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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1,919 comments Add your comment
G
November 3rd, 2010
9:03 am
Mcgarity is going down to Starkville to get a coach, mark it down. And 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.
SimpleDawg
November 3rd, 2010
9:03 am
Don’t you little GIT goobers have any concerns about your own team to discuss with the other warlocks and ninjas on a GIT site?
jtdawg
November 3rd, 2010
9:03 am
Tony, I always thought ouf you with the highest respect, especially at this paper.
You are way out of bounds on this one. WAY out of bounds.
THe worst that can be said is the example he sets for his players, but so what? Do you think college kids sit in dugouts or on the sidelines and not heckle the other teams??
What do you actually think gets said on the field???
If the man threatened the kicker or made lewd and lacivious or disparaging comments as a personal attack to ANY player, sure – completely classless.
Gesturing during a grueling comeptition that ONLY directly relates to actions on the field? Give me an effing break.
What’s next Tony? Can’t wait to get 3 clerics that can see the future or peoples thoughts so you can fine/suspend/fire coaches for evil thoughts too??
YOu didn’t raise this much hell about the Chris Rainey incident. Why? Obviously you feel it’s much less serious, simply by the tone and tenor you take here. And if that is true, YOU sir, are the disgrace.
Guys, get over it and move on. The kicker still made the field goal, didn’t get attacked afterwards, and even UF fans themselves think this debate is foolish and nonsensical.
Can’t believe there is nothing else to spew about….
Htowngtr
November 3rd, 2010
9:03 am
LOL @ UGA fans claiming Meyer is classless. Would love for them to show where Meyer was on camera flipping the bird to an opposing coach or where one of his assistants was throwing a choke sign while screaming “f’in choke!” to an opposing player. Haven’t ever seen it happen and doubt it ever will.
SimpleDawg
November 3rd, 2010
9:04 am
Enter your comments here
Mtn Dawg
November 3rd, 2010
9:05 am
Tony, Tony… A little hasty and harsh don’t you think. My God. It was the FLA game. Should have seen the gestures I used. Yes, he’s the DC but come on. Now if he flipped the kicker off after the kick then, yes, that would warrant some punishment. At least he’s showing some dang emotion.
No Class
November 3rd, 2010
9:05 am
Immature rednecks like most of you on here have no justification for saying anyone ELSE has no class ! Hey rednecks ! I think your pick-up’s calling ya. You know, the one with the G stuff all over it !
jtdawg
November 3rd, 2010
9:06 am
If Woody Hayes were punching players today, based on your rant, it sounds like you would call for his immediate execution. True of false?
SimpleDawg
November 3rd, 2010
9:06 am
Don’t you little GIT goobers have any concerns about your own team to discuss with the other warlocks and ninjas on a GIT site?
Do y’all have an English and Arabic language option?
Red
November 3rd, 2010
9:06 am
Mutt Nonsense:
Domestic abuse includes threats. Rainey’s actions are domestic abuse.
But congratulations on knowing the meaning of the word “hyperbole.” Keep looking through the dictionary and you might find some other big words. You may want to check out a “thesaurus.” That’s another book where you can find big words that mean what you want.
Mutt Nonsense
November 3rd, 2010
9:06 am
“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.”
Ahh, someone else who just hasn’t quite gotten how a writer’s ‘column’ works. If a writer submits ‘columns’ on a scheduled basis, then guess what genious, you’re only getting opinions. Otherwise, he’d be a beat reporter. Might want to retake that journalism class.
‘let UGA work through their own problems.’ Clearly you see the humor here right? He has to write this stuff specifically because they’re not. Have you read Richts comments and TG’s non-apology? Are you even paying attention or just parroting the UGA company line you read from all the other lunatic fringe Dawg fans on here?
DawgBone
November 3rd, 2010
9:06 am
Tony, I think you need to change your nickname to Mrs. College Football after this article. It’s football, get over it and grow a pair.
SECWasteManagement
November 3rd, 2010
9:06 am
As i said, guy just came out of the NFL and that’s what he’s used to, so his emotions got the best of him and he screwed up and we will just have to wait on the punishment. The thing that I have a problem with is that you re-hashed the Schultz blog from yesterday that resulted in Almost 40 pages of nonsense that ended up with fans arguing about who had higher entrance SAT scores! Quit beating the dead horse for God sakes and report on something like…Nancy Pelosi getting the boot! SCHWING!
G
November 3rd, 2010
9:07 am
Htowngtr,
He just threatens reporters with violence and lets women abusers on his team. Pure class
Homer
November 3rd, 2010
9:07 am
If Grantham needs to be fined then the SEC should take away all the havoc Rainey caused and give UGA the win. What’s worse yelling choke to an opposing team or telling your “girlfriend” she’s about to die????
