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
big bone
December 2nd, 2012
9:34 am
great game. UGA fell 5 yards short. BAMA was the more physical team on the O line. gotta tip my hat to ‘em. DAWGS hung in there with the best D in the nation and don’t forget UGA had a 100+ yard rusher in freshman Gurley. like two heavy weight boxers sluggin’ it out. credit goes out to BAMA but no one should bad mouth UGA. by the way… the whole nation saw that cheap shot(on Murray) with no call from the refs! GO DAWGS.
TEXAS DAWG
December 2nd, 2012
9:35 am
That is the kind of loss that will haunt everyone on that field for the rest of their life. To come so close and to have it slip away is way tougher than last years blow out. With a blow out there is no “what if” but with last night any one little thing could have resulted in a different outcome. Great game no matter how you look at it though.
Raiderbeater
December 2nd, 2012
9:37 am
Florida was beat by Georgia…Florida didn’t make it to the Championship because they couldn’t win their division. Georgia bested them on the field of play. Many will not vote them in to the Sugar bowl…but they will beg to back into it….and they may. ESPN (who always picks against UGA) has said Florida doesn’t deserve it over UGA.
We’ll see if Florida gets an early Christmas present. They are certainly begging and hoping so.
Congrats on the perfect
paul
December 2nd, 2012
9:38 am
They played a heck of a game. That’s all anyone can say. So close but you have to be proud of the Dawgs.
sunglaspro
December 2nd, 2012
9:40 am
Yes,by all means fire Richt ! Arkansas, Auburn, and UT would fight over a coach with a 117-40 record
TEXAS DAWG
December 2nd, 2012
9:42 am
I have to agree with Rice, Rambo looked like he was afraid to hit Lacy late in the game. Not just the DAWGS but through out football, form tackles are a thing of the past for the mos paret. They try to hit with the shoulder and “blow up” the player for a sports center moment. You hear the announcers and analyst talking about this all the time. One big exception to this was Ogletree. He looked like one of the old school guys out there. He demonstrated how to wrap someone up and put them down, not give a shoulder butt and hope they fall.
Too bad
December 2nd, 2012
9:43 am
The DWAGS were outcoached and outplayed. Tampa says hello. 32 years and counting since the last NC. So close and yet so far away.
RebellDawg
December 2nd, 2012
9:43 am
I hope Alabama blows Notre Dame out. I want Georgia to be the team that played Alabama and damn near won, not for ND to be that team.
hit a single
December 2nd, 2012
9:50 am
If Florida goes to the Sugar instead of UGA you might as well do away with the BCS. Any system that punishes a team that played in the Championship game and also won head to head to head is a system that is broke. But then again that is the American way now. You don’t get what you worked hard for and deserve, the others get it for sitting back.
air of mendacity
December 2nd, 2012
9:55 am
Bama hit some big plays when they had to – not being able to stop run was our downfall. Hard fought game and I was proud of dawgs – just disappointed in final result. So close – damn.
yeah uh huh
December 2nd, 2012
9:55 am
uga team played terrific, sadly, a handful of obnoxious whiny fans give the school a bad rep.
Uga alum
December 2nd, 2012
9:56 am
Richt needs get some nuts and man up take the blame for the loss. He always gives the run around answers and I am fed up with the bs! Still always bleed red n black. I am so proud of our players and have a coach take game out your hands by not spiking the ball on 8 yd line 15 sec left. Makes me sick! Go Dawgs and Man up take the blame Richt it’s on you not our players!!!
The Bear
December 2nd, 2012
9:56 am
UGA’s Top Ten Excuse’s for losing:
1. The Coaching Staff
2. The Officials
3. Alabama bought the game
4. Aliens
5. ESPN
6. Mike Slive
7. Notre Dame
8. Not spiking the ball
9. Clock management
10. The announcers
Now let’s really look at why UGA lost 351 yards rushing for Bama, Bama made the plays when they needed too and good ole luck. UGA played a hell of a game and have nothing to hang their heads about and yes they should go to the Sugar bowl.
Roll Tide
Butch
December 2nd, 2012
9:56 am
Once again proving UGA is not the best team money can buy. Good job Grantham- you looked like Tech defending the run.
air of mendacity
December 2nd, 2012
9:57 am
also disappointed over not being able to play K. St or Oregon – playing Texas in Cotton bowl is worse than kissing your sister.
