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
Click here for full story on Georgia’s Capital One Bowl invitation
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781 comments Add your comment
Tired of cheating
December 3rd, 2012
11:06 am
U cheated little lord saban, and everyone outside od that walmart where yall display those trophies knows it. Once a cheater always a cheater. Its the bears way! Roooooll tide!
travis
December 3rd, 2012
11:06 am
joe dawg, I know you are a dumbass so I will try to explain this so you understand. You’re and your are different words and have different meanings, idiot.
lord saban
December 3rd, 2012
11:06 am
tired of cheating,
typical whiny dawg fan trying to blame it on the refs. Your defense just got steamrolled. Plain and simple.
te29wr
December 3rd, 2012
11:07 am
I thank CMR for not bitch slapping MR.SEC, Chuck Oliver, for that question but what can you expect from a AUBURN TIGER , WAR EAGLE, PLAINSMAN or what ever he is. He is often wrong but never in doubt.
Huh?
December 3rd, 2012
11:07 am
Big Gator-
Do you know the overall record in the series? I notice you don’t count the last 2 games and only 21 before that. I thought I remembered being in the Gator bowl ( nice neutral site) in the 80s? What happened then? Overall record for the DAWGS is 49-40-2 .
Big Gator
December 3rd, 2012
11:08 am
Georgia fans think they deserve BCS berth after losing by 28 to SC, Ala breaks rushing record on them, had the guy from Ala intercepted the ball, game would have been over.
Fla played A&M, SC, LSU, Fla State, all ranked teams, end of story, win the big games and stop crying,,, end of story
Be HAPPY
December 3rd, 2012
11:09 am
why are Dawg expectations so high? Examine your schedule. You didn’t beat any decent team. You beat a great UF team because they gave you the ball 6 times. This isn’t difficult to understand.
Huh?
December 3rd, 2012
11:10 am
I m a DAWG fan and don’t think the refs stole the game. UGA had a chance to win it at the end. They didn’t. It sucks, but it is over. Win a bowl game and then sign the 35 that are needed in FEB. Build on this DAWGS
Joe Dawg= Mo Ron
December 3rd, 2012
11:10 am
So, Joe…Aaron having a pass tipped at the line of scrimmage was his fault? I’d bet, I’ll wager my lunch that you never played ball at any level, which would explain why you never learned the lesson
that sometimes, the other guy catches a break, sometimes they don’t. This time, Bama caught a break. Our kicker missed a 50 harder that he’s made throughout the year, so we have to go for it
to win late. Their lineman happened to have the luck to tip it, and instead of falling to the turf, the ball
tipped right into Conleys always sure hands.
Aaron played well, the whole team did, save our rushing D, and when it HAD to have a stop late in the game, they played well, also.
Get over it, we lost.
Go back to the basement.
HBTD
MontanaDawg
December 3rd, 2012
11:10 am
Great end to a questionable season. We can end on a high note with 12 wins if we bounce back as I expect. Nebraska should be a cakewalk compared to Bama.
Next season we will know quite a bit about how 2013 shapes up because by the end of September we will have played Clemson, South Carolina, and LSU.
GO DAWGS!!
Big Gator
December 3rd, 2012
11:10 am
Huh?
Compared the titles over the last, say 30 years UF 3 UGA 0 end of story
Dawgs07
December 3rd, 2012
11:11 am
Enter your comments here
Chuck Oliver
December 3rd, 2012
11:12 am
CO So coach, are you man enough to answer my question?
MR No
CO Why do you lose all the big games?
MR Dunno – how dare you ask.
CO Come on THEY say you cant do it
MR Duh, who is “THEY” Is it you?
CO I said it was THEY
MR Im confused, I cant think right now. I have a football down my throat.
Tired of cheating
December 3rd, 2012
11:14 am
Not a dawg little saban, just tired of bama cheating and realize finally that mile slive nor steve shaw (head of sec officials and alabama grad) will correct it. That was horrible officiating. Bias to aid bama. Its bama bs and its bs i am tired of. Uga is too classy to file formal complaint but should. Have yall been flagged for holding all year? nomwonder that line is so good. Keep telling yourself its real little saban. Matters only to you!
