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
Mike
December 2nd, 2012
12:59 pm
This was our best chance to win the NC. Now it will be another 10 years to get to this point.
We will never have another easy schedule like this one.
ABAC-North
December 2nd, 2012
1:00 pm
Bama was Chop-Blocking all day! Why didn’t those SEC Refs call it?!
Stendek's Mama
December 2nd, 2012
1:02 pm
Stendek,
Grow up, son!
stendek
December 2nd, 2012
1:04 pm
TELL ME AGAIN how much of a loss embracing idiot you are loser! Close defeats comfort many. NOT TRUE DAWG FANS! Many of us require results not moral victories. If the Bulldog Nation is happy with moral victories then I will be head coach at a tenth of salary now being lavished on Saint Mark Richt! How much does that equate to per win? Not worth it I assure all!
hit a single
December 2nd, 2012
1:04 pm
You know I am as big a Dawg fan as anyone and probably the best team won last night, but you know I still have a problem about the officiating. In major league baseball the big name players get all the calls whether it is on the mound or at the plate and that is the way it was yesterday. The Saban intimidation factor came into play. I just wish there was someway to break the film down and see what I am talking about. And don’t give me that whining about the officials. No holding calls all day on Bama and then a roughing the QB not called until QB threw his arms up like aren’t you going to call that. The big name coach gets the calls!
ABAC-North
December 2nd, 2012
1:04 pm
Coach Saban & Coach Rodney Garner run programs that deserve the “Death Penalty” much more than they “deserve’ a BCS Bowl……
southern hope
December 2nd, 2012
1:05 pm
i’m really sad…really, worse than sad. Maybe later i can be philosophical.
Jackie
December 2nd, 2012
1:06 pm
My husband and I are old Ga Dawgs and we are so proud of those young men!!!
InRussWeTrust
December 2nd, 2012
1:06 pm
Anyone who’s commented “Fire Richt, Fire Bobo, Fire Grantham, cut Murray” is a @#$!ing moron. Spiking the ball would have been a prudent move, but consider this: Murray throws a fade to malcolm mitchell. That ball either gets caught for a TD or (because Millner is draping his arms all over mitchell when the ball is thrown) defensive pass interference is called, so the clock stops and we get it on the one. Nick Saban doesn’t get a chance to sub in his goal line package either. Theoretically, its a win-win situation for UGA, BUT the ball got tipped. That’s a play no one could have seen coming. A fine example of how a single play changes a game. Bama gets those rushing yards because of an O-line that has 3 all-americans, and 4 who are going to be drafted very early this year. Bama had more size and talent in the trenches, and that was where this game was ultimately won. Our coaches, however, were making aggressive play calls and attacking Bama’s secondary. The tackling wasn’t great, but there wasn’t much more you could have asked from this performance. It’s heartbreaking for everybody, even us true fans who support these coaches and players.
And for you obnoxious Alabama fans… Tell me how high your blood pressure was when we got the ball to the 5 yd line. You guys squeaked by. Show some class. UGA had nine seniors on defense who waited 4-5 years and fought hard just to get a berth to a BCS game while Barrett Jones is entertaining the idea of putting a third ring on one of his sausage fingers. Bama’s players worked hard for this, but so did Georgia’s. I know this doesn’t represent all of your fanbase, and I want to root for your guys against Notre Dame, but it’s gonna be real hard to do that because I see you act like a bunch of spoiled jackasses.
Go Dawgs.
No
December 2nd, 2012
1:06 pm
Good news-every game the teabaggin updykes win is one step closer to Saban moving th Dallas to take the Cowboys job. Then the Updykes will return to the pathetic mid-pack that they were a few years ago.
hit a single
December 2nd, 2012
1:07 pm
Nobody said anything about moral victories. Just a tough loss! You still have to appreciate the effort. That has nothing to do with moral victories. Most critics have never had on a football helmet.
Pussy Galore
December 2nd, 2012
1:07 pm
Dawgs were the best team! As the late great Vince Lombardi once said “We never lost a game sometimes time just ran out” That was true last night! Dawgs were beat by the clock and the poor officiating not by Bama! Proud of our guys. They left it all on the battlefield last night.
dickelsby
December 2nd, 2012
1:07 pm
Can any of you begin to imagine what it would have sounded like if Larry had been calling that game last night?
notaugamutt
December 2nd, 2012
1:08 pm
Georgia played great? Maybe it was Georgia playing a typical UGA game and UA having an off night. 350 yards rushing, with 2 players getting over 100 with approximately 230 yards up the middle is NOT allowed by great teams. Once again UGA was there only due to their patsy lightweight schedule.
