UGA isn’t just playing a team – it’s facing the Alabama aura
Emperor Saban and his band of crimson conquerors charge onward to the next fray. (AP photo)
Heard often: Georgia’s path to the SEC championship game was facilitated by a schedule that didn’t include Western powers Alabama (No. 2 in the BCS standings), LSU (No. 7) and Texas A&M (No. 9).
Heard less often: Alabama’s path to the SEC championship game was facilitated by a schedule that didn’t include Eastern powers Georgia (No. 3), Florida (No. 4) and South Carolina (No. 10).
Heard often: Georgia’s biggest victory of the season was largely a function of six Florida turnovers.
Heard less often: Alabama’s biggest victory of the season was largely a function of four failed kicking ploys from the fertile mind of LSU’s Les Miles.
There’s a military acronym — RHIP. It stands for, “Rank has its privileges.” Ranking matters in college football, where two-thirds of the BCS standings consist of human polls, and privilege has tangible benefits. The benefit of being Alabama is that you never have to explain yourself. You’re Bama. ‘Nuff said.
On Nov. 5, 2011, second-ranked Alabama lost at home to No. 1 LSU. The Crimson Tide dropped one spot in the BCS standings. Two weeks later, Bama was back at No. 2, a position that enabled it to win the BCS title without taking its division or conference.
On Nov. 10, 2012, top-ranked Alabama lost at home to No. 15 Texas A&M. The Tide slid to No. 4, trailing three unbeaten teams. A week later, Bama was back at No. 2. Contrast this with Oregon, which was ranked No. 2 but lost at home to No. 13 Stanford. The Ducks dropped No. 5, behind three once-beaten teams. Mortals pay for losing. Alabama never falls far or stays down long. Alone among collegiate programs, it comes equipped with an aura.
But you know what? The halo fits. When you get as good as Alabama has gotten, you’ve earned the benefit of every doubt — not that there’s much cause for doubting. This is the premier program in the only conference that matters, and it keeps re-staking the claim.
Two years ago, its nemesis had the nerve to land Cam Newton and beat Alabama in Tuscaloosa after trailing 24-0 and won a national championship of its own, but where is Auburn today? Looking for a new coach. Where is Bama? Two games from a third BCS title in four seasons.
Even by Alabama’s lofty standards, its place in contemporary football is remarkable. It reigns over the sport in a way not seen since … Oklahoma under Bud Wilkinson? Notre Dame under Ara Parseghian? Bama itself under the Bear?
Alabama has been ranked No. 1 in each of the past five seasons, and in 2009 and 2011 it was No. 1 at the end. Bama moves inexorably from strength to strength. It has the ablest recruits, the wildest fans, the best coach.
About Nick Saban, all we need to know is this: He lost four first-round draftees to the NFL in April 2011 and won a national championship 8 1/2 months later. It was his third BCS title, and still he labors as if hellhounds were on his trail. Apologies to Urban Meyer, but Saban is the emperor of college football. Know how the NBA borrowed Jerry West’s silhouette for its logo? The BCS could do the same with Saban.
Loading ...No, Alabama doesn’t win every championship, or even every game. It lost to A&M 2 1/2 weeks ago. It lost twice in a row to LSU, where once Saban worked. It lost to Utah in the Sugar Bowl on Jan. 2, 2009. Heck, it lost to Louisiana-Monroe in 2007. But that was near the end of Saban’s first season as coach, which ended with the Tide at 7-6. Alabama has since gone 59-7, which in this league in this era is outrageous.
Still, there are gradations within the greatness. If you look hard, you’ll note that the Tide’s defense is yielding 40 more yards a game this season than it did in 2011. (Now as then, Alabama leads the nation in total defense.) In eight quarters plus an overtime, the LSU of last season managed 331 yards and nine points against the Tide D; in four quarters last month, LSU as quarterbacked by the Georgia exile Zach Mettenberger managed 435 yards and 17 points.
If you’re Georgia, which has reached consecutive SEC title games without exactly swaying the electorate, those numbers offer hope for what looms as the Bulldogs’ most significant game since Herschel Walker split for the USFL. Any program in search of ultimate validation must get past Saban and his minions. The past five national titles have been taken either by Alabama or by a team that beat a Saban-coached Alabama.
Win Saturday and nobody will ever again ask these Bulldogs, “Yeah, but who did you beat?” Win Saturday and Georgia will have bettered Bama, and Bama is the best. ‘Nuff said.
Further reading: This week’s Heat Check — Destiny’s Dogs? No-bowl Jackets? Whoa, Nelly.
