Georgia football: What on earth was James Jackson thinking?

Oct 9, 2016; Columbia, SC, USA; Georgia Bulldogs running back Brian Herrien (35) follows a block by Bulldogs guard Greg Pyke (73) during the second half against the South Carolina Gamecocks at Williams-Brice Stadium. Georgia won 28-14. Mandatory Credit: Jim Dedmon-USA TODAY Sports

Jackson’s mistake

Nowadays, to run out the clock, teams just take a knee. It’s safe, quick and easy. But decades ago, teams didn’t take a knee. They would run their normal offense or just hold the ball to run down more time. Both of those strategies are major risks which is why everyone takes a knee these days.

Vince Dooley probably should have told James Jackson to just fall down. With four seconds left, Jackson takes the snap and runs out to his left. As defenders begin to catch up to him, he turns and runs backwards towards South Carolina’s end zone.

Then right after time expires, Jackson purposely drops the ball right around Georgia’s 10-yard line. South Carolina’s Norman Floyd picked the ball up and ran into the end zone for what he and the Gamecock fans in attendance thought was the game-winning touchdown.

One problem however. Back then, you could not advance a fumble unless you caught it in the air as one of the ESPN commentators for that game pointed out. As soon as the defender touched the ball, officials ruled the play dead and Georgia won the game 31-26.

You were probably thinking that Jackson was well aware of the rule when he dropped it and knew he had nothing to worry about the entire time. But watching the footage of Jackson after the play, you can tell that Jackson knows he could have cost his team the game.

Despite the win, Dooley couldn’t even look happy for the camera until his handshake with then South Carolina head coach Joe Morrison when he said “This was the most interesting thing I’ve ever seen.”

Discussion of the play lasted all night long. Fans in attendance were confused about what to make of the situation. Morrison was so defiant that he refused to leave and even debated with officials about there still be one second left on the clock.

But all of that was for nothing. After 15 minutes, officials decided that the clock had expired and the game was over.

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Afterwards, the Spartanburg Herald-Journal quoted Jackson saying, “I just saw that the time had ran out and laid the ball on the ground. It was no big deal and the game was over.”

Later he said that coach Dooley told him to just fall down next time to avoid controversy. Dooley blamed himself however, saying that it was poor coaching at the end by not telling Jackson to fall down.

It’s not a play anyone wants to be remembered for, but at least Georgia got the win and that’s what mattered most for Jackson after a long, hard-fought battle.