Georgia’s final drive ends agonizingly short
The drive of his dreams turned into a nightmare.
Aaron Murray, Georgia’s quarterback, got the ball back one last time with 1:08 to play in the SEC Championship game, 85 yards to go for a game-winning, stuff-of-legend touchdown. Improbably, he got the Bulldogs 80 yards of the way. But there it ended, Georgia 5 yards short of a berth in the national championship game when the clock turned to all zeroes and Alabama began celebrating a 32-28 victory.
“To be (so close) to making probably one of the greatest comebacks in Georgia history, it stinks (to fall short),” Murray said.
“That’s something you dream of as a little kid, to win the game like that. And it’s just (awful) the way it ended, that’s for sure,” he added.
On the game’s last play, according to Murray and Georgia coach Mark Richt, Murray was attempting to throw to wide receiver Malcolm Mitchell in the back of the right end zone. The ball was tipped at the line of scrimmage and landed in the hands of receiver Chris Conley, who was stopped short of the end zone — a worse scenario for Georgia than an incomplete pass, which would have permitted time for another play.
Georgia had no timeouts remaining, and the final few seconds ticked off the clock after Conley’s catch.
Georgia’s final drive started at its own 15-yard line after an Alabama punt, the Crimson Tide leading by four points. The drive seemed to end on the fourth play, when officials on the field ruled a Murray pass intercepted. But after a review overturned the call, changing it to an incomplete pass because the ball had hit the ground, Murray completed passes on the next three plays — 15 yards to Arthur Lynch, 23 yards to Tavarres King, 26 yards over the middle to Lynch.
“Arte did a good job of hitting his landmark,” Richt said of the 26-yarder to Lynch, “and Murray did a good job of stepping up and putting it on him.”
That put the ball at the Alabama 8-yard line with nine seconds left on the clock. Richt vehemently defended his decision to run a hurry-up play at that point, rather than to spike the ball.
“You don’t spike the ball there,” he said. “We had the play we wanted. It takes time to spike the ball, and we’re thinking about maybe (getting) three plays there.
“The clock stopped for the first down (on Lynch’s catch) while we were getting to the line of scrimmage,” Richt said. “We called a play. We called a play we call ‘stout.’ It’s a fade by the outside receiver and a four-step speed-out by the inside receiver. We were attempting to throw the ball to the outside receiver. The ball got batted and just landed, unfortunately, right in the arms of our … inside receiver. Not a good thing, with no timeouts.
“We run that (inside) route because a lot of times … it grabs the attention of the cornerback … and hopefully gets the corner to think the ball might be going to the inside receiver. And then you throw it over the top. We were taking a shot. Again, the ball got batted. So what can you do?”
The play wound up as a 3-yard completion to Conley — surely the most disappointing pass completion of Murray’s quarterbacking career or Richt’s coaching career.
“Someone asked me just a second ago what I thought the difference was (in the game),” Richt said. “All I could think of was, we just ran out of time.”
“They could have won just as soon as us,” Alabama coach Nick Saban said. “It came right down to the last play.”
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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105 comments Add your comment
Fair n Balanced
December 2nd, 2012
6:56 am
I don’t think there is any question that Murray should’ve spiked the ball. In fact I was yelling at the TV, “Spike the ball. Spike the ball.” When we caught it by accident…..I knew it was over.
BUT I would like to say that I’m tired of the Richt bashing fans. And the Murray bashing fans. Did we come this close to a NC with Donnan? Goff? Richt has a higher winning % than any coach in Ga history. You don’t think he is disappointed today? Do you really think he went home last night and said, “We’ll, I still get paid a lot of money so what does it matter?” I don’t think so. He is crushed and spent today. Murray is a fine young man and a great qb. Leave him alone. My hope is that he stays for his sr year and breaks every record in the book. Because he will if he stays.
CHDawg
December 2nd, 2012
7:04 am
Great game, Dawgs! Every real UGA fan is proud of you and we don’t need anybody else. Losing hurts and you can always second guess something. The fade route was carefully planned and practiced and we have quickly scored on it before this year, so it was a great call. The coaches knew exactly what they were doing. An incomplete pass yields the same two plays regardless. Why give Alabama time to set up? The tip and catch were most unfortunate for us. The losers who say other fans are happy with mediocrity are just babies pitching their fits. They cause problems everywhere they go when they don’t get their way. Great bunch of Dawgs, and I am disappointed with you–you worked hard for this season and game…Go Dawgs.
