Each September, the season opener serves as an introduction and transition to a new team.
But Saturday’s 55-7 win against Louisiana-Lafayette had quite a few more side plots than your typical season opener.

An introduction to the quarterback of the next four years: Aaron Murray.

An introduction to the feisty sideline demeanor of new defensive coordinator, Todd Grantham, and his anomalous 3-4 scheme, based out of an NFL coaching background unseen previously in the Mark Richt era.

And the star wide receiver, A.J. Green, standing on the sidelines in street clothes, being held out “pursuant to UGA Athletic Association policy and pending a rule from the NCAA clarifying his status.”
All Green drama aside, Murray and Grantham couldn’t have to make a much better first impression to start the season. Murray led the Bulldog offense to the third-highest point total of the Richt era, and Grantham’s defense displayed a nastiness and ball-hawking, aggressive mentality that the defense lacked last season, only allowing 128 total yards on the game and a meager 5 first downs, one of which came on

Granted, it was Louisiana-Lafayette, a member of the Sun Belt conference, facing an SEC opponent, but for his first game action, Murray impressed, completing 17 of 26 passes for 160 yards, 3 touchdowns, and 1 interception. He also ran for 42 yards on 4 carries, including 1 touchdown on a last-minute jaunt to the end zone as the clock expired to sound halftime.

“It’s been a long time since I played and it was great to get out there. I really felt great. I was a little nervous earlier this week but once I got out there and warmed up it really felt great.”

Even the lone interception wasn’t Murray’s fault, as the pass was bobbled by senior wide receiver Kris Durham and picked off by the Ragin’ Cajuns’ Lance Kelley; although, later on, Murray did try to throw a ball away through the back of the end zone and underthrew a pass that was dropped but should have been intercepted.

“I think [Aaron] did amazing. He did everything we could have asked him to,” Durham said. “I was the one who caused the interception, so you can’t fault him for that.”

Despite the drop, Durham acted as Murray’s security blanket in the absence of Green, hauling in five passes for 83 yards and a touchdown in his first game action in over a year after sitting out all of last season with a shoulder injury.

While Murray “played well” according to Richt, the up-and-down nature that comes with playing a freshman quarterback was on display late in the second quarter when with eight seconds left on the clock in the second quarter and the ball on the opponent’s 21-yard line, Murray left the pocket and saw an opening, taking off for the end zone and dodging a defender before scoring. The run epitomized the promise – and hazards – Murray’s first season starting brings; controlling youthful mistakes without stifling his desire to make plays.

“It probably wasn’t the smartest thing to do because we would’ve run out of time before the half [if I didn’t score],” Murray said. “But luckily I scored. I’ve got to work on making decisions that will always get us points at the end of the half.”

Both Richt and offensive coordinator Mike Bobo praised Murray’s performance afterwards, but stressed the importance of him sliding, or throwing the ball away, to protect himself and stay healthy, with only a true freshman behind him. However, one of Murray’s best attributes as a quarterback is his ability to avoid pressure in the pocket but yet still look to make plays with his arm.

“He’s got to learn that he’s got to protect himself and slide,” Bobo said, “but he’s got to be himself, too – he’s got to be Aaron Murray. And that’s what he’s able to do; he’s able to create and make some plays which is good to see.”

Murray may have been the star of the show, but Grantham’s defense was a close second. Under Grantham’s direction, his 3-4 NFL-based scheme only gave up one scoring drive, a 60-yard touchdown pass on a blown coverage in the secondary. Besides that play, though, the Ragin’ Cajun offense was unable to get anything accomplished, forcing three interceptions – one of which Jakar Hamilton ran back for a touchdown.

“The defense really stifled Louisiana – Lafayette,” Richt said. “We did have one mental error, and one mental error can be the difference between seven points and a shutout. The defense did an exceptional job of shutting them down. The guys were locked in and played extremely hard and disciplined. There were an awful lot of positives.”

Ragin Cajun quarterback Chris Masson completed just five of 15 passes for 77 yards but was intercepted by Brandon Boykin in the first quarter, and Sanders Commings and Jakar Hamilton in the fourth quarter, which Hamilton ran back for a 17-yard touchdown.

With No. 2 running back Washaun Ealey suspended, Carlton Thomas stepped up admirably in his absence, carrying the ball 13 times for 64 yards. Caleb King, the starter, rushed 10 times for 48 yards and 1 touchdown, as Georgia compiled 184 of its’ 377 total yards on the ground.

Richt once again declined comment on the Green situation after the game, so it isn’t yet known whether or not Green will be available for next week’s game at South Carolina.

But against Louisiana – Lafayette, Green’s presence wouldn’t have mattered: No matter what, Murray and Grantham were going to be the stars on this day.