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
Flo- Ri- Duh
December 2nd, 2012
12:15 pm
Proud of the effort the Dawgs gave – showed a lot of heart – never gave up despite the refs ignoring flagrant penalties. the blatant helmet to helmet cheap shot on Murray, with the ref standing 10 yards away looking right at the play, should have been called – even the homer TV announcers for Bama said so. That would have moved Bama 15 yards further back and Dial should have been kicked out of the game and suspended for the next game. Obvious attempt to injure the QB after the play was over. Instead of a penalty called moving the ball back Bama ended up getting a field goal with 5 seconds left – the difference in the game since UGA could have gotten a chip shot field goal at the end. Refs also missed several defensive interference calls and about a half dozen holding calls on Bama. Hard to win if you have to beat Bama and the refs. Pitiful officiating.
Elementary My Dear Watson
December 2nd, 2012
12:16 pm
@ Stendek. I love your passion but am worried about your health…..just as my wife was worried about mine the last few frantic seconds, trust me. Lets both take a deep breath and relax a bit? What say you. OK, maybe not relax today but lets say by Tuesday?
Richt vs Saban. I will take Saban everytime. Coach Richt a good coach. Saban a great coach that takes his teams to the promised land.
me
December 2nd, 2012
12:17 pm
Elementary My Dear Watson
December 2nd, 2012
12:08 pm
Stay with me here. Todd Grantham makes what $ 900,000 per year?
Dumb a$$es like you didn’t contribute a dime anyway. Just STFU punk.
CEPH
December 2nd, 2012
12:17 pm
As Richt said, “we are knocking on the door of greatness” guess what thats what Richt always does “knock” He does’nt have a clue how to open the door,never has, never will! This was his chance and as usual he blew it. It’s easy to say what a great game they played , yada, yada, yada but they lost and that is what will always be remembered. Personally i am tired of hearing “wait until next year” The problem is that next year never comes but Richt has the typical UGA fan buying into his bullshit..That should be his epitaph on his tombstone> That is his mantra “wait until next year”
abominable snowman dawg
December 2nd, 2012
12:18 pm
Dial’s play wasn’t illegal…if it was, they would have flagged him…let it go..
7576DAWG
December 2nd, 2012
12:18 pm
At the end of the Texas A&M game when Bama had the ball on the 6 yard line they passed on 2 or 3 plays and was intercepted. I couldn’t understand why Saban didn’t run the ball four time behind the number 1 Offensive line in the nation. If he had Bama would have won that game. From that coaching mistake Saban put yesterdays game in the hands of that great Offensive line and the two future NFL running backs got over 350 yard rushing.
Saban’s weakness was his secondary and Murray took advantage all day . Gurley , Murray and the rest of the Dawgs could have given up but they didn’t and yes Georgia lost the game but how can any Dawg fan criticize anything when the entire team played their heart out for 60 minutes. There is no doubt in my mind if Georgia had 30 more seconds on the clock we would have won the game. Great job to the team and I know how emotional 18 to 23 year old kids are but none of you need to hold your head down after that effort.
azdawg
December 2nd, 2012
12:19 pm
Dawgs need to spend a scholly on another FG kicker. One we have cannot cut it. He hits the FG in first half and GA only needs a FG to win at the end, instead of a TD when time ran out.
The refereeing in this game was one sided, AL not one holding penalty but was clearly apparent they did on several plays in first half. Head Shot on AM not called. Unbelieveable!!
Defense was not in any condition to play this game. Thery were gassed by 3rd qtr. Thought they hired numerous guru’s to get these guys in shape to play through 4th qtr. Erk would have whipped them into playing shape.
AM and the OL played way better then most of us believed they could against the AL defense, best in the land. THE COACHES HAVE TO CALL SPIKE THE BALL IF GA HAS A SHOT AT END OF THE GAME.
This season was GA’s best chance at a NC. Next season the cupboard will be bare on defense w/grad and early departures for the NFL. This loss will sway recruits away from GA and AL will load up again w/GA kids.
This loss hurts more then last years loss to LSU. In that game GA got blown out in 2d half. They had a chance to win this game but came up a few yds short. If only the dawgs make that FG, or the D comes up w/ one stop during AL’s 3 TD run in 2nd half, they spike the ball. Great game but losing when so close to winning it makes it a hard pill to swallow.
abominable snowman dawg
December 2nd, 2012
12:20 pm
Murray’s history says he would have thrown a pick at the end of the game if given the opportunity…
stendek
December 2nd, 2012
12:20 pm
DawgGal (may be DawgWoman one day) approves of mediocrity! To each his/her own I guess. True Dawgs fans just damn tired of seeing everyone else in SEC walk away with all the marbles every year despite having one of the highest paid head coaches in college football. There is no column for moral losses girl. Only W and L. This one is in L column! Like the South Carolina giveup! One close…one not! It is what it is. Men understand!