Yellow Fuzz
December 2nd, 2012
7:08 am
To the entire dog nation (AH’s too):
The fact is you controlled your own destiny. If you won last night, you play for the BCS Championship Game against Notre Dame and have a chance to win your first National Championship in 32 years. If you lost, you knew that you would fall behind Florida in the BCS rankings and not be eligible for a BCS bowl (no conference gets to send more than two teams). You knew this for over a week.
Everyone in college football knows that the BCS system is a crap shoot and that’s why it is being shelved in 2 more years. It sucks now, but it is what it is-an “everybody wins a trophy” type of system. While wanna bees like Louisville etc., get rewarded for underachievement, georgia needs to go to the Cotton Bowl, beat Texas by 30 and finish up a legitimate top 5 team! Think of where you came from just a few short years ago!
I could not be more proud of your players and coaches. They are top notch, though I think Grantham should have made adjustments and lined up Jarvis Jones in the middle instead of outside in the 2nd half. Same run defense, just more inside stunts and different looks for Alabama’s massive offensive line to contend with.
Nevertheless, Grantham is a great coach and georgia prepared for and played a tremendous game in the national spotlight. They won the hearts of many outside of the dog Nation (use Google and see for yourself). Coach Richt, Bobo, Grantham and company have brought you all the way back to national prominence. You can now compete NATIONALLY on the field and in the living room of the best recruits in America!
However, though I have gained a lot of respect for the Georgia program, I would not hesitate rolling one of you if you bark in my face in public.
Cats hav fleas 2
December 2nd, 2012
7:09 am
Reading the comments section makes it hard to pull for Ala in the NC. Tide fans…sore losers and sore winners!
Is the dawgs starting lineup still in the Athens jail?
December 2nd, 2012
7:35 am
Man, it does my heart good to see the obnoxious loud mouthed, low IQ georgia fans eat their hearts out over their own stupidity. It doesn’t get much better than this!
T2Dawg
December 2nd, 2012
7:40 am
Murray comes back in 2013—the Dogs will be better than ever. They’ll win the SEC east easily again and this time, beat Alabama in the title game—book it!
CHDawg
December 2nd, 2012
7:43 am
Cats, just read the comment below yours and realize they might not be UA fans–there are some sick and bitter people (who need professional help) who post on these anonymous blogs. What kind of person would do that after the great effort Georgia put in last night? Just pathetic people. Saban was gracious and most UA fans are like most UGA fans–good folks. Just take the high road. Congrats to UA and good luck VS the Irish.
gator in ATL
December 2nd, 2012
7:44 am
Hard to pull for Bammy, but harder to pull for Dawgs. Awesome game though. Just a thought, is it in the ref’s guidebook that one should never, ever, never call holding on Bammy? Been that way for years and years. But I am glad that the Dawgs got to taste the lack of calls like TT and UF did in the SECCG just like a few years back.
Kyle
December 2nd, 2012
8:16 am
You can say you were close and played your hearts out etc. etc. but if you don’t win you are a loser. There is a reason you didn’t win and there is no excuse for second and I’m a Georgia fan saying that.
son's who?
December 2nd, 2012
8:38 am
UGA, UF, and USCe all have similar schedules next year. The games continue. Life goes on. If anyone thinks Murray, or Bobo, or Richt lost this game, or choked, or whatever you want to call, then you should have showed up at the Press Conference andn told them so.
You would have wet your pants, like that idiot reporter did.
kidding yourself
December 2nd, 2012
8:39 am
The dawgs have finally upstaged Reggie Ball. You will remember it forever.
Buffy
December 2nd, 2012
8:45 am
Whiznot-good observation. Saban admitted his clock management scew up at the endof the first 1/2 during his brief interview…….but Richt cant admit a huge blunder for not spiking with 16 seconds left.The REAL Phil is the idiot he aspires to call with his dime vs nickle theory. Any football acumen would choose 3 shots at the end zone over 1 fade route against the dime. Dogs had a chance to win it, Richt blew the chance, no doubt about it.
Alabama Returning To BCS Championship Game, Beats Georgia 32-28 In Classic SEC Title Bout
December 2nd, 2012
8:46 am
[...] 5. “Someone asked me just a second ago what I thought the difference was (in the game),” Richt said. “All I could think of was, we just ran out of time. [...]
