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
coach myer
November 1st, 2010
8:40 pm
this just in go to UGA home page they fired def. coach it will be on the news at 11
Mobile Dawg
November 1st, 2010
8:41 pm
http://www.CTG for Interim Coach.com
brad
November 1st, 2010
8:41 pm
you people piss me off jus like this year! your the reason why uga is so boring! “thuga”? change up teams! we dont need you! thats emotions dumbass!
wildbill
November 1st, 2010
8:41 pm
I’m wondering if anything positive can be salvaged from this season. Taken as a whole, with the arrests, general questionable behavior, lack of physical conditioning, questions with the coaching, etc. is there a thread the fans can hang onto for next year?
brad
November 1st, 2010
8:42 pm
if they fire him its a huge mistake and that means richt needs to go next
Mobile Dawg
November 1st, 2010
8:43 pm
wildbill, Greg McGarity? Aaron Murray?
Best5lostteam
November 1st, 2010
8:43 pm
And you wonder why the players lack character?
What even better.....
November 1st, 2010
8:44 pm
The kicker was from Georgia!!! A hob nail boot for Georgia!
Grantham=Choke
November 1st, 2010
8:44 pm
Just think the Bulldog Nation ran Willie out of town for this $750,000 dumba$$!!! The Gators will
light it up against the Dogs next year!!!!Ha!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Can’t wait!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Urban Meyer
November 1st, 2010
8:44 pm
Burst your bubble again!
HeHateMe
November 1st, 2010
8:44 pm
What is the BFD that Grantham giving the Choke sign? It’s nice to see a little passion on the sidelines. To all the Richt haters out there, let it go! UGA is not going to get rid of him for a couple of bad seasons. Who is going to replace him? The old ball sack(coach)?
Cymbalta
November 1st, 2010
8:46 pm
On a positive note…I thought the new UGA was nice. It looks like Grantham put him on Ice too in his doghouse.
What happened to UGA 7? Did he retire after getting sick? At this rate were going to need a puppy mill.
Barkin'Dog
November 1st, 2010
8:46 pm
You people who keep mentioning Christ or Jesus in your posts do so at your own peril. Obviously you have no appreciation for the wrath placed upon those who have used this name in vain, and I won’t go into it here. But, if you find your tire blowing out on the Interstate, your car flipping twice and you burning in a flaming blaze, you might recall how stupid your post was.
Gomer Plyle
November 1st, 2010
8:46 pm
You mean Rev. Richt would allow such non-Christian actions by his staff. And such language. Shazaaaam
Mobile Dawg
November 1st, 2010
8:47 pm
We’re not Richt haters, we’re UGA loving supporters tired of a clueless HC. He’s been asleep at the wheel. Fortunately we’re not the Titanic and can be salvaged within a couple of years.
Poppy
November 1st, 2010
8:48 pm
As usual, the press blows everything completely out of proportion. Not only in sports, but everything else.
coach myer
November 1st, 2010
8:48 pm
I hear ron zook will be looking for a job how bout it uga
Urban Meyer
November 1st, 2010
8:48 pm
To brad:
Take your meds.
Kell Longhorn
November 1st, 2010
8:49 pm
I’m a Tennessee Vols fan, and I absolutely HATE the Dawgs, but I’m gonna be honest and say that this guy is just rubbing his throat. I think the media is overreacting to the motion he made…
Orange10
November 1st, 2010
8:50 pm
Nothing wrong with a coach who wants to win. Too bad it’s not contagious to some of the rest of them.
wildbill
November 1st, 2010
8:50 pm
I think Murray will be a very good qb, he is still learning. If he had some help from his receivers, the outcome would have been different.
Cymbalta
November 1st, 2010
8:51 pm
Zook can bring the wide-out screen. Its on the only page in the playbook.
Its real difficult to pull off and defend.
Fred
November 1st, 2010
8:51 pm
I hope he was telling his on players to keep their head up, if not then this is down right stupid on his part. Yes, I am tired of Georgia losing as we all are but to behave that way is not Georgia way. Let’s hope that the coach has better sportsmanship than that, if not then let him go. Character does still mean something in this world. This would show just what is wrong with sports.
Urban Meyer
November 1st, 2010
8:52 pm
I will set the record straight. Grantham was choking on that paycheck he has failed to earn.
Let's Talk About UGA!
November 1st, 2010
8:52 pm
DawgNation,
Things have cooled down, a little, at Mama’s trailer. The police are in route (so it looks like I’ll have a place to stay).
I’m going to choke down this burger and prepare to answer their questions.
Go Dawgs!
Sic ‘em!
Woof! Woof! Woof!
ksodjopwjdop
November 1st, 2010
8:53 pm
Who really cares? – one can see worse at any rec league game.
D-Man
November 1st, 2010
8:57 pm
Even as a Gator fan, all I can think of is…..so what. These kids hear and do wayyyy worse to each other during the game, in the locker room, at practice, in class, and at parties. Is this really a big deal? C’mon, this is football people. The fans do worse, say worse, and even think worse. Sure, it may lack some class, but over the line?
Good grief- society is getting softer than wet one-ply toilet paper.
JEFF SCHULTZ = LAZY, PREDICTABLE MEDIA
November 1st, 2010
8:57 pm
SUGGESTION: Why don’t you actually find something worth writing about? So what if Grantham did say ‘your gonna frick’in choke’ & grab his throat? Bad time to write something like this…right before voting day. I think people have had it up to…their throats with political correctness.
pat
November 1st, 2010
8:57 pm
Damn Shultz, you’r getting crushed for this one. And righfully so.
