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
9:37 pm
Coaching staff had the team ready. Dawgs played hard. Nothing to be ashamed of. Bama is simply the best team in the country. Unless you guys are planning on hiring Saban- most of you people are idiots.
No champs
December 1st, 2012
9:37 pm
PALE RIDER agreed, and to 4th generation, Alabama are just kids too, so is Florida, so is LSU, and so is Auburn. The difference– national championship!!!
DaTruth
December 1st, 2012
9:37 pm
I’ll say it again like I said it before, Mark Richt is comfortable with losing ballgames and all those talented players for Georgia will only experience the taste of victory when they make it to the NFL. Akeem Dent with the Falcons, Knowshon with Denver, and Dannell Ellerbe with the Ravens have a chance this year. It’s sad because they all had a chance with UGA, and the players will never say it but that’s why they leave and go to the NFL early. When you see Tebow and Harvin stay 2 extra years for Florida you know they knew they would win a title. Unfortunately for Georgia, top players leave because with Mark Richt, it’s not gonna happen. Knowshon, Stafford, A.J., WHO ELSE?
dawg52
December 1st, 2012
9:37 pm
A batted pass, not a botched playcall, cost us tonite. That, and inability to slow down ground attack. Playcalling was good as could be, coaches were into streetfight of a game. We were 1 or 2 plays from dethroning the Sabanites. It is what it is. Dawgs hold your heads up. Bama go punish the Irish. Dawgs go flatten ur bowl opponent. End it right this year!! Nuff said!!
Standawg
December 1st, 2012
9:38 pm
Bama, you DON’T appreciate what has happened to your team. No respect, I friggin hate hate Bama and my family who roots for them. Good ridance, I hope it’s a loong time before i SEE YOU/
nard
December 1st, 2012
9:38 pm
UGA YOU HAD YOUR CHANCE # TRY AGAIN NEXT YEAR
Cdawg
December 1st, 2012
9:38 pm
Hats off to Bama and Coach Nick Saban, now go beat the Irish. Proud to be a Georgia Bulldawg this night. Great effort by the Dawgs, we just came up a little short.
georgia fan
December 1st, 2012
9:38 pm
calls can be missed, but the number of calls that Alabama got away with was beyond anything i have ever seen before. It was more important because Alabama can not throw the ball. that was painfully obvious. i holding call meant Alabama punts. Alabama will not get away with this in the bcs game.
Gee Golly Batman?
December 1st, 2012
9:38 pm
Proud OF YOU DAWGS! PROUD, KEEP YOUR HEADS UP! GOOD game BAMA, fought till the end!
leslie22h
December 1st, 2012
9:38 pm
DaTruth, how do you loose a game?
nard
December 1st, 2012
9:39 pm
HAS UGA EVER WON AT THE GEORGIA DOME????????? #LOL GO PUPS!
Pale Rider
December 1st, 2012
9:39 pm
Simple facts- Alabama has a better offensive line, a better defense, and better coaching. Shouldn’t UGA be able to find guys who can block, catch and tackle?
Makemyday
December 1st, 2012
9:40 pm
You stop the CLOCK!! Then you settle your team, get right players in and you throw into Endzone twice. Stupid Call by OC.
hhbo
December 1st, 2012
9:40 pm
Face it Folks…
Georgia is the scruffy, working class kid who somehow was allowed into the Big Dance and has every intention of walking away with the Belle of the Ball. It’s just that no one ever takes that big ol’ kid seriously. There he is, red clay all over his well worn boots, a gap-toothed grin on his enthusiastic face, a “just glad to be here” whiff about his Woolworth’s suit. The hosts an
d society gossips barely acknowledge him. They’re just thrilled to pieces that the Big Names are here in all their finery, that Bama Man with his fine pedigree of 13 or more (he would fiercely argue more) “Ball King” sashes, that green clad Irishman sporting his own double digit victories, storied in cinema and song. They’re polite and will say the right condescending things to and about the Georgian, but they know he doesn’t really belong here.
