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
Tampa Gator
December 2nd, 2012
2:42 pm
Fact Check…..
Don’t think Foley will be willing to switch that paycheck.
Beneath Reproach
December 2nd, 2012
2:43 pm
Late hit no call awful but the tipped pass that was not tipped could have been more crushing. The Tide had already intercepted the ball and they would have retained possession just further away from the goal line but the non tipped pass cost Bama a first down and resulted in a UGA touchdown. Alabama overcame Georgia could have played better defense and got the ball back. Great game.
Flo- Ri- Duh
December 2nd, 2012
2:43 pm
Proud of the heart UGA showed – coming back time after time and never giving up – a couple of penalties cost them and kept Bama drives going when they would have punted. Several “no calls” by the refs in favor of Bama was the difference. The TV talking heads explained away the three “no calls” when Bama had obvious pass interference and the three obvious “no calls” on what should have been holding on the long runs by Bama and the one long touch down by saying “Well Bama doesn’t make many penalties and the refs know it and Georgia makes penalties and the refs know it so they watch Georgia closer and give Bama a little leeway there.” HUH? The one “no call that they didn’t explain away was the blatant helmet to helmet cheap shot on Murray by Dial (who weighs 100 lbs more than him ) with the ref standing 10 yards away looking right at the cheap shot and “no call” again. The player should be suspended for the rest of the season including the national championship. That one “no call” could have made the difference in the game as Bama would have been moved back 15 more yards but instead ended up getting a field goal with 5 seconds left in the half. The difference in the game was the refs “no calls” for Bama.
Big Gator
December 2nd, 2012
2:43 pm
Hey Mark Bradley why dont you tuck the Puppies in at night while you are act it, when will you start putting some heat on this program with all the talent Richt has had, not to play for Nat would not be accepted at any other big program.
Follow the journalist in the Orlando Sentinal, Gainesville Times, those journalist put the heat on the gators when they lose, they dont lie to them and tell them what a good morale victory this was, do your job and tell the truth, Mark Richt is not a Nat champion coach.
bruce
December 2nd, 2012
2:44 pm
DON G , your a idiot, get outta here with that bs
Flo- Ri- Duh
December 2nd, 2012
2:44 pm
REPTILES know one thing and I don’t see how you can live with it – you didn’t earn a BCS spot – it was GIVEN to you.
Fact Check Time
December 2nd, 2012
2:45 pm
Gator,
Did not think so!
Flo- Ri- Duh
December 2nd, 2012
2:46 pm
Phil – you are a closet Bug – smell like a bug, look like a bug – UGLY. We know who you are – cowards hide behind sheep’s clothing.
phil
December 2nd, 2012
2:46 pm
Bills fan
December 2nd, 2012
2:23 pm
I can only imagine the comments from the naysayers, Bama fans and frustrated Dawg fans.
I come from a family with members in the many Halls of Fame in their athletic specialty. In the desire to be the best and win we lose sight of the larger picture. The pressure on athletes to win is really unrealistic and distorted. It’s a game and all one can ask for is to prepare and give their very best effort.
I have repeated this often here, but of all the coaches that I have observed John Wooden coach of the UCLA Bruins during their glory years of consecutive national championships sums up the essence of competition the best. He expected his players to give maximum effort especially in practice. That was all he felt that he could expect from his teams.
Looking back he mentionst that there were games that they lost in the regular season that he was prouder of the young men even in defeat, than he was after games they won the national championship. It always came down to doing ones best.
I enjoyed the game yesterday and was disappointed in the results, but I look at it as coach Wooden does and that is, that the Bulldogs and Mark Richt have nothing to be ashamed of. They left it all on the field and that is really the only thing one can ask of anyone, no matter the occupation they are in.
*********
Right. Family in Halls of Fame all over. Of course!
Wooden WON championships. Numerous championships. We win none. Too stupid to see the difference?
Big Gator
December 2nd, 2012
2:47 pm
Hey Mark Bradley the truth hurts, please continue to tell them how great moral loss this was, while other schools continue to collect titles.