Buffy
December 2nd, 2012
8:47 am
And I was neutral observer by the way. Notre Dame Class of ‘56. Go Irish!
Slim
December 2nd, 2012
8:52 am
Hard to pull for Bama because they’re sore winners??? UGA fans are the worst (I thought LSU fans were bad, but Georgia fans are on another level). A friend of mine attended the Bama UGA game in 2008 with his family. After the game, Georgia fans screamed and spit at him and his family as they left the game. I’m talking little kids they screamed at and spit on. Today I could not be happier that UGA lost this game and could of won…love it!!! The “Blackout” and now the SEC championship game…
The Bear
December 2nd, 2012
8:58 am
Great game last night! Bad calls on both sides of the ball, and I did not like that hit on Murray. UGA played a hell of a game and should go to the Sugar bowl just like Bama if they would have lost. To you Flo-ri-duh keep crying maybe your buddy kerryb can get on here and yall can team up? Instead of making excuses back your team and be proud.
Roll Tide
Markspal
December 2nd, 2012
9:28 am
Michael Slive’s office just received a request from Richt…asking the 2013 LSU game be dropped…Richt wants to play Auburn TWICE
true dawg881
December 2nd, 2012
9:33 am
All i gots to say is im proud t be a dawg and they played thier tails off go dawgs and whoever you get in a bowl game take this loss out on them go dawgs
The Tide is Rolling and Nothing can stop it
December 2nd, 2012
9:57 am
Dawg Gone
December 2nd, 2012
1:07 am
Screw Bama. I won’t pull for those pecker heads when they play ND (won’t pull for ND either). I was so sick and tired of hearing Vern slobbering all over Bama and how great they were.
Offense was off, Bobo didn’t make adjustments, Murray – choke, Defense was out there way too long.
I don’t care about the SEC just my DAWGS! I hope that ND sticks it down Bama’s throat like their daddies do.
Look at this idiot!
You just gave up an SEC championship rushing record. Your “defense” was embarrassed as your offense kept you in the game and you STILL blame the offense.
32 years and counting for the DUMBEST fans in college football.
44
December 2nd, 2012
10:05 am
yes Clock Management is important in college football. Too bad the University of Georgia does not offer that course..
1980 was so long ago
December 2nd, 2012
10:16 am
and getting longer
GT 1990 National Champs
December 2nd, 2012
10:19 am
“”yes Clock Management is important in college football. Too bad the University of Georgia does not offer that course..”"
You would think thist is covered in the Football 101 course at uga right after the question, “How many points is a touchdown worth?”
Growler
December 2nd, 2012
10:19 am
No guarantee they’d have won, but it was an astounding gaffe not to spike the ball at :15 and have 2 or 3 legit shots at the end zone. Not a hater, but I agree with ealier points: Saban admitted his first-half time-management gaffe… Richt offered some lame explanation that they thought they had a good play (watch the video.. even an untipped pass wasn’t gonna work). Awful way to lose after that astounding last minute drive. (and don’t forget the time-out Richt blew on defense that would have given them more time at the end, another bad gaffe not talked about).
jeffjacket
December 2nd, 2012
10:36 am
you guys keep playing easy schedules , and this is the result , 2 and 10 against top 10 teams. CMR can get angry if he wants to, but , you cannot argue with true stats!
mikebo
December 2nd, 2012
10:37 am
Georgia didn’t lose but bama made one more play.Ya’ll played one he!!uva game.Go Dawgs and roll tide.
jeffjacket
December 2nd, 2012
10:39 am
another stat you cannot argue with.
ga has 9 defense players going pro, they have allowed over 1000 yds rushing in the past 3 games. But all i continue to hear is how great CTG is, really?
mikebo
December 2nd, 2012
10:47 am
Dawg Gone Fans like you is the type of fans no one wants.If the dawgs had won i would be pulling for your team i the c-ship game.SEC rules.
cdog
December 2nd, 2012
10:54 am
the game was lost on the defensive side.georgia needs badly a defensive coordinator and defensive lineman plus replace swann at the corner.he can’t tackle nor cover.why was he out there?.todd grantham teaches his linemen to tackle the blocker and hold on the line of scrimmage. the ball carrier would be by passed and the line would stand there tackling and dancing with the blockers.its stupid and crazy his schemes.Aaron murray played a great game buy he need to figure out how to find open recievers.when he breaks the huddle he has his mind made of who he will throw to.overall, the dogs should have won.the tide dominated the defensive line.
