Without two key wins over UGA, would Saban be Saban?
The men of Saban get emphatic in the Blackout wipeout of 2008. (AJC photo by Brant Sanderlin)
Nick Saban has coached only five games against Georgia (winning three), but two rank as watersheds. As Alabama readies to play the Bulldogs for the SEC championship, we pause to reflect on the role this infrequent opponent has played in the career of the man considered college football’s best coach.
Georgia at LSU, Sept. 20, 2003: This game came early in Saban’s fourth season at LSU at a time when he was considered just another good football man. He had worked five seasons at Michigan State without winning the Big Ten or gracing a significant bowl. His first three years in Baton Rouge had showed promise — the 2001 Tigers won the SEC Western Division with three league losses but upset No. 2 Tennessee for the league title — but LSU went 8-5 in 2002.
Coming off a 13-1 season and its first SEC championship since 1982, Georgia arrived at Tiger Stadium ranked No. 7 to LSU’s No. 11. The Bulldogs were in their third season under Mark Richt, and it had begun with a 30-0 win at Clemson. Indeed, Georgia went to Baton Rouge having yet to lose in an opponent’s stadium under Richt.
The Bulldogs outgained the Tigers 411 yards to 285, but the usually precise David Greene threw two interceptions and lost a fumble, and the usually unerring Billy Bennett missed three field-goal attempts. The Tigers led 10-3 with five minutes remaining and were positioned to seal the deal. But linebacker Odell Thurman caused quarterback Matt Mauck to fumble inside the Bulldog 20, and Georgia took the ball on its 7. Whereupon Richt, who then served as his own offensive coordinator, ordered up a screen pass named “Texas” to Tyson Browning, and the running back whooshed 93 yards to score the tying touchdown with 4:16 to play.
Devery Henderson returned the kickoff to the LSU 49. (Watching the tape, Georgia coaches would later note that two Tigers blockers — forget simply holding — had actually tackled Georgia men. Nothing was called.) With 1:16 left, Mauck threw deep to an open Skyler Green, who wasn’t supposed to targeted on the play, for the winning touchdown.
Said Glenn Guilbeau, the Baton Rouge writer who covers LSU for Gannett: “That’s when LSU became a national contender for the first time since the 1987 team (coached by Mike Archer, quarterbacked by Tommy Hodson) … Georgia kind of came in as the favorite; it was on the way to the national championship. I remember talking to Chris Fowler and the ESPN crew later in the season, and they said, ‘We thought Georgia outplayed them that day.’ ”
The Bulldogs and Tigers would meet again for the SEC title in the Dome, but by then the Tigers clearly were the superior team. They beat Georgia 34-14 and trumped Oklahoma in the Sugar Bowl for the BCS title, the first of Saban’s three. Richt would later say: “We missed our chance at them down there.”
Said Guilbeau: “I remember talking to Matt Mauck before Georgia came back down here in 2008, and he said, ‘We always thought that (first 2003) Georgia game was the one that put us on the map.’ ”
Alabama at Georgia, Sept. 27, 2008: Once again, Georgia entered ranked higher — No. 3 to Alabama’s No. 8. The Bulldogs opened the season ranked No. 1, but slid after some indifferent early victories. Having returned to the college game for a princely sum of $4 million per annum after two seasons with the Miami Dolphins, Saban was coming off a strange Year 1 in Tuscaloosa. His team had started 3-0 before losing to Georgia in overtime, and the Tide would finish 7-6. (A home loss to Louisiana-Monroe marked the nadir.)
Alabama began the 2008 season ranked 24th in the Associated Press poll, but upset Clemson 34-10 in the Georgia Dome in the inaugural Chick-fil-A Kickoff Classic. Said Cecil Hurt, who covers Alabama for the Tuscaloosa News: “They were really physical and they dominated. That opened a lot of eyes.”
