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DEL.ICIO.USUGA-bound QB Aaron Murray reaches ‘rock-star’ status after championship performance
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
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Quarterback Aaron Murray of Tampa is Georgia’s most celebrated football recruit in years.
Murray is ranked as one of the nation’s top college prospects for 2009, picking the Bulldogs over 53 scholarship offers.
But Murray earned rock-star status after his gutsy performance as a high school senior, making an improbable early return from a broken left leg to lead Plant High to Florida’s Class AAAA championship on Saturday.
If Georgia quarterback Matthew Stafford makes an early exit to the NFL, Murray will be one of the top contenders for playing time for next season. Here are five things to know about Murray:
1. No time for pain
Murray broke his left leg and dislocated his ankle on Oct. 16. Doctors expected Murray to be out for 3-4 months, but Murray was taking snaps again after seven weeks.
He returned in time for the Florida state semifinals, throwing for a touchdown on his first pass. He solidified his status as one of Florida’s all-time greats in Saturday’s championship game, passing for 344 yards and three touchdowns in the 34-14 victory against Lincoln.
“When I really think about the last two months, it’s pretty crazy,” Murray said on Monday. “I said from the beginning that I wanted to be back by the state playoffs, but I didn’t really know if I’d be able to pull it off. I have to credit my doctors and trainers, who really pushed me hard. God really blessed me. After all of this, it just makes me think all things are possible.”
2. Georgia had Murray’s back
Some Georgia supporters were concerned that Murray pushed too hard for the early return, possibly leaving himself open to another injury. But Georgia coach Mark Richt called Murray last week to endorse his decision to play. Richt said he would do the same thing.
Georgia assistants Willie Martinez and Mike Bobo watched Saturday’s game at Orlando, and Richt called Murray afterward.
“He just wanted to let me know how proud he was of me,” Murray said. “It really meant a lot coming from [Richt].”
3. He might skip the Army all-star game
Murray had no hesitation about rejoining his high school teammates to chase the championship, but he is having second thoughts about participating in the U.S. Army all-star game on Jan. 3.
“My leg feels fine; there’s not much pain at all … only a little bit of swelling, but that’s going to happen for a while,” Murray said. “I talked to my family, friends, high school and Georgia coaches, and we all felt like the state championship was an once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.
“We’re not so sure about the all-star game. Don’t get me wrong —- it is a big honor to be picked for it. We’re just not sure playing in it is more important than preparing for Georgia’s spring practices.
“I’d say my leg is at about 80 percent, and unless I feel about 90 percent or better before I have to report next week for practice, I likely won’t play.”
4. There will be no official visit to UGA
Murray will not make an official visit to Athens. He initially was scheduled to take the recruiting trip for the Vanderbilt game but broke his leg two days before it. The following two months, Murray didn’t travel because he wanted to spend just about every waking moment going through rehabilitation, holding on to faint hopes of playing again as a senior.
Why can’t Murray visit in January? He already will be enrolled early.
“It’s really no big deal,” he said. “I’ve already been to Georgia so many times. I’ll probably hang out with some of the other kids making official visits in January, so that will just about be the same thing.”
5. He would like a teammate to follow
Murray is asked this question often these days: Are you bringing your tight end with you to Georgia?
Murray’s heralded Plant teammate, Orson Charles, is ranked among the country’s top prospects. Charles favors Miami but is also considering Georgia, Florida and Florida State.
Charles transferred to Plant before his senior year and became fast friends with Murray. Charles broke the county record with 21 touchdown catches in one season, and more important, was part of a championship team.
“I talk to Orson just about every day about Georgia,” Murray said. “He knows I would love to continue the special connection we have together in college. I’m hoping he’ll come with me, but I know he’ll make whatever decision is best for him, and I’ll support him.”
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By marie
December 23, 2008 7:04 AM | Link to this
Would it not be nice to have Charles come too and also have Stafford and Moreno stay? Let’s have Murray and Charles play too. It would be funny to hear the ESPN and CBS announcers(who all hate UGA anyway)try to figure it all out-” Today will it be a trio(Stafford, Moreno, Green) or will it be Murray and Charles?” To make it even funnier, how about a mix and match? Other teams would have a harder time preparing to battle uga!!!!!!