GB's Hamburgers
December 2nd, 2012
11:13 am
Irritated by being asked about it, Richt tried to gloss over the “no spike” call indicating that they saved some time by running the ill-fated play. I guess he thought no one noticed that they wasted 5-6 seconds just getting that play off. A humbled Bobo, on the other hand, called it a “mistake” and took responsibility. So the difference between these two men is on display. Richt is stubborn, even in the face of the obvious. Bobo will acknowlege a mistake and can therefore learn by them. Truth is, we lost because of the usual array of penalties and because the defense was gashed by the run.
Vulture
December 2nd, 2012
11:20 am
First, excellent, hard fought, game. I am sure the whole nation enjoyed it. Time management was poor and the defense tries to tackle high against tough runners. Great game – Tough loss
LVDawg
December 2nd, 2012
11:21 am
I am so proud of our team. I wonder though the second to the last series
that we had the ball deep in our territory, why did bobo go conservative and not do some play action pass? Why did he run the ball?
badlands dawg
December 2nd, 2012
11:21 am
good game……but the bama football team goes on for rings….and the dawgs well we just go home…….I was in Florence AL……all week and listening to the radio the talk show and fans talk about ND not about UGA I ask a few football fans about the sec game …….a good tune up game for ND…..nobody was talking for or about UGA……….I ask some fans who the coach was for UGA and nobody knew who he was………really …….. I ask one guy at applebee’s who was the coach at bama he look at me and said GOD my man
Fats G
December 2nd, 2012
11:23 am
I guess this should put an end to the argument that UGA is not a top 5 team. Richt said it best,when he told the sports reporter,he had WARRIORS inside after the game. Best SEC championship game I have ever seen!!
GB's Hamburgers
December 2nd, 2012
11:33 am
I was interested in Ogletree’s comments after the game. He didn’t take the “politically correct” path. He said that his team mates were missing their assignments … not filling their gaps against the run. All year, turnovers caused by our great athletes, has obscured our defensive problems. It was the same deal again Sat. night. But this time individual heroics couldn’t compensate. Grantham’s defense was gashed and no adjustments were forthcoming to correct it.
mikebo
December 2nd, 2012
11:34 am
I hope that Saban makes Dial sit out the bcs game.Hitting Murray on the interception.was uncall for.Why the ref’s didn’ call the penalty i don’t know why.RTR.
bruce mac
December 2nd, 2012
11:37 am
Get it all out Bulldawgs. The bigger problem is it is most difficult to get to this position. 30 more years will be a long time. I personally don’t think I will ever see UGA win a National Championship again. Give it to Saban and Bama, they just find a way to win. That is what winners do and then there is us at UGA.
Buffy
December 2nd, 2012
12:02 pm
GB Hamburger has it right…………….I had not read/heard BoBo took responsibility for the clock gaffe. Good to hear. That was just awful. But, as a body of work, the Bama rush/ Dog Defense decided the game. Credit must go to the Bama O-Line for creating nice gaps and seams. The were controlling the line of scrimmage. Go Irish!
1 4 GT
December 2nd, 2012
12:24 pm
1 January 1981…………………………………………………and counting! HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA
King Here
December 2nd, 2012
12:32 pm
CMR, You are a punk. Spike the ball you worthless POS. I jus shouldt have asked you to step outside and spanked that a$$ like the Bama O-line did to the UGA defense. You cant win the big game and never will.
UGA1993
December 2nd, 2012
1:21 pm
All of Richts butt sucking supporters ought to be ashamed, the dogs had the best team by far and dumb Richt blew it. Fire the clown now and quit accepting second class status.
Randy
December 2nd, 2012
1:28 pm
The only person to feel sorry for here is Mark Richt a class act in a classless town. Each and every week he has to deal with the thugs on the team, the classless bragging and chest thumping of his wannabe players. His thug defensive coordinator, his laughable offensive coordinator.
The funniest thing is dawgs defensive loud mouth, bragging, chest beating players waking up this morning with cleat marks up their chests and on their faces from being ran over my men instead of your usual pre kindergarten schools you face.
Feel sorry for dawgs and dawg fans??????????? No sir it’s big boy football. this wasn’t Georgia Southern or Tech you were playing. Man up and take it like a man. Quit whining.
