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
PFW
December 1st, 2012
9:51 pm
UGA is a school with a football program. Bama is a football program with vocational classes. And we still almost won.
Standawg
December 1st, 2012
9:52 pm
Bamer. You’re going to the National Champioinship. Yeah, that’s a good thing. You got a rent-a-coach, much like Chesnik (or however you spell the rent-a-coach’s name), and you’re going to the NC, Yay. Be happy. That’s a good thing. I know you don’t appreciate it, but pretend to/
BamaStan
December 1st, 2012
9:52 pm
Snoop dawg, stay classy my friend. And good luck in the chicken sandwich bowl. Beat Clemson…SEC, SEC, SEC.
Loyal Dawg
December 1st, 2012
9:52 pm
snoop dawgy dawg. The ACC Championship game is shameful.
W.P. Miller
December 1st, 2012
9:53 pm
I am an Alabama fan and would say that the Bulldogs gave a tremendous effort tonight. Watched the game with a room full of Bama fans and I want to say we were deeply concerned. I feel you folks have a great team and deserve a BCS Bowl game. I think very highly of your coach. He is a class act. Before people trash the man, consider he has over 100 wins in Athens. You folks have nothing to be ashamed of. You gave Alabama everything you had and it was almost enough. The SEC is the greatest football conference in America and you folks help make it that way. My hat and many other Bama fans hats are off to you folks tonight. We wish you the best in your Bowl game.
snoop dawgy dawg
December 1st, 2012
9:53 pm
@BamaStan
I will stay classy you however will not
georgia fan
December 1st, 2012
9:53 pm
hindsight is always 20/20. everyone i talked to said they should have spiked the ball. sometimes things just do not work out. i feel the Georgia football program is on the way up, Alabama is done. we have gurley for 2 more years and a great offense. Georgia will be fine.
The Bear
December 1st, 2012
9:55 pm
@W.P. Miller I second that!
indianaDawgfan
December 1st, 2012
9:55 pm
We weren’t good enough up front. I don’t see any conspiracies, but I must say that the hit delivered on Murray has to get that player suspended from the BCS game. Don’t be too hard on Disgusted people. Here’s the thing. Alabama kicked everybody around in the 70’s, did nothing in the 80s, got overrun by Florida in the 90s, and was on probation for about five years last decade. Everything goes in cycles. They beat us tonight. We just play sharp enough.
snoop dawgy dawg
December 1st, 2012
9:55 pm
@Nard
not going to argue that he is very good but not elite
SimDog
December 1st, 2012
9:55 pm
alabama got every call in the book from the tide loving refs—ga didn’t get any breaks.
Scrod
December 1st, 2012
9:55 pm
Grandpa, tell me the story again about when UGA won the big game…
Marietta Dawg
December 1st, 2012
9:56 pm
It really is amazing how stupid most of the posts are here! Obviously it’s probably a bunch of teenagers that think they know everything, but really know nothing! Georgia and Alabama gave us a great game!!! That was really the two best teams in the nation playing tonight! Not to take anything away from ND, but they don’t play the caliber of talent that the SEC teams play… Alabama will beat ND and it wont be as close of a game that was played tonight….
Standawg
December 1st, 2012
9:56 pm
Bama fans don’t appreciate it. PERIOD><
JoFo
December 1st, 2012
9:57 pm
It was a lot closer than it looked! It literally boiled down to not spiking the ball & then hitting the TD! AL escaped by the skin of their teeth!!!!
GO DAWGS!!!!!!!!!
December 1st, 2012
9:57 pm
I AM PROUD OF THE DAWGS !WE LEFT IT ON THE FIELD AND TO DAVID POLLACK YOU ARE NOTHING BUT A TRAITOR ,YOU PICKED AGAINST DAWGS AND DOGGED YOUR ON TEAM ,YOU AND ESPN CAN STICK IT DAVID !!!!!!!!!YOU SOLD THE DAWGS DOWN THE RIVER !!!!!!!!!! GO DAWGS !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Angry Dawg Fan
December 1st, 2012
9:57 pm
Im not angry at the Dawgs, they played their guts out. I am not angry at the coaches for making a call. Would I have rather spiked it? Sure. If that ball wasn’t tipped by a HEADS UP BAMA PLAYER, we might be applauding a heads up play to catch Bama on their heels, OR got a second play off. Ifs and buts……
>
I’m even a little miffed that in a defining moment – UGA fell short – 5…..yards……short and again we’re on the outside looking in.
