Bama’s runners, Saban’s gaffe and a classic SEC title game
Georgia's Marshall Morgan's toe meets leather to start the SEC title game. (AJC photo by Ben Gray)
This post is an adjunct to the game column, which can be found here.
1. Alabama shattered the SEC Championship game record for yards rushing. The Tide ran for 350 yards, with two backs — game MVP Eddie Lacy and backup T.J. Yeldon — each going way over 100. (Lacy had 181, Yeldon 153.) And it was, almost inevitably, the fear of the Alabama ground game that spawned the Tide’s winning touchdown. AJ McCarron threw deep to Amari Cooper, who had run past Damain Swann, for the winning touchdown with 3:15 to play. But Alabama couldn’t run out the clock inside the final two minutes, and it nearly cost the Tide the game.
2. Even the best in the business sometimes whiffs. Alabama coach Nick Saban waited until five seconds remained in the first half to use his first timeout. After converting on third-and-2 at the Georgia 39 with 42 seconds left, the Crimson Tide allowed the clock to tick under 30 seconds before snapping the ball again. AJ McCarron’s 22-yard scramble to the Georgia 5 came too late for the Tide to do anything but kick a field goal, which put Bama ahead — but by three points, not seven.
3. This SEC Championship game matchup was one of the best in the event’s 21-year history. The 1994 pairing of No. 6 Florida versus No. 3 Alabama has always been considered a high point by conference insiders, given that it was the first time the game had been staged in the Georgia Dome and the game itself — Florida won 24-23 — was a stone-cold classic. The two No. 1 against No. 2 games between Alabama and Florida — the Gators won in 2008, the Tide in 2009 — are likewise high points, but this game featured No. 2 against No. 3 in a BCS play-in, and it also featured two storied programs that had never collided in such a setting. No wonder tickets were reselling for crazy money. Gary Stokan of the Chick-fil-A Bowl spoke to an Alabama booster club in Atlanta on Thursday and witnessed four tickets for Saturday’s game auctioned for $7,000. (Oh, and the game itself: The best SEC Championship ever.)
By Mark Bradley
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323 comments Add your comment
Buckeye
December 1st, 2012
8:58 pm
Gonna get some buckeye love tonite.
Tired of the same Dog
December 1st, 2012
8:59 pm
G-Dawg,
Are you serious? Anyone who knows football or played understands that it is about HAVING THE BEST CHANCE TO WIN. AND SPIKING THE BALL GIVES YOU THE BEST CHANCE. Maybe you like your mediocrity with a nice glass of chianti? give me a break. This is not the first time CMR has mismanaged the clock and/or time outs. It is just his most egregious and costly. I can’t even read this trash any more. The entire situation makes me puke. Ignorance only perpetuates ignorance. CMR owes his team an apology. Maybe they wouldn’t win, but at least he would have done his job and given them their best chance.
I’m gonna go puke some more and scream at my wife.
Larry
December 1st, 2012
8:59 pm
Enter your comments here
stendek
December 1st, 2012
8:59 pm
Moderate this Mark…FIRE MARK RICHT! FIRE MIKE BOBO! BENCH AARON MURRAY! This was a once in a lifetime opportunity. Not again pal. Not in THIS century!
GEAUX
December 1st, 2012
9:00 pm
this lost proves why UGA wasn’t picked to win this game
some teams are just not ready for prime-time. always the bridesmaid, never the bride!
Mobile Dawg
December 1st, 2012
9:00 pm
Dawgs were competitive, that’s all I asked, end of conversation. Let’s build on what we’ve started. Good night to be a Georgia Bulldog….
Satilla Dawg
December 1st, 2012
9:01 pm
Support our coach! ethere is no need to bash ford trucks in this venue!
Dawgiestyle
December 1st, 2012
9:01 pm
To BamaGirl…can I have your toothless sisters’ number???
we steal ruin this state
December 1st, 2012
9:01 pm
satilla, I have no doubt you’re a thoroughbred thuga.
frank
December 1st, 2012
9:01 pm
Is there any way UGA can be ahead of UF in BCS despite this loss?
Screw off Inbreds
December 1st, 2012
9:02 pm
Florida fans you are a bunch of idiots we physically dominated you, our QB just threw to many interceptions to keep it close. Inbreds your still lucky.
Dawganator
December 1st, 2012
9:02 pm
it is funny Bama fans live in Ga. they must love Georgia right? or because they couldnt find Bama women to screw with so …they had to find one in Ga. My dam bro in law happens to be Alabearma
and i wish he just packs his dam back cross the border and live there,,oh i forgot he said there is no
better job and women there that is why he has to marry my dam sister..that .dam skinny sorry white redneck ass, nevermind what i just said he sit right here beside me.
harleyman
December 1st, 2012
9:03 pm
Hey guys. Don’t let the Bama posers over at the trade school rattle you. Most real Bama fans are not on an Atlanta blog at this time. If they are, after this big win, they are really introverted losers.
