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
Dawg Caller
December 1st, 2012
9:37 pm
Come to Chik-Fil-A, boy. Come on. You can do it.
Freddi Gonzalez
December 1st, 2012
9:37 pm
Some days, you just have to tip your cap to the opponent.
graphite
December 1st, 2012
9:37 pm
Let’s see,LSU,AUB and us(BAMA) are winning Nat’l Championships.When are the puppies going to help us out?? I guess it be FL stepping up to help……also,that spotted dog is a laugher for a mascot !!!…RollOn…
Say what
December 1st, 2012
9:38 pm
Great piece, Mark. Thanks.
rip
December 1st, 2012
9:38 pm
As usual the dolts come out. Fire everybody even the team doctor. If UGA had won then it would be all love. I thought fans at Oregon are pathetic but a large number of UGA bloggers on this site–take the cake. Seriously get a life or go cheer for Bama all the time. UGA lost get over it.
He Hate Gator
December 1st, 2012
9:38 pm
5 yards separated the team from a National Title game….no fault to Richt for this one….
Athensdawg
December 1st, 2012
9:41 pm
Monger, you are too stupid to be proud of anything. Like I told THE FOOL go pull for another team, you are not Georgia material.
Eddie Lacy 181 yards TJ Yeldon 152 yards
December 1st, 2012
9:41 pm
Go Gator….
December 1st, 2012
9:33 pm
and don’t worry bama fans, we took a few years off while going through a coaching change but we’ll soon reassume our rightful place as the flagship program in the SEC…
The SEC’S flagship program would actually be the one that has 23 conference championships, 9 polled national championships, and more wins and bowl wins than any of the other teams in the conference. And that program would be Alabama. We always have been the conference flagship. And we always will be.
gy6
December 1st, 2012
9:41 pm
shut up until next august, drunken wife beaters. you lost. get over it.
dienlafin
December 1st, 2012
9:42 pm
That Kool Aid tastes soooooo goooood.
Matt
December 1st, 2012
9:42 pm
Athensdawg, couldnt agree more.
The Mighty Quinn
December 1st, 2012
9:42 pm
Jerry Kramer said in his book “Instant Replay” that the 60’s era Packers never thought they ever lost a ballgame, they just ran out of time…certainly the case tonight for the Dawgs.
SickandTired
December 1st, 2012
9:44 pm
Too bad they don’t give participation trophies. We are losers again. I didn’t realize that colleges pay $3.5 million to coaches for moral victories. But Georgia does it seems.
collegeballfan
December 1st, 2012
9:44 pm
Yeah, one of the best football games I have ever seen.
If Georgia needs to learn a lesson from this game it should be to value the offensive linemen. All the great WR and RB all take second place to offensive linemen.
Richt and Bobo need to dedicate the team to running the football. The Georgia offense scored only 3 touchdowns and did not have the ball very much. Alabama held the ball 37.35. Offensive linemen.
warjacket
December 1st, 2012
9:45 pm
Bama did everything to give GA the game and they still lost. GA is not very good.
Go Gator....
December 1st, 2012
9:45 pm
applaud on Mark! Florida wouldn’t applaud a team that gave up 350 yards on the ground. Bama wouldn’t applaud a team that was manhandled at the point of attack… but good for you guys!!! easiest schedule in the league! get blown out by 4 td’s and benefit from 6 turnovers from florida and the ability to “keep it close” vs Bama!! Awesome!! Maybe they can even win the capital one bowl???
Hairy Dawg
December 1st, 2012
9:46 pm
It is only a winning effort if you win. We didn’t get it done. Though we could have won the game, Bama just flat-out played old man football better than we did.
chase
December 1st, 2012
9:47 pm
All that “great bamaO-line’ couldnt pass block to save their lives!
it was more about the running backs….
even Saban said “we couldn’t block them enough to pass the ball”
Bills fan
December 1st, 2012
9:48 pm
Love well played games like this If one gave it their alll, that is all you can ask for.
I like the late coach John Wooden’s philosophy: practice is where you make winning possible by giving maximum effort and honing ones skills.
