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
Tell us what you think about the site
Customer Care »
Vacation stops, manage subscriptions and more
AJC Services
Sections
Other Editions
Visitor Agreement | Privacy Statement
© 2013 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
1,506 comments Add your comment
phil
December 2nd, 2012
3:35 pm
Record-setting defensive ineptitude…..
Sigh.
Flo- Ri- Duh
December 2nd, 2012
3:36 pm
I do agree….. the ball should have been spiked. Even Bobo agrees he would have done it differently. Both teams played well at time and made mistakes. That was just one mistake but they still had to get the ball in the end zone. And yes I would have liked to have seen two more plays.
Walterego
December 2nd, 2012
3:36 pm
I am not a big Bobo supporter but I just don’t get it. We take BY FAR the best team over the last 3 years to the last play of the game and this is somehow bad?!? The way it ended was more unfortunate than ugly (but a little of both), but there was nothing ugly about how UGA fought and played the best team this decade.
phil
December 2nd, 2012
3:36 pm
Or self inflicted coaching stupidity that removes all chances….
Morons.
Beast from the East
December 2nd, 2012
3:37 pm
Richard
December 2nd, 2012
3:35 pm
If you spot the other team 100 yards in penalties then you rarely win championships. The talent gap between opponents is too narrow to overcome self inflicted wounds.
—————–
For whatever reason, Bama sees the yellow flag less than anyone. I don’t think they’ve had a holding penalty called on them all season, yet it occurs on almost every offensive play in football.
Tampa Gator
December 2nd, 2012
3:37 pm
Flo ri Duh…..
Florida’s defense and Florida’s special teams are much better than “good.” And the offense took a big step forward vs. FSU…..with a finally healthy OL and Matt Jones finally getting it and running like a monster on a very good FSU defense….along with Gilleslee. And Driskel is going to be a star…and looked like one vs. FSU. But….we all know how you feel about Florida.
Flo- Ri- Duh
December 2nd, 2012
3:38 pm
Phil – I had two years in college before injuries ……. not all high school but never mind. Congrats also on your career playing with dolls.
phil
December 2nd, 2012
3:39 pm
The point is that, AT THE MOST CRUCIAL OF MOMENTS, when the battle was to be won or lost, WE FLAT BLEW IT BY NEVER EVEN GIVING OURSELVES A CHANCE.
What is so hard to understand about game and clock management? 1 shot vs 3 shots from the 8 yard line. There is no excuse for what we did there.
NONE.
dawgs25
December 2nd, 2012
3:43 pm
kills me to read some of these comments………while I was as disappointed as anyone in the final score, no one prior to game gave us a chance……this was one of the best if not the best SEC championship games in history………for all you haters who think the coaching staff should go, be careful what you wish for…………take a look at Tennessee…………I know you think great coaches are a dime a dozen and when you don’t win a NC every year you think it is time to get a new coach.
I would argue that we have one of the classiest coaches in the league and I am sure that teams like Kentucky, Auburn, Tennessee, Ole Miss, etc….would love to have our coaching staff…….when will you realize that seasons like we just had are not all bad and many teams would love to have hour record competing in the SEC……….and those that talk about easy schedule and throw up not playing teams like LSU I wander what you are thining…………..LSU beat Auburn 12-10, they gave up 22 points against townsend, so what is so great about LSU……..oh yea the lost to fla who we beat……but according to you when we beat a good team it was a bad game for the other team………….You are killing Me!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! On any given Saturday when you play in the SEC you are vurnerable……………just a fact…………..Unfortunately the polls don’t realize this…
Good luck Alabama in the SHIP and make sure you bring the crystal back to the SEC where it belongs.
Flo- Ri- Duh
December 2nd, 2012
3:43 pm
Tampa Gator – Like I just admitted Florida has a defense, they have special teams but are sorely lacking on offense. I too believe that Florida has a better defense than Bama. Unfortunately Florida’s offense is inferior to Georgia’s and Bama’s and that is why Florida is inferior to Georgia and Bama. That is why beat Florida and should be rated ahead of Florida. LSU and Florida are very similar – good defense average (at best) offense. Texas A&M would probably beat either one right now as they are much improved since losing to Florida in a close game early in the season.
Tampa Gator
December 2nd, 2012
3:44 pm
Beast…..
