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
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443 comments Add your comment
FLA DAWG
November 26th, 2012
7:47 pm
Odds makers have Bama by 7.
If The Dawgs show up to play with their potential Dawgs win by 3.
Cry “HAVOC!” and Let Loose The Dawgs of WAR !
kevin
November 26th, 2012
7:49 pm
I’ve been a Georgia fan since 1981. I give the Dawgs about as much chance as I gave them versus Florida – little to none. Hopefully the result is the same, but I’m expecting a loss. Go Dawgs, no matter what.
KilroyDawg
November 26th, 2012
7:49 pm
Sure are a lot of Bama bloggers on here guaranteeing a win. Wouldnt count your chicks before they hatch. UGA is playing well at the right time and if we play to our potential we have a very good chance of upsetting Bama. Notice I said upsetting as in Bama is the clear favorite. Murray needs to use his legs to pick up critical 3rd down conversions when his receiver isn’t open. He did this a lot more 2 & 3 years ago before the coaches shut it down with the fear of injury. Leave everything on the field Saturday and become an elite team by beating an elite team. GO DAWGS!!
kral
November 26th, 2012
7:50 pm
are you talking about tech copper tubing..because right now our chance is at hand..not saying what will hapen but dang the opportunity right now feels GOOOOOOOOOOOODDDDDDDDDD!!!!!
De Jesus
November 26th, 2012
7:55 pm
Ohio st is de best, so Sayeth de Jesus….
kral
November 26th, 2012
7:57 pm
I worry to kevin but guess what we do have the opportunity ..and that speaks for itself..rather be a have than a have not..if it doesn’t come to fruition..it still a ell of a ride…and dang would you rather not have it even if you felt the odds were against you..been a fan since ‘61..hope only springs eternal ever so often
kral
November 26th, 2012
7:58 pm
ask Indiana dejesus
De Jesus
November 26th, 2012
7:58 pm
Krai,
Hope floats
kral
November 26th, 2012
8:08 pm
your right but guess how many teams’ hopes sunk..including ho i ho
De Jesus
November 26th, 2012
8:10 pm
Infinitude kral dude
kral
November 26th, 2012
8:11 pm
dang your deep de
De Jesus
November 26th, 2012
8:18 pm
Moderate your mom
Joe Graves
November 26th, 2012
8:19 pm
Alabama and Georgiawill playclosethefirst half. Saban takes over in the late third quarter. Alabama 27 Georgia 17 maybe less. Roll Tide Roll Baby!
Steve Graves
November 26th, 2012
8:28 pm
Bama and Georgia remain close during the 1st half but in the 3rd qtr the Georgia offense begins to pour it on Bama…Georgia 31 Bama 14….Gooo Dawgs! Sic’em! Ahroof Ahroof!!!
Bitter dawg fan
November 26th, 2012
8:29 pm
STAND by for—————RAMBO
wild dog
November 26th, 2012
8:30 pm
Georgia won the national championship in 1942 and 1980.
Cdpridg
November 26th, 2012
8:37 pm
The tech trolls are in bed fast asleep…zzzzzzzzzzzzzz
MudDawg
November 26th, 2012
8:40 pm
42 and 80 along with a share of the title on 3 other yrs…to go along with 13 SEC titles and 10th all time winningest program. The Dawgs have always played an elite brand of football
Yo Vince
November 26th, 2012
8:41 pm
No one on this blog was born in 1942… Bama by at least 7. Mortgage ur trailers Athens trash, and bet on BAMA. You could win $100.00 …ie, value of said trailer
Dawgfan
November 26th, 2012
8:43 pm
In the immortal words of Apollo Creed – “This is it man!”. Go Dawgs!
Ole Big Dawg
November 26th, 2012
8:49 pm
We gotta pack of rabid Dawgs comin Saturday…..and they going to steamroll the bammers!!
Rabbit
November 26th, 2012
9:04 pm
Georgia has won 2 prior consensus championships. They come every 3 decades or so. Cherish this opportunity and stick it to the Red Elephants.
Consensus National Champions
1980 (12-0-0) – Vince Dooley coached the Bulldogs to a perfect 12-0 season, including a 17-10 victory over Notre Dame in the Sugar Bowl to win the National Championship. Georgia finished as the only team with no losses and no ties and was declared No. 1 by almost every poll.
1942 (11-1-0) – Berryman; DeVold; Houlgate System; Litkenhous; Poling System; Williamson System.
