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
Mark Bradley
December 1st, 2012
11:45 pm
Chuck Oliver asked the question.
td
December 1st, 2012
11:45 pm
If any of you on here are REALLY DAWG fans and want to blame CMR, CMB, Murry or any other coach or player for the lose tonight, then you might as well give up watching the DAWGs and for that matter give up watching sprts altogether because you are all morons and idiots.
This game was not lost but it was won because a the Alabama LB stepped up and made a great play. Anything else you can say is total BS and proves you do not know what the h3ll you are talking about.
Attila the Choir Director
December 1st, 2012
11:46 pm
I’m a die-hard Bama fan and, Mark, everything you wrote is true. I think that was the greatest college football game I’ve ever seen. I thought going into this game that it was totally lose-able. I was right. No Rammer Jammer at the end of this one: we didn’t beat the h*** out of the Dawgs. You scared us to death.
I hope we take care of business in Miami. I know y’all would have. Hold your heads high, Dawgs. That was as valiant an effort as I have ever seen. SEC FOREVER!
td
December 1st, 2012
11:47 pm
I thought that sounded like Oliver. I will be calling his show Monday asking him about being a moron.
stendek
December 1st, 2012
11:47 pm
After that debacle Dawgs need to decline ALL bowl invitations. Unless Toilet Bowl is available. The Lord loves losers. So does Mark Richt. He has produced so many of them over the years!
ShowMeYurTD's
December 1st, 2012
11:47 pm
No jerk reporter….truth hurts….we had the friggin’ game…….out classed and out coached…..AND, can we get a field goal kicker. WTF
PreyDawg
December 1st, 2012
11:47 pm
Bradley at his best!! I was at the game. I drove 7 hours to be there and I scalped a ticket for 300 dollars. It was worth every penny and every mile. What a game….what a game!!! GO DAWGS!!!
Jon
December 1st, 2012
11:49 pm
Hey Ken chuck Oliver asked a legitimate question and it obviously struck a nerve because richt knows it is true. Oliver was doing his job. Richt isn’t.
BigJim
December 1st, 2012
11:50 pm
Mark Richt: now 3-16 against ranked teams, since 2009. All those losses come with perennial Top 10 recruiting classes!! We just can’t beat ranked teams!!! So….it’s back to the crappy Capital One Bowl once again!! This is UNACCEPTABLE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
td
December 1st, 2012
11:50 pm
stendek
December 1st, 2012
11:47 pm
You can not be a DAWG fan. If you are then you are a moron and should give up watching the DAWGs and for that matter any sports because you do not understand the game.
Ben
December 1st, 2012
11:50 pm
Tech fan here. UGA showed a lot of character, and Bama showed they are a cheap, dirty football team. They may have won, but they lost my respect, and UGA earned a little.
stendek
December 1st, 2012
11:50 pm
Hey TD! Wish Bama goon would have hit you with cheap shot instead of the no talent chose artist Aaron Murray! Idiot!
td
December 1st, 2012
11:51 pm
BigJim
December 1st, 2012
11:50 pm
Than might I suggest that you go and root for another team because CMR will be the coach of UGA for at least 10 more years.
Aaron
December 1st, 2012
11:51 pm
the fact that this article was written is a joke. as always, GEORGIA, the king of mythical and moral championships hahaha
Fi Slamma Bama
December 1st, 2012
11:51 pm
The Tide is the elite team in the conference. We tried to give the game away and the weak Dawgs still couldn’t win. Hey elite recruits… If you like underperforming, DUIs, and morale victories, then you should go play in Athens. If you like winning and you pi__ excellence, then come to Tuscaloosa.
Where was your blackout tonight Dawg fans?
Fair n Balanced
December 1st, 2012
11:51 pm
Disappointed in the attitude of some of our faithful here. We are a good team with great coaches. Richt deserves a lot of credit.
Mizzoudawg
December 1st, 2012
11:52 pm
What a pathetic display from a bunch of bandwagon critics. Sometime you play valiantly and lose. No honor lost in that. I am prouder than ever to be a Georgia Bulldog, and if you are not, then go root for someone else, now.
