Aaron Murray stays, which puts Georgia back in the hunt
"Coach, maybe we'll get us one of those nice crystal trophies next year." (AJC photo by Brant Sanderlin)
Fort Lauderdale -- The cream of football journalism had gathered for a media party at our hotel overlooking the ocean — the Atlantic, I believe it is — when esteemed former colleague Mark Schlabach, lately of ESPN, rushed over and said, “Aaron Murray’s staying.” And we managed to tear ourselves away from our paella to ponder where this puts the Georgia Bulldogs headed in the 2013 season. (Never mind that the 2012 campaign has one game to go.)
Pretty darn high, we decided. (I know exactly where Mr. Schlabach has the Bulldogs in his not-yet-published Top 25 for 2013, but I’ll let him do those honors.) I’d say Georgia has again become the favorite to win the SEC East, and I’d say — this is just me — this again puts the Bulldogs at/near the top five.
Figure Alabama will be preseason No. 1. Figure Notre Dame will be up there, too, and Texas A&M. (I sat in on a press conference for award winners later this afternoon, and someone asked the Heisman holder Johnny Manziel if he thought the Aggies would be ranked No. 1 in August. He smiled and said, “I feel like we’ve got a lot of tools coming back.”) And Oregon, now assuming Chip Kelly stays, will be good again, and Stanford and Ohio State and Louisville and Clemson, too. Plus the three best teams in the SEC East, which makes a Top 11, does it not?
But I’d told Noah Coslov of CineSport earlier Sunday that I thought the East would be a three-way tussle involving Georgia, South Carolina and Florida, and that the Gamecocks would hold the edge if Murray left for the NFL. But apparently he’s staying, and he’s a very good college quarterback, and you’d have to think Georgia is again the East’s top dog, pun somewhat intended.
I know, I know. The Bulldogs have to replace nearly their entire defense, and that won’t be easy. But all those banner recruiting classes have created depth, and the offense should be among the very best in the land. The schedule is tough early — Georgia opens at Clemson and must play South Carolina and LSU in September — but if the Bulldogs are going to stay relevant they’re going to have to prove they can handle a more taxing regimen.
I’m not going to go so far as to say Georgia punched its ticket to the 2014 BCS title game one night before the 2013 edition is played. (Crazy as I am, I’m not that crazy.) Still, Murray’s announcement should put the Bulldogs back in the ol’ hunt. They were five yards and five points short of being here. Maybe they’ll find those five yards and five points next time.
(For the record, this marks the second time I’ve ducked away from a BCS media party to react to breaking news. The first was in January 2007, and we were in Scottsdale, Ariz., when word circulated that the Falcons had hired Bobby Petrino. I rushed back to the room and proclaimed it a splendid move. I slightly missed that one.)
By Mark Bradley
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222 comments Add your comment
dlh82
January 6th, 2013
10:04 pm
Enter your comments here
Big K.
January 6th, 2013
10:18 pm
WalterFootball.com…Aaron Murray is the 9th rated QB Prospect according to this website, if he declared for the Draft….
NO WONDER HE RETURNED!!!!!!
dlh82
January 6th, 2013
10:25 pm
One more year and Murray will have the most impressive stats in SEC history and a doctorate in academics. well done. now,about that championship GO DAWGS
Drago
January 6th, 2013
10:30 pm
Now, how many linemen witl T a&m graduate this year? Methinks Johnny Football will see how the other half lives in 2013
A&M 29 -- Bama 24
January 6th, 2013
10:38 pm
Enter your comments here
evil empire
January 6th, 2013
10:40 pm
BigK…him coming back won’t help any…real schedule next year will expose him…
tom
January 6th, 2013
10:51 pm
hunt what, the Easter eggs? The guy is as soft as his coach.
dlh82
January 6th, 2013
10:51 pm
Hey GT Insider. Ga had 4 tds on 8 plays. You best be quiet Mr pitch out and pray
Team GA
January 6th, 2013
10:55 pm
Probably 8-4 next year with that schedule. Murray will still be a 3rd round pick.
speedy
January 6th, 2013
10:56 pm
feel sorry for mason should transfer
azdawg
January 6th, 2013
10:58 pm
AM coming back is a boon for the offense. They’ll be pretty good barring injuries, etc. Don’t see the enthusiasm for the D just yet. Too many nubies. may be better if they went w/4-3 w/the players returning. Not excited about the new OL hire. He took a demotion from DC to DL coach. MSU wasn’t that good this year w/him as the DC. He may haVE been on his way out. Should have gone for someone w/better credentials and better team. Also, can he recruit??
