Todd Grantham is YouTube gold — and that’s a problem
Todd Grantham's actions at Vanderbilt shouldn't be defended by anybody. (Johnny Crawford/AJC)
I hadn’t planned on writing any more about the incident between Georgia defensive coordinator Todd Grantham and Vanderbilt coach James Franklin Saturday night. But I’ve been astounded by how many Bulldogs fans have come to Grantham’s defense, so let me just get this out once:
There’s a line between emotion and stupidity, and Grantham crossed it.
Coach Mark Richt knows as much. Athletic director Greg McGarity, who has met with Grantham according to our Chip Towers, knows as much. The SEC is reviewing the incident.
Even Grantham — once he cooled down 36 hours later — somewhat admits he overreacted, saying this morning: “… It was unfortunate that things escalated to a confrontation. However, I’ll use it as a learning experience for myself as well as my players so that we all become better men.”
To recap quickly (video below): The Georgia-Vanderbilt game was an emotional one (more than one would have expected). Georgia had a few personal fouls (Kwame Geathers even punching a Vandy player while he was down). Some Dogs defensive players reportedly were upset about Vandy’s cut-blocking tactics.
But none of that excuses the way Grantham acted during a post-game feud with Franklin. For one, he’s a college coach. There something to be said about setting an example for youth .This has nothing to do with Georgia needing to show more emotion and a coach trying to fire up his troops. Emotion can be more of a weakness than a strength.
Secondly, some folks get the benefit of the doubt. Grantham is not one of them. Last season, he gave the choke sign to Florida kicker Chas Henry multiple times before the Dallas, Ga., native nailed a 36-yard field goal in overtime to give the Gators a 34-31 win in Jacksonville. (See video below.) That was even worse than this because it was a 44-year-old coach taunting a 21-year-old college kid.
A few days after that game, Grantham expressed regret about the incident, saying, “As a competitor, sometimes you get caught up in the heat of the moment. I wish the situation hadn’t happened.”
This makes it two straight seasons Grantham has been a YouTube sensation (or embarrassment). With the Florida game coming up, he might want to turn the other way during field goal attempts.
And from now on, just walk off the field after the game and avoid the handshakes. It’s clear he needs some alone time first.
Grantham after Vanderbilt game
Grantham against Florida last season
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933 comments Add your comment
Skeezix
October 17th, 2011
6:32 pm
This behavior says a lot about what is wrong in college football today. My goodness, it just a college football game. You would think it was something really important. It is one more example of how the leadership of college football has lost its grip on what priorities and values they should be teaching young people—values that college ADs and coaches should exempify every day in every way possible.
This assistant coach is really immature—and the Univ. of Georgia placed in a leadership role???
Geezzzz………….
Delbert D.
October 17th, 2011
6:33 pm
I think my mustache still counts, even though I have this beard now.
01HAWK
October 17th, 2011
6:37 pm
GRANTHAM…………………………….He cussed me first and my MAMA told me to stick up for myself when someone did that…………………….Can I have a TISSUE PLEASE.
FRANKLIN……………………………….I was just going to shake your hand you TUB OF LARD.
George Stein
October 17th, 2011
6:38 pm
How many pens does Todd Grantham need?
bamaguy
October 17th, 2011
6:39 pm
If he and Franklin both get a one game suspension for their inappropriate behavior dictated by the SEC front office, then that one game for UGA would be Florida.
01HAWK
October 17th, 2011
6:40 pm
CMR……………………………………….It is just VANDY. No need to get upset TODD. They are the DOORMAT of the SEC. Go and lay down and take a TYLENOL.
GRANTHAM……………………………BUT, BUT, BUT……………………….He CUSSED ME 1ST MARK !!!!!!!
And MAMA told me not to let anyone talk to her son that way.
01HAWK
October 17th, 2011
6:44 pm
TODDS MOM………………………………….Now you can not get fired son. I need some of that $750,000 they are paying you to pay for my TRAILER.
Sid
October 17th, 2011
6:47 pm
Sorry, I think we have already covered last years Florida choke ……10 seconds that have now lasted going on a year. Vandy had a pretty good game against the Dawg defense…not enough to win but enough to flicker into TG’s psyche. The Vandy coach should be the one getting lambasted for his actions, trying to call out a UGA player after the game ………….not cool.
01HAWK
October 17th, 2011
6:48 pm
GRANTHAM probably has one more time to lose his temper before he is history.