By marie
December 23, 2008 7:08 AM | Link to this
Would it not be nice to have Charles come too and also have Stafford and Moreno stay? Let’s have Murray and Charles play too. It would be funny to hear the ESPN and CBS announcers(who all hate UGA anyway)try to figure it all out-” Today will it be a trio(Stafford, Moreno, Green) or will it be Murray and Charles?” To make it even funnier, how about a mix and match? Other teams would have a harder time preparing to battle uga!!!!!!
By DD
December 23, 2008 7:29 AM | Link to this
Can they play Defense???
By UGA
December 23, 2008 7:57 AM | Link to this
Congrats to Murray and I can’t wait to see him in red and black next year. However, it’s time to talk about replacing Dennis Felton. I believe last night sealed the deal. Who could be the possible candidates?
By wreckmaniac
December 23, 2008 10:29 AM | Link to this
You poor people have to resort to discussing a high school QB ? Is it so bad that the only conversation you can have is about high school players and who was injured this year ? Every team has injuries but I’m sure that UGA fans think their team’s injuries was much worse than anyone else’s. Face it. Your team dosen’t have the character or leadership to win championships. No high school QB is going to bring it to you. Same old BS at UGA- its all about recruitin’.
By AlphaDog
December 23, 2008 10:38 AM | Link to this
Real classy there “Wreckmaniac”.
By Brandon
December 23, 2008 10:54 AM | Link to this
Wreckmaniac you would give every thing you own to have Murray committed to your team. Don’t be a hater!!
By Jim
December 23, 2008 10:56 AM | Link to this
wreckmaniac, your team beat us for the first time in roughly a thousand years. You’ve soaked it all up. Now back to obscurity you go.
By 1eyedJack
December 23, 2008 11:09 AM | Link to this
I’m afraid we are going to listen to barbs from idiots like wreckmaniac for the next year. He has seven years of venom stored up and will not waste any chances to stick his “little” stinger in.
As for the leadership issue you are right “this year”. Next year we will return the sorely missed leadership of Jeff Owens on the Dline and Marcus Washington in the back 7.
If Staff decides to go pro I wouldn’t be surprised to see this young man competing for the starting QB job next fall after a spring practice under his belt. I think we can see from his actions that he is a leader. Could he be the DAWGS Matt Ryan?
Go DAWGS!!! Scr*w the Bees!!!!!!
By Dawgtime
December 23, 2008 11:28 AM | Link to this
Why are GT fans reading UGA recruiting blogs. That is so sad. I know that you can’t recruit a top 1000 player and that is in Georgia. You got lucky and won one game. Wow, give yourself a cookie. In five years, you will be back under that rock hiding from another winning streak. In terms of championships, what championship did GT win? You are playing in December and not January for a reason. You just got lucky. Luck does not hold. Oh we could talk about college QB’s too. Try the first pick in the draft. Stafford will be making millions as Nesbitt is a pulpwooder back in Greene County. No, he is not majoring in engineering. Again, why read UGA information? Your inferiority becomes obvious with your comments and constant attention paid to UGA. I hear the San Francisco Times has a blog for GT fans. Try it.
By how2fish
December 23, 2008 12:16 PM | Link to this
Murray sounds like a real gamer..the bees sound like real whiners..you’d think they lost again this year..then again a lifetime habit (whining) is so hard to break…
By Technerds
December 23, 2008 1:34 PM | Link to this
Fair weather nerds….You can’t even sell out your high school stadium in one of the biggest cities in the southeast. Get off our blog and back to your video games.
By heeldawg
December 23, 2008 3:02 PM | Link to this
Wreckmaniac:
Blab all you want. You’ve earned it. You can spew your decade’s worth of pent-up frustration all over this blog for all I care. It’s interesting, however, that most Georgia fans had a realistic take on Tech’s seven consecutive losses to Georgia (poor coaching and critical execution errors, i.e. by Reggie Ball) while Tech fans like you expound incessantly about how Georgia’s team “lacks character” after you beat us by three on the basis of a couple of turnovers. Tell me, would Tech have “lacked character” and exhibited “poor leadership” if they had committed two turnovers that led to Georgia TD’s, thereby losing the game by 20 instead of winning by three?
