Richt: ‘We spent ourselves in a worthy cause…. You’ve got to kind of get over the heartbreak’
Georgia coach Mark Richt said his program is moving on from the “heartbreak” of Saturday’s SEC Championship game loss and “getting back to work.”
Mark Richt: "It was heartbreaking, no doubt." (AJC photo by Curtis Compton)
“You know what? We spent ourselves in a worthy cause,” Richt said Sunday night. “We of course wanted to play for the national championship. We knew we were just a couple of yards away, maybe a couple of seconds away or a tipped ball away or however you want to say it. We were at least in position to win it.
“It was heartbreaking, no doubt. We were all highly, highly hurt by it. … We just came up short. It was one of those games where either team could have won. So you’ve got to kind of get over the heartbreak of that. And I’ve always had the ability to understand what the reality is and move on.
“We’re already out recruiting. We’re getting back to work.”
Despite the dashed dream of playing for the national championship, Richt said he expects his 11-2 team to be enthused about its trip to Orlando for the Jan. 1 Capital One Bowl against Nebraska.
“We’ve got a new goal in sight: We’re excited to try to get 12 wins,” Richt said.
Georgia athletic director Greg McGarity acknowledged that the day after the SEC title game was a difficult one in Bulldog Nation.
“I know we’re all still hurting a little bit right now,” McGarity said. “But the sun came up … and there’s nothing we can do about it but learn from it and move forward.”
How coaches ranked Dogs
After Georgia’s 32-28 loss to Alabama, voters in the USA Today coaches’ poll ranked the Bulldogs everywhere from No. 2 to No. 11.
The highest vote cast for Georgia was by Vanderbilt’s James Franklin, who had the Bulldogs No. 2 (behind Alabama and ahead of Notre Dame).
The lowest votes cast for Georgia were by Baylor’s Art Briles and Washington’s Steve Sarkisian, both of whom had the Bulldogs No. 11.
Richt and Alabama’s Nick Saban voted Georgia No. 3 — ahead of Florida, which both put No. 4.
Coaches’ individual ballots were released for the first time this season, per customary procedure on the final poll before the bowls.
Overall, Georgia was ranked No. 5 in the coaches’ poll. In the other two components of the BCS standings, Georgia was ranked No. 5 by the Harris Poll but an average of No. 11 by the computers. That added up to an overall BCS ranking of No. 7.
Conference limit to be eliminated
The rule that kept Georgia from playing in any of the four BCS bowls (Rose, Sugar, Fiesta and Orange) will be scrapped when college football goes to its new playoff system in the 2014 season.
The current rule is that no more than two teams from a conference can go to BCS games in a given season. Alabama, of course, got one of the SEC’s spots this season with its berth in the national title game. Florida moved up to No. 3 in the final BCS standings, clinching the SEC’s second spot because of a rule that stipulates a team ranked in the top four automatically gets a BCS invitation unless two other teams from its league are ranked higher. Georgia is the highest-ranked team not in a BCS game.
McGarity noted that the SEC has six of the top 10 teams in the BCS standings — but only two of the 10 spots in BCS games.
“It’s obviously being corrected in 2014, so a number of individuals thought that was not a fair way to treat conferences,” McGarity said. “I think the way it’s set in 2014 will reward those conferences that have the ability to place teams in the top 10.”
Under the 2014 model, there is no specific limit on how many teams from a conference can make the four-team playoff and the other top-tier bowls, although various arrangements between leagues and bowls will still be a factor.
ESPN college football analyst Kirk Herbstreit, who sharply criticized the inclusion of Northern Illinois in a BCS game (Orange Bowl), scoffed at the current two-per-league limit. “Who came up with this rule?” he asked on air Sunday night.
Herbstreit added: “To leave teams out like Georgia and … Texas A&M and Oklahoma, all of us want to see those teams in games that matter, and you’re going to give us Northern Illinois.”
‘They call themselves the CornDogs’
Georgia’s bowl opponent, Nebraska, brings back childhood memories for Richt.
“It’s kind of personal for me in that I was born in Omaha and my mom and dad grew up in Nebraska and all my cousins on that side of the family are big Husker fans,” Richt said.
“They like the Dogs, too,” he added. “They call themselves the CornDogs, actually — combination of Cornhuskers and Dogs.”