Rabbit
November 26th, 2012
9:05 pm
17-13 Dawgs.
billydawg
November 26th, 2012
9:07 pm
Alabama is without a doubt the most famous football program ever. We have a challenge.
Bear Bryant made this school, Nick Saban has taken up where Coach Bryant left off.
To beat the best you have to play the best.
No Pressure!
Go Dawgs!
Ole Big Dawg
November 26th, 2012
9:11 pm
Billy…lets not over sensationalize bama….Richt has taken it to the bama program and saban ,any times
Barry White
November 26th, 2012
9:22 pm
If OL plays game of their lives, then GA may still be in the game by the 4th quarter. Otherwise, the combination of Aaron throwing obligatory 2-3 picks is going to be too much to overcome. AL simply is better coached and more disciplined team that knows how to win the big game.
MudDawg
November 26th, 2012
9:34 pm
Come on Barry..sing us a song…a happy song…dont be a barry downer
chase
November 26th, 2012
9:37 pm
funny how ESPN and everyone keeps campaigning for how great #4 Florida is but they fail to mention that win as a good win for Georgia – they blame it on Florida’s turnovers – WHICH THE DEFENSE OF GEORGIA CAUSED!
Georgia has beaten #4 the best Notre Dame and Bama can claim is to have beaten #7 and #8
and everytime UGA beats Florida, ESPN says “yeah but it was because of Tebow’s shoulder, Muschamp’s first year, 6 turnovers blah blah blah” face the facts..Florida’s only win in 3 years was in overtime by a field goal
chase
November 26th, 2012
9:40 pm
FACT – even with BELL – Bama’s passing game ranks about #75 in the country….
one dimensional offense vs UGA = bad news for that team = bad news for BAMA
Debbie
November 26th, 2012
9:43 pm
1942 – 11–1 Georgia was chosen as champion by at least half of the recognized polls. Georgia was led by All-Americans Frank Sinkwich and end George Poschner, along with a young back named Charley Trippi. The Bulldogs knocked off 9 consecutive opponents and ranked No. 1 in the nation. Georgia earned a Rose Bowl bid after it blanked Georgia Tech 34–0 in Athens to end the regular season. Georgia then edged UCLA 9–0 in the Rose Bowl
1980 – The Bulldogs beat Notre Dame 17–10 in the Sugar Bowl to finish 12–0 and claim the National Championship. Notable contributors during the season included Herschel Walker, Buck Belue and Lindsay Scott (Georgia was listed first by AP, Berryman, FACT, FB News, FW, Helms, National Championship Foundation, NFF, Poling, Sporting News & UPI).
Other years in which the Bulldogs finished with a #1 ranking in at least one of the final national polls and included in the official NCAA Football Record Book:[11][31]
1927 – With a 9–1–0 record, the Bulldogs were called the “dream and wonder team” and were ranked No. 1 in the nation with one regular season game remaining, but were upset by Georgia Tech by a score of 12–0 at Grant Field in Atlanta, Georgia.[32] Nevertheless, at the end of the season, Georgia was ranked number 1 in two polls recognized by the NCAA.[33] The Bulldogs were also listed as number 1 in two other polls of the 1927 season, but most recognize Illinois as the 1927 National Champion.[34]
See also: 1927 Georgia Bulldogs football team
1946 – Georgia went 11–0 and beat North Carolina 20–10 and was proclaimed national champions by one poll recognized by the NCAA.
1968 – Georgia was chosen by one national poll when they went 9–1–2 losing to Arkansas in the Sugar Bowl. Overtime was not allowed in the NCAA yet so Georgia tied with Tennessee and Houston.
DogPlus
November 26th, 2012
9:46 pm
this alabama team is not nearly as good as last year—the Dawgs can score a bunch of points on their D and Jarvis and Bacari will be all over their 1 dimensional offense. Dogs roll 30-17
George
November 26th, 2012
9:49 pm
Good article Mark . Bama has had 5 great years and Saban shows no signs of taking his foot off the gas pedal. It should be a great game. Turnovers will be the difference. Roll Tide.
BamaMan in GA
November 26th, 2012
9:50 pm
Alabama has won 14 National Championships. BTW Bama has won 22 SEC Championships. It is expected to go after and win championships. The hounds should be scared not cocky. Roll Tide.
Guy
November 26th, 2012
9:53 pm
The tell will show its hand on the 1st audible beginning with,”hut,hut,hike…”.
George
November 26th, 2012
9:54 pm
@dogplus…..Bama is far from one dimensional my friend. They are very balanced offensively. Check the stats?