PMC
December 1st, 2012
11:52 pm
The Dawgs paid out great tonight if you bet the game
ShowMeYurTD's
December 1st, 2012
11:53 pm
CMR is a good coach but will never be great, never. We are stuck with him until he decides to go, it will be on his terms. No national championships during his tenure….this is not personal, it’s the fact’s. Way to much talent yr after yr with no championships. I’ll never get use to it.
Clyde
December 1st, 2012
11:53 pm
Loved it, got their hopes up and were crushed. Couldn’t have happened to a more deserving bunch of priques.
Fi Slamma Bama
December 1st, 2012
11:54 pm
Wars over, Dawg fans. Saban dropped the big one!
td
December 1st, 2012
11:55 pm
stendek
December 1st, 2012
11:50 pm
I would actually care about what you said if you had not already shown how little you understand about the game which makes you a moron and not worth listening too. Go away son you only make yourself look less intelligent with each and every post.
01Dawg
December 1st, 2012
11:55 pm
Mark, I’ve read probably 1000 of your columns in my life, and this is bar-none your best, most well written. In your words, “Kudos” to you.
BigJim
December 1st, 2012
11:55 pm
For td and all the other Georgia fans who love Mark Richt…you love mediocrity! Alabama is now playing for a National Championship, AGAIN! And Georgia will be in the Capital One Bowl…AGAIN! Because Mark Richt–who makes $3,000,000.00+ per year, and has top 10 recruiting classes annually, CAN’T BEAT RANKED TEAMS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! That’s ok with you? It’s NOT with me! I ma sick and tired of beating the Buffalo’s (barely) and constantly LOSING to ranked teams!
Ken Stallings
December 1st, 2012
11:56 pm
Thanks, Mark! Chuck Oliver is a person whom I am going to find a way to communicate with in written form!
Fi Slamma Bama
December 1st, 2012
11:56 pm
Attention 4 and 5 star athletes… If you like losing the big game, then go play in Athens.
Jon
December 1st, 2012
11:56 pm
So funny. Before the game it was this is not the same tough Alabama teams from years passed and Georgia has a shot to win. Then they blow a lead and get gashed for 350 yards rushing, are lucky to even be in the game, now it’s a moral honor victory against the unbeatable tide. You guys have an answer for everything. Here is an answer for you. Alabama is about to have more national titles in 4 years than Georgia has sec titles in 30 years. Can’t win big games. Murray is a big baby. Enjoy the peach bowl
PMC
December 1st, 2012
11:57 pm
It’s silly to look for blame after this fantastic game.
In Sports someone goes home disapointed. Georgia did everything possible to win Alabama made one more play. It’s just horrible it’s another year away to hope for better.
For Chuck to ask that question at that moment and not have the stones to just come out with it…. Seriously bad judgement.
They can’t even begin to answer it until next fall
Ben
December 1st, 2012
11:57 pm
As a Tech fan, I would love to see you guys fire Richt. Good luck finding a replacement who can do better. Maybe you’ll end up with a Ray Goff or a Jim Donnan again.
Richt has had far more success in his 12 years than y’all had in the period between Herschel Walker and Richt’s hiring. You’re delusional if you think you can fire him and be anywhere close to this point anytime soon.
Then again, UGA fans are stupid. If it was up to most of you, Richt would have been fired after the South Carolina game, and you wouldn’t even have gotten to the SEC Championship, much less being a few feet away from winning it.
ShowMeYurTD's
December 1st, 2012
11:57 pm
Mark Bradley thank you….we’ll get ‘em next yr guys……NOT
td
December 1st, 2012
11:57 pm
BigJim
December 1st, 2012
11:55 pm
Then go and root for another team DA. We loyal DOWG fans do not want you around our program spreading you negative karma.
UGA: Now play somebody outside the SEC
December 1st, 2012
11:58 pm
Entertaining game. Bama was the better team. Now we’ll see if Georgia can beat a good team outside the conference,.
PMC
December 1st, 2012
11:59 pm
Tech fans didn’t even notice their team played tonight????