But the big Georgian is used to that. He knows they’ve never really taken him seriously. He knows the society gossipers think he snuck in on luck and doesn’t really have what it takes. And that’s just fine with him, because while the powers that be are talking it up with the Big Names, and while the gossipy ones are batting their eyes and preening their feathers hoping for attention from those old school aristocrats, he is paying attention ONLY to the goal at hand, working and planning and focused so hard that it’s a coal fired Hell of burning desire that won’t be denied.
That’s our Dawgs, and that’s us, and that’s an identity that I personally love having. Bring it on, G_ddammit! Throw every Saban spawned move you have at us, Tide. Let’s do this thing, and history will tell who really gets to the Big Dance!
Bottom line…. This is the game *and team* I expected at South Carolina and failed to show up. I’m thankful and fortunate that the ‘dawgs were in position to win the game in the final seconds. I understand the play call and won’t second guess. A split second sooner or later, a mere inch right or the left and that’s a touchdown to win. Alabama should be *extremely* thankful and fortunate that luck won the game for them. When Nick Saban says he’s about to have a heart attack, you know who won the game…. Regardless of score.
BamaStan
December 1st, 2012
9:40 pm
I smell chicken sandwiches!
Ant man
December 1st, 2012
9:41 pm
No spike ,wow!,,,,,,,still don’t understand.
TrueFan
December 1st, 2012
9:41 pm
Anybody that bashes the DAWGS isn’t a true fan and I certainly hope is not a fellow alumni. DAWGS played what will undoubtedly end up the football school of the decade and gave them a close ride. All the bad mouthing; amazing. Can you imagine if all companies felt they should fire/dis all but the absolute #1 employee? – guess that would make all of you bad-mouthers fired trash.
Loyal Dawg
December 1st, 2012
9:42 pm
DaTruth=DaMoron.
Standawg
December 1st, 2012
9:42 pm
From Alumus(which most of you bandwagon, dreamful fans aren’t): Mark Richt a great coach, and I hope he’s with Georgia for many many, years to come.
snoop dawgy dawg
December 1st, 2012
9:43 pm
@BamaStan
Your a classless sack of crap
Slinkie
December 1st, 2012
9:44 pm
Priceless: the tears in grown men’s eyes after today’s loss. That’s just how I see most DWAG fans – losers who derive their sole sense of self-worth (and arrogance) based on the success of a football team from a college they could never get into. You call Tech fans nerds and losers, but at least we rely on our personal accomplishments and not that of a bunch of kids playing a GAME. Bwah hahahahaha. Here’s a tissue.
AthensBorn
December 1st, 2012
9:44 pm
I cannot believe it all my co workers were right……we would fight hard but we are not that type of football program. What the heck?
Either way I am DAWG fan just and wish we prove them wrong.
Loyal Dawg
December 1st, 2012
9:44 pm
CMR critics are whinners and cowards.
snoop dawgy dawg
December 1st, 2012
9:44 pm
@nard
you and BamaStan should date
Standawg
December 1st, 2012
9:44 pm
Bama. They don’t appreciate it. They just run around dreamful. Bama sucked just a few years ago.
Orlando Dawg
December 1st, 2012
9:45 pm
I am not crying about the refs but Alec Ogletree’s hit on bama QB was not a penalty! Now the hit on A. Murray was helmet to helmet and intentional…that guy should sit.
BamaStan
December 1st, 2012
9:45 pm
Snoop dawgy dawg, this coming from someone who pulls for a team full of thugs. Have fun watching the BCS NC game. I’ll be pulling for you in the chicken sandwich bowl. Loser!
snoop dawgy dawg
December 1st, 2012
9:45 pm
@slinkie
what accomplishments
stephen
December 1st, 2012
9:46 pm
Alabama needed to win. It’s the only thing their fans have to live for.
Standawg
December 1st, 2012
9:46 pm
Bama. They don’t care. National championship what? Yeah good yay. They don’t appreciate it.
Discount DoubleDawg
December 1st, 2012
9:46 pm
Just got home from the game… what a heartbreaker. It was a heavy weight fight and we traded blows until the end with a team who will most likely win the National Championship game. Bama’s O-line was the difference. I am proud of our team and the coaches. Sure, I wish we could have the last play over again but all in all we played good enough to have a shot to beat Bama as the last seconds ticked off the clock.