Louie
January 6th, 2013
11:04 pm
On the surface, this sounds good. Of course, Alabama, LSU, Texas A&M, Florida, and South Carolina all have their quarterbacks coming back, too. UGA needs to worry about who is going to fill the shoes left by JJ!!
Louie
January 6th, 2013
11:15 pm
I just wrote a relevant and interesting follow-up post but it disappeared into the abyss when I hit “enter”. The world will now be deprived of my keen insights into whatever it was I wrote about. Gotta hit the rack. Work tomorrow!
Louie
January 6th, 2013
11:15 pm
I just wrote a relevant and interesting follow-up post but it disappeared into the abyss when I hit “enter”. The world will now be deprived of my keen insights into whatever it was I wrote about. Gotta hit the rack. Work tomorrow!
Louie
January 6th, 2013
11:15 pm
I just wrote a relevant and interesting follow-up post but it disappeared into the abyss when I hit “enter”. The world will now be deprived of my keen insights into whatever it was I wrote about. Gotta hit the rack. Work tomorrow!
Louie
January 6th, 2013
11:15 pm
I just wrote a relevant and interesting follow-up post but it disappeared into the abyss when I hit “enter”. The world will now be deprived of my keen insights into whatever it was I wrote about. Gotta hit the rack. Work tomorrow!
Louie
January 6th, 2013
11:15 pm
I just wrote a relevant and interesting follow-up post but it disappeared into the abyss when I hit “enter”. The world will now be deprived of my keen insights into whatever it was I wrote about. Gotta hit the rack. Work tomorrow!
Louie
January 6th, 2013
11:15 pm
I just wrote a relevant and interesting follow-up post but it disappeared into the abyss when I hit “enter”. The world will now be deprived of my keen insights into whatever it was I wrote about. Gotta hit the rack. Work tomorrow!
Louie
January 6th, 2013
11:15 pm
I just wrote a relevant and interesting follow-up post but it disappeared into the abyss when I hit “enter”. The world will now be deprived of my keen insights into whatever it was I wrote about. Gotta hit the rack. Work tomorrow!
Louie
January 6th, 2013
11:15 pm
I just wrote a relevant and interesting follow-up post but it disappeared into the abyss when I hit “enter”. The world will now be deprived of my keen insights into whatever it was I wrote about. Gotta hit the rack. Work tomorrow!
Say What?
January 6th, 2013
11:16 pm
2 Thoughts:
Hutson Mason just ransacked his own room. Better yet..here is Huston receiving the news via telegram:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TQXuazYI_YU
2nd…Over/Under UGA/Clemson just went to 81
GT Insider
January 6th, 2013
11:17 pm
dlh82
January 6th, 2013
10:51 pm
Hey GT Insider. Ga had 4 tds on 8 plays. You best be quiet Mr pitch out and pray
I don’t recall making this a UGA/GT thing. I recall making this a UGA isn’t going to win enough games to win the East much less be in any top 10 without a defense.
Derp.
Dawg 4 Life
January 6th, 2013
11:19 pm
It is amazing to me how some of you so called experts are so clueless about the game of football and simply can’t count. The Dawgs are NOT losing 9 or 10 starters off of the defense. They are losing 7 starters and a few other seniors on our two deep depth chart. Garrison Smith at DE, Amarlo Herrara at ILB, Jordan Jenkins at OLB, and Damian Swann at CB are the FOUR returning starters on the defense. Yes, they will be younger on defense next year. But, they will also be hungry to prove themselves and loaded with talent…Plus, truth be known, there will be much more harmony on the defense next year because of RG leaving. There has been strife and tension between him and Grantham since Coach TG arrived in Athens.
Allen
January 6th, 2013
11:19 pm
Great news. Go Dawgs!
hind tit
January 6th, 2013
11:24 pm
I think what he did was smart. By waiting more QB come out next year and maybe have a chance to go to a better team next year.