Wet Willie...keep on smiling
November 26th, 2012
9:54 pm
UGA has a outstanding football team and so do Bama. JMO but I think something special is brewing over in Athens this year and MY TIDE just might come up on the short side this week. If so fine because we will be back in 2013 playing for the top spot again. This game is going to come down to how Murray plays as well as AJ. Roll Tide
The store goes last week Bama had to declare TJ Yeldon inelgible with the NCAA due to benefits he received by the cheating azz auburn folks. He was declared ok by the NCAA a day later after his meeting with them. I hope the NCAA blast the sorry azz awebrin tiger program.
Tide Rising
November 26th, 2012
10:01 pm
Dogplus thinks Alabama’s offense is one dimensional. The typical ignorant rantings of dawg fans never ceases to amaze.
Brown Dog
November 26th, 2012
10:03 pm
One dimensional? We will be by far the most balanced offense you will face. Let’s settle this.
Bamafan
November 26th, 2012
10:16 pm
I actually like CMR. I’ve never understood why the fans have jumped all over him…but then looked what they did to Murray after the USC game. Really sad. What I hate….and I really mean this, all the UGA fans know in their heart know what’s going to happen this weekend. Murray has never shown up in a big game, as has CMR. Bama will take this going away. And you all know deep down that’s what’s going to happen. Give me one reason why it will be different. Murray has only beaten one team ranked in his career. And that was in spite of his performance. Nice season. But the Tide Rolls the dawgs again.
GTBob
November 26th, 2012
10:27 pm
So consumed with belittling UGA that you record and rewatch their games to nitpick? You lead an incredibly sad existence.
Its called youtube. One of those new internet phenomenons.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N-E4To8xEBM
Slim
November 26th, 2012
10:28 pm
Under pressure….Georgia will fall apart and Alabama will roll over them. Watch it happen this Saturday!
jwat929
November 26th, 2012
10:39 pm
Good article–but–you mentioned that Bama lost to A&M and dropped from #1 to #4–and then Oregon lost to Stanford and dropped from #2 to #5–then you say mortals pay for losing—did you do the math??? Both teams dropped the same amount of slots—I agree Bama does get a nod sometimes because of being Bama–but have you also noticed that the Bulldogs defense has given up over 100 more points this season than Bama has??
Red_Elephant101
November 26th, 2012
11:03 pm
Thanks to our massive advantage in tickets and the home field advantage of the Alabama Falcons Dome field you can bet on one thing:
Dominos is calling the UGA football team and the have one hot, fresh delivery of a Beat down from T-town on the way.
The tip is included…
Lakedawg
November 26th, 2012
11:09 pm
Dawgs need to get them this year, this time, this place.
Next year Bammer plays only Kentucky, Tenn from East, avoids Dawgs, Gators , and Cocks again. Only tough game A $ M on the road and LSU home Shoo in for West title again.
Lakedawg
November 26th, 2012
11:14 pm
Dawgs need to beat them this year, this place, this time.
Bammer next year a shoo in for SEC West as they again avoid playing Dawgs, Gators, Cocks. Only road game at Tex A % M and home vs LSU tough games, play only Kentucky and Tenn from East.
Best freshman tailback? Georgia’s Todd Gurley or Alabama’s T.J. Yeldon | UGA sports blog
November 26th, 2012
11:15 pm
[...] Bradley: Dogs must overcome Alabama’s aura [...]
Tide Rising
November 26th, 2012
11:26 pm
The Georgia defense has given up more than 100 pts more than the Alabama defense this season? Why bother the dawg fans with facts.
LSU 42, UGA 10
November 26th, 2012
11:31 pm
If you guys think Georgia is going to win… then why not buy your tickets to Miami?
Smitty
November 26th, 2012
11:33 pm
Tide rising…..Saturday will tell it all….go Dawgs!!
LSU 42, UGA 10
November 26th, 2012
11:33 pm
Someone mentioned “oh playing in the Georgia dome is a home game for Georgia with all of the corporate sponsors giving tickets to Georgia fans and so it’s a home game and and and and Georgia…”
Um… isn’t Georgia like 0-2 in that dome in the last two years? With big blow out losses? Playing at home doesn’t seem to help Georgia whether they’re playing a team with the 70th best recruiting class or nearly the best. The solution isn’t a home game, the solution is having a coaching staff and team that can compete with Alabama and LSU.
And Georgia is not… even… close….