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
Joe
November 1st, 2010
9:18 pm
Get a life, Gator. Even if the coach did what you’re accusing him of, that’s minor to Meyer’s idiotic double timeouts during the last minute during a previous game when the score was lopsided. That was childish behavior.
Surfdawg
November 1st, 2010
9:18 pm
Schultz you are just reaching. Once again who cares what Grantham was doing .Why don’t you write about why they did’nt throw a flag for excessive celebration when the whole Florida team ran down to the end zone after the interception return in overtime. We could have used that 15 yds. on their possession from the 25
Kenny Powers
November 1st, 2010
9:18 pm
Hey what do you expect, after all he was the 5th choice…guess that $750K contract did have a conduct yourself with “class” clause
Hawks got it right this time by locking up Al Horford | Jeff Schultz
November 1st, 2010
9:19 pm
[...] ♦ Did Grantham give Florida kicker the choke sign? [...]
Kenny Powers
November 1st, 2010
9:19 pm
should be did not have a conduct yourself with
Nation's Pasttime MNF Dawg Fan
November 1st, 2010
9:19 pm
Wow, a Peyton Manning scramble is under review. Didn’t know he did that.
Jim007
November 1st, 2010
9:23 pm
Class……..Fits right in with THUGA and Richt
Nation's Pasttime MNF Dawg Fan
November 1st, 2010
9:23 pm
You’re killing me, Peyton. Throw to Reggie Wayne.
Wonder if Francoeur would have caught that ball Cruz just dove at and missed? Now moot as Cruz just caught a bomb from Josh Hamilton.
Schultzie
November 1st, 2010
9:23 pm
Did Grantham tell the kicker “time to die bi+ch”? Just wondering.
Nation's Pasttime MNF Dawg Fan
November 1st, 2010
9:25 pm
Nice pick-six, Schaub. Glad you’re not in ATL anymore.
Sweet Tears of Tebow
November 1st, 2010
9:25 pm
big deal. find something important to report.
Luv ya Pups
November 1st, 2010
9:27 pm
Like any of us Gators care what latest lame move you pups have come up with to try to scam a win. The funnier part of the photo is Richt’s uppeat look as he thinks about where he can get together with Goff, Donnan, etc. to watch the next poor rube get schooled by the Orange & Blue. Thanks for coming down as always pups, you guys are a big help each year as we work on our game plan for Vandy.
Try not to make the SEC look bad against Idaho State, could ya?
Nation's Pasttime MNF Dawg Fan
November 1st, 2010
9:27 pm
Wow, Lincecum pitching a one hit shut out so far. Whoops, 2 hits…..
Surfdawg
November 1st, 2010
9:29 pm
When Schaub was in Atlanta, he was the best QB we had at the time
KimZ'spackage
November 1st, 2010
9:29 pm
45ACP
Well all Rainey did was send a TXT with a Threat. He was not near enough to Kill her, but Grantham was close enough to choke the kicker. Why did they charge Rainey because he was mad and upset and said something he didn’t mean? Granthan did want the kicker to choke and was physically capable of doing it on the field after the game. The Coach made a Terroristic Threat to a Gators player he should be arrested too.
Mike T.
November 1st, 2010
9:29 pm
gtforever
Hey Nerd, nobody cares what you or your trash institution thinks.
We all know Tech has FL envy,living vicariously through them.
If Tech played FL the last 21 years ya’ll would be 0-21. 61 coming in a few weeks.
Jeff
November 1st, 2010
9:29 pm
Folks watch the replay the Coach did this and it is very obvious. It was not a “keep your heads up” or a signal to the defense. It was a Coach that let his emotions get the better of him and he did something stupid. There was a lot of jawing from payers on both sides. But UGA little arm and arm thing and the choke sign from a Coach…all pretty lame on UGA’s part…kind of like their performance in this game since 1990
Nation's Pasttime MNF Dawg Fan
November 1st, 2010
9:30 pm
Man, Arian Foster has some moves.