Richt said his family moved from Nebraska to Colorado when he was 7 or 8 and then to Boca Raton, Fla., when he was about 13. But “I still had Nebraska on my mind, really, up until the time I went to college at Miami.”
— Tim Tucker, AJC
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781 comments Add your comment
HateThePuppies
December 3rd, 2012
5:36 pm
Over. Rated. I always root for UGA to lose, but it’s even more fun to watch as the Dawgs get oh-so-close but, true to form, are unable to seal the deal. Enjoy Orlando and remember, that’s home to the University of Central Florida, who beat y’all 10-6 in the 2010 Liberty Bowl! Go Huskers, finish the drill!
Iloveuga
December 3rd, 2012
5:41 pm
Hate – Tech fan, i assume?
Athens – everyone is giving UGA respect – just not these “fans.”
ARdawg
December 3rd, 2012
5:46 pm
Hatethepuppie
We want you to hate us and quite frankly wouldn’t ever care who you root for. Thats why we pound Tech like a hom0schexual rent boy every year. Have fun in El Paso and stay away from the border. The cartels won’t treat you as nice as the University of Georgia does……Nerd
Chuck Bennett
December 3rd, 2012
5:58 pm
I’m very proud of how Ga. played Saturday against a great Alabama team. I’m hurt to that we didn’t win, but feel honored to be a Georgia FAN! Your hard work and dedication has paid off!!!! I saw a lot of character and class from the team, and coaches!–GO DAWGS
Benadawg
December 3rd, 2012
6:24 pm
Sad to Say Richt will never know/admit he cost us 2 plays for a shot because he wanted to trick/confuse the Alabama defense, he makes millions to make quick good decisions, just another bonehead play.
T. Brown
December 3rd, 2012
6:25 pm
I never blog . I am a Bama fan but I had to say to Ga. fans I think your team and coach showed so much class and fight in that game. I especially liked Coach Richt’s comments in the press conference when asked that stupid question. Good job y’all.
SaltyDawg
December 3rd, 2012
6:33 pm
Sad to Say Richt will never know/admit he cost us 2 plays for a shot because he wanted to trick/confuse the Alabama defense, he makes millions to make quick good decisions, just another bonehead play.
Dude, wtf are you talking about? Seriously. If not for a tipped pass everyone would be calling CMR a genius for catching Bama off guard. Tipped passes happen, whether you’re in a hurry-up or coming out of a clock stoppage. Even if you’re right and that was a bad call, you’re going to say he lost the game over 2 calls? Not buying it. Every other call he made got us to that point, so if you want to play monday morning coach, go ahead. But that was one of the best coached and best played games the Dawgs had all year. Within a few seconds of playing in the national championship.
kral
December 3rd, 2012
6:41 pm
you hate puppies dang your neighborhood should watch out for you…you surely haven’t killed and dismembered any have you..I guess you would not admit if you had
kral
December 3rd, 2012
6:41 pm
you hate puppies dang your neighborhood should watch out for you…you surely haven’t killed and dismembered any have you..I guess you would not admit if you had
kral
December 3rd, 2012
6:41 pm
you hate puppies dang your neighborhood should watch out for you…you surely haven’t killed and dismembered any have you..I guess you would not admit if you had
Columbus
December 3rd, 2012
6:42 pm
We love you coach! You ARE going to get the job done. The ONLY problem this year was defensively. Too MANY great PLAYERS and not a UNIT AND not enough depth on the defense…Fans who come on here that hate on coach Richt, dont know football and the rest of us UGA fans are disgusted by your ignorance. Stop acting like an emotional woman and embarassing yourself and your team and the rest of us knowledgeable fans…..
Richt is the BEST thing to happen to UGA….he just took a DEFENSE who allowed 375 yards rushing to within ONE FREAKIN PLAY OF THE NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP….
Richt is the BEST thing to EVER happen to UGA along with Herschel Walker. The stadium WILL be renamed to Richt-Dooley-Butts Stadium one day and Richt will be the GREATEST among them because he will be remembered as one of the top college coaches in HISTORY by the time the SECOND HALF OF HIS CAREER IS COMPLETED.