Seems I remember when Tebow cried all them dawg fans gave him the what not, now it’s your turn.
Go look at the photos on the AJC and look at Murray letting his own receiver have it.
Hey Jarvis buddy boy where u at? Still putting band aids on?
Ogletree u a little stiff from the beating you got?
Ha Ha Ha Ha
Oh yeah one other thing………..Is the drill finished???????????????
RawDawg
December 2nd, 2012
1:53 pm
To those who are saying Richt should have had Murray spike the ball, you know that even if they had spiked the ball they could have run the same play with the same exact result on the next play. They made the right call, it just didn’t work out.
Go Dawgs!
the WIZARD
December 2nd, 2012
1:56 pm
As a BAMA fan im glad we held on. But i must say those kids from GA left every thing they had on the field,and on spiking the ball i would have done the same thing we were gassed. Great Game RTR.
East TN Dawg
December 2nd, 2012
1:56 pm
Mark Richt coached a great game. He didn’t choose to spike the ball because he wanted to catch bama offguard and not allow them to regroup. The pass Murray threw was either going to be a TD or an incomplete because it was being thrown to the endzone. The only reason it is being criticized is because people can’t accept an honorable defeat and have to blame it on something. Bottom line, we played our hearts out. Bama’s O-Line and RBs were incredible and they are the slightly more talented team. The main reason we had a chance to win this game was because of some great coaching by Bobo and Richt and a gutsy 1 minute drive with no time outs by our QB. It makes me sick to see people criticizing our coach and players.
Rod
December 2nd, 2012
1:58 pm
I disagree with Mark Richt tremendously!!! It was a great game, but not spiking the ball is ridiculously. Anybody that played football knows u spike the ball. He’s trying yo cover up for his mistake. It’s sad these young men played their hearts out, and to lose a game like that. U have to practice this for these kinds of situations. What a heartbreaking lost.
Anj
December 2nd, 2012
2:02 pm
Just spike it. Like every nfl team would do. Then you have 2 or 3 plays to choose from. Why camt Richt admit that!
badlands dawg
December 2nd, 2012
2:32 pm
hey EAST TN DAWG……GA CMR can not beat the coach of bama……….. GOD coaches bama he goes for rings UGA CMR goes for hot dogs and a good movie….not even in the same boat……bama coach walks on water you just don’t get do you………its ok there is always NEXT year………qb murray crm coach bobo why don’t yall just go on vacation ……let the rest of us play some football ………
Craig
December 2nd, 2012
3:57 pm
So many of these are hard to read without laughing or hoping your Internet goes out permanently. If Richt kicked a FG to lose by 1, I would agree he would be an idiot. You can’t wait to see the outcome of a play then say that play was a good or bad call. The fake punt was brilliant? The pass that got tipped proves he’s an idiot? The blocked FG was due to a brilliant weakness found in the film room? Possibly proves Saban is stupid?? Getting gashed for 42 yards only happens to ill prepared losers? The truth is not one of you critics has ever won as often as Richt or Murray, if you even played sports. You certainly haven’t won in anything against that caliber of competition. OK, you keep up with recruiting, read the sports page, watch the games, and became an expert? You have to be in formation and set to spike the ball. If you know what play you want and have the personnel you want, why take two seconds off and give the defense a chance to regroup, substitute, and get coached up? How does someone so stupid get the first 80 yards in 60 seconds against a ‘mastermind’ anyway? Does Saban know the ball is going to get tipped? is that why he was white as a sheet? Go dust off your trophy for participation in 5th grade swimming, log on jrhighprospects.com, and scrutinize a veteran for battle tactics you think would have resulted in fewer lives lost, rather than thanking him for his service. You play Call of Duty, you’ve earned that right.
Rod
December 2nd, 2012
7:47 pm
Craig, u r the one that probably didn’t play sports. I’ve played all three, n was good in all three. Some of us who has played the game know u practice for situations like that. Mark Richt was wrong. In any league, little, high school, or NFL, u r told to spike the ball. It would have at least given GA two or three more plays. They blew it, and u need to know what u r writing about before responding.
Whiznot
December 2nd, 2012
9:17 pm
Everyone in the football fraternity knows that Richt was an idiot not to spike the ball to save scarce time and regroup. Now we know that he is double stupid and even defends his colossal blunder. Amazing but hilarious.