Five yards short: In bitter defeat, a winning Georgia effort
The final moments of a fabulous game: Chris Conley catches the ball. (AJC photo by Curtis Compton)
There are people who say that only championships matter, that finishing second is the same as finishing last. To those people, we say this: Go away now. Go away while we honor — and yes, that’s the proper word — as gallant a runner-up as we’ll ever see. Go away and let us speak of the Georgia Bulldogs.
They’d waited 30 years for a game this big, and they came as close as you could come to winning it without actually winning. Three times they took a lead over the mighty Alabama, and even after what should have been a crushing Tide touchdown with 3:15 remaining, even after what seemed a clinching Bama interception inside the final minute … even then, these Bulldogs found themselves with first-and-goal and time flying.
That they fell five yards short, that a tipped Aaron Murray pass for Malcolm Mitchell was caught by a falling Chris Conley and the final five seconds ticked away, cannot take away from the effort spent and the excellence displayed. The Bulldogs arrived as a underdog, but they carried the fight to the reigning national champion and they left five yards shy of the most thrilling victory — apologies to Lindsay Scott — Georgia football has ever known.
This was easily the best of the 21 SEC Championship Games, and it was one of the finest displays of collegiate football ever witnessed. “Alabama’s a great football team,” Georgia coach Mark Richt said, “and we were pretty good, too.”
Has a losing team ever had more championship-caliber men and moments? From Sanders Commings intercepting an AJ McCarron pass in the end zone to the same Commings catching a pass from tight end Arthur Lynch to convert a galvanizing fake punt; from Cornelius Washington blocking a field goal and Alec Ogletree taking the carom the distance; from the freshman back Todd Gurley pounding the midsection of the nation’s best defense to Murray taking his team downfield in the final minute … has there ever, in the long and distinguished history of Georgia football, been a prouder loss?
Alas, the Bulldogs needed 85 yards, and they could manage only 80. Are five yards sufficient reason to characterize them as losers, to suggest that this four-point loss is living proof that Richt and/or Murray can’t win the Big One? No and no, and if you’re of such a mind didn’t you hear me when I said, “Go away”?
Contrary to popular belief, not every winning effort translates to winning. Alabama was just a bit better (and much stronger up front), but the Bulldogs spurned every opportunity — and there were many — to throw up their collective hands and say, “We’ve given it a go, but this isn’t our day.” And that fighting spirit nearly turned this into the Dogs’ day after all.
“They played well, we played well, the clock ran out,” Richt said. “What are you going to say?”
It was the game for which Georgia had waited since Herschel Walker left Athens in the spring of 1983, the game Richt had waited 12 seasons to coach. It was a game to win one championship and go play for another, and there can be no dishonor in the way the day played out. Quibble with the ending if you will — should Georgia have spiked the ball before Murray’s last throw? Probably not, for Bama was clearly rattled — but you cannot fault the Bulldogs’ skill or heart or pride.
If you claim to be a Georgia fan, you cannot be disappointed with the performance — only the result. How many teams could have stood in against Alabama after the Tide ground out 350 rushing yards? Alabama is the nation’s best program and has the nation’s best coach, and with 10 seconds left there was no assurance that regal Bama would leave the Georgia Dome as the winner.
“I shook every man’s hand,” Richt said, speaking of his crestfallen Bulldogs, “and if someone had his head in his hands I rubbed his head and told him I loved him.”
If you love anything about competitive sports, anything at all, you had to love this game. “That was a great football game by both teams, and they could have won today the same as us,” said Nick Saban, the hard-driving Alabama coach. “It came down to the last play.”
That the final play on this frenzied day was made by Georgia’s opponent in no way diminishes Georgia. If anything, the Bulldogs stand ennobled after falling to Alabama in a way that they hadn’t after any victory of the past half-dozen years. They didn’t win, but they didn’t really lose. “The clock just ran out,” Richt said, and there was no better recap of these stirring events than that.
Alabama played great. Georgia played great. And then the clock ran out.
Further reading: Bama’s backs, Saban’s gaffe and a classic SEC title game.
By Mark Bradley
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1,506 comments Add your comment
Leeman
December 2nd, 2012
10:23 am
Everyone, relax.