ONE PLAY AWAY AND YOU IGNORANTS AREHATING ON A COACH THAT HAD A DEFENSE WHO COULDNT STOP THE RUN ALL YEAR LONG AGAINST TEAM WHO RUNS GREAT.
Shameful..Disgusting. Disgraceful.
We got your back coach…We will see you in the SEC Championship game AGAIN NEXT YEAR.
That will MAKE THE 6TH TIME IN 13 SEASONS.
UGA IS GOING TO DOMINATE THE NEXT 10 YEARS.
HateThePuppies
December 3rd, 2012
6:49 pm
Glad you assume I’m a Tech fan. Nope, nor even an SEC grad, just a college football fan – and it WAS a great college football game, will give you that – who has had to continually listen to all your insufferable woofing after every win over Vandy or Georgia Southern about how great UGA is, when in fact aside from ONE national championship and a few good years with Dooley & Herschel, YOU HAVE ACCOMPLISHED NOTHING. An occasional conference title, big whoop. Y’all lose far, far more big games than you win. No discipline, no toughness, no class.
SnoopyJenkins
December 3rd, 2012
6:49 pm
Yep I am disappointed fan….but only because of two points:
(1) Rambo shot his mouth off and the dawg D with all that NFL talent got run damn over!!!!
(2) dawg fan being satisfied with “good effort” considering all of the national championships won by SEC teams UGA only got ONE with all the TALENT we recruit?
Sorry but the Big Dawg isn’t getting fed so I am all out of $#@@#$%$#
EXCUSES!!!!
kral
December 3rd, 2012
6:50 pm
did not mean a 3-peat
old man
December 3rd, 2012
6:52 pm
Big Tech fan here. Rarely pull for Georgia, but I was Saturday.
I am hearing a lot of recrimination over the failure to spike the ball at the end. I think it was OK. I have not read all 14 pages on this blog, so at the risk of repeating, here are my thoughts.
Offense has built in disadvantages. You have to show your formation. Can’t move pre-snap. Defense can move an go nuts pre-snap. Usually, defense can bring in different personnel to deal with down and distance, including goal line situations.
Clearly, Murray and Bobo anticipated a possible last minute situation like this one. If you had done no planning at all, you spike the ball and figure out what to do next while the clock is stopped. Clearly, the pre-game planning, or just the season-long plan for this situation, was to try to negate the inherent defensive advantages by getting a quick signal from the sideline, going no-huddle, and running a play.
Alabama could not change personnel. They had very little time to set up. Some of them must have been gassed. They were disorganized compared to what they would have been after a spike of the ball. After a spike, you MIGHT get to run 3 plays, but doubtful. Probably only two. The plan was to run one play to the corner, and, if incomplete you get a second shot. That’s also two plays, the first of which has the advantages described above. Did it matter if they had one second left for the next play or 5 seconds? You’re going to get only one additional play run anyway. MAYBE you get a third play if you spike it quick enough. But I think it was a legitimate decision to force the momentum by running a no huddle play ASAP.
The bottom line is that an Alabama player overcame that by making a play, tipping the ball, and the bad luck is that it went right to a UGA player. Alabama got very, very lucky on that last play. How many times does a deflection go to another offensive player? Sometimes, but not often. 95% of the time it’s incomplete and you run another play. And I do not blame the receiver. Your instinct is to catch the ball. You can’t fault him at all.
That’s my two cents. Bottom line, Alabama got very lucky on the tip an completion. They have no reason to be cocky about anything.
Jim
December 3rd, 2012
6:56 pm
I know Gurley had a great game. But you cannot leave Keith Marshall out of the system. He is capable of breaking a run for the distance every time he touches it. Do not let him become another wasted Richard Samuel situation. Some of the RB prospects will not come to GA if they know Ga is going to become a one back show. Alabama has three of the top five RB recruits already for next year not even counting the young backs that have red shirted this year….. Find some where for Marshall vs Nebraska and next year. If we had lost two RB’s as we did WR’s this year we would have been in trouble. Understand that UA had three hundred plus yards by two RB’s in the game. Use all your backs. Keep them fresh in the fourth quarter.
TDale
December 3rd, 2012
6:58 pm
Y’know, I had no hopes for UGA at the start of the season. The SC game set my jaw for the bad season we were going to have.
