That famous jokester Nick Saban leaves Mark Richt in stitches Friday. (AJC photo by Brant Sanderlin)
At the SEC Coaches’ Luncheon at the Hyatt on Friday, emcee Dave Neal asked Nick Saban if it was easier to keep a team motivated as a favorite, or if being an underdog was preferable. Whereupon Mark Richt said, “What does he know about being an underdog?”
Saban’s Crimson Tide is favored today by eight points over Richt’s Bulldogs, but an awful lot of folks — this correspondent included — are picking Georgia. Still, this matchup couldn’t have caught Saban unaware.
“Last summer I was at the lake (Burton, where every big-name college football coach has a summer house) and I was fooling around in the yard, and two guys rode up on JetSkis,” Saban told Richt at the luncheon. “One of them was your quarterback Aaron Murray and the other was your center (David Andrews). And they said, ‘We’ll see you in the SEC championship game.’ ”
And here both teams are, Alabama ranked No. 2 to Georgia’s No. 2, Alabama favored but not nearly a lock, Georgia trying to seize its biggest football moment in three decades. But you knew all that already. So enough of me talking.
I’ll be here until someone is the 2012 SEC champ, and I’d appreciate it if you’d join the fun and frolic. And I thank you, as ever, in advance.
By Mark Bradley
2,729 comments Add your comment
me
December 1st, 2012
7:18 pm
No bock in the back call. Officials corrupt to the core.
AL OL demnostrating how to hold. Officials corrupt to the core.
AL personal foul in first half with hit on Murray. No call. Officials corrupt to the core.
SnoopyJenkins
December 1st, 2012
7:19 pm
Superior athletes…..on defense???? no way
Roy
December 1st, 2012
7:19 pm
Had UGA got that fumble on the kick off return, and UGA scores, coulda been ballgame.
me
December 1st, 2012
7:19 pm
Other than Olgletree, Dawgs have nothing at LB.
Since Vince
December 1st, 2012
7:19 pm
We are getting shredded
blame game
December 1st, 2012
7:19 pm
ROTATE THAT LINE CMR
kerryb
December 1st, 2012
7:19 pm
We can’t stop the run. They can’t stop the pass.
Tampa Gator
December 1st, 2012
7:19 pm
They are running right at Jarvis Jones on every play and he is getting blown out
phil
December 1st, 2012
7:19 pm
Nothing.
It wouldn’t hurt as much if they’d just break one….
Wow.
December 1st, 2012
7:19 pm
v
True_Crimson
December 1st, 2012
7:19 pm
Yeldon is chopping down some Tree!
RTR!!!
me
December 1st, 2012
7:19 pm
Offensive line putting a clinic on. How to hold and not get called.
DawgnSeattle
December 1st, 2012
7:20 pm
Another missed tackle by Hilliard, man he’s soft.
Tide Rising
December 1st, 2012
7:20 pm
WOW. A grinding, punishing running game. UGA gonna need some more luck to win this one.
sonofadawg
December 1st, 2012
7:20 pm
What the hell is Grantham doing, he can’t stop the freaking run!!
Put in Timeout by Ken Sugiura,Filtered by Mark Bradley, Banned by Bill King, Chip Towers & only slightly loved by Jeff Schultz.
December 1st, 2012
7:20 pm
Damn some of those hit look like they HURT for both sides. Is this still what the MIZZOU player calls OLD MAN FOOTBALL?
Jimmy
December 1st, 2012
7:20 pm
This is hard to watch.
Too tense.
I’ve got to put my head under the covers.
Tampa Gator
December 1st, 2012
7:20 pm
John Jenkins finally made a play….been a long time
MenVsBoys
December 1st, 2012
7:20 pm
Ga defensive line is a complete non-factor right now. Can’t tackle, can’t shed their blocker.
nodefense
December 1st, 2012
7:20 pm
Put more men in the box.
SnoopyJenkins
December 1st, 2012
7:20 pm
we need a turnover really bad….
Since Vince
December 1st, 2012
7:20 pm
Recruiting is key…we have no quality depth
Mark Bradley
December 1st, 2012
7:21 pm
Biggest play of the day is this one — third and seven
MenVsBoys
December 1st, 2012
7:21 pm
It’s going to take a turnover.
Jimmy
December 1st, 2012
7:21 pm
They can run and get the first down.
dean
December 1st, 2012
7:21 pm
Grant ham isn’t on the field
Brownies for everyone
December 1st, 2012
7:21 pm
And tide rising your gonna need some luck to get something other than your sister..
me
December 1st, 2012
7:21 pm
#75 on AL with 2 hands of jersey and no holding call.
Mark Bradley
December 1st, 2012
7:21 pm
Stopped. Alabama has to punt
Tampa Gator
December 1st, 2012
7:22 pm
The SEC title game is better than the Super Bowl……by far…..Georgia really need that….but will Bama go for it
MenVsBoys
December 1st, 2012
7:22 pm
Will they go for it? I say yes.
Only in Moultrie
December 1st, 2012
7:22 pm
McCarron wants no part of throwing the ball.
Pigskin
December 1st, 2012
7:22 pm
Big stop…..watch the fake.
june dog
December 1st, 2012
7:22 pm
thank you DDDDDD
Tide Rising
December 1st, 2012
7:22 pm
Georgia finally gets a stop. No worries.
Orange12
December 1st, 2012
7:22 pm
Watch the fake
blame game
December 1st, 2012
7:22 pm
Playing stronger
rivercard
December 1st, 2012
7:22 pm
Uselessness of McCarron isa big difference in this game.
Tampa Gator
December 1st, 2012
7:22 pm
Why would you ever catch that punt…..wow
Mark Bradley
December 1st, 2012
7:22 pm
Georgia begins at the 8 with 7:14 to go
Buckhead Bulldog
December 1st, 2012
7:22 pm
We NEEDED that stop! Good job Junkyard Dogs
Since Vince
December 1st, 2012
7:23 pm
Need to score here
Roy
December 1st, 2012
7:23 pm
Good stop by the Defense. It’s all on the O here…get a touchdown and it’s ballgame.
True_Crimson
December 1st, 2012
7:23 pm
Defense has to step up here if they want to win it.
phil
December 1st, 2012
7:23 pm
Up to Murray and the O line now.
We must drive way down the field.
We must.
Now or never, boys!!!
Todd grantham
December 1st, 2012
7:23 pm
Mark, the winner will be the last team to score.
Jimmy
December 1st, 2012
7:23 pm
Really need a drive here.
Come on guys.
playmeortrademe
December 1st, 2012
7:23 pm
Gurley for the next 7 minutes
Tampa Gator
December 1st, 2012
7:23 pm
The Georgia D line just said…..YES WE CAN
Spartacus
December 1st, 2012
7:23 pm
Huge stop by the defense. If GA can somehow drive the field and score here, that might be enough!