After all these NFL bound dogs leave in the spring, richt is gonna be a good man and go 7-5 and 8-4 but you will all feel good about it because he’s not donnan or goff.
Sukkit.
BravesFan77
December 2nd, 2012
10:23 am
Looks like UGA is about to get Cotton Mouth while the Gators party in the Sugar Bowl. LOL!!!!!! Next year will mark the fall of the bulldogs. LOL!!!!
Discount DoubleDawg
December 2nd, 2012
10:23 am
Great game. Heartbreaking. We went toe to toe with the best team in college football and came within 5 yards of winning it all. Not the desired outcome but to those who say we can’t play with the best, I think we put that argument to rest. We need to improve and we need to do better but I am proud of the players and coaches. Last night could have gone either way and if you watched the game you know that. No excuses, just a well played SEC slugfest. Alabama played a great game.
Proud of the Dawgs…
Tampa Gator
December 2nd, 2012
10:24 am
…….and that would happen because Notre Dame would probably play Florida….and Florida would win…..and Georgia would play Bama….and I think Bama would win another close one. And….,we will never know the result of a Bama vs. FLA game….but I know Wet Willie and his friends would say Bama would demolish Floirda……but they said that about Georgia too.
jerry
December 2nd, 2012
10:24 am
To those who say the best team won. Just why were they?
Alabama has been better than UGA forever. Just why is that?
umxdog
December 2nd, 2012
10:25 am
If Georgia loses its bowl game, then I think this great effort will be quickly forgotten. Particularly, if the defensive line gets pushed around again in the bowl game.
Daniel
December 2nd, 2012
10:25 am
Tampa,
I would root for ND over uga. But I can’t wait for 2014.
Leeman
December 2nd, 2012
10:27 am
Why on earth would uga be allowed to play bama again??? How much welfare do u mutts want? Aggies should be ahead of you in line. A line that does not exist anywhere but your fantasy world where being a sweetheart coach is more important than winning big games.
Richt skips all the way to the bank with his THREE MILLION A YEAR SALARY
Tampa Gator
December 2nd, 2012
10:28 am
One thing no one is talking about is the lack of depth on Georgia’s defensive line. I think that is the thing that cost Georgia the game last night, not that last play. Georgia’s offensive line played extremely well….and I thought that would win the game for them. But Theus not cutting that DE cost them the game on that last play. But Georgia just did not have players good enough defensive linemen to come in and back up the two big ugglies in the middle….and unfortuantely for Georiga….both are graduating.
Dawg Choke
December 2nd, 2012
10:28 am
Time to dust off that old trophy again and dream that next year will be 1980 all over again.
Jimmy Joe Bob
December 2nd, 2012
10:29 am
Spoken like a true loser.. Yes it was a great game, but a loss is a loss. Instead of a national Championship now we get to play an 8-5 Texas team that will only hurt Ga if we lose.. Nothing to gain… Add this to a long line of why Georgia and take it one step closer Atlanta Sports are known as loserville. Hopefully one day people will understand close only counts in horseshoes.
Vince's Dooley
December 2nd, 2012
10:30 am
Look at the cotton falling out of the sky……
Tampa Gator
December 2nd, 2012
10:32 am
Daniel…..
Florida is going to be very, very good in 2014…especially if Matt Elam, Janoris Jenkins, and Dominque Easley return. Sharif Floyd is gone….and Elam might jump. But Florida has some very good young safeties that could replace Elam…..but Floyd will be the hardest to replace for sure.
But Bama is very young and they will be even better next year. So will LSU. But the team to beat in the West next year….and maybe the entire SEC….will be Texas A&M. I am sure Bama is not looking forward to playing them again with Johnny Football at the helm.
RevTime
December 2nd, 2012
10:33 am
For those who are so critical of UGA’s performance, I wonder how successful you are everyday? I would bet a dollar to a doughnut, you don’t even win 50%. You are a loser in life, a loser in your career, a loser in relationships, and a loser with your family. I think you need to get the log out of your eye before you worry about the specks in other’s eyes.
WeBurn
December 2nd, 2012
10:33 am
Moral victories are for losers
Tampa Gator
December 2nd, 2012
10:36 am
Anyway,…..as a SEC fan….that was a great game to watch last night. I feel badly for Georgia fans. Their team played well enough to win……but 1980 remains a long time ago….and that has to hurt. Maybe the BCS will keep you high enough to get you into the Sugar. Who knows…..have a nice say.
