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
Disgusted
December 2nd, 2012
12:02 am
Pale Rider — To some of these fans this is good enough.
We should be in Nat title contention at least every few yrs get to the championship game.
Lets see its what 30 yrs since they have been to the game, 32 yrs and counting for a Nat title.
But its not underachieving to some UGA apologists
snoop dawgy dawg
December 2nd, 2012
12:02 am
I wish people would just post their opions and not stupid crap
M
December 2nd, 2012
12:03 am
Once a Bulldog, Always a Bulldog!! So proud of the players and coaches! Bulldog Nation was well represented tonight!
dawgman73
December 2nd, 2012
12:03 am
To all the people who want to fire Richt. Let’s go back to the Goff and Donnan years. If you don’t believe me, just look at were Tennessee is at.
Standawg
December 2nd, 2012
12:03 am
Pale Rider, you’re an idiot and not a Georgia fan. Mark Richt is our coach, live with it or go someplace else. Go dawgs!1
Standawg
December 2nd, 2012
12:06 am
Hey Pale, I got an idea, how about Biose State? They got the blue field, you might like them. Good luck.
The Bear
December 2nd, 2012
12:07 am
Bama won.
Roll Tide
Pale Rider
December 2nd, 2012
12:07 am
should I expect to lose the SEC East for the next five years? Let me know, I’ll cancel my ticket order and cheer for Georgia Tech
Stinkfoot
December 2nd, 2012
12:08 am
LOL – You lose, stupid DWAGS!!!
Standawg
December 2nd, 2012
12:08 am
Bama won, but their fans don’t appreciate it. Go figure. Go Dawgs!!
Pale Rider
December 2nd, 2012
12:09 am
I think the fans here have convinced me- second fiddle is good enough for UGA so I’ll cheer for Georgia Southern-
Standawg
December 2nd, 2012
12:10 am
I think Tech would be perfect for you Pale. Now go. And don’t come back.
The Bear
December 2nd, 2012
12:11 am
kerryb..Flo-ri-duh…and the rest of the mouth clowns where you at now?
Pale Rider
December 2nd, 2012
12:13 am
Happy that none of you blind Dawgs could respond to my comments- except to attack- your loyalty is killing not only UGA- but the state of Georgia. Enjoy the cotton bowl
Z
December 2nd, 2012
12:13 am
Never gets old watching GA lose. No one can spell or express themselves. Love it. Thinking average IQ of fan base is somewhere in the 80’s. That includes the graduates and I’m being generous here. Keep it up Dawgs and Dawg Fans hahaha oh my.
snoop dawgy dawg
December 2nd, 2012
12:14 am
Pale is entitled to his opinion whether me or any of the rest of these people agree with him or not
Standawg
December 2nd, 2012
12:15 am
Pale, you’re not a fan, and never were a fan, so git.
Pale Rider
December 2nd, 2012
12:16 am
Dawgs lose- AGAIN- get on board if you wanna win. Losing SUCKS! And if you’re happy with “great effort”, you are a loser
The Bear
December 2nd, 2012
12:18 am
Where does UGA play?
Standawg
December 2nd, 2012
12:18 am
These bandwagon fans always amaze me. This year it’s the Gators, then Bamer, then Boise, I just can’t keep track anymore.
Tom in Atl
December 2nd, 2012
12:20 am
Pale – feel free to go address Some of the members of the UGA team and tell them all they have to do is “Commit to win” – whatever that means – and viola – you never lose! Idiot. Let me know what Ogeltree and Jarvis have to say when you impart your wisdom on them.
snoop dawgy dawg
December 2nd, 2012
12:20 am
Their are a lot of tech fans in disguise tonight
Andrew Lipham
December 2nd, 2012
12:23 am
It is time to fire Mark Richt. His career began at UGA with a time management debacle and it should end with a time management debacle.
Standawg
December 2nd, 2012
12:25 am
Andrew Lipham = Pale Rider = snoop dawgy dawg = stupid idiot moron Tech Fan. You’re not fooling anybody.
HAPPY GATOR FAN
December 2nd, 2012
12:27 am
Mark Richt is going to be around for a loooooooooong time!
snoop dawgy dawg
December 2nd, 2012
12:27 am
@Standawg
I’m not a tech fan wtf
Andrew Lipham
December 2nd, 2012
12:28 am
@Standawg. incompetency never wins in football. see les miles earlier this year vs bama. it takes some smarts on top of a big name. why do you think ut wants jon gruden so bad? because if they get gruden, they will dominate college football. uga needs a big name head coach with some smarts. not a too nice to coach football coach who is incompetent. you spike the ball in that situation. and what makes it worse is the fact we have a better team than bama player for player.
Standawg
December 2nd, 2012
12:29 am
Andrew Lipham = Pale Rider = snoop dawgy dawg = HAPPY GATOR FAN = stupid idiot moron Tech Fan. You’re not fooling anybody.
snoop dawgy dawg
December 2nd, 2012
12:30 am
@Standawg
I’m not a tech fan do not insult me like that
HAPPY GATOR FAN
December 2nd, 2012
12:30 am
Nah just a Gator fan laying on some sarcasm – congrats on the best year you can ever expect under Richt
Standawg
December 2nd, 2012
12:30 am
Again: Andrew Lipham = Pale Rider = snoop dawgy dawg = HAPPY GATOR FAN = stupid idiot moron Tech Fan. You’re not fooling anybody.
