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
RealOldDawg
November 1st, 2010
9:51 pm
actually Todd was trying to hold back the vomit, his defense had made him sick to his stomach
Joey Waddell
November 1st, 2010
9:52 pm
Who cares?
Nation's Pasttime MNF Dawg Fan
November 1st, 2010
9:53 pm
Cruz goes yard on Lincecum, now 3 -1. The Freak hung a breaking ball.
We Hit and Run This State
November 1st, 2010
9:53 pm
Heck yeah…we’re 4 and 5!
daddydog
November 1st, 2010
9:53 pm
While not a classy planned gesture, I have no problem with a competive person doing this in the heat of the game. If it is so bad to gesture at the kicker to distract him, maybe timeouts shouldn’t be called to distract them.
Football fan
November 1st, 2010
9:54 pm
Who cares. He’s got some fire in his belly. Give em hell Grantham. And a skinny anorexic sportswriter wouldn’t understand anything about being tough. Go take it to the tree-hugging sites.
bhumpdawg
November 1st, 2010
9:54 pm
as a long time attendee of this game i am thinking why do we continue to shoot ourselves down with some idiotic play calling, my god the whole world knows the play sequence of overtime, they watch game film and i and everyone knew we were gonna go deep on 1st down in overtime, just like the Bama game……i will offer some advice to CMR….call your own plays it worked much better than Bobos’….i am almost onboard with those wanted you gone….i just can’t bear the thought of starting over from scratch, but WTH we have lost 10 games in 2 seasons, it can and might get worse.
boots
November 1st, 2010
9:54 pm
So what. I don’t see where this is a story at all. Seriously, Jeff, you are grasping at this. Even mentioning this in the same sentence with a coach hitting a player is crazy.
SEC Championship Game
November 1st, 2010
9:54 pm
I still say he was making the gesture to Aaron Murray. “You little choking, snot nosed frat boy, come here.”
Mike T.
November 1st, 2010
9:55 pm
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.
I doubt seriously in the game GA won 75-0 that Georgia put back in the first string and ran a double reverse on Florida’s ten yard when the score was 75-0.
Spurrier will go to his grave wishing what it would be like to beat Georgia and win the SEC AS A PLAYER and not as a person on the sideline with street clothes on.
RealOldDawg
November 1st, 2010
9:55 pm
exactly, who cares. I am more concerned with Richt going for a 2 point conversion, when 1 point would have won the game. Always take the 1 point until it is absolutely a must to go for 2. Where’s the story on that Jeff?
D/C Jacket
November 1st, 2010
9:55 pm
Man, you’ll are attempting to make much-to-do- about NOTHING!! This is really straining to stir up the competitive juicies.
College Football Expert
November 1st, 2010
9:57 pm
$750,000 per year??? A fool and his money…
Nation's Pasttime MNF Dawg Fan
November 1st, 2010
9:57 pm
A reminder these messages brought to you as a result of Jeff Schultz writing a non-story.
Whoever is the OC for Peyton Manning is stealing money. He just stands there while Peyton makes the decision to go for it on 4th down.
SEC Championship Game
November 1st, 2010
9:58 pm
It really just shows what a classless jerk Grantham is. Enough said.
Luv ya Pups
November 1st, 2010
9:58 pm
Mike T, what Spurrier will go to his grave thinking is, “If I coulda played UGA every week, Joe Pa would be a distant 2nd in career wins.”
We Hit and Run This State
November 1st, 2010
9:58 pm
I don’t think the choke sign was for the Florida. It was for the uga defense which, with the rest of the team and dawg nation, was collectively about to choke and go to 4-5 on the season…OUCH!
Mike T.
November 1st, 2010
9:59 pm
See we have to let you keep it close
Yeah right. Ya’ll didn’t have a choice but to have it close.
We’ll get us a coach one day and it will be the Vince Dooley all over again.
SEC Championship Game
November 1st, 2010
10:00 pm
Mike T, I think the ole ball coach made ammends during the 90s for his playing days. I really only look at records during my lifetime and let’s just say Florida is well ahead of Georgia my friend
Mutt Fan
November 1st, 2010
10:01 pm
Whoopee…105 different trailer parks representing at that one.
wintervillebrave
November 1st, 2010
10:02 pm
It is uncalled for. I think we could say he was the one who choked by allowing that pitifull offense score 31 points in regulation. He certainly hasnt earned his 750K this year. Can anyone say Manny Diaz would have been a better hire?
Luv ya Pups
November 1st, 2010
10:02 pm
Mike T, good luck in the coaching search. Make sure you find someone else who can win just enough to stay employed while losing to us each year. It makes it easier for us when we have a soft week before Vandy. Those smart guys from the Music City always play us tough.
heywood...
