SEC Championship Game Preview

All of the hype is almost over.  It is less than 24 hours until Georgia and Alabama meet for the first time in the SEC Championship Game. 

The enormity of this game has me reflecting a bit on my relatively short history as a Bulldog fan.

I was born in 1985, so I just missed the "Glory Days." 

Baseball was my first love, probably because we went to a lot of Braves games, and because I played little league.  The first Georgia game I can remember was the 1996 Auburn game, which was the first overtime game in the SEC's history. 

I remember watching the Florida game in 1997, which Georgia actually won, and not realizing what a big deal it was that the Dawgs beat Steve Spurrier and the Gators.  The significance of that win would be reveled to me over the next 7 years as I watched Georgia lose time and again in Jacksonville. 

By the late 90's I was hooked.  I remember being so excited when Georgia would be ranked in the teens preseason. 

Mark Richt's first season will always be remembered for the "Hob-nail Boot" win in Knoxville, but at the end of that season, I remember thinking that this guy wasn't going to be able to get the job done.  He ran the clock out on us against Auburn that season, then punted to Boston College in the bowl game with less than 2 minutes left. 

Obviously 2002 was the year that Richt won me over, and for good reason. 

I have documented the Richt Era extensively here before, so I won't go into a lot of detail, but I will say that the thing about Coach Richt that I have come to admire more than anything is the type of person he is.  I had questions about him as a leader when he let Willie Martinez stay too long, but his hire of Todd Grantham has reinvigorated the program.  I'm proud to have Coach Richt represent my university.

When I was a student at Georgia (2005-2007), my roommates and I would talk about what it might be like if Georgia ever played for a National Championship.  The conversation kind of felt like talking about what you would do if you won the lottery.  Georgia had some good teams in the 2000's, but they were never on the doorstep of the title game.  They were never even in title contention by the time November came around, usually because of a loss to Florida.

In this blog, I said that this season should be different.  I said that the expectations for this team were very simple.  Georgia should be 12-0 or 11-1 playing Alabama for a chance to go to the National Championship game.  Well, here we are.  Georgia has met expectations, now it is time to exceed them.  I'm sure that in January of 1983 Georgia fans never could have guessed that it would be 30 years until their team got this close to a National Championship again.  Likewise, they couldn't have known in September of 1980 what a magical three-year run they were about to embark on.  My son turns 1 on Sunday.  If Georgia wins on Saturday, his uncle and I will tell him for years to come about how the Dawgs beat the Tide, the day before his first birthday.  Who knows when he might get to see Georgia play in a game this big?

Moments like these aren't guaranteed.  Tomorrow may be the peak for this program under Mark Richt.  Tomorrow may be a disappointment, but a learning experience that will bare fruit in the future, much like the 2008 SEC Championship Game was for Alabama.  Tomorrow could also the beginning of the Georgia Bulldog Era in college football, where the Dawgs go one a run like Florida and Alabama and win multiple National Titles. 

Time will only tell what tomorrow's game will mean, but I do believe there is one, simple key to tomorrow's game.

Aaron Murray.

I've heard so much talk this week about the defenses.  The defenses are a wash.  Bama's defense is great, Georgia's defense is great.  I've heard a lot of talk about the run game for both teams.  We are going to be able to run the ball, and so are they.  It is going to come down to the quarterbacks.  AJ McCarron is a good quarterback who has been on a great team, won some big games, and made some big plays.  Aaron Murray is a great quarterback who has been on some good teams, won a lot of games against inferior competition, and made no big plays in big games.

AJ McCarron can't win the game for Alabama.  He can be a part of a team effort where he makes some plays that lead to victory, but he can't be the reason they win.  Aaron Murray can win this game for Georgia.  Aaron Murray can also lose this game for Georgia.

To even think about comparing Murray to Quincy Carter is an insult, but they do have one thing in common.  They are both like a box of chocolates, you never really know what you are going to get.  Carter was amazing as a freshman and beat LSU in Baton Rouge.  Carter threw five picks as a junior and handed Lou Holtz a program changing win when he was at South Carolina.  Murray has been spectacular at times, and at other times, he just leaves you scratching your head.

Aaron Murray is statistically the most efficient passer in the country.  He has thrown for over 3000 yards and has 30 touchdowns in the SEC.  I think that translates to about 50 touchdowns in the Big 12 or the Pac 12.  However, you haven't heard Murray's name mentioned once in the Heisman race.  Why?

Because Murray has come up incredibly small in Georgia's two biggest games of the season.  Murray was ineffective at South Carolina and he was bad against Florida. 

This week, Murray decided no to talk to the media for some reason.  While Murray was silent, former NFL coach and current NFL commentator Tony Dungy said that he believed Murray was a franchise quarterback in the NFL, and that he would draft Murray in the first round of April's NFL Draft.  Of course, this led to speculation that Murray would leave Georgia after this season. 

If Murray comes back next season, barring injury, he will hold every significant passing record in school history, and he will throw for the most touchdowns in Southeastern Conference history.  His numbers suggest greatness, but his play in big games suggest that those numbers are a product of a good system and weak opposition. 

Tomorrow's game can change everything for Murray.  Forget whether or not he goes pro, he can change his legacy if he wins tomorrow.  Matt Stafford was the number 1 pick in the NFL draft, so on some level, he is successful.  But Georgia fans love David Greene and DJ Shockley much more than Stafford, because they won.  Murray can throw all the touchdowns he wants, but to score with the Bulldog Nation he has to win when it really counts. 

It has been a long time since it has counted this much for Georgia.

We are so close.

1 game. 
1 victory. 
1 chance to play for the greatest prize in college athletics. 

The nation expects Alabama to win.  Alabama expects Alabama to win.  Meanwhile, Georgia fans could be characterized as reluctantly optimistic.  Don't get too excited, then you won't be too disappointed.

One of the problems with sports is that you aren't a winner until you are.  Everyone always doubts whether a team, a coach, or a player can win the big one if they haven't won it yet.  Phil Mickleson couldn't win a major.  Then he won the Masters.  He has since won three more majors.  Now he is a winner.

Michael Jordon was drafted by the Bulls in 1984.  He lead the league in scoring multiple times in the 80's, but the Bulls never won the NBA title.  People questioned whether Jordan could lead a team to a title.  Then, starting in 1991, Jordan won the NBA title every year he was in the league until 1998, a total of 6 titles.  It sounds crazy now that anyone would have ever thought Jordan couldn't win the big one, because he is thought of as one of the greatest winners of all time. 

Lebron James went through the same thing since he came into the NBA.  He got his title last season with the Heat.

My point is this: a Georgia win tomorrow might shock a lot of people because Georgia hasn't won on this level in so long, but the lack of victory doesn't make you a loser.  Georgia has had a remarkable season, and they are playing in a huge game against a program with as much history as any in college football.  Anyone that tells you they KNOW what is going to happen tomorrow is a fool.  These are two great teams and any number of variables could decide the game. 

The motto for the Dawgs this season has been Our Team, Our Time, No Regrets.  If they play with that mindset tomorrow, there is no reason the Dawgs won't be dancing on South Beach on January 7.
Glory, Glory to Old Georgia!

Dawgs  27      Tide 24