GT Insider
January 6th, 2013
11:26 pm
LOL Dawg4life….right. That’s what every single fan of a school says when a coach spurns them for another school. There hasn’t been any strife. It’s a simple fact of a coach going back to his alma mater. Nothing more, nothing less.
Plus those four returners? Garrison is just serviceable. Jenkins was not a starter and is young. Herrerra is also just serviceable and is also slow. None of them are “stars” which is why they were playing behind the stars that are leaving now.
You don’t lose as many stars like Jarvis Jones and Ogletree and Commings and Rambo and Abry Jones as UGA just did or any football team and expect to reload with redshirt Freshmen and average players.
Kingdaddy
January 6th, 2013
11:26 pm
This is just what the crybabies didn’t want to hear, LOL. Do you think our Defense won most of those 12 games last year? Bwaaaaaaaahaaaaaahaaaaa. Welcome back AM…
Delbert D.
January 6th, 2013
11:35 pm
Murray’s decision is very good news for Georgia. As far as the coming season, it of course depends greatly on the development of the defense. This year was expected to be much better than last for the D, but it didn’t pan out that way. Some of this and some of that are returning as far as positions go, but clearly some of the bench players have to step up. Drew, for one came in as a real talent.
Dawg 4 Life
January 6th, 2013
11:37 pm
You sir, know not of what you speak. Have you ever even played tackle football, scooter?…. Welcome back Aaron! Go Dawgs!
heeldawg
January 6th, 2013
11:39 pm
Here’s what Aaron Murray’s return will mean:
1. Barring injury, Murray will finish next season as the SEC’s all-time leader in passing yards and TDs.
2. Mark Richt, when he returns an experienced signal-caller at QB, averages exactly 11 wins a season.
3. The Georgia offense, which set a single-season record this year, returns almost everybody from a team that averaged 38 ppg
4. The defense does return four starters (five if Geathers comes back), along with several others with significant playing time. The cupboard is not bare.
The early-season schedule is tough, to be certain. But the Gators lose their two best offensive weapons (from a mediocre offense) and as much on defense as Georgia, and the Gamecocks have already lost Lattimore and will lose a bunch of defenders as well. LSU and A&M also lost several key players–and A&M did not have much of a defense to begin with. No one comes away unscathed. Georgia will be competitive. BCS title? Maybe not. But here’s betting they get through the gauntlet of September with only one loss. Here’s betting they drop the Gators for the third year in a row. After that, who knows? No one picked A&M to be 11-2 this year, you know.
Kingdaddy
January 6th, 2013
11:46 pm
OK, so the Techies and chickens hate it. That’s good enough for me. It was a good McEnroe…
Gooddawg
January 6th, 2013
11:49 pm
HELL YEAH!!!!!!!
Kingdaddy
January 6th, 2013
11:50 pm
Move
what’s wrong with spellcheck???
meg-Lassiter area
January 6th, 2013
11:53 pm
I am glad for Murray, but feel upset for H. Mason. I know it happens all the time, but that kid turned down some good offers. My kids went to school with him. It’s hard to watch. Lassiter has produced some top players – and this kid was right up there.
Kingdaddy
January 6th, 2013
11:53 pm
I’m on my mobile. I typed move, so it typed McEnroe, LOL …
meg-Lassiter area
January 7th, 2013
12:03 am
Also, I remember the day clearly when Mason chose UGA. He was so proud and said he wanted to play just for UGA. (I’m a typical mom here, if you couldn’t tell by now, but I don’t like that rule where they can stay an extra yr.).
I know… spoken like a true Mother….
Fair n Balanced
January 7th, 2013
12:04 am
I don’t know how good we will be next year but I’m glad AM is staying. We lost to Bama because we couldn’t stop the run. Our problem wasn’t the O but the D. Leave AM alone. I’m sure Grantham will fix the D. Go Dogs!
UGA_85
January 7th, 2013
12:11 am
Meg, Hutson will get his shot and be very prepared when he does.
Mike S.
January 7th, 2013
12:12 am
I agree, Mark. I think we could be seeing a better UGA team this coming year than this past year. i know a lot is being lost on defense, but that defense didnt play all year the way it should. In fact, it really didnt play most of the year well at all, not even close to as good as 2011. They had issues from the start with Buffalo, giving up deep balls to Missouri, getting shredded by UT, not very impressive vs SC and Kentucky, then giving up massive rushing stats to Bama and Nebraska. They often played like a defense rebuilding, so I cant honestly see them being worse next year.
