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
NO DEAL GA!!!
November 1st, 2010
11:34 pm
Are you serious? This is a problem? Get real! There is plenty of rivalry already and it is super important to both teams and their coaches. This is not middle school. They are all adults. Some people just gotta find something to stir thinfs up!
Gerry
November 1st, 2010
11:35 pm
Im so offended please make coach G. Apologize as soon as possible.lmao. This is what’s wrong with America something offends everyone.
Marky Mark
November 1st, 2010
11:35 pm
Hey Stacy
You are right I am even more embarrassed that you brought this to my attention – how could I have wasted so much time on a bunch of goofballs that truly don’t get the crux of the issue here. I appreciate your constructive criticism. I was hoping to shed some light on the subject and possibly get a few people to realize what Grantham did was way out of line but alas it appears that you are just too dense or ignorant to understand it.
Get a life.... really, is that all you can keep saying?
November 1st, 2010
11:36 pm
How about:
Get a team,
Get a QB with a brain,
Get a Coach with some moxy,
Get a cab ride and a suitcase for those red panties
Get a parole officer for each player
Get a valid driver’s license for each player
Why would any player want to come to UGA anymore…. we are headed down while USC, KY, Miss St., Arkansas, etc.. are all headed up….
It SUCKS to be a Georgia Bulldog and it is almost time to swallow.
Nation's Pasttime MNF Dawg Fan
November 1st, 2010
11:37 pm
This whole satirical thread was the result of Jeff Schultz choking when he needed to write something by deadline. CHOKE CHOKE
Goodnight everyone. Remember, vote early and vote often! But only if you’re Republican.
XXXOOO
I was at the game
November 1st, 2010
11:38 pm
As soon as the timeout occurred someone said something on the Dawg sideline and Henry pulled his helmet up so whoever it was could hear what he was saying. I guess it was the big boy Grantham that said it.
ja. jenkins aj green worst nightmare
November 1st, 2010
11:38 pm
UGA has the dumbest ignorant fans in the nation… yall have never won anything since that guy from johnson county the years that CMR did win the SEC umm was the only years that teh SEC didn’t win the national championship go figure… i personally hope yall keep CMR and this will continue….it was so funny at the game watching all the ga fans leave sad as ever as always be happy hell at least you got to stay past half time… but you still lost to by far the worst fla team under meyer and you still couldn’t win…..UGA SUCKS ALWAYS HAVE A PROB ALWAYS WILL!!!
Aaron Murray
November 1st, 2010
11:39 pm
Coach G was making the sign at me since I can’t seem to perform in the big games.
Who Cares?
November 1st, 2010
11:40 pm
About the Dawgs anymore?
Marky Mark
November 1st, 2010
11:41 pm
Marky Mark
November 1st, 2010
11:20 pm
THIS IS SO SAD!!! I am embarassed to admit that I spent 10 minutes of my life reading these pathetic comments. Most of you clowns don’t even get it. First of all what Schultz is reporting is 100% accurate as I have watched the Sun Sports telecast of the game and Todd Grantham clearly grabs his throat multiple times and yells at Chas Henry (Florida’s kicker) – you are going to choke with some expletives thrown in. The point is for all of you that can’t comprehend the low rent behavior displayed by Grantham is that he is a COACH not a player. He is supposed to be a teacher of young men and should lead by example – that is why Damon Evans was fired as he did not lead the Georgia athletic department by setting a good example for the all the players at the school – you can’t admonish drinking and driving and then go out and do it your self – not really a good example for young people. An opposing COACH trying to intimidate or harrass a collegiate player on another team is just not acceptable ( this is not professional sports). I am sure there will be a formal apology issued by McGarity and the Georgia Athletic Department condeming this kind of sleazy behavior by one of it’s top coaches. If he coached his team to play better defense against an offense that could only muster 7 points against Miss St then he would have to resort to such outlandish antics to intimidate a kid trying to kick a field goal. I guess he is so desperate that he will do whatever it take to win. Again the really sad thing here is that most of you either condone, deflect or argue the issue. You all are a sorry bunch.
GWJ
November 1st, 2010
11:42 pm
WHO CARES?
The Midget
November 1st, 2010
11:42 pm
My only problem during the game was I had to drop back at least 10 yards to see over those tall Gator linemen.
Black and Red
November 1st, 2010
11:44 pm
I honestly hope it is a choke sign, because it would mean that someone on the UGA sideline gives a s***.
ckgator
November 1st, 2010
11:46 pm
I watched the replay and noticed the same thing. Thought how low-class it was (and it was), then enjoyed watching Henry symbolically shove the football up his back-side by winning the game.
It wasn’t a single choke. It was a prolonged taunt, where he was clearly addressing Henry directly.
Not a huge deal, but if you’re an objective party it just doesn’t reflect well on UGA for one of your coaches to do that.
builder dawg
November 1st, 2010
11:47 pm
who cares. At least someone on that sidelines is showing some emotion. Richt certainly does not show ANY emotion of any kind, except that “oh, well” look…Now I think that it was in very bad taste, and the league should hit his pocketbook, but how many of you out there are tired of getting beat by uf?How many of you are tired of sub par, non inspired play from the coaches and the team? Coaches, its your JOB to have them prepared. Can you as a group say that you have done your best to make that happen???? Nah, didn’t think so.