1eyedJack
October 17th, 2011
6:48 pm
01HAWK, you ain’t even half of a whole moron.
David
October 17th, 2011
6:54 pm
Jeff, you are dead wrong on this one. He has his players back here. MR has an opportunity to show he has some backbone here. If he backs up his player and his coach here he will win his teams respect, don’t and he will lose them. Man up Mark. Get a life Vandy fans.
Tim
October 17th, 2011
6:54 pm
What about how the Vandy coach acted, Jeff? And what about the dirty play of the Vandy OL at times during the game? Tell the whole story– something you’re notorious for not doing.
5150 UOAD
October 17th, 2011
6:54 pm
But you only have 1 Eye Jack. LOL
01HAWK
October 17th, 2011
6:55 pm
Nothing like getting under your skin.
Like I said before…………………………………….UGA FANS have ANGER ISSUES.
Nick Fairley
October 17th, 2011
6:56 pm
Really? UGA players mad about cut blocking tactics?
01HAWK
October 17th, 2011
6:56 pm
TIM…………………………………….WAH, WAH, WAH………………………………Which do you like ?
SCOTTS or KLEENEX
Buck Futt
October 17th, 2011
6:56 pm
What else is new? Richt never had any control over his thug players, now he doesn’t have any control over his thug assistants. Big surprise. NOT!
Delbert D.
October 17th, 2011
7:03 pm
Coach Richt should suspend Coach Grantham for the 1st quarter of the Florida game because he loves him.
01HAWK
October 17th, 2011
7:04 pm
GRANTHAM and STRAITJACKET go hand in hand.
rally
October 17th, 2011
7:05 pm
Well Georgia DAWG fans are all upset about how tough and physical Vandy was with them. Did not hear that from Alabama, Mississippi, or South Carolina, all of whom, played Vandy. I guess that whimpering is all we can expect from a mess of ill bred mutts supported by backwoods Georgia Troglodytes.
SEC Fact Finder
October 17th, 2011
7:06 pm
I have attempted to stay off the blogs this year as it creates more negative comments from others and too much name calling. I will comment on Coach Grantham and Coach Muschamp and their actions.
First, Coach Grantham has proved to be an outstanding coach who wears his emotions on his sleeves. He has done a good job of taking players and plugging them into positions when others go down or are injured. Coach Grantham needs to understand one basic rule as an assistant coach and that is to walk away from confrontation, set an example for your players and allow your head coach to address the major issues that arise. The head coach is paid hansomely to handle those situations and probably has a little more clout with the School President, SEC Commissioner and SEC officials.
Coach Muschamp had every right to be upset with the call that went against his Gators on Saturday night in Auburn. However when you lose emotional control you also lose the ability to listen and make rational decisions. Coach Muschamp was right, the call was blown and the “no call” allowed a touchdown to be the result.
Coaches all get upset, how you handle it will always be replayed on YouTube, ESPN , and your local news. And folks video last a very very long time. And some videos are not so flattering.
1eyedJack
October 17th, 2011
7:09 pm
I agree he’s a loose cannon, but I wouldn’t trade him for a dozen Willie Martinez’ and two pass rushers.
01HAWK
October 17th, 2011
7:09 pm
rally…………………………………………..WELL SAID.
No problems with VANDY from any other team………………………………….Except when you play dirty like UGA, you will get the same in return.
Matter fact………………………….VANDY looked like a PUSSYCAT to BAMA………………….34 – 0
RTR
5150 UOAD
October 17th, 2011
7:10 pm
Year…..Games……Penalties……./Game……..Yards/Game
2011….7…………….48……………….6.9……………55.4
2010….13…………..68……………….5.2……………41.9
2009….13…………..105……………..8.1……………67.5
2008….13…………..112……………..8.6……………72.2
2007….13…………..91……………….7………………58.5
UGA don’t really play mice with others.
BabsTosltoy
October 17th, 2011
7:10 pm
Coach Chizik could whoop his a**. He better not bring that crap to the Auburn game. We’ll sick Nick Fairley on him. No wait…Coach Gene could still take him though. He works out more and doesn’t have the man boobs your guy does. Oh, and Gene knows how to beat Florida.
01HAWK
October 17th, 2011
7:13 pm
rally ,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,Well Georgia DAWG fans are all upset about how tough and physical Vandy was with them. Did not hear that from Alabama, Mississippi, or South Carolina, all of whom, played Vandy. I guess that whimpering is all we can expect from a mess of ill bred mutts supported by backwoods Georgia Troglodytes.
