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
Silverdogg
December 1st, 2012
8:15 pm
I would like to know why Gilliard was playing in the Middle and not Herrera or Robinson. He got manhandled all game…
Tech1990
December 1st, 2012
8:15 pm
DAWGS SUCK! I am a lifelong Alabama Fan now! This Alabama win just made my year! Go back to Athens you bunch of REDNECKS! Tell me how it feels to have your National Championship dreams go down the toilet. Now all of you Dawg fans that jumped on the bandwagon this past couple of weeks can return your Bulldog 2 for one t- shirts that you bought from Wal-Mart. HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH
Shack
December 1st, 2012
8:15 pm
No business even in the game….. If u can’t stop the ball, u should b playing in the sunbelt. Georgia was exposed for what they ALWYAYS are…. Frauds!!!!!
Fools Gold
December 1st, 2012
8:15 pm
TODD Grantham is BUST Folks… Just think Next year will STINK… Clemson will carve the Dawgs up…
Steve
December 1st, 2012
8:15 pm
This was UGA’s year to win it all. Next year you have a tougher schedule with losing a lot of players. See you in the SEC Championship in another five years.
John
December 1st, 2012
8:15 pm
It’s so great to see how classy the GA fans are on this board as usual.
billydawg
December 1st, 2012
8:15 pm
All the candy asses who put Murray down are cowards who have never played a damn down in their life.
Go blow your damn flute like you did in high school in the band.
Great game on both ends.
Angry Dave
December 1st, 2012
8:15 pm
Same Georgia, same result. Anything labeled Georgia will lose, I’ve come to accept that, unfortunately.
1980 was a long time ago
December 1st, 2012
8:15 pm
Warlaw, let me tell you then – you’re in denial………..murray’s and richt’s record in big games speak for themselves…..facts don’t lie….UGA is and always will be a 2nd tier program….1 national title with the in-state talent that georgia has???? unacceptable.
Tampa Gator
December 1st, 2012
8:15 pm
Richt looked washed empty in that interview…..obviously very disappointed his team did not win. He knows that was his NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP type team…..and it is. Georgia played a hell of a football game tonight. They…and Richt…..should have made all Dawg fans proud tonight….but they are all highly disappointed right now. I remember the feeling from 2009….when the better team did not win.
SpikeIt
December 1st, 2012
8:15 pm
Aaron Murray’s Legacy will be the guy who didn’t have the brains to spike it.
dean
December 1st, 2012
8:15 pm
The officials were fair in their suckiness. It evened out. UGA gave up a thousand yards rushing. THAT was the game.
JD
December 1st, 2012
8:15 pm
Hate to pull for ND as a Tech fan (and probably won’t), but glad I won’t have to listen to trolls on the blogs talking about playing for NC in January.
playmeortrademe
December 1st, 2012
8:15 pm
Hey Mark, you will write a book in the coming years about all the heartbreaking ways the pro and college teams in the Atlanta area have found ways to lose in big games and series, right? You have a wealth of source material since you’ve been here.
Stevo
December 1st, 2012
8:15 pm
Amateur coaching to not spike the ball. Inexcusable.
I am a drunk redneck UGA Fan
December 1st, 2012
8:15 pm
I already threw my remote at my tv, now it’s on to kicking the dog, beating the kids and wife. thats the way we do it at uga.
John Martin
December 1st, 2012
8:15 pm
Warlaw are you serious all Murray had to do was spike the ball………….. When has Murray ever won a big game ????????????
Gay Dawg
December 1st, 2012
8:15 pm
There goes my chance at parting in south beach with some hot Latin guys!
Rambo
December 1st, 2012
8:15 pm
Murray with mentrual crramps at the end
Black Reality(The Hardest of All)
December 1st, 2012
8:15 pm
CONGRATULATIONS HICKS, YOU WON, BUT KNOW YOU GOT LUCKY! ONE NOTE: YOU NOW KNOW THIS AIN’T WUSSY’S NEXT DOOR. SEE YOU NEXT YEAR. NOW BEAT THE BRAKES OFF NOTRE DAME!!!!!!!!!!!!
BigDawg
December 1st, 2012
8:15 pm
Terrible officiating, all this talk about a great game is just BS because the officials decided the outcome of the game by failing to call an even game. The Bama fans are happy because they won a game they were clearly outplayed in. Some Daw3gs fans are just happy because the Dawgs acquitted themselves very nicely in hanging tough in this game but at the end of the day The Dawgs were robbed by this officiating crew.
dawginduluth
December 1st, 2012
8:16 pm
First time two running backs for the same team have both run for more than 100 yards. What does that tell you?
only a matter of time...
December 1st, 2012
8:16 pm
great game. please stop blaming refs and missed calls. there was a big holding call that didn’t get called on Gurley’s TD. Gurley, Lacy and Yeldon need to play their 2 years in SEC and move on. All of them are Sunday ready.
NORRIS CHUCK
December 1st, 2012
8:16 pm
playmeortrademe,
Dont try and figure it out, just go with the flow. No matter how you imagine it, out sports teams find even more un-imaginal ways to lose BIG games.
