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
GrumpyDawg
November 1st, 2010
4:17 pm
I agree, the standard chocking motion is with two hands – it certainly could have been that, or a chins up motion or quite frankly a stress move on his part…I know sometimes I grab my neck like that with one hand when a stressful situation arrives -
Frankly, who cares. The kicker is over 18 and is an adult, it isn’t like he was a high school player. Way too many Georgia haters out there – including the loser who wrote this article. He is one of many reason I no longer subscribe.
Go Dawgs!
old timer
November 1st, 2010
4:17 pm
Shultz, I see double comments on here all the time. You are a PINHEAD.
I really wonder.......
November 1st, 2010
4:17 pm
Ga choked.
Bryan G.
November 1st, 2010
4:18 pm
Jeff -
Don’t you think it’s a little journalistically unprofessional to write such a blog without knowing if the Coach was actually giving a choke sign? I mean, have you seen the video?
It seriously could be as benign as him scracthing his neck. In which case – if the video shows nothing – I hope you write the coach an apology.
UGAX
November 1st, 2010
4:18 pm
Schultz,
To answer your question, I wouldn’t give a rat’s arse if the UF, Tenn, SC, or GT coach pulled out his Johnson (not Paul, mind you) while the UGA kicker was lining up to kick the game winning field goal. Give me a friggin break and get back with us when you have a newsworthy story.
Taylot Wooten
November 1st, 2010
4:18 pm
The only choking going on was the 34 points the Georgia defense gave up to a pathetic Florida offense. Yet another example of the mediocrity that has taken over the Georgia program.
DIT
November 1st, 2010
4:18 pm
JS, Yes I would not think it’s a big deal. It’s football Jeff. I know you understand that. It’s just my opinion, but this article from you appears that you are just trying to get Dawg people riled up! It’s working. I’m sure that there have been 100’s of times that assistant coaches have done something similar, but were not on camera. This is not a 1st time something like this happened.
JB
November 1st, 2010
4:18 pm
Wouldn’t bother me just like Tebow doing the Gator chomp with his Hands to the crowd after every touchdown running back to the bench and NEVER drawing a flag…………..NEVER………
JohnsCreekDawg
November 1st, 2010
4:19 pm
I don’t think it is a big deal IF he did give the kicker a choke sign. And I really wouldn’t care if it was a Georgia kicker receiving a similar gesture.
1. I doubt Chaz even saw it.
2. I want a defensive coordinator that is not afraid to offend the other team.
If our pass rush had not disappeared after the first quarter we would have won the game turnovers and all………
I really wonder.......
November 1st, 2010
4:19 pm
………..why FL wasnt flagged 15 yards when the entire team went to the end zone and celebrated a non TD.
SoCal Dawg
November 1st, 2010
4:19 pm
I hope he says “Isn’t it obvious what I’m doing? I’m giving a choke sign! Anymore questions”
I really wonder.......
November 1st, 2010
4:19 pm
….why GA chokes in the game every year.
BAMAFAN
November 1st, 2010
4:20 pm
If you want to see classless, look at the play where Ga’s # 31 gets hurt. Watch Gator’s OL that was blocking him making gestures toward Ga’s bench. What a loser…outweighs the kid by 100lbs. and wants to taunt?
dog alum in SC
November 1st, 2010
4:20 pm
Jeff,
Get REAL~!! Are you serious, man?? This is football. I should hope that any coach would hope the kid choked. Why are you politically correct on everything against Georgia, and barely point out all the less than perfect things that other teams/coaches do. YOU ARE SO OFF BASE. All the babies crying on this blog are imbeciles.. IT IS FOOTBALL. I for one am glad to see a coach on the Georgia sidelines show some life. I would be even happier to see you write a decent, fair and balanced column!!!!!!!!!!
gdawginkalamazoo
November 1st, 2010
4:20 pm
Jeff, to answer your question it wouldn’t bother me. These are big boys on the field. What’s next don’t keep score and make sure that everybody gets equal playing time and a trophy at the end of the season. I didn’t see this during the game but looking at the picture, sure why not show some emotion. His defense did their job. Good for Grantham for showing some emotion. If it were pee wee league then yes I would have a problem with it.
meh
November 1st, 2010
4:20 pm
I don’t think sun sports would’ve sent you the photo if it was a Florida coach making the choke sign.
lail
November 1st, 2010
4:20 pm
haha, I hope he did. At least one person on our sideline had some fire!!!