Sara
December 2nd, 2012
1:09 pm
Lighten up, it’s just a game.
Athensdawg
December 2nd, 2012
1:09 pm
STENDEK, still waiting, who is your pick for the next coach?????????????????
I know you have no answer, you just like to bitch…………
stendek
December 2nd, 2012
1:09 pm
Refs favored Bama. So what? Ref did not throw pass to receiver short of EZ in closing seconds with no timeout. The choke UGA QB did! Dawgs do not deserve to appear in high profile bowl. Better be glad Toilet Bowl wants em!
hit a single
December 2nd, 2012
1:11 pm
If Oregon doesn’t lose then Coaching cost Ala. the NC. Worse play calling on last possesion of A&M game. 4 or 42 would have toated the bread for me. Oh yea the great Saban about blew it if it had not been for Oregon losing.
Southern Dawg
December 2nd, 2012
1:12 pm
As much as I was shouting , “why didn’t we spike the ball?”, at the end of the game, I understand why we didn’t now. Alabama tipped the pass and out of reaction it was caught. I know in my heart Georgia should be proud but it has been over 30 years since we had this opportunity. It just wasn’t meant to be. Should we be punished by losing to the best team in the country and left out of the BCS altogether? I want to see a playoff scenario developed for college football. A computer shouldn’t be allowed to say who goes to a BCS bowl. If I had a vote and watched this game I would surely vote for the losing team to represent the SEC in the at large BCS spot.
Iluvnutella
December 2nd, 2012
1:12 pm
Good game Dawggies. I’m a Tech fan but REALLY thought u had it. I know Satan was p ssing in his pants, did u see him jump when the time ran out? He KNOWS he sda lost this one. better team didnt win this one last nite.
Stendek's Mama
December 2nd, 2012
1:12 pm
The only thing Stendork is good at picking is his nose….
Sick of it
December 2nd, 2012
1:12 pm
We are such proud losers.
Shoulda, woulda, coulda
December 2nd, 2012
1:12 pm
Mike
December 2nd, 2012
12:59 pm
This was our best chance to win the NC. Now it will be another 10 years to get to this point.
We will never have another easy schedule like this one
Good for you, a honest comment. The dawgs played a great game and just came up short.
This was not the first time Richt has mis-managed the clock—even Saban screwed up the end of the 1st half
stendek
December 2nd, 2012
1:13 pm
Nick Saban! Offer him whatever he wants after season. Every man has his price! Want national titles not close losses forever. Know Saban will deliver!
hit a single
December 2nd, 2012
1:14 pm
Ala. screwed up against A&M but Oregon saved them. I believe the BEAR pulled it out for them.
hit a single
December 2nd, 2012
1:15 pm
Make sure Saban brings his rabbits foot.
stendek
December 2nd, 2012
1:15 pm
Refs favored Bama. So what? Ref did not throw pass to receiver short of EZ in closing seconds with no timeout. The choke UGA QB did! Dawgs do not deserve to appear in high profile bowl. Better be glad any bowl wants em! Maybe Alsoran Bowl or Justshort Bowl?
Tim Brando
December 2nd, 2012
1:16 pm
Georgia played a good game…but. I am enjoying the anguish of the fan base, because of all the trash talking, and chest thumping that they do all year long. To UGA: tell your players and fans to STFU, quit blaming the refs, Nick Fairley and Cam Newton. One more thing, stop comparing every new recruit to Hershel Walker!!!! Just pathetic…
ARdawg
December 2nd, 2012
1:17 pm
standek
It wouldn’t matter if Georgia had Saban or Bear Bryant for a coach. With fans like you we are bound to lose anyway
Shoulda, woulda, coulda
December 2nd, 2012
1:18 pm
Southern Dawg
All I can say are the computers are not a homer like you-GA played a EASY schedule, 63 teams played tougher schedules.
