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
Tide Rising
December 1st, 2012
7:39 pm
The only thing that will save UGA is more luck like a big fumble
me
December 1st, 2012
7:39 pm
Bobo should have gone with max protection on the last series. But 5 wide outs is more our style.
80sDawg
December 1st, 2012
7:39 pm
Bad play calling series
defactodawg
December 1st, 2012
7:39 pm
bama to cover spread with long td run here. Oh well, so close and yet so far
sonofadawg
December 1st, 2012
7:39 pm
If the dawgs lose, Richt and his entire staff should be fired so UGA can start anew
Todd grantham
December 1st, 2012
7:39 pm
Now that was stupid play calling by georgia.
DawgnSeattle
December 1st, 2012
7:40 pm
Not picking up a couple 1st downs on the previous possession was the game. Great play calling Bobo…
dean
December 1st, 2012
7:40 pm
Yes phil, we did…if the score stands.
Kyle
December 1st, 2012
7:40 pm
They didn’t deserve to be on that field tonight. Just pathetic and not in the same league with real men that don’t go three and out when it counts and that can play 60 minutes and most important WIN.
Todd grantham
December 1st, 2012
7:40 pm
Mike bobo strikes again.
Robert
December 1st, 2012
7:40 pm
I just got punched in the mouth after I told a fan to sit down when they said Roll Tide.
Tampa Gator
December 1st, 2012
7:40 pm
Yes…..FIRE ALL THOSE SORRY ARSE COACHES THAT JUST TOOK YOU TO THE SEC TITLE GAME AND PLAYED THEIR HEARTS OUT. Yep…FIRE THEM ALL. BETTER YET….FIRE ALL THE “DAWG FANS” WHO POST THAT THEY SHOULD BE FIRED…..I AM SICK OF ALL OF YOU>
Eric C.
December 1st, 2012
7:40 pm
Great game Dawgs…heck of a try
Bama14
December 1st, 2012
7:40 pm
Need one first down…
CANWE?
December 1st, 2012
7:41 pm
F these guys–they QUIT…f all of ‘em..what a bunch of f’ing LOSERS…no guts, and Murray is the worst “great stats” QB in the history of college football…I can’t believe they just quit.
Mark Bradley
December 1st, 2012
7:41 pm
Timeout with 2:12 left. Alabama can probably run it down to 90 seconds before punting
ShowMeYurTD's
December 1st, 2012
7:41 pm
Bobo stinks……richt not far behind…..
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
7:41 pm
Take Away the REFS bad Call and this is a BAMA beat down on the DWAGS.
SHOULD BE
BAMA 39
UGa 21
can a uga fan spell DWAG right NOW?
Tide Rising
December 1st, 2012
7:41 pm
phil,
Don’t give up dude. It aint over. Its college football and anything can happen. Murray will get the ball back with a minute and a half and still have a chance. Fumble, punt return for a td, anything can happen.
Roll tide!
December 1st, 2012
7:41 pm
Like I said when we were behind..game is never over till last second goes of clock.
Roy
December 1st, 2012
7:42 pm
Come on D! One more stop!
Tampa Gator
December 1st, 2012
7:42 pm
Yes….the idiots are already on here calling for Richt to be fired. If you do…..YOU ARE NO GEORGIA FAN. Go pull for TECH……
bawbie
December 1st, 2012
7:42 pm
IM TIRED OF old FLA STATE football……. SMASH MOUTH FOOTBALL WINS CHAMPIONSHIPS
blame game
December 1st, 2012
7:42 pm
Murray was in a total panic on the last play of his collegiate carreer
Todd grantham
December 1st, 2012
7:42 pm
Mark, would you say that blown coverage on the Bama td was our swan song?
The Grim Reaper
December 1st, 2012
7:42 pm
tick tock tick tock tick tock tick tock tick tock tick tock tick tock tick tock
I'm 1-10 against ranked opponents...and you think I will beat Bama?
December 1st, 2012
7:42 pm
too bad Carlton Thomas wasn’t available for a 3rd and 18 draw play…that always semed to work, didn’t it?
Mark Bradley
December 1st, 2012
7:42 pm
Here’s the championship — stop a third and 5 with 2:06 to play to give yourselves a shot
Bama14
December 1st, 2012
7:42 pm
3rd and championship to go…
Jimmy
December 1st, 2012
7:42 pm
One more stop.
Tide Rising
December 1st, 2012
7:42 pm
Given the horrendous breakdowns in our pass defense tonight it wouldn’t surprise me at all if the Murray burned us one last time.
me
December 1st, 2012
7:42 pm
I’m going to lose some sleep over the series before the AL td. I wish we had run the ball on 1 rst down.
Lonnie
December 1st, 2012
7:42 pm
Big play here!!!!
Overrated
December 1st, 2012
7:42 pm
Get the ball back and score on the last play of the game. It’s in the bag.
True_Crimson
December 1st, 2012
7:43 pm
I think that Georgia should play in the Sugar Bowl, even if they lose this game.
Mark Bradley
December 1st, 2012
7:43 pm
Stopped it. Alabama has to punt it away
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
7:43 pm
BOBO has called a good game. GRANTHAM just was out matched.
rivercard
December 1st, 2012
7:43 pm
Thats all you can ask for from D . A chance.
MenVsBoys
December 1st, 2012
7:43 pm
Miracle time now.
Since Vince
December 1st, 2012
7:43 pm
OH LADY LUCK WHERE ARE YOU!!!!!
Todd grantham
December 1st, 2012
7:43 pm
Swan song. Get it?
Scrappy
December 1st, 2012
7:43 pm
Why no timeout!?!?!?
Mark Bradley
December 1st, 2012
7:43 pm
Georgia will get the ball without about 1:10 left. That’s enough time
80sDawg
December 1st, 2012
7:44 pm
Good job D!!
Roy
December 1st, 2012
7:44 pm
Alright Murray, cement your status!
MTSeats
December 1st, 2012
7:44 pm
Please contribute, more $$ for Richt and staff
The Grim Reaper
December 1st, 2012
7:44 pm
Last chance to dance, do you want it? Do you want it? Meeeeeeeeeeeeeeeami Beach, South Beach salsa, well, do ya?
me
December 1st, 2012
7:44 pm
I will ask the question again. Will UGA’s line be able to block someone when it really counts?
Tampa Gator
December 1st, 2012
7:44 pm
Great stop…….Georgia is leaving their hearts and souls out on the football field. All Georgia fans should be very proud of that effort…..and the great coaching by Richt and friends. Georgia is obviously one of the best football teams in the country…..along with BAMA and FLORIDA….and SOUTH CAROLINA…..AND LSU……
sonofadawg
December 1st, 2012
7:44 pm
We’ll see if Bozo and Murray can pull it off. My thoughts is they can’t, but I hope I am wrong