Alabama won the game, but Georgia was the better team last Saturday. The Bulldogs stood toe-to-toe with the defending national champions and had the Tide gasping for air late in the fourth quarter. A spike to stop the clock, a dropped pass by Chris Conley or just five more yards would have put Georgia in the BCS National Championship Game.
So many moments gave us thrills and disappointment in this game for the ages. There was the fake punt that the Bulldogs executed after Nick Saban’s crew failed at the same tactic. The blocked field goal and Alex Ogletree’s scoop-and-score sent much of the Georgia Dome crowd into delirium. The relentless running of halfback Todd Gurley showed how dominant the Georgia offense could be. Quarterback Aaron Murray was magnificent, as he has been all season. The Crimson Tide eventually wore down linebacker Jarvis Jones and the Georgia defense, but the Bulldogs were worthy opponents in an SEC Championship that will go down as one of the greatest games ever played.
CAPITAL OFFENSE …
The consolation prize for the SEC East champions wasn’t what they wanted: a matchup with Nebraska in the Capital One Bowl. Many Georgia fans choked on their eggnog when they saw that pairing. The Cornhuskers were destroyed by an average Wisconsin team in the Big Ten title game. Nebraska gave up 70 points. Not exactly what Georgia was hoping for, but blame Ohio State and Penn State for that. The Buckeyes and the Nittany Lions will not be going bowling this year for obvious reasons. The scandals at both schools watered down the Big Ten this year and gave rise to Wisconsin gaining a spot in the title game, in which the Badgers dismantled Nebraska.
Adding insult to injury, Florida, a team that Georgia beat, will be playing in the Sugar Bowl. On top of that, Northern Illinois from the “formidable” Mid-American Conference will be going to the Orange Bowl against Florida State. Again, blame Ohio State and Penn State.
Can someone please explain why Murray is not one of the finalists for the Heisman Trophy? A whopping 3,466 yards and 31 touchdowns on the season doesn’t seem to cut it these days. In summary, the college football season produced the top two teams, but outside of that, it was a big mess in 2012.
MATTY ICE …
There has been talk about Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan’s nickname. Some have called it childish and have clamored for a new nickname. Matty Ice seems to fit, though. How many times has the fifth-year star put the game on ice with his scrambling completions this season? Announcers used to refer to players having ice water in their veins when handling pressure situations. Certainly, Ryan fits that description.
Matty Ice has thrown for more yards this year than Tom Brady, Peyton Manning and Aaron Rodgers. His quarterback rating is higher than Drew Brees’ and he has thrown more touchdowns than Tony Romo, Matthew Stafford and Eli Manning. Most importantly, Ryan has led the Atlanta Falcons to the league’s best record and a shot at doing major damage in the playoffs. At this point of the season, Ryan has to be considered the leading candidate for NFL MVP. Could the Falcons win without him?
LOCKED OUT …
Hockey isn’t a very popular subject in this part of the country or in any part of the country this year. The owners have locked out the players and the season is in jeopardy for the second time since 2005.
Gary Bettman is ruining the sport by not putting the NHL on ESPN and moving teams anywhere at any time. Remember the Thrashers? He is ruining the sport that I have loved my whole life and he is ruining Christmas for NHL fans everywhere.
The signature event of the NHL season, the Winter Classic, was supposed to be played in my home state of Michigan, at the “Big House” in Ann Arbor on New Years Day. Now, thanks to Bettman’s ego, we will not have that game. I’d rather have the Grinch as NHL commissioner than Bettman. At least his heart grew at the end of the story.
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