Ben
December 2nd, 2012
2:48 pm
We came 5 yards and one play from being in the national title. We fought and scrapped and just ran out of time against the best team in the country. No shame in that. It hurts that we were so close, but we were also really close to not being in this game at all.
Real Georgia fans know by now that this is simply the way of things. We go through these bitter times so that we can better appreciate the good ones in the future. The life of a true fan is mostly sour, not sweet. But the sour makes the sweet all the sweeter when it comes.
I have been waiting to see my team in the national title game for 30 years, and I almost saw it. When they ran up to run that last play or spike the ball I was in tears and I didnt even know it. They didnt make the play, and they lost. My heart broke, and I mourn. But I do not despair.
I do not despair because I remember where this team was a few short months ago when Carolina kicked our teeth out and laughed. I remember surrendering a million rushing yards to a Kentucky team that would have a hard time beating an old lady’s quilting club. I remember how it felt when Jarvis forced a Gator fumble in the end zone and we beat the #2 team in the country to take back control of our division. And just a few short hours ago I remember seeing the fear and realization in the eyes of Bama fans when it occurred to them that they had the battle of the season on their hands against a team that was red and black and heart and fire and would fight until the last whistle blew.
We couldnt stop the rush. We should have spiked the ball. If we had only made that first field goal. We had an 11 point lead in the 3rd quarter…..
Doesnt matter what excuses you make or how you rationalize it. Both teams made big plays, both teams could have done a lot of things different. This is the nature of the game.
Alabama won and they deserved to. They are an exceptional football team. Congratulations to them and their fans. Enjoy the windfall, and don’t take it for granted.
I am proud of this Georgia team. I am proud to be a Bulldog. And that wont change, even if it’s another 30 years before we have this chance again. I love this team. I have an irrational emotional connection to something completely outside myself and utterly beyond any aspect of my control, and it is just fantastic.
Shoulders square, eyes forward, chins up, Bulldogs. You move forward, you learn, you persist.
And I will follow you. To whatever end.
Flo- Ri- Duh
December 2nd, 2012
2:48 pm
Duh – You are the DUH in Flo- Ri- Duh…………. Mark May has the IQ of a yard gnome.
phil
December 2nd, 2012
2:48 pm
Vance
December 2nd, 2012
2:27 pm
Our team played all 60 minutes. They never gave up. I think you have nailed the analysis of this game. I am terribly disappointed after waiting so long for a real chance for the national title–I believe that was the national championship game; however, any trashing of our players and coaches after that effort is BS and not warranted from a true bulldog fan. All of us want to win. There is nothing better than winning championships, but when you lose after this kind of effort for all 60 minutes of the game, there is no shame.
*******
another participation trophy type….
Make me sick, you losers that accept failure.
UGA-Student
December 2nd, 2012
2:49 pm
Really Tech fans? We beat the brakes off of y’all! If we suck where does that leave you? Your football team is a joke. Don’t feel bad though, if there was a contest for having the ugliest girls or the most socially awkward guys, you’d be sure to win.
DAWG GONE
December 2nd, 2012
2:49 pm
I am satisfied being a top 20 program. we don’t need another national championship to prove our worth DAWG NATION. we produce great student atheletes that will be productive citizens in life.
Tampa Gator
December 2nd, 2012
2:49 pm
Flo—–
Think with you brain…..not your emotions…….
Texas A&M, LSU, South Carolina, and FSU…..all ranked in the BCS top 13….with three of those teams ranked in the BCS top 10……and Florida beat all four of them. Put that with 11 wins and arguebly the best defense in the country……..and……
I BEG TO DIFFER.
phil
December 2nd, 2012
2:49 pm
Exactly, Big Gator…..
Too many accept losing…makes me want to vomit.
Barry
December 2nd, 2012
2:49 pm
There is a time after some Georgia football games for legitimate criticism, like the South Carolina game. Then, there is a time for giving well deserved credit for a gallant effort, even in defeat. This is one of those times for giving credit. Georgia played a better team but came up 4&1/2 yards short of a victory, or perhaps 4 seconds. Either way, you idiots who want to criticize and run your mouth in all directions should get a life in some other way, like swimming without a cage with Great White sharks, because you have no idea what it is like to be out there in that environment, putting your butt on the line for over three hours and just miss winning. And yes, I do and I have!
