point is he cannot be overruled, he agreed with the stupidity or he would have changed it. He is starting to double talk better than old Ears Tubberville.
Last year's MSU team
January 3rd, 2012
1:41 pm
We had a lot of the same players as last year. Thanks so much UGA for not totally embarrassing the crap out of us like Bama did last year. They beat us something like 49-7, and it could have been much worse if they had decided to run up the score on us even more.
BamaDawg
January 3rd, 2012
1:41 pm
Btw, it’s going to really sting next year if/when Mettenberger lights it up. You saw it in that spring game. You’ll see it on the field. Murray is a nutter. He nuts up. It doesn’t matter how great our D becomes. When the ball is given to the opposing team by FM (f#$!$n’ Murray), it doesn’t matter how good the D is. I would be surprised if the NFL evaluation came back as something like: Keep dreaming, kid. You suck.
bitter QB
January 3rd, 2012
1:42 pm
Again dawg nation look at boise st with there 2 star QB——kick our a$$ this year
——————run murray off like dooly at tenn is doing to recruits—–hahahah
Bottom line, richt stated he loves murray and want change QB’s—in fact richt loves—–richt
————————–THERE THATS PROBLEM # 1
dawgster7
January 3rd, 2012
1:43 pm
Bobo needs to go and name ONE good team Aaron Murray has been as the UGA QB. Look what CMR’s loyality to Willie Martinez cost us. We need a proven Offensive Coordinator and we need to open up the qb competition next year. I just dont feel like short Aaron murray is a big time winner.
Rob
January 3rd, 2012
1:45 pm
Buck Belue is on the radio talking up Mike Bobo and talking down Grantham. Is there any wonder why he hasn’t moved on to bigger things than local talk radio… he’s an idiot.
DawgGone
January 3rd, 2012
1:45 pm
bruce mac this is my poing entirely. CMR agreed with the stupidity. My wife sits on the couch and calls all the plays and cannot believe how predictable bobo gotta gogo is. Last series of playing not to lose is totally unacceptable.
Shane
January 3rd, 2012
1:45 pm
Every freaking team in the nfl and college can say that. And they could have also lost a couple more games. Vandy, UF. Why even write about such a dumb comment.
tmc
January 3rd, 2012
1:47 pm
before the season and a couple games in, friends would ask me if i thought CMR should stay or go…?
I responded with go because i thought CMR was a good coach, but not great. I believed then and still do that some of the things that make CMR great as a person drag him down as a coach. He is reactive vs proactive… and loyal to a fault.
Bobo will drag him down if CMR doesn’t let him go this off season.
The 10 wins were great after an 0-2 start, but we didn’t really beat anyone with merit. The last two teams we played had talent, coaching and character… the same problems that existed last season and early on this season resurfaced. AND will continue to…It’s not going to change until CMR does.
Cut Bobo lose coach or you will regret it.
Rob
January 3rd, 2012
1:47 pm
I would bet that Murray is wishing he had his high school coach as the OC, maybe even his little league coach. I would think that if he and his parents knew how bad Bobo was, he would have went to another school.