LakeDawg
November 1st, 2010
4:20 pm
Tommorrow’s breaking story…UGA players yelled at some Florida players during the game….SHOCKING.
GW
November 1st, 2010
4:20 pm
Shultzie, You must be kidding. You’re just trying to find anything to make UGA and Richt look bad. 40,000 dressed in red and black in the stands were doing this. Grantham is just signaling what he wants to do to you.
Jeff Schultz
November 1st, 2010
4:20 pm
OK, just asking.
I really wonder.......
November 1st, 2010
4:20 pm
why these players are trying for a SportsCenter highlight instead of falling on the ball.
RED GATOR
November 1st, 2010
4:20 pm
Grantham was probably giving that sign to Murray on his decision to attend UGA. This is pretty standard for UGA fans and coaches, there all classless.
Gwinnett Fred
November 1st, 2010
4:21 pm
I’m a big Tech fan – but get real – even if that is what he’s doing, who cares???
If the Florida kicker was looking at the UGA sideline before the kick, then whatever he sees is fair game (well, maybe not someone pointing a revolver at him).
I am NOT one of those fans (for Tech or UGA) that just has to pile on every little thing the other team has that goes wrong.
Unfortunately, the media (current columnist) doesn’t agree – so keep stirring the flames of irresponsible blogging Mr. Schultz, because sadly, that’s certainly your style.
18-of-21forthemightygators
November 1st, 2010
4:21 pm
CaptainDave said it 100% right. It is absolutely inappropriate for an opposing coach to address a player during the game. You say different, you are either wrong or lying. The profanity-laced tirade to our kicker makes it all the more inappropriate.
And Schultz gets to the heart of the matter. The Muttnation would be barking in epic fashion if it had been a Gator coach.
I just appreciate Coach G giving the Urbanator something to fire the boys up a little for next year.
I really wonder.......
November 1st, 2010
4:22 pm
…..how long this crap will go on.
JohnsCreekDawg
November 1st, 2010
4:22 pm
I hope they give Mark one more year to beat So Carolina, Tenn, UF, Aub, and GT in the same season. If he can do that next year he gets to keep his job regardless of what else we do. If he cant do that then he needs to go……
A good friend of mine is a Buckeye fan. He pointed out that John Cooper (the coach up there before Jim Tressel, the current coach) averaged 10 wins a year and had a top ten recruiting class every year he was there. But he was only 1-9 against Michigan, Ohio States biggest rival. That cost him his job.
Sounds kinda familiar doesnt it? And I love CMR….
Pedro
November 1st, 2010
4:22 pm
Who cares? This is so stupid.
UGAX
November 1st, 2010
4:22 pm
Schultz,
What about the UF player celebrating the injury he caused Dobbs #31. Are you ok with that?. Just watch the video and tell me what you think?. Haven’t heard a peep out of you on this one…..
nocumentum
November 1st, 2010
4:22 pm
Maybe he was choking himself – I would be.
JB
November 1st, 2010
4:22 pm
I wish the entire Staff had his passion…..I’m tired of our coach’s looking at the ground with hands in pocket kicking dirt and whistling………Give’em Hell Grantham……….
GrumpyDawg
November 1st, 2010
4:22 pm
Schultz “To all the people who think it would be no big deal if Grantham was giving the choke sign, I have a question: Would you feel the same way if a Georgia kicker was lining up for the winning field goal and a Gators’ coach was caught by the cameras grabbing his neck? Just curious.”
Really Jeff, thats all you have? I am just curious, really? First off, we don’t know for sure that is what he was doing – so forgive us for not rushing to execute what is probably an innocent man. But even if he did it, again – so what…if it were a Florida coach I am fairly certain I would give him the same benefit of the doubt – now, if he (a coach from either side) made a two handed choking gesture after a missed field goal – that might be another story – get a little class and perspective in your articles you low class hack.
DYNAMICBIGBOY
November 1st, 2010
4:23 pm
Give it a rest. Is this the best you can come up, a coach giving the choke signal? Don’t remember reading anything about Johnson, the bumblebee coach, cussing out a player who made a mistake in a game on national tv.
techie redneckie
November 1st, 2010
4:23 pm
You’re doing a heckva job Shultzie!
Nothing Surprises me Anymore!