Mike
November 1st, 2010
8:59 pm
What’s the big deal? Isn’t that what UGA’s coach wanted the FLORIDA kicker to do? Choke? Fail under the pressure? He made it … and he didn’t choke. Game over. Here’s to the toilet bowl … no hands bowl with Waka Flocka as the keynote speaker / halftime performer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=skhxizRYxps
Kramer
November 1st, 2010
9:00 pm
Grantham is a competitor, plain and simple. He has PASSION for the game and we got to see it. Was it taunting. Yep, and I have no problem with that. At least he wasn’t pacing, looking like he was ready for the game to be over. He was in it until the last minute. He’s got my respect and my support. And by the way, the Gators comments are starting to make Tech fans look good. Stay classy UF.
Pinky Lee
November 1st, 2010
9:02 pm
The dogs always choke. Loser et al. The biggest hype in America and a damn discrace to the State of Georgia. You are all a bunch of what if losers. Get me a Wal-Mart tee shirt.
Mike
November 1st, 2010
9:02 pm
Are you serious??? So what?? What is he supposed to say………….good luck???
bill
November 1st, 2010
9:03 pm
Who really cares? GA is nothing but a bunch of losers. They are the laughing stock of the SEC. Richt tried his superfulous stuff against Alabama two years ago and was trounced. GA looked like they had been to a wake in those black uniforms.
I just hope they keep Richt on long enough for GA Tech to start beating them every year until the sun don’t shine!!!!!!
trey
November 1st, 2010
9:03 pm
LMAO! Oh boy. Quick! Call the FBI! Call the GBI! This is just terrible! Arrest Grantham right now!!!!
(rotflmao)
Wait until the yellow maggots come to Athens. Grantham is going to have an even better hand signal waiting for them. My inside source says he’s probably going to scratch his nose with his middle finger. And so I heard the stadium was going to be giving away free Kleenex to all the maggots because they know they’ll cwy after his hand signal goes up.
Too funny.
“Mommy! That big bad coach did a choke signal on his neck! And he’s well he’s (sniff) he’s 44 yrs old! My wittle feelings are hurt!”
waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa
gtforever
November 1st, 2010
9:04 pm
Is anybody surprised. I mean, UGA has no discipline, and that comes from the coaching! Period… UGA has NO class as football players, and their coaches are just as CLASSLESS!
Notso Fast
November 1st, 2010
9:04 pm
You just can’t coach class. Maybe he getting ready for Auburn.
Let's Talk About UGA!
November 1st, 2010
9:08 pm
DawgNation,
I’m typing this from under Mama’s bed.
The police are outside.
One of them is HUGE! He looks like a UF linebacker in a S.W.A.T. uniform.
I better not back-talk him. He might put me in some sort of choke-hold.
Go Dawgs!
Sic ‘em!
Woof! Woof! Woof!
FL Dawg
November 1st, 2010
9:09 pm
I think Chas Henry put it best when he said a few of the coaches were giving him grief and let it go. Props to him for stepping up and making the kick.
As for those that think Grantham hasn’t earned his check, UGA defense is much better this season than it was a year ago. We should see continued improvement this year and next. If the o-line had performed upto expectations, this year would have been much better.
Jonas Grumby
November 1st, 2010
9:09 pm
Grantham, if you don’t give up 4 TDs, then the game doesn’t come down to a FG. Not impressed with your first year.
Evansdawg
November 1st, 2010
9:09 pm
Who cares??? Why isn’t a bigger deal being made out of the reinstatement of Rainey right before the game? The guy doesn’t deserve to wear an NCAA uniform after the “Time To Die” thing. So Meyer reinstates him for this game. Even Spurrier isn’t that classless. So what about the choke sign? Grantham is passionate. Something we need badly on the sideline.
warhorse
November 1st, 2010
9:10 pm
Pond scum DC who should be dismissed because he is a member of a university faculty. What an example for teenage student/athletes. Terrible mentor. Not surprising so many UGA players engage in anti-social conduct.
Phil
November 1st, 2010
9:11 pm
If he did, it was absolutely classless. But then again it fits right in with all the thug mentality.
Of course he could have been doing that to Bobo and his idiotic play calling in OT.
Nation's Pasttime MNF Dawg Fan
November 1st, 2010
9:11 pm
Since Schultz’s article was a non-story, I suggest we make some good use of this blog and comment on the MNF game and World Series game instead, with of course all Dawg comments welcome.
I’ll start. Why didn’t Manning go to Reggie Wayne? I need the fantasy points.
Looks like a classic pitching duel – no score after 4 1/2 innings.
Let’s go folks, chime in!! Let’s talk about something relevant (unlike Schultz).
gtforever
November 1st, 2010
9:12 pm
FL Dawg,
Please keep Grantham as coach….. Your defense sux worse than ours! Auburn will score 100 points. But hey, I guess you will call that an improvement….. LOL..
Kramer
November 1st, 2010
9:12 pm
What a bunch of judgemental pr1ck$!
Nation's Pasttime MNF Dawg Fan
November 1st, 2010
9:13 pm
Nice pick by Indy secondary.
boog
November 1st, 2010
9:16 pm
Whoopee damn doo… You would think you media guys would have better things to do than to dissect what coaches do on the sidelines during a game….geez. Its football… but I dare say you ever played the game…being a pencil necked journalist wus.
Nation's Pasttime MNF Dawg Fan
November 1st, 2010
9:17 pm
Lincecum is absolutely filthy tonight.
Wouldn’t mind SF closing it out tonight. I love Nolan Ryan, but the thought of Jeff Francoeur wearing a World Series ring makes me queasy.
18-3
November 1st, 2010
9:17 pm
Here is two great ideas: Dont fire Mark and dont fire Grantham please Georgia.