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
Who Me?
December 1st, 2012
10:23 pm
Standawg = what is Bamer?? do you mean Bammer?? Bamer sounds like a southern girl saying a foreign car name….not short for Bama.
Andrew Lipham
December 1st, 2012
10:23 pm
Fire Bobo. Hire Petrino. Bobo is too incompetent.
Richt Must Go
December 1st, 2012
10:23 pm
BamaStan,
Alabama is the most ignorant state in a pool of 50. I’m sure you fit in.
Standawg
December 1st, 2012
10:23 pm
Hey Bamer, rent it.
Pale Rider
December 1st, 2012
10:24 pm
CMR replacement is an easy choice- Kirby Smart
Loyal Dawg
December 1st, 2012
10:24 pm
Again, fire CMR crowd, who would YOU hire?
snoop dawgy dawg
December 1st, 2012
10:24 pm
@Big Gator
We beat Florida the last two years
Cruizin
December 1st, 2012
10:25 pm
Thought it was a classic game and Dawg players should be proud. Bama just too much power and powerful offense line. Georgia commits too many penalties and undusciplined like their coach. Coach Richt classless in CBS post game interview and never gave congrats to Bama. Hope he nevers wins another game
Roll Tide
Standawg
December 1st, 2012
10:25 pm
R E N T I T
Big Gator
December 1st, 2012
10:25 pm
I think I rather have a coach like Myers, Saban who stays 7 years and win titles then one who stays 15 years and never play for one.
Loyal Dawg
December 1st, 2012
10:25 pm
Saban is better than Kirby Smart. NEXT.
Thomas
December 1st, 2012
10:25 pm
I think an new offensive coordinator is in order for UGA!
Loyal Dawg
December 1st, 2012
10:26 pm
Saban is better than Meyer. NEXT.
snoop dawgy dawg
December 1st, 2012
10:27 pm
@Big Gator
You can’t even spell your former coaches name right
Poor dawg fans
December 1st, 2012
10:27 pm
Dawg1- we jus saw the national championship game, you must be kidding. Your dawgs are lucky to be in the sec championship game, with that weak schedule they played. Had they played bama and LSU this year, they would have three loses. You saw what happened last year when they played LSU and what happened this year. Georgia is overrated, every year.
indianaDawgfan
December 1st, 2012
10:27 pm
Hey Disgusted, I appreciate your response. I have tried giving up on Georgia. I tried to root for other teams. I can’t. I grew up there listening to Larry Munson. But I understand the anger. We have underperformed. We weren’t as good as they were tonight. If we were, we wouldn’t have had them running for a million yards. Don’t lose your passion.
Pale Rider
December 1st, 2012
10:27 pm
Saban won’t be long at Alabama- he’s already stayed longer than his norm- we missed Muschamp, now we’ll miss on Smart.
But- Richt doesn’t have the fire- he’s warm and comfy among the Christians in Georgia
Standawg
December 1st, 2012
10:27 pm
I’m just nad because Auburn didn’t RENT Nick Saban. Hehehe. R E N T.
Big Gator
December 1st, 2012
10:28 pm
snoop dawgy dawg
I am so glad you beat Fla, after we was wining 18 out of 21 the rival was getting one sided, we went on to win championships.
Rob
December 1st, 2012
10:28 pm
Alabama squeaks by Georgia . Georgia squeaks by Florida. Florida kills South Carolina that beats Georgia. Florida beats Texas A &M that’s beats Alabama at home. Florida beats them all as to strength of schedule. Why does Alabama automatically play for the national championship? Florida should be in the BCS championship discussion!
dddf's
December 1st, 2012
10:28 pm
Rent-a-coach! Sour grapes?
ATLBAMAFAN
December 1st, 2012
10:28 pm
Dang, Loyal Dawg- you’re bringing the heavy artilliary. LOL!
Standawg
December 1st, 2012
10:28 pm
R E N T
Standawg
December 1st, 2012
10:30 pm
Do you own? NO – I R E N T Nick Saban.
Pale Rider
December 1st, 2012
10:30 pm
Loyal Dawg is happy with 8 or 9 wins and a Cotton Bowl
Overrated
December 1st, 2012
10:31 pm
Dawg1- go home and lick your wounds. Name rushed for almost 400 yards on your pups, and you are taking about we saw the national championship game tonight. I want some of what you are smoking, that has got to be the best sufff in the world.
ATLBAMAFAN
December 1st, 2012
10:32 pm
Pale Rider, who woul YOU hire?
dennydog
December 1st, 2012
10:32 pm
But.. but …..wait….. didnt bama know that we had more talent !
indianaDawgfan
December 1st, 2012
10:32 pm
Gator fans, are you watching the reruns of the games three years ago and further? It’s fun to remember when you won isn’t it? It’s fun to watch the past.
Cruizin
December 1st, 2012
10:32 pm
Keep coach richt. Championships aren’t everything there is. Just keep telling yourself this.
Loyal Dawg
December 1st, 2012
10:33 pm
ATLBAMAFAN- you beat me to the question.
NYC Dawg
December 1st, 2012
10:33 pm
The Dawgs beat the teams we want to beat the most:
UT
Florida
Auburn
Tech
We won the East, and played at an extremely high level in the SECCG.
