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
pooh p
December 1st, 2012
9:20 pm
Get over it people. Mark Tricked doesn’t care. As long as he can make millions on the backs of the poor and drive his fancy truck around town. I’m sure he is in his limo right now laughing at you sheeple.
Bulldog Fan From Way Back to "73
December 1st, 2012
9:20 pm
Biggest cheap shot I’ve ever seen that didnt get called on AL when they decked Murray after intercept near end of first half. Wonder if AL would have socred if proepr 15 yd. penalty had been charged. Numeopru othe bad calls by refs in seoncd half aginast GA but that’s what happens when you’re AL and Saban. GA played great but got screwed.
Coffee Bluff DAWG
December 1st, 2012
9:21 pm
Got to give it up to the AL O line and running game – THAT was the difference in the game. D was winded and had no answers in much of the late 3rd and 4th Q.
Great game by both UGA and AL – was a shame someone had to lost that one.
Have to say AL beats ND by 28 – not even worth watching.
GaDawg97
December 1st, 2012
9:21 pm
I say we vote Aaron Murray off Dawg Island. The guy defines a choker.
Loyal Dawg
December 1st, 2012
9:22 pm
Anyone that was not entertained by that game doesn’t have a heartbeat. The officiating was atrocious; but that’s football. Great job UGA coaches. Had them ready to play.
Rambo Dog
December 1st, 2012
9:22 pm
DAWG
December 1st, 2012
8:49 pm
DAWG, the crap you have from Wal Mart, no one wants. Especially with your smell on it. Get lost, UGA is too good for you, a GT little boy, I am sure.
roger
December 1st, 2012
9:23 pm
Enter your comments here
BamaStan
December 1st, 2012
9:23 pm
Have a chicken sandwich on New Year’s Eve for me…LOSERS!
Loyal Dawg
December 1st, 2012
9:24 pm
Watching the ACC Champ game (not really sure why), tons of blue seats empty. Shameful.
Bulldog
December 1st, 2012
9:24 pm
All the talent UGA has had and nothing to show for it?! Someone has to take the blame. Im too tired of “WAIT TIL NEXY YEAR” Im over this bullshlt. Something has to give, now! No doubt in my mind Saban or Miles or hell, Mushchamp wouldve won with this talent we had this year. TIRED OF EXCUSES.
Shankit
December 1st, 2012
9:24 pm
4 point loss. Difference in game was the two point conversion. Dawgs could have kicked field goal at end with two point deficit
sherlock
December 1st, 2012
9:24 pm
help the needy, more dollars for richt, please.
roger
December 1st, 2012
9:25 pm
we played our best and came up short, love our dawgs, and always will…..what a game just really hurting for our players, if you ever played the game you would know how they feel….PROUD TO BE A DAWG!!
BamaStan
December 1st, 2012
9:25 pm
And next year Muschamp will have the Gators back in their annual game in Atlanta against us.
change
December 1st, 2012
9:26 pm
if we can’t win it with this team it ain’t ever gonna happen. richt is a great guy but the best we ever gonna be is second.
just the truth
December 1st, 2012
9:26 pm
Cmon everybody saw this coming. Georgia can only beat the weak teams and lose to the good teams. They have a long history of this. When will we get a real team that wants to win. Too many players that are only out for themself . Just watch how many juniors that try to come out
Shankit
December 1st, 2012
9:27 pm
Nano hold calls or roughing the passer, flagrant.
Marietta Dawg
December 1st, 2012
9:28 pm
The Dawgs played great!!! The penalties is what blew it for us…
buckmaster
December 1st, 2012
9:28 pm
For some like the Dawg post sale your stuff we don’t need fans like you. I’m proud to be a Ga fan and proud of Coach Richt. We got within one play of getting a shot. It’s not easy and couldn’t be prouder of a great group of coaches and players. Go Dawgs
BamaStan
December 1st, 2012
9:28 pm
Played a 3 game season and went 1-2. Have fun in the chicken bowl against the acc runner up.
georgia fan
December 1st, 2012
9:28 pm
anyone who says they had the talent and should have won is full of it. evenly matched teams come down to mistakes and officiating. that is just the way it is. Georgia was the better team, just not 10 points better.
