Grantham should be suspended and fined–now
The University of Georgia, led by President Michael Adams, should run the school’s football program the way it sees best. Dr. Adams delegates that task to his athletics director, Greg McGarity, and his head football coach, Mark Richt.
But if I’m in charge at Georgia, three things would happen today:
**–Defensive coordinator Todd Grantham will be informed that he’ll be watching Saturday’s game with Idaho State from somewhere other than Sanford Stadium.
**–His wallet will also be considerably lighter because I’m taking a sizable chunk of his $750,000 salary.
**–He would know, in no uncertain terms, that if he ever repeated the behavior in question again and it could be proven beyond a shadow of a doubt, he would be fired on the spot.
It took a couple of days to sort out but the facts are no longer in dispute. Grantham, Georgia’s first-year defensive coordinator, did something in the Georgia-Florida game that is so far over the line that it can’t even be debated. He gave a student-athlete from another school, Florida kicker Chas Henry, the choke sign as Henry was preparing to kick the game winning field goal. Grantham was caught in a screen capture and the image went viral in no time at all. Jeff Schultz showed you the video where Henry told Tracy Wolfson of CBS that coaches on the Georgia sidelines were telling him that he was going to choke.
Since the first posting of this before 8 a.m. it has come to my attention that there was some taunting going on from both sides. In other words, Grantham was provoked and lost his cool. In other words, he took the bait.
Okay. It has been duly noted. Every story has has two sides. I got it.
Still, this is totally unacceptable on any level. And I don’t want to hear this “heat of competition” crap from anybody. I don’t care how intense a game is. A coach does not attempt to intimidate a student-athlete from another school. You don’t do it. Period. I don’t care what the other side is doing.
This not about competition or the intensity of the Georgia-Florida rivalry. This is about the adults in charge acting like adults. Georgia fans complain to me all the time that they think Mark Richt’s program doesn’t have enough discipline. If the adults can’t control themselves how in the hell do we expect the players to do it?
Now in fairness I have to say that I have yet to meet Todd Grantham. He may well be a perfectly fine fellow. I hear that he is. His defense is starting to play better. They might play better still if he would concentrate on coaching them instead of trying to harrass players from another team.
This is unacceptable and embarrassing for the University of Georgia. Grantham said Tuesday wants to “move on.” I’m sure he does because he knows he screwed up big time.
But before Mr. Grantham moves on he is going to apologize to Chas Henry and apologize to the University of Florida. Then he’s going to apologize to the University of Georgia for embarrassing the institution on a national stage.
Then he will accept a one-game suspension and a fine and keep his mouth shut.
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Barnhart and Durham: Today we are joined by Ohio State coach Jim Tressel and Virginia Tech coach Frank Beamer, whose Hokies host Georgia Tech on Thursday night. Join us at 10 a.m. on www.790thezone.com.
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1,919 comments Add your comment
Mike
November 3rd, 2010
8:42 am
I bet if Coach Orgeron, Kirby Smart or Trooper Taylor did this, UGA fans would be up in arms. Kids talking trash to kids is WAY different than an adult/coach/teacher pulling a bush league move like this.
Embarrassing….
never read barnhard again
November 3rd, 2010
8:43 am
after reading this pathetic excuse for an article one thing is for sure, it will be the last!!! I think you should be fined and exiled to Gainsville because obviously that is where you want to be!!!
Paul "Manboobs" Johnson
November 3rd, 2010
8:43 am
He should have ran out on the field and punched him in the face
Choking Hazard
November 3rd, 2010
8:44 am
Almost as bad as the red panties episode.
RxDawg
November 3rd, 2010
8:44 am
“This is unacceptable and embarrassing for the University of Georgia.”
Oh yea? Well as a UGA alum I accept it. I’m also not embarrassed. Well, I’m embarrassed I live in a country that choses to whine about stupid stuff with no substance.
Htowngtr
November 3rd, 2010
8:45 am
You guys are seriously complaining about Meyer doing a Gator chomp to fans and comparing that to a coach IN THE GAME telling an opposing student-athlete to “f’in choke” while grabbing his throat? I’m sure you guys have a problem when Miami coaches and players display “the U” on a road game?
simply LMFAO
Brown Dog
November 3rd, 2010
8:45 am
I don’t know what’s more embarrassing: Grantham, or his defenders. We’ll call it a tie, and
“Glory, glory to old Georgia.”