If Matt Elam, Janoris Jenkins, and Dominque Easley come back…..and it appears they are…..and the Gators only lose one Jr……Floyd……Florida will have the best and deepest defense they have ever had in Gainesville next year. The secondary will be just unbelieveable next year…..and Jenkins, Powell, Morrison, Ball, and Taylor…..will be exceptional at LB. And there will be no better DEs in the SEC than Fowler and Bullard. Easley, Jacobs, Orr, Cummings and others will make up an outstanding and deep DL. And we all know the offense is going to be better with Matt Jones and Mack Brown being joined by Taylor and Lane at RB. The OL will be very strong and deep. I will wai with some anxiousness on Elam, Easley, and Jenkins on their decisions about the NFL. We all know that Floyd is gone.
Coffee Bluff DAWG
December 2nd, 2012
3:45 pm
phil, This was not 2007 when WV lost to a 4-7 28 point underdog Pitt team at home that would have sent them to the BCS.
UGA lost to a higher ranked and favored AL. Both played well but AL had the better O line and RB tandem. Get over it.
phil
December 2nd, 2012
3:46 pm
Dawgs25 joins the list of losers happy with never winning the big one…..
Sad.
Dawg Whisperer
December 2nd, 2012
3:47 pm
A great game that will be re-played many times (unfortunately for dawg fans) but nonetheless a game that folks will reflect upon in the future. As for UGA, a fantastic effort that if not for a few more seconds would have likely yielded an SEC title.
Phil, grow up, your comments remind me of a 5 year old petulant child. So, you didn’t get what you want (welcome to the real world) and you come on this blog and belittle dawg fans who have a different opinion than you. Make any converts yet, Phil?
UGA left it on the field and they and the coaching staff are deserving of our (except Phil) appreciation.
Beast from the East
December 2nd, 2012
3:48 pm
Flo- Ri- Duh
December 2nd, 2012
3:43 pm
Tampa Gator – Like I just admitted Florida has a defense, they have special teams but are sorely lacking on offense. I too believe that Florida has a better defense than Bama. Unfortunately Florida’s offense is inferior to Georgia’s and Bama’s and that is why Florida is inferior to Georgia and Bama. That is why beat Florida and should be rated ahead of Florida. LSU and Florida are very similar – good defense average (at best) offense. Texas A&M would probably beat either one right now as they are much improved since losing to Florida in a close game early in the season.
—————–
UGA should NOT be ranked ahead of UF. By your logic, A&M would have to be ranked over Bama.
phil
December 2nd, 2012
3:48 pm
I won’t get over it, coffee bluff doofus dawg…..
We choked it away. Sick of it.
loyaldawg
December 2nd, 2012
3:48 pm
It was a great game to watch and a better than great game to play in. It will be forever remembered as a game where no one lost. One team was a winner and the other just happened to be on the shorter end of the scoreboard. If you had never been in a championship game and gave it your all and just by some happenstance come up on the short end or on the long end, then you know not what I am tallking about. That poor soul at 680 the fan is a coward. He has never competed in anything of significance. Both teams competed and played a courageous game of consequence.
Tampa Gator
December 2nd, 2012
3:48 pm
Flo…….
Here is your logic process…..
A&M would beat Florida now because they are improved. Well…..Florida is a tons better now than when they played A&M. A&M would have the same difficulty moving the ball on Florida…..but Florida would have a better idea of their offense going into the game…..and…as they did in the second half….they might shut A&M out for the entire game….not just the second half. And Florida’s offense is a lot better than when they played A&M. Florida’s D was just too fast for A&M…and Johnny Football was unable to do his thing against Florida fast, agile, quick, and great tackling defense.
Flo- Ri- Duh
December 2nd, 2012
3:48 pm
I would rate the SEC right now this way #1 Bama #2) A&M #3) Georgia #4) Florida #5) LSU #6) South Carolina. That is based on their current ability if they played each other today. Was UGA fortunate to b in the SEC game after losing to S.C. Yes. Did they deserve to be there – Yes. They beat Florida.
jerry
December 2nd, 2012
3:48 pm
How UGA can win the National Championship. Stop losing. Or loosing if you prefer.
phil
December 2nd, 2012
3:48 pm
Yet another loser in dawg whisperer…..
Tampa Gator
December 2nd, 2012
3:49 pm
“a ton”
DAWG GONE
December 2nd, 2012
3:49 pm
Big Crimson 75 thanks for the support.
phil
December 2nd, 2012
3:50 pm
loyaldawg now on the list….
We didn’t lose? We didn’t choke? Sigh….
Tampa Gator
December 2nd, 2012
3:50 pm
Flo…..
again your logic process……
You rate A&M ahead of Georgia because they beat Bama.
And you rate Georgia ahead of Florida because they beat Florida.
Yet….Florida beat A&M….so…..
I guess…..using your logic……Florida should be rated ahead of Bama……..
But…..they are not using your logic…..why is that??????