Lawson
December 1st, 2012
9:29 pm
No sane/cogent person with any knowledge of football can call the last 20 seconds of the game anything but a farce. With 15 seconds on the clock, instead of spiking the ball and having two if not three shots at the end zone, Murray WASTES 7 seconds getting a play a called and the moron receiver CT he’s the ball in traffic …game over.
Georgia lost the game via it’s grossly overrated defense and their failure to stop Bama’s running game but still they had a chance and just plain blew it.
I am in shock at this total failure of clock management. Richt is an idiot!
Footballrules
December 1st, 2012
9:29 pm
Cant stand the DAWGS, but still, you have to give a tip of the hat to them. Dadgum good season. Glad your defense will be weaker next year.
Rick in Warner Robins
December 1st, 2012
9:29 pm
What’s the big deal, they weren’t expected to win anyway…anyone that knew anything about football didn’t expect then to win. Bama would have won by another touchdown had they not been screwed on that so-called tipped pass that wasn’t tipped.
WtfWruthnkn
December 1st, 2012
9:29 pm
You have to be a real loser to post the same BS under different screen names
Standawg
December 1st, 2012
9:30 pm
All I’ve got to say to any Bama fan is Huray, you don’t appreciate it. Go Irish.
anon1
December 1st, 2012
9:31 pm
Go back to the beginning of the season. Favorable schedule but suspensions in first 4 games. Even with that, projected to lose maybe one with their schedule and play for SEC championship. Don’t have the defense to stop the run and lose. Almost got lucky and went to the next level. With the loses on the defense, it will be more difficult if their schedule is harder next season. We’ll see how they respond against maybe Texas in the Cotton Bowl. If they lose, it will carry over and Murray will leave I think.
nard
December 1st, 2012
9:31 pm
UGA IS RANKED HIGH EVERY YEAR, UGA HAD THERE CHANCE FOR A NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP, THEY BLEW IT IN THE GEORGIA DOME #SHAMEFUL
Bama Fan#2
December 1st, 2012
9:31 pm
Tip of the hat to the DAWGS!!
ROLL TIDE!!! TIME FOR SOME SERIOUS PAYBACK TO
ND!! I HATE ND MORE THAN THE COW COLLEGE AND
UT PUT TOGETHER!! rtr
The Bear
December 1st, 2012
9:31 pm
UGA played a hell of a game! Both teams were playing hardnosed football.
Roll Tide
SEC the Best
Moist Dawg
December 1st, 2012
9:31 pm
That game was a disgrace. Let the backup start next year and get a coach that can actually win a big game. I’m embarrased by the effort.
georgia fan
December 1st, 2012
9:31 pm
anyone who thinks Alabama will be back in the championship game is crazy. they are losing their line and will not beat either lsu or texas A&M. i look for a florida against texas a & m match up.
3rdn8
December 1st, 2012
9:32 pm
Congratulations to the UGA, and Alabama football teams. They left everything they had on that field. That’s all any of us should have the right to hope for. One team happened to be leading when the clock ran out. College football doesn’t get any better than that.
Loyal Dawg
December 1st, 2012
9:32 pm
The stupidity on the boad is astounding.
No champs
December 1st, 2012
9:32 pm
I agree with “Da Truth”, Mark Richt is good and so is UGA, but thats all they will ever be without a change. Unfortunately the culture with the program is to just be “good”, not great. Until the culture of the program changes this will never change. We lose alot of talent on Defense for next year, South Carolina or Florida will win the East. THIS SUCKS!!!!
zack
December 1st, 2012
9:32 pm
why would you spike the ball?? that just gives Bama time to get set and catch their breath… Richt tried to catch em off guard, wasnt a bad call at all
santoka
December 1st, 2012
9:32 pm
I bleed crimson but UGA played a heckuva game. If they drop below Florida in the polls something is wrong.
A little funny, fair for the emotion of the game as Georgia is a very talented team, however, the gator’s resume is much better than UGA’s.
GoIrish!
December 1st, 2012
9:32 pm
You people that believe the refs called this game one sided are crazy. I watched a very balanced called ballgame. I believe the refs SUCKED – on BOTH sides. They missed penalities on BOTH teams. Get over it – the refs did not cause Georgia to lose NOR Alabama to win. The IRISH will dominate Alabama just like it would have dominated Geogia if they would have won. GO IRISH!
4TH Generation Dawg Grad
December 1st, 2012
9:33 pm
OMG! Are you people freaking crazy?!!!!