Joedawg is an idiot
December 3rd, 2012
11:15 am
Guess there are 100 plus job vacancies this year for a football coach. Hey dumb ass, guess what there is only one national champion. Get off of Richt… I played for the man and he is an outstanding coach.. he loves his players family and runs a program the way it is meant to be ran.
Huh?
December 3rd, 2012
11:15 am
Big gator-
you have the national championships and the jorts to match, but you bought up head to head, which you still lose.
Be HAPPY
December 3rd, 2012
11:15 am
CMR isn’t exactly good at thinking quickly is he? He had to come back to the room to express his feelings. Saban would have beeatch slapped him for touching his name tent. I talk and think really slowly. Why didn’t I spike the ball? I’m a moron, that’s why.
Dawg4Life
December 3rd, 2012
11:15 am
Hey Bama Fans, how are you gonna feel when Kirby Smart is Head Coach at Auburn and he is smacking ya’ll around every for the next 4yrs.
Dawg4Life
December 3rd, 2012
11:16 am
year*
ARdawg
December 3rd, 2012
11:16 am
The Dawgs brought to Bama and laid it all out there on the field. If that disappoints any of you jacklegs tough chit. Huh? I applaud you applauding the Dawgs. That was a great game and we came up short. Someone had to lose. This time it was us.
GTBobby, get off your self imposed steed. Georgia losing that game in no way makes your team better and flies in the face of all you’ve preached on these boards. Obviously, you don’t know of what your repetitively and continuously speak.
CHDawg
December 3rd, 2012
11:18 am
Be Happy @ 1115 wrote “I’m a moron.” Thou hast said it.
Dawgingatorville
December 3rd, 2012
11:19 am
I have a lot of thoughts about the Dawgs but I am proud of the OL, after watching them in the spring they went from a liability to a huge asset and they are going to be beast next year. I think Murray is great but too short (tipped balls) but he needs to come back, he is not ready for the NFL. Sorry Mason.. But in the end, the defense just gives up too many yards rushing and tackling is poor at times and then the get beat too often in the pass. But they are a fine group none the less..
Happy Idiots
December 3rd, 2012
11:20 am
Pathetic that the GA fan base comes across as low IQ morons. You think that going along with losing – coming up short year after year makes you a true Dog’s fan? No, it makes you an enabler, enabling the inferior UGA coaching staff to continue their under achieving ways year after year. That’s not the way championship teams are made. They are made by setting high standards and strictly maintainting those standards. Demand more Dog Nation. You can do better than this.
tardawg
December 3rd, 2012
11:20 am
just hate it when..check the real story Spurrier was asked to resign, just did it rather nice, it was 10 years if that’s true he must be getting ready to resign SC.
Be HAPPY
December 3rd, 2012
11:21 am
It is meant to be run with at least 5 players arrests every off-season. Admirable.
GTBob
December 3rd, 2012
11:21 am
GTBobby, get off your self imposed steed. Georgia losing that game in no way makes your team better and flies in the face of all you’ve preached on these boards.
Of course it doesn’t make my team better, but it does expose UGA once again. Sorry, but Murray is not a big time performer and will never lead UGA to a big win. It is just never going to happen. Having Richt coaching and Murray playing QB is a recipe for making the Capital One bowl every year. This season went pretty much exactly as everyone predicted for UGA, only there was an added moral victory of playing Alabama closer than they probably should have.
Chuck Oliver
December 3rd, 2012
11:22 am
MR And one more thing, we played our tails off – just didnt have the coaching or quaterback to make the difference.
Brainiac (CMR/UGA Fan For Life)
December 3rd, 2012
11:25 am
@ Steeler Fan:
In all your brilliant observation did you just happen to notice that immdeiately before halftime Saban went through vertually the same situation as CMR. Saban, on his way to the dressing room at halftime, was asked by thr female reporter why he elected to end up in a position where he had to settle for a FG when he failed to utilize the 3 “Timeouts” Bama had remaining!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
He said they just got caught up in the circumstances so I guess you may want to throw Saban(Likely the best College Coach in America) under the bus as you did with CMR. Actually Dawg Nation/most of the posters on here really don’t give a Fat Rodent’s Rearend about your opinion anyway because if we, the people that really matter and have SOME say-so about who coaches UGA, need the expertise of an inbred, snaggle toothed, unwashed “genius” with a single Digit IQ we will contact you immediately
AltamahaDawg
December 3rd, 2012
11:25 am
BS! champ. Have the balls? paleeze.