Beast from the East
December 2nd, 2012
3:52 pm
Flo- Ri- Duh
December 2nd, 2012
3:48 pm
I would rate the SEC right now this way #1 Bama #2) A&M #3) Georgia #4) Florida #5) LSU #6) South Carolina. That is based on their current ability if they played each other today. Was UGA fortunate to b in the SEC game after losing to S.C. Yes. Did they deserve to be there – Yes. They beat Florida.
——————
Your rankings prove that you have no idea WTF you are talking bout. Thanks.
Tampa Gator
December 2nd, 2012
3:53 pm
and….Flo…..using your logic…..
Florida would beat Georgia now…..because the Florida offense is much better than when they first played Georgia. None of your logic makes any sense.
Fact is……Bama, Georgia, Florida, SC, A&M……all have the ability to beat each other on any given Saturday……because they all are in the top tier of college football teams this year. Now….tha is pure and simple logic for you to try to comprehend.
dawgs25
December 2nd, 2012
3:53 pm
beast from the east doesn’t understand the logic of comparing a one loss team to a 2 loss team…..you cant fix *****d.
Coffee Bluff DAWG
December 2nd, 2012
3:54 pm
dawg whisperer, phil acts like a little boy whose lolly pop was stolen last night.
phil, unfortunately UGA didn’t get the upset we all wanted but do you have to keep crying about it?
Flo- Ri- Duh
December 2nd, 2012
3:56 pm
No I can’t rank A&M ahead of Bama because Bama won the SEC West and had a better record than A&M. UGA had the same record as Florida going in to th SEC title game 11-1. Georgia beat Florida on the field. Georgia won the SEC east. How can you possibly justify ranking Florida above Georgia other than the fact that you are a Florida fan. Strength of schedule – Fla State su – barely escaped Tech who was crushed by UGA. Georgia would beat Florida again – right now – if they played them again. Florida is still weak on offense. Their OL is studded with 4 stars (if you pay attention to such) but they are not that good, RBs are average, WRs , below average, QB , not so good.
Tampa Gator
December 2nd, 2012
3:56 pm
But pure logic ever drives most posts on here……does it????
Anyway…..looks like Florida vs. Louisville in a meaningless Sugar Bowl.
And….hopefully…..the Cotton Bowl…..will match two teams so there is a meaningful and interesting bowl game to watch…….Georgia vs. Oklahoma.
Big Crimson 75
December 2nd, 2012
3:56 pm
Aaron Murray can’t be any worse than christain Ponder.
dawgs25
December 2nd, 2012
3:58 pm
may have misrepresented beast from east and I apologize………..but the comment that Texas A&M should be rated above bama is to what I was referring
Big Crimson 75
December 2nd, 2012
3:58 pm
Anyway…..looks like Florida vs. Louisville in a meaningless Sugar Bowl.
—-
It won’t be meaningless for Charlie Strong!!…..unless, of course, he’s coaching in our League before the Game happens.
Flo- Ri- Duh
December 2nd, 2012
3:58 pm
O.K> bye.
Tampa Gator
December 2nd, 2012
3:59 pm
Flo….
A&M……had the misfortune for playing Florida….and therefore did not win the West. They were obviously better than Bama when they played them “on the football field.”. Bama barely beat LSU. Florida….dominated both lines of scimmage vs. LSU. A&M beat Bama. But….again…..pure logic means little to you.
Knockahoma
December 2nd, 2012
3:59 pm
Any issue I’ve ever had with Richt started when he made Bobo the play caller. If anyone is to blame for the loss it’s Bobo for not keeping the UGA defense on the sideline longer. Two SEC championships with Richt without Bobo’s play-calling, and a horrible record against ranked teams and lot of underachieving with Bobo as the play caller. The worst part about Richt’s tenure at UGA has been his loyalty to sub-par coordinators.
However, in no way do I consider yesterday an underachievement. In fact I think it will prove to be a positive turning point for this program.
And by the way, the Dawgs won the SEC in 2005 so it’s been 7 years since they won anything or were relevant in college football. IMO they proved yesterday that they were a relevant team this season.
Big Crimson 75
December 2nd, 2012
4:00 pm
I was really hoping no Team in the SEC fell for the bait…….but, it’s becoming more & more evident Bobby P is getting another job.
JPE28
December 2nd, 2012
4:00 pm
This was a very well written piece. Georgia fought hard, we came up 5 yards from the national championship. So shame on all of you who bash Georgia, especially you who call yourselves fans. Mark Richt, and the Dawgs came to play yesterday. It was the right call, we drove 60 yards in a matter of three plays. Alabama was on their heels, we didn’t want them to sub in a new package. Richt had the play called, and coming in for the kill. The ball was going for Malcolm Mitchell, but an unfournate tip and a reciever who was doing his job caught it, and came up short. It was the right move. That was the best college football game I have ever witnessed in my life. I am as heartbroken as anyone about the result, but I stand behind my team, my coach, and my University. Go Dawgs.
