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
Silver Dawg
December 1st, 2012
8:25 pm
The entire Georgia team is to be commended. They never gave up and still had a chance to win at the end. Alabama six but they are a good team with plenty of players. Damn good game. Go Dawgs!
td
December 1st, 2012
8:25 pm
ShowMeYurTD’s
December 1st, 2012
8:24 pm
You are not a UGA fan so STFU.
Gay Dawg
December 1st, 2012
8:25 pm
I feel so empty inside. All I want is a national title.. And A hot phillipino
HOSSdawg
December 1st, 2012
8:26 pm
John Martin….
you are a soccer dad
Bob
December 1st, 2012
8:26 pm
Conley is not an SEC calibre receiver…..
Limp dog.....
December 1st, 2012
8:26 pm
Alabama had 300 yards rushing and won by 4 AND had to have our help to win. WOW!!!! You must be proud of your team. Now go wash your dirty elephant. SHE SMELLS!!
Jimmy
December 1st, 2012
8:26 pm
I’m proud of our team.
It was a great game that we lost.
No shame in that.
Richt does need to recruit the lines better though.
That is where we lost.
Gay Dawg
December 1st, 2012
8:27 pm
I feel so humiliated…I’m about to blow my load
John Martin
December 1st, 2012
8:27 pm
Are you serious td…. spiking gives you at least 2 to 3 more plays
LakeDawg
December 1st, 2012
8:27 pm
I have been a CMR critic, but he did what I felt he needed to do…. win the east and play in the SEC CG with a chance to win. I think he has turned a corner and he has my full support.
Jimmy
December 1st, 2012
8:27 pm
The ACC game is putting me to sleep
go back to tampa
December 1st, 2012
8:27 pm
I have watch the play 8 times, there was no one behind Conley. He was the target.
Mr. Sensitivity
December 1st, 2012
8:27 pm
Hurts, doesn’t it?
BUWAHAHAHAHA!
sonofadawg
December 1st, 2012
8:27 pm
Shut up Tampa Gator, why are you even here
ShowMeYurTD's
December 1st, 2012
8:28 pm
Murray a deer in the headlights all game………spike the friggin’ ball
Turd Ferguson
December 1st, 2012
8:28 pm
did Mark Bradley predict Ga would win, again?
Disgusted Dawg
December 1st, 2012
8:29 pm
SPIKE IT! SPIKE IT! SPIKE IT! SPIKE IT! SPIKE IT! SPIKE IT! SPIKE IT! SPIKE IT! SPIKE IT! SPIKE IT! SPIKE IT! SPIKE IT! SPIKE IT! SPIKE IT! SPIKE IT! SPIKE IT! SPIKE IT! SPIKE IT! SPIKE IT! SPIKE IT! SPIKE IT! SPIKE IT! SPIKE IT! SPIKE IT! SPIKE IT! SPIKE IT! SPIKE IT! SPIKE IT! SPIKE IT! SPIKE IT! SPIKE IT! SPIKE IT! SPIKE IT! SPIKE IT! SPIKE IT! SPIKE IT! SPIKE IT! SPIKE IT! SPIKE IT! SPIKE IT! SPIKE IT! SPIKE IT!
Steve "The King" Spurrier
December 1st, 2012
8:29 pm
DAWGS!!…Fall on your knees and worship your subjuGATOR.
Don’t cry in your Budweisers… I command that you revel in your latest State Championship and forget the past few miserable hours. I am surprised you came so close to a victory over The Tide. Someone must have put Visine in their collards for you to get that darn close.
Next year will be difficult for you as both Coach Mark and your quarterback transition to the NFL. It was was your best season in decades. I command that you dry up those alligator tears and rejoice in a successful year!
Drive a few blocks down to North Avenue and join the party tonight.
Bama man
December 1st, 2012
8:29 pm
Eat turds dawgs!!!
DawgnSeattle
December 1st, 2012
8:29 pm
Again, a Great Game! Dawgs played great! Unfortunately, it appears they don’t use the “spike” during the 2 minute drill in practice…
Footballrules: That’s below the belt, but I laughed…alot!
