Georgia football: Former QBs who should have won a ring as a Dawg

Aaron Murray

In my humble opinion, Aaron Murray is the greatest quarterback in Georgia football history. He is also involved in some of my all-time favorite UGA memories.

From the touchdown pass to Malcolm Mitchell against Florida in 2012 to the game-winning drive against LSU in 2013, Murray fueled my fandom of Georgia football more than any other player.

Here are some of the Bulldog records Murray holds:

• First in career passing yards (13,166)
• First in passing TDs (121)
• First in single-season passing yards (3,893)
• First in individual single-season TDs (36)

With those records, it’s not hard to see why Murray is near or at the top of the list of best Georgia football quarterbacks ever. The Tampa native was a four-year starter at Georgia from 2010 to 2013, and he led some of the most memorable teams in recent memory.

After a disappointing 6-7 season in 2010, Murray and the Bulldogs bounced back in 2011. Despite an 0-2 start, Georgia won ten straight games and captured the SEC East for the first time since 2005.

The winning streak also included the Dawgs’ first victory against Florida since 2007. Murray finished 3-1 against the Gators in his career, with the lone loss coming during his freshman year in overtime.

Georgia was hammered by No. 1 LSU in the SEC Championship that year 42-10 despite Georgia leading 10-7 at halftime. They went on to play Michigan State in the Outback Bowl, but lost that game 33-30 in triple overtime.

Of course, the 2012 season is the one Georgia fans remember, for better or worse.

This team included some of the most iconic players in Georgia football history, such as Murray, Todd Gurley, Keith Marshall, Malcolm Mitchell, Jarvis Jones, Bacarri Rambo, and others. Other than a loss at South Carolina, the Dawgs rolled to an 11-1 regular-season record for the first time since 2002.

Then, the SEC Championship game happened.

Georgia got on the board first in the second quarter when Murray hit tight end Jay Rome for a touchdown. Alabama scored 10 points at the end of the half thanks to an Eddie Lacy touchdown run, and a field goal as the clock ran out.

Todd Gurley scored on a short run to put Georgia up 14-10, and then Alec Ogletree electrified Dawg fans by returning a blocked field goal 55 yards for a touchdown to make it a 21-10 lead in the third quarter.

After some back and forth action at the end of the third quarter and start of the fourth, Alabama quarterback AJ McCarron connected with wide receiver Amari Cooper for a 45 yard go-ahead touchdown with less than four minutes remaining.

Aaron Murray led Georgia down the field with seconds on the clock and got the ball on the Bama four-yard line for 1st and goal. The play — a strike to Chris Conley to Murray’s right.

Sadly, Conley was unable to get out of bounds to stop the clock. With no timeouts left, all Georgia could do was helplessly watch as the clock ran out and Alabama began celebrating their SEC Championship victory.

This game will go down as one of if not the most infamous “what if” moments on the long, long list of these moments in Georgia football history.

If the Dawgs won this game, they would have moved to the BCS Championship game against undefeated Notre Dame. As Alabama, Georgia would have blown out the Irish in Miami to win the crystal football.

Murray’s senior year was a bit disappointing record-wise, as Georgia finished 8-5. He also tore his ACL on senior night against Kentucky, a moment that was so heartbreaking for everyone.

We couldn’t include every quarterback on this list, so comment below otheheartbreakingrterbacks who should have won a National title at Georgia. In the meantime, keep celebrating the 2021 season, Dawg Nation.