This Georgia team underachieved, to be sure. There was a wealth of riches on offense that carried the team through the season, and a lack of cohesion on defense that worsened as the season went on. But to fail to recognize the plethora of season-ending injuries on Georgia’s team as a contributing factor here (24, to be exact, as delineated in the AJC a couple of weeks ago) is just ignorant. The team often had so many injured players that it was difficult to practice. There’s not a lack of talent on Georgia’s team, or a lack of heart. The team was gutted physically by the injury situation and emotionally by the losses to Alabama and Florida. They failed to execute in several key game situations this season, and those failures hurt. There could have been more maturity and leadership at times; there could have been better play-calling at times; there could have been better execution of fundamentals at times. But to imply,as you do, that the entire program is in a downward spiral of sorts because of one subpar season (the only one Richt has had like this during his tenure at Georgia) is foolish and short-sighted. Note also that that subpar season will likely end with Georgia sporting a 10-3 record, which is a record that would be met with great jubilation on North Avenu—evidence of the differential expectations in the two programs.
Tech had a better-than-expected season this year. Paul Johnson is a good coach. But you know what? You don’t average better than 10 wins a season over eight years in the SEC without knowing how to coach. And if I know Coach Richt as well as I think I do, he’ll dedicate the entire off-season to rectifying the things that went wrong this year. If Moreno and Stafford leave or if they stay, Georgia will be stronger next season, and will be a team that Aaron Murray will love to play for.
And by the way, fixing those mistakes starts with stopping the Tech win “streak” at one game. Count on it. That’s the one game I’m certain of next season.
By Josh M
December 23, 2008 4:57 PM | Link to this
Georgia Tech is the new South Carolina.
By atlgator88
December 23, 2008 5:25 PM | Link to this
Yup dog fans…you guys have a stud coming your way I must admit. I just relocated back to Orlando area from ATL and checked out the state chips. He is well suited for your offense and can stretch the field. He makes every throw. The tight end is very solid as well…that would be a coup for UGA. I was in checking to see who we all are battling for. The trio at Sanford Seminole will be a big time pickup for whoever gets them…I hoping we keep em all in Gainesville. I’m hoping the kid Greg Reid from Lowndes sticks to us as a little payback for coming down and getting one of our big recruits :)
By Pago Flyer
December 23, 2008 5:39 PM | Link to this
So, we get another Top Ten recruiting class. Nothing happens,,,,
By Carolina Jacket
December 23, 2008 6:02 PM | Link to this
I’m a Tech fan who reads the UGA blogs and wrote Aaron an e-mail after his injury wishing him nothing but the best. He responded with a nice note. We agreed that we could pull for our respective teams but still respect the other. Aaron is a great player and a fine you man. I am very happy for him and his speedy recovery. I will pull for Tech as hard as ever, but we are going to have to play our best to beat him. And as far as Wreckmaniac is concerned; he is an embarrassment and not a true sports fan at all.
By Coz109
December 23, 2008 6:14 PM | Link to this
Thanks for the class Carolina Jacket. Some others on these blogs could learn from your example.
By chuck
December 23, 2008 6:58 PM | Link to this
I don’t understand what all the fuss about class is about. I’m a diehard Tech fan who goes to school in north carolina (so actually I had a lot of state pride this year and pulled for Georgia a lot against the likes of USC, Alabama, Flordia, etc). I have a lot of friends who go to UGA who have given me a lot of crap over the last seven years. This year, I have been talkin trash ever since we won. Even when Tech was losing I got mad but it was all in good fun. There are idiots both ways and I don’t consider myself one, but
Go Jackets! Dogs suck!
45-42!!!!!!!!!!!!!
By gtstud
December 23, 2008 7:15 PM | Link to this
CBS and ESPN hate Georgia! that’s bull crap they picked Georgia as #1 at the beginning of the season Georgia just sucks … deal with it !!!!!!!!!!!
By bayou teche dog
December 23, 2008 7:41 PM | Link to this
gtstud that sounds like an oxymoron or maybe just a moron
By bayou teche dog
December 23, 2008 7:43 PM | Link to this
gtstud that sounds like an oxymoron or maybe just a moron
By GTGoodwin
December 23, 2008 8:15 PM | Link to this
Well just had to come over to Donkeyland and state some facts . Tired of your yappn on are blogs.
