Live from the Dome: Favored Bama meets hungry Dogs!
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
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2,729 comments Add your comment
Todd Smith
December 1st, 2012
8:09 pm
You morons that spout off about murray and richt have NO clue what football is about. They just played a game that could went either way, and dang near went our way. Yes we lost but we lost NOT GIVING up, 5 yards from victory..I am proud of the dawgs…they played the whole game..the defense stayed on the field long periods gave up some long runs..BUT they didnt stop and did get some stops to give us the chance the win..All you Tech fans..PUH LEEEEEZE…better remember last week!!
Truth
December 1st, 2012
8:09 pm
Good game all aorund. Hope some GA fans who were bashing the crap out of AL can be gracious in defeat. Both teams played a great game.
me
December 1st, 2012
8:09 pm
I’m 1-10 against ranked opponents…and you think I will beat Bama?
December 1st, 2012
8:07 pm
Jimmy, enough about the refs..you lost to the better team…own it…
Pass interference was called against UGA for a 1 handed push on a ball that wasn’t catchable.
Pass inerference wan’t called for UGA when CB had both hand full of Mitchells jersey on the last play of the game.
Yeah, we know, the officials wanted to let them play.
EastCobbRick
December 1st, 2012
8:09 pm
Hard to beat both an extremely talented Alabama team and effing corrupt officials. Sorry, but we were robbed. Alabama held us all game and interfered with our receivers all effing game but noooooo penalties. Frankly, it is amazing we were eve close to those fine gentlemen from cheatingb Alabama. Hope that effing Slive in effing happy.
Bama fan
December 1st, 2012
8:09 pm
The Dawgs played a Great game ! My hats off to ya-you got a great team ! Now go kick some A$$ in the bowl game
John Martin
December 1st, 2012
8:09 pm
Disgusted Dawg I agree are they idiots…………………..
new to the south
December 1st, 2012
8:09 pm
For all UGA fans rooting for bama in NC, what is UGA’s share of National Championship if an SEC team wins? just curious because all SEC teams must get a share of the trophy the way the fans act. Sounds like socialism, you guys most have all voted for obama.
ROLL TIDE
December 1st, 2012
8:09 pm
Andy, you are an idiot. What are you an ACC fan? REALLY??? The SEC rules and you know it. Vanderbilt would probably beat your team. ROLL SEC!!
Gay Dawg
December 1st, 2012
8:09 pm
Man that game just blew up all over our faces dawg nation
82Dawg
December 1st, 2012
8:09 pm
That was the National Championship Game!!
Vince's Dooley
December 1st, 2012
8:09 pm
Hope all the vendors around the Dome brought plenty of Kleenex for those UGA fans! Richt and UGA were out of their league. Bridesmaids again……
1lovefalcons20
December 1st, 2012
8:10 pm
FIRE SAINT RIETCH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
THE Dixie Redcoat Band
December 1st, 2012
8:10 pm
Next years sked will be a little rougher, we may not get another chance like tonite for years. Sad..
Footballrules
December 1st, 2012
8:10 pm
ROY….UGA fans with season tickets….when they didn’t even finish high school.
1980 was a long time ago
December 1st, 2012
8:10 pm
hahahhahahah….georgia = 2nd tier program…..1 national title…….most delusional fan base of all time
TruDawg
December 1st, 2012
8:10 pm
Steve, Bama has just as many thugs on their team as Georgia. I know the backup qb personally so lets not go there.
Dawg Champs
December 1st, 2012
8:10 pm
Hey Dawgs ——National Champs !!!!!!!!
MR is a hypocrite
December 1st, 2012
8:10 pm
I guess the classy georgia fans will egg Murray’s house again tonight
WillGT
December 1st, 2012
8:10 pm
can’t believe some you are screaming fire richt now, that was hell of a game.
Tampa Gator
December 1st, 2012
8:10 pm
Now we all can go watch the epic ACC battle between Georgia Tech and FSU……can”t wait.
Yikes
December 1st, 2012
8:10 pm
Hope the Falcons grab Lacy and Yeldon before they get outta town.
Dooley
December 1st, 2012
8:10 pm
That was a great hit on Murray by that Alabama lineman! Let the wailing and gnashing of teeth begin!!!
Steve
December 1st, 2012
8:10 pm
EastCobbRick, want some cheese with that Whine? LOL….
I'm 1-10 against ranked opponents...and you think I will beat Bama?
December 1st, 2012
8:11 pm
Notre Dame is better than you think…Bama saved UGA the trauma of being throat punched by the Irish…
Draggin Fly
December 1st, 2012
8:11 pm
Meanwhile, FSU scores easily.
go back to tampa
December 1st, 2012
8:11 pm
I could take it if Alabama beat us. But the Bachelor Degree holding UGA QB threw it to the 5 with no time outs.
Bumblers
December 1st, 2012
8:11 pm
Nerds already losing 7-0…..when will the Noles let up? 77-0??