Go Dawgs – 10 and 2 and hopefully a good bowl to come as a reward.
tony
December 2nd, 2012
2:50 pm
I wonder how the fans in Alabama, Fla, TX, Ca and Ohio would respond if the media in their states wrote an article like this? With over 30 years and counting without playing for a national championship with so much talent, I think their fans would be outrage.
phil
December 2nd, 2012
2:51 pm
Well, Barry, you should’ve won that midget league game, then.
What’s with all of you happy with losing types?
Tampa Gator
December 2nd, 2012
2:51 pm
phil…….
You need to take a close look at yourself in that……PERSPECTIVE MIRROR.
When did playing in the SEC CHAMPIONSHIP game become “a loser.” The AJC used to have a writer who thinks like you…..and he no longer works for them.
Big Gator
December 2nd, 2012
2:53 pm
Georgia leads the SEC in Moral loses, Bradley has been telling them how great their moral loss for the last 20 years, now its Mark Mays fault Georgia has not played for a title in 32 years, only the AJC can make you feel like you have a wining program, ha, ha,
Flo- Ri- Duh
December 2nd, 2012
2:53 pm
Phil – and exactly what have you every accomplished in your pathetic existence…. you are the loser.
stendek
December 2nd, 2012
2:53 pm
To those who do not understand why I am so violently upset by this moral victory (loss) allow me to explain. I am a diehard Dawg fan of over 50 years so I have earned the right to speak. In sports teams of destiny have windows opened for them on rare occasions. The 1980 Dawgs went through the window. Years ago a horrible performance by Matthew Ryan closed that window for Falcons in a home loss to Pack. Falcons would have won Super Bowl. That window was wide open for Dawgs this season. Only team they could defeat in Top 5 – Notre Dame – was waiting in wings. Forget Oregon, Kansas State or even rematch with Florida. Destiny was waving Dawgs in. Saint Mark Richt and UGA QB chose not to enter window. I know Dawgs will not be this close again in my lifetime. Will always have 1980. Will always despise Saint Richt! If others fail to see then too bad. Name some memorable wins of Richt era! Then name memorable moral victories. Guess which list is longer?
Fact Check Time
December 2nd, 2012
2:53 pm
Somebody take Flo ri duh to toys r us and buy the child a new toy to stop his crying!
stendek
December 2nd, 2012
2:54 pm
To those who do not understand why I am so violently upset by this moral victory (loss) allow me to explain. I am a diehard Dawg fan of over 50 years so I have earned the right to speak. In sports teams of destiny have windows opened for them on rare occasions. The 1980 Dawgs went through the window. Years ago a horrible performance by QB Matthew Ryan closed that window for Falcons in a home loss to Pack. Falcons would have won Super Bowl. That window was wide open for Dawgs this season. Only team they could defeat in Top 5 – Notre Dame – was waiting in wings. Forget Oregon, Kansas State or even rematch with Florida. Destiny was waving Dawgs in. Saint Mark Richt and UGA QB chose not to enter window. I know Dawgs will not be this close again in my lifetime. Will always have 1980. Will always despise Saint Richt! If others fail to see then too bad. Name some memorable wins of Richt era! Then name memorable moral victories. Guess which list is longer?
Barry
December 2nd, 2012
2:54 pm
Make that 11 and 2
phil
December 2nd, 2012
2:55 pm
Tony, it ticks me off, for one. I like Mark, but telling us to go away and shut up for being ticked off and upset over choking away a national title berth after a thirty year wait was bull.
Beast from the East
December 2nd, 2012
2:55 pm
Bradley is trying to lump UGA in with the likes of Kentucky and Vandy. Those are the type schools that celebrate moral victories. Pathetic.
Jay Clark
December 2nd, 2012
2:56 pm
Tide fan here.