Then the kids played their hearts out. The coaches got it together. We saw performances reminiscent of the National Champion’s team of old. We saw an SECC game that will be legend. Bama limped of the field victorious. Congrats to them. Congrats and heartfelt love for the UGA Dawgs. Gurley was right in saying that whoever they played in a bowl was going to have to deal with an angry UGA team.
Well, guess what? Next year’s schedule will have to deal with an angry UGA team.
All of you keeping the faith…god bless you.
Jarvis, hang around, man.
moonbat betty (dawg for life)
December 3rd, 2012
6:58 pm
Old man, that pretty much sums it up.
Well done.
kral
December 3rd, 2012
7:00 pm
your right puppy- hater only a few SEC conference titles..back to back east titles..and we have no chance of getting the opportunity again..well maybe your wrong ..or your just on a high..from a recent ..dang if I FINNINISH they will ban me again…but your’re right sleep well tonight..or have a bad dream where UGA is good next year..who knows..I’m sure you do
Truth Kills
December 3rd, 2012
7:04 pm
I am not a fan of either., but I see why Georgia hasn’t won a NC in 32 years or close to it. Call it luck, play calling, or whatever, Alabama won because of Saban. Saban has his team going back to the NC three times in four years. Why, because that is the expectation built upon prepartion!!! He has taken Alabama from the ashes because their fan base doesn’t believe in moral victories. Do you think for one moment that Saban would be at Alabama for 10 years and not produce a National Championship. Richt is a GREAT coach, but he and the fan base MAY have become too complacent with winning seasons with no NC. Demand more and get More!
icedawg
December 3rd, 2012
7:04 pm
The DAWGS played their top game Saturday. They were weak against the running game which was the story for the season. Otherwise they played a pretty good game and improved over the season, peaking in this game. Richt and staff had a solid year. 11-2 is pretty dawg-on good. With the talent that we have next year’s team could be as good. One day they will win the big one. This year they were in the hunt. The SEC championship game was one of the most outstanding college football games in years. A real slugfest. Good ole man smash mouth football. The way we like it in the SEC.
kral
December 3rd, 2012
7:05 pm
nice old man
nobodyyouknow
December 3rd, 2012
7:06 pm
I can’t beleive some knuckleheads would criticize a coach who had a 11 and 1 season and played for the SEC championship game, and were within a few seconds and 5 yards of winning it. They gave ALL to win that game. Those guys played their hearts out. And the coaches worked their butts off. The Ga. team has gotten better and better every season. You know it alls just SHUT THE HELL UP and go watch PORN!
Murray to get NFL evaluation?
December 3rd, 2012
7:08 pm
Does anyone have inside word on whether Murray is leaning toward going to the NFL?
He’s had some goals that haven’t been reached, but I for one won’t blame him if he gets a good evaluation and decides to leave early. In 3 years he’s set some records that are truly impressive.
rhettt
December 3rd, 2012
7:13 pm
Final score pretty much as expected. The winning process takes all things into consideration. Which includes clock management. When the heat is on the wannabees are seperated from the better prepared, which is an ingredient for success. Five yards, five inches, five miles, bottom line is the same. What couldof, shouldof, doesn’t matter. What matters is who gets the job done when the final score is in the balance. And, who knows. Alabama will reload for 2013, but will Georgia?
kral
December 3rd, 2012
7:13 pm
so truth you are telling me that if saban had CMR’S record he would be fired by now..and there is noway UGA had high expectations in that game…the coaches and players just wanted it close..to erase last year..sc game ..and gloat about almost beating bammer..yes the fans exemplify the way the team feels..without the bloggers who are negative UGA WILL NEVER GET BETTER…yes the fans know and are the heartbeat of any college team
NCDawg
December 3rd, 2012
7:17 pm
ATTENTION ALL SO CALLED FANS that are on this blog… go pull for another team. NO ONE else in this conference or in the country could have even come close to beating Bama on Saturday. NO ONE… not Oregon or K-State, not Florida or South Carolina, not Notre Dame or Stanford could have stood toe to toe with that team and even come close… the Dawgs took Bama’s best shot and still almost won the game. If you can’t see that then go pull for another team.
