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Top juniors consider draft
By NICK PARKER
The Red & Black
A.J. Green stood on the
podium in front of the stu
dent section celebrating a
win over Georgia’s hated
in-state rival with his senior
teammates as students
chanted: “One more year.
One more year.”
The moment was a
memorable one for the
seniors in what was their
final game in Sanford
Stadium, but also one that
will stay with Green, who
knows the win over Georgia
Tech could have been his
last game between the
hedges as well.
“That’s always in the
back of your mind, but I’m
just going to make the best
decision for me and my
family,” said Green, who is
rated as one of the premier
prospects in April’s NFL
Draft.
If it was Green’s last
game, he couldn’t have
envisioned a much sweeter
way to go out than a win
over the Yellow Jackets to
gain bowl eligibility for the
seniors that took him in as
a freshman from
Summerville, S.C.
SENIORS: Players deal
with mixed emotions
► From Page 1
was out there Just kinda soak
ing it all up for the last time."
Tight end Orsoh Charles
said he could tell some of the
seniors were getting nostalgic
and somewhat emotional
Saturday morning during the
Bulldogs’ pregame routine.
“You kinda seen them
when we was at the hotel,”
Charles said. “Everybody was
like, ‘This is our last meal.
This is our last Dawg Walk.
This is our last game in
Sanford Stadium.' It was
kinda emotional. That’s why
[head coach Mark] Richt had
everybody come back inside
and get everybody’s minds
together and go out there and
just get ready for Georgia
Tech."
Durham said he was the
most emotional when he saw
his parents during the senior
ceremony before kickoff, but
was able to hold off the bulk
of the memories and emotions
until after the game.
“I was Just trying to mainly
focus on the game. That way I
wouldn’t get overcome with
emotion and that sorts thing,”
Durham said. “But once the
game got started, I was
focused on that. After the
zeros hit and I realized it was
my last one, a lot of things hit
mei, .
Linebacker Akeem Dent
said' &e felt his emotions
creeping up on him through
out the day Saturday, but he
said he wanted Georgia to
kelp the Governor’s Cup in
“Aw, man. It was a lot of
emotions flowing," Dent said.
"Juifc memories just popping
up in my head and things like
that, but once all that stuff
was over with it was time to
INSTANT REPLAY
“It was like a dream
come true,” Green said.
“This went by fast. Now
I’m a junior, and I’ve got an
opportunity to leave and
do what I love the most. It
just went by so fast. Just
sitting there, standing on
that thing by the student
section, hearing them
chanting and going crazy,
it was just a dream, man.”
Head coach Mark Richt
was asked after the game if
he had heard the chant for
Green, and he just smiled,
replying: “I’m all for that.”
As is quarterback Aaron
Murray.
“I called [the students)
beforehand and told them
to do that,” Murray joked.
“No, I’m just playing, but
no matter what he’s a tre
mendous player, and what
ever he does, I’m still going
to be one of his biggest
supporters.”
Both Green and outside
linebacker Justin Houston
are projected as first-round
draft picks if they choose
to bolt for the NFL after
their junior season, but it’s
a decision both said will
have to wait until after the
bowl game.
“When this season is
flip the switch because we
had a ball game to play.”
Despite Georgia’s 6-6
record and its less-than-desir
able season, Durham, Charles
and quarterback Aaron
Murray said the senior class
held the team together
throughout the season.
“All the seniors meant a lot
to us. I mean, we might not
say it, but they all meant a lot
to us,” Charles said. “At one
point we all looked up to
them. They led us in practice,
led us in the games. Our
record don’t really show for
how much we care for the
seniors and how bad we all
needed this game, but seniors
meant a lot to us.”
Murray said the seniors
were the ones who picked up
the rest of the team during
the rough patches of the sea
son and motivated the team
to persevere to come out on
the other end with positive
attitudes.
“I could name every
[senior] and what they mean
to this team is Just unbeliev
able. They've held us through
this whole season,” Murray
said. “A lot of guys would just
give up and just say, ‘Hey, the
season’s done with.’ But I
mean, those guys have stuck
together. They’ve pushed this
team through the ups and
downs of the season.”
Dent said he is proud to be
a part of this senior class and
proud Georgia is now bowl
eligible, especially after the
season did not go as well as
the Bulldogs wanted.
“[This season’s] meant a
lot to me. It’s my last one,”
Dent said. “One thing that
I’ve seen with this group of
guys, these guys, they won’t
stop fighting so it’s just meant
a lot.”
completely over, that’s
when I’ll think about it,”
Houston said. “We still have
bowl games, and we got to
get ready for that.”
Even with potential mil
lions waiting for when they
do decide to make the leap,
it’s a decision neither is
particularly looking for
ward to.
“Every time I think
about it, I just get a weak
feeling in my stomach,”
Green said. “It just went by
so fast, and I put myself in
position to make a lot of
money some day or come
back to school. I love this
place, and I don’t know if
I’m ready to leave it yet. So
I don’t know.”