BILLY JACK
November 3rd, 2010
9:08 am
I played college football and if you could of seen some of our coaches during a game you would probably want them arrested.Things that happen during the heat of the battle most fans dont hear about,Believe when I say not one college football player who has ever played in the last 100 yrs thinks this is a story.
albert
November 3rd, 2010
9:09 am
Have to agree with you here. Grantham is suppose to set an example, just like Damon Evans. UGA has really put herself in the spotlight with the arrests,drinking a.d. and now Grantham. The publicity is not cute.
Mtn Dawg
November 3rd, 2010
9:10 am
I think I get it, Tony. Good job getting these bloggers heated up. Clever idea. Not much else to write about is there.
G
November 3rd, 2010
9:10 am
Time to die b###
Mutt Nonsense
November 3rd, 2010
9:11 am
I’m a moron. I like to talk down to people who aren’t as intelligent as me, but for some reason I can’t spell the word genius correctly. Also, I’m gay.
mcdaviddawg
November 3rd, 2010
9:11 am
First you the article on Rciht that he should not be fired and now this article that is an over reaction to the event especially considering Florida had a player who clearly should not still be in scholl much less playing. My high regard for your opinion is headed downward fast. Rciht shouldn’t do anything but retire.
Get over it Tony
November 3rd, 2010
9:11 am
I am loving some emotion from Grantham. Too long has Richt been boring and reserved. I support Grantham 100%.
Matthews Dawg
November 3rd, 2010
9:12 am
Tony, it’s not that big of a deal!
I believe Tony is trying to take the heat off his co-worker Jeff! Get over it and move on!
jtdawg
November 3rd, 2010
9:12 am
No Class –
Get a life and go to class. You make no sense at all.
Should he have done it? Probably not. Wasn’t the best thing in the workd for a coach to do, but so what? Big deal…. Poor little guy wasn’t getting cheered for by the opposing team. So what? Rival coaches all the time get caught sending backhanded compliments and taking potshots at their rivals. Should we start abhoring and suspending coaches for that too?
Be careful. When words are directed at the program, they are directed at the kids too! Don’t want to “intimidate” them or scare them off either!!!!
Biggest problem with these articles? Throwing more fuel on UGA fires for idiot rival fans to dance around….
Larry
November 3rd, 2010
9:12 am
Remember earlier this week Barnhart wrote that Georgia’s program is “trending upwards”. After reviewing the records over the last 10 years plus all of the recent arrest issues, no sane person would come to that conclusion.
Todd Grantham
November 3rd, 2010
9:12 am
Go choke yourself Tony!
mike davis
November 3rd, 2010
9:12 am
I agree. Grantham should be severely disciplined.
Mutt Nonsense
November 3rd, 2010
9:13 am
Red –
Like I said, you mutt’s keep it interesting…Please point out at which point Rainey is “an admitted domestic abuser.” Oh, and don’t let a silly little thing like facts get in the way.
http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/news/story?id=5622018
Here’s some highlights in case you don’t feel like reading this early.
“Rainey entered into an agreement after the state attorney determined the facts of the case more accurately reflected a charge of misdemeanor stalking.
If he completes the terms of the agreement, the charge will be dropped.
Misdemeanor stalking is legally the more appropriate charge when no imminent danger was perceived or can be proven beyond a reasonable doubt, and the harassing contact, not done in person, occurred in a short, compressed time period.
The victim, who requested anonymity, said she was in “full support” of the state’s decision to reduce the charge.
‘We have known Chris Rainey for three years and never during that time has he displayed any violent or threatening behavior towards us or anyone,’ she said. ‘To our knowledge, Chris does not drink alcohol or use drugs. His actions that night were out of character for reasons unknown to us, which is why we stood up in court on his behalf. The police were called that night to ensure the safety of everyone involved.’”
SECWasteManagement
November 3rd, 2010
9:13 am
Look for Tony’s next article in next weeks issue of the National Enquirer! Top head line! Woman see’s face of Satan in her bowl of chili at the local waffle house! Claims ends of days is coming!
Red
November 3rd, 2010
9:13 am
Mutt Nonsense:
The word is spelled “genius,” not “genious.” Might want to take that fifth grade spelling class again.
The Alpha Male
November 3rd, 2010
9:13 am
Tony. You have completely lost your mind. Meyer and his team RAN ON THE FIELD and almost TRAMPLED Kris Durham and several others when they thought they had a TD on the interception.
For that then I guess he should be fired using your logic?
Tony, everybody knows you’re a UGA grad…… you really don’t need to continue your over the top criticisms of Georgia just to prove you’re not a homer.
Tony Martin
November 3rd, 2010
9:13 am
Tony you are not the judge. Have you ever coached in a game of this magnitude ? let a dead dog lie.
really TB?
November 3rd, 2010
9:13 am
Gee Tony, I’m glad you can get riled up about something like this…CTG’s actions were wrong, but so is doing 80 on I-20. Get over yourself and move on, please.