And no score going into bottom of 7th. Hmm….
dawgster
November 1st, 2010
9:31 pm
First..let me say that if he did do what it appears he did and said, then i think Coach Richt and our AD will discuss this with him…all you bloggers that want to bash the dawgs players or Coach Richt for this are a sad bunch…by no means do i think a coach should engage in this type of sideline statement, but to bash the players and coaches and call them thugs because of what Coach Grantham did is not fair to the rest of the team..if some or you so called fair weather fans will be patient the details will come out and i’m quiet sure it will be addressed..the Gainesville Sun apparently called this out, but yet if you follow the paper and i do very often, very little was made about Rainey threatening the life of a young lady…oh they mentioned it, but very little in the way that the AJC and Shultz attacks the dawgs on a regular basis…but i will say this, it was not a classy move, especially from a Coach, but i will withhold judgement until we get additional info…i’m sure Shultz and some of you will be tickled pink when Coach Grantham is disciplined for this, if it is what it appears…i will add this, though i have never seen a paper that has some so called journalists that will do anything to stir up emotions on the negative side of a State University…if you don’t believe me…visit some other major newspapers, that cover the football teams…and you will see a decided difference in how they are covered…not saying that you shouldn’t report it, but its the way its reported and made to look…oh, and by the way…you didn’t see this in the AJC…but Tenn had a DE arrested for simple assault…Coach Dooley will have internal discipline…i believe you can find it on Scout.com…thats about all i know about it…
hind tit
November 1st, 2010
9:31 pm
Ah he was snacking on one of uga milk bones and got choked on it. Has a pocket full every game.
Luv ya Pups
November 1st, 2010
9:32 pm
Hey Mike T, if you didn’t care, why were you all leaving the stadium with your heads down like CMR? So the best you can come up with is you’re 3-18 but Tech MIGHT have been worse if we played them. Really???
Surfdawg
November 1st, 2010
9:34 pm
KIMZ I need some of what you are smoking
Mike T.
November 1st, 2010
9:34 pm
Luv ya Pups
Hey Gayturd, it was a three point OT WIN not 49-10.
I damn sure bet ya Meyers would not want to play us again this Saturday.
Ga Dawg 97
November 1st, 2010
9:34 pm
He was actually gesturing to Aaron Murray.
dawgslikballs
November 1st, 2010
9:34 pm
While people are wringing their hands about Grantham, check out the class from the gators on this clip. Keep your eyes on Tavarres King and the action starts the 27 second mark…and keep watching after that.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uzg0Ac11gus&feature=player_embedded
So what is your point ramguy?? The UF team thinks the INT was returned for a TD and rushes the field to celebrate thinking THE GAME IS OVER???? Something that happens at the end of every CFB game? Is that what you are calling classless?
Moron.
Henry said it best…the UGA coaches were yelling at me but no big deal. He kicked it right up their butts. You clowns saying “what was he looking over there for anyway”…it’s pretty simple…they were yelling at him, with you high class coach dropping the f-bomb on him.
As for Rainey…again you clowns are clueless. He paid his dues. So did Spikes for his transgression. Let’s see if anything happens to your DC…I doubt it since Richt was right there and cannot help but have heard the “you’re going to miss you f*ing choker” coming from Grantham.
He who laughs last…laughs best.
Ga Dawg 97
November 1st, 2010
9:35 pm
Mike T, glad to see you’re satisfied with a close loss. Last I checked a loss is a loss. Loser!
Surfdawg
November 1st, 2010
9:36 pm
DAWGSTER Were you at the game?
Nation's Pasttime MNF Dawg Fan
November 1st, 2010
9:37 pm
Two on w/nobody out for SF….hmm
Be glad my wife isn’t blogging, she is watching Dancing With The Has-Beens.
Luv ya Pups
November 1st, 2010
9:38 pm
Now Mike T., why would you want to get another whoopin’ next week? Wouldn’t you rather wait until next year to get to your 3-19 mark?
Mike T.
November 1st, 2010
9:40 pm
So the best you can come up with is you’re 3-18
No the best I come up with, is 47-40-2, you see football before 1990 did exist.
Only twenty three wins from 1904 to 1990 for The Baja Georgia Gators.
option smoption
November 1st, 2010
9:41 pm
Nancy Pelosi wrote this article.
