Ryan Fowler's Good, Bad, & Ugly from Alabama Loss to Georgia

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. -- Georgia left Tuscaloosa with a 20–17 win, but Alabama proved it could go toe to toe with one of college football's most physical teams. The Crimson Tide fought back from a 10–0 deficit, took a halftime lead, and had chances to change the outcome. The game was worthy of the matchup. The officiating was not.

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The Good

This was two heavyweights trading punches, and Alabama’s physicality held up. The Tide ran for 161 yards on 29 carries, averaging 5.6 yards per attempt. Georgia had more rushing yards, with 206 on 39 carries, but Alabama didn’t get pushed around.

The response after falling behind 10–0 was impressive. Trae’Shawn Brown ripped off a 58-yard run, and Keelon Russell connected with Marshall Pritchett for a 22-yard touchdown on the next play. Then, with 1:42 left in the half, Alabama put together an 80-yard, 12-play drive that EJ Crowell finished with a one-yard touchdown as time expired. The Tide went into halftime up 14–10.

Russell showed his legs throughout the game, rushing for 41 yards and finishing with 226 yards of total offense. Bray Hubbard’s interception was another major play for Alabama, and Yhonzae Pierre made a big sack late in the second quarter. The defense also came up with a key third-down stop with under two minutes left in the half, giving the offense a chance to make its late scoring drive.

The Bad

Alabama’s defense struggled to get off the field on third down. Georgia converted seven of 13 attempts, while the Tide converted six of 13. Those extra chances helped Georgia put together long drives and finish with 455 yards of total offense, compared with Alabama’s 346.

Georgia’s balance made the third-down problem harder to solve. Gunner Stockton threw for 249 yards and added a rushing touchdown. Dwight Phillips Jr. ran for a career-high 120 yards, and Bo Walker added 69. Alabama had trouble slowing Georgia’s ground game as the night went on.

The Tide also let a huge opportunity slip away after Hubbard’s interception, failing to turn the great field position into points. And when Georgia missed a 39-yard field goal early in the fourth quarter, Alabama had another chance to seize control. The Tide gained 31 yards on the ensuing possession but punted.

Penalties added to the frustration. Alabama was flagged five times for 50 yards and Georgia seven times for 57. A late personal-foul penalty on Alabama helped Georgia extend its final possession and run more time off the clock.

The Ugly

SEC officiating wasn’t just bad; it was an embarrassment. There were so many missed calls, I couldn’t keep track.

The most glaring no-call came with about three and a half minutes left. Alabama trailed 20–17 and faced second-and-10 at Georgia’s 34-yard line. Keelon Russell threw to Rico Scott in the end zone. Georgia safety KJ Bolden appeared to make contact before the ball arrived, taking Scott out of the play. No pass-interference flag was thrown. A sack on the next play pushed Alabama out of field-goal range, and the Tide had to punt.

Asked whether officials explained the no-call, Kalen DeBoer said, “Didn’t feel, I guess, it was pass interference,” then added, “That’s all you’re going to get.” That was hardly a satisfying explanation.

There was also no explanation for the replay reversal that took away QB Reese’s interception of Gunner Stockton with the game tied 17–17 in the third quarter. The official play-by-play records that the call was overturned, but fans were left wondering what the replay booth saw. We need transparency in the instant replay booth. I would have loved to hear the explanation for that reversal.

Later, a hit on Ryan Coleman-Williams appeared to warrant a targeting review, but no flag was thrown. Coleman-Williams left the game after the hit. Why wasn’t targeting called—or at least further examined in replay?

Coaches make mistakes, and they have to face the media afterward to answer tough questions. Players do, too. But when officials make glaring mistakes, they’re escorted off the field and into a van without having to explain what happened.

That needs to change. The head official should have to face the media and explain the calls, the no-calls, and the replay decisions that shaped the game. Fans deserve transparency; accountability shouldn’t stop with the players and coaches.

And then there’s Greg Sankey. He continues to take losses in the moments when leadership matters most. He needs to answer the tough questions and show leadership. If he won’t, then maybe it’s time to examine who is leading the SEC.

Alabama had its shortcomings, especially on third down and in missed opportunities. But a close game between two heavyweight programs should be remembered for the football. Instead, the officiating became part of the story, and the SEC has to answer for it.

I will have much more on Alabama’s loss Monday at 2 p.m. on The Game with Ryan Fowler on Tide 100.9 and at Tide1009.com.

I’m looking forward to hearing your opinions during our weekly Good, Bad & Ugly segment, presented by Daniel Moore Art.