LET THE BIG DAWG EAT
December 2nd, 2012
9:58 am
The Dawgs done all they could with one of the worse officially called games . I have every seen we had to beat Bama and the officials . The Dawgs D will be fine next year and the Offense will be better if Murray comes back. Go DAWGS TRUE FAN FOR LIFE.
rod--roll tide--roll
December 2nd, 2012
9:59 am
Ga. fans really trip me out. Take your whipping like a man. You accept moral victories we win championships. I told everyone it would be a 3 or 4pt game and your coach would blow it. Lol.. All of this we exposed Alabama D. No in the he’ll you didn’t. We know that’s out soft spot, look how many we lost in the draft. We play grown man football in Alabama…
air of mendacity
December 2nd, 2012
10:00 am
Enter your comments here
Gahoundawg
December 2nd, 2012
10:03 am
Awesome Game! Agree with the “bought refs”… holy smoke. Block in the Back, Holding, on and on…I know National Championships are worth Millions (especially for Bama who has no Pro sports) but I wonder how much it costs to buy no calls? Guess we need to put that in next years budget. Can’t figure out why you hit two HUGE passes and run your 300 pound line down the field in basically a 100 yard dash and don’t spike the ball if no other reason than to let them catch their breath. Wierd. Anyway, What a Game enjoyed the whole deal other than the last 15 seconds that left me stunned. Go Dawgs! and Roll Tide!
Dude
December 2nd, 2012
10:04 am
Ha Ha Georgia has only beat two teams with a winning record all year.
And they are 1-2 against ranked teams.Roll Tide!!!
dagnabit
December 2nd, 2012
10:07 am
A lifetime contract for Mike Bobo.
Gahoundawg
December 2nd, 2012
10:07 am
“Can anyone recommend a good place to eat and drink in New Orleans for a hungry Gator? BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA”……..
yea. I think there’s a sewage treatment plant in the 9th Ward.
ME
December 2nd, 2012
10:07 am
Hey GA …… ahahahahahhaa the only thing better would have been to watch ND kick your butt ahahah, now what are you going to do the rest of the year with those thugs that you recruit? Thats right, load your team with recruits that ould barely make it out of HS, take another loss in front of the nation, and pund your chest about being a great paty scholl. Well you losers lost again!!!! HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA
rod--roll tide--roll
December 2nd, 2012
10:09 am
@ *Alabama vs Notre Dame…….bhaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaw bhaaaaaaaaaaaaw shut up with all of the crying… That was a good game. Ga did what Ga. do. Took another loss.
Dude
December 2nd, 2012
10:10 am
Thats Funny! HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!
Calvin
December 2nd, 2012
10:11 am
That one costly mistake(interception with the receiver wide open) really cost UGA the game. Aaron Murray chokes again in the big game!
Dude
December 2nd, 2012
10:13 am
Ilove Aarom Murray! HAHAHAHAHA
Calvin
December 2nd, 2012
10:15 am
I can’t believe Bobo admitted he made the decision not to spike the ball with only 15 seconds remaining and that was absolutely the nail in the coffin!
Gahoundawg
December 2nd, 2012
10:16 am
LOL!!! Any “SEC” fan that thinks it’s awesome to lose to UGA, Lose the SEC east, NOT go to the Championship game and get to go to a better bowl cracks me up! Drop out of the SEC and join the ACC or something.
Every SEC fan knows the Championship game is held in Atlanta at the Dome like it is every year.
Jborodawg
December 2nd, 2012
10:17 am
Typical comment section. First couple pages: mostly level-headed, disappointed, but proud Dawg fans; proud of the Dawgs and how they played; how they took the #2 team in the country down to the wire; how they almost won the game. Skip to page 10 and thereafter: comments taken over by 3 or 4 people who can only find fault and know all about playing and coaching major CFB; and ready to fire one of the best head coaches in the country. Skip to page 10 and the comments degenerate into name-calling and monday morning QBing. We go 11-1, win the East, play in the SECC game, play one of the best games ever in that series; yet a few (I hope very few) are ready to fire CMR and CMB because we aren’t going to win the NC? Believe it or not, that is NOT mediocrity. Heck, far as that goes, why pick on coaches Richt and Bobo when it was Grantham’s D that gave up all those rushing yards? There are about 100 other programs/teams that wish they were in our shoes; that wish they were as good as UGA; and have the coaches we have. A NC as criteria? That’s absurd. Yep, typical comment section.
I’m proud of this team and the coaches. Great game. Go Dawgs!
Gahoundawg
December 2nd, 2012
10:23 am
@Alabama vs. Notre Dame….. Spot on!
Calvin
December 2nd, 2012
10:24 am
Let The Big Dawg Eat are you kidding me Aaron Murray needs to exit stage whatever. He had a receiver wide open when he threw that interception and the ball wasn’t even close to where it should’ve been. He needs to let some other Big Dawg eat because he constantly choking!
Gahoundawg
December 2nd, 2012
10:25 am
Beat by a dang 2 point conversion. ughh.. without that maybe we would have spiked and kicked a field goal. All sorts of things looking back, but without a doubt one of the best games I’ve ever had the pleasure to enjoy, other than flipping out about 6 times at “no calls”.. Go Dawgs!!
Tom, Resident Georgia Fan
December 2nd, 2012
10:29 am
@ Anj … 9 seconds. I was there. You people who find something to rip in his game disgust me. Talk about losers! You are the losers.
Jborodawg
December 2nd, 2012
10:30 am
Said Saban, “They should get to go to a BCS bowl game. They played a tremendous game out there today … and could have won at the end just as soon as us. It came down to the last play..”
I believe he would gesticulate wildly at some of the negative comments here.
