Bama delivers BCS knockout of Georgia, 32-28, in SEC Championship
With a BCS championship bid on the line, a heavyweight boxing match broke out at the Georgia Dome on Saturday, and it was defending national champion Alabama that delivered the knock-out blow in a 32-28 slugfest.
But give the Georgia Bulldogs credit. They got up off the mat and nearly won it.
With no timeouts and 85 yards to go with 1:08 to play, Georgia’s Aaron Murray got his team down to the Alabama 8. But rather than spike the ball with about nine seconds left, the Bulldogs elected to run another play. Murray’s pass was tipped at the line of scrimmage and caught by flanker Chris Conley at the 5. He fell to the ground inbounds, and the last four seconds ticked off the clock.
“I told the players I was disappointed, but not disappointed in them,” a forlorn Georgia coach Mark Richt said. “It was a knock-down, drag-out fight, and everybody was swinging. We just ran out of time.”
For the No. 2-ranked Crimson Tide (12-1), the victory means a third trip to the BCS championship game in the past four years. They won the previous two. Alabama will face undefeated and No. 1-ranked Notre Dame (12-0) on Jan. 7.
But Alabama coach Nick Saban indicated he and his players will enjoy the school’s 23rd SEC title for a while before worrying about that one.
“My focus right now is to give the players the positive gratification they deserve,” Alabama coach Nick Saban. “I don’t even know what the date of the (BCS) game is. We probably won’t practice for a couple of weeks.”
The Bulldogs (11-2), who haven’t won a national championship since 1980 and haven’t played for one in 30 years, will play Nebraska in the Capital One Bowl in Orlando.
Richt’s decision not to spike the ball at the 8 and instead run a hurry-up play will be debated for a while. A 26-yard catch by Arthur Lynch with 15 seconds remaining got the Bulldogs to the 8. There were about nine seconds remaining by the time Georgia lined up.
Murray rushed the offense into formation and tried to hit Malcolm Mitchell with a pass in the back right of the end zone. But the ball was tipped at the line of scrimmage, and Conley caught the ball inbounds at the 5-yard line.
“I know in hindsight now the ball wasn’t meant to go my way,” Conley said. “It was tipped at the line and, unfortunately I wasn’t able to make a smart play. Instinctively I grabbed the ball when I probably should let it go.”
Richt vehemently defended the decision.
“You don’t need to spike the ball there,” he said. “We had the play we wanted. It takes time to spike the ball, and we’re thinking about more than one play there.”
But that wasn’t where Georgia lost the game. The Bulldogs were manhandled up front by the Crimson Tide, who managed to run for 350 of their 512 yards. Junior tailback Eddie Lacy earned most valuable player honors with 181 yards and two touchdowns and his freshman backup T.J. Yeldon added 153 and another score. The Crimson Tide had the ball for nearly 38 minutes to Georgia’s 22:25.
“We did a great job of running the ball in the second half,” Saban said. “And the reason we did it was we couldn’t handle the pass rush.”
“I like the way we played,” said Jarvis Jones, who had six tackles, three tackles for loss and two sacks. “I think we challenged them for 60 minutes. We came four seconds from playing for the BCS title. I’m just proud of all these guys that sacrificed for us to get here.”
Georgia freshman Todd Gurley had 122 yards and two touchdowns on 23 carries. Murray finished 18-of-33 passing for 265 yards with a touchdown and an interception and was sacked three times. Tavarres King led the Bulldogs with five catches for 142 yards.
“Oh, man, it was crazy the way that it was so close,” Murray said. “That’s something you dream of as a little kid, to win the game like that. It’s just crappy the way it ended, that’s for sure.”
Saturday’s game was essentially a BCS championship semifinal, and the two teams played accordingly. After exchanging the lead three times in the second half, Alabama quarterback A.J. McCarron hit Amari Cooper for a 45-yard touchdown pass down the left sideline for the game-winning score. Cooper, who had 127 yards on seven catches, got behind sophomore nickel back Damian Swann on the play, which came with 3:15 remaining.
On the ensuing possession, Murray was sacked on first down by linebacker Adrian Hubbard — a sophomore from Norcross — who stunted inside on a blitz for the 8-yard loss. Georgia ended up punting the ball to Alabama with 2:17 remaining, and it appeared the game might end like that.