Learn to tackle
November 3rd, 2010
8:46 am
That defense coached by Grantham is bad.
Chris WDE
November 3rd, 2010
8:46 am
Typical UGA Fans “But Florida did this”. You guys need to look at your own problems instead of pointing the finger at Florida every time something goes wrong or looks bad in Athens.
Gators Roll Again!
November 3rd, 2010
8:47 am
absolutely a double standard for fans looking through red and black glasses…..you cant honestly say that you are ok with what your coach did. He was absolutely wrong. I understand having passion and a desire to win a game…..the point that GA fans are overlooking so casually is this…How can you expect the atmosphere of your program to change and discipline to ever be a part of your team when you have your leaders acting like this? He wasnt even man enough to apologize? The choke sign was bad, but the language directed towards a college kid? He was standing next to Mark Richt when it happened….Why should players be held to a higher standard than the coaches?
ATLANTA
November 3rd, 2010
8:47 am
————————————
GO YELLOW JACKETS !
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ATL Tiger
November 3rd, 2010
8:47 am
Go Coach Grantham! This is what keeps rivalries going. I never watched Florida & FSU until Steve Spurrier said FSU = Free Shoes University. This guy is the only coach UGA has now that’s actually coaching. Enough! Leave him alone.
RambleOn84
November 3rd, 2010
8:48 am
RxDawg,
You’re embarrassing your program, and more importantly, the entire state.
SimpleDawg
November 3rd, 2010
8:48 am
Wow! ….and I thought losing the game was a big deal.
ddawgdavis
November 3rd, 2010
8:48 am
Bring back the Throat Slash! Football is a violent sport, grow a pair ladies.
Bubba Big Lips
November 3rd, 2010
8:48 am
I like the fire in Grantham, I hope he keeps it up! More power to him!
Typical
November 3rd, 2010
8:48 am
I love how these Georgia fans are trying to deflect the issue here with “Well look at how Florida played their thug that made threats” Whatever! It was also convenient that Caleb King’s suspension for arrest ended just before the Florida game as well. The statement Tony made (”This not about competition or the intensity of the Georgia-Florida rivalry. This is about the adults in charge acting like adults”) says it ALL. With the severe discipline problems at UGA going on year after year, the last thing they need is an “adult” (and I use that term very loosely) acting like a child. I have coached several different sports, albeit at the little league level, but even at that level there is one cardinal rule….You do NOT interact with the other players in any negative way. Grantham showed his class or lack of and showed why he fits in perfectly in Richt’s program. Again I say….Typical.
Dog in TN
November 3rd, 2010
8:48 am
Good grief. Glad to see someone on the Ga sidelines has some fire.
Gen Neyland
November 3rd, 2010
8:49 am
So basic sportsmanship isn’t a quality in the game anymore..? Some may call that behavior swagger, I call it a blatant show of stupid. Heck of a game plan on attempted FG’s when all you’ve got is to hope their kicker chokes by tossing out a charade motion. So much for Grantham molding these players into the type of men that would make a coach proud. At least Kiffin didn’t go this far to the left of stupid…
404
November 3rd, 2010
8:49 am
U – U
G – Get
A – Arrested
has now become…
U – U
G – Get
A – Asphyxiated
Dog Island Gator
November 3rd, 2010
8:50 am
Tony, You are right. I’ve just waited to see what the response of this incident would be from CMR and UGA. As of today, nothing. We are not talking about a player,a teenager or young adult who make stupid decisions…like we all have done. We are talking about about a grown adult, a represenitive of UGA, a coach and leader of these young men. I now think that the problem at UGA is alot deeper than what we see. A LOT DEEPER.
RambleOn84
November 3rd, 2010
8:50 am
Seems like UGA fans want more spectacle in their games since they aren’t winning anyway…I guess they’re more WWE/NASCAR fans than they are football fans.
Mutt Nonsense
November 3rd, 2010
8:50 am
“spikes trys tp rip out Ealys eyes”
Seriously, some of these Mutt fans are complete idiots. Here’s a little game. Go out and find Ealey’s comments regarding the “ripping out of eyes” for some perspective.
Some of you clowns just don’t appreciate the irony of calling out other programs for being classless and jerks while ignoring the mountain of nonsense surrounding the UGA football program. As has been mentioned, why in the world are you worried about other schools? How bout you deal with your arrests, poor coaching, poor execution, lazy players (Rambo), cheap shot artists (S. Williams and B. Jones), prima donnas (Green), and actually supporting your talented hard workers (Murray, Charles, etc.).