BTW the Gators played the toughest schedule in the country……..
they played #3 Georgia, #7 LSU, #9 Texas A&M, #10 SC and #12 FSU and beat them all save for 4 turnovers in Jaxs. Georgia is 1-2 against top ten teams
droolinhillbillies
December 2nd, 2012
1:20 pm
FIRE RICHT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
stendek
December 2nd, 2012
1:21 pm
Season grades:
COACHES
Head: D.
Offense: D-.
Defense: C-.
Others: C.
PLAYERS:
Offense: C-.
Defense: C.
Kickers: F.
abominable snowman dawg
December 2nd, 2012
1:21 pm
@Shoulda, woulda, coulda
stating facts will never influence the mind of a happy loser…let them soak in their loser glory…
Stendek's Mama
December 2nd, 2012
1:24 pm
Stendork got a GED. Mama be proud.
need2fish
December 2nd, 2012
1:24 pm
Another Tech fan. I’m also a bama fan with regards to SEC but the dawgs have nothing to be ashamed of and probably should have one. One helluva game.
An actual Alum
December 2nd, 2012
1:28 pm
To all the haters and bashers of these young men and this UGA coaching stuff, go copulate yourself. We, and in say we because I actually have a degree from UGA, came into this game being rightfully considered as the 2nd best team in the SEC. We played a schedule similar in it’s toughness to Bama and won all but one game. How we won can’t be a factor unless how you lose is a factor, so take that out of the argument. We, and those who choose to root for UGA, lost by 4 points and played the game the way it had to be played. There are no parallel worlds where we spike it and have two plays, one of which results in a TD. There are only decisions and results of those decisions. Was the decision to go for it the way we did the correct one? We’ll never know because we cannot hit reset and try it another way. At any given moment we all make big decisions and none of us have ever been in a situation like that having to make a choice. Personally, I thought it was a good call to keep pressing and not regroup. That’s how we got down that far to begin with. The bottom line is the decision was made, a hand went up when a ball was in the air and it was caught by a kid who acted on instinct. I’m really sad that the result is what it was. Sure I’d like to live in a world where I can hit reset and try something another way. But I do know this, my team, the UGA Bulldogs, being the 2nd best team in the SEC, overwhelmingly closed the gap between 1&2. To my mind, we are one hand away from being the best. Given the program’s modest lifetime success when discussed amongst the CF elite(we ain’t exactly an historic powerhouse) and it’s
current state(CMR’s reign), I for one feel proud as one can losing to Bama(a true powerhouse) the way we did. These Dogs helped the program take a step forward towards the elite level. We aren’t there yet, it’s not owed to us, nor have we the right to act like it does, but we have shortened the
distance. I like what’s happening in Athens and during CMR’s time he’s made us a much better program. Dooley had one team, with one legendary player, that put us on the map. Then we went back to where we were when 34 was in his senior year of HS. CMR has raised the bar and I know we’ll have a run like Fl and Bama have had and that will make us a 21st century powerhouse. We’re inching closer to it and last night, with 5 yards and one raised hand, we found out how far we have
to go.
Coffee Bluff DAWG
December 2nd, 2012
1:29 pm
stendek is a clown in the traveling circus.
I wasn't even alive in 1980
December 2nd, 2012
1:29 pm
32-28……hahahahahahahahahaha
Ga Tech 4 national titles
UGA: 2 national titles
Ahahahahahahahahahahaha
CANWE?
December 2nd, 2012
1:35 pm
YEAH, YEAH, YEAH…BLAH, BLAH, BLAH–gEORGIA BLEW IT LIKE THEY ALWAYS DO…NOTHING NEW, NO MATTER HOW PRETTY A BOW YOU PUT ON IT…BOTTOM LINE–WE SHOULD HAVE WON THIS GAME, AND WE DIDN’T. tHE REST IS JUST TALK TO MAKE LONG-SUFFERING DOG FANS FEEL “BETTER”
Captain Ron
December 2nd, 2012
1:37 pm
All of you fair weather, so called Bulldawg fans calling for Richt’s head and bashing Murray and the Dawgs. Be true to your school and apply the same expectations of excellence to your own life. The Georgia football team has won more games in the past twelve years than at any other time in the history of the school. Fans SUPPORT their team. Opponents criticize the team. You are either FOR us or AGIN’ us. GLORY, GLORY TO OLE GEORGIA !