GT fan
November 1st, 2010
11:47 pm
Who cares? UGA lost, as expected. Their coach was disrespectful, as expected. Look at their players- what, 11 arrested? Nice leadership…
Find something else to report on…
Ha
November 1st, 2010
11:51 pm
It’s unbelievable to me that UGA fans gave Meyer all kinds of sh!t for playing Rainey, but then turn around and want to make excuses for Grantham’s behavior….more of the same for UGA fans.
NashDawg
November 1st, 2010
11:55 pm
Who Cares!!!
UGA Girl
November 1st, 2010
11:59 pm
It’s interesting to me that Florida fans get all up in arms about this when numerous times during their seasons, they receive unsportsman-like conduct penalties for gator chomping in player’s faces and blatant and obvious celebrations that are just wholly unnecessary. Florida needs to stop judging because who is knowledgeable enough to say that what he was doing was done in malice. I highly doubt that it was anything other than a play. Florida fans need to realize that whether you are good or not, people hate you because of your fans. Period. So quit with the “class” comments. Florida has no room to talk.
Thwg
November 2nd, 2010
12:00 am
Typical low rent dawg behavior. What a pathetic pig. And you rednecks wonder why everyone is laughing at you and why your athletes are thugs? This sort of role model with Damian Evans and you’re really shocked. Face it, your a low rent irrelevant cow town college. Trend is towards class and real education like Stanford, GT and away from crap like uga.
Thwg
November 2nd, 2010
12:05 am
Hey uga girl, you’re missing the point. This wasn’t a fan or a player. It was a frisking coach who’s paid by the university as a representative of the school and also a teacher of young men. I assume you’d be fine sending your son to play for grantham? Not me or ant one else who wants their child mentored. I don’t want my kids coach teaching my son such pathetic sportsmanship.
Gratefuldawghead
November 2nd, 2010
12:07 am
I love this picture. Grantham actally Wants to win and Richt looks LOST!….. And as always TUCK FECH !
Gators OWN YOU
November 2nd, 2010
12:12 am
Hahaha…what a trashy jerk. Yeah…he’s the one choking…on that perfect kick right down the DAWG’s classless throat. 18 of 21 y’all. I just want to know why Dawgs make such a big deal out of this game ever year like it’s some kind of rivalry? Gators look at this game like a game against Vandy or Kentucky..just another game that most of the time the Gators should win. Something definitely wrong with the Georgia program. They have all these players who are stars in the NFL, but for some reason y’all coach either screws them up or something ’cause y’all don’t have any championships in over 30 years.
Who Cares?
November 2nd, 2010
12:12 am
if this wasn’t caught on camera would it be news at all? No
Who knows what coaches do on the sidelines during games that don’t get filmed, but get em on film and people treat it like they just shot someone. Sometimes the media really gets on my nerves, trying to make something on of nothing (not singling you out in particular JS, just “The Media” as a whole). You have “Stories!!” and then you have “stories ….?”
“As if Florida needed any more motivation in this series, right?”
The Gators will be a bigger group of girls than I thought they were if they let something like this get to them. They’ve won 18 out of 21 games, why would they need more motivation than that, unless they’re they kind of people who takes every little thing seriously regardless of how big or small it is.
Thwg
November 2nd, 2010
12:12 am
Gratefuldawgdead, Where do we send our contribution for the ‘keep Richt’ fund again?
Thwg
November 2nd, 2010
12:15 am
Gatorsownyou that’s classic – like vandy or ky!!! I love it. Lol!
Gators OWN YOU
November 2nd, 2010
12:15 am
Oh yeah, and that was our PUNTER who nailed that field goal! Coach just made himself look incredibly stupid and made an azz out of himself while our PUNTER got to have the thrill of putting the dogs away again. A rebuilding year, Florida has a mediocre team, and we still own the dogs. Y’all need a new coach – see my comment above. All those NFL stars and Dawgs haven’t come remotely close to a championship in over 30 years. Can’t say you didn’t have the players. Meyer took our bunch of inexperienced kids and still owned the dogs…with a PUNTER putting them away! lol
SickandTired
November 2nd, 2010
12:16 am
Georgia has class….it’s just low.
James Adams
November 2nd, 2010
12:17 am
I hate Florida. I wouldn’t give two shi…I mean Jeff Schultz blogs if a Florida coach did this. I’m so sick of the pussification of this game and this country from damned liberals.
$750,000!!!
November 2nd, 2010
12:18 am
Grantham—his defense totally sucks, he’s been a bust, but he can give the choke sign with the best baby!!!! Pay him more money next year and he’ll develop some new “signals” to use against other opposing players!!!!
Tavares!!!
November 2nd, 2010
12:19 am
Is Tavares still in his TD pose? He’s the man!!!!
Buck Beglue
November 2nd, 2010
12:21 am
Hey, it’s ok! We’re going to beat East Cupcake State 46-12 this weekend!
cmac
November 2nd, 2010
12:24 am
Another, all too common, embarrassment from UGA. Then he isn’t even man enough to comment on it. He should be out of a job by the morning!