Daniel
December 2nd, 2012
4:01 pm
Georgia DID NOT WIN THE SEC EAST. They were co- champions, but since UF is used to winning big games on the field, we do not make a big deal about it.
Johnny boy says
December 2nd, 2012
4:01 pm
If the Dawgs practiced football as hard as they do, dancing, taunting, celebrating, late hitting, etc., they would have won. These Dawgs have the old Miami/FSU thug swagger and can’t seem to win the big ones. If Coach Richt taught sportsmanlike football, Alabama would be the ones crying today. Instead, we dance, we taunt, we act like we have never been good before and we see what happens. Florida gave them a win and they thought it was because of their thuggery. We watched the game, and I hate to say it but, Florida gave the Dawgs that one. Oh well, another possible chance goes up in smoke.
Tampa Gator
December 2nd, 2012
4:02 pm
Big Crimson…..
I would expect he will be named the coach of Auburn or Arkansas before that game. But….again….it will be easier for him to win in the ACC than it will be in th SEC. He might be smarter…..and Strong is very smart……to stay at Louisville and win some titles in the ACC….and maybe take the Bama job when Saban leaves again for the NFL. Wonder if that might happen after the NC game….by the way.
Beast from the East
December 2nd, 2012
4:03 pm
Lets see….UGA should be ranked ahead of UF because they beat them. But Bama should NOT be ranked behind A&M even though they lost to them. A&M should be ranked ahead of UF because you THINK they are better offensively, even though UF beat them on the road. Strength of schedule should not matter because UF really did not beat anyone. Let me ask you this. If UF is soooo bad, then what is UGA’s signature win? Vandy? Sound logic.
Tampa Gator
December 2nd, 2012
4:04 pm
I would not be surprised if Patrino gets offered….and he accepts….the newly vacant…..USF….head coach job. He could turn that program around….very fast.
SORE LOSERS! TRY TO SHOW SOME CLASS UGA !
December 2nd, 2012
4:04 pm
all i hear from the uga people is they won a ‘moral victory’ and nothing but pathetic excuses.
for once in your thug dawg lives try and show some class and take responsibilty for yourselves. this is why i gave up on the dawgs, they have continually behaved like petty children. OWN UP TO THE LOSS! THE BETTER TEAM WON, QUIT YOUR WHINING AND WORK ON BETTERING YOURSELVES !
Big Crimson 75
December 2nd, 2012
4:05 pm
Saban leaves again for the NFL. Wonder if that might happen after the NC game….by the way.
—-
50/50
Tampa Gator
December 2nd, 2012
4:07 pm
Big Crimson….
No editing advice on the writing I posted? I was certain you would give me some expert editing advice from the posted portion of my book on the previous page.
Brandon M.
December 2nd, 2012
4:08 pm
Time for Some Conference Rankings (top 3 only, with some comments):
(A) Football: (1) SEC–by a landslide; (2) Pac 12–Oregon and Stanford are top 10, and though USC is down and will remian so with Kiffin, they are a perennial power, and UCLA is improved; (3) Big Ten
(B) Overall Athletics: (1) Pac 12; (2) SEC; (3) ACC
(C) Academics: (1) ACC–Duke, UNC and UVA are 2nd best top 3 to Pac 12’s Cal, Stanford and UCLA, but the 2nd tier of BC, GA Tech and Wake trumps Pac 12’s next 3; (2) Big Ten–Northwestern, Michigan and Wisconsin are stellar, and conference is strong top to bottom. Very close 2nd to ACC, and FSU and Miami don’t help. Could even be a tie; (3) Pac 12
(D) Hot Women: (1) SEC–top to bottom the best looking women; (2) Pac 12–Arizona State may have the best looking women in the U.S., but Stanford is a disaster and Cal is not far behind; (3) Big 12-Texas is the flagship!
Tampa Gator
December 2nd, 2012
4:10 pm
Big Crimson….
If he wins vs. ND…..or when he wins…..I would expect several NFL teams to come knocking on his door again. I think he learned some lessons from his first job at Miami.
1. Take a job with a team with established talent
2. Hire successful NFL assistant coaches
3. Treat your players as professionals, not college kids.
I think he will this time…..and he will win in the NFL….and I think he wants to do that.
Does Kirby replace him if he leaves?
dawgs25
December 2nd, 2012
4:10 pm
really daniel…………..their is a tie breaker system that has been in place for quiet some time and it is called head to head record…………nice try though!