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
BigJim
December 2nd, 2012
12:07 am
td….because Georgia LOST, sir! Have you been drinking?! They will be playing in the BCS National Championship game and Georgia in the Capital One Bowl, again! Lay off the booze!
The REAL Phil
December 2nd, 2012
12:08 am
Its very sad when “Ben” an admitted Tech fan is smarter than a Georgia Fan. If I had won the Powerball this week I would pay some of these so called fans to get off our bus and ride another. Idiotic comments like the one by ShowMeYurTD’s (who probably has never seen any but his moms as a baby) saying UGA has too much talent year after year to not to win. The problem is that although UGA has recruited top tier talent, our opponents like Bama, LSU and Florida always get better. EVERY YEAR there is an opponent or one or two or three, who has a batter recruiting class. You could make a stronger argument by saying UGA got more out of less than Alabama did.
DawgGuy
December 2nd, 2012
12:08 am
Well said, MB. By far the best article of yours I’ve ever read. I’m proud of our Dawgs. They showed up ready to play and gave it their all for 60 minutes. We saw greatness from both teams. I don’t understand the controversy over not spiking the ball when we were on ‘Bama’s 8. The game ended on a fluke play that could have happened whether we had spiked the ball or not.
Jon
December 2nd, 2012
12:08 am
Shut up Georgia. Chuck Oliver is fair as he can be to all sec teams and you know it. He asked a legitimate question and it should be asked. If you and richt want to keep ignoring that this staff can’t win big games well keep paying money for peach bowls
UGA: Now play somebody outside the SEC
December 2nd, 2012
12:08 am
Sure, Fire Richt. You can hire Bobby Petrino. Or John L. Smith is available. So it Chiznik. Derek Dooley has Georgia ties.
td
December 2nd, 2012
12:09 am
tmc
December 2nd, 2012
12:05 am
Total BS and just shows how little you understand about the game. The pass was not intended for Conley. It was tipped at the line by the Alabama LB (great play on his part).
stendek
December 2nd, 2012
12:09 am
Hey vermin TD. Love being insignificant? Great. That is what you will always have with the saint at helm! True Dawg fans expect more. MUCH MORE! Idiot.
ShowMeYurTD's
December 2nd, 2012
12:10 am
N ILL coach….I think he’ll finish the season, don’t you? Wow, why the ACC, when so many SEC openings….
Fi Slamma Bama
December 2nd, 2012
12:11 am
I love hearing our opponents rationalize, whine, and make excuses after the Crimson Tide deal them a loss. Silly UGA… We own this conference! We just let you pretend you are a real part of it. Are ya’ll ever gonna show up when you play us?
Bill
December 2nd, 2012
12:13 am
Well said, Ben. Some of these Dawg “fans” deserve Jim Donnan as their coach for life. As a GT fan, I know I miss him.
MONKATL
December 2nd, 2012
12:13 am
2 shots,- IF you Spike the BALL, that’s all I got to say.
BigJim
December 2nd, 2012
12:14 am
Mark Richt is a great guy…super Christian guy! Outstanding role model! Probably has the most character of any coach in the country, in any sport! He’s also paid handsomly…$3 Million plus per year, with incentives! The only question I have is, with perennial top 10 recruiting classes…WHY is his record 3-16 against ranked teams, since 2009? WHY?! What is the problem?!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Fi Slamma Bama
December 2nd, 2012
12:14 am
We’re about to have more NCs in the last 10 years than UGA has in the entire history of their sorry program.
Dawg Pyle
December 2nd, 2012
12:15 am
The Earth is nourished by Bulldawg tears. Hahahahahahahahahahaha!!!!
Happy Happy
December 2nd, 2012
12:16 am
Bradley and anyone else can wax poetic all they want. The puppies lost…with the easy schedule handed to them with one of their best teams to get here. Bama’s offensive line dominated and that was the difference. I’m loving it all day long!
td
December 2nd, 2012
12:16 am
BigJim
December 2nd, 2012
12:07 am
GA lost so the coaches should be fired and the only QB in SEC history to throw for 3000 for his first three years should be gone. Let us not forget that this team was a 71/2 point underdog in the game.
While we are at it the only reason we lost was because of our coaches and had nothing to do with the other team on the field. BTW: They have had the #1 recruiting class in the nation for about the last 4 years in a row and we have had a top 15. But that is the coaches fault as well that these players know that the Alabama fans are behind them 100% and know the university and the town is behind them 100% and do not throw them under the bus at every chance.