Mark Richt
December 2nd, 2012
10:37 am
Notre Dame will Beat Bama by 3 touchdowns
OnecoGuy
December 2nd, 2012
10:39 am
BCS rule limiting no more than 2 teams from any conference in BCS bowls only makes for a bunch of sorry ass bowl games.
When will they figure out the declining bowl game ratings are because the games are lousy!
SIX of the top ten teams in the country are from the SEC, so by the current rules FOUR of the top 10 teams in the country will be relegated to second teir bowls.
STUPID rule is costing the bowls money and tv ratings, but then again if all the SEC schools were in BCS games the SEC would just be getting richer.
The Bear
December 2nd, 2012
10:39 am
Thought I would repost this:
UGA’s Top Ten Excuse’s for losing:
1. The Coaching Staff
2. The Officials
3. Alabama bought the game
4. Aliens
5. ESPN
6. Mike Slive
7. Notre Dame
8. Not spiking the ball
9. Clock management
10. The announcers
Now let’s really look at why UGA lost. 351 yards rushing for Bama, Bama made the plays when they needed too and good ole luck. UGA played a hell of a game and have nothing to hang their heads about and yes they should go to the Sugar bowl.
Roll Tide
stendek
December 2nd, 2012
10:39 am
Tampa Gator. Since you evidently live in Florida just switch your allegiance to the damn Gators! As a TRUE Dawg fan of 50 plus years I KNOW the truth in this state (Georgia). This is not about one decent loss but years of underachievement! The way it will ALWAYS be with Saint Mark in charge. So just dropen ze dead jerk! True Dawg fans are tired of close losses and moral victories. The Bulldog Nation deserves far better!
Jorge O'leary
December 2nd, 2012
10:41 am
RevTime
December 2nd, 2012
10:33 am
For those who are so critical of UGA’s performance, I wonder how successful you are everyday? I would bet a dollar to a doughnut, you don’t even win 50%. You are a loser in life, a loser in your career, a loser in relationships, and a loser with your family. I think you need to get the log out of your eye before you worry about the specks in other’s eyes.
Anyone who would take a loser in a football game, and use it against other peoples professional accomplishments is an idiot. Grab your ripple and crawl back into your single wide loser!
Marcus Dupree
December 2nd, 2012
10:41 am
UGA has a major double S problem (Saban; Spurrier)
Jorge O'leary
December 2nd, 2012
10:42 am
I really like the way Alabama ran it down the middle time after time and you had no answer. Cupcakes!
OnecoGuy
December 2nd, 2012
10:42 am
Hey Tampa,
You forgot that the best defensive player on the Gators roster didn’t even play one down this year!!
zeke
December 2nd, 2012
10:42 am
On the 5 yard line, no timeouts, 15 seconds remain, and, you cannot stop the clock or get a play off?! Bad job by Murray, Bobo and Richt! AGAIN!
Jeremy
December 2nd, 2012
10:42 am
“They didn’t win, but they didn’t really lose.” Yes, you did. If you want to be thought of as one of the top programs in the country, you can’t believe this. This is called settling. The Braves have been doing it for a while. Do not be content with just a really good season.
reality
December 2nd, 2012
10:43 am
What a bunch of loser talk jibberish. I said bama wouldn’t lose twice in a month. Keep spinning a loss bradley. Spinning how u were wrong. Even when bama has to replace nfl starters, they r still better than uga w all their talent. And guess what! Next year all these uga players r adios. And maybe uga will actually have to play a tough reg season schedule. I see ga back to 7-8 wins again. But u played well. And lost. Yippee. Or as u say kudos for being first losers.
Nativebird
December 2nd, 2012
10:45 am
Oh yeah, they are all great, all hail the miraculous effort. Psssssft. They could have, should have WON THE GAME. Spike the ball all you idiots…take TWO shots to the end zone and win the friggin game. All this honor the losers crap is for teams that never should have had a shot. Im no bullgog fan, but Georgia should have won that game. The fact they choked when it counts…..is a travesty. This was a travesty.