Beating an ACC opponent on a neutral field wasn’t quite the test that Georgia, which had gone 10-2 in 2007 and finished No. 2 in the Associated Poll, would be. As a bonus, the Bulldogs had designated that night as a Blackout, for which the team donned black jerseys and the fans got duly geeked. (Hey, it worked in 2007 against Auburn.)
Halftime score: Alabama 31, Georgia 0.
Bama scored on its first five possessions, hitting Georgia with a combination of power (Glen Coffee and Mark Ingram pounding, Andre Smith blocking) and precision (the freshman Julio Jones catching four first-half passes for 79 yards and a touchdown) that was breathtaking to behold. The Bulldogs made comeback noises in the second half before losing 41-30, and afterward Saban spent his media briefing fussing over his team’s perceived letdown. “I know I don’t look happy,” he said, “but I am.”
Said Hurt: “That first half, when they were so dominant, really created a lot of buzz that this team could contend for an SEC and BCS title. … It set the tone for the next three or four years.”
Beating Georgia in 2003 and 2008 didn’t just boost Saban’s programs; those games also served to arrest Georgia’s momentum. Richt won the SEC title in 2002 but has won only one — in 2005, when his Bulldogs upset LSU under Les Miles, who succeeded Saban — since. Georgia really wasn’t a serious national player after the Blackout wipeout of 2008, but now it is.
And who’s barring the Bulldogs’ path to Miami? That man yet again.
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
95 comments Add your comment
tulevol
November 29th, 2012
6:07 pm
Vol fan pulling for the Dawgs in this one. Win one for the east division boys!! Then proceed to beat the **** out of those yankee dome heads!
Dawgs stink
November 29th, 2012
6:15 pm
Tide will roll big !!!!! 31-10 !
Dawg in Sewer
November 29th, 2012
6:18 pm
Sabasnss beatss uses bades we losesss byess 70
Dirty Dawg
November 29th, 2012
6:34 pm
Knockahoma…go back to your teepee…fact is we don’t give a she-at whether you have confidence in the guys or not. The rest of us are gonna keep good thoughts and pull em through, while ‘fans’ like you, and Odd Ball, keep handing out those ‘negative vibes’…
I hunt Cougars
November 29th, 2012
7:05 pm
Bradley , Were do you get your idea’s for some of the crap you write ??? I hope the AJC does not pay you in American money !!!!!
Mike Bobo
November 29th, 2012
7:17 pm
We lost twice in the Dome last fall , Remember Boise st and LSU !!!!!
So what makes you think we can beat Alabama ???
Noooo way !!!!
Tide Rolls…..28-10
Bama Dawg
November 29th, 2012
7:22 pm
Everyone claims the only reason we beat floriduh is because they had a bad day. Aparantly they didnt watch that game. Our defense DOMINATED them. They played one of the most physical games i have ever seen a Georgia defense play. That guy didnt just get tired of carrying the ball at the goal line and drop it. Jarvis Jones got all up in his personal space and forcex that fumble. Look at the replay. I guess by the same logic the only reason bama beat LSWho is because the tigers had a bad game too huh? No, thats right, its cause bama played to well. Funny thing is if you have the EXACT same out comes in those two games but switch bama and Georgia then folks would say lsu played a bad game and bama played a good one. Same way in 07 a team that didnt win there conference didnt deserve to play for the title BUT in 11 it was ok if you didnt win.
LakeDawg
November 29th, 2012
7:30 pm
Now its Richt’s turn. The Crimson Necks go down Saturday.
Big Enos Burdette
November 29th, 2012
7:38 pm
Any way you can see UGA winning and not getting into the title gam?. Seems like a lot of the powers-that-be just dont care for the dogs.
Mark Bradley
November 29th, 2012
7:41 pm
No, I can’t see Georgia winning and not playing Notre Dame.
ROLL DAWGS!