He said there were national championships the Bruins won that he was NOT as proud of his men as some games they lost, because they didn’t play their best. Character development was his goal as coach, to ready his young men for their future lives, rather than glory on the court.
OK, I admit to being disappointed they lost, but they seemed to leave it all on the field and that’s all you can ask for.
warjacket
December 1st, 2012
9:49 pm
When you give up 350 on the ground you don’t deserve to win
Dawg Bite
December 1st, 2012
9:49 pm
Bigtechfan, go to HELL!! Who the Hell are you to come on here and criticize? By yhe way, it’s LUCKY, not Luckie, you moron!!
rabundawg
December 1st, 2012
9:49 pm
could have said it better…probably your best editorial
stendek
December 1st, 2012
9:49 pm
Reality check Mark. Dawgs went in as losers. Were expected to lose. Lost! What the Hell is there to defend? Total BS pal! As Dawg follower for over half a century.
bad brad
December 1st, 2012
9:49 pm
I agree with my friend Cliff G…we lost this game in the first half when #90 cheap shotted Aaron Murray and no one on the Dawgs took that arsehole out.
Coffee Bluff DAWG
December 1st, 2012
9:50 pm
Go Gator…. Got some news for you – UGA was better than FL this yr and and so is AL.
Fools Gold
December 1st, 2012
9:50 pm
Fla. State Football of the 90’s wont win in the big SEC or the MNC today. GET a Clue Mark Richt!
MTSeats
December 1st, 2012
9:50 pm
NFL should start funding their default AAA!
G-Dawg
December 1st, 2012
9:51 pm
Shame on you people who just sit back on your couches and yell and scream when you didn’t put an ounce of sweat into this season. These guys played their guts out tonight, and they earned respect. When you come CLOSE to working as hard as these guys worked, then you can critique.
playmeortrademe
December 1st, 2012
9:51 pm
I can’t be mad at the players, they are 18-22 year-olds playing a game. I can be mad at the grown men who get paid large sums of money to prepare and put some of the most gifted collegiate athletes IN THE COUNTRY in the best position to win the game. That staff failed today, as they have done regularly during their tenure. I have no confidence that UGAs coaching staff will ever lead a team to a national championship without a multitude of lucky breaks. They will never be the leaders of a dominant team, because they continually take dominating top-level athletes and fail with them.
Randy Marsh
December 1st, 2012
9:51 pm
Go Gator you are a douche!. Hasn’t FL lost 2 in a row to GA? There are so many losers blogging on here that have obviously never competed in any sport. How can you throw these guys under the bus after this game?
warjacket
December 1st, 2012
9:51 pm
When you give up 350 on the groundyou haven’t left everything on the field. How many DWAGs on defense will play on Sunday?
Go Gator....
December 1st, 2012
9:52 pm
@ Eddie Lacy 181 yards TJ Yeldon 152 yards
December 1st, 2012
OR it could be the program that has won 20 of the last 23 All-Sports trophies AND the most SEC Championship Games (7)…. I would believe that qualifies for the flagship more than titles won in the 1930’s…..
idaho Bulldog
December 1st, 2012
9:53 pm
To those haters on this column: In the words of a recent AT&T commercial “I just want to win! No you just want to whine!”
Robards
December 1st, 2012
9:53 pm
It was a nice effort by UGA–much better than the one in Columbia, SC. The Dawgs could’ve won, but ended up 1-2 against good teams. Unless we count Vandy.
sicemleft
December 1st, 2012
9:54 pm
Georgia only played three ranked teams this year. They lost two of those game. Richt get some guts and put some meat on the sked its really hurting our performance in big games. By the way Bradley effort has never Won a national title. No cookie points here. This is football not girl scouts!