Tom in Atl
December 2nd, 2012
10:34 am
And if UGA goes up to the line, spikes the ball with 12 seconds to go – runs two plays and dont score – then everyone criticizing this morning would have taken the opposite stance – “Why didn’t you just run a play when you had Bama on the Ropes? Why give Nick Saban time to line his defense up when we had them?? Fire everyone!!”. Those same coaches and players you are criticizing are the same people hwo engineered an 80 yard drive in 40 seconds with no time outs against Alabama- typical armcharir quarterbacks.
Don
December 2nd, 2012
10:35 am
As an Alabama fan I want to say to the Georgia fans out there to keep your heads held high. You played an extremely good game. That was a game for the ages. Two storied SEC teams fighting it out. I’m glad Alabama won but UGA has alot to be proud of. Thanks for a great game and now let’s root Alabama and the SEC on as we battle against Notre Dame.
UgaDawg97
December 2nd, 2012
10:36 am
I think CMR went to the les miles school of clock management. And AM is the biggest choker ever. Please go pro!
MontanaDawg
December 2nd, 2012
10:37 am
Let’s be PROUD of the team and coaches. One helleva game. There is no need to play ‘what if’ when mistakes were made by both teams. We did have WAY too many penalties. Hopefully we will mop up the field in the bowl game with whomever we play. That will feel like a little redemption. GO DAWGS!!
dave
December 2nd, 2012
10:37 am
sad thing about the loss last night is that Georgia will be punish for losing the championship game. this is where the bcs is not right. no way ga. should fall in rankings because they lost the championship game. somebody was going to win and somebody was going to lose. if they drop because of that they would have been better of be ranked 4th. it should have been simple. winner gets national title shot , loser get sugar bowl. cannot wait for playoff system in 2014..
dawgm19
December 2nd, 2012
10:37 am
I usually stick to the facts. Saban 3 BCS bowls in 4 years and Richt 0 in 11 years. Maybe another 11 years before we get a chance under this guy.
Stay on the porch
December 2nd, 2012
10:38 am
Dawgs will NEVER win a NC with nice guy Richt. You people defending CMR are losers who wallow in 2nd place. How does that feel. No one remembers the runner ups.
UgaDawg97
December 2nd, 2012
10:39 am
This was our shot and we blew it. That’s why we are upset. You have to seize moments like this and CMR can’t do it. Now next year the Gators are back…
jspiker
December 2nd, 2012
10:40 am
Anyone saying other than Alabama won and Georgia lost an incredible game that did both teams proud is shows an abject ignorance of football. That iIs not a comment for debate; it is fact. I’ve seen here comments like, if Georgia doesn’t return the blocked FG for a TD, it’s not close. Duh. Well, if Bama doesn’t hit a 44-yard pass late, UGA still has the lead. If Bama doesn’t tip that last pass UGA catches it. In the end zone for the win or, at the least, gets another play. Even the stupid can see how stupid remarks like that are. The point is, the plays were made as well as so many others that made this a great college football game. Should UGA have spiked it? maybe. It’s not the black and white issue some of you experts make it. Bama was rattled and scrambling, Georgia felt the chance was there to catch them out of position or somewhat diarrayed rather than spiking and letting them get settled. Hindsight is 20/20 but hatred is blind. Going 11-2, coming within five yards of the BCS title game and losing a game for the ages to a very good team doesn’t mean the coaches, players and program sucks. Quite the opposite, it is a strong accomplishment. Congratulations to Alabama for a gutty, well-deserved win. Congratulations to Georgia for putting up one helluva fight. And my condolences to the unfortunate friends and family members who have to love with the haters who see this any other way.
UgaDawg97
December 2nd, 2012
10:41 am
Dave, quit whinning, we had our shot and blew it. We played a 3 game season and went 1-2. We deserve a lower bowl.
Darrel
December 2nd, 2012
10:41 am
Bull pups usually do pretty good until its time for the game to beome mental and then of course, it breaks down like this one did! Nick Saban must strike fear into the hearts of all the other coaches, or so it seems! When will coaches, all of them, realize that they need to find a real manly style kicker for field goals and PAT’s who can kick a straight football and get over this damm soccer-style craze. I watched more misses this week-end and last than ever and it’s all because of the stupid side of the foot “slapping” of the football. Someone needs to show these meatheads some old footage of guys like George Blanda, Lou Groza, etc. who kicked straight up and at long distances!
UgaDawg97
December 2nd, 2012
10:43 am
You have to take opportunities like this when they come. Bottom line, windows of opportunity are tight and this one closed.
bigdog
December 2nd, 2012
10:44 am
Winners win, losers lose
UgaDawg97
December 2nd, 2012
10:46 am
A loss is a loss is a lose. Now it’s bye bye JJ, Ogeltree, Rambo, and hopefully AM.
Darrel
December 2nd, 2012
10:49 am
Hey, don’t feel so bad! Georgia was voted number one “party” school in the nation for drinking and partying so they can do something no matter how meager it is. I bet they even score high in knocking up girl friends at UGA, too! When they’re out of jai, of course!