Like I said earlier you need to find another team to root for because we true fans do not want your negativity around our team MORON.
BigJim
December 2nd, 2012
12:17 am
Hey Fi Slamma Bama…F OFF! The refs were clearly paid by the same moron who poisoned Auburn’s trees! And…Georgia grads can read!
MONKATL
December 2nd, 2012
12:17 am
OK, I’ll add , It HURTS .
winning effort NOT
December 2nd, 2012
12:18 am
a winning effort? Are you kidding me? You are talking about a team that has a top 5 recruiting class year after year and a soft schedule. L O S E R S the southeastern chumps of them all
UNACCEPTABLE
December 2nd, 2012
12:18 am
How sad has it become – we are now satisfied with moral victories – we played them close. We played 3 good teams this year and lost two of them. We got beat by 4 touchdowns by South Carolina. How could we play for the national championship losing to a team by 4 touchdowns? We had to hold on to beat Florida – they comitted 6 turnovers, we got some fortunate official calls and only won by a touchdown. Bama rolls us for over 500 yds and 350 on the ground and we are happy that we hung with them. What happened to actually winning something important? We have been mediocre for so long that coming close has now become acceptable. We recruit top 10 talent every year and send many guys to the pros but we can’t win the big games. Something has to change or we might become perenial also-rans. We should just go ahead and join the ACC and maybe we can win something over there.
td
December 2nd, 2012
12:19 am
stendek
December 2nd, 2012
12:09 am
Hey vermin TD. Love being insignificant? Great. That is what you will always have with the saint at helm! True Dawg fans expect more. MUCH MORE! Idiot.
Good we love it so you can find another team to root for and we will keep our coaching staff around for a few more years and have some faith that it will be their time sooner or later.
BigJim
December 2nd, 2012
12:20 am
td…not going anywhere buddy! Sorry! Will always demand what I think Georgia has the capacity to deliver..and that’s a Championship–or 2! Will NEVER EVER EVER settle for this mediocrity that has produced a 3-16 record against ranked teams, since 2009! That is a sad fact that is unacceptable!
Jon
December 2nd, 2012
12:20 am
Hey td. Murray has 9000 yards and zero sec titles. With your defense what does that tell you?
Dawg Future
December 2nd, 2012
12:21 am
You will keep Richt until he decides to retire, and he will keep giving you “wins” like this.
Enjoy, Leg Humpers!!!!!
tmc
December 2nd, 2012
12:21 am
TD- what are you talking about? Total BS and I don’t understand the game?
I played for from 10-22 years old and in college too.
So I do believe I know of which I speak.
And for those of you who think clocking it w/ :15 would have bee the wrong move…
I’ll stand behind the result of the game and the large majority of people who played the game who say you gotta clock it there. Sorry.
G
December 2nd, 2012
12:22 am
CLOCK Management ?
Erk Russell's Dog
December 2nd, 2012
12:22 am
Fl Slamma Bama
Enjoy it while you can ,Finish it off and beat ND or your season will end as bitterly as Georgia’s did. And get ready too pony up more Ca$h for Saban. Texas is coming to call and they have a fat wallet and a fan base more delusional than Bama’s or Georgia’s. And Sabans ego needs the challenge of winning a championship at three different schools.
Thanks Chuck Oliver
December 2nd, 2012
12:22 am
Thanks Chuck for asking CMR why his team folds in big games! The media in this town is too soft. I thought it was a fair question. I guess CMR did not.
BigJim
December 2nd, 2012
12:22 am
And td..quit calling every poster who disagrees with your pathetic applause for losing, names. Some of us are sick and tired of losing to every ranked team we play! You must be a parent of a player.
JAFO
December 2nd, 2012
12:24 am
ya boy oliver crucified the prentenders. Same as it ever was. Hit the bricks pal and beat it bradley…a loser is a loser.
Fi Slamma Bama
December 2nd, 2012
12:24 am
Like I said Big Jim… I love watching the teams we defeat whine about refs.
Does being a remedial reader qualify as worthy of a moral victory?
dagnabit
December 2nd, 2012
12:24 am
I expect every football player’s yard will be toilet papered. Each house will be egged. Each car will be honeyed. You have to be tough to play for the dwags.
midtndog
December 2nd, 2012
12:24 am
Dogs should retain No, 3 ranking after this game.
keith
December 2nd, 2012
12:25 am
BigJim
December 2nd, 2012
12:14 am
his record 3-16 against ranked teams, since 2009? WHY?! What is the problem?!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
BIG LOSER–JOHN 3-16 IS A GREAT BIBLE VERSE–TRY READING IT, WILL YOU!!!!