Bama Stan
November 1st, 2010
9:41 pm
Way to display a little class doggies and this just a few years after the end zone fiasco. Please try not to totally humiliate the SEC this weekend.
Waiting
November 1st, 2010
9:41 pm
By the way, still no comment from Grantham.
Don’t hold your breath waiting for an apology from Grantham. He’s just an inept azzhole.
Nation's Pasttime MNF Dawg Fan
November 1st, 2010
9:41 pm
Kid from Michigan running hard for Indy.
Pat Burrell has ducks on the pond
dawgslikballs
November 1st, 2010
9:42 pm
You’re pretty funny Mike T. How about this. How old do you have to be for the Mutts to have a winning record versus the Mighty Gators in your lifetime?
Some things never change
November 1st, 2010
9:43 pm
3-18 and still The Cesspool of the South.
Luv ya Pups
November 1st, 2010
9:43 pm
Mike T…YAWN. Go ahead and send me the black and white press clippings so you can catch me up on what happened back when you were lucid. In the meantime, we’ll keep using you, App State, and the Citadel each year between our real games on the way to important accomplishments. Good luck trying to beat Tech this year to become bowl eligible.
Mike T.
November 1st, 2010
9:43 pm
Now Mike T., why would you want to get another whoopin’ next week?
Man ya’ll just did get by us this past week, no certainity you would do it again.
You clowns need to remember it was a 34-31 not 49-10, or even the largest margin of victory in the series Ga 75 FL 0.
Bama Stan
November 1st, 2010
9:44 pm
Mike T, You’re going back to 1904? Get outta here, we’re trying to talk football here. Hey, all I know is 1980 was a long time ago
Mike T.
November 1st, 2010
9:45 pm
Good luck trying to beat TRYING to beat SC this year to back into the SEC championship.
Nation's Pasttime MNF Dawg Fan
November 1st, 2010
9:45 pm
3 run dinger for Edgar Renteria. Hey didn’t he used to play for us…?
Mike T.
November 1st, 2010
9:46 pm
Bama Stan,
Hello, Goodbye,
mdr
November 1st, 2010
9:46 pm
Here’s a question….Who f*cking cares? OMG, the mean old man told me I was going to choke. He made the f*cking kick, right? Why is this a story, Jeff? Are you really that bored?
Nation's Pasttime MNF Dawg Fan
November 1st, 2010
9:47 pm
Turn on Fox and stand up for God Bless America. For our troops.
We Hit and Run This State
November 1st, 2010
9:47 pm
What Mark Richt had to say after the Florida loss…
“…Well boys, we’re two losses away from not qualifying for our annual trip to SHREVEPORT – we’ll get ‘er done – hunker dwon y’all”….
BWAAAAAHHAHAHAHAH!
dawgslikballs
November 1st, 2010
9:47 pm
Mike T … You clowns need to remember it was a 34-31 not 49-10, or even the largest margin of victory in the series Ga 75 FL 0.
That’s a great point Mike. I love how the doggies bitch about the HBC hanging 50+ on the mutts in Athens when the 4 largest margins of victory in the series had the dawgs on top.
If SOS was a d!ck for running up the score, what do you call the UGA coaches for those four wins…including saint vince d?
SEC Championship Game
November 1st, 2010
9:48 pm
Alabama-Florida in Atlanta. Get used to it boys. That’s becoming an annual December matchup.
Luv ya Pups
November 1st, 2010
9:49 pm
Mike T…you make a good point. It was only a 3 point loss for you boys. Reminds me of the “moral victories” Lane Kiffin accomplished during his stellar career in Knoxville when he only lost by a few points.
See we have to let you keep it close every once in a while so we don’t get a lot of whining from the UGA crowd that it’s unfair how you have to make the long trip down to Jacksonville each year for your ass whipping. Of course we could do a home and home thing like we did in the mid 90’s. How’d that work out for you guys?
Nation's Pasttime MNF Dawg Fan
November 1st, 2010
9:51 pm
Quit throwing the ball to Garcon! I need 30 fantasy points!!
SEC Championship Game
November 1st, 2010
9:51 pm
So for dawgie fans it will either be Florida again playing for a championship in your back yard or the ole ball coach. Pick your poison. Ouuch.