OnecoGuy
December 2nd, 2012
10:48 am
Problem for Bama against ND was exposed by A+M and GA,
Corners and Safeties not up to par. Maybe Nick will figure it out over the next 2 or 3 months before the NC game, but don’t hold your breath.
Gators are waste deep in corners AND safeties with another top group of recruits coming in. Bama is vulnerable to the pass and unfortunately for the SEC NC winning streak that’s a problem.
Newnanite
December 2nd, 2012
10:49 am
I never get on these things and after what I have to say, most of you will probably tell me dont come back but this is how I see it: Why not be proud of the Dawgs, why not. In the end, a win or a lose doesnt even matter in the grand scheme of things, you all think GOD really cares who won last night, no he doesnt. Proud=if you have a child and he/she does all they can in any situation to be successful and they fail, do you call them loosers?, no, you tell them you are proud of them for their effort. Love your team, or dont be a fan, if you lose, lose with dignity and in the process earn some respect but some fans are so fickle and think there is nothing more important than winning, those people, in the grand scheme of things, are the realy loosers, and will never make someone proud
GO DAWGS!!!!!!
Ace
December 2nd, 2012
10:51 am
Gators beat A&M,LSU,USC and lose to UGA. — 3-1.
UGA beat Gators lose to Bama,USC. — 1-2.
No Sugar tonight
The Redneck Bowl
December 2nd, 2012
10:53 am
Congrats uga on a good season, this was the year that you were almost handed a national championship appearance/title and you failed…. their rednecks were just a little better than your rednecks… hang in there, someone (holding my breath) in this loserville State will win a championship one day… but when????
Ace
December 2nd, 2012
10:53 am
UGA cannot win the big one.
ShowMeYurTD's
December 2nd, 2012
10:54 am
Richt will never be at the level of spurrier, Saban, and miles. He is not capable, never will be. Period. He was exposed in front of the entire nation. Close game last night cemented his position and we have to live with it. UGA will not get rid of him, we have him until HE decides to leave. SAD,SAD, SAD
stendek
December 2nd, 2012
10:54 am
Dawg defeats pain me! This one GALLS me. The table was set then my beloved Dawgs simply stood up, excused themselves and walked away from the banquet. Into obscurity they so richly deserve. Bama unbeatable? Tiders lost to a team from Texas. TEXAS! Despise Saint Mark Richt. Can defeat girl teams and technical schools but not big boys especially those within SEC. I believe Steve Spurrier could outcoach him from grave! Like those 10 plus win years settlers. They ended on the cold carpet of Georgia Dome in Atlanta last night. The saint will be exposed in 2013 as his detractors will be proven correct. No solace as all decent coaches will be locked in by other schools at the time. Dawgs were team of destiny in 2012. Win over ND a lock. Opportunity may come around again. In a decade or two. No more national titles in my lifetime. Thanks Richt and fellow losers!
they are who we thought they were
December 2nd, 2012
10:56 am
ah…the classy uga fans. Who’s bought the toilet paper for the Murrary house?!
and don’t forget they would have beaten ND….just like they knew they would beat bama
they are who we thought they were….roll tide!!
Georgia State Grad/UGA Fan
December 2nd, 2012
10:57 am
What a game. The Dawgs PLAYED!!! Thank you Coach Richt for having the boys prepared. I also would like to thank you for voicing your opinion with that question the reporter ask. The Dogs played BAMA… Not, The Vols, Gators, A&M, or LSU… They played the next National Champion and more than held their own. Any other team in country would have gotten blown out. I have a 10 year old. He’s a QB and he’s pretty good. If he’s lucky and blessed enough to have success in high school at the position and has a choice of schools to choose from, I pray that he’s able to play for a man and coach like Mark Richt. Go Dawgs!
El-Toro GATA
December 2nd, 2012
10:57 am
Well said Bradley! I cried yesterday and I cried after reading your post! Im proud of my dawgs! I love my dawgs! I say it as I see it! after losing the first 2 games of the last season I was 100% convinced that our coaches should be fired but now I’m 100% convinced that they all should get a raise and 5 years extension.