Athensdawg
December 2nd, 2012
12:22 pm
I am still waiting, anyone start naming all of the great coaches who should be the next Georgia coach. Keep in mind they also have to be available and wanting to move here.
Flo- Ri- Duh
December 2nd, 2012
12:23 pm
You cowards on here bad mouthing Richt and the Dawgs are latent Tech fans or worse……… quit being a coward for once and say who you really are. By the way Fla State looked awful against a Tech team that lost 6 or 7 games and was humiliated by the Dawgs. show just how weak the ACC is. No team in the ACC should be ranked better than #18 no matter what your record. is. You played the weakest schedule in the country . you played the ACC. No ACC team should go to the BCS this year. Can’t wait for the new playoff system. One that won’t promote a Florida team that get mauled by UGA on the field over UGA. One that won’t leave UGA out of the BCS just because they lost to #1 on the last play of the game. Once again UGA gets screwed for $$$$$$$$.
Roll TIde!!!
December 2nd, 2012
12:24 pm
HAHAHAHA What a bunch of Losers!!!!!!!!!
LLLLOOOOOSSSSSEEEEEERRRRRRSSSSSS!!!
Flat Tire On Hwy 441 in Athens
December 2nd, 2012
12:25 pm
Sammy; Mystic; Dizzy, Izzy, Columbus, and whatever else you have for names
I need a good explaination as to what happened
I thought you said Saban wasnt even close to being equal to Richt
abominable snowman dawg
December 2nd, 2012
12:26 pm
keep him Athensdawg..
Freddie Blassie
December 2nd, 2012
12:27 pm
It was not luck that the last Georgie pass was tipped; it was an outstanding play by an Alabama defender that ended the game for Georgie.
The Alabama QB was outplayed by the Georgie QB but Toad’s D line was pushed around badly in the second half.
Jeff
December 2nd, 2012
12:27 pm
I’m not aGeorgia fan ( Although I was last night!) but I’m a big Mark Richt fan and I hope Georgia fans realize how lucky they are to have him although I know must don’t. I guess they don’t remember that from the time Herchel left to the time Richt came to Athens ,Georgia was pretty much irrvelevent in the SEC. He has made the Bulldogs a contender again and deserves alot of credit. Hope the majority of Bulldog fans are smart enough to know that. We’ll see.
Flo- Ri- Duh
December 2nd, 2012
12:30 pm
Two things – on offense UGA was having success running and keeping UGA’s defense on the bench resting but they seemed to give up on it and had 7 three and outs wearing down the defense. Second Grantham should have adjusted at half time and gone more to a 4- 3 on 1st and 2nd down to stop the triple team on the NT. Same thing LSU did against the NT in the 2nd half last year. You have to adjust to stop the run at some point. Still UGA played the #1 team in the country down to the very last play at the goal line and I am proud of their effort, proud of the heart they showed by coming back time after time – they dserved to win but got out penalized by the refs “no calls” against Bama.
Daniel
December 2nd, 2012
12:33 pm
Flo ri da – http://www.georgiadogs.com/genrel/mcgarity_greg00.html this is the man you need to get in touch with, since you obviously know way more than anyone on your coaching staff.
azdawg
December 2nd, 2012
12:34 pm
stendek
December 2nd, 2012
11:44 am
CTG may be full if fire but he’s also FOS! Were you watching the same game?!?! His defense couldn’t stop just one AL drive for a TD during their 3 TD prance thru the dawgs D front!! Why didn’t he stack the line sooner?!?! One less TD and this game is GA’s to win! No, if CTG is anything its over rated, like his defense played in this game. Sorry, you can have him.
Buckeye
December 2nd, 2012
12:34 pm
1 Notre Dame (60) 12-0 1,500 1
2 Alabama 12-1 1,424 2
3 Ohio State 12-0 1,302 4
4 Florida 11-1 1,279 5
5 Oregon 11-1 1,250 6
6 Georgia 11-2 1,213 3
7
Read More: http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/football/ncaa/polls/ap/?eref=sinav#ixzz2DusCH4WJ
stendek
December 2nd, 2012
12:37 pm
Sure the Dawg defense stunk. The Dawg defender was beaten like a rented mule on the long TD pass.Who was that bozo anyway? A sub? The Dawg front could not have stopped the Tide runners with land mines. I grant all that. Reluctantly. The UGA QB tossed an interception to a Tide player when a Dawg was running free in the secondary for an easy TD! The braindead offensive coordinator decided to run up the middle against 11 Bama defenders plus Nick Saban on a third down and less than a yard. Failure of play not unexpected. UGA QB and head coach once again lacked killer instinct. Still so angry at end game choke that I will not discuss it. UGA football now soft football. Pitiful! Maybe the saint deserves another million. The Dawgs did only LOSE by four points. Sigh.