Bobby
December 1st, 2012
8:12 pm
As a Georgia Tech fan I think Murray is an excellent QB. I would love for GT to have a QB as good as Murray. He is certainly a major if not primary reason UGA had such a good season this year and probably will next year. And for all you UGA fans criticizing Coach Richt we would love to have him at Tech.
1980 was a long time ago
December 1st, 2012
8:12 pm
Dooley, keep crying….questionable hit, but you lost because of poor clock mgmt by richt and murray……uga sucks, always have, always will…..in a talent-rich state no less.
billydawg
December 1st, 2012
8:12 pm
Most of you rednecks have never put a pad on in your life on these blogs. It was a dang great game.
Wish we had clocked it and had two shots to win it.
Great effort and phenom game, both teams.
That 3rd and one we missed with 4 min…hurt!
Gurley played a great game.
Get a damn life.
63-39-5
December 1st, 2012
8:12 pm
why cant u get it though your thick skulls THE BALL WAS TIPPED, he was throwing it to the endzone
Eric C.
December 1st, 2012
8:12 pm
Two huge mistakes…not spiking and then throwing short of the endzone…Gurley had no chance to score. As sick as I am, have to say it was a great game and incredible effort by the Dawgs. This was the real NC game. Great season Dawgs.
me
December 1st, 2012
8:12 pm
So the guy who took the cheap shot on Murray will be suspended by the SEC and not play in the National Championship game?
I am a drunk redneck UGA Fan
December 1st, 2012
8:12 pm
I drink a few more PBR
playmeortrademe
December 1st, 2012
8:13 pm
LORD, please just go ahead and tell me how the Falcons are going to lose in the NFC Championship. I’m so tired of this after the Braves and now this. Is Matt Bryant going to miss a chip shot FG in OT? Is Turner going to fumble on the 1 yard line with under a minute to go? Tony Gonzalez drop a wide open TD in the end zone? What new ways will the local teams lose big games?
marietta-dawg
December 1st, 2012
8:13 pm
Cant blame Murray for this one though, he played good enough to win, this ones squarely on the D…SOFT SOFT SOFT
Dawg Champs
December 1st, 2012
8:13 pm
Glory-Glory to Ole Ga !!!!!! Take the bulldogs name off the National Championship trophy!!!
nodefense
December 1st, 2012
8:13 pm
Who cares about a BCS game! Do you think Ala,LSU, and Fla. want just a BCS game. NO! It’s about becoming NATIONAL CHAMPS. PERIOD! This is what the their fans expect. I will take the SEC championship game over a BCS any day unless its the BCS championship.
Fools Gold
December 1st, 2012
8:13 pm
Mark richt needs to learn that Fla. State finese football doesnt work in the SEC.
warlaw
December 1st, 2012
8:13 pm
If I hear one word of criticism about Murray not being able to win the big one or Richt or Bobo should be fired, I think I’ll scream or vomit, not sure which. Ga played their hearts out and could easily have won the game. Yes, they couldn’t stop the run, but I still couldn’t be prouder of this team and their effort. I couldn’t be more disappointed as a former bulldog, but what a great game. I can’t wait for next year.
John Martin
December 1st, 2012
8:13 pm
Murray lived up to his MO he cannot and will win against a top team. To expect any thing else from his past record is the definition of insanity.
NORRIS CHUCK
December 1st, 2012
8:13 pm
IM STILL IN SHOCK
billydawg
December 1st, 2012
8:13 pm
Sabin is the best but he did not outcoach richt buy any means. Richt ate him up on special teams today. They ran it down our throat. They ran because they could not pass and protect…according to sabin.
Wish we had clocked it.
Gay Dawg
December 1st, 2012
8:14 pm
I have not felt so empty since Terry left me
Angry Dave
December 1st, 2012
8:15 pm
Same Georgia, same result. Anything labeled Georgia will lose, I’ve come to accept that, unfortunately.
treaddawg
December 1st, 2012
8:15 pm
What a bonehead play by Aaron Murray. You have to throw the ball for a TD or out of the endzone.
————————————————————————————————————————————
The ball was tipped and dropped short. How a fade pass to the corner of the end-zone gets tipped with the nc on the line, er…man blocking should have gone low to keep the defenders hands down, pass should have been arched higher, ball should have been spiked anyways… blah blah blah…my son’s spend the night company thinks I am demented. Maybe Richt will figure out how to win one of these before too many of us die off. Anyways, a fun year after all said and done and look forward to next year. Go bugs and bama…
Andy in AL
December 1st, 2012
8:15 pm
As a famous coach once said “You didn’t beat us, the clock ran out!”
Under The Bleachers
December 1st, 2012
8:15 pm
You know Brian Kelly is hurting right now. Saban just got 30 plus days to game plan the Irish, never a good thing-Time- for an opponent of Saban.
I agree with the statement above: THIS WAS THE BCS NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP GAME~!
ED
December 1st, 2012
8:15 pm
Richt should have gone for two on the last TD drive, i’m done. GEORGIA SOUTHERN IS OUR ONLY CHANCE THIS YEAR
vampire bill
December 1st, 2012
8:15 pm
Now watch the bugs get slaughtered