
Aaron Murray poses with his family, including his father Dennis (L) following graduation last fall. (Murray family photo)
ATHENS – When Aaron Murray tweeted Sunday, “probably the worst 12 hours of my life,” he wasn’t just talking about Saturday night’s 35-7 loss to South Carolina.
Murray found out that his father, Denny Murray, had been diagnosed with thyroid cancer. “Papa Murray,” as Aaron referred to him in another tweet, underwent surgery today at the Moffit Cancer Center in Tampa. The family reports that it went well and he is recovering.
Apparently Denny Murray had been diagnosed “a few weeks ago,” but the parents told Aaron only on Sunday. Aaron Murray and his brother drove to Tampa yesterday.
The distressing news followed a depressing Saturday night for Murray and his roommate, linebacker Christian Robinson. As revealed in a tweet from Robinson, they returned from the team’s trip to Columbia to find their rented home in Athens egged and rolled with toilet paper. “Seems that people turn on you when you’re not perfect. Thought we were in this together,” Robinson wrote.
Word is good Samaritans later cleaned up the mess.
So there’s a lot more on Murray’s mind today than the Bulldogs’ poor showing in Columbia. Please keep that in mind going forward.
MORE ON GEORGIA FOOTBALL
351 comments Add your comment
Insensitive Guy
October 8th, 2012
4:37 pm
I really don’t understand what all the fuss is about.
Thyroid cancer is treatable, and it has one of the highest survival rates (it’s less serious) of any type of cancer. Aaron’s dad will be fine.
Now let’s talk about that tumor growing up there in the coach’s box named Mike Bobo.
chicago dawg
October 8th, 2012
4:38 pm
thoughts and prayers to the murray family.
Insensitive Guy
October 8th, 2012
4:40 pm
Did anyone ever find out what happened to CMR Saturday?
I heard paramedics checked him at halftime and they never could find a pulse?
Joey
October 8th, 2012
4:40 pm
Praying for your family Aaron Murray.
UGA Alumni
October 8th, 2012
4:41 pm
Praying for Aaron’s dad. I hope that the treatment is successful, wishing the best for his family. Aaron Murray is very upstanding young man. Bets of Luck!
jddawg
October 8th, 2012
4:45 pm
Coach Richt stated that some things in life are more important than wins and losses. That is so true to us fans and that may help get over the beat down. HOWEVER, Coach Richt is not getting paid for all of life’s other important events. He is getting paid to win football games and, unless it powder puff football, he isn’t winning. I love him to death and want to win under Richt; however, it is depressing to see us be unprepared for the one game we have needed to be prepared for for almost a year. How do you not be prepared for this game? Did Vanderbilt or Tennessee still our attention? When does the madness end? What else has to happen? Has anyone seen my other sock?
Insensitive Guy
October 8th, 2012
4:47 pm
jddawg speaks the truth. Despite all my blathering I would rather win with CMR than anyone else.
Bazooka Joe
October 8th, 2012
4:51 pm
DawgJohn – they cant a t like they have won something before because they havent….ever…..and will never…. so beating us 3 in a row is a HUGE deal to them. While it stinks for us, they are like #5 (tops) on our rivalry list so we dont pay much attention to them….
Bazooka Joe
October 8th, 2012
4:52 pm
“act” not “a t” (kind of ruins my post when I cant type to words correctly !)
Reality Train
October 8th, 2012
4:52 pm
Many of the posts here — and the conduct toward Murray and his roommate after the game — show yet again that some UGA fans are the worst in the world. Had a friend go to Auburn this weekend and asked him about the mood in the stands. He said some people booed but not for long — the booers were quieted down by the other fans .. as he said “We don’t boo our team” UGA fans will turn on you on a dime and boo like hell .. Love you when you’re up .. hate you when you’re down ..
Georgia-Kentucky game time set | UGA sports blog
October 8th, 2012
4:58 pm
[...] Aaron Murray’s focus turns to his ill father [...]
A.B.
October 8th, 2012
4:59 pm
Hey jddawg..I dont mind winnig with CMR..Its just after seing his emotions and his coaching ability against top 25 teams since his arrival that WE ALL KNOW IT AINT GOING TO HAPPEN. Sure, wins against Buffalo, Fl Atl, Ga Southern,Vandy, shitty TN teams will happen on a yearly schedule, BUTT<CMR HAS NOT BEAT ANYBODY AT ALL IN 11 YEARS..MAYBE 2-4 KINDA BIG WINS, BUT NOTHING ELSE..AND ALWAYS GETTING OUTCOACHED ! Did you see how much joy SPURRIER got when UGA jumped offsides on 4 and 1 on the SC 28 yd line to give sca first down. SPURRIER WAS JUMPING AROUD LIKE SC HAD JUST SCORED A TD..Spurrier did that by COACHING..CMR WOULD OF JUST PUNTED AND NOT USED ALL THE OPTIONS AVAILABLE. CAUSE HE IS NOT A VERY GOOD COACH, PLAIN AND SIMPLE..CMR HAS GOTS TO GO..ALONG WITH THE STAFF..CLEAN HOUSE MCGARRITY,PLEASE! SELAH
mambo
October 8th, 2012
4:59 pm
Papa Murray is in my prayers as are the egg throwing, paper rolling fools who think college football is more important than their own dignity.