BgTimeTECHFan
December 2nd, 2012
12:39 pm
Bama verses UGA was a great game, The ACC championship game was a little better.
Tech and FSU put on a defensive display in the second half, hits were flying from both sides.
ACC football is back
Athensdawg
December 2nd, 2012
12:39 pm
Hey guys still waiting………..
It is funny how many of you want a new coach but none of you can name a better one that is looking for a new job.
No Saban or Miles is not moving, Urban is not coming back to the SEC, so who is next????????????
Good Dawg
December 2nd, 2012
12:39 pm
SPIKE THE BALL IT ALL FALLS ON THE HEAD COACH! other than that great game
stendek
December 2nd, 2012
12:40 pm
Hi Mark. Moderate this…
tide in missouri
December 2nd, 2012
12:42 pm
Belive me missouri would be glad to be eligble for a bowl. GA has nothing to hang their heads about. Never thought I would say it but Saban was outcoached. Never carry timeouts into the locker room
stendek
December 2nd, 2012
12:43 pm
I know you are a Tech fan Jeff. Understand why you want Saint Mark Richt to remain in Athens. Can you Techsters say ulterior motive? I can!
david kidd
December 2nd, 2012
12:43 pm
you know, all of us are armchair quarterbacks and have our opinions but i will say this to all. last night we all saw what might have been the finest football game of our lives. alabama had more points than georgia did at the buzzer. thats it! if there could be co-champions of the sec than thats the way it should have been. both teams deserved to win and neither team deserved to lose. it is easy to blame the players and coaches for the loss; thats what some “fair weather” fans do when the team they support looses. what if bama had not made the 2 point conversion? what if murray had spiked the ball on the 8? what if he had time for 2 shots to the endzone? WHAT IF????????? be proud of your teams! if all you can do then is badger the winningest coach in uga history and badger the most prolific qb in uga history; than you need to crawl back under your rock and find another team or sport to piss and moan over. we dont want you in the dawgnation!!
congrats to bama and good luck next month. GO DAWGS!!
Elementary My Dear Watson
December 2nd, 2012
12:43 pm
@ Me.
Respect your elders son.
01HAWK
December 2nd, 2012
12:43 pm
AJ McCarron…………………………..Big GAME QB,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,6″6 TALL
Aarom Murray,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,1-11 vs, Ranked teams in his UGA career…………5″11 and has a hard time seeing over the OL.
gmandawg
December 2nd, 2012
12:46 pm
Well written article, Mark. The superior talented UGA did play, in Rict’s words, “pretty good,too”. However, as long as Richt is coach you are going to be writing those type epitaphs to big games in the future. The reporter’s question at the post-game press conference about Richt not being able to get his team to play in the “big games” was a legitimate question. He is 1-11 against ranked teams. Giving him accolades for playing a good game with superior talent is like praising Robert E. Lee for the battle at Gettysburg. The mediocrity that has permeated the Bulldog Nation is disturbing. They continue to go along with extending Richt’s contract. What is wrong with wanting to win?
THE TRUTH
December 2nd, 2012
12:46 pm
I’ve been extremely critical of Richt and called for his job after the UCF loss, the Michigan St loss, and even most recently the South Carolina loss.
But this was a war and we just came up a bit short. Those guys played their hearts out. Richt and crew coached a good game.
We saw wrinkles that worked. Maybe we could have played the run a bit tougher, but anyone who watches CFB knows Alabama has road graders. My only complaint is with the refs. There were multiple instances of pass interference against Alabama that wasn’t called. Since when is it ok to hit a WR before the ball gets there?
But ultimately I agree with Richt… and Saban. Two great teams. Great battle. And the clock just ran out.
stendek
December 2nd, 2012
12:47 pm
Nick Saban was outcoached huh? 32-28! Does not reflect in final score loser!
david kidd
December 2nd, 2012
12:48 pm
with all do respect to ohio state and their fans, they cannot be ranked in the bcs because of all the sanctions against them. it is sad however, they had a great season with nothing to play for but pride; and they nailed that one!!
JaxGator
December 2nd, 2012
12:48 pm
“This was easily the best of the 21 SEC Championship Games”
Give me a break. It was a good game but I wouldn’t call it the best of the series…..
Smitty
December 2nd, 2012
12:48 pm
Role Tide…….;good thing most Tide fans have class….makes up for turds like you…
stendek
December 2nd, 2012
12:49 pm
THE TRUTH! You are a damn liar.