I’m tired of the nit picking, negative, numbskulls that purport to be fans of the Georgia Bulldogs on these blogs. Coach Richt and staff had the team ready and they played their hearts out. One fluke play ended an awesome display of tenacity. Yeah, a pro offensive line opened some big holes for some damned good backs and they gained alot of yardage… but they could not run out the clock on us when they needed to and they came within an eyelash of losing anyway. GET REAL PEOPLE! The Dawgs made some believers out of doubters. That was the best game of the season and EVERYBODY knows it.
The Nebraska fans are sick because of their draw in the bowl. One guy stated :”you have to be kidding me! We get destroyed by Wisconsin on Saturday night and they match us up against a team that was one play away from winning a national championship?!” Notice that they think the Dawgs would have won the National Championship.
Go take your negativity and whining elsewhere! The Bulldog Nation does not need you! Go pull for another team.
Very proud to be a Bulldog!
kral
December 3rd, 2012
7:21 pm
rhett butler is correct the the wannebees..go home..the scared shirtless fans at the end of that game point at the wannebees as they leave..they strut and gloat..but for a few seconds…they were squeezing there anus..and who knows rhett…frankly I donot give dammmnnn what you think will happen next year..time will tell..there is always tomorrow
TDale
December 3rd, 2012
7:21 pm
NCDawg…HOOOAH!
monty
December 3rd, 2012
7:36 pm
We’ll at least we’ll have some bragging rights with another top 5 recruiting class. Hope springs eternal that one day our ship we’ll come in. Maybe we should have taught the Dfense how to tackle and wrap up instead of allowing BAMA backs to carry our guys down field because no one wanted to go low.
rhettt
December 3rd, 2012
7:40 pm
kral……. Not to up stage you, bu I think you meant to say instead of “frankly I donot give dammmmmmnnnn…….I think you meant “Frankly I donot give “”"”"”"a”"”"”"” (a) damn. It makes more of an impression if you are verbally educated!!!!! If you are going to score me be prepared to be scored!!
Put in Timeout by Ken Sugiura,Filtered by Mark Bradley, Banned once by Bill King & Chip Towers but only slightly loved by Jeff Schultz.
December 3rd, 2012
7:41 pm
Murray to get NFL evaluation?
December 3rd, 2012
7:08 pm
=====================================================
After MURRAY saw that he is Smarter than his HC & OC when it came to Clocking the ball do you really think he should come back to UGa for another year? A harder schedule and a lot of the D starters gone.
Murray take the NFL money and get away from the Brain Trust that is Richt & Bobo. Learn from Stafford. You could be next years Barkley and get hurt.
rhettt
December 3rd, 2012
7:47 pm
kral……. winning is contagious……so what happens year in and year out really does impact a program. You can cover your eyes and ears about next year, but you will find winning is a tradition. The reps in the weight room, on the field, in the film room, with intelligent guidance, does make a difference, now and in the future. That also an ingredient in the ongoing success of any program. Get your head out of your a** and get into the real world.
GaGrad65
December 3rd, 2012
7:50 pm
Why does our defense consistently tackle high around the opponents shoulder pads? If we had tackled low around the runners knees or waist, much of Alabama’s rushing yardage would have been eliminated. Any doubters should watch the game’s replay and count the number of times we used poor tackling techniques. This has been a trait of ours for many years. Let’s get ready for Nebraska and end this season on a winning note.
mountainman
December 3rd, 2012
7:51 pm
Richt, pls go back to the ACC – you do not and never will have the elite coaching skills it requires to win a NC – I want to see UGA in a NC game soon and you ain’t Ford tuff to make that happen (Saban ought to get your commercial spot, you don’t deliver, PERIOD!!!)
NCDawg
December 3rd, 2012
7:54 pm
Put in… aw hell ridiculously long handle… he asked and he ran the play because they were trying to catch Bama flat footed. If Conley doesn’t reflexively catch the ball we could have still run another play… all the second guessing is just plain idiotic. They prevented Bama from getting their subs in the game… the tipped ball was unfortunate… Conley getting hit right in the chest and reflexively catching it is even more unfortunate… if the ball dropped they would have had another play anyway. It just went to a yound man who has been taught to catch the ball…it took him by surprise and he did what he has been taught to do at all levels of football…he caught the ball. I don’t fault him… no one is coached to not catch a football in that situation… those that think it was a “coaching” fault are just A-holes. The poor kid will probably never be in that position again in his entire career.
