ATHENS — The evidence of last year’s game against Auburn is visible at the bottom of Aaron Murray’s chin. Despite a layer of facial hair there, a two-inch scar still peers through.
It’s a calling card of sorts, left on Murray by one Nick Fairley. Auburn’s All-America noseguard was in Murray’s face all day last year on The Plains — quite literally. At the end of one play Fairley sat atop the downed Georgia quarterback and rubbed his facemask back-and-forth across Murray’s chin hard enough to open a gash. The moment remains forever captured via YouTube.
That led to all sorts of extracurricular activities until the end of the game, won by the eventual national champion Tigers 49-31. Fairley was flagged once for a late hit and appeared to get away with another one. Georgia linemen were flagged for illegal chop blocks, and two Auburn players ended up with next-game suspensions for throwing punches.
“It was a tough game,” Murray said. “That’s the only game I’ve been taken out of since high school when I broke my leg. It was one of those knock-you-down-get-up SEC football games.”
But while none of that has been forgotten, neither will it be a factor in this year’s game. So they say, at least.
“I don’t think so,” Murray said. “These are two completely different teams. Players from last year are gone on both teams. It’s two different teams with two different mentalities right now. We’re not worried about last season. We’re not even talking about that in the locker room right now.
“We’re talking about we need to win two games to get back to Atlanta. We’re not talking about paying them back from last year.”
If Georgia does make it back to Atlanta, for the SEC championship game, Murray will be a big reason why.
The outside perception of the Bulldogs’ sophomore quarterback is that he remains largely unproven. Critics point to his 13-9 overall record, with no victory over a ranked opponent.
But inside the Georgia locker room, the allegiance to Murray is fierce and unwavering.
“I personally think he’s won big games,” wide receiver Tavarres King said. “Two weeks ago was a huge one. Florida was a big win for this team, for Georgia, for the Bulldog Nation. That game’s always big. Anybody who says he hasn’t won big games, that’s a mistake. I have all the confidence in the world in him.”
Said center Ben Jones: “I think Murray’s done a great job. He’s leading the SEC right now in touchdowns, and that’s a heck of a stat to have in this league. I have all the faith in the world in him.”
It’s not like Murray is sneaking up on anybody. With only a freshman season to go on, Murray was the consensus choice as the preseason All-SEC quarterback in August. And through nine games of the regular season he’s in position to earn the postseason award as well.
Murray leads the SEC in pass efficiency with a rating of 151.3. He leads the conference in touchdown passes with 23 and is second in passing yards with 229 per game. Murray has completed 60 percent of his passes (153 of 255) for 2,060 yards with eight interceptions, but just two in the past four games.
On Saturday, he put together the best quarter of football by a Georgia quarterback. He threw five touchdowns to five different receivers in the second quarter alone. He finished with 238 yards on 18-of-23 passing with no interceptions while playing only the first half of a 63-16 win over New Mexico State.
“I think he is a very good quarterback, and I think he’s a great leader,” Georgia coach Mark Richt said. “ The quarterback is not the only guy out there playing. Everybody is playing. Everybody has to make plays. I’m glad we’ve got him.”
As for not having recorded a signature win over a ranked opponent, Murray has an opportunity for one Saturday against Auburn. While this is considered a down year for Auburn (6-3, 4-2), it ranks 20th in the BCS standings. And with a berth in the SEC championship game on the line for Georgia, the significance could not be greater. CBS thought enough of the game to choose it for its nationally televised 3:30 p.m. slot.
“I think I’ll be fine,” said Murray, who will start his 23rd game for the Bulldogs. “This is what I came to Georgia for, to play in big-time games like this, to play in the prime-time game of the week, to play against great competition, to be part of a great rivalry game. That’s why I came here. So I’m excited to play in the game.
“In the end I’ve just got to relax, have fun and go out there and make plays.”
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