The Pilot

One of our original posts here, titled "My Name is Aaron Murray, and as You Can See, I've Got Weapons Biatches......" we discussed the offense that will be shaping up in Athens, GA over the next few years. Due to the fact that we are in sports purgatory right now, I have drummed up some college football to talk about. Over the next few posts, I will be looking at in depth, exactly what we are going to be looking at on the offensive side of the ball. I am going to be drawing a parallel between the UGA offense, and the greatest joint strike aircraft in the US fleet, the F/18A Super Hornet. Today, we will be looking at the pilot, Aaron "Killuna" Murray.

Going into his senior season at Plant High School in Tampa, FL, Murray was one of the most highly sought after recruits in the nation. Coming off a junior season where he threw 51 td's and only 7 int's, Murray came into his senior season expecting the world. Things didn't necessarily start off that way.

In a game televised by ESPN, Murray's Panthers lost to Armwood 2-9. He only completed 17 of 36 passes for 149 yds and one pick. No doubt this was a huge disappointment given the expectations coming into the season. The following week, however, it would all come together.

With a 12-21, for 289 yds and 4 td's night against Gaither, Aaron would start an incredible 4 game stretch of EA sports stats. Following his 4 td victory against Gaither, he proceeds to put up 391 yds and 7 td's on 18 for 25 passing. An amazing 72 percent completion rate in a 56-14 rout of Middleton. The amazing thing is that he did all of this before HALF TIME... Even more amazing would be what would transpire the following week.

After throwing 7 td's in the first half af the game against Middleton, Murray would one-up himself the next week against Riverview. Aaron goes 15 of 21 for 396 yds, and throws 8 td passes, also in the first HALF of the game. Over half of his passes were completed for td's. The next game he would throw 6 td's on a 288 yd night against Blake.

The four week stats look like this:

62 of 93

66% completion

25 td's

3 int

1364 yds (341 yds/ game avg)

His next game against Hillsborough (Oct 16th), he would start well. Going 9 of 13 for 209 yds and 3 tds in the first qtr, but would suffer what many thought would be a season ending lower leg injury. A dislocated ankle and a fractured fibula would require surgery and rehab. Aaron said he would be back in 6-8 weeks, many thought it would take 6 months. 7 weeks later, he would practice.

Dec 12th he would start the 4A Semi-Final game against Dwyer, leading Plant to a 33-21 victory. The following week Aaron would go 18 of 29 for 358 yds and 3 tds in the Florida 4A State Championship game. Plant, led by Murray, wins the championship, beating Lincoln 34-14.

In every conversation you hear about this kid, the "it" factor comes up. No one can really describe what "it" is, but he has it. Winning at just about everything he does, 7-on7, elite 11, Florida 4A Mr. Football, this kid will soon have the reins in Athens, where "it" will be on full display...