>
What I am MAD AT is all of the P.O.S. MORONS like “Disgusted” who walk in, spray crap all over the place like a seagull, and then just flit away. NO ONE needs you in this world – not a college, not a pro team, and not another human being. Take your general sad-sack attitude about life and haul-a%% elsewhere. WHat’s worse, you’re probably some moronic Tech fan that wouldn’t know class if it came up and mushroom stamped you on the forhead.
UGA has a LOT to be proud of, and some things to be concerned with that need to be addressed or that hump we keep trying to get over will be insurmountable. But by and large, the earth will still spin, the Dawgs are still one of the best teams in the country, and Bama better steamroll Notre Dame to show what the SEC is all about.
>
Dawgs – I for one am proud as hell because you went out and like a damn samurai, you died an honorable death and gave it ALL up on the field. I dont belive in moral victories – I think it’s a cop out….but this is as close to one as a team could get. Now go to whatver bowl you get, and beat the snot out of whomever you play. (and yes, UGA should be going to the Sugar…..gators are backsliding into one – so UF folks, just be gracious and go beat up Kent, or whoever gets tapped to go this year)
Dawgiestyle
December 1st, 2012
9:58 pm
Only good thing about the dawgs losing is the sympathy nookie my wife will give me tonight!!
BamaStan
December 1st, 2012
9:58 pm
Aww, snoopy dawgy, did I get uner your skin? Man up and take the L like a man. We’ll make sure we keep the NC in the conference next month. You guys worry about Clemson. SEC pride, c’mon man, no hard feelings.
44
December 1st, 2012
9:58 pm
Maybe if you didn’t spend the majority of your season playing Sisters of the Cupcakes you may have been better prepared..but as you inbreds say it and spell it, you are all nothing but a bunch of “LOOSERS”
BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH
ATLBamaFan
December 1st, 2012
9:58 pm
I don’t understand the people banging on Richt. We were lucky to pull that one out. A tipped pass at the end! UGA gave us a tremendous fight. That’s a great team and an excellent coaching staff you UGA fans have. You should appreciate it.
The Bear
December 1st, 2012
9:58 pm
@Standawg go cry somewhere else.
Standawg
December 1st, 2012
9:59 pm
Bama. They don’t really apprciate it, and in my opinion, don’t deserve it. So go talk college football with somebody else.
moresame
December 1st, 2012
9:59 pm
without those cheating refs, the dogs would have won that game by 10. notre dame will beat alabama–book it–they will not get all those calls.
Roy
December 1st, 2012
9:59 pm
Richt says we are knocking on the door of greatness
It was the wrong door
When will we catch up to GT’s 4 national championships
GO DAWGS!!!!!!!!!
December 1st, 2012
9:59 pm
DAVID POLLACK IS A TRAITOR TO THE BULLDAWG NATION !!!!!!!!!!!!!
mopardog
December 1st, 2012
9:59 pm
I tell you what. Bama won a hard fought game that came down to the final seconds. The Dawgs played their hearts out until the very end. They did not quit; they did not lay down, and didn’t get blown out. A really good game, probably the closest SECCG I’ve seen in a while. That being said I’m happy to say I felt no deep sadness over the loss. I’m just thankful I can read and spell, have indoor plumbing, my girlfriend is not a close relative, and that I fertilize trees instead of poisoning them. I live in the great state of Georgia where the football is excellent but not the only thing to hang your hat on. This message is ONLY intended for Tide fans here that place ridiculous posts claiming that a four point win is an utter ass whipping. To all the Tide fans that actually graduated, or even attended, the University of Alabama-I congratulate you on your victory.
Oh yeah, this goes out to “Now as close as it looked”. This game was WAY closer than the “W” is to the “T” on a computer keyboard. Learn how to type, and for God’s sake stop drinking so much. Seek help soon!
ATLBamaFan
December 1st, 2012
10:00 pm
W. P. Miller is correct. UGA fans have a first class head coach.
UGA Alummy
December 1st, 2012
10:00 pm
Richt should be fired. Not just for not spiking the ball to stop the clock, but for his entire career at UGA. He feasts on paid-off patsies and chokes in the big game. Over & over. I’m so sick of his phony bible-thumping hypocrisy that I hope UGA loses every game they play — as long as he is at the helm. I know this POV angers the UGA-pimps, but I’m a graduate of that 2nd-rate institution, so I possess a special right to judge them harshly.