First to all of the Dawg Haters and Dawg Breakers– these young men playing in this game are KIDS. You come on here anonymously and trash them because you pull for another team or don’t like our coaches. GET OVER YOURSELVES. These kids, on both teams, played their hearts out and both sides played a great game. If you have kids of your own and are coming on here and attacking these players, especially by name, like Aaron Murray, you are heartless and classless. I don’t care if you aren’t a DAWG fan. How would you feel if a total stranger with out the guts to tell you who they are personally attacked your child in a media forum? I would venture to say that not only would it hurt your heart, it would royally piss you off. Think before you type something hateful about a kid who is playing with all they have for a school they love.
Secondly, seriously, you want a coach and staff who has now gone 11-2 including their conference game and was 8 seconds away from playing for a MNC fired? That is absurd. Do you know how many D-1 teams would want to be in our place? Most all of them. The Georgia coaches had a good game plan and just a couple of 3 and outs by our offense did not give our D time to make needed adjustments and rest. It the O gets just one more 1st down, the D doesn’t give up the points to Bama. They planned and the kids played a great and clean game and should be congratulated and praised, not trashed. It tells me that we are so very close to where we want to be because people only trash you and tear you down because they want to be you or have what you have. Keep it up DAWGS– you have so many fans that love and support you!
buckmaster
December 1st, 2012
9:34 pm
Not just this game but Bama never gets called for holding and you see it on replays a lot.
Standawg
December 1st, 2012
9:34 pm
And to my family members who run around, yay Bama, you don’t appreciate it. I don’t want to see these people for at least 3 years. Merry Chrismas, clueless idiots.
Pale Rider
December 1st, 2012
9:34 pm
I just don’t think Mark Richt can get it done at UGA.
Bright Side
December 1st, 2012
9:34 pm
Although the coaches should have called for a spike with 15 seconds left (which certainly would have provided two–rather than zero–shots at the end zone), the reasons we lost this game were (1) Bama’s offensive line, and (2) our failure to wrap up when tackling (which is harder to do when the back doesn’t get hit until he’s gained six yards). The good news is what our o-line has a chance to be like Bama’s in a year or two. Remember we’re young (a true freshman at OT?!), and nothing is more important for an o-line than experience. As for our inability to tackle, I think part of it stems from trying to strip the ball, instead of trying to put someone into the ground. We’ve got a lot to work on, but we’ve come a long way since the South Carolina and Kentucky games. We’ll lose a lot of talent to the NFL, but some young unknowns will step up. Grantham will find some boys who want to lay the wood. Despite Jarvis and Tree being very athletic and good players, they are not what I’d call great hitters. I’m bummed and rambling, and everyone knows this stuff, but there you go.
marseilles mutt
December 1st, 2012
9:35 pm
Might not have Bobo to kick around next year if Jay Jacobs doesn’t get Kirby. According to the talk
both, or either, might end up at AU or Tennessee, depending on whom you believe.
Could be wrong, but neither can be contacted until the season is over.
Healthwise, I hope I can hold on til next year ’cause the offense- plus this UGA recruiting class- ought to make for an interesting season.
georgia fan
December 1st, 2012
9:35 pm
i am sorry but look at the calls. they were one sided. beyond anything reasonable.
nick Saban
December 1st, 2012
9:36 pm
I’m glad no penalties were called on my team, other than 2 dead ball fouls (delay game and unsportsmanlike)
Thanks refs
Licking my wounds
December 1st, 2012
9:36 pm
Painful loss, especially to those inbreds but great game. Richt still has issues with clock management but he coached a good game but Saban coached his gameplan and won. We will get there oneday soon and it will be amazing. These players want to stay in Georgia and there’s better opportunities to work in Atlanta if you go to Georgia than Bama (unless you want to work in Birmingham) once your playing days are over.
GatorZone
December 1st, 2012
9:36 pm
Thanks for the last couple of years. We’ll take it from here boys. By the way, have in Atlanta on 12/31, we’ll be in New Orleans
The Bear
December 1st, 2012
9:37 pm
Quit crying about the Refs! To be honest they called a crappy game on both sides of the ball.
Orlando Dawg
December 1st, 2012
9:37 pm
Great Game! And we could have won…got beat deep on a good throw and catch…4 yd line when time ran out….Dang Proud of UGA and every player…now bama roll the Irish please!