Well said………………………………………….I have never heard anything about dirty play from VANDERBILT……………………NEVER.
BAMA liked them alot……………………………….34 – 0…………………………….ROLL TIDE ROLL.
SEC Fact Finder
October 17th, 2011
7:13 pm
Tim
October 17th, 2011
6:54 pm
What about how the Vandy coach acted, Jeff? And what about the dirty play of the Vandy OL at times during the game? Tell the whole story– something you’re notorious for not doing.
_________________________________________________________________
Not here to fight with you, but after speaking with two folks who review tapes in the SEC office, I was personally told that they only saw one or two plays where cut blocks may or may not have been illegal. The other blocks everyone keeps bringing up were plays where the DL or LB were standing up and bull rushing which anyone knows will cause a smaller lineman or quicker lineman to cut block you to slow you down. Like I said, I have not seen the tape but these guys are pretty darn good at reviewing tapes and evaluating officials for correct calls, missed called and wrong calls and they repeated the fact that the blocks made were for what they say were legal and some UGA players reacted with passion and anger instead of correcting their attack positions.
Good luck to your dawgs and every other SEC Team.
5150 UOAD
October 17th, 2011
7:18 pm
had RUSS got in a fight yet?
That ain’t not Dawg in the house. Put the Collar on Grantham and chain him to the Uga house.
William Smith
October 17th, 2011
7:18 pm
What is the big deal. This is football you can get killed playing this game. This is no joke. Broken bones are normal. Also, what is all the bad mouthing other teams. Football in its format is a game very similiar to war. The purpose is to gain and hold land. This is like attacking Hitler for saying Roosevelt has bad breath, and forgetting German tanks are rolling into many European nations. Let go of this stupid argument.
James
October 17th, 2011
7:19 pm
GRANTHAM ROCKS THE HOUSE!!!
LOVED IT!!!!
WAY TO GET PUB FOR UGA DEFENSE!!!!
GENIUS!!!!
10/17/2011 Evening Edition | collegefootballnewswire.com
October 17th, 2011
7:22 pm
[...] Oregon State’s Season On Player’s Car Hightower: Vols, Not Auburn, Possibly Biggest Rival Grantham Is YouTube Gold — & That’s A Problem Don’t Set Your Heart On BCS Chaos Just Yet Don’t Count Out This Auburn Team The [...]
Choke
October 17th, 2011
7:28 pm
No, Jeff, you just couldn’t the resist the lazy opportunity to write on the same topic again. You didn’t even write it from a different angle. Plus, I don’t think “YouTube Sensation” means what you think it means in that sentence; the only people talking about CTG on YouTube is the ridiculous media trying to blow this whole story out of proportion 2 days later. Get off your high horse.
I think it’s hilarious when people sit back and try to apply gentlemanly principles to this game. If you want that, go watch polo. Skirmishes like this may not be the hallmark of professionalism, but who cares? Sometimes immaturity is the price of genius, and it’s not like the game of football captures the evolved nature of human kind. It is based on physically hurting and outmatching the other team. This isn’t a REAL chess match: only a figurative one.
Nobody wanted CTG because of his low key discretion. No, they wanted CTG because he’s a fine defensive ball coach and has a fiery personality. Well, we’re getting double doses of both this season. Here’s the point: I would rather win with CTG engaging in “tasteless” behavior than losing while acting like a gentleman. Maybe CTG giving the “choke” sign was in poor taste, but at least he was still doing all he could do to win the game. Same here: maybe he wasn’t acting evolved, but at least he was calling out Franklin on his foolishness and showing our players that he’s got their backs. Get over it, people.
And please write about something else. . . .. lazy columnists . . …
doggoneit
October 17th, 2011
7:30 pm
I agree with you Jeff. Grantham should of walked up with a eat sh** grin on his face and politely shook hands.
Heels Rock and Rule
October 17th, 2011
7:32 pm
Grantham needs some serious anger management schooling before he OJ’s someone.
Dostoveyskiy
October 17th, 2011
7:35 pm
Do you really think bad behavior embarrasses UGa? LOL!