To be honest, heading into that game I had little respect for Georgia, given their inability to stand up to the bright lights and their recent inability to represent in marquee out-of-conference games. I, like their own safety, thought they were soft. No more. Georgia has absolutely nothing to be ashamed of. They manned up and traded blow for blow in a battle of heavyweights for the ages. That was one heck of a game that had everyone from coast-to-coast on the edge of their seats for four hours.
Georgia may not have won the game but they won a truck-load of respect form this Tide fan and from many others across the country.
Georgia is far from soft.
Go Dawgs! & Roll Tide!
Mark Bradley
December 2nd, 2012
2:56 pm
John Wooden, the best there ever was, didn’t win a championship in his first 12 seasons at UCLA. Didn’t even reach the Final Four. Guess he was a loser, too.
Tampa Gator
December 2nd, 2012
2:56 pm
tony……
Georgia did play for the National Title……that was last night. And they played exceptionally well. The Georgia program has never been in this good a condition…..and it is much better than it was under the great Vince Dooley. Dooley would have been fired before 1980 by most of the people posting on here…….and you would not even have the 1980 national title if you had.
As much as a dislike Saban…..he has taken that program to a higher level that everyone else in the SEC is chasing. Georgia will continue to be a power in the SEC East and will compete for the SEC title many times in the future under Richt….in my opinion. But I wish Georgia would fire Richt. I can guarantee you both Saban and Muschamp would have less issues competing for recruits if Georgia did.
Beneath Reproach
December 2nd, 2012
2:57 pm
http://sports.yahoo.com/news/ncaaf–georgia-s-mark-richt-only-interested-in-national-title-bids-on-terms-that-won-t-compromise-his-faith.html
Here is his where is yours?
brandonlee49
December 2nd, 2012
2:57 pm
On UGA’s graduating Defensive Sieve that allowed Alabama’a Running backs to amass 350 Rushing yrds… Gimme a Break, What Desperately Foolish NFL Team would Waste any Draft Pick on such a Porous Non-existent bunch of dead-weights…. UGA’s Defense was Pathetic, Just as they showed All Year !!! Good for UGA they’re GONE, Long Past Time to bring in somebody who can PLAY.DEFENSE. What Good does the UGA Offense to Score 28 Points when the Defense lets up 32 !!! Dejavu to last yrs Finale against Mich State’s 33-30 Game…. Has the UGA D improved ANY since Last YEAR …. H____ NO.
Tampa Gator
December 2nd, 2012
2:58 pm
Mark…..
Most of the Dawg “fans” on here would have fired Wooden. As I have said…I wish Georgia would fire Richt…..would make it a lot easier for Muschamp to recruit top Georgia players.
phil
December 2nd, 2012
2:58 pm
Flo- Ri- Duh
December 2nd, 2012
2:53 pm
Phil – and exactly what have you every accomplished in your pathetic existence…. you are the loser.
*********
a sight more than you could even imagine, basement boy!
Flo- Ri- Duh
December 2nd, 2012
2:59 pm
Tampa Gator – I understand but don’t agree with your argument…… and certainly don’t count Fla State as quality win – barely got by Tech who was destroyed by UGA. Please don’t include ANY ACC teams in your strength of schedule….. even Vandy could be ANY ACC team. LSU, S.C. and A&M are good teams but the fact remains that you can’t get around – UGA beat Florida and finished ahead of them in the SEC EAST. UGA took the #1 (soon to be ) team in the country down to the very final play and Saban acknowledged that the game could have gone either way. Saban said UGA belongs and Florida doesn’t. He should know. Florida has no offense- Bama would have beat them by 17.
Big Crimson 75
December 2nd, 2012
3:00 pm
Phil — great game. Well played. Go Falcons.
Flo-Rita — be a man. It’s football, their were plenty of calls & non-calls yesterday For & Against both sides.
How bout the tipped pass that wasn’t tipped??
How bout the Int over-turned??
How bout watching these 2 plays on your DVR:
UGA’s last TD, CJ Moseley got held by 2 different ga players & why don’t you rewind the last pass to the ga TE right before the last play — our DT was tackled right beside Murray before he threw the pass.
Officiating had nothing to do with this game.