It’s funny how you morons want to call out Spikes for “trying to blind someone permanently” (which is a complete joke) but conveniently gloss over your dirty fat** country boy B. Jones who is trying to end careers quite literally. I wish there was a hidden meaning word like “thug” that applied to white players.
Red
November 3rd, 2010
8:51 am
Disagree with you Tony. The biggest disgrace in this game was Meyer using an admitted domestic abuser as a feature back. Sportswriters will use Grantham’s actions to try to obscure that fact because you people are in the business of selling college football. Meyer is the disgrace here, just like Osborne at Nebraska was for playing Lawrence Phillips in the national championship after smacking his girlfriend around. Rainey should have been suspended for a year at least. No question. I didn’t see you trumpeting that half as loud as you are screaming for Grantham’s head.
travy
November 3rd, 2010
8:51 am
c’mon dawgs. i’m a lifer gator but have always respected you guys for having a little more class than the average mouth breathing fans of the sec. no one is saying fire the guy, but an apology here is appropriate and the fact that no one from uga seems to think one is necessary is the biggest embarrassment of all.
No Class
November 3rd, 2010
8:52 am
The fan responses on this blog are all the evidence you need of how classless most UGA fans are. Many of them spent a lot of the year bemoaning the lack of leadership and coaching and that the kids are “out of control”. Guess what, idiots ? You can’t lead kids with coaches that are kids. Richt has had to call Grantham out a couple of times already because of his immaturity. Time to decide whether you want a classy program or not.
Mr. Fair Play
November 3rd, 2010
8:52 am
Boys, boys, let’s calm down here. What’s needed in college football is to stop keeping score. That way there would be no hard feelings on either side. Why can’t we enjoy the athleticism of these fine young student-athletes without having a winner and loser? Wouldn’t we all feel better then? What do you say, fellas? Who’s with me?
The Real SugarHillDawg
November 3rd, 2010
8:53 am
OK Tony, let me get this straight. You want our coach to apologize to the LOWEST class, foulest-mouthed, two faced coach in the league?? Blow it out your rather LARGE nether regions!!!
Chili
November 3rd, 2010
8:53 am
Tony, Would you get off your moral high-horse already? I have read, listened to, and admired you for a long time. You should be fined for using hell twice in your article. In a family paper no less…See how that works? Sounds kind of stupid doesn’t it? I hate that you have chosen to take this stance, because now I can’t take you seriously any more. Thank’s for the memories-you are officially a joke now.
LB
November 3rd, 2010
8:53 am
I love it– Glad to see someone at UGA show some emotion even if it was “classless”. Suspend him — hect no – I would give him a raise!
5IML
November 3rd, 2010
8:54 am
Yet another embarrassment for UGA.
This reminds me off our Mike Price fiasco when we were already on probation. It’s one thing after another.
oldtimer
November 3rd, 2010
8:55 am
Tony,
Should Florida suspend Urban a game for doing the gator chop in front of Georgia recruits after the game?
ARdawg
November 3rd, 2010
8:57 am
Gee Tony, what a wiener you are. You think yourself a big TV star I suppose and above the grassroots of FOOTBALL. You should consider yourself a reporter and protecting FREE SPEECH and free expression. What the hell is wrong with you? This is a non-story and non issue. TG has every right to express himself even if it was classless.
You above all should be protecting his right to do it. Bullschit. You disappoint me Barnhart. You’ve lost both a viewer and a reader
Chris
November 3rd, 2010
8:57 am
I wonder if you could over-dramatize this anymore? I’m embarassed for you after readiong this article.
Mutt Nonsense
November 3rd, 2010
8:58 am
“an admitted domestic abuser as a feature back”
Here we go again. Total hyperbole. You mutt fans really do keep this interesting.
Oh wait…
Red – hyperbole = an extravagant statement or obvious exaggeration. C’mon, at least use the actual facts of what happened if you’re going to gloss over UGA’s issue by pointing to Rainey.
BILLY JACK
November 3rd, 2010
8:58 am
I COULD SEE IF GRANTHEM HIT THE KID BUT COME ON……A CHOKE SIGN.FLORIDA COACHES MAKE WORSE SIGNS THAN THAT DURING EVERY GAME.EVERYBODY HAS GOTTEN SO POLITICALLY CORRECT IT IS SICKENING..
