ATHENS - Once he hit the ground Carson Beck knew it was bad.
After scrambling and trying to throw a Hail Mary as time was expiring in the first half against Texas in the 2024 Southeastern Conference Championship Game, Beck was knocked to the ground as the ball popped loose from his right hand.
Texas returned the fumble deep into UGA territory, but didn’t score. Beck rolled back and forth on the turf at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in pain. As he struggled to get up, Beck realized he couldn’t move his right arm high enough to throw a football. He felt the tendons above his right elbow. It didn’t feel right.
In a flash everything changed for Carson Beck… and Georgia. During halftime UGA’s medical staff hurried to figure out what was wrong with Beck, and if he could return to play.
He could not. It looked like his college career was probably over. What was supposed to be Beck’s last run at a national title ended prematurely.
Gunner Stockton would rally the Bulldogs to an overtime win to beat the Horns in Atlanta, but Beck was gone for the College Football Playoff - a major setback for a program with national title dreams.
Still, Beck had one more trick up the sleeve of his non-thrown arm to nail down Georgia’s come-from-behind win.
Before the final play of the game, Stockton was rocked with a massive shot that lifted his helmet from his head. It is hard to comprehend how Stockton didn’t fumble on that run, but he didn’t. However, Stockton would have to leave the game for one play because of his helmet being knocked off. UGA’s medical staff determined that Beck could not throw a football - he was having a hard time gripping the ball for throws.
But Beck made clear on the sideline that he could hand the ball off.
“Can you take a snap,” UGA offensive coordinator Mike Bobo asked Beck as Stockton made his way to the sideline.
“I can,” Beck replied.
For whatever reason, Beck had not taken his uniform off - even though there was no way he would go back in to throw. And so Beck entered the field of play to do only two things: take the snap, and give the ball to Trevor Etienne. Beck’s handoff in overtime was the game-winning play for the Bulldogs - sealing the SEC Championship Beck didn’t get the previous winter.
Photos of that championship moment show Beck running backwards with his left hand in the air to celebrate. It was his final act as a Bulldog.
What was expected, after two years of starting at UGA, was that Beck would go on to the NFL. But he was significantly injured in Silver Britches against Texas. It is hard to imagine his NFL Draft prospects would be as high as they should be with an injury that wouldn’t allow him to throw for a significant period of time.
And too, Georgia had not prepared for Beck to return in 2025. The assumption all along was the Beck was done after the 2024 season. After all, he had been at Georgia since before COVID - having lived through the rapid pace of change we’ve all seen in college football.
But Beck did have another year of eligibility left because of his COVID season, and when Miami came calling it was the perfect place for Beck to rehabilitate himself. He would be paid handsomely to be the Canes’ starting quarterback. He would have time to get right before the season. He would have time to play another year to change the minds of NFL executives about how turnover prone he was during the middle part of the 2024 campaign at Georgia.
Beck had not been treated poorly at Georgia. He’s was also not an actual villain for those in Red and Black… hardly.
But this is what we do - TV sets a narrative of something being either black or white… and fans of schools revel in the stupidity that is picking either the black side or the white side - even when it is clear everything is quite gray.
Beck did have to overcome things at UGA. He arrived on campus as COVID shut things down. He was passed by Stetson Bennett in 2021. He had to wait until after Bennett to have his shot to win it all. He was the quarterback of the best team in the nation, but lost the wrong game by three. He suffered a horrendous injury that may have sidetracked his career.
It wasn't nothing.
But no on ran him out of town. He was not hung in effigy. He was the starting quarterback at an SEC school - at Georgia no less. And that comes with pressure and paydays - both.
It just means more in the SEC - that’s what is said... more of everything - particularly overreactions, but also the perks that comes with being in that position.
Beck’s play in the epic eight-overtime win over Georgia Tech in 2024 alone is one of the best performances in that rivalry’s history - throwing for 297 yards and five touchdowns. Beck’s 347 yards and two touchdowns against Tennessee two weeks before that all but locked the Bulldogs into the CFP.
Needless to say Beck was spectacular in 2023. Against ranked teams that year he hit on 73% of his passes for 1,693 yards, 14 touchdowns and 2 picks. That’s some performance (a functional run game helps).
Beck lost three games at Georgia. He was the quarterback of the best team in the country - a team that lost by three points in the last game before the College Football Playoff that season and didn’t get in.
He did some amazing things in Athens. He wasn’t run out of town. He left because he had to. He left because it was the right thing for him to do in terms of his future and his present. And no result this season changes that fact.
For the life of me I don’t understand the negativity or vitriol towards Beck. (I also don’t understand why we over celebrate overcoming life’s obstacles).
Why do some UGA fans always dislike a guy that was so productive for them?
Is it because he drives a fast car?
Is it because he has an arm is covered in tattoos?
Is it because Kirby didn’t scream at Carson the way he screamed at Stetson?
Is it because he’s not from Georgia?
Is is because the starting quarterback at Georgia can always do better?
Or is it because he didn’t win it all, and he left?
You can pick which one(s) is most likely. That said, Carson Beck will get the chance to do what he couldn’t get done in Athens - to win the national title. If he does that he will have come a long way in a short time - and that’s something people should congratulate.
