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
GB82
November 3rd, 2010
1:19 pm
So just get over it You won FL now move on!
———–
Umm Gator fans are not making a big deal about this … it’s the media. I know everything about Florida is evil according to all UGA fans but this has nothing to do with the Gators.
Ted Striker
November 3rd, 2010
1:49 pm
I don’t see the big deal. Seriously.
Alabama Jack
November 3rd, 2010
2:11 pm
Hell, at least he didn’t bite him on the leg like that stupid dawg did at Auburn.
PHIL
November 3rd, 2010
2:30 pm
Alabama Jack? Stupid? The only stupid thing about the dawg was that he missed!
PHIL
November 3rd, 2010
2:32 pm
Shultzy,
Ever see the things Sabin says to HIS OWN players? Ever see the things Meyer said to Tebow? Ever see the things Spurrier does? Why don’t you call for them being “over the line?” How about a little fair and balanced here? Oh wait, it’s the AJC and it’s YOU. Never mind.
Hollis G.
November 3rd, 2010
4:09 pm
Schultz, bend over, grab each ear and pull real hard. Give me a break. Everyone has been complaining that the coaches never get excited and we finally get a coach with some fire in his belly and now you all want his scalp and for him to tone it down? We need more coaches like Grantham and maybe one of these days we can beat the gators. They don’t seem to be in his head like they are in Bobo’s & Richt.
Buck Commander
November 3rd, 2010
4:13 pm
Just another tard on the sideline acting stupid. Looks like it will never end at UGA.
RedPantieDawg
November 3rd, 2010
4:29 pm
Shultz is a pansy-ass liberal, the same DH who complained about people celebrating on the plane returning from the 1981 Sugar Bowl. This is political correctness at its worse.
Classic City boozers
November 3rd, 2010
4:52 pm
Dear Dawg fans, after a day of boredom on Sunday, some of my fellow bar/restaurant establishment owners past the time by reading the “blogs” concerning this past weekends game. After viewing hundreds of posts from Tech fans, we have decided that any AJC employee or GaTech fan present in Athens at the end of November will certainly be taught a little lesson about drinking at our little “cesspools”, meaning don’t bite the hand that feeds you techies. Go Dawgs and continue to show support for our team.
Everybody in The country know Georgia is trash
November 3rd, 2010
6:04 pm
and base too!
All those dumb Georgia Hillbillys Rednecks
November 3rd, 2010
6:08 pm
are 1 brain cell from being retarded
Old Gold and White Fan
November 3rd, 2010
6:42 pm
AMAZING!!! Absolutely amazing! But TOTALLY expected. Read through a lot of the responses, and there are a LOT, and I see that mutt fans are still clueless and all seem to share a single common brain cell. Either they deny it happened, claim it meant something else or WORSE say it’s not a big deal!!! WTH!!!??? Case in point why I think mutt fans are the WORST in the entire country. Mutt fans – no class, no clue, no brains.
APDAWG
November 3rd, 2010
7:40 pm
Should’ve said “Time to Die Bitch”-It would have gotten less attention
Mike T.
November 3rd, 2010
8:01 pm
Everybody in The country know Georgia is trash
Everybody in The country know Georgia is class
Yes, Georgia’s defensive coordinator was telling Florida’s kicker to choke « Email Marketing
November 3rd, 2010
8:16 pm
[...] Lesson No. 2: According to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution’s Jeff Schultz, the choking motion may also be referred to as "throwing a nutty." [...]
Rob
November 3rd, 2010
8:52 pm
enough ink and time has been wasted on this. he’s a football coach for goodness sake. He meant no harm to be boy personally. Move on sportswriters!
AFDawg
November 3rd, 2010
9:17 pm
Oh Jeffie — did Coach Grantham hurt the other players little feelings. Were you traumatized by the event too? We so sorry. Give me a break — obviously you’ve never played football in your life. I’ve seen ten times worse in high school football. Football makes you tough and is a man’s sport — I guess you’re not man enough to watch it. We were playing Marist one year and were getting creamed. One of Henry Aaron’s sons broke losse around the end and was blasting up the sideline for another sure touchdown. Our coach grabbed one of our players on the sideline and yelled get him. Our player came off the sideline and made a beautiful open field tackle. Was our coach caught up in the moment — you bet your bippy he was. Did the incident traumatize us or turn us into worthless members of society — not one bit. Take the game for what it is — quit being such a cry baby. I bet your wife wears the pants in your family — doesn’t she?