Gators Roll Again!
November 3rd, 2010
8:58 am
oldtimer,
was he doing it during a game? was he dropping f bombs? hmm….no and no….
jbeggs
November 3rd, 2010
8:58 am
Unreal!!!!!!!!! I’m the most reserved person you have ever heard from and this is a non-story!
Saint Simons
November 3rd, 2010
8:59 am
(((( 34 – 31 ))))
HAHAHAHAHAHAHA
G
November 3rd, 2010
8:59 am
Mcgarity is going down to Starkville to get a coach, mark it down. And an what are you smoking Tony. Florida had a player on the field who texted his ex “it’s time to die b###” and you think Grantham should be suspended, fined for telling a guy he’s going to choke. Maybe the NCAA will let “Mr College Football” police the sidelines and make sure coaches don’t say anything to opposing players , it happens every Saturday. You can sit on your duff in the CBS studio and monitor the coaches and what they say to players.
PB
November 3rd, 2010
8:59 am
Tony,
Who died and made you KING? Isn’t your job to report … to let your readers know that something took place and for your readers to form their own opinion? Trust me, I don’t read your column for your opinion ~ so why not just report and let UGA work through their own problems.
JDW
November 3rd, 2010
8:59 am
Sorry Tony I disagree, this whole thing is much ado about nothing. Players, coaches, and probably even cheerleaders talk trash on the field constantly. This is just an extension of that trend. I don’t like it but in the face of it how can we decide to “make an example” of this case. He did not try to gouge an eye, threaten to kill anyone, or even set foot on the playing field.
A bit embarrassing for the coach…yes. A bit of counseling in order…yes. A media event…no…need to find something else to fill the cycle.
BJohnDawg
November 3rd, 2010
8:59 am
It was a classless move. He should have to apologize. Suspend for a game. No fine.
This is not the NFL.
Snoop Dawg
November 3rd, 2010
9:00 am
Seriuously?? are we really making a big deal outta this?? its just a choke sign. at least someone on the coaching staff is fighting for his team…damn people need to lighten up and quit making a big deal outta something so ridonkulous. its just a hand jesture….like the FINGER!!! put that in your pipe and smoke it TB!!!
ATLANTA
November 3rd, 2010
9:00 am
.
——————————-
GO GEORGIA TECH !
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.
Graydawg
November 3rd, 2010
9:00 am
Tony,
I could not agree more and I am a huge Dawg fan. We do not need this kind of publicity after all of our off the field arrests. However I think this kind of column should also have been written when Urban “Cryer” berated a writer for simply quoting Urban’s own player. Grantham acted childish but Urban threw and tantrum like a 2 year old.
David
November 3rd, 2010
9:00 am
Tony, get over it. I see it got your panties all ruffled. He was on the sideline!!! Nobody was harmed! Everything now days has to be so politicaly correct, you can even fart with out pissing some goody two shoes like yourself off!!!!
DYNAMICBIGBOY
November 3rd, 2010
9:01 am
Suspended, are you kidding me? Give it a break. Why don’t you write about Meyer and his using Rainey and the total lack of accountabililty at UF. It was a meaningless gesture. Go cry somewhere else.
Jason R. Sweat
November 3rd, 2010
9:02 am
Mr. Barnhart:
You are dead wrong on this one. Dead wrong. And, it’s ok for you to be wrong just like anybody else. Isn’t that what the subject of your article is? This isn’t about me taking up for anybody here. This is about saying first off, UF had a kid on the field(put there by adults) that threatened to kill somebody. You are wrong about this one. He’s said what he needs to say. That’s all that’s needed here. It’s not like he played a kid that threatened murder. C’mon Tony, issue an apology now!!! That’s what you’re asking someone else to do that you say made a mistake. I know you just made one as well with this silly article. Geez. The AJC is awful.
Mutt Nonsense
November 3rd, 2010
9:02 am
“You should consider yourself a reporter and protecting FREE SPEECH and free expression. What the hell is wrong with you?”
Now we have a constitutional lawyer in our midst defending the 1st amendment. Awesome, I did struggle w/ my con-law class back in the day, so this should help me out.
Quick question for the esteemed ‘ARDawg’? Is it both ironic and disingenuous that in the same breath you denounce TB for not protecting free speech, but then ask what’s wrong with Tony because he said/wrote something you disagree with and find classless?
This is going to be a fun morning…