November 29th, 2012
7:58 pm
BOBO- I believe Murray will have to use play action this week and run the ball like Texas A&A quarterback did. He had 93 yards rushing and they could not stop him. His rushing yards were the reason that they beat the Tide. Murray can do the same thing. He was a scrambler when he got to Georgia. Let him run. This is for all the marbles. Just make sure that he knows how to slide at the end and hold the ball with both hands. Sabin will Die! Go Dawgs
Black Reality(The Hardest of All)
November 29th, 2012
8:16 pm
Just WIN, all else is irrelevant. Whup that tide DAWG NATION!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Black Reality(The Hardest of All)
November 29th, 2012
8:26 pm
FUNNY HOW WHEN YOU WIN NOBODY NEEDS EXCUSES, BUT LOSE AND THE WHINERS RAIN SUPREME. Strap up, shut up and play like a champion. SC, FLA, and all others stop crying and get better. If BAMA WINS we wish you the best, but When we WIN and BEAT NOTRE DAME in JAN let us stand tall. PLAY LIKE CHAMPIONS DAWG NATION, and win like you mean business. RISE UP AND BE WHAT YOU ARE, A DAWG FOR LIFE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Black Reality(The Hardest of All)
November 29th, 2012
8:40 pm
Tonight against the falcons the Aints are gonna feel Alabama’s pain.
Black Reality(The Hardest of All)
November 29th, 2012
8:41 pm
Go Falcons
South Carolina Gamecocks
November 29th, 2012
9:21 pm
We can’t understand why anyone would pick the dogs to win.
Go Tech
November 29th, 2012
9:30 pm
Dog fans will go crying to their Mommies after Saturday’s game. I’m seeing a dominating win for Bama. Probably won’t be close. I mean, the dogs’ defense couldn’t stop Kentucky. I expect the Tide to score 4 touchdowns before the end of the first half.
…..14 to 21 point win for the Tide.
COACH B
November 29th, 2012
9:40 pm
You forgot to menion that when Saban’s defending 2003 national champions came to Athens in 2004, David Greene bombed LSU 45-16. I am not saying UGA will destroy Alabama the way we did Saban’s 2004 LSU team, but I have a funny feeling (just as I did before we upset Florida this year) that we are going to when a dramatic game and upset ESPN’s dream of a Notre Dame-Alabama National Championship game.
Eldawg
November 30th, 2012
12:37 am
Carpe Diem. Jarvis is going to lead us to the promised land hallelujah.
Vince Doodley
November 30th, 2012
1:05 am
I think UGA will win. I also think it wont be that close.
Tide will Roll
November 30th, 2012
1:29 am
@Coach B
2003/2004 really !!!!! Almost a decade ago Dude ! Bottom line Smart vs Bobo ….. who would you really want to put money on ?
Tide dominates 30-10
ITide
November 30th, 2012
1:41 am
Nick & Bear—best college football coaches in college history. Nick will win title #4 this year, #15 for Bama—RTR!!!!
doc
November 30th, 2012
7:23 am
Go Dawgs!!
Justin
November 30th, 2012
7:43 am
We’ll see if Murray has some Johnny football in him – he’s gonna need it!!
Roll Damn Tide!!
BILLY JACK
November 30th, 2012
8:24 am
Yea Mark why didnt you mention 2005 when Georgia beat Saban probably worse than hes ever been beat as a coach.Richt 3 Saban 2
WB
November 30th, 2012
8:28 am
The Ga way, keep telling yourselfs how Richt is right their with Saban in ability.
Come to think of it, Richt is the best. You can really lay it out. Can you guys play the obnoxious
fool any better? You are like cocky fools that know come monday you don’t have to back
up your foolish trash talking. Rich knows you are not going to hold him accountable.
You are legends in your own minds.
Burma Shave
November 30th, 2012
8:38 am
The Tide will be rolling
They’ll be at their best
While the dawgs fart around
Bama passes the test
BURMA SHAVE
WB
November 30th, 2012
8:41 am
I am hoping Murray does run. He will find he is not Johnny Football. So run it Murray, we hit pretty hard. The real question is what gimmick is Richt going to play. I am thinking he will get his players to rush the field before the kickoff and then blame them. What say you?