01HAWK
December 3rd, 2012
7:58 pm
Difference in the game was UGA does not have good backups on the DLINE. Geathers, Jenkins and others were dead tired.
Another thing I noticed is UGA recruits smaller Linebackers than BAMA does. SABAN likes guys who are at 240 to 260 LBS. as Linebackers. BAMA substitutes alot while UGA keeps their starters in for longer periods of time.
BAMA players stay fresher.
Truth Kills
December 3rd, 2012
8:01 pm
Kral “so truth you are telling me that if saban had CMR’S record he would be fired by now?” My friend, the answer is yes. There is one thing to go 11-1 and win a NC and another to go 11-1 and win a Bowl. I am not a hater or troll. I just would like to see Georgia in the Elite group with Florida, LSU, and Alabama. Those three have won and frankly, Georgia is due up. Richt is a great coach and man of class! I just believe that his approach MAY be to soft on his players and coaches to be held to a higher standard. Frankly speaking, Georgia has had more all around talent than any SEC team in my opinion. I sincerely hope that they have a better year next year. The puzzle is there for them, they just got to put it together. Stay positive!
Put in Timeout by Ken Sugiura,Filtered by Mark Bradley, Banned once by Bill King & Chip Towers but only slightly loved by Jeff Schultz.
December 3rd, 2012
8:06 pm
NCdawg….Nothing about the kid catching the ball.
I know what the brain trust of Richt & Bobo was trying to do.
It hasn’t worked for Richt & Bobo yet in a big game.
He should have let Murray and the team take a breath and allow MURRAY to give a Speech in the Huddle about Making a play.
Dawgs 32
December 3rd, 2012
8:08 pm
Dawgs 11-2 played a great game against a great team for a chance at a National Championship, and we still have bitch ass fans whining about Richt and Murray! Hey! Dumbasses! Thats called a great season. If your not going to support them…..jump off the bus….we dont need you……Us true fans will stand behind them, because the future looks bright for the Dawgs!
TDale
December 3rd, 2012
8:15 pm
Dawgas32…HOOOAH!
NCDawg
December 3rd, 2012
8:17 pm
Here is the sick part of this little exercise in nit picking and second guessing… CMR is getting nit picked over a call that if it had worked would’ve been hailed as genius… “oh he gambled and he caught Alabama flat footed and his team is going to go play for the National Championship because of it.” That is what would have been said. And the talk would have been about Saban’s clock mismanagement at the end of the first half and the special teams breakdowns by Alabama. There would have been second guessing of the calls in Bama’s final series… when they had a chance to run out the clock and were UNABLE to do so. This is the sickness of second guessing and nit picking. The Dawgs did not lose the game because of coaching… they lost because Alabama played a great game and survived an comeback bid that fell one play short… not because Aaron Murray threw an errant ball or an interception but because he completed 1 pass too many. THINK ABOUT IT!
TDale
December 3rd, 2012
8:20 pm
One Play Short.
Sounds like a clarion call for next year.
Charleston Jacket
December 3rd, 2012
8:21 pm
Hard fought game-glad you lost – I really did not want to root for. Notre Dame
Roll Tide, Go Huskers
THWG
NCDawg
December 3rd, 2012
8:24 pm
But as always no amount of reason is going to change the minds of people that have already made up their minds. No amount of SENSE will get through those will the neurotic need to play armchair QB and examine every decision in minutia. Still I keep hoping SOMEONE will actually read and be swayed.
ARdawg
December 3rd, 2012
8:24 pm
old man
For an admitted Tech fan you sir are on the money. Thank you for that fine contribution. Tis a pity many of the complaining morons still won’t understand that
TDale
December 3rd, 2012
8:24 pm
I could learn to hate you.
NCDawg
December 3rd, 2012
8:25 pm
will = with… damn fingers
NCDawg
December 3rd, 2012
8:31 pm
TDale – You hate me anyway because that is all your kind does. Go home gloater… you’d probably have committed suicide if that pass had been completed.
NCDawg
December 3rd, 2012
8:32 pm
ARdawg – that was a good post… it is a shame our own have to be so bullheaded.