Hopefully we will come back stronger. Go DAWGS!
dlink
December 1st, 2012
9:46 pm
Awesome game. Win, Lose, or Draw – that was a game worth watching. ‘Nuff said, GT fan.
Loyal Dawg
December 1st, 2012
9:46 pm
nard is a GT troll
nard
December 1st, 2012
9:47 pm
HATS OFF TO MARK RICHT FOR NOT CLOCKING THE BALL #GO DAWGS!!!!
Pale Rider
December 1st, 2012
9:47 pm
The state of Georgia produces athletes second only to Florida- but nothing to show for all the talent. Something needs to change.
Loyal Dawg
December 1st, 2012
9:47 pm
Enter your comments here
Jimmy
December 1st, 2012
9:47 pm
It’s already been stated, but Bama doesn’t have better players, just better coaches. I hope Richt and staff appologized to those kids after the game because coaching cost them this game. Spike the ball and you have three more chances w/ 15 seconds, rather than one. It’s too high a risk/reward factor not to spike that ball. The coaches failed the players tonight. Now we have two a-hole coaches vying for the championship and the Dawgs playing in the Outback?? Unbelievable.
Orlando Dawg
December 1st, 2012
9:47 pm
And would the GT fans get off our blog, I know Bama fans have more class than you posers…
Lambert Dawg
December 1st, 2012
9:47 pm
Alabama was SAVED BY THE BELL!!! Saban said it would be a heavy weight fight and it was.
The Dawgs left it all on the field and just ran out of time. Man this hurts. Congratlations to Alabama.
This team has made me proud to be a Georgia Bulldog. Congratulations to Coach Richt, his staff and all these players who left everything they had in the Georgia Dome. They deserved to win.
Standawg
December 1st, 2012
9:47 pm
Bama. National championship. What’s that? Yeah good. They don’t don’t care. YAY Bamer/
snoop dawgy dawg
December 1st, 2012
9:48 pm
@BamaSt
Go back to your cave if a had a rickshaw full of F%^$’s i give about your opinion and they were just spilling all over the place i would go back and pick up all of them
Loyal Dawg
December 1st, 2012
9:49 pm
GT fans should be watching their team; I guess they don’t care.
BamaStan
December 1st, 2012
9:50 pm
1980 was a long time ago…
Pete
December 1st, 2012
9:50 pm
Murray played a fine game. Despite UGA being powerless to stop run, this loss is on offensive play calling. Next to last drive hated to see Gurley get within 1 yard of 1rst down because knew coaches would call for run up middle(knew wouldn’t work). Would have preferred 3rd and 4 so they would have passed. Then on last drive SPIKE ball and get organized.
The Bear
December 1st, 2012
9:51 pm
UGA played a great game! Why are so many folks on hee dogging Richt? Both coaches did bad clock management Saban first half , Richt second half?
Hairy Dawg
December 1st, 2012
9:51 pm
Artie Lynch made some plays at the end. (Sure would like to see some TE throws on third and short, wouldn’t you?) That stuffing of Gurley on 3rd and 1 in the 4th quarter really hurt. I don’t know why Bobo thought that would work. That play and the last one will stick in my craw for a long, long time. We made some big plays in the game, but the good will always be outweighed by the bad in a game like this with a chance like we had.
nard
December 1st, 2012
9:51 pm
1980 & COUNTING #FACT
snoop dawgy dawg
December 1st, 2012
9:51 pm
@Loyal Dawg
they don’t even know they have a team
Loyal Dawg
December 1st, 2012
9:51 pm
Proud to be a Dawg. Great job by the coaches getting the team ready. Players left it all on the field.
4TH Generation Dawg Grad
December 1st, 2012
9:51 pm
To No Champs, I was including the Alabama players in my comments. Yes they are kids too and no one should be trashing them either. Go back and re-read, the implication was there! However, having said that, I did not read any of the Bama players being called out by name on this blog like the Georgia players. And yes, every collgiate player is a kid, and that is my point exactly. No one should be trashing any kid. They all do their best for their respective schools. You can make a meaningful and articulate point on what ever your positition is without trashing kids.