November 1st, 2010
10:03 pm
this is not a big deal…
Nation's Pasttime MNF Dawg Fan
November 1st, 2010
10:03 pm
3 – 1 after 7. Nolan did not look happy. Remember when he was like 43 yrs old and Robin Ventura charged the mound on him and Nolan beat the hell out of that kid? Ah, memories….
SEC Championship Game
November 1st, 2010
10:03 pm
Mike T, where you/are you a Lane Kiffin fan? You seem put a lot into “close losses”. You do realize your team was favored to a very young Florida team, right? This was your chance and your team blew it. Next year Florida really reloads.
Mike T.
November 1st, 2010
10:03 pm
Mike T, what Spurrier will go to his grave thinking is, “If I coulda played UGA every week, Joe Pa would be a distant 2nd in career wins.”
If he is thinking that now, is it an idiot, cause he is on the losing end of the record at SC.
Richt may take his place at SC.
We Hit and Run This State
November 1st, 2010
10:04 pm
17 pages of “…not a big deal”
BWAAAAAAHAHAHAHAH!
Luv ya Pups
November 1st, 2010
10:05 pm
Mike T. Keep up. Are we going to fast for you? You’re behind and starting to slur you’re witty banter. Put the PBR down and focus.
jack bull
November 1st, 2010
10:05 pm
does this give us a reason to let him go and hire Manny Diaz right away. i’m sure it wouldn’t take too much to lure him away from Starkville, would it? still not impressed with TG…
Mike T.
November 1st, 2010
10:05 pm
You do realize your team was favored to a very young Florida team, right?
I realize we need to make major changes.
We Hit and Run This State
November 1st, 2010
10:06 pm
Is there a consolation game for SHREVEPORT?
Nation's Pasttime MNF Dawg Fan
November 1st, 2010
10:07 pm
Wow, Texas pulled Lee. That was stupid.
Todd Grantham
November 1st, 2010
10:08 pm
I was signaling to Murray after he threw the interception in OT.
We Hit and Run This State
November 1st, 2010
10:08 pm
The new playbook for SHREVEPORT includes a go route that is signaled in from the sideline using a choke hold…
Nation's Pasttime MNF Dawg Fan
November 1st, 2010
10:09 pm
Indy up 17 – 3 at half. Oh, God, Chris Berman time. Back to World Series…..
GAGator
November 1st, 2010
10:11 pm
Maybe its a sign for CMR? He’s certainly choked a lot lately.
We Hit and Run This State
November 1st, 2010
10:11 pm
Will you guys please return the G to Greenbay?
Auburn Sucks
November 1st, 2010
10:11 pm
He was actually telling Chris Rainey “Prepare to Die”
Taco
November 1st, 2010
10:13 pm
There was only one choke in Jacksonville…you write the story. This will just add fire for next year. This prove Grantham is in the right spot. He acts just like 95% of all the dumbass UGA fans. I love it. At least he did not do the Hurricane Throat Slice. Where is Ray Lewis when you need him.
Surfdawg
November 1st, 2010
10:14 pm
SEC Florida won’t be in the SEC Championship game this year or next yaer
Mike T.
November 1st, 2010
10:14 pm
Will you guys please return the G to Greenbay
Don’t have to, Dooley worked it out with the Pack.
Nation's Pasttime MNF Dawg Fan
November 1st, 2010
10:14 pm
Lincecum still filthy.
And Chris Rainey would have responded to that but for advice of counsel.
College Football Expert
November 1st, 2010
10:14 pm
There’ll be a game in Shreveport but UGA won’t be invited. They’ll be in Athens during bowl season
Surfdawg
November 1st, 2010
10:14 pm
next year
ryan
November 1st, 2010
10:15 pm
I just don’t know why Shultz is making a big deal out of defence coach making a choke jester to a kicker come on there more important stuff than that Jeff you guys need move on .
We Hit and Run This State
November 1st, 2010
10:15 pm
“Miscommunication” Caleb???
Really?
Tell that to the 7 dwarves, princess.
Mike T.
November 1st, 2010
10:15 pm
Taco
He acts just like 95% of all the dumbass UGA fans
Not as big a dumbass as someone who comes on a blog, as Taco.
Nation's Pasttime MNF Dawg Fan
November 1st, 2010
10:16 pm
SF 3 outs away from winning World Series.
Is Chris Berman done yet so I can change channel?
Mike T.
November 1st, 2010
10:17 pm
Schultz is a Techie, what do you expect.
UGA89
November 1st, 2010
10:17 pm
I am older than the UGA coaches and I was at hone yelling “choke”!
Didn’t help though.