ATHENS, Ga. – As the final seconds ticked away, senior Auburn running back Ben Tate sat on the bench, head in his hands. He wanted to scream, to cry, to do something to change what was happening.
Tate came to Sanford Stadium for the final time Saturday night intent on winning, on beating Georgia for the first time in his career. He wanted injured safety Zac Etheridge, his friend and roommate, to be a part of it. So he wore Etheridge's No. 4 jersey in his honor.
“I just feel bad now,” Tate said. “If I had a million dollars in my bank account, I’d have bet the whole million dollars that we were going to come here and win this game. You couldn’t convince me we weren’t ready to come out here and beat those boys. That’s another reason I put on his jersey. I felt there was no way we would lose this game.
“I didn’t play great, didn’t play well at all. It was probably worst game I’ve played all year, and I finished my career 0-4 against Georgia.”
Tate shook his head sadly at the thought.
Tate rushed for 67 yards on 20 carries. He was step away from big plays numerous times.
“I was close, but close doesn’t cut it,” Tate said. "We were on fire, but it fizzled out. We have to learn to put our foot on the pedal and finish things.”
Georgia rallied from a 14-0 first-quarter deficit and held off Auburn’s last-ditch drive to win 31-24. The Bulldogs have won four straight from Auburn for the first time since winning five straight from 1944-48.
It was hardest for Auburn’s seniors. The Tigers were throwing in the end zone on the last play of last season’s game and lost 17-13. They were throwing in the end zone in the final minute Saturday.
“We left everything on the field,” senior cornerback Walt McFadden said. “I wish we could have some plays back, but it happens. It hurts really bad. I never beat Georgia. That’s something I wanted to do. It hurts me real bad. The guys from the state of Georgia are hurting more. I wish I could have done something more to get them a win.”
