Grantham’s antics were over the line — it’s not even close
Todd Grantham appears to be giving "choke" sign before Florida lines up for field goal attempt.
(Tuesday, 8 p.m.: This blog has been updated throughout, now that Georgia coach Mark Richt has confirmed that defensive coordinator Todd Grantham gave the choke sign and shouted something well south of the King’s English at Florida kicker Chas Henry Saturday. Just added: Grantham quotes)
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This isn’t about football. This isn’t about how we’re just too politically correct, or about how some of us just aren’t tough enough, or how we’re all just picking on the poor Georgia Bulldogs because, you know, that’s just what the leftist, evil media does.
This is about right and wrong. A 44-year-old college coaching grabbing his throat multiple times and shouting, “You’re gonna [bleepin'] choke,” at the opponent’s 21-year-old kicker?
Folks, that’s wrong. It’s over the line. It’s not even a close call.
Todd Grantham shouting “Choke” at the opposing player doesn’t make him or his team any tougher or better. It just makes him look classless. The Georgia defensive coordinator owes everybody an apology, from the Bulldogs’ program to Florida kicker Chas Henry, the target of Grantham’s sideline antics in Jacksonville.
Dogs coach Mark Richt confirmed Tuesday what had become obvious Monday, when he was unavailable for comment. Grantham gave the choke sign to Henry multiple times and he was wrong for doing so. The picture above tells part of the story. The two videos below tell more of it. In short, Grantham — who can be a little on the excitable side, which in itself isn’t a bad thing — let his competitive spirit push him over the line of what’s right and wrong. He grabbed his throat four times while the Florida kicker lined up for a 37-yard field goal attempt in overtime.
Henry, a native of Dallas, Ga., acknowledged seeing and hearing Grantham but he made the kick anyway, giving the Gators a 34-31 win.
The above screen grab from the Florida sports cable network “Sun Sports” showed Grantham on the sideline. Below are two videos:
VIDEO No. 1: Here is Henry’s post-game interview with CBS when he references what he saw when he looked to the Georgia sideline during the timeout. Quote: “Some of their coaches on the sideline were giving me a little grief, saying I was gonna choke.”)
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VIDEO No. 2: Here’s one view of Grantham going through his motions before the kick, via Sports by Brooks.)
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It was at about 6:30 p.m. Monday night when Pat Dooley of the Gainesville Sun sent a note out on Twitter: “Just checked the CBS broadcast again. Todd Grantham grabs his neck and says ‘You’re gonna bleepin’ choke. You’re gonna choke’ to Henry.”
By then, it was clear that Richt had a mess to clean up, and for once it had nothing to do with his players and the Athens-Clarke County police department
As I wrote earlier, it would be understandable — even expected — that Grantham would think, “Choke!” or “Miss it!” in his head. It wouldn’t even be surprising if a Georgia player yelled, “Choke!” or grabbed his neck. But that’s not something a college coach should be doing, and Richt acknowledged that.
Grantham himself expressed regret about the incident, saying after Tuesday’s practice: “As a competitor, sometimes you get caught up in the heat of the moment. I wish the situation hadn’t happened.”
Earlier in the day, Richt also referenced that “emotions run high,” adding: “People do things they probably wish they didn’t do. I think that was what was being communicated. I don’t think he’s necessarily proud of it. We’re just going to learn from it and move on.”
Not the first thing this year the Dogs are trying to learn from.
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1,682 comments Add your comment
Fair and Balanced
November 1st, 2010
6:08 pm
UGA Coaches! Practice for Tech NOW! Ya got nothing else to care about this season! As far as I’m concerned – lose to Tech and say goodbye to CMR.
It was a rash
November 1st, 2010
6:10 pm
I think it was a rash from his Dawg Collar – it was just really itchy…..
Seriously – it was a choke sign – did anyone read Henry’s quote how the UGA assistant coaches were screaming at him that he was going to choke.
So they did it…. I don’t really care anymore – the dawgs season is over and Richt and most of staff are gone at end of year.
AJ GREEN PLEASE
November 1st, 2010
6:10 pm
Why not throw in AJ green to jump and block the field goal? i mean he did it last year worked out. why not again? he can fly in the air and could have saved the game
DILLIGAF
November 1st, 2010
6:11 pm
I don’t believe it was a deliberate “choke” sign. If you watch him during the game, he is constantly giving signals while the defense is on the filed. Even if he did it, who cares. All of you crybabies that are whining about it need to “grow a set”. 75% of you never have even stepped foot on a football field so you have no idea what it’s like to be in an intense, emotional game like that.
I’m just disappointed that he didn’t run across the field and grab Meyer by the throat, now that would have been worth writing about.
Michael
November 1st, 2010
6:11 pm
He was explaining UGA’s season
Mike Bobo 17 INT
November 1st, 2010
6:12 pm
Desperate measures call for desperate actions, yes that is the choke sign, which indicative of this “redneck/tanked” program. This is the crux of the problem with this program, the coaches have no skills, much less any class.