Big Dawg
October 17th, 2011
7:37 pm
Right on point Jeff. There is a time and place for everything, and Grantham showing his @@@ on national television was not the time. Great to be fired up and coach with emotion, but he needed to be the bigger man and get himself and his players the heck off the field. Call Franklin up or handle it any other way but this one. Get crazy at practice, go beserk all you want then. No matter what Franklin did or said, two wrongs don’t make a right. Grantham won’t be around for long if he keeps this up. Back to the bush leagues. He’s supposed to be a leader of men, not the lead instigator. Could have resulted in a melee with a lot of the team suspended for the Florida game. And last time I checked, Mark Richt has only beaten them twice in a decade. Needs all the help he can get.
GR82BAG8R
October 17th, 2011
7:55 pm
Time to let this go and move on. Both have regrets. Both have said so. Football is a competitive sport that depends on emotions to get the best out of your players. It is hard to turn that off, especially in a closely fought game. When you are expecting to dominate the opposition and they almost beat you, you are especially hypersensitive about their coach targeting one of your players. Let it go and move on.
Jimmy
October 17th, 2011
7:56 pm
Out of curiosity, Master Schultz, what would have been the appropriate reaction from Grantham? Do you have coaching experience?
Mike
October 17th, 2011
7:58 pm
You only mentioned Grantham crossing the line. How about Franklin. I feel like they were equally involved. In fact I think Franklin was the instigator.
Saban
October 17th, 2011
7:58 pm
I wonder if its the same dawg fans who were upset about Kiffin who think Grantham’s behavior is ok. This guy is an embarrassment and a barometer of just how sorry the Georgia program really is. The funniest thing about this whole thing is this horse’s a$$, this buffoon, this complete blithering idiot, is a-okay with the dawg fans. But as someone pointed out above nothing really embarrasses the dawg fans. They are indeed shameless.
Saban
October 17th, 2011
8:00 pm
James,
Pub for a UGA defense that gave up 350 yards to a horrible Vandy offense? Surely you jest. You dawg fans are just too funny.
BG
October 17th, 2011
8:00 pm
Jeff, I hope Grantham reads the article and kicks your a**.
UGA>GT
October 17th, 2011
8:01 pm
Go Dawgs! This UGA alum is glad to have both Mark Richt and Todd Grantham on staff. I just wish Richt would take over the OC duties.
Billdawg
October 17th, 2011
8:02 pm
Choke wrong! Defend – that is defend SHULTZ, not attack. He may have over reacted, but Coach Grantham did nothing more than verbally respond to an assault by the Vandy coach. You really reached to make this a big deal. Of course, that is the norm for press operations. Blow everything up, even if there is no hard evidense of an offense. Remember? CG was DEFENDING his players. Go after the guy that started it..
Hurt Kurbstreit
October 17th, 2011
8:04 pm
Grantham was taking up for his players after Vandy took some cheap shots on the defense with cut back blocks. Me, I’m glad to see one of the Georgia coaches being a little fanatical. We need someone with some unbridled emotion and defense is a good place for it. He’s doing a great job!
Brandon Adams
October 17th, 2011
8:06 pm
I didn’t see anything inappropriate.
By the way if anyone is a program director at a radio station, I will work for $14,000 a year and work 85 hours a week if you put me on the air. I’m not nearly as bad as some of the clowns 790 has hired lately.
michael
October 17th, 2011
8:07 pm
what is so funny reading comments was (Rally’s) He says he is from Nashville TN. and UGA fans are Backwoods. What a Dip S&^%.
mreed14
October 17th, 2011
8:08 pm
Go Dawgs! Todd Grantham is the fiery contrast that is a perfect to Richts laid back attitude that i’m also fine with. Keep it up Grantham the vast majority of the bulldog nation is 100 percent behind you!
JWWCOACH
October 17th, 2011
8:12 pm
Most UGA fans support this white trash behavior. It fits their morally bankrupt fan base perfectly
To Lombardi: Try not to use this outlet as a means to express your pathetic existence and hatred of UGA. I happen to be a UGA fan and I am not, nor do I know any other fans that are morally bankrupt. Keep hiding behind the name of a man who had class – because you DO NOT! Vandy’s head coach initiated the problem and UGA’s coach overreacted. What’s also pathetic is SGT Shultz’s false analysis of the incident. It’s a shame bias has to enter into all of his comments and articles.
THE MAJOR
October 17th, 2011
8:13 pm
Everyone in the SEC knows that UGA is the dirtiest team in the league. But everyone also knows that UGA team and fans whine m ore than any team in the league. Vandy was cut blocking. OMG, cut blocking is legal get over it. UGA chop blocks, not legal!!! You people are ridiculous.