Georgia Falls to LSU: A Tough Loss for a Tough Team

Georgia may have lost a heartbreaker between the hedges on Saturday, but there is no reason to be heartbroken.

This team almost pulled off a signature victory again. Georgia had the blocked point after and redzone stand against South Carolina. They had the comeback victory at Arkansas. They had the amazing double dip of A.J. Green to win the game against Arizona State.

After A.J. hauled in that amazing touchdown with just over a minute left, I thought to myself, "Wow! Is this team really going to win this way again?!"

As Mark Richt said, this Georgia team is "battle tested," and despite the loss they proved once again their resolve. Their requirement of late heroics, rather than nailing down comfortable leads, finally caught up with them.

Even though Georgia did give up the late score to Charles Scott, I feel like Georgia fans have no reason to feel like this team is not worthy.

In a game like that you just need to forget about rankings and implications. Whenever you have two big time SEC powerhouses fighting to the finish in a see-saw battle like that, you have to appreciate it for what it is whether you end up on the winning side or the losing side.

Especially with the absolutely terrible judgement made by the referees after Green's late touchdown grab.

Picture this: You are a twenty year old college athlete playing in a marquee football game on national television. You catch an epic go ahead touchdown in the corner of the endzone with a minute left. Your student section and team is all running over to you in excitement.

We expect you to robotically give the ref the ball and trot back to the bench with nothing more than a slight smirk on your face?

Apparently, that is what the NCAA expects. Green, who after the score gave a chestbump with teammate Michael Moore and then gestured towards the adoring fans, cost Georgia 15 yards in kickoff field position.

On kickoff returns, there is a big difference from having the ability to kick one in the endzone, and having to kick it to the most dangerous returner in the country—who's standing at his 35 yard line already.

Charles Scott won the game. Marcus Dowtin and Rennie Curran missed a major tackle. But, having Jordan Jefferson throwing late from LSU's twenty yard line against a defense with six sacks is a lot different than LSU being able to dictate the flow of the game- already in field goal range.

That humongous swing in field position is not at fault for the result of the game, but it definitely made a major impact.

This was one of those games where you have to keep your head up, win or lose. Both teams came to play and played their cabooses off.

I have to say Bulldog fans; It is a lot nice to lose 20-13 in that kind of fashion and with bogus calls than lose 49-10, or fall behind 31-0, is it not?

Georgia is 3-2 heading into Knoxville next weekend, but Georgia fans better not start complaining about how Coach Mark Richt is "failing with tons of talent" or "showing no emotion."

Georgia lost two early SEC games in 2007 to South Carolina, and a blowout against Tennessee. We forget that, as we glorify Georgia's magical 2007 season.

We also forget, while complaining about underachievement, that Georgia plays in a conference with Florida, Alabama, LSU, Auburn, and Tennessee.

As I said in a previous article, you just cannot be disappointed with conference losses- especially like the ones Georgia suffered today.

Georgia has a real chance at being 5-2 heading into the Florida game. It's a good possibility that, even with a loss in Jacksonville, Georgia finishes 9-3 again this year.

I'm tired of people criticizing after every loss. If you expect undefeated seasons, then volley to have Georgia move to the Sun Belt conference.

This was one of those games, even despite me being a die hard Dawg fan and incredibly upset with how the last minute went down, that you have to really appreciate for what it was as a whole.

Two major SEC powers going at it in a fight to the finish. If a few things went different, or a few refs had any type of sense or emotion, Georgia could easily be 4-1 and we would be rejoicing and talking about SEC East championships.

Because that is how the average fan likes to interpret things. Well guess what overly critical interpreters, Georgia is still 2-1 in conference. Who says we can't win the SEC East?

Even if we do not, this team has a bright future. The talent seems to lean heavily on the younger side. Georgia fans should take this loss with pride and resolve, because the rest of the season and the next few years (with Tebow finally leaving!) could turn up to be some pretty good ones.

I'm proud of Georgia, my respects go to Louisiana State and their football program (I even think I decided I like Les Miles today, though I can never get over him calling Arkansas 'Our-Kansas' during a press conference a few years back), and I'm glad the South Eastern Conference continues to offer up the best football in the country.

With one biased final phrase, "Go Dawgs!"