Mark Bradley
December 1st, 2012
9:03 pm
Here’s the game column, if you’re inclined.
http://blogs.ajc.com/mark-bradley-blog/2012/12/01/five-yards-short-in-bitter-defeat-a-winning-uga-effort/
Satilla Dawg
December 1st, 2012
9:04 pm
what the heck is a buckeye? bring it down to the tilla and we’ll show you how its done. its called hard work and frumugation in the heartland. go back home yankeeboy!
we steal ruin this state
December 1st, 2012
9:05 pm
satilla, meet dawganator.
Go Gator....
December 1st, 2012
9:05 pm
if i hear another radio announcer, fan, commentator say uga deserves a BCS bowl bid over florida i will explode. UF 4-1 vs BCS top 12, UGA 1-2. Florida coming off a stretch of beating USC, LSU and vandy away turns the ball over SIX times and twice in the endzone and BARELY loses to UGA. UGA gets blown out by USC, has a bye, slips by UK and has to win ONE game all year to make it to atlanta and they barely do that. SIX turnovers and the game came down to the last play. With 6 turnovers you should win by 4 touchdowns… so no, UGA doesn’t deserve a BCS bowl game over florida..
harleyman
December 1st, 2012
9:06 pm
it hurts so baad
SnoopyJenkins
December 1st, 2012
9:06 pm
TO BACARRI RAMBO–PLEASE SHUT THE HELL UP!!! all that talk about superior athletesr
Bama ran for over 300 yards on the ground and YOU had the nerve to talk trash
I am embarassed for you…….great Game Gurley!! you played your heart out MURRAY….you will never win us a BIG GAME….with our seniors graduating….we will not be on this stage for at least another 4 -5 years…MAN THIS WAS OUR SHOT AT A NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP AND WE SUCKED ON DEFENSE!!!!
harleyman
December 1st, 2012
9:08 pm
it hurts it hurts so baad
Roy
December 1st, 2012
9:08 pm
Why in the hell are Tech fans on this board talking smack when they are getting owned by FSU in their own title game. They’re going to be a 6-7 “bowl” team. LMAO
Dawganator
December 1st, 2012
9:08 pm
We loss so we loss im always proud of my dawgs…..didnt have enough time to deal with in last 35 seconds..we lead the game all night until last 2 minutes….sooooo bama fans just be happy when you can hopefully just dont get choke on that bear ok…whattahelllll!!!
Ghost of Sinkwich
December 1st, 2012
9:09 pm
The Bulldogs played great! They just came up A little short against a great team.
It will always BE GREAT TO BE A BULLDOG ON A SATURDAY NIGHT!!!
Hey side judge what game were you watching?
harleyman
December 1st, 2012
9:09 pm
Some wimp stole my skrin name!
Five yards short: In bitter defeat, a winning Georgia effort | Mark Bradley
December 1st, 2012
9:10 pm
[...] Further reading: Bama’s backs, Saban’s gaffe and a classic SEC title game. [...]
Roy
December 1st, 2012
9:10 pm
i hate my boss. he went to tech.
Ghost of Sinkwich
December 1st, 2012
9:12 pm
Enter your comments here
Dawganator
December 1st, 2012
9:12 pm
Hey Roy my name is Roy too lol. my friend at work also names Roy, a guy at Hooter i talked to cuppo nites ago also names Roy Whattha hellll.
Ghost of Sinkwich
December 1st, 2012
9:13 pm
What game was that side judge watching!
I’s great to be a Bulldog on a Saturday Night!!!
VtDawg
December 1st, 2012
9:13 pm
CriticiStupid people who
Ze last 15 seconds clock management
The play was all set to fake a spike
Just got tipped that’s all
Stop second guessing Richt
He’s done one helluva job!!!!
Cock eye
December 1st, 2012
9:15 pm
Dawganator is postal man from North Metro…hahhaha
Old Bama Man
December 1st, 2012
9:18 pm
This strongly Bama partisan fan is proud of our win, but Georgia has nothing to be ashamed of – they played a great game, and certainly the game could have gone either way.
As for the Bulldog fans who gripe about partisan refs favoring The Tide – get real. These great SEC refs are human, and might make mistakes at times, but they would not be stupid enough to flagrantly favor one team over another, and thus purposely make a wrong call.
Now let’s all us SEC’ers pull together for ALL of our teams in the upcoming games. I’ll certainly be rooting for the Bulldogs!
NickisSatan
December 1st, 2012
9:20 pm
Coach Nick really must be Satan as the refs are completely scared to call a penalty on his inbred morons. McMoron is a half ass college quarterback and will be a backup in the NFL at best.
Clint Eastwood
December 1st, 2012
9:20 pm
To all the haters, including the Tech fans (including fake UGA fans such as Disgusted) who had to get a waiver to potentially be eligible for a bowl game (nerds), the Florida fans who lost to UGA about a month ago (losers) and to the Buckeye fan who, well let me ask, what bowl game are you going to this year (cheaters)??? You could only wish you were UGA. They players know who are players and Tech and Florida know who beat them and OSU has a tattoo on their foreheads that says “Cheater”. LOL.
