How Will Aaron Murray Bounce Back?

It's more than just a game

(Bob Kupbens/Icon SMI)

By Jasmine Watkins

When something happens in a professional athlete’s personal life people still expect them to focus on the game.

In 2004 Kobe Bryant, on trial for sexual assault, came straight from court directly into the game over halfway through the first quarter and ended up hitting the game winning shot against the Denver Nuggets.

Last month the brother of Baltimore Ravens wide receiver, Torrey Smith, died in a motorcycle accident and he played an extraordinary game less than 24 hours later with five catches for 127 yards and two touchdowns.

All of that is one the professional level … can we really expect student athletes to do the same?

Collegiate athletes aren’t as developed. It takes time to learn certain skills that will help them on and more importantly, off the field.

Last week Georgia suffered a loss to South Carolina 35-7. The offense that had been so impressive the first five games with over 240 points combined, couldn’t get into a rhythm this game allowing for the Gamecocks to take over.

Soon after the game, the home of Georgia quarterback, Aaron Murray, and four other players was vandalized. Then the next morning while visiting his parents he learned that his father, Dennis, was diagnosed with thyroid cancer and would be required to have surgery that Monday.

“The worst 12 hours of my life,” Murray tweeted.

That’s a hard pill for anyone to swallow but add that on top of being a college student and the pressure of having to lift the Bulldogs into BCS contention this year, the stress could take a toll on his play.

Georgia head coach, Mark Richt, said in an interview with ESPN that a situation like is tough but also a good life lesson for Murray.

“There’s never a good time to hear about your father having a situation like that, but it does help you get everything in perspective – whether it was just the game itself or what happened after the game to his home,” Richt said.

Having a bye week will certain help Murray get back on track after the loss, but the question of how focused he will be against Kentucky on October 20^th is a definite concern.

College fans are relentless. They want their alma mater or favorite team to win and they want them to win now, no excuses. The pressure doubles if you’re in the SEC, where football is religion.

Although the pressure to win is high, Murray says he received well wishes and positive reactions from the rest of Bulldog nation and isn’t going to let the negative actions and words of a few affect his play.

“Tons of emails, Facebook messages, Twitter messages from people. That was awesome,” Murray told ESPN. “That’s why I say it really is only five or ten percent [who are negative] But usually 90, 95 percent of the fans are true Dawg fans and are going to stick with us through good times, bad times.”

They trounced their other opponents from Missouri to Vanderbilt, but it shouldn’t be expected that the same would happen to South Carolina who are filling up their BCS resume quite nicely.

Murray stated that his father’s surgery went well and the family is hopeful for a good prognosis. With all that put to the side, Murray is ready to take on the task in front of him and get his team to a bowl game.

This is the stuff that legends are made of. It is an accumulation from things on the field and off that makes a true champion.

Win or lose Murray already has already demonstrated he has the potential to be a champion.