But the Bulldogs used their final two timeouts and forced Alabama into a three-and-out. Mitchell’s fair catch at the 15 with 1:08 left gave Georgia one final shot.
COMPLETE COVERAGE OF SEC CHAMPIONSHIP GAME:
Game story: Alabama delivers BCS knockout of Georgia, 32-28
Bradley column: Five yards short in bitter defeat a winning UGA effort
Schultz column: Georgia earns respect in defeat, but loss not easy to take
The final drive and play: An agonizing ending for Georgia
What they said: post-game comments from players, coaches on both teams
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834 comments Add your comment
Loyal Dawg
December 1st, 2012
11:31 pm
Gruden is not coaching ANY college football teams, so forget that. Pale Rider keeps bringing up Kirby Smart; who if he was better than Saban; he would be coaching Alabama. Pale Rider has nothing.
James K Polk
December 1st, 2012
11:31 pm
The difference is that I would take two national titles in six years and then have five years worth of bad seasons, than I would have 15 years of “almost”. I think that’s the difference between winners and losers. They don’t hang banners for 10-win seasons and Outback Bowl Championships. That’s good enough for you, and most of our alumns, and that’s fine. It’s just not good enough for me. Give me the rent-a-coach that will win the title. I’ll take it.
Steve
December 1st, 2012
11:31 pm
Richt is outgoing anywhere and either is Bobo. This season will keep Richt and company around for another 10 years. LOL……
Peachtree
December 1st, 2012
11:31 pm
StanDawg…HAHAHAHAHAHA!!!
Pale Rider
December 1st, 2012
11:32 pm
I might just throw my money towards Georgia Southern- those boys actually want to win!
Standawg
December 1st, 2012
11:32 pm
I know how to push the bamers buttons because I got Bamer family. And guess what?: They sit around discussing whether Saban will be around for another year or two. So, there’s the button: When is the lease up Bamer? Where’s your Spurrier, or Francione? You got none. And it could all be over this February when ole Nick decides, well I might want to coach the NY Giants next season. This Bamer gig is getting old. You?
Cruizin
December 1st, 2012
11:33 pm
Smart ain’t living while in middle of a dynasty. Maybe can get chizek
Pale Rider
December 1st, 2012
11:33 pm
Kirby Smart is better than Mark Richt- Loyal- wake up and put down the PBR
James K Polk
December 1st, 2012
11:35 pm
Loyal Dawg, we don’t necessarily need someone better than Saban (because no one is), but the list of coaches better than Richt is very long. We just need someone better than Richt. Thats an easy hire.
I’d go after the Vest. But, that’s just me.
Pale Rider
December 1st, 2012
11:35 pm
Fact: Georgia loses in big games under Richt- I think this means that if we want to win a big game- we need someone else at the healm
Buck Fobo
December 1st, 2012
11:35 pm
When are we going to get rid of Bobo. He is useless tool.
Loyal Dawg
December 1st, 2012
11:35 pm
Pale Rider- How the heck do you know Smart is better- he’s never been a head coach. But that’s not the point. You guys want to fire CMR because UGA lost to the best coach in college football. If you want to be the best you have to beat the best. You have brought up NO ONE that can beat Saban. NO ONE.
snoop dawgy dawg
December 1st, 2012
11:36 pm
@Steve
Why is your sorry sack of crap but here did anyone ask you to show up why don’t you go sell some drugs
Fire the COACH
December 1st, 2012
11:36 pm
im sick and tired of coming up short every year . time for a coaching change
Loyal Dawg
December 1st, 2012
11:37 pm
The Vest???? You’ve got to be kidding?????
Pale Rider
December 1st, 2012
11:38 pm
Richt lost to Michigan State last year in the “irrelevant bowl” I won’t be buying tickets to the Cotton
Pale Rider
December 1st, 2012
11:39 pm
And also lost to UCF in the Liberty Bowl two years ago.
WPWW
December 1st, 2012
11:39 pm
(Th)UGA will NEVER win another national title! They’re a 2nd tier program that lucked into this game and got manhandled! Now, it’s to the Outback or CapOne bowl for you wanna-be’s! LOL! Next year, it’ll be 3-4 losses and the Music City Bowl.