Wet Willie...keep on smiling
November 30th, 2012
8:53 am
Should be a great game and either team could win this one. Bama will be back in the hunt for 2013 no doubt. Where will Richt and the Dawgs find themselve next season? Bama has playerd 22 freshmen (redshirt and true) this season after losing 5 players to the NFL (out of the 1st 35 picks). UGA talks about talent level…LOL….
Sammy
November 30th, 2012
8:58 am
If Richt wins the BCS this year, Richt will now have 7 top 10 finishes and a National Championship in his 1st 12 seasons as a head coach.
Saban had 3 top 10 finishes and 1 Natl Champ as a Head Coach in his 1st 12 seasons.
John C
November 30th, 2012
9:11 am
Everyone refers too the aTm and how they beat Bama. The reaseon aTm won that game was the 20 points they scored in the quarter. after that Bama outscored them 24-9. One bad quarter is all it takes in games like this. FSU just found out how one quarter can make all the difference.
As a Bama fan I hope the Tide Rolls and I feel pretty good about this game. As a fotball fan I have alot of respect for the Dawgs and CMR and if Bama Lose To the Dawgs this Weekend I hope the Dawgs Step on and break the Nose of Notre Dame with a Hobnailed Boot!!
Good Luck Dawgs!! Good Luck Tide!!
And RTR!!!
2003 Heartbreak
November 30th, 2012
9:27 am
The ‘03 LSU game was a huge heartbreaker. The Dawgs did outplay the Tigers that day, but were unable to overcome stupid penalties, turnovers and the UGA clutch kicking curse. That was the loudest I have ever heard a stadium when Tyson Browning broke free on that 93-yarder, followed by the quietest I have ever heard a stadium. The call that blew it though was having Billy Bennett kick one of those “high” short coverage kicks that never worked. Instead of kicking it out of the endzone for a touchback, they got the ball at midfield only needing a field goal for the win. That would have completely changed Saban’s career, LSU’s history and the Dawgs history if the Dawgs would have won that game. Dawgs would have took care of Ole Miss and Eli Manning in the SEC Championship game and played for the National Championship.
waittillnextyrdawg
November 30th, 2012
9:34 am
@Alphare (what a stupid name)
And we player our best against UF? Hardly. Murray threw 3 , countum, THREE picks! Most teams take that for a win. UF turned it over all day because our D was relentless.
BS! Your D caused 2 out of 6. END OF STORY!
House divided: SEC Championship ‘complicated’ for Atlanta family with sons playing for Bama, UGA | UGA sports blog
November 30th, 2012
9:37 am
[...] Bradley: Would Saban be Saban without key wins over UGA [...]
AltamahaDawg
November 30th, 2012
9:47 am
So what caused the other 4?
Without two key wins over UGA, would Saban be Saban? – Georgia – Dawg News
November 30th, 2012
9:56 am
[...] the original post: Without two key wins over UGA, would Saban be Saban? ← Back to Home Tags: big, bowl, championship, coach, college, game, georgia, georgia [...]
Ryder
November 30th, 2012
10:04 am
The only way Georgia wins this game is that Rambo, Ogletree and Jarvis Jones have the game of their lives. Must contain the Alabama running game and force them to be one dimensional. Yes, McCarron is great but at the same time it changes their game plan and could force them to throw into that UGA secondary.
No way Murray has a good game, he lacks the mental capacity to win a big game by himself. However, the offensive line must be able to open up lanes for the running attack. I see Georgia winning a very close 19-14 game.
ugaisinthesecgame
November 30th, 2012
10:13 am
But the Gators still live in their heads! You guys act like you have won the Nat title if you beat fla, they act like it is routine, just taking care of business. meyers left those guys in crap and you have taken advantage of that, last year their one leg qb almost beat you, and this year, no matter how the bulldog wants to color it up, you beat them by a touchdown…the other4 were uf qb fumbling it 2 time on his own, and 2 ints,ALL 4 under no pressure. get over yourselves and see if you can win another big game, uf already has.
