SUGAR BOWL Georgia beats FSU, but falls short of ultimate goal

The Bulldogs' hopes of a national championship slipped away two months ago with a loss to Florida.
NEW ORLEANS (AP) -- Now, Georgia can ponder what might have been.
The Bulldogs set a school victory with 13 victories, but one loss might have kept them from reaching their ultimate goal.
Miami and Ohio State are getting set to play for the national championship in the Fiesta Bowl. Georgia's season ended Wednesday night with a 26-13 victory over Florida State in the Sugar Bowl.
"We've made a lot of believers out of people this year," said Billy Bennett, who kicked four field goals. "We are happy, but we aren't going insane because we know it could have been bigger."
No. 4 Georgia reached the Sugar by winning its first Southeastern Conference title in two decades, but any hopes of finishing on top slipped away two months ago with a 20-13 loss to Florida. The Bulldogs wound up third in the BCS standings, trailing the two teams that will meet Friday night in Tempe, Ariz.
Only the beginning
Maybe next season. Certainly, the Bulldogs made their victory over 16th-ranked Florida State sound as if it's only the beginning.
"The players have an attitude now where you can tell they believe," coach Mark Richt. "They're not going to be intimidated by anybody. They're learning how to be great players."
Richt didn't take any pleasure from beating his former boss. He worked on Bobby Bowden's staff for 14 years before moving to Georgia in 2001.
"I'd rather not play Coach Bowden," Richt said. "I'd just as soon not play Coach Bowden again if I can help it."
Then, Richt added with a grin, "Unless we're playing them here next year. I would go for that."
The next national championship will be determined at the Sugar Bowl.
Musa Smith was selected the MVP after rushing for 145 yards, leading the way when Richt decided to go conservative against the short-handed Seminoles. Georgia threw a season-low 15 passes.
Bruce Thornton returned an interception for a touchdown, while backup quarterback D.J. Shockley produced the only offensive touchdown with his only pass of the night.
The Bulldogs decided to let Fabian Walker, making his first start at quarterback for the Seminoles, beat himself. Walker obliged, throwing two interceptions and also losing a fumble.
Florida State (9-5) was the only BCS team that came into a bowl with more than two losses. At the end, Bowden had to endure his first five-loss season since 1981.
"It's the kind of season where you're glad it's over," the 73-year-old coach said.
Plenty of Georgia fans were on hand to savor their team's return to the national stage. Red and black dominated the Superdome as the Bulldogs made their first Sugar Bowl appearance since the 1982 season -- also the year of their last Southeastern Conference championship.