I'm 1-10 against ranked opponents...and you think I will beat Bama?
December 1st, 2012
8:16 pm
how can yall blame Murray? He didn’t allow Lact and Yeldon to run wild…where is the CTG criticism???
ShowMeYurTD's
December 1st, 2012
8:16 pm
We’re back to 8-9 win seasons boys…. Mediocre richt will keep his job…ho hum team for next 2-3 yrs…..ford truck commercials for richt……recruits running for the hills
Fools Gold
December 1st, 2012
8:16 pm
IM Tired of Mark Richts BOYS HOME of the SOUTH!!!!
63-39-5
December 1st, 2012
8:16 pm
the ball was tipped
billydawg
December 1st, 2012
8:16 pm
Murray was not told by coaches to spike dumb asses
Rambo
December 1st, 2012
8:16 pm
St Richt spazzes out at the end
EastCobbRick
December 1st, 2012
8:17 pm
Steve – Go eff your self you pititful asswipe
Tampa Gator
December 1st, 2012
8:17 pm
Did you people listen to Mark Richt after the game……he had a great play called…..with solid thinking…..but the ball just got tipped…..unfortunate,…..and then caught……more unfortunate.
Wabe
December 1st, 2012
8:17 pm
hilarious…
only uga would lose a game like that.
Fools Gold
December 1st, 2012
8:17 pm
HIRE JIM DONNAN and BRIAN VAN GORDER…
Wet Willie...keep on smiling
December 1st, 2012
8:17 pm
Well that was a street fight no doubt. Congrats to the Dawgs for they way they played for 60 minutes!!!! I thought Murray played a great game other than the one throw right before half but AJ did the same.
Bama needs some pass rushers no doubt since we never even got Murray’s jersey dirty. Gurley is a man no doubt and he played with heart as well.
Rambo knows how it feels to be trucked by Eddie Lacey no doubt.
JMO but this game helps UGA’s program and Mark going forward.
Roll Tide and Go Dawgs.
I can say this....
December 1st, 2012
8:17 pm
I hope NOTRE DAME BEATS THE SHIZLE OUT OF ALABAMA. CHEATERS, CHEATERS, CHEATERS. THE OFFICIALS SHOULD BE PUT UNDER THE JAIL. WORST CALLS IVE EVER SEEN.
Eric C.
December 1st, 2012
8:18 pm
63-39-5… looked at replays, yes the ball was tipped but the intended pass was still going to Mitchell at the 2 yd line who was covered like a wet sheet. Many would have loved to seen a couple of more shots…they only get these chances every 30 years.
Rambo
December 1st, 2012
8:18 pm
WHY DOES UGA ALWAYS CHOKE???
Techster
December 1st, 2012
8:18 pm
Are you crying dog fans? Running to your mommies?
Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha…………………har har har har har har har har…..tee hee tee hee tee hee tee hee………………….I love it. Dogs (aka the convicts) lose a big game again. How many yards did Alabama run up on your so called vaunted defense? 550 yards? Ho ho ho ho ho ho ho ho………………….
Fools Gold
December 1st, 2012
8:18 pm
IM TIRED OF PRIMA DONNA PLAYERS LIKE RAMBO SHOOTING OFF HIS MOUTH….
1lovefalcons20
December 1st, 2012
8:18 pm
FIRE RICHT!!!ALL THOSE TALENTED BLACK AMERICANS ON THAT TEAM AT UGA AND HE GETS OUT COACH….THIS IS CLOSEST AS GEORGIA WILL GET…FIRE RICHT!!SPIKE THE BALL COUNTRY BUMPKIN ST RICHT!!YOU SHOULD BE FIRED!
Angry Dave
December 1st, 2012
8:18 pm
I hate being a fan.
billydawg
December 1st, 2012
8:18 pm
I will be pulling for the tide in Jan.
ShowMeYurTD's
December 1st, 2012
8:18 pm
Go Bama….Sec rules….CMR play challenged.
JD
December 1st, 2012
8:19 pm
We could not beat Alabama and the refs too. There is a reason that Georgia is the most penalized team in the SEC. It all goes back to the Florida game when Richt allowed the whole team run on the field. McGarrity needs to have a discussion with SEC Commissioner to get some relief from these refs.
Gay Dawg
December 1st, 2012
8:19 pm
I am still going to key west in January whether we are playing in Miami or not!
Rambo
December 1st, 2012
8:19 pm
OH YEAH, IT WAS THE OFFICALS YOU DUMB NAD LICKERS. CHECK OUT THE GAME STATS!
I'm 1-10 against ranked opponents...and you think I will beat Bama?
December 1st, 2012
8:19 pm
last year, it was Hilliard running over Rambo…too bad he’s leaving…it has become a SECG tradition…
Tampa Gator
December 1st, 2012
8:19 pm
If you want to see the diffrence between the SEC and the ACC…..go turn on the Georgia Tech vs. FSU game.
NORRIS CHUCK
December 1st, 2012
8:20 pm
I WILL BE PULLING FOR NOTRE DAME CAUSE I HATE ALABAMA AND NICK SABIN THAT MUCH!