Richard Cranium
November 2nd, 2010
12:25 am
UGA is classless and ignorant. What a bunch of morons.
UGA steps in it every other day – what a joke.
IF YOU CAN’T GO TO COLLEGE – GO TO GEORGIA….
Howdy
November 2nd, 2010
12:32 am
What is wrong with the writers of this paper? Where is your support? Yeah so what, he made a choking gesture. What does his age have to do with it? Just because he is older and is trying to help the Dawgs keep hope alive you call out his behavior? Why dont you look in that paper YOU WRITE FOR and see how many 15 and 16 year olds are murdering other people. Can believe you would even write it could see it coming from FLA. , but our own guys and don’t say you are just reporting the news. I have seen this go on for ALONG TIME now. You show me how many major papers bash their programs in FLA.. Whether you do it directly or indirectly you all do it. I think i will start reading the FLA. TIMES UNION, Unlike the ACJ, I would like to read about support, recruiting, and just an entirely different atmosphere on what backing your state colleges is all about. “You could have spun that story into a postive”. Like, look at the oldman, his first year on the job and he is already neck deep into the rivalry! Do me a favor think postive before anything else!! ,and if there, come hell or high water, is just no way but to write a negative shoot your on state in the foot report, message,letter, etc….. Then when you do write. I can say to myself “there was just no way around, it had to be written that way.”
Gators OWN YOU
November 2nd, 2010
12:35 am
I believe he is not giving a choke sign. I believe he is choking on some RED PANTIES.
is manny diaz still available
November 2nd, 2010
12:37 am
I also believe he was talking to aaron murray or maybe his defenders who failed to secure 2…f’ing 2! fumbles free for the taking…who gives a shart really….sometimes I feel jeff schultz is the one that needs to get choked out, especially after mind-blowing stories like this one!
Howdy
November 2nd, 2010
12:37 am
I believe you wearing them on your head, standing in you momma’s room on the backberry.
ramblinman
November 2nd, 2010
12:43 am
while its not that big of a deal, it is inappropriate for Grantham to do what he did. and yeah, judging by that photo and Henry’s comments, it seems pretty obvious that he told Henry to choke. Inappropriate: yes. warranting a slap on the wrist: maybe
all that big a deal: no, its a rivalry and emotions get heated
Howdy
November 2nd, 2010
12:49 am
ramblinman It would not suprize me if coach Grantham got a stiffer punishment than Rainey. Just for the simple fact we have writers like ScHultz trying to bring our programs down with each and every story.
JP
November 2nd, 2010
12:53 am
Stay classy UGAY!!! LMAO
Howdy
November 2nd, 2010
12:54 am
You show me one good story bout them Dawgs and i can show you ten negative ones. If you keep writing negative stuff eventually the public will take that stance. How many people have been just around one negative person? Did it not after a peroid of time make you start feeling the same way? This paper does the same thing, just on a mass scale.
will
November 2nd, 2010
12:54 am
Who gives an absolute rat’s a*&. Jeff you gotta do better than this. Did your boss make you write this. This is down to the level of Bill King writing.
By the way I do follow your columns and 99% are really top of the line.
ctift
November 2nd, 2010
12:58 am
Pretty bored huh Shultzie? Quit writing about trivial stuff. I swear that AJC has trned into the TMZ! Pathetic…
stendek
November 2nd, 2010
1:00 am
Enter your comments here
stendek
November 2nd, 2010
1:02 am
Way to go defensive guy! Believe sign was directed at Mark Wretch and Mike Dodo. Real chokers! That said…
The Aaron Murray post All Hallows Eve resume. CAUTION: It is indeed scary:
LOUISIANA LAFAYETTE SCHOOL FOR GIRLS: Second coming of Johnny Unitas. Wonder why!
SOUTH CAROLINA: Disaster Part 1.
ARKANSAS: Disaster Part 2.
MISSISSIPPI STATE: Worse Disaster Part 1.
COLORADO: Even Worse Disaster Part 1.
TENNESSEE SCHOOL OF BLIND: Passable. Ho hum.
VANDERBILT TOUCH FOOTBALL CLUB: Superb. Yawn.
KENTUCKY: Rode defense coattails.
FLORIDA: Utilimate Disaster Multiple Times Over.
That Durham kid is tough and should be QB. Murray is soft, clueless and untalented. Spare me the youth bullshet! Many young QBs are doing quite well thank you. Not at my beloved university. Damnit! STENDEK
stendek
November 2nd, 2010
1:04 am
If a Bulldog player makes a BONEhead play scrap a bone off his damn helmet. Fair is fair. Sheesh! STENDEK
bigstack
November 2nd, 2010
1:13 am
There is no place in college football for actions like this.
bigstack
November 2nd, 2010
1:13 am
Oh yeah. 1001st.
Tech Buzz
November 2nd, 2010
1:19 am
Ga needs to fire this low class loser grantham—his defense is terrible and now he’s embarrassing the program even worse than losing to the lowly gators, who aren’t any good. Tech will beat Ga easy in athens—book it!