Georgia’s Aaron Murray Recalls How Nick Saban ‘Hustled’ Him Ahead of 2012 Season

The Bulldogs great shared an incredible story featuring Saban and a day jet skiing on the lake from the summer of ’12.

The 2012 SEC championship between Alabama and Georgia was an all-timer, with Nick Saban’s Crimson Tide outlasting Mark Richt’s Bulldogs, led by program great Aaron Murray at quarterback, 32–28.

The finish is among the greatest of the BCS era. Down by four, Georgia forced an Alabama punt with just over a minute left. Taking over at the Dawgs’ 15-yard line, Murray got to work, leading his explosive offense all the way down the field. After a near-interception at midfield, Murray completed three straight passes of 15 or more yards, pushing the drive inside of Alabama’s 10-yard line.

• Johnson: Alabama Finally Looks Vulnerable Amid Transfer Portal Frenzy

On first-and-goal from the eight, Murray took the snap with 10 seconds left in the game and no timeouts. His pass—intended for the corner of the end zone—was deflected at the line, and caught by Chris Conley three yards short of a score. Time ran out before UGA could get off another snap, and Alabama captured the conference crown and went on to drub Notre Dame in the BCS national championship.

More than a decade later, and Murray thinks Saban lulled him into a false sense of security months before this instant classic kicked off in Atlanta.

Appearing on the Saturday Down South podcast, Murray recalled a chance meeting he had with Saban while jet skiing on Lake Burton in Georgia during the summer of 2012.

Georgia quarterback Aaron Murray nearly engineered an incredible drive to beat Alabama in the 2012 SEC championship, but fell a few yards—and seconds—short :: John David Mercer/USA TODAY Sports

Murray and teammate David Andrews spotted Saban at the home the now-retired Alabama coach owned on the lake at the time. Naturally, they got to talking football, and Murray spoke highly of his Bulldogs team, admitting he “probably gave away way too much information.” Meanwhile, Saban coyly acted as if he wasn’t high on his group, coming off of winning the 2011 national title.

“A lot of questions still. A lot of youth. A lot of positions we’re not sure about. Some battles that will be interesting during fall camp,” Murray recounted Saban saying. “Honestly, guys, I’m gonna be real. I just don’t think it’s our year.”

This story of @aaronmurray11 getting hustled by Nick Saban is excellent.

Just vintage Saban: pic.twitter.com/LIQEo4BlCS

— Connor O'Gara (@cjogara) January 23, 2024

That statement had Murray and Andrews pumped for the season ahead

“’Yeah, we don’t have to worry about Saban and Alabama this year.’ Fast forward five, six months, they beat us in Atlanta and go on to win a national championship,” Murray said. “So he hustled me. Nick Saban hustled me back in 2012 at Lake Burton. Unbelievable, I fell for it.”

Even a young college player should probably know to never underestimate a Nick Saban team, though now it appears that concern is over for those at Georgia and the rest of the Crimson Tide’s SEC rivals, with the legendary coach’s retirement earlier this month.