Bob
December 1st, 2012
8:30 pm
I think Murray wanted to spike, but our brain trust indicated to go ahead with the play. The refs won the game for Bama under strict orders from Mike Sleeze. It’s all about the money.
Anj
December 1st, 2012
8:30 pm
Just spike it….. Horrible coaching.
sonofadawg
December 1st, 2012
8:30 pm
LOL @ LakeDawg, not spiking the ball was the dumbest non-call of all time but you support Richt? You’re a loser if you support that type of coaching.
DawgFan
December 1st, 2012
8:30 pm
Great game by both teams. Both teams well coached. Bama OLine was difference and we just ran out of time at the end. Murray was great. Sure would have liked to had Bennett or Brown. Think it would have been different.
Lot of good players back next year. Reload the D and make another run
Turd Ferguson
December 1st, 2012
8:30 pm
Tampa Gator, you are spot on. you are welcome here any time you want
.
HOSSdawg
December 1st, 2012
8:30 pm
Bama man…u got a terd stuck up your fat ass.
You were fortunate.
John Martin
December 1st, 2012
8:30 pm
HOSSdawg no I am a UGA graduate that would like to see a coaching staff with more talent than SC or ALA win some of these games……………..
td
December 1st, 2012
8:31 pm
John Martin
December 1st, 2012
8:27 pm
Are you serious td…. spiking gives you at least 2 to 3 more plays
Incomplete pass and you still have another play. No difference. It was a great play by the Alabama LB to tip the ball. You also can not blame Conley for catching it because it is instinct.
00mpa L00mpa dawg
December 1st, 2012
8:31 pm
hope Murray leaves…… richt needs to recruit some studs on both sides of the ball. Bama ran down our throats….pathetic!
Tech1990
December 1st, 2012
8:31 pm
Hehehehehehe. REDNECK LOSERS
Disgusted Dawg
December 1st, 2012
8:31 pm
My 7-year-old son was screaming:
SPIKE IT! SPIKE IT! SPIKE IT! SPIKE IT! SPIKE IT! SPIKE IT! SPIKE IT! SPIKE IT! SPIKE IT! SPIKE IT! SPIKE IT! SPIKE IT! SPIKE IT! SPIKE IT! SPIKE IT! SPIKE IT! SPIKE IT! SPIKE IT! SPIKE IT! SPIKE IT! SPIKE IT! SPIKE IT! SPIKE IT! SPIKE IT! SPIKE IT! SPIKE IT! SPIKE IT! SPIKE IT! SPIKE IT! SPIKE IT! SPIKE IT! SPIKE IT! SPIKE IT! SPIKE IT! SPIKE IT! SPIKE IT! SPIKE IT! SPIKE IT! SPIKE IT! SPIKE IT! SPIKE IT! SPIKE IT!
HOSSdawg
December 1st, 2012
8:32 pm
John martin
stick with soccer…=more your game
00mpa L00mpa dawg
December 1st, 2012
8:32 pm
Tired of losing to South Carolina and struggling with the Kentucky’s of the football world. Moral victories dont cut it…..
Turd Ferguson
December 1st, 2012
8:33 pm
Bob, you and the loyal Ga fans need to stop blaming the refs man. you lost to a better team and coach so accept it . its not the end of your life. or is it?
ShowMeYurTD's
December 1st, 2012
8:33 pm
We’re keeping CMR, so we should join the PAC-10
Vince's Dooley
December 1st, 2012
8:33 pm
Yeah, the refs beat you. Guess the refs gave up 350 yards rushing and 512 overall. Crybabies…..
Limp dog.....
December 1st, 2012
8:33 pm
No team will take Murray. Were stuck with him one more year.
ShowMeYurTD's
December 1st, 2012
8:33 pm
We’re keeping CMR, so we should join the PAC-10
RollGATide
December 1st, 2012
8:33 pm
UGA has the worst fans ever. Good thing their football team isn’t much better. ROOOOOOLLLLLLLLLLL TIIIIIDDDDDDEEEEEEE!!!!!