“some folks will say that AARON MURRAY, and his coach……….”
It wasn’t even directly about him. Or even if it was, All he heard was somebody attacking his player….
Richt showed a great deal of class, and and plenty of balls answering a weasel question.
Embarrased Dawg
December 3rd, 2012
11:25 am
I want to be Bama, so bad.
Be HAPPY
December 3rd, 2012
11:26 am
Is Murray still going to take home the Heisman this season? Dawg fans are seriously dillusional.
yeah uh huh
December 3rd, 2012
11:27 am
as a Tech fan, I congratulate uga on a well played game against the best team in the country. you represented Georgia well. As for the GT comments on here. don’t assume they’re all from Tech. you guys b have a few goobers too that tear down your own team. again, kudos dogs
JaxYJ
December 3rd, 2012
11:27 am
Bwahahahahahahahahahahahahaha! Now is the time we hear all the whining!
AltamahaDawg
December 3rd, 2012
11:28 am
So, nobody can explain to me the why spiking the ball would have been better?
Be HAPPY
December 3rd, 2012
11:29 am
He actually didn’t answer the question moron.
West Coast Dawg
December 3rd, 2012
11:30 am
I’m not going to talk about the obvious because it’s been mentioned countless times. I’m talking about our inability to stop the run. I would like to talk about that crucial third down. Does Aaron have the option to audible out of a play or does that come from the oc or head coach? Someone should’ve changed that play to a pitch or a bootleg by Aaron because Alabama stacked the line. It wasn’t a last minute walk up or anything it was a pre read. It also makes me ask does Todd have to run where the play is designed to go or does he have the option to run it somewhere else because running backs have pre reads as well. I believe if we convert right there we could’ve run the clock out by running the ball. I know that there were a little over three minues left at that time but the Tide had problems with our running game as well. Todd had twenty two carries. It should’ve been forty two. I would’ve liked to have seen Ken Malcome get some touches as well. It was a physical game and he is a physical runner just like Todd. I’m still proud of the way the kids fought back time after time. These are my humble opinions because I’m playing Monday morning quarterback just like the rest of you! One more thing I hope Aaron comes back because I’d rather have a battle tested experienced quarterback heading into Death Valley in 2013 than an unproven one. Go Dawgs!!!!!!!!!!!!!
CHDawg
December 3rd, 2012
11:30 am
GTBob, you criticizing Murray and Richt in football is kind of like Bozo the clown criticizing Einstein in physics. You simply have no clue as to how little you understand.
Brainiac (CMR/UGA Fan For Life)
December 3rd, 2012
11:31 am
@ Chuck Oliver:
Get off of here!!!!!!!!!
This is a BIG BOY BLOG and you definitely don’t qualify unless “mouth” counts!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
CMR is the No. 4 ranked winningest active coach in America and NO SEC Coach is among the 3 ahead of him!!!!!!!!!!!!!
azdawg
December 3rd, 2012
11:31 am
The dawgs Offense is not to blame for this loss. Overall, the O and AM did well against the #1 D in the nation. There were several bad series as the result of poor play calling which was not AM’s doing. He had one pik but it didn’t cost the dawgs any points. All you have to do is look at the stats for the reason they lost. No rush defense. The dawgs D gave up 350 yds on the ground, 3 TD’s, numerous missed tackles and they were just flat gassed by the 3rd qtr. All that is the fault of coaching or lack of it. If CTG had just come up w/one stop to get AL off the field during their 3 TD run it would be a different game. You cannot tackle Lacy high! You have to go for his legs. Time and time again the D let him run because of poor tackling. Same for Yelpin, the other RB. There’s no excuse for that type of play. Murray got the dawgs in position to win and should have changed the play and spiked it. It wasn’t his call it was CMB and CMR. Blame them for mismanageing the last seconds of the game. Also, if GA’s goal post loving kicker makes that FG kick in 1st half GA only needs a FG to win at the end. He shares some of the blame for this loss and sorry to say GA needs to spend another scholly on a better HS candidate. This kid we have now is not reliable. So, congrats to AM and the offense. They did well enoug to win. The D let this one slip away when GA was in control of the scoreboard.