Go dawgs
Elementary My Dear Watson
December 2nd, 2012
10:57 am
Message to Mark Richt………save your timeouts. You could have had one more to play with. It’s all very elementary.
armchariqb
December 2nd, 2012
10:58 am
All you foolish people have your heads in the sand. As hard as our players fought, we never had a chance because of our stupid coaching staff. First, why does Gurly only get 23 carries? he averaged almost 6 yards per carry, and he was effective on virtually every series. Second, why are we throwing VERY aggressive pass plays for 20 yards from our own 10 on the second to last series of the game? That play resulted in us having to give the ball back with 3 minutes left in the game. Finally, the last play of the game… I can’t think of a worse way to dishonor the efforts of the players than making that irresponsible decision. The play wouldn’t have even worked if the ball wasn’t tipped. There were at least 2 bama players between Mitchell and the ball. There were 15 seconds left on the clock when they finally got the chains set. Spiking the ball would have taken 2 or 3 seconds, which would have left us with at least 2 quality plays. This was the WRONG decision, and it took the Bulldogs out of the game. 95% of all of you have been duped into thinking that we had a chance in this, when there is a ceiling placed on our success by our coaching staff.
Our players played like champions. Our coaches folded like cheap suits, and were never up to the pressure of this one. UGA has had two legitimate national championship talent teams in the last 5 years, and our coaching staff has kept out of the title game each time. CMR even had the audacity to claim that UGA should have been playing for the national title on 2007, when ALL he had to do in the regular season was beat a 6-6 South Carolina team at home.
It took Tom Osborne 30 years, but at least he played for the national championship during that span. He also made the gutsiest call in college sports history when he went for 2 against Miami in the 1983 orange bowl because he didn’t want to win a national championship on a tie.
This is another massive lost opportunity for UGA. Anyone want my tickets to the outback bowl?
Evansdawg
December 2nd, 2012
10:58 am
Our coaches had our team prepared. This is not the fault of a coach or a single player. While I am hurting in defeat, I am proud as a Dawg. To heck with the naysayers. As you said…”GO AWAY.” You people just don’t matter. That game was played with Georgia pride and determination. I cannot complain about that in the least. My chin is held high today.
ShowMeYurTD's
December 2nd, 2012
10:59 am
Murray should have gone up to the line and spiked it. Period….f CMR.
DaveDawg
December 2nd, 2012
10:59 am
Played a pretty good game just came up a little short…..and to all these bed wetters and nuts from other schools….get a life loser
Fi Slamma Bama
December 2nd, 2012
10:59 am
As you Dawg fans wake up this morning… Just remember that it is High Tide in the morning!
If you ain’t first, you’re last!
Ace
December 2nd, 2012
11:00 am
“Spike” Murray
Georgia State Grad/UGA Fan
December 2nd, 2012
11:00 am
Don’t knock me for the errors in the post. Just woke up and I’m watching the replay…. Wow… What a game.
Elementary My Dear Watson
December 2nd, 2012
11:00 am
Me liking ” Smashmouth ” type football. UF vs Bama would be a game I would truly like to see. And this coming from A UGA fan.
SEC Reporter
December 2nd, 2012
11:01 am
Amazing how many people come on here and cover up their true team allegiance out of embarrassment only to criticize Georgia. Clearly their team has lost consistently to Georgia on the field. Would that be Ga Tech, Tennessee, Auburn or whom?
stendek
December 2nd, 2012
11:01 am
Dawg defeats pain me! This one GALLS me. The table was set then my beloved Dawgs simply stood up, excused themselves and walked away from the banquet. Into obscurity they so richly deserve. Bama unbeatable? Tiders lost to a team from Texas. TEXAS! Despise Saint Mark Richt. Can defeat girl teams and technical schools but not big boys especially those within SEC. I believe Steve Spurrier could outcoach him from grave! Like those 10 plus win years settlers. They ended on the cold carpet of Georgia Dome in Atlanta last night. The saint will be exposed in 2013 as his detractors will be proven correct. No solace as all decent coaches will be locked in by other schools at the time. Dawgs were team of destiny in 2012. Win over ND a lock. Opportunity may come around again. In a decade or two. No more national titles in my lifetime. Thanks Richt and fellow los
Fi Slamma Bama
December 2nd, 2012
11:01 am
Watch it again Dawgs… I bet the result will be the same. Tide Rolls!