We will likely finish in the Top 10.
That’s an extremely successful year. Period.
Fire the coach? You’ve got to be kidding.
Our NC will come. The playoffs will be our friend. Be patient.
RDUdawg
December 1st, 2012
10:33 pm
Dawgs competed well today…a change from what we’ve seen in recent high profile games. Good for them. Gut wrenching way to lose at the end. There are always what ifs…what if we hadn’t missed the FG…what if we’d stopped the 2 pt conversion…what if SABAN hadn’t screwed up clock mgmt in the 1st half. I’m proud of the Dawgs today. We finally saw a game Murray on a big stage…that’s the best you’re going to get out of him. Just not enough.
Truth
December 1st, 2012
10:33 pm
Great game by both teams. At a loss as the GA fans were declaring a complete beatdown of AL. Guess GA never got the memo. You can talk all you want but you still have to play the game. Congrats to both teams on a great game.
Jimmy
December 1st, 2012
10:33 pm
I’ve never seen a QB w/ such hollow career stats as Muarry; 9000 career yards along with 80 whatever TDs. The facts are that he’s 1-11 against Top 10 teams. He can’t throw from one hash to the other and if anyone think he’s going to be an NFL QB is surely mistaken. He’ll be back next year no doubt.
Big Gator
December 1st, 2012
10:33 pm
snoop dawgy dawg
Come on, 32 years is a long time, with all the talent thru the last 30 years not one title game, we have a second year coach and headed to the sugar, Meyer comes to UF and wins 2 nat in 6 years, Mark R. 15 years and never played for one.
GATA
December 1st, 2012
10:33 pm
Say what you want, but I’m dammed proud of the way this team fought and didn’t roll over.
snoop dawgy dawg
December 1st, 2012
10:34 pm
@ Big Gator
You can’t spell and we have the all time series lead
Pale Rider
December 1st, 2012
10:34 pm
Kirby Smart for HC at Georgia- shore up that defense at UGA
Disgusted
December 1st, 2012
10:34 pm
I am as frustrated at the apologetic fans than I am with the team.
And will we ever get the kind of QB that can win in the big games — Same problems we had with Stafford whom Buck Belue called the “Rock Star” Quarterback. He was supposed to be this and that you would swear he was John Elway II.
Murray has accomplished more than Stafford has as a UGA QB, but for whatever reason he falls short in the biggest games.
And please all of UGA Nation — Stop blaming the refs — we got a couple of bad calls but they missed some holding calls that should have been called on our guys.
Every yr there is this issue of guys getting in trouble, suspended, etc. Imagine if those suspended players started the season with the team — might have run the table. We will never know.
I look at the 2012 UGA Football season as a missed opprtunity to do one of those things you do few and far in between — Win a championship. It was there — and it got away.
Please people do not be satisfied with this season given this level of talent.
Standawg
December 1st, 2012
10:35 pm
FOR RENT – Nick Saban.
Jimmy
December 1st, 2012
10:35 pm
No congrats to the UGA players are in order. The fact that this team is a constant under dog with all of this NFL talent is a joke. NFL rosters are filled w/ UGA players yet what do they have to show for it in college? Absolutely positively nothing! Never has a team done so little with so much. Pathetic is what Richt and his staff truly are.
Big Dawg Fan
December 1st, 2012
10:35 pm
For all of those who are faulting Richt or Murray for the loss, I have a suggestion…why don’t you root for another school? You aren’t good enough to be a UGA fan.
Carolina Dawg
December 1st, 2012
10:35 pm
Thank you 2012 Dawgs. You played your hearts out tonight. Truly an exciting game that could have gone either way. Unfortunately, this will be a character building moment in your life. Your life will be filled with many disappointments, and how you learn to deal with these situations will determine if you will be a winner or LOSER in life. Choose to be a WINNER and be proud of your efforts! WIN whatever bowl game you end up playing in! You definitely deserve a BCS bid.
fencedawg
December 1st, 2012
10:35 pm
I am proud of the Dawgs effort, and I am proud of our coach. We don’t buy players, we don’t rent coaches, we win together and lose together. If your focus is putting down our team because of this loss….you are not a Georgia fan or a football fan in general. Once a DAWG always a DAWG.
Loyal Dawg
December 1st, 2012
10:35 pm
Fire Mark Richt crowd can’t answer the question.
Big Gator
December 1st, 2012
10:36 pm
NYC Dawg
Thats right always aim low and watch other people play for NAT,
Scooby
December 1st, 2012
10:36 pm
Good game dowgs, at least you didn’t stink up the the joint this year. You made Bama earn it. As a Gamecock, can’t say I’m sad but you repesented the east. See y’all in Sept ‘13.
Johnny Sak
December 1st, 2012
10:36 pm
32 years of being irrelevant sux.
RDUdawg
December 1st, 2012
10:36 pm
How is John Jenkins a sure-fire 1st round pick by the way when teams can routinely run for 300+ yards against our D…which is talented? He’s a good player but he’s vastly OVERRATED. You couldn’t run on Mt. Cody back in his day with Bama.
Alec Ogletree will be fun to watch at next level…he’s a stud.