Schultz Is A Priss
November 3rd, 2010
9:31 pm
Hey Dawg fans — I’ve got a fantastic idea. FSU came up with the tomahawk chop. Let’s take credit for the Bulldog Choke. Every time an opposing player is about to make a critical paly, everyone in the stands should start giving the choke sign and start yelling — Choke, Choke, Choke! It will show great support for Grantham and the team. I’m going to try it out this Saturday — hopefully everyone around me will pick up on it. I think this could catch on.
Schultz Is A Priss
November 3rd, 2010
9:32 pm
Hey Dawg fans — I’ve got a fantastic idea. FSU came up with the tomahawk chop. Let’s take credit for the Bulldog Choke. Every time an opposing player is about to make a critical paly, everyone in the stands should start giving the choke sign and start yelling — Choke, Choke, Choke! It will show great support for Grantham and the team. I’m going to try it out this Saturday — hopefully everyone around me will pick up on it. I think this could catch on!
Schultz Is A Priss
November 3rd, 2010
9:35 pm
Hey Dawg fans — I’ve got a fantastic idea. FSU came up with the tomahawk chop. Let’s take credit for the Bulldog Choke. Every time an opposing player is about to make a critical paly, everyone in the stands should start giving the choke sign and start yelling — Choke, Choke, Choke! It will show great support for Grantham and the team. I’m going to try it out this Saturday — hopefully everyone around me will pick up on it. I think this could catch on!!!!!!!
gatorsruledawgs
November 4th, 2010
8:44 am
A coach should not address a player on the opposing team unless it is to compliment him. To taunt or mock another team’s player is inappropriate by a coach. Players, fans, etc. it is fine. And those saying Henry needs to get a thicker skin and not be a wuss…did you see his post game interview or observe him on the sideline??? He laughed it off.
I don’t think Grantham is a bad guy, he just got caught up in the moment. His D did a decent job overall in the 2nd half, held us in OT but was going to lose on a FG. He shouldn’t be crucified.
And for all the dawg fans talking about Spikes, Rainey, etc. That’s loser talk.
AFDawg
November 4th, 2010
9:31 am
gatorsruledawgs, What about henry taking his helmet off and blowing a kiss at Grantham. Shouldn’t he have been penalized for taunting. Quit being mister high and mighty and let them play the game you wuss.
SalParadise
November 4th, 2010
4:19 pm
classy gesture from a classy program.
GaCracker
November 4th, 2010
5:38 pm
When a coach celebrates when the FG kicker on the other team misses a crucial kick in the final minutes, it is just as derisive to the kicker. Get real. Football is WAR, not political correctness.
gatorsruledawgs
November 5th, 2010
12:44 pm
AFDawg…you are kidding, right? Henry took his helmet off AFTER the game was OVER. So no, there should NOT have been a penalty. And I don’t know what replay you watched, but I didn’t see him blowing any kisses at TG, though that would have been pretty cool, not a douche move like TG.
In any event, Henry did nothing wrong (except seal yet another loss for the dawgs…too bad so sad), I was in fact defending TG as being caught in the emotion of the moment and was certainly not being “high and mighty”.
You though are clearly a butthurt dumbazz.
SUNDAY SNACKS: I’m craving potatoes « Rachel G. Bowers
November 5th, 2010
6:06 pm
[...] — Tony Barnhart is calling for the defensive coordinator to be fined while Jeff Schultz wags his finger in the face of the former NFL coach. Barnhart also backs Mark Richt’s job. And Schultzy gives [...]
Yes, Georgia’s defensive coordinator was telling Florida’s kicker to choke « Digital Photography
November 6th, 2010
10:49 am
[...] Lesson No. 2: According to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution’s Jeff Schultz, the choking motion may also be referred to as "throwing a nutty." [...]
whoyoukidding
November 6th, 2010
2:12 pm
All I can say is it’s about time we had a coach who shows some fire.I’m sure all who complain about this actually do wear red panties
Yes, Georgia’s defensive coordinator was telling Florida’s kicker to choke | The Red IM Hive
November 6th, 2010
7:29 pm
[...] Lesson No. 2: According to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution’s Jeff Schultz, the choking motion may also be referred to as "throwing a nutty." [...]
A Great Red Blog!» Blog Archive » Headlinin’: Tyler Bray and his amazing back tat will start for Tennessee
November 6th, 2010
10:35 pm
[...] Well, I never! Both the Associated Press and Atlanta Journal-Constitution are actually covering this, so: Like, OMG! Was Georgia defensive coordinator Todd Grantham really [...]
carolyn from Athens
November 7th, 2010
8:35 am
Enter your comments here
carolyn from Athens
November 7th, 2010
8:43 am
And one week later, this is ALL you can find to write about??? Can I help you “refocus” on some issue that might meaningfully contribute to sports journalism rather than revealing your need to “grind an axe” ?
Carolyn