Four yards shy and no time left.

Georgia Bulldog fans felt the sting Saturday when their team came up just that short of a shot at a national title.

Alabama held off Georgia 32-28 in the Southeastern Conference title game in Atlanta, sending the Crimson Tide against Notre Dame for the national championship in January.

But through their pain, local Bulldog fans gathered to watch the game at Wild Wing Cafe in Gainesville were proud of their team.

“Regardless (of the outcome), Georgia played a great game,” said Monica Williamson, a fan of the Bulldogs since the 1970s.

“We’ve still got (Coach Mark) Richt working for us. We’re confident with him; he’s going to get us (to the national championship),” said John Welch, a Georgia fan who watched the game with Williamson.

Dustin Meltan, a die-hard Georgia fan for 20 years, said he would stick with the SEC and pull for the Tide in the title game.

“SEC all the way — Alabama,” he said. “But, in the end, it’s always a great day to be a Georgia Bulldog.”

“You’ve gotta root for the SEC, and you’ve got to root for the team that beat you, because you don’t want to lose to the loser” said Adam Michelson.

Staff writer Charles Phelps contributed to this story.