Angela
October 8th, 2012
5:00 pm
Aaron Murray has been an outstanding addition to the DAWGS and I am proud to have him representing our team. The Dawgs also lost Bennett in the same week for the season so it was a tough week for Georgia all around. However, I have all the the faith in the world that Aaron and his family will be blessed with overwhelming love and grace in this difficult time and that God’s hand will be on him and his family guiding them every step of the way. Aaron, your something special and anyone with eyes can see you were raised well and give your all in everything you do. Wipe the SC dust off your shoulders and hold your head high. Your a phenomenal leader and will continue on with diginity and I can’t wait to see what you do next. God bless you, God bless your family and I will be praying hard that God’s glory will shine through you in the weeks to come. GO DAWGS!!
TrishaDishawareagle
October 8th, 2012
5:00 pm
Egged the poor kids house huh? Well , typical UGA behavior would have been to shoot blindly into the windows with a gun with no serial numbers then speed off drunkenly…So its an improvement!
JvilleDawg
October 8th, 2012
5:01 pm
@REPAINT AND THIN NO MORE
October 8th, 2012
4:13 pm
You’ve got to be a special kind of retarded to not beleive in anything. So you just think people, the Universe and everything in it just “appeared”. And spare me the “Big Bang” crap, cause where did that come from? You don’t believe in God, then explain the Duck-billed Platapus.
That being said, as a Christian, do I think there is a time and place for one’s faith, absolutely. Do I think Mark Richt’s values and integrity get in the way of his coaching no, I don’t honestly think one thing has anything to do with the other. Steve Spurirrier is a Christian as well – son of a preacher, and it doesnt get in his way. Richt isn’t the only high character man of faith in coaching, and to suggest that those values are the reason he’s not a good coach is plain ignorant.
Richt’s issue is he is loyal to a fault to some of his assisants that have gotten fat, lazy and happy.
Bobo, Garner, Tereshinski. Go get a high profile OC, a hungry aggressive recruiter like Garner USED to be, and get a new inovative Strength and condidtioning coach – one that’s actually knows and understands new fangled terms like cross-fit, boot-camp, and cardio-lifting, and knows about more equipment than barbells and dumbells and watch how quickly the program gets turned around.
But lay off the man’s religon. Believing in God and using Christian principles to guide his life have nothing to do with his success or failure as a coach.
TrishaDishawareagle
October 8th, 2012
5:02 pm
@Reality
True, we have more in our lives than a football game..I assumed most people did, but I guess not all do…
Aaron Murray dealing with loss, father’s illness and stupid pranks | Digital Sports News
October 8th, 2012
5:02 pm
[...] his team’s loss to South Carolina on Saturday, he’s also dealing with the news that his father has been diagnosed with thyroid cancer. On top of that, he returned to Athens after the loss to find his rented home had been egged and [...]
Buckeye
October 8th, 2012
5:04 pm
Thank God for Saturdays and Sundays because too often, real life sucks. Your Dad is proud of you win, lose or draw.
A.B.
October 8th, 2012
5:04 pm
DOES ANYBODY REMEMBER HOW READY CMR AND THE STAFF GOT OUR TEAM READY FOR CENTRAL FLORIDA A FEW YEARS AGO IN THE BOWL GAME AND GOT OUR BUTTS BEAT..SHOULD OF FIRED HIS ASS RIGHT THEN AND MOST LIKELY WE WOULD NOT BE HAVING THIS HAPPEN AGAIN AND AGAIN AND AGAIN! SELAH
Aaron Murray’s thoughts focused on his father as Dogs put South Carolina behind them – Georgia – Dawg News
October 8th, 2012
5:09 pm
[...] Aaron Murray’s thoughts focused on his father as Dogs put South Carolina behind them ← Back to Home Tags: aaron murray, athens, columbia, dawgs, focal, georgia bulldogs, [...]
Insensitive Guy
October 8th, 2012
5:10 pm
Jville Dog brings up a good point. Spurrier is a Christian. I guess the only difference between he and Reverend Richt is that I never heard about Spurrier’s religion before. Maybe that’s because Spurrier focuses on winning football games and doesn’t get distracted by his religion.