UGA_85
January 7th, 2013
12:15 am
Team needs to stay out of trouble with no suspensions. That is the message the team needs to hear. Stay focused on the goals and come out of the gate swinging.
Mike S.
January 7th, 2013
12:16 am
Also, other teams will lose pieces too. Lattimore is going pro, LSU has lost several key Juniors on defense, Bama should be losing a lot on the offensive line at least, A&M might be too if their tackles go + I think Swope graduates. Thats just the SEC competition. The suspensions and injuries this year could serve UGA well next year as a lot of backups got playing time they otherwise would not have.
Robards
January 7th, 2013
12:18 am
Georgia will be done before late September, after losing to two teams from the Palmetto State.
Robards
January 7th, 2013
12:21 am
I really thought Murray would leave since this is a such a poor draft for QBs–figured he would move up from where currently projected.
thwuga
January 7th, 2013
12:25 am
Of course he’s staying, where else is he going. No future in the NFL. No other options.
Glad to see it as it just keeps Mason on the sideline for another year so “can’t win the big one” Murray can continue to hold the dawgs down. Good decision AM!
thwuga
January 7th, 2013
12:26 am
Good point Robards – after his 0-2 Palmetto experience he’ll wonder what the heck he’s still doing in Athens. And even more so once he has that season ending injury against Clowney.
the truth
January 7th, 2013
12:46 am
This is good news for UGA but probably a mistake by Murray. He would be the #1 QB in a weak QB year. Matt Barkley stayed for his senior year and it cost him with an injury and a few bad performances.
Columbus
January 7th, 2013
1:14 am
Petrino? Im sure the Raiders would hire him right now…
Opening up in Death Valley….is this still some of Damon Evans scheduling?! year after year opening against a team that can beat you….ESPECIALLY WHEN ITS FIRST GAME! Crazy scheduling for several straight years now. Where is the warmups like most ALL other SEC schools schedule to get ready to play the importat games?!!! ANYBODY CAN BEAT ANYBODY FIRST GAME OR 2 OF THE SEASON! SHEESH! I HOPE MCGARRTIY GOT BETTER BRAINS THAN DAMON EVANS!!! BEAT OKLA ST, LOST TO BOISE, ESCAPED MIZZOU, NOW CLEMSON TO OPEN….ITS 50/50. ANYBODY CAN WIN. UGA OPENS AGAINST CLEMSON AND WHAT MAKES IT WORST IS TH VERY NEXT WEEK.ITS SOUTH CAROLINA…..TRYING TO GET GUYS HURT TOO HAVING TO COME OUT WITH AN ALL OUT GAME WHERE BACKUPS CANT TAKE A LOAD OFF?! GOOD THING THE WHOLE OFFENSE IS BACK AND WE HAVE A CHANCE AGAINST ON THE THE BEST TEAMS IN THE NATION IN 2013 RIGHT OFF THE BAT…THEN ANOTHER 7 DAYS LATER!
Columbus
January 7th, 2013
1:34 am
Manziel might lost both starting tackles to the NFL draft. A DE already left early and both tackles are projected 1st rounders NOW if they leave early…One is considered possiby the best player in the draft period…their starting center is lost to graduation. Since Moore is leaving early, a&m loses their 4 leading tacklers. UGA has Jenkins taking over for Jones at least and the OL is set for the first time in 5 years! Should be a good game against A&M if UGA meets them in the SEC Championship Game….I think UGA, UF, SC will battle it out just like this year while Bama & A&M and maybe LSU battle it out in the West. Not sure what LSU is gonna have next year overall. I know Mettenberger is not scaring me! Need to look at em though since UGA plays them early in Athens. 1st 3 of 4 games….Clemson, SC, LSU…last to in Athens at least
Stinger 2
January 7th, 2013
3:35 am
As a GT fan, it does not matter who plays QB for UGA. Sadly, the results of the game on the Saturday after Thanksgiving won`t change if its AM or Mason.
Also, Mark I liked the compliment you gave yourself about being such a Trooper to leave a party and report this news. I hope you get a raise. LOL
dean
January 7th, 2013
4:26 am
Outstanding news @ 0427 in the morning. AND, 100th!