Please give Florida more fuel to keep kicking your a## year after year, from dancing on the field, late hits, to an assistance coach giving the choke sign.
Sad, very sad.
gabuldawg
November 1st, 2010
6:12 pm
This has to be one of the top 5 dumbest blogs on AJC in the last year. You should have seen the signal I was giving them!
Joe P
November 1st, 2010
6:13 pm
This is the saddest blog by the AJC ever….. enough Said
TDAWG
November 1st, 2010
6:14 pm
Who cares why make a big deal out of something so stupid. It is not like he was going to hurt somebody grow up columnist. Not like Spike trying to rip Ealeys eye balls out
Beast from the East
November 1st, 2010
6:14 pm
It doesn’t really matter. He comes out looking like an idiot because the Gators PUNTER made the kick.
Grantham is the one who choked. His defense let the 89th ranked offense rack up almost 450 yards and score 34 points. Maybe Richt should have turned around and made that gesture to Grantham. LOL!
Joe
November 1st, 2010
6:14 pm
Hey Schultz, your an idiot for making assumptions about Grantham BEFORE you find out what he was really doing in the picture you’re referring too. Real bright, Doof!!! I know, I know, you’re just appealing to the crowd that hates UGA and wants to slam them as much as possible but this seems to be the only way you can get people to read your column. Your like the “old west” farmhands in that they would rather hang a man from a tree BEFORE finding out if he’s even guilty at all. Find a ladder and climb out of the gutter every now and then and view the real world. Like I said before, “your an idiot”.
Mike Bobo 17 INT
November 1st, 2010
6:14 pm
Looks like a choke sign to me.
so what
November 1st, 2010
6:15 pm
Uhmm, nobody cares.
TDAWG
November 1st, 2010
6:16 pm
where is the AJC at these days.I mean come on who hires these loosers.
Vain Jangling
November 1st, 2010
6:16 pm
“You suck.” “No, you suck.” “Oh yeah? You suck worse.” “Don’t make me come over there.” “If you come over here, you’d better bring some help.” “Help? For you, maybe.” “Oh yeah? Well bring it on, Sally.” “Whoa, partner. You’d better not be calling me Sally.” “Well, what if I am?” “If you are, it just proves that you suck.” “Wait, we’ve already established that you suck.” “Oh yeah? I’m pretty sure you suck.”
Ain’t arguing with strangers on the internet fun!
BTW, is there anyone who actually believes that Grantham didn’t want the kicker to choke? Hey, it’s a non-story that got a big response. The online edition editors sleep well tonight.
Saint Simons' Ghost
November 1st, 2010
6:16 pm
so what??? You obviously had to produce a column today and had NOTHING to write about. Your columns are corny, anyway.
Mike Bobo 17 INT
November 1st, 2010
6:17 pm
Forget the choke sign, let’s talk about 18 of 21 and breakdown how Florida owns UGA and the upcoming Auburn game.
Let’s talk about how UGA is staring down .500 and maybe Shreveport all over again.
Let’s talk about how this program is broken, but everyone from Athens, to South Georgia is just burying their heads in the sand.
Let’s talk about a DUI AD Director with hooker panties in his lap.
Let’s talk about Caleb King getting arrested.
Let’s talk about Florida’s cons being better than UGA’s cons.
Let’s talk about a work release program that allows UGA players to play on Saturday.
Let’s talk about Arkansas.
Let’s talk about Colorado.
Let’s talk about MSU.
Mike Bobo 17 INT
November 1st, 2010
6:17 pm
This is just too easy!!! LOL!!! Please, everyone pile on!
tyler
November 1st, 2010
6:19 pm
shut the hell up
jon
November 1st, 2010
6:19 pm
Seriously? I really could not believe this was a major article topic when I logged on to the site! This is just freaking asinine! How long did someone, anyone have to watch, rewind, watch, rewind, watch, rewind to actually get some semblance of a picture to write a commentary about? For what it’s worth…every dawg fan was hoping for a choke…are you going to write an article about that???? Freak!
Bottom Line
November 1st, 2010
6:20 pm
Much to do about nothing. Glad we have a coach that understands Ga-Fla rivalry so clearly after just 9 games!
Just can't beleive your hatred for UGA
November 1st, 2010
6:20 pm
Jeff, there you go again. You are making a mountain out of a molehill and trying to stir things up. This is absolutely stupid. Hey, I was at the game and screaming worse expressions because it just annoyed me that Urban let Rainey play. Felons who plea bargain for a misdemeanor should not even be on the team. Loved the sappy story from UFL about Rainey being so emotional that Urban gave him another chance. Richt kicked his woman abuser off the team, but not Urban.
JK Sockey
November 1st, 2010
6:23 pm
This is the highlight of the Worlds Most Irrelevant Cocktail Party?