SSI Dawg
December 2nd, 2012
12:34 am
@DAWG
Thank goodness…. you probably have nothing worth buying. Good to have a loser leave the fanbase anyway
snoop dawgy dawg
December 2nd, 2012
12:35 am
@Standawg
I’m about as much of a die hard dawg fan as you can be. For the record I don’t think CMR should be fired. I think the seat should be warmed up a tiny bit but firing him would be too reactionary
PO'ED dawg fan
December 2nd, 2012
12:35 am
Their niggs are better than our niggs.
Birddawg
December 2nd, 2012
12:39 am
Few observations:
*To all the GA haters (FL/SC fans) – suck it. FL – beat UGA and you’re playing in the SECCG. SC – beat FL and you’re playing in the SECCG. Neither of you could do that, so STFU
*Great game tonight, but very tough loss. Bama had two turnovers and we blocked a FG for a TD – seems like this is a game we should win
*Bama rushed for 350 yards – really? I’m sorry McCarron was not going to beat us, so why didn’t CTG make any adjustments?
*Bama had 2 penalites for 15 yards. Really? Really? No way any team goes a whole game without holding, much less a team that runs for 350 yards. Let’s see if Bama only has 2 penalites for 15 yards against ND. The answer is F**K NO.
*Shawn Williams – you called your teammates soft, but when you had a chance to stop Yeldon for a 2 yard loss on 3 and 5 you decided you’re going to grab him by the sholder pads to make the tackle? Are you f**king kidding me? 1 play later it’s AJ to Cooper for a 45 yard TD pass.
*Bobo – you couldn’t come up with a way to get Marshall in the game? You don’t think his speed might have helped? Or, what about doing something crazy like putting both Gurley and Marshall in the backfield at the sametime, to confuse the defense. Oh, and just because you throw an incompletion on first down YOU DON’T HAVE TO RUN IT EVERY F**KING TIME ON 2ND DOWN. FEEL FREE TO GET NUTTY AND THROW ON 2ND DOWN TOO.
*CMR’s time has passed. Hire Kirby Smart – he has learned from the best and he wants to come back to UGA. I agree with many others here – if you guys are happy coming up 5 yards/seconds short than stay the course. I think after 12 seasons with CMR, all the talent we’ve had and zero NC’s should tell you how many to expect moving forward.
Definition of insanity? Doing the same thing, but expecting different results? That’s all you UGA fans who continue to support the current coaching staff. We have reached the proverbial ceiling. I cannot understand why finishing 2nd/3rd in the SEC yeard after year is acceptable to all of you. It’s frustrating and very disappointing.
Standawg
December 2nd, 2012
12:41 am
There’s no one else on this planet that I would rather have coaching Georgia than Mark Richt. So, all you bandwagon fans can go jump on the Gators bandwagon with their pretty blue and orange uniforms and live happily ever after. I’ve always been Georgia; and I always will be Georgia. Good night. Go Dawgs!~
Kevd44
December 2nd, 2012
12:42 am
wait…what happened to its our year UGA…Bama ran on you like there was no tomorrow. You answered, but again…..coaching…BAMA is just coached better than most teams. They never feel like they are gonna loose, no matter the score!
Standawg
December 2nd, 2012
12:42 am
Bird-dawg a lot of hot air that I didn’t read; go find another bandwagon, idiot.
HAPPY GATOR FAN
December 2nd, 2012
12:44 am
I suport Standawg – Mark Richt 4 Lyfe
Andrew Lipham
December 2nd, 2012
12:45 am
I am all for UGA hiring BOBBY PETRINO. He will save us from yearly disappointment.
snoop dawgy dawg
December 2nd, 2012
12:45 am
All gaytor fans go home everyone else go dawgs and have a good night
HAPPY GATOR FAN
December 2nd, 2012
12:46 am
All Dawg fans go to North Orlando – all Gator fans go to BCS game
SSI Dawg
December 2nd, 2012
12:50 am
@birddawg
You should apply for the job since you know so much. What program is it that you have led to so much glory?
HAPPY GATOR FAN
December 2nd, 2012
12:50 am
Does Richt still have a swimming and diving routine to pump up the team preseason?
Andrew Lipham
December 2nd, 2012
12:51 am
@happygatorfan. bama is running the sec until saban leaves. enjoy muschump and annual losing to uga.
Andrew Lipham
December 2nd, 2012
12:52 am
AJC UGA @ajcuga
2 huge penalties propel #Bama on scoring drive. PF/roughness on Stripling on KOR and INT’F on D.Swann on from G25. UGA 21-18, 4:19 3Q
Hellinahandbaset
December 2nd, 2012
12:53 am
BURN !!!!!!
UGA thugs been brought to their knees ! And I’m from right here in Athens…you pathetic, arrogant losers !
HAPPY GATOR FAN
December 2nd, 2012
12:56 am
@Andrew Lipham – But we finished the season ahead of you? Not bad for a down year by everyone’s estimates, and considering that you all had the easiest schedule possible with the best roster you could imagine?
Andrew Lipham
December 2nd, 2012
12:58 am
@hellinahandbasket. wow. its just a game dude.
Andrew Lipham
December 2nd, 2012
12:58 am
@happygatorfan. i know, but thats not my point. the point is, nick “cheater” saban will never let us or you guys win another title. he knows how to cheat better than everybody else.