Pale Rider
December 1st, 2012
10:00 pm
was it me, or did I see Aaron Murray running off the field without shaking hands or congratulating the other team?
snoop dawgy dawg
December 1st, 2012
10:00 pm
@BamaStan
Don’t get me wrong i will pull for bama but there was no need for some of your previous post
richt's Butt Cut
December 1st, 2012
10:00 pm
SPIKE THE F’ING BALL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
aw
December 1st, 2012
10:01 pm
Look I have been very Critical of UGA this year and years past, but they played a GREAT game and a mental error by the Conley cost them the game. It happens, doesn’t mean they are not one of the best teams in the country.
They will have a Great Offense next year! (so many coming back)
Defense will be their sticking point.
Who Me?
December 1st, 2012
10:01 pm
Yes the Dogs came to play but you have to execute fundamentals and we didn’t. Poor run tackling, underthrown passes several times, pathetic defensive calls – it was all there. Can’t win Championships when you don’t execute. Period. Woulda Shoulda Coulda don’t cut it.
sherlock
December 1st, 2012
10:01 pm
Long time since 1980. Keep buying those tickets, millionaire coaches need the money. Shame they aren’t evaluated annually.
Standawg
December 1st, 2012
10:01 pm
Bama. It just falls from the sky. Hey, thank you. You should like it. It’s a good thing, the NC game.
georgia fan
December 1st, 2012
10:01 pm
if you think Alabama will beat nd you are smoking something. the teams that tested nd could throw the ball Alabama can not. nd has a running qb and a very good line. i expect nd to win by 10 or more. i say that as someone who does not like nd, but understands football. Alabama won a game they should have lost. for whatever reason. that will not happen twice.
Whiznot
December 1st, 2012
10:02 pm
As usual in crucial games the Mark Richt manages to outsmart himself at the end of the game. Hurrying the last play in the hope that Bama would do something stupid and instead, lacking clarity, Conley stupidly catches the ball in bounds. Ninety-nine coaches out of a hundred would have spiked the ball but Georgia has the oddball who can’t think in times of crisis. Sad.
The Bear
December 1st, 2012
10:02 pm
Where is kerryb, Flo-rid-uh and the cast of other big mouths?You know who you are…….
Jacket Dad
December 1st, 2012
10:02 pm
I know you guys are heartbroken, but you played a great game. Just 5 more seconds and I think you would have pulled it out. That was one of the best games I’ve seen in quite some time.
Absolutely NO reason to hang your heads.
GO DAWGS!!!!!!!!!
December 1st, 2012
10:02 pm
KEVIN BUTLER AGREED HE SAID HERBSTREIT NEVER PICKS AGAINST HIS TEAM BUT POLLACK DID BUTLER CALLED HIM A TRAITOR ON THE BULLDAWGS CALL IN SHOW AFTER THE GAME,I AGREE
BamaStan
December 1st, 2012
10:03 pm
Now that’s what I like to hear! Roll Tide!
Loyal Dawg
December 1st, 2012
10:03 pm
UGA Alummy = fake
Who Me?
December 1st, 2012
10:03 pm
and BTW, Murray is at best an average quarterback. I give him his props he’s been a solid pro offense QB for UGA, but he doesn’t have the mental make up or the arm to make it as a starter in the NFL. He’ll get his shot of course, but he won’t last.
Moist Dawg
December 1st, 2012
10:04 pm
Anyone who is proud of the dawgs tonight should be fired as a fan and as long as our fans think it’s good enough to “try our best” we will keep losing big games.
Tonight was a disgrace and embarrasment.
Ghost of Sinkwich
December 1st, 2012
10:04 pm
Go Irish!
Pale Rider
December 1st, 2012
10:04 pm
UGA fans- don’t blame the refs- blame poor tackling, poor game planning adjustments (half-time), dropped balls, and poor game management (by the coaching staff). Players and coaches got outcoached and outplayed AGAIN- how long do we have to live with this?
Loyal Dawg
December 1st, 2012
10:04 pm
Folks, we just watched one of the best SEC Championship games ever. That’s grown man football.
Standawg
December 1st, 2012
10:04 pm
Dear Bama. It’s like the rich uncle who left you a ton of money, but you have no idea, why, how, or what. It’s good to go to the NC game. It’s a good thingy.
DaegTearsRYummy
December 1st, 2012
10:04 pm
Wow. You guys always choke soooo hard. You are terrible