A.B.
October 8th, 2012
5:11 pm
AND CAN SOMEBODY/ANYBODY TELL CMR AND COACH TERESCHINSKI TO QUIT ACTING LIKE DAMN CHEERLEADERS ON THE SIDELINES WAVING THEIR ARMS UP AND DOWN TRYING TO GET THE FANS TO YELL! YOU ARE FOOTBALL COACHES-NOT CHEERLEADERS.. YOU SHOULD BE CONCENTRATING ON THE GAME AND SITUATIONS AND TALKING ON HEADSET TO COACHES IN THE PRESS BOX! NOT CHEERLEADING
Dwight
October 8th, 2012
5:11 pm
Angela, that was beautiful. Can you meet me in the stock room in 15 minutes?
I need you to sign a birthday card for Michael.
Election Time
October 8th, 2012
5:14 pm
Well folks, election time is almost upon us.
I hope you will take a moment to consider voting for CMR for Homecoming Queen.
I know Angela is campaigning hard for AM. She already designed a flyer depicting him wearing a sash and holding a boquet of roses.
But I really think CMR has earned it this year.
GO DAWGS!
Bitter aaron murphy---evil twin of A.M.
October 8th, 2012
5:17 pm
Best of luck MURRAY FAMIY———Note to football team—fans that put there soul into supporting you players are also going to get PISSED when there
TEAM perform at a unexceptable LEVEL OF PLAY——–YA STUNK IT UP
—SO deal with the ABUSE——–LOOK INTO THE MIRROW AND LOOK AT THE
——-REFLECTION——-YES YOU PLAYERS ARE GUILTY OF
——————-POOR—PREPERATION–PERFORMANCE—-ATTIDUE
———–MOST NOTIABLE—————–H-E-A-R-T
———–But us crazy fans will still show up and support those this —
——-SATURDAY——WHO –FAILED TO SUPPORT US LAST SATURDAY
docdawg
October 8th, 2012
5:18 pm
Couple observations: GA was outschemed and SC a good team that was amped, Javis about 70% right now, rest will help, O line very vulnerable, some of that due to SCs defensive scheme and D line, but mistakes on line`s part execution, offensively alot of mistakes and misreads, not all on backs or Murray because O scheme wasn`t tweaked effectively as game progressed. Ga D seemed confused all game and noone played up tp par, especially DBs who continue to allow WRs to get behind them as they have all year. Either that`s on Grantham`s scheme or Lakatos with how they`re being taught. Everyone makes a mistake but patterns weekly show coaching problems, and finally any ahole that messes with a player`s home Anytime, including after a loss deserves to get their tails beat! You try to play the game better than they do!!
WildHog
October 8th, 2012
5:21 pm
I’m ashamed of some of these so called fans , and a Dawg til the end, prayers to the Murray family
dawgma
October 8th, 2012
5:28 pm
Sorry for your dad Murray. God bless.
Glad you got egged/rolled though. You need to know the bulldog nation is not happy. Puke on the national stage Saturday night and quit in the 4th Q was horrible. You need to show leadership on the field and stop being the prima donna QB you project.
You are not S**T at UGA until you beat USC, UF, and AU in a season – period. GT is also required but face it – we are the laughing stocks of the SEC. Looks great coming off the bus then fold like sissies!
Feel the heat – and get better!
Denise Hamby
October 8th, 2012
5:32 pm
The Hamby family is praying fo your dad and all your family. Our 29 year old daughter was diagnosed with APL-leukemia in July. God has been our strength and he will give you and your family the strenght you all need if you ask him! I pray God will guide the docotors through the healing process and give your family the courage they will need to facwe this trial!
A.B.
October 8th, 2012
5:48 pm
We did just this past Spring hire a new strenght and weight coach, FROM DAMN PENN STATE !! WHY? Did Mcgarrity and CMR NOR HEAR WHAT WAS GOING ON UP THERE? Has he helped our athletes get bigger,stronger,faster,in better 4th quarter shape? WELL HAS HE? Looked pretty damn whipped by halfway throough the 3rd quarter! SELAH
Game Changer
October 8th, 2012
5:48 pm
Aaron Murray will never beat a top team as QB, he is way to ” SHORT ” and inaccurate.
Mark Richt is a poor excuse for a man doing his job, very lazy.
McQuackity is a poor excuse for a major college AD, lazy and makes excuses.
Michael Adams has been forced out, FINALLY.
BMIOF — BUTTS MEHRE IS ON FIRE
Stevie Dawg
October 8th, 2012
5:50 pm
Get out of the way and let someone play QB that has the heart to WIN a big game. So tired of all these over rated players that fade in BIG SEC GAMES. If you can’t take the heat then it’s time to get off the field.