Just can't beleive your hatred for UGA
November 1st, 2010
6:23 pm
@ Al, if you can read lips that well on a recording version of the game, you should be either a cop or interpreter for the deaf. You are strange.
WDE
November 1st, 2010
6:24 pm
Much ado about nothing, Florida owned you for the 18th time in 21. Chew on that before you start worrying about stuff like this.
Grantham=Choke
November 1st, 2010
6:25 pm
The only thing that choked in that game was Grantham defense!!!Makes $750,000 a year to give up 34 points to that offense.Good job Bulldogs!!!!!!
spin it some more
November 1st, 2010
6:25 pm
sun sports your a class act in this story, great way to try and spin it.
Joe
November 1st, 2010
6:27 pm
I heard Urchin Liar is recruiting the quickest and fastest threats to society as playmakers. Thanks for the info, Jeff!!!
Mean Machine
November 1st, 2010
6:27 pm
Are you kidding? Who cares?
Grantham's Folly
November 1st, 2010
6:28 pm
The Cesspool of the South. That says it all.
Strangle this jerkoff with his own red panties, I say.
Cymbalta
November 1st, 2010
6:28 pm
Its obvious, he was choking himself for going to Georgia or giving his opinion on the Georgia uniform selection this year.
Valdosta Dawg
November 1st, 2010
6:30 pm
No big deal is correct, it is just another way for the writers at the Atlanta Journal Constipation to down the Dawgs anyway they can! Get over it and GO DAWGS!
Dawg-Hatin' Jacket
November 1st, 2010
6:32 pm
@DawginLex: Jeff should talk about how the fabulous new UGAg defense gave up 34 points to one of the worst offenses in the East.
Grantham: classless
coach myer
November 1st, 2010
6:32 pm
UGA will get a beat down next year i just put the pic. up in the locker room bathrooms so my players can see it all year. No coach will get away with that.
RealOldDawg
November 1st, 2010
6:34 pm
I am glad they didn’t snap a shot of him scratching the berries. What an article that would have made.
Beast from the East
November 1st, 2010
6:35 pm
Enter your comments here
fetch
November 1st, 2010
6:35 pm
Clearly a choke sign is worse than Meyer doing the gator chomp to the UGA fans or calling timeouts at the end of a game to prolong suffering or kicking press out of games or practices for being critical of him. My God, I thought that’s why coaches called timeouts before a kick, isn’t “icing the kicker” code for trying to get him to choke?
TheAntiMe
November 1st, 2010
6:37 pm
I think it’s gotten to the point where we are more worried about the symbolism than the actual effect. For example, what did Todd Grantham accomplish (other than a little noteriety from the ajc) by making his little hand gesture? Obviously, less than it sometimes accomplishes when the Head Coach calls a time-out in that situation to ice the Kicker in order to effectively make him choke.
TheAntiMe
November 1st, 2010
6:40 pm
lol – You beat me to it, fetch.
dawg4u
November 1st, 2010
6:41 pm
If I had been the Florida kicker and seen Grantham showing the choke sign then it would have given me more motivation than ever to make my finest kick ever. So Grantham probably helped the kid get rid of nerves and just more determined to show him what he could do and he did. The fact is though that if the dawgs had been able to make some defensive plays late in the game then it never would have come to “the kick”. It could really get ugly for us against Auburn unless we can get it turned around defensively.
North Georgia Dawg
November 1st, 2010
6:41 pm
Really? Who freak’n cares! We lost! Dude didn’t choke so there! It’s not anymore classless than letting a felon play in game Urban Meyer had to win….
porchdawg
November 1st, 2010
6:42 pm
Off with his head! …First Georgia coaches don’t show enough emotion, now it’s too much. Maybe AJC staff should issue some guidelines.
LCDawg
November 1st, 2010
6:42 pm
He was complimenting Rainey for a good game
Cymbalta
November 1st, 2010
6:42 pm
This year…Ice the punter
Next year…Ice the cheerleaders!
ROZEMAN
November 1st, 2010
6:46 pm
just goes back to Spurrier when he gave the Hiesman pose in front of Garrison Hearst after they beat us.
TheAntiMe
November 1st, 2010
6:47 pm
Actually, I have a feeling that Grantham was just trying to show Rainey the proper technique for dealing with his girlfriend.
OMG, boo me! I can’t believe that my fingers could ever type anything so utterly classless. Sorry about that, Schultzie.
Willie Martinez
November 1st, 2010
6:47 pm
Do you miss me yet?????
Dawg Fan
November 1st, 2010
6:49 pm
Jeff,
Why don’t you go sit in the corner like a good little boy and play with your silly puddy……C’mon…Are you serious? You couldn’t find something better to right about? Dang, you must really be desparate to get some readers for your articles.
The AJC ought to go find some better writers….you’re about as sorry as they get
Willie Martinez
November 1st, 2010
6:49 pm
Funny! LOL AntiME!
PT
November 1st, 2010
6:49 pm
Encourage your kids to be Georgia fans, that way you can buy Christmas presents at half price.