GT 4 Nat. Titles Ga 2
GT 15 conf. Titles Ga 10
Longest winning streak GT 8 yrs
So you probably going to say “well were 50 something to 32 and 1.
Head to head is nice and all , But when it counts we win more. As in Titles
So i’ll go back to my blog and read more idiots yap.
the one that counts Now 45-42 Happy Holidays
By Mikey
December 23, 2008 9:04 PM | Link to this
North ave trade schoolers go to your own blog…
By GTgirl2012
December 23, 2008 11:32 PM | Link to this
Okay, so UGA is going to have a good offense again. Like they did this year. What about defense? From what I saw in the GT @ UGA game, both teams had horrible defense, but good offenses. And from what I’ve been reading in the recruiting section, Tech has been building on their defense, getting top recruits. Has UGA?
By GTGoodwin
December 24, 2008 12:11 AM | Link to this
Sorry, I must admit, I am an idiot.
If we count National titles, we only have 3.5; one of ours is split with Colorado.
And if we are going to count split titles, then Georgia has just as many championships as us. I am an idiot.
Also, as for conference championships, we claim three from the Southern Conference. However, there are no recognized championships from the conference between 1922-1932; however, we are the only school to claim conference championships from this era. Actually, we claim three.
Further, UGA has 12 conference championships. I said 10. I am an idiot for not doing my research.
Also, I guess Georgia Tech tries to claim that they win more, as in championships, but unfortunately, I cannot say my team has won against UGA more.
Georgia Tech has won 8 in a row. Too bad I was not alive to witness it. However, UGA has won 7 in a row - twice. I WAS alive to suffer the agony of two, correct, TWO seven game losing streaks. I am an idiot with a big mouth.
Georgia Tech won 45-42 this year. Congrats. We still blow overall in the series: 59-36-5.
I am just another sad, pathetic Tech fan who has been in hiding for the past 7 years
By John
December 24, 2008 9:18 AM | Link to this
Actually the NATIONAL TITLES are 5 as well…and 12, not 10 SEC TITLES…..but that IS in the SEC….NOT the ACC!!!!!!!
Go Dawgs!!!!
Get your facts straight GTGoodwin!!!!! Yet another nerd…!
P.S. I can list these for you if need be?!
By GTGoodwin
December 24, 2008 9:35 AM | Link to this
Even after your corrections from whatever site it is there are more titles on the GT side.
And i guess i hit a nerve with mikey carvell cause he signed in under my name. Nice one.
Your own stadium only shows 2 titles so somebody can’t count or your sources are crap.
By GTGoodwin
December 24, 2008 9:48 AM | Link to this
5 of GT conf. titles are in the SEC.
By DawgGirl32
December 24, 2008 12:09 PM | Link to this
GTGirl- The problem with our defense this year is that most of them were out with injuries. We played a lot of guys with little or no experience. We’ll have most of the injured ones back healthy next year and the young guys we played this year will have a lot more experience. On top of that, we have some pretty good recruits coming in. So to answer your question: yes, we are building on our defense. We already have a lot of top recruits on defense; they just wore green injured jerseys for most of the season.
By Coz109
December 24, 2008 1:49 PM | Link to this
Thanks for the class Carolina Jacket. Some others on these blogs could learn from your example.
By rvadawg
December 24, 2008 4:35 PM | Link to this
GTGoodwin—-you contradicted yourself by saying “Longest winning streak GT 8 yrs” and then saying “Head to head is nice and all , But when it counts we win more. As in Titles.”
if you dont think head to head matters then why would you bring up your longest winning streak over uga? (i assume it is over uga, not longest winning streak ever)
By rvadawg
December 24, 2008 5:11 PM | Link to this
GTGoodwin—-you contradicted yourself by saying “Longest winning streak GT 8 yrs” and then saying “Head to head is nice and all , But when it counts we win more. As in Titles.”
if you dont think head to head matters then why would you bring up your longest winning streak over uga? (i assume it is over uga, not longest winning streak ever)
By Tampa DAWG
December 24, 2008 5:14 PM | Link to this
Goly Gee Willickers…what does all this trash talkin’ have to do w/ Murray…
By sobedawg
December 24, 2008 5:40 PM | Link to this
Best part about Charles…he broke Florida’s championship egg!