Disgusted Dawg
December 1st, 2012
8:33 pm
My wife was screaming:
SPIKE IT! SPIKE IT! SPIKE IT! SPIKE IT! SPIKE IT! SPIKE IT! SPIKE IT! SPIKE IT! SPIKE IT! SPIKE IT! SPIKE IT! SPIKE IT! SPIKE IT! SPIKE IT! SPIKE IT! SPIKE IT! SPIKE IT! SPIKE IT! SPIKE IT! SPIKE IT! SPIKE IT! SPIKE IT! SPIKE IT! SPIKE IT! SPIKE IT! SPIKE IT! SPIKE IT! SPIKE IT! SPIKE IT! SPIKE IT! SPIKE IT! SPIKE IT! SPIKE IT! SPIKE IT! SPIKE IT! SPIKE IT! SPIKE IT! SPIKE IT! SPIKE IT! SPIKE IT! SPIKE IT! SPIKE IT!
buford
December 1st, 2012
8:33 pm
Buckeye, when I get home I’m gonna smack your mama right in the mouth
LakeDawg
December 1st, 2012
8:33 pm
Two options at the end. 1) Spike the ball and get two chances at the EZ against a set defense or 2) Hurry up and get a play against a defense scrambling to get set up. If the ball doesn’t get tipped its either a TD or an incomplete. If it was incomplete, then UGA would still get their second shot at the EZ. I thought it was good coaching to not spike the ball.
NCDawg
December 1st, 2012
8:33 pm
Bob, John Martin, I can say this… the coaching staff did not lose the game you freaking idiots… it was a freaking fluke play… you can say even an 8 year old knows… UGA was trying to catch them flat footed. Hind sight if always 20/20. It was a well coached, well played game and it sucked that anyone had to lose. It sux that the Dawgs lost but it wasn’t anyone FAULT. It just is. Murray DID NOT lose the game and it was his ability that kept them in the game. He made some giant, clutch throws in that drive.
That’s it… I put in my 2 cents and now I’m out because the whiners will continue to point fingers in the wrong direction. It was an awesome game.
Anj
December 1st, 2012
8:34 pm
My wife was screaming….spike it!!!!!!! Everyone was… Except bobo
flatsdawg1
December 1st, 2012
8:34 pm
Thanks for a great season Dawgs with one more to go, hopefully playing a decent opponent which we will pummel into submission.The Dawgs ARE Back, and nobody with even a smidgen of brainpower can say otherwise. Alabama was basically a few seconds better today, We will be back. Great game today.
HOSSdawg
December 1st, 2012
8:34 pm
Heartbreaker.
Just the way it is.
Accept it.
Win the bowl game.
btw
December 1st, 2012
8:34 pm
Congrats to Alabama. They won game 13 vs UGA, even though Murray gave it away at the end without a fight.
btw: Ohio State fans are making claims without having to play Nebraska tonight.
ND is going straight to the NC game without playing game 13 tonight. Even if they had played there ACC schedule, they would not have played Fla State tonight.
HOSSdawg
December 1st, 2012
8:35 pm
Flats…good smart post.
UGAFAN
December 1st, 2012
8:35 pm
Very exciting game!! Uga has nothing to be ashamed of….well played game by both teams, could have gone either way.
Disgusted Dawg
December 1st, 2012
8:36 pm
Even my DOG was screaming:
SPIKE IT! SPIKE IT! SPIKE IT! SPIKE IT! SPIKE IT! SPIKE IT! SPIKE IT! SPIKE IT! SPIKE IT! SPIKE IT! SPIKE IT! SPIKE IT! SPIKE IT! SPIKE IT! SPIKE IT! SPIKE IT! SPIKE IT! SPIKE IT! SPIKE IT! SPIKE IT! SPIKE IT! SPIKE IT! SPIKE IT! SPIKE IT! SPIKE IT! SPIKE IT! SPIKE IT! SPIKE IT! SPIKE IT! SPIKE IT! SPIKE IT! SPIKE IT! SPIKE IT! SPIKE IT! SPIKE IT! SPIKE IT! SPIKE IT! SPIKE IT! SPIKE IT! SPIKE IT! SPIKE IT! SPIKE IT!