Or perhaps you’re not even Tech fans you’re just Internet trolls I guess
coondawg69
December 1st, 2012
11:59 pm
should Georgia have spiked the ball before Murray’s last throw? Probably not, for Bama was clearly rattled
MB: Just for the record, Conley, who admitted he should have dropped the ball, said that they were confused….. interesting that the 20 year olds, racing down the field, knew to spike the ball… the fans knew to spike the ball…. the ones paid hundred of thousands and multi-millions…. did not. such a shame that to have another 2001 Auburn outcome…. mis-management of the clock!!! damn shame!!! kids played as great….. Bama was better, stronger, and obviously, better coached….. and that later is not a slight…. it is Saban.
As They Say
December 1st, 2012
11:59 pm
Close only counts in horse shoes and hand gernades. Them Bama guys handed your defense want-a-be’s their butts. I love it when you mouthty rednecks are kicked in the mouth.
allSEC
December 2nd, 2012
12:00 am
Good news for Georgia… if they need a coach, there are a bunch on here that think they know how to win the SEC. Miles, Saban, and Spurrier should be worried!
Fi Slamma Bama
December 2nd, 2012
12:01 am
Get a real program, Bulldawgs!
PMC
December 2nd, 2012
12:01 am
Should have asked Chuck Oliver if he feels he’s come up short in the battle against food
Fi Slamma Bama
December 2nd, 2012
12:02 am
The SEC East is weak. A complete joke. Dawgs would finish in 4th place in the SEC West.
KBP
December 2nd, 2012
12:02 am
Ben . . . Well said!
CMR gave Chuck Oliver a chance to own the question but he chose not to. Good move CMR.
td
December 2nd, 2012
12:02 am
coondawg69
December 1st, 2012
11:59 pm
How can you say UGA was out coached in this game? Saban went to halftime with three timeouts on the table. GA had the fake punt that worked to perfection and blocked a kick, That sounds like to me that GA out coached Alabama.
sowhat
December 2nd, 2012
12:04 am
MB – glad the puppies lost this one – they were getting too cocky. Your comment (MB) “Alabama is the nation’s best program and has the nation’s best coach” is actually false – Does that mean Texas A&M should be the SEC champs?? After all the Aggies (who many people at the beginning season didn’t think were “worthy” to be in the SEC) beat Alabama – and LSU should have beat them. UGA only benefited from a powder-puff schedule this season – only really playing 2 quality opponents, SC (which walloped UGA) and a very over-ranked FL team – who FL should have won that game.
So – UGA had the dream season of a dreamer. Hope you fans enjoyed the “dream”.
Ken Stallings
December 2nd, 2012
12:04 am
Here is an email address to send Olver your thoughts directly! I just did!
king@680thefan.com
ShowMeYurTD's
December 2nd, 2012
12:04 am
Northern Illinois to the sugar bowl!!!! Amazing,,,,,does their coach want to come to the sec?
Keith
December 2nd, 2012
12:05 am
And if they would have had the presence of mind to SPIKE the ball, then they would have time to take a couple of shots into the end zone…well hopefully.
Guess they could have chosen the same play and it would have been tipped, but the coaches could have said…
Also, the WR should have let the ball drop knowing he wasn’t in the end zone. Oh well. Well fought game
Cloudodust
December 2nd, 2012
12:05 am
The press corps, coast-to-coast, is awaiting Thomas Brown’s (aka BuLLdawg) response to the game. Stick around. He doesn’t fire up the Commodore until midnight.
Bonafide Tide
December 2nd, 2012
12:05 am
Got ya Bulldogs. Here’s to that fat redneck UGA fan that sat two rows in front of me at the Dome. Who’s barking now fatboy?
tmc
December 2nd, 2012
12:05 am
For all of those who say not clocking it w/ :15 was the correct move…
If they did clock it and the same play happened on 2nd down (Conley catches & down at the 4 yd line), Murray could have clocked it again and still had 1 last play on 4th down w/ :01-:02 left on the clock.
CMR blew it and hasn’t understood “clock management” EVER while the head coach at Georgia.
Timmy
December 2nd, 2012
12:06 am
Well, there’s always 2044, dwag fans. Couldn’t have happened to a more deserving fanbase.
Ken Stallings
December 2nd, 2012
12:06 am
The Northern Illinois head coach will not be coaching their bowl game this year. He was just hired by my alma mater, NC State!