GA Dome
December 2nd, 2012
12:50 pm
Athletes knows when a game is the on line there may be a time they have to do something going against what they’re taught. That’s where heads up play and mental toughness come to play, I have one question why did Conley catch that ball when he should have known there were only seconds left in the game? Not spiking the ball is one thing, but catching the ball and let time expire is another. Can’t blame the kid he’s been taught all his football life to catch the ball, mentally he should have known better.
Cassius
December 2nd, 2012
12:51 pm
Another classic Ga loss. Tough to swallow with being so close of a national championship matchup. Sad that Murray broke many passing records but couldn’t win the big game. No signature win to be remember by like Belue- Lindsay Scott Greene-P44 to Haynes Bobo- The Drive.
tell me again
December 2nd, 2012
12:52 pm
We all know that all of these “Dawg fans” are just Techies who just go crazy when, once again, we hand them their butt in a bag and come over here to try and belittle one of the finest games ever played in the dome – yes, we came up short but what a game it was. These were two great teams that approach the game a little differently. But just as effectively. We moved the ball at will passing and they did the same running – two great defenses that were besieged by the opposing offense. I dare say that any loss that exhibits such heart and effort is acceptable as there is no shame in giving almost superhuman effort and falling just barely short. Tech, on the other hand gets to go to the ACC CG, on a bye, and enjoy all of the empty seats they couldn’t sell out, and then, in a show of supreme confidence – they beg for a bowl waiver before the game knowing they were going to lose to an over rated FSU team that got shellacked the week before by a team that Georgia beat. When ‘Bama takes the Domers to the outhouse – which they will – the country will see exactly how good UGA was in that loss and how over rated the Domers are. The media got their “marquee matchup” they so desperately wanted – the truth is, UGA will be even better on offense next year and the defense will be young but just as talented. The Dawgs did us proud and gave probably the best team in the nation everything it could handle. Another 10 seconds and we might be buying tickets to Miami. And for some of you who really do consider yourselves Dawg fans – you’re the pathetic ones – not this team. And if there are any losers here it’s you and not those kids who proved they belong with any team, on any field, anywhere. GO DAWGS!
david kidd
December 2nd, 2012
12:52 pm
my sumations from what i read here is that this stendek punk is an idiot!
chrisbod
December 2nd, 2012
12:53 pm
this article was positively poetic.
Todd Smith
December 2nd, 2012
12:53 pm
lol. at ACC football is back…..it was back a week ago in athen too wasn’t it?
stendek
December 2nd, 2012
12:54 pm
Georgia is officially the Ohio State of South. Schedule bunch of cupcakes. Win one or perhaps two times against decent foes (Dawgs had one) then be hailed by media as unbeatable. Until Day Of Reckoning in championship matchup. Just ask all those unbeatable Yank teams that were humbled by (name any SEC unit except UGA). Reality can be a B I guess.
Coffee Bluff DAWG
December 2nd, 2012
12:54 pm
Mark, Agee 100%. I saw just a bunch of warriors last night – for both AL and UGA.
Nick Saban said it well afterwards “UGA is a great team and deserves nothing less than a BCS bowl.”
crimson 1
December 2nd, 2012
12:54 pm
To you true Georgia fans, my congrats for a good year. I thought you wouldn’t make it to the sec championship but you did and you almost won. I guess next year you will finally get over that monkey on your back. It feels good to be a Crimson Tide fan. Break out the large bag of Golden Flakes potato chips and a ice tea, i am so happy!
david kidd
December 2nd, 2012
12:55 pm
just remember, we are talking about a bunch of 18-21 year olds here! how many of us armchair quarterbacks could stand up to last night pressure? i was nervous as hell playing in front of 6,000 when i was 18!
abominable snowman dawg
December 2nd, 2012
12:56 pm
Athensdawg…Saban had a job when he left MSU for LSU…Miles had a job at OSU when he went to LSU…Meyer had a job at Utah when he left for Florida…the coaches with no job right now are probably unemployed for a reason…everyone is available…but if you have a job at a BCS school, why would you go to Georgia? Keep your guy, you know what you have…and what you don’t have…
01HAWK
December 2nd, 2012
12:56 pm
Everyone talks about BAMA not having as many penallties.
WELL……………………….Who leads the SEC in penalties the last 3 years…………………….You guessed it………………………….It is GEORGIA.
stendek
December 2nd, 2012
12:57 pm
David Kidd. I will be glad to demonstrate what kind of a punk I am. I have followed Dawgs religiously since 1950s. Rarely miss a snap. I am legally blind, in ill health and have a heart condition. That said, I will be glad to meet to demonstrate to you how much of a punk I am. Damn loser (^%#@*!