Denise Hamby's Daughter
October 8th, 2012
5:54 pm
Mom! Why do you insist on doing that?
Can’t you have some respect for my privacy?
I’m a real person, not a blog topic.
Game Changer
October 8th, 2012
5:56 pm
Aaron Murray needs to be removed because he is a cancer to UGA FOOTBALL when playing top teams. If Murrays play in big games is indicative of his fathers chances with surgery, GO AHEAD AND MAKE FUNERAL ARRANGEMENTS!!!!!!!!!
Game Changer
October 8th, 2012
6:01 pm
To Denise Hamby:
Your mom is sick regarding religion and thinks this type behavior will score brownie points with God. I hope you search out the best and most experienced successful doctors for treatment, praying does nothing but help the weak minded folks feel better about themselves. I can tell you are a strong young lady, keep up the good fight and live life to its fullest.
gerryl55
October 8th, 2012
6:17 pm
Please don’t fire CMR. With him coaching at Georgia and Dabo at Clemson we Carolina fans have a lot to look forward to each year.
tough night...oh well
October 8th, 2012
6:17 pm
They hung Vince in ephigy and a few years later he won a national championship.
Chill out people.
Friends
October 8th, 2012
6:19 pm
The person that should be fired is Todd Grantham he has a ego problem and is not using the right players.Please send him Al Groh from Ga Tech maybe they could find a team to screw up.
goodbye
October 8th, 2012
6:19 pm
You’re a sick bastard Game Changer….disgusting, worthless, human being. You’re a scumbag for that funeral comment.
Aaron Murray’s father reportedly has thyroid cancer | CollegeFootballTalk
October 8th, 2012
6:23 pm
[...] Murray posted on his own Twitter account yesterday “Probably the worst 12 hours of my life but I know my family will push through. Keep my dad in your prayers please.” It’s being reported that Murray’s father has been diagnosed with thyroid cancer. [...]
SC Dawg
October 8th, 2012
6:41 pm
I live in a city in between Columbia and Charleston….South Carolina. Today when I was driving home from work, I spotted a sign that said “Fire Mark Richt” in front of a local mill. As I listened to 107.5 The Game on my drive home, I hear where Georgia fans egged Aaron Murray’s home, and yes they enjoyed discussing this in detail. Then, WIS-TV Columbia also covers the story on the six o’clock news. How will this influence talented SC recruits for Georgia? I was at the game….the extremely LOUD game. Right now I feel more embarassed about how our fans have acted than how bad our team was beaten. Get a life. These are young men. On a truly somber note, a Hartsville high school football player tragically died during friday night’s game. Life is full of unexpected happenings. Some things in life are far more important than a loss of a football game.
CDAWG
October 8th, 2012
6:42 pm
I haven’t read all the comments on this blog today just the article. Let me just say that my prayers are with Aaron’s father and family and I wish him a speedy recovery. I don’t condone the actions of whoever egged and rolled his house.
With that being said if Aaron was weighed down with this horrible news before the game, why didn’t Richt play Lemay? Furthermore, Aaron’s lackluster play didn’t have anything to with the “D” playing so poorly. What is going on with our “D” this year?
leilei
October 8th, 2012
6:58 pm
Thoughts and Prayers for the Murray family. You people need get a life …it is college football, I don’t see you playing or coaching. Andrew has devoted most of his life to football and you turn on him after one loss, SHAME ON YOU.
TX Bulldog Fan
October 8th, 2012
7:05 pm
Aaron Murray,
You are a fine man and a very good athlete. It is just so unfortunate that some people value a simple game more than they do showing common courtesy and respect. I appreciate your competitive spirit and hope you continue to excel in everything you do throughout your life. Our prayers are with your father for a quick return to better health and with you to keep being a positive example to those who badly need it.
VFP42
October 8th, 2012
7:08 pm
Is Obama’s daddy sick too?
Game Changer
October 8th, 2012
7:13 pm
analogies that are factual in context seem to be unwelcome.
The Old Coot
October 8th, 2012
7:19 pm
Its really sad that parents buy their spoiled children computers and let them get on the internet.
Reading comments on this blog is another reason for mandatory 4 years of military service after high school so stupid spoiled children have tim to grow up.
Columbus
October 8th, 2012
7:35 pm
We are in this together Robinson. Always some immature little boys around. We ARE ALL in for Papa Murray too. Be cancer free papa Murray. ALL of OUR prayers will be heaven sent in agreement.
DodgerDawg
October 8th, 2012
7:37 pm
Prayers for Papa Murray