Jimmy Crack
November 30th, 2012
10:24 am
Whoever stops the run, wins. Play action wins this game.
JB
November 30th, 2012
10:35 am
The COUNTRY THOUGHT they were were gonna wake up with President Romney on Nov. 7th. They also think they are gonna wake up with Bama being SEC Champs…..not so fast. Miracles happen.
and a miracle
November 30th, 2012
10:47 am
it will have to be. The worst thing that ever happened for UGA was Bama losing to aTm! Nick has been on these guys so bad they just want this game over and HATE Georgia for everything that went wrong in the aTm game. Ask Auburn, they got a taste of it. Georgia had a good year, but i am sorry, This Alabama team is 10-13 points better than you! Your ONLY hope is to rattle AJ and throw,throw,throw the ball.You will waste your time running your big-time RB (Who is good to run on most) Murry has to be a+ with zero mistakes.
BigDawg
November 30th, 2012
11:48 am
In that first game against LSU in Baton Rouge in 2003 when they called that forward lateral after the fumble turned out to be a big call that went against the Dawgs. In looking at the replay it was not a forward handoff but it was too close to call, as for the SEC Championship game, I believe that started the inconsistency that has plagued the Dawgs under Richt. That actually turned out to be the difference in the game. In the 2008 blackout game the officials making every call against the Dawgs while calling nothing on the Tide had a great influence on that 31 – 0 halftime score. This game gives the Dawgs an opportunity to gain some respect as there has been very little respect shown by the National media leading up to this game in making assumptions that bama will be playing Norte Dame in Miami for the MNC.
Go Dawgs prove them wrong
RiffRaff
November 30th, 2012
2:46 pm
UGA will shock the college football world this weekend.
kimmer
November 30th, 2012
3:28 pm
I am neutral here being a fan of another program and to my unbiased eyes all indicators point convincingly to the crimson tide.
UGA has played just two ranked teams this season, beaten one of them and gotten blown out by the other. The other one was defeated with the help of 6 turnovers. UGA has had some close calls against weak opponents such as UK(+5) and UT+7). Plus Aaron Murray has yet to play well in a big game and nobody on the team has any experience in a game like this.
Bama on the other hand has played 4 ranked opponents, beat 3 of them and lost to the other by 5 pts. None of their games against unranked opponents were closer than 19 points. Bama has been here before. Their juniors and seniors have already won two NC.
Looking at common opponents: Bama; UT +33, UM +19, AU+49, Mizz +22
UGA UT +7, UM +27, AU+38, Mizz +19
Bama wins by more over 3 of the 4.
So here is how I see it going down. If UGA somehow plays the game of their lives and can get a couple of TOs they can win in a squeaker. If not, bama wins without any trouble.
My prediction: Bama by 15.
Dirty Dawg
November 30th, 2012
3:31 pm
It’s hard to be optimistic about our chances if you watch or listen to the, so called, experts on ESPN or sports talk radio. Every conversation includes how badly we were whipped by SC and/or how inconsistent Aaron Murray has been in big games and of course what a weak schedule we played. Lukinbill(sp) has been a big naysayer, but any Tech guy can be expected to find fault. The one that has really pissed me off is the wimp Dari Nowkhah (WTF kind of name is that anyway?) on ESPN. He’s been on Georgia’s and Aaron’s case for weeks. Today, for example, he reminds us that the only team of consequence we beat, and correspondingly that Murray played poorly against, was Florida. Then in the same show he listed Vanderbilt and Ole Miss as his ‘top two’ overachieving but under-appreciated teams in the country…but failed to mention that Georgia dominated both these teams and AM had great games against. Alabama’s got a lot going for em, but our kids have shown that they can hit people in the mouth just as hard as anybody and they ain’t gonna quit against anybody. I like our damned chances tomorrow, but at the same time, if we should win, I’d just as soon these jerks keep on bad-mouthin’ the Dogs right on through the NC game…then they can complain about us all they want.