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
443 comments Add your comment
Chess
November 26th, 2012
2:26 pm
Tradition
BCS standings set stage for SEC showdown | UGA sports blog
November 26th, 2012
2:28 pm
[...] Mark Bradley column: UGA isn’t just facing a team — it’s facing the Alabama aura [...]
GTBob
November 26th, 2012
2:30 pm
Right now Georgia is the better team.
Based on what? What has UGA done that makes them better than Alabama?
gLENN
November 26th, 2012
2:33 pm
I don’t think the aura will come into play . A freshman qb just beat Alabama a couple weeks back . Anyhow I highly doubt that UGA defense is worried about anything . They are as tough a unit as there is . My only worry is Aaron Murry . Seems weak against good competition .
Tech Nerd
November 26th, 2012
2:36 pm
Mr. Bradley,
Will Tech get a new coach with an offensive scheme that will be comparable to the big boy schools?
WDE
November 26th, 2012
2:37 pm
Play hard, play fast and play smart from the first snap and good things will happen. Go Dogs GATA !!
Fortune Teller
November 26th, 2012
2:38 pm
Georgia 38
Alabama 14
Todd - Lawrenceville
November 26th, 2012
2:38 pm
UGA cannot control their schedule or the strength of it’s opponent no more than Alabama can. Nor can anyone say ’since Team A lost to Team B, but Team C beat Team B, them Team B will beat Team A”… well folks, it didnt happen that way, UGA (Team A) beat Florida (Team C) and it was UGA that caused Florida to turn the ball over, so there you have it. UGA sitting at 11-1, #3 in the BCS standings and set to play Alabama for teh SEC championship has nothing or no one to answer to except itself.
This is one good UGA Team and I call this game about even.
Russ, the Temporary Mascot, now Uga IX
November 26th, 2012
2:39 pm
Being a little dog and having a brown a$$ that has held me back and watching all those inbred white a$$ed dogs die and then finally being named Uga IX, and now being in the hunt for the National Championship IN MY FIRST YEAR is soooo exciting! I feel a little like Rambo that UGA has the MOST TALENTED MASCOT that they’ve had in years and despite my brown a$$ I plan to show up and win a National Championship and then I plan to catch Coach Richt after the game and pull him into an electrical closet and do a little painting of my own.
blondie
November 26th, 2012
2:39 pm
I’m a Bama fan. I think this will be a very tight game. I respect what Georgia can do but I hope Bama comes out on top. This should be a good one.
LakeDawg
November 26th, 2012
2:39 pm
Georgia is going to beat Alabama Saturday.
Buckeye
November 26th, 2012
2:40 pm
dogs fall then Bama falls v Notre Dame
SEC! SEC!
Boise Dawg
November 26th, 2012
2:40 pm
Mark,
You are correct, Alabama has earned the benefit of the doubt and while all of their wins have been by impressive margins (save LSU), the A&M and LSU games do show Georgia has a good chance in this one. While A&M wasn’t a terrible loss, given the season they have had, this is the same A&M team that gave up 57 points and almost lost to La Tech. Amazing how similar the teams are in terms of schedule strength and overall record. I’d give a slight edge to Bama’s defens and a slight edge to Georgia’s offense. Coaching you’d have to go with Saban, but Richt has had some success against him.
Virginia Jim
November 26th, 2012
2:42 pm
It will be a great game between two schools that are playing very well. Good luck to both teams. Oh, roll tide!
BobDawg
November 26th, 2012
2:42 pm
Yeah, what is an “Aura”??? Whatever it is… I think they line up with 11 players against our 11 players and you can throw “Aura” out the window… LSWho beat Bama up and down the field and you are right, except for Les “Crazy Hat” Miles going Ninja on the Kick teams and LSWho wins that game easily actually. Good Luck to both teams and hopefully no injuries and it’s a great game for 60 minutes…
Chicago Dawg
November 26th, 2012
2:43 pm
@ Dawg Fud, Bradley should have ended the column with that quote, CLASSIC!
Resident Georgia Fan
November 26th, 2012
2:45 pm
Let the comparisons provide food for thought.
ALABAMA:
vs. Florida Atlantic TV Tuscaloosa, Ala. W, 40-7
vs. Ole Miss * TV Tuscaloosa, Ala. W, 33-14
vs. Missouri * TV Columbia, Mo. W, 42-10
vs. Tennessee * TV Knoxville, Tenn. W, 44-13
vs. Auburn, Tuscaloosa W, 49-0
GEORGIA:
at Missouri, W 41 – 20
vs. Florida Atlantic, W 56 – 20
vs. Tennessee, W 51 – 44
vs. Mississippi, W 37 – 10
at Auburn, W 38 – 0
bamaguy
November 26th, 2012
2:45 pm
Problem is aura’s don’t tackle or catch passes. Another problem is the players begin to believe they are as good as everyone says (remember that absurd comparison to the NFL).