Fi Slamma Bama
December 2nd, 2012
12:28 am
Jerk Russel’s Dog,
Saban is building a dynasty at Bama. He’s got his house at Lake Burton and ain’t going anywhere.
But you should hope that Richt goes to Texas. He never wins when it counts. Come to think of it, he fits in perfectly at UGA.
td
December 2nd, 2012
12:28 am
BigJim
December 2nd, 2012
12:20 am
” settle for this mediocrity ”
You really need to get some meds for your delusional nature. When has UGA ever had a better 12 year run then under CMR?
When people like you quit being stupid and start telling people like President Adams to get off his high horse restrictive nature and let CMR recruit the same type players as FL, BAMA, LSU and SC can get and you tell the dam Athens police department and the University of Ga police department to start taking these athletes to the coaches instead of sending them to jail for early season suspensions then we will rise to the level of these schools and will not have the record against them. So either get of your fat a$$ and get involved in important matters to help your team or STFU.
We lost darn it
December 2nd, 2012
12:29 am
Well we did are best but aaron Murray really showed class run off field no stay….sure if he did are thrpw ball out of endzone stop clock too….if made throws to wide open fellows too..Game over we Play Notre dame..No happen we play GT here in the peach Bowl are luck…are could see oregon vs Georgia at peach Bowl that what be folks in dec 28 atlanta dome Ga bulldogs vs Oregon Ducks///and this time we win finish 12-2
tmc
December 2nd, 2012
12:30 am
Td- get it straight, the clock ran out on a FIRST down pass completion (tipped pass) on the 4 yd line when the play started with :15 on the clock.
:15 to run a 5 yd pass play? The ball was snapped @ :09… down at :05
clock runs out cause they couldn’t get it set and clocked in time.
tired of saban
December 2nd, 2012
12:30 am
I hope Notre Dame kicks Bama’s Butt.
Fi Slamma Bama
December 2nd, 2012
12:31 am
TD,
Are you suggesting that UGA has some sort of academic restriction on the types of players it brings in? What a laugh. You guys have 8 non qualifiers on your roster. Get the facts, retread!
Erk Russell's Dog
December 2nd, 2012
12:31 am
28 Points against Bama should have been enough for Georgia to win , but the stars on the Dogs defense got steamrolled by the Tide’s offensive line.And if the fans want to place blame on this loss direct it at the Defense.
BigJim
December 2nd, 2012
12:33 am
td………good point! I do admit at most all the other SEC schools, thugs, gang bangers, criminals do get recruited. Only thing I’ll say is Stanford recruits quality student-athletes, and they win the SEARS CUP every year. But good point nonetheless! I’m just depressed. So close.
Fi Slamma Bama
December 2nd, 2012
12:33 am
Seriously, does UGA excel at anything?
tired of saban
December 2nd, 2012
12:33 am
Enter your comments here
stendek
December 2nd, 2012
12:34 am
Hi BigJim. I have resolved myself to fact that Dawgs of present will never again contend for national title during my lifetime. This was that one opportunity of destiny. As a fan in my 50s I truly dread the coming seasons under Mark Richt, Mike Bobo and Aaron Murray then clones. Wins over patsies. Fattened stats against inferior foes. No wins of any consequence. So sad to be member of Bulldog Nation right now. Only true fans like you and I truly understand feeling of utter despair! Best always friend. Seems even Bradley has joined Saint Mark Fan Club. Oh well.
Dawg Choke
December 2nd, 2012
12:35 am
Thankfully, the Leg Humpers won’t be anywhere near Miami, where those clowns would’ve found some way to blow it and hand the title to ND.
td
December 2nd, 2012
12:35 am
Fi Slamma Bama
December 2nd, 2012
12:31 am
There is not another school in the SEC that has the special acceptance committee that President Adams has put in at UGA. All players have to have not only their grades reviews and accepted by this committee but also has every other part of their lives inspected.
Do a little research my friend.
JAFO
December 2nd, 2012
12:36 am
a winning effort in defeat…a perfect summation of a loser mentality
Jon
December 2nd, 2012
12:37 am
Yeah most rushing yards by any team in sec title game history and uga wonders why they lost.
UNACCEPTABLE
December 2nd, 2012
12:37 am
Why midtndog? We had a very soft schedule beat 1 good team lost to the other good teams we played. We couldn’t stop Bama from running the ball – the most basic part of football. Close but no cigar does not warrant a #3 ranking. We had our chance quit begging for charity.