Lily
December 1st, 2012
9:54 pm
Sad that Aaron Murray will be view as a loser that can’t think to win a big one. Spike the darn ball and have three shots at the end zone. Dumbest display of a leader ever. Mark R should figure out Murray isn’t a leader or winner. Defense was a joke, men against boys on the line and 5 needs to go away. Conley is a bozo
Dacusville Bill
December 1st, 2012
9:55 pm
Wish Jawgie had Pitiful Paul for a Coach and wish Cotton was a monkey–Then instead of almost winning, you’d got beat like a rented mule (as Tech is as we speak)
Apostle
December 1st, 2012
9:56 pm
All the UGA fans who are proud of how they played are the reason the rest of the Dawg Nation will have to put up with CMR for who knows how long.I want to win….bottom line!!
warjacket
December 1st, 2012
9:56 pm
Go ahead and count Vandy. They are over achievers, whereas no one does less with more than UGA
The Real Hairy Dawg
December 1st, 2012
9:58 pm
As tough as the loss is folks, it could be worse. You could be Go Gator, or Dacusville Bill, of War Jacket. Spending your time on a team that whipped yours, badmouthing a great effort. Talk about the epitome of Loser…
5yardsshort
December 1st, 2012
9:59 pm
You know what they say,close only counts in horseshoes and hand grenades.
Dawg Realist
December 1st, 2012
10:00 pm
Moral victories are never applicable. This wasn’t the Alabama team of the past few years. They were beatable as Texas A&M proved, and LSU basically did as well. The Dawgs played three good teams this season, and lost to two of them. They benefited from a weak schedule, and are not a championship team in any respect. When you give up 350 yards rushing, you don’t win ballgames.
Thank God for Reggie Ball
December 1st, 2012
10:00 pm
Wow. This is one of the reasons I quit posting for the longest time. When the team fights its A$$ off and the coaches coach their A$$ off and these myopic nincompoops still find a way to calll their performance even as much as “inexcusable”. If you are legitmately mad at Mark Richt, Aaron Murray, Chris Conley, Mike Bobo, Shaun Williams, or ANYONE on the Georgia sidelines you should no longer consider yourself a University of Georgia football fan. To be frustrated is one thing, of course i’m frustrated. To talk about these guys as though they were beaten 50-0 is moronic. I understand there are no moral victories, I certainly am not going to claim that. But at what point do we say, dang these guys fought their tails off, battled the best team in America to literally the end, and lost by literally a tipped ball and five yards. after the game, Richt said they wanted to throw a fade to MM just mainly for another chance. an incompletion (likely because the DB was playing good coverage) would have left 8-6 seconds. This would have given you two plays from the 8. The ball was tipped, Chris Conley did the instictual thing that anyone else would have, caught the ball, he slipped, the clock ran out. In the immortal words of Larry Munson “This was not a night for old Lady Luck”. I refuse to converse with idiots. You Georgia “fans” are a disgrace to our beloved Red and Black. My Dawgs fought their tails off and I am PROUD of them. PROUD to be a Georgia Bulldog tonight,PROUND of Mark Richt, PROUND of Aaron Murray, PROUND to wear the Red and Black, and PROUD of my football team tonight.
Maybe I will post again, maybe not. Not for a while anyways. You people make me sick
Go Dawgs
Rick James
December 1st, 2012
10:00 pm
@ALUM
Hey Tech fan..Your team is getting smacked in a half empty stadium.
bdawg
December 1st, 2012
10:00 pm
I am proud of my dawgs they played well only to be let down by the coaching staff once again. once again just a big epic fail when it counts now we will end up in another mid-level bowl that they will lose because their hearts want be in it because they know they should be playing for a NC.
Boss
December 1st, 2012
10:00 pm
Go jackets.
The Real Hairy Dawg
December 1st, 2012
10:01 pm
You are just fans, folks. Winning doesn’t make you a better person and losing doesn’t make you worse. Show a little class and support your fine team! Also, be thankful you aren’t one of these hating and badmouthing losers!
Bradley you're an idiot
December 1st, 2012
10:02 pm
Classic? Bama is not that great. CBS clearly tied to give the game to GA. Richt and Murray same ole, same ole against at top 10 team.
flagboy?
December 1st, 2012
10:02 pm
. . . just a terrible game to lose.
Played well and didn’t back down. Wish it would have finished differently, but wishin’ doesn’t change much in the end.
ugh.
Go Dawgs!
warjacket
December 1st, 2012
10:02 pm
UGA only wins the East win they dont have to play the top teams in the west. They would not have beaten Bama A&M or LSU. OVERRATED!