DawgFritter
December 3rd, 2012
11:32 am
Alt Dog
2 plays to score. Maybe with a more prepared defense, but two plays to think about it, plan and be coached. None of which happened.
Be HAPPY
December 3rd, 2012
11:33 am
because the clock stops and another play could be run, go watch girls volleyball you retard
Saban says, “that was my fault”. How did Richt “answer” his tough question? Like the passive aggressive hypocrite that he is.
ARdawg
December 3rd, 2012
11:33 am
GTBobby
No moral victory in that game and it only exposed the heart our guys have. They played their b_utts off in that game and you know it. So did Bama. Your attempt at denigrating it is dismissed. UGA will be a fore to be reckoned with next year and your Nerds will lose another to us.
Murray has broken multiple QB UGA and SEC records Bobby. Why the need from you to downplay it. Your panties are showing Bobby. Football is a team sport. Win as a team and lose as a team. If Murray had run that last play in for a TD, who would have won the game? Murray or Georgia?
crimson 1
December 3rd, 2012
11:33 am
This game should not have been close. We need a pass rusher. Please Nkemdiche come take your place on another championship run. Sorry Geogia wait until next year like always, hahaha.
TexasDawg
December 3rd, 2012
11:33 am
Thank you are an amazing game. I was so excited and heart broke at same time. I loved the headline on CNN right after the game “Tide Survives” There is no other way to put it than that. It was a hellva game. Now get over it and win # 12. Go Dawgs.
IlliniDawg
December 3rd, 2012
11:34 am
@JoeDawg and the other haters on this blog, take a look at how real fans respond to what was one of the most exciting conference championship games ever. None of you all of course would appear in this or any similar video:
http://t.co/lwDTZaO3
ZTP
December 3rd, 2012
11:34 am
Say what you want about the DAWGS. They played a great game. Bama took advantage of our weak spot in the secondary all game #5. And they pounded the rock to the point #5 was left man to man which resulted in pass inteferance or a Touchdown. Trying to tackle Lacey in the 1st quarter and then trying to tackel him in the 4th is totally different. Anyone that plays football will know that. Heck watch the NFL and you’ll notice that with teams that run the ball. A game like that between two somewhat evenly matched teams always comes down to 5 plays. After going up 21 – 10 I can mention 2 plays that gave Bama at total of 30 yards alone.
Chuck Oliver
December 3rd, 2012
11:35 am
Brain,
So why cant he win against teams that are ranked and have winning records?
Really dude, tell me. Speak up.
It is ME asking, not THEY. Playing a cupcake schedule and playing tough against BAMA does not a contender make.
So why cant you win? Answer me boy!!!
CHDawg
December 3rd, 2012
11:37 am
Be Happy wrote, “I am a moron.” And he added, “he actually didn’t answer the question, moron.” I don’t mind sick people venting on this blog, but talking to yourself, repeatedly calling yourself moron…maybe it is time to reenter society, Be Happy. Your life can be so much better when you learn to leave your bitterness over UGA’s wonderful football program behind.
tony
December 3rd, 2012
11:38 am
I don’t know if anyone else notice but Mr Richt is changing. He is showing more emotion on the sideline, he’s talking championship for the 1st time since he was hired but he is still a stubborn man. There are 2 things that I would suggest:
1) Recruit a mobile qb
2) Hire a fiery DL/LB/ST coach who will teach proper fundamentals and techniques. (our young men are grabbing not tackling – enough of that – 8yrs overdue)
Brainiac (CMR/UGA Fan For Life)
December 3rd, 2012
11:38 am
@ A Z Dawg:
Why couldn’t you just admit that UGA coaches AND players gave it a hell of an effort without looking for SCAPEGOATS??? Any real Dawg Fan should be extremely proud of this team(Well maybe not the USCe game)