Mark Richt
November 3rd, 2010
9:13 am
Well yes Todd did tell Tony to choke himself and I am sure he is not proud of it. Now lets move on. I have some losing to do.
jumbeauxtiger
November 3rd, 2010
9:14 am
You make some good points Tony. However I don’t think he should be suspended or fined. I think he should be reprimanded and he should make a public apology.
I understand he’s a firery type of guy and the Dawgs need some of that on the sideline. I just think what he did is a poor example for the players. The program already is under the microscope with its discipline problems and because of that the media magnifies any issues. The school didn’t need another embarrassing incident.
Evansdawg
November 3rd, 2010
9:14 am
Tony – Not half the beig deal has been made out of Urban Meyer re-instating a possible psychopath. It has evetything to do with it. Do you think Rainey would’ve played had Florida had not lost 3 in a row? Come on! Should domestic violence and death threats be forgiven as long as the team is winning? That is the obvious position of Urban Meyer. I guess he condones that behavior if the Ws keep coming. That said, Todd Grantham should be fined and suspended for a game. He ought to realize that the fans were doing enough of that in the stands so he didn’t have to. The choke sign was our jobs! The game was an all-out war, and a classic Ga/Fla border battle.
Georgia Wine
November 3rd, 2010
9:14 am
Thank you, Dawg fans! After reading this blog that makes a valid point about yet another embarassing act of an employee of our beloved university, my lack of self confidence and meaning in my life was leading me to repond with an angry comment. I was going to make a meaningless reference to discpline at another school, or blame society in general, or fabricate some other weak justification to deflect from the obvious issue at hand. But, in a little over an hour, you have more than covered all of these topics with your posts. Thanks again. You make me proud.
dap01
November 3rd, 2010
9:14 am
My goodness, he gave a “choke” sign, FLA’s kicker had choked before. He did not wish death on him. Yall act like Grantham committed murder. It’s not like he texted him and threatened his life or anything like that.
I am tired of the PC crowd.
UGA Players
November 3rd, 2010
9:14 am
We gon ckoke against aubie and ga tech
GaDawg
November 3rd, 2010
9:15 am
Dead wrong TB, what about a coach who tells the student body to punch other students from another school in the face!!!! where were you then. Get a grip, this is a fun sport that is intimidating on all levels, now you can’t hit, you can’t swear What’s the point.
ARdawg
November 3rd, 2010
9:15 am
@Mutt nonsense
You’re a bigger Homer than Tony. Apparently you didn’t do well in con-law or journalism class. Must be a Tech fan. I’m not surprised. No there was nothing wrong in my statement. The freedom of speech is in fact the only reason Barnhart has the job he does. I find it ironic you’d like to quell my statement because it doesn’t agree with you or Tony. I guess the election last night didn’t work out so well for you huh?
Peadawg
November 3rd, 2010
9:15 am
Overreact much, Tony?
I’m glad one of our coaches is showing some enthusiasm and emotion on the sideline for once.
joe
November 3rd, 2010
9:15 am
Just the latest in a lone line of questionable, at best, goings on at Georgia. Stay classy UGA…
Cam Newton
November 3rd, 2010
9:16 am
Hope he throws a choke sign at me while I am runing over and around that UGA “defense” scoring touchdowns
The Grinch
November 3rd, 2010
9:16 am
What I find funniest of all here is the morons (Barnhart included) who think that the most important part of this non-”incident” is that a 21 year old ADULT playing a violent, rowdy sport for a party school needs to be sheltered from hearing bad language. Really? REALLY?
I’m sure next time he’s at a keg party on campus and some horrible person uses the “F” word, he’ll drop his beer, wet his pants, clap his hands to his ears and scream “Nooooo! That’s what that big mean old coach at the game yelled at me!” I’m sure years of therapy will ensue.
GET A GRIP.
Russell
November 3rd, 2010
9:16 am
Tony..Tell me what’s the difference if he’s yelling choke without the throat grab? It was during the time out and Henry was walking to the Fl sidelines….didn’t even see it…so if he yells miss it that makes it acceptable?
This is a non-issue…
UGA Defense
November 3rd, 2010
9:16 am
Ahhhh… Can we skip the Auburn game this year. Cam newton is twice as big as our linebackers
What?
November 3rd, 2010
9:17 am
Why is okay for Paul Johnson to tell Tech fans to punch UGA fans in the face but Grantham needs to be suspended?
UGA Grad
November 3rd, 2010
9:17 am
Tony, you are an idiot. Discipline? Just like Meyer disciplines his players? “Time to die, b****” and players get to play? There is nothing wrong with what CTG did. Believe it or not, it happens on all sidelines. I can guarantee you that it happens in high school football as well. But I bet you’ve never been on a sideline before…
Mike Adams
November 3rd, 2010
9:17 am
Get a grip Barnhart you big blow hard. Did you ever play a sport in your life? I didn’t think so. This is a non issue. Who cares! Its about winning and losing, not a freaking choke sign that ever fan in america has done once or twice in their life!