Loyal Dawg
December 1st, 2012
11:39 pm
All of you CMR bashers are wanting to fire Richt because he hasn’t won a NC. He’s one SEC Championships and he’s beaten Saban before. I know you people have bad memories, but he beat Saban at LSU and Alabama. If you can’t hire someone better than Saban, you are pissing in the wind.
James K Polk
December 1st, 2012
11:40 pm
He’s better than Richt, and that’s all we need. Maybe we could actually win something. He won a title (and went to two more title games) with big, slow, clumsy personnel. I think he’d be great. Do you not wish to even try? Why are our alumns so content with coming up short? Why not take a shot at winning? We will have lost nothing by trying.
Cruizin
December 1st, 2012
11:41 pm
CMR : I think I can I think I can I know I mean I think I can I think I can
Loyal Dawg
December 1st, 2012
11:41 pm
We are in the SEC Championship game this year.
Pale Rider
December 1st, 2012
11:41 pm
Loyal- Richt was an assistant before he came here- he has no credentials yet has all the talent, resources, athletes, network available to him. Saban was an assistant once too- he has risin. Richt has failed and would make a good Director of Football operations somewhere else
TMann68
December 1st, 2012
11:42 pm
Dogs fan be proud of Coach Richt and our Dawgs!
Pale Rider
December 1st, 2012
11:43 pm
Richt does not inspire me- I am a fan
Buck Fobo
December 1st, 2012
11:43 pm
Bobo would make a better head coach than reverend Richt aka Helen Hunt, the great hollywood actress. But , hey, he does sing happy birthday to his five star recruits so he can get another top ten recruiting class.Can’t coach much boy boy he can recruit.
Loyal Dawg
December 1st, 2012
11:43 pm
Do you want to end up like Ohio State? On probation. The Vest was hammered by SEC teams and you want to bring him? You’re just throwing junk at the wall hoping it will stick.
James K Polk
December 1st, 2012
11:43 pm
Don’t try to win anything!! We may end up like Tennessee!! No one is better than Saban, so let’s be happy with the Peach Bowl!!
…classic loser mentality. It describes 80% of our alumns/fan base…which is why we always lose.
Ace70
December 1st, 2012
11:43 pm
You also lost the SEC Championship this year……as well as last year.
James K Polk
December 1st, 2012
11:44 pm
Give me a title and I’ll take probation.
Pale Rider
December 1st, 2012
11:45 pm
Richt spends more time at the hair stylist and tanning booth- winners spend time in the film room and on the recruiting trail. Oh Erk- where are you when we need you?
Buck Fobo
December 1st, 2012
11:45 pm
Sorry… not boy boy , it’s but boy
snoop dawgy dawg
December 1st, 2012
11:46 pm
Does anyone else think CMR has lost the hunger to win it seems like he only wins when his job is on the line or when he just came here i may be wrong but it’s just a theory
UGAY SUCKS
December 1st, 2012
11:47 pm
CANT WIN THE BIG ONE! AND THE BAD NEWS IS BAMA WAS SUPOSE TO BE DOWN THIS YEAR AND THEY ARE GONNA WIN A TITTLE TOO FUNNY
Pale Rider
December 1st, 2012
11:48 pm
Richt- please leave, and take BoBo and Grantham with you- there are available positions at Auburn, Tennessee, and Arkansas- they will pay you more and we would like to move on.
Loyal Dawg
December 1st, 2012
11:49 pm
You people are boring me now. All the bashers have nothing. I thought the goal was to win an SEC title and a NC. You’ve got to beat Alabama to get there. Saban coaches Alabama. It doesn’t matter who you bring in if they can’t beat Saban. You people will continue to whine anyway. The loser attitude are you people who bash players and coaches that have worked their butts off. And you guys sit around, sucking down your Budwiser, Monday morning QB’ing. None of you have brought up a coach that can beat Saban. I win – you lose.