Russ
December 2nd, 2012
1:38 pm
I love the SEC, big SC fan. Great game, both teams deserved to be there, but UGA fans, c’mon… 11 point lead 2/3 through the 3rd quarter and lose? Bama was on the ropes… And the Dawgs, like usual, didn’t finish. Richt. 12 years of different versions of the same outcome. Good teams, bad results in biggest games.
abominable snowman dawg
December 2nd, 2012
1:38 pm
maybe the BCS will introduce a “feel good loss” into the equation…may boost UGA’s standing…or, maybe not…
TTT
December 2nd, 2012
1:40 pm
Another Tech fan here who thinks some UGA fans need to settle down. Your team played one of the best college football games I’ve ever seen (1990 Tech v. UVA was better!) and coach Richt is a decent and honorable man.
Coffee Bluff DAWG
December 2nd, 2012
1:42 pm
Captain Ron, Well said.
I don’t know of many other QBs that could have driven 80 yds against AL in the last min with 0 time outs.
Great game by UGA and AL – just fell short. Very tough loss to take but proud of the effort I saw on the field.
BamaStan
December 2nd, 2012
1:43 pm
I find it funny that your fans and media writers are just happy that UGA was competitive. News flash boys, you LOST. It doesn’t matter the score, a loss, is a loss, is a loss. Have fun in a 2nd rate bowl where you belong. LOSERS! We will hold down the NC and the Gators will represent the SEC in the sugar.
THE SEC RULES-BLOG
December 2nd, 2012
1:46 pm
———-No Blame In A Great Game—————-
Georgia Made the Richt Move at the End:
The argument that we should have spiked the ball is NON-SENSE. Alabama was in disarray, the hurry up offense had helped us throughout the game. If the pass wasn’t tipped it might have been a TD and if it had gone incomplete then we would have still had one or two more chances. The receiver who caught the tipped ball surely thought he might be able to keep his feet and take it in.
http://THESECRULES.blogspot.com/
ONE BIG DUMP
December 2nd, 2012
1:48 pm
KOOL AID DRINKING PHONEY BALONEYS….BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA
OH BUT MAKE PLANS NOW FOR THE BIG PARADE HELD IN FEB. OF 2013 WHEN ONCE AGAIN, 32 YEARS AND COUNTING, A TOP 5 RECRUITING CLASS CELEBRATION WILL BEGIN TOPPED OFF WITH A PARADE DOWN PEACHTREE ST.
C L O C K M A N A G E M E N T Y O U M O R O N S
Coffee Bluff DAWG
December 2nd, 2012
1:49 pm
BamaStan,
Maybe you didn’t watch the game. AL won by the slimmest of margins. When Mark Bradley says “GO AWAY” he is talking to fans like you.
Voyager Dawg
December 2nd, 2012
1:50 pm
Great article Mr. Bradley. I think you are right on. Anyone on here criticizing this team or this coaching staff or talking about kool aid need to get a life. You sound like spoiled children and do nothing to raise the bar in terms of Georgia athletics. These young men left it on the field yesterday against a great football team. I feel for these kids because as disappointed as we are as fans, I know they’re more disappointed than any of the bloggers on here, who have never played any sport or done anything thing else for that matter at this level of competition. Over the past two years there were 10-12 teams in the SEC that wanted to be in the Georgia Dome and didn’t make it. Our Dawgs have been there and I’m looking forward to many more. I wish this staff and team a lot of luck with the bowl picks this evening and I hope they get a game befitting the type of team they are. They are great and should get a great game. Go Dawgs, Go Dawgs, Go Dawgs!
gator fan
December 2nd, 2012
1:51 pm
ok so now if you put forth a gallant effort it is as good as winning. what is mark bradley smoking?? to read this article you would think that jaw-ja won the game….oh please…maybe that’s why georgia will never rise above mediocity. their fans have accepted losing as the new norm. hell georgia tech has…might as well get on the poor to average band wagon. what did the fans expect when georgia barely and i mean barely got past lowly kentucky and got demolished by south carolina. i’m a florida fa. georgia caught us in the worst game we’ve played in twenty years and STILL didn’t win by much. florida’s going to the sugar bowl and will end up with a better record than jaw-ja….sorry georgia. you have a long, and i mean a long way to go.