It came down to the decision at the end of the game.
Everyone in the Dome could see Murray motioning to spike the ball.
DAWG GONE
December 2nd, 2012
3:00 pm
We have a top 20 team coming back next year. lets be happy where we are right now. Great showing last night DAWGS.
Big Gator
December 2nd, 2012
3:00 pm
Please someone tell me how does a school break a rushing SEC record on you in championship game a moral victory?
Mark Bradley there is no where in Florida you could work writing this”””””’
stendek
December 2nd, 2012
3:01 pm
Because so many folks on here are happy and satisfied with the Bama defeat I hope the Dawgs go bellyup again in bowl game. Maybe that will make their holidays happy. Especially if it is a close defeat! This bunch undeserving of 12 wins. Know 11-3 mark will have faux Dawg fans giddy!
phil
December 2nd, 2012
3:01 pm
Mark Bradley
December 2nd, 2012
2:56 pm
John Wooden, the best there ever was, didn’t win a championship in his first 12 seasons at UCLA. Didn’t even reach the Final Four. Guess he was a loser, too.
********
i guess richt will become Wooden starting next year then…..
Difference is that Wooden was smart. Richt clearly isn’t since he couldn’t grasp the obvious need to clock that ball. Beyond stupid.
Brandon M.
December 2nd, 2012
3:02 pm
Strength of schedule matters. I too would put UF in the top 4 BCS playoff system IF there were a playoff this year. UF, like UGA, played the SEC East. However, unlike UGA, UF played 3 stellar games outside the SEC East and won all 3–LSU, Texas A & M and Florida State. While UGA did beat UF, you can’t analyze in a vacuum. Oftentimes a team beats another team head to head but they end up ranking below that team for various reasons.
But here’s the silver lining for the SEC as a whole–I think the SEC and ACC have been the big winners in CF re-alignment so far. Adding Mizzou and Texas A & M were both excellent moves. Mizzou is a very good overall school, adds a state, and is top 5 academically in the SEC. The Big Ten made a mistake when they bypassed Mizzou to add Maryland and Rutgers. Rutgers in particular was a loser, when they could have added Mizzou and Syracuse instead. Better academics, better sports and more sense geographically. Texas A & M added a football power and enables the SEC to dip its toes in TX recruiting, a top 3 state along with FL and CA. The ACC’s addition of Syracuse, Louisville, ND (not football….yet) and Pitt was also strong. Bottom line, the SEC and ACC have (so far) come out ahead of the Big Ten, the Pac 12 and the Big 12, and that will strengthen the conference.
Puppies and FAILCANTS are one in the same...
December 2nd, 2012
3:02 pm
Lmao…what a tear jerk article…MB is such a homer…just do a find and replace for a dawgs with FAILCANTS when they get bounced from round 1 in the playoffs…lmao…
Big Crimson 75
December 2nd, 2012
3:03 pm
John Wooden is a terrible representative for success for many different reasons.
I have one name for all the John Wooden lovers out there:
Sam Gilbert.
phil
December 2nd, 2012
3:03 pm
Big Crimson 75 – congrats on your win. Happy for a few like you.
Sick to my stomach otherwise for blowing a great chance in the end.
Proud Dawg
December 2nd, 2012
3:03 pm
THANK YOU, DAWGS!!!!! IT’S GREAT TO BE A GEORGIA BULLDOG!!!!!!!!
Tampa Gator
December 2nd, 2012
3:04 pm
Big Gator…..
There is probably no paper (blog news site) wheret he could make the money he is making in Atlanta….and no newspaper in Florida as good as the AJC.
phil
December 2nd, 2012
3:05 pm
I loved Wooden….i’m sure, like us all, that he had his warts. Maybe even more than you’re average idiot gator fan.
Big Gator
December 2nd, 2012
3:07 pm
Now Bradley is comparing Richt to Wooden, I mean I know you love the Dogs but to be stupid about it, goes to far, Sabon. Spurrier , Meyers, Miles, won BCS in 5 years, I guess they are heading to greatest?
Listening to Bradley now you know why Geogia keeps Richt around, wow