Should be a great game. And the winner will be the National Champion, bet on it. SEC one more time. They should give us a copyright on that crystal football design.
Big Crimson 75
November 26th, 2012
2:49 pm
Saban has done his best coaching job at Bama this season.
Aside from season 1, this team has less talent/experience than any Team Saban’s coached at Bama.
It’s quite impressive to be back in the hunt once again.
Roll Tide
UGAfan4life
November 26th, 2012
2:50 pm
I am tired of the “UGA easy schedule” comments from the haters. UGA plays in the SEC, so it isn’t easy by that alone. Plus, they won 11 of 12 games period. I am glad the Dawgs have this chance to win it all and to get it they will have to beat the best in Bama and the undefeated Irish. If the Dawgs accomplish this, they deserve the National Title. GO DAWGS!
Ted M
November 26th, 2012
2:51 pm
I want to see Georgia execute 5 screen passes and 2 reverses and maybe even a trick play.
BobDawg
November 26th, 2012
2:52 pm
BIG CRIMSON 75… Congrats on a great season and Saban has done a whale of a job after losing tons of talent… You guys have great players;deth and experience… I do like DAWG FUD’S comments from page one and Rick Flair should be our marching orders going forward…. Go Dawgs!
Joe Bob Thibodaux
November 26th, 2012
2:52 pm
Mark, for a good laugh see the following left coast article on the SEC
http://articles.latimes.com/2012/nov/23/sports/la-sp-1124-college-football-saturday-20121124
SEC rules!
JBT
JASon
November 26th, 2012
2:52 pm
“Win Saturday and nobody will ever again ask these Bulldogs, ‘Yeah, but who did you beat?’”
My friend, you obviously don’t know the national sports media. Even if Georgia wins there will be excuses and criticisms.
Bumblers
November 26th, 2012
2:53 pm
UGA beat that powerhouse of a school called the Institute of Technology, GTBob. That is what says they are playing better right now.
Preston
November 26th, 2012
2:53 pm
The dawgs can do it!
WDE
November 26th, 2012
2:54 pm
Buckeye best of luck in your bowl game your getting the opponent you so richly deserve !
Baddabing
November 26th, 2012
2:56 pm
The last two games that both teams played were gimmes. Neither one was tested at all so you can’t put any stock on that. To the guy that said Bama got beat by a freshman quarterback, that freshman quarterback probably won’t win the Heisman only because he is only a freshman. Even so, AL was down 20-0 the week after playing a very emotional game against a jacked up LSU and came back and almost pulled it out but didn’t because of an errant pass in the end. That’s no comparison to the beat down that SC put on GA. GA has a shot but has to play almost a perfect game in every phase. It may come down to turnovers and coaching and AL does a good job of protecting the ball and their coaching staff is better.
RGB
November 26th, 2012
2:58 pm
The privileges that come with rank are earned and they are built on discipline exhibited over decades.
That is the difference between Alabama and Georgia. Both have good players, but Bama players understand (well most of them) that national championships are built on responsibility and consistency. Saban refers to it as playing to a standard.
What is the Mark Richt standard?
Hurst
November 26th, 2012
2:58 pm
So Mark, you wrote:
On Nov. 5, 2011, second-ranked Alabama lost at home to No. 1 LSU. The Crimson Tide dropped one spot in the BCS standings. Two weeks later, Bama was back at No. 2, a position that enabled it to win the BCS title without taking its division or conference.
I remember how in 2007 you were writing/howling that UGA deserved the national championship shot vs. Ohio St., and not LSU, despite LSU winning the SEC Championship game vs. Tennessee (because they beat Georgia in the SEC East). Now you’re discounting Bama’s championship last year because they didn’t win their division? Whatever Mark.
This is further proof you’re not a sportswriter, only a bandwagoner for any Georgia based team that’s doing relatively well. Try not to sink too low when the Saints and Bama at the Dome this week.
Hurst
November 26th, 2012
2:59 pm
*the Saints and Bama win at the Dome this week.
Beast from the East
November 26th, 2012
2:59 pm
Bama is no doubt the top program in the country the past 4-5 years, but the 2012 edition is not unbeatable. As stated in the article, they lost at home to A&M and easily could have lost to LSU if Miles would have used his head for something other than wearing that giant hat (still gotta love him). Since the game in Jax, UGA is playing as well as anyone in the country while Bama is showing the effects of losing 5 starters since the beginning of the year. If Murray plays well, then the Dawgs will be playing for the BCS trophy. I say the Dawgs find a way and will have a shot at being the 6th SEC team to bring home that coveted crystal football (UT, LSU, UF, UA and AU). Not too shabby of a conference over the past 14 years, is it?