November 1st, 2010
4:23 pm
Big Deal! Who cares! Waiting for the next story of cross-dressing player(s)….the next arrest….the next goal line fumble…the next group of excuses as to why we lost….. No Worries!
Dan
November 1st, 2010
4:24 pm
Why is this even a story?
hmmm......
November 1st, 2010
4:24 pm
Jeff, you are making 21 years-old out to sound like a child. By the age of 21 someone could have spent three years in the military fighting bad guys that are cowardly trying to blow them up with IEDs. I’m pretty sure this “kid” could handle it. Besides, I’m pretty sure given his shaky track record at FG attempts, the last thing he’d be looking at is the UGA sideline.
dlagator
November 1st, 2010
4:24 pm
Look at the guy in the red hat…he’s thinking “Is he really giving the choke sign? WTH?!”
JohnsCreekDawg
November 1st, 2010
4:24 pm
Jeff,
I usually love your articles, but this is pushing it man…
DawginLex
November 1st, 2010
4:25 pm
To the guy saying Grantham is sorry he took the job at UGA.
Flash forward to September 2011 and tell me which head coach and staff is still employed-University of Georgia or Dallas Cowboys?
Nick
November 1st, 2010
4:25 pm
Once again the media makes a big deal of something stupid and meaningless.
I mean really, who cares?
Come on guys. Think up something else.
75-76-DAWG
November 1st, 2010
4:25 pm
I noticed someone else used 76- Dawg the other day so I will use 75-76 DAWG from now on.
Even if Grantham being shown grabbing his neck in a photo happened, Jeff this is low blow journalism . The kid is somewhere in his early twenties and if he has been playing sports all his life has seen a lot worst, even if Grantham meant to direct the choke sign directly at him. If Grantham was actually doing it I will agree that it isn’t the most sportsmanship act on display, but to make anything out of it other than his defense had just stopped Florida on three plays and he wished the kicker would miss , JUST LIKE EVERY UGA FAN IN THE STADIUM WISHED, is trying to sensationalize and blow it way out of proportion.
Myers calling a time out so Florida could score one more time last year was a million times worst.
ryan
November 1st, 2010
4:25 pm
AJC just wants to look for any way to criticize Richt it was a great game Murray showed a lot heart why not do a story on that Shultz just come out and say it you hate Richt’s guts don’t you Jeff .
dog alum in SC
November 1st, 2010
4:25 pm
Answering your question concerning if it were a Florida coach – high school coaches made the gesture when my son kicked field goals and extra points!!!!!!!!! Our coach loved it because it only made my son better when he learned about the opposing coach. Good grief – Perhaps you should switch writing sports and go to features or something less manly!!!!!!!!!!!!
Rest of Nation
November 1st, 2010
4:25 pm
OMG, dawg fans take off the blinders and red/black colored glasses. Chas Henry’s own post game interview states UGA coaches where telling him he was going to choke. See link:
http://www.cbs.com/video/video.php?pid=cKpoyfcPbvbwWhDVZdmKMOkExEMQ8iDd
Mike Adams
November 1st, 2010
4:26 pm
I think he was saying Coach Richt choked!!!
87dawg
November 1st, 2010
4:26 pm
Seriously? Is this story a joke? Who cares? If it was done in a way that indicated “hurt him” or some other fashion, sure, but in regards to missing a field goal…….
Seriously?
rincon dawg
November 1st, 2010
4:26 pm
Last time I checked this is football and not golf so why does it even matter. The problem lies with the man he is behind.
JB
November 1st, 2010
4:26 pm
Jeff, Really??? Why is that a big deal??
It wasn’t like the slash of a throat or say, calling time outs, late, when you have a big lead.
C’mon. Talk about much ado about nothing.
HBTD!!!
georgiagirl
November 1st, 2010
4:26 pm
Jeff just loved to make something out nothing when come Georgia you are a FOOL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! THE HELL WITH AJC
So sick of them trying to find anything they to out Georgia down next they will look for people with special needs that are at Georgia I have to delete. foolsssssssssssssssss
UGA = Irrelevant
November 1st, 2010
4:26 pm
Schultz,
What about the UF player celebrating the injury he caused Dobbs #31. Are you ok with that?. Just watch the video and tell me what you think?. Haven’t heard a peep out of you on this one…..
——————————–
How about the UGA player elbowing #82 for UF in the head, knocking off his helmet just before the long Burton TD run?