Houston had similar
feelings.
“I don’t even want to
think about it,” he added.
“I’ll think about it later.”
Richt said he just wants
what is best for both men,
but didn’t hesitate to cam
paign a bit for Houston’s
return when asked about
him specifically.
“I have no earthly idea
what the future holds for
(Houston], but my hope is
he’s a Bulldog for another
season,” he said.
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▲ Aaron Murray (11) posted another impressive performance
against the Yellow Jackets, throwing for three touchdowns.
BOWL Memphis likely destination
► From Page 1
us to get back to doing the things that
we need to do against the teams in
the SEC East, the teams that we’re
going to see Boise [StateJ for exam
ple —and who we’re going to see in
the bowl game. So it allows us to play
young players, allows us to get back
into playing more of a normal offense
and playing our normal defense, so I
think it’s real critical."
Richt said Georgia won’t know
where they’re heading likely until "the
BCS stuff is done,” but the head of the
Liberty Bowl Steve Ehrhart told the
Macon Telegraph that they’ve been
“talking about Georgia for basically all
season” and appear to be Georgia's
likely destination.
The Liberty Bowl selects after the
Music City Bowl, another bowl inter
ested in Georgia, but with Tennessee’s
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▲ (Top) Justin Houston (42) scores a defensive
touchdown for the Bulldogs, who forced four
turnovers (above) against Georgia Tech.
win Saturday, it looks as if the Music
City Bowl will likely stay with the
home state team, leaving the Liberty
Bowl with either Georgia or Kentucky
to fill their SEC affiliate.
“At least we’re eligible [for a bowl],
so it doesn’t matter where we go to,”
A.J. Green said.
If Georgia were to go to the Liberty
Bowl, they’d face the winner of next
Saturday's Conference USA champi
onship game between SMU and
Central Florida.
That game is set for Dec. 31 at-3:30
p.m in Memphis, Tenn.
“I’m Just happy that we have the
opportunity to go to a bowl game,”
Justin Houston said. “This wasn’t the
best season and I think everybody
knows that, but to be able to go to a
bowl game, that’s still a blessing and
we got to cherish that Just like we’re
going to a bigger bowl.”
GAME
REWIND
PLAYER OF THE
GAME: ( -
Aaron Murray, Georgia
quarterback
It was a huge offensive
day for both teams, and
Aaron Murray was able to
find receivers when it mat
tered most. The redshlrt
freshman was 15-of-19 for
271 yards, three touch
downs and no Intercep
tions. He took care of the
ball and had help from
senior wide receiver Kris
Durham and wideout A.J.
Green. Georgia’s passing
game carried the Bulldogs
through the game and
ultimately got them their
sixth win.
OVERLOOKED PLAYER
OF THE GAME:
Anthony Allen, Georgia
Tech running back
Georgia Tech's redshlrt
senior thrashed Georgia's
rush defense all night,
especially up the middle,
for 166 yards and one
touchdown. Allen averaged
5.7 yards per carry and led
the way for a Yellow Jacket
offense that gained 411
total yards on the ground.
KEY DECISION:
Georgia Tech purpose
fully conceding Georgia’s
final touchdown
With 1:38 left in the
game, Georgia Tech head
coach Paul Johnson and
the Yellow Jacket defense
essentially let the Bulldogs
in the end zone in order to
get the ball back with
enough time to potentially
score and go for the two
point conversion to tie the
game. Though the Yellow
Jackets could not convert
on their next offensive pos
session, the decision to let
Georgia score to get the
ball back with plenty of
time left was a smart one
by Johnson. Georgia man
aged the clock poorly on
its last scoring drive and
Johnson threw the Georgia
coaching staff on its heels
with tpe decision, although
it did not work out as
planned.
KEY MOMENTS:
Georgia Tech's missed
extra point/the Georgia
defense stopping the
Yellow Jackets in their last
two offensive possessions
The Yellow Jackets had
the opportunity to tie the
game at 35, but kicker
Scott Blair missed the
point after, leaving the
Bulldogs with a one-point
lead and some breathing
room. After Georgia went
up 42-34 with 1:29 left in
the game, the Yellow
Jacket offense took the
field again with plenty of
time left on the clock. But
the Georgia defense came
up with two tackles for loss
and quarterback Tevin
Washington threw two
incomplete passes to turn
the ball over on downs. On
the Yellow Jackets’ final
possession, linebacker
Justin Houston came up
with his third huge play of
the game when he picked
off Washington and fell on
the ground to end the
game.
QUOTE OF THE GAME:
Linebacker Justin Hous
ton on his performance
against Georgia Tech:
“I wasn't planning on
doing all this, but I had fun
doing it. It was great. It
was great to be out there.”
BY THE NUMBERS:
Georgia Tech
Total offense: 512 yards
First downs: 32
Turnovers: 4
Third down conversions:
7-OM2
Georgia
Total offense: 425
First downs: 18
Turnovers: 2
Third down conversions:
2-of-7
Rachel G. Bowers