James K Polk
December 1st, 2012
11:50 pm
I’m not a big fan of Richt. I think he’s just good enough to not be good enough. However, I think we played hard tonight. The defense was soft…really soft, and that was the difference. I’m glad we showed some fight. I don’t think Richt will ever leave. Why would he. He has the best job in the world. He can win 10 games with superior talent, get to the Cap One Bowl, make $4,000,000, and be loved and admired by 80% of the state. Not a bad gig, at all. I don’t lay this loss tonight on him, though. I lay the SC loss on him, but that’s neither here, nor there. I just think we could be in this position (playing in a game for a chance at the title) almost every year with someone else as coach. Richt is a good man, though.
Why did we have to play them?
December 1st, 2012
11:50 pm
Hold your heads up. You were 1-2 against the real teams on your schedule. If you
play hard you may be 2-2 against good teams after your bowl.
Standawg
December 1st, 2012
11:50 pm
For Georgia fans to keep repeating fire mark Richt. Go find another team. hey Alabama has Nick saban, the world’s greatest rent-a-coach. Go there. Florida has the pretty blue and orange, why don’t you go there. Arkansas has the Hog hats, I like them, go there. Hey, Texas ATM, which is the greatest addition to any conference, any where in history of sports, go there. (love the fans and everything about about A&M)
MR is Georgoia’s coach (period) If yo8u don’t like it,. then get the f8ck out, and don’t let the screen door hit you in the rear.
Disgusted
December 1st, 2012
11:52 pm
@Disgusted,,,, has your mom passed away yet? If so, I’m glad. If not, hopefully she will soon. You are a total piece of sh*t.
@Disgusted… have you jumped in front of a bus yet? Please do us all a favor and end your own miserable life.
Paizan — You are one sick human being. Come on moderators take a look at this stuff. Reported.
Pale Rider
December 1st, 2012
11:53 pm
SEC football is serious business- ESPN paid to showcase the SEC title game guess what- we lost cred. We have all the talent but don’t ever do anything with it- Saban can be beat- see his NFL record- no need to be afraid, just make the change and commit to win.
snoop dawgy dawg
December 1st, 2012
11:53 pm
I’m not sure whether I like CMR or not but I’m commited to the G no matter what
bananajacket
December 1st, 2012
11:53 pm
Great game! Both teams played their hearts out. Easy for some “fans” to criticize. Winning is the only thing to some (and it is very important), but not worth losing your soul over. You Dawg fans don’t realize how good you have it. Sports is a crazy thing and Richt & team should have your gratitude—not cheap shots and unfounded condemnation. Go Tech.
WPWW
December 1st, 2012
11:55 pm
HAHAHA! (Th)UGA gets manhandled by a Bama team that’s nowhere near as good as last year & then some fans realize ol’ Richt will never will a NC. What about all those other seasons he’s been there? No titles…but alotta subpar years. Not to worry, the pups will be back to a 8-5 season next year (like you’re more accustom to). LOL!
Cruizin
December 1st, 2012
11:55 pm
Spamdawg and loyal loser can’t understand it won’t get any better. Lets go over to Al.com and finish the party. ROLL TIDE.
JtotheM
December 1st, 2012
11:56 pm
Sorry UG….you ran into the Dynasty and couldn’t hang. 32 years and counting!! LOL Have fun in the Chicken Sammich Bowl!
Loyal Dawg
December 1st, 2012
11:57 pm
Oh, one last thing. One of the biggest problems in college sports is the win at all cost attitude. The unethical behavor by coaches. Auburn, Ohio State Tennessee, Southern Cal, etc. are all embarrassments to college football. I’m sure the players at Ohio State feel great about the FACT that they can’t play for the NC because of an unethical coach who is not there any more; but sure as heck got paid.
Standawg
December 1st, 2012
11:58 pm
Go Cruizin, last I checked, this is the UGA blog. So, go the f8ck on to the Al blog. You won’t find me there. Why? B/C I’m on the UGA blog, you idiot.
Pale Rider
December 1st, 2012
11:58 pm
I don’t mind the opinion posters here- but I prefer facts, performance, and measure wins/losses-With all the athletes in the state of Georgia- there is absolutely no reason why UGA should not be in title contention year after year.
Pale Rider
December 2nd, 2012
12:00 am
If loyal dawg was around in the 60’s we might be communists right now- total acceptance mentality.