Jeff Southernman
December 1st, 2012
9:22 pm
As a proud member of the pick-up truck alumni I am depresssssed that we did not spike the ball. I will withhold my quarter payment to my school… even though I never went there. GO DAWGS
NickisSatan
December 1st, 2012
9:22 pm
The refs were ordered by the SEC that Bama must win.
Fred Country Boy Jones
December 1st, 2012
9:23 pm
My DOGS stunk it up at the end. Cand believe my school lost that wai. Wish thoss durty Alabamama fans lost.
riverscott
December 1st, 2012
9:24 pm
best football game i’ve ever seen. that last tipped pass was just an awesome effort by the alabama d-lineman to elevate and get a hand on the ball. amazing game, went all the way down to the end. no tipped pass, uga wins by three… literally play of the game. the tip meant more than 350 yards rushing, blocked fg, interception in the end zone…. all meaningless in comparison.
Mickey
December 1st, 2012
9:27 pm
OK CMR you just missed a golden opportunity to play for the National Championship. Is it clear to you now that Mike Bobo and Aaron Murray have gone as far as they can? Look, your team will be in rebuilding mode next year, so let’s start a fresh – let’s help Mike Bobo get a head coaching job a “Lost in the Woods State University” and let’s encourage Aaron Murray to enter the NFL draft.
It would be insane to have another go at it with Bobo and Murray and expect a different result.
Larry
December 1st, 2012
9:30 pm
Mgdawg.. dry up
willie windgate
December 1st, 2012
9:37 pm
Great game-great effort-great coaching– heartbreaking loss to a great Bama team. All you negative idiots need to stick with your fantasy football,because you don’t realize how fortunate we are to have such a great coach and man as Mark Richt in representing UGA. #ICongrats to Bama and go whip the Irish, and bring our great conference another title.
Fantastic game...just short
December 1st, 2012
9:38 pm
I cringed as the clock ran from 15 seconds to 9 seconds while we lined up in the shotgun…same as previous play when we lost 6 seconds, I believe, lining up. Hurry up was great, but we needed time in that scenario. Otherwise, the Dogs gave Bama all they could handle. How fouled up is the system that Florida, a team that lost to Ga will end up in a better bowl.
Nice season. I’ll have to pull for the Tide…..Notre Dame will get rocked!
Roy 2
December 1st, 2012
9:39 pm
Roy u must be a Uganda grad. Working for a tech grad too funny
yellow hamer
December 1st, 2012
9:46 pm
We are better at every position than Alabama! S.E.C. Champions ROLLTIDE
Observer
December 1st, 2012
9:52 pm
Check out http://WWW.SPIKETHEBALL.COM
Todd Smith
December 1st, 2012
10:01 pm
you bama fans on here better remember this: The 1973 Alabama Crimson Tide football team, coached by Bear Bryant, completed the regular season 11–0–0, winning the Southeastern Conference championship. Alabama was then invited to play Notre Dame in the December 31, 1973 Sugar Bowl. Coach Bryant’s team lost to the Fighting Irish 24–23 to finish the season 11–1–0. The 1973 Alabama football team was selected national champions in the final regular season Coaches’ Poll, which was finalized prior to the post-season bowl games.[5] The Coaches’ Poll began selecting their champion after the bowl games starting in 1974. The post-bowl game AP poll ranked Alabama 4th, and selected Notre Dame as its national champion…dont count them chickens just yet…you lucked into the above championship..might not be so nice to you this time round…
jamesjackson4ever
December 1st, 2012
10:12 pm
Hey pups, quit crying about the no call on the late hit on Murray. UGA got away with a clear block in the back on a punt return and a hold on their last TD. Refs did a good job for the most part and the better team won.
MyBlood IsCrimson
December 1st, 2012
10:31 pm
I looked at the hit on Murray about a hundred times, looks like the right shoulder of Dial got him first..
Smuck tht Tide
December 2nd, 2012
12:10 am
Hate Cha, but beat Notre Dame too death………
Attila the Choir Director
December 2nd, 2012
12:18 am
Bama fan here. I’m trolling the comments and noticed two things. 1) UGA has a lot of classy fans. 2) UGA has a small minority of idiot fans. (It’s okay. Every SEC team has their share. We’ve got a ton of them. You can’t fix stupid.)
To everyone who thinks Murray should have spiked the ball, I stronlgy disagree. Georgia had us on our heels and if Mosley doesn’t tip that pass I think it’s a TD. Game over. UGA gets to go to Miami and squash the Leprechauns.
“Losing hurts worse that winning feels good.” -Lewis Grizzard
Hold your heads high, Dawgs. You’re a great team and this game was One For The Ages. Wow! What a game! Let’s do it again next year!