Dawgs 26
Tide 21
Ted M
November 26th, 2012
2:59 pm
“It may come down to turnovers” that is always huge. But if turnovers are even it is gonna come down to QB play. I think Murray’s gonna come through.
Roy
November 26th, 2012
3:00 pm
Hey Tech fans, better get those ACC title game tickets before they run out. They are starting at $4.50. That’s 4 hot dogs, 4 cokes and 12 tickets. Go Dawgs!
WDE
November 26th, 2012
3:00 pm
Hurst hey if you don’t like MB’s writing don’t read it now go play in traffic…
GTBob
November 26th, 2012
3:00 pm
GA has a shot but has to play almost a perfect game in every phase.
This is pretty much how I see it also. UGA will have to play by far their best game of the season and Aaron Murray will have to play the best game of his collegiate career to have any chance in this game.
bamaguy
November 26th, 2012
3:01 pm
The interesting thing about the schedule is that it looked so lopsided in August, but turned out to be fairly even. Who knew Florida and Texas A&M were going to be that good, and Auburn and Arkansas that bad before the season started.
Ted M
November 26th, 2012
3:01 pm
I do fear stupid penalties on UGA’s part. What shame if they lose because of a stupid personal foul!
Vampire Bill
November 26th, 2012
3:01 pm
It will come down to UGA’s O Line against bama D-Line. Dawg defense will keep the score manageable and DAWGS have a good chance if the OL can give Murray the time he needs?
Preston
November 26th, 2012
3:03 pm
how it must feel to be a tech fan and have your team mentioned as part of uga’s “weak” schedule! lmao
Joe
November 26th, 2012
3:03 pm
Is this the same Alabama aura that had 4 losing seasons from 1996-2006???? Just like Jarvis said- they put thir pants, pads and shoes on the same way we do………yes, they are a good team but guess what??????? SO ARE WE. It will be a great game
Roy
November 26th, 2012
3:05 pm
I know our defense can stop Bama’s offense. They are by no means high flying or explosive. Stop their running game and they will fall apart. McCarron isn’t the type of QB to throw it 30-35 times a game. I think our secondary will lock their receivers down and give Jarvis Jones enough time to get to McCarron. It’s gonna come down to our O-line’s ability to block Bama’s front. If they do, UGA wins.
Mike Lum
November 26th, 2012
3:07 pm
We ain’t skeered of no aura.
RealityDawg
November 26th, 2012
3:08 pm
Not worried about Bama, Dawgs control their own destiny. The Tide is about to get rolled!!!!
Bill Goldberg
November 26th, 2012
3:10 pm
Rick Flair??? , He is pretty cool, but my team
whipped his Gators this year. And my Dawgs
are gonna put a body slam on them Elephants.
Bama in Atlanta
November 26th, 2012
3:10 pm
Looking forward to a great game by two very similar teams……strong D, good running game, efficient passing.
Whatever the outcome of the game on Saturday let’s at least make a pact that whoever wins has to go on and beat the Irish! I can’t take 8 months of hearing Lou Holtz say “I told you so”!
Big Crimson 75
November 26th, 2012
3:10 pm
BobDawg — congrats also to UGA.
Great Season. Well deserved & certainly earned.
IMO, Richt & UGA winning it all would is not the worst thing in the World that can happen.
Beating Bama & ND to catch the Trophy would be memorable.
That said, Roll Tide — I like my boys in a low scoring game.
shankit
November 26th, 2012
3:12 pm
@ Joe – Our ol’ successful high school coach, Wright Bazemore,
when faced by a superior opponent, would tell his players “They
put their jockey strap on just like you do.”"
Big Crimson 75
November 26th, 2012
3:13 pm
BobDawg — congrats also to UGA.
Great Season. Well deserved & certainly earned.
IMO, Richt & UGA winning it all would is not the worst thing possible for Western Civilization.
Beating Bama & ND to catch the Trophy would be memorable.
That said, Roll Tide — I like my boys in a low scoring game.
AWJ
November 26th, 2012
3:17 pm
Anybody that does not realize that UGA has a legit chance at beating BAMA is looking through rosé colored glasses….UGA has better linebackers and a better secondary. The D line is a push. Alabama has a better O line and I will give them the better QB also, just because AM has not played well in big games. The running backs are a push and I give the special teams to Alabama. UGA has better receivers….The coaching edge goes to Alabama…If UGA can make Ala one dementional on offense and stack the box, it will be a long night for Ala. If UGA can have a good mix of run/pass on O and not make special teams/penalties/turnovers a big issue they can easily win. To say UGA has NO CHANCE is just stupid….