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
AFDawg
October 18th, 2011
1:45 pm
Kiss The Ring, Show me some proof IC sat out for an infraction. It has been widely reported he was held out due to his wrist injury. Until you have proof — don’t make up stuff.
Tech'10
October 18th, 2011
1:47 pm
Georgia fans supporting childish and immature behavior from a grown man and then pointing the finger at the other guy.. priceless. At least Grantham is capable of taking personal reponsibility for his actions and the consequences that might (but probably won’t) come about.
AFDawg
October 18th, 2011
1:57 pm
Tech’10, Keep staring at the world through those rose colored glasses — it’s clearly apparent Coach Franklin had nothing to do with escalating the incident. Not!
TrishaDishaWarEagle
October 18th, 2011
2:30 pm
The larger question is, how low must the UGA program have sunk from where they THINK they are at, for players to find taunting VANDY (after a narrow win) to be worthwhile?. ..I can’t picture Saban or Miles’ teams treating a vandy game much different than a Wednesday scrimmage.
Larry30
October 18th, 2011
2:32 pm
Witness a new generation who was never taught the old axiom that two wrongs never make a right. But that’s so quaint and old fashioned. Thank God for men like Bill Curry who recognizes the cultural landscape of today and said it best when he remarked that for many of these young men the coaches may be the only significant male role models they have had up to that point. Maybe grantham and Franklin should be forced to sit in a room together and watch the old Andy Griffith episode where Andy teaches Opie about winning and losing and the appropriate response to both. But does anybody really care about etiquette anymore?
DodgerDAWG
October 18th, 2011
2:35 pm
@TrishaDishaWarEagle – Tell me where during the post game video coverage YOU saw any taunting by UGA. Or are you like the rest of the trolls and just talking based on what you have read in the BIASED AJC?
Alex
October 18th, 2011
2:37 pm
Seriously! Look at the video jack###! Franklin claims he was looking for Richt to discuss the post game fiasco; however he was barely onto the field. It is clear as day that he was speaking to one of our players and Todd looks back to see who he is was talking to. Then Todd reacts to what Franklin yells at one of our players. Franklin doesn’t have the decency to admit his mistakes and has the audacity to talk about integrity. What are you smoking? Here is the problem, sure this shouldn’t have happened. But let’s be honest. Franklin is a coach; a coach should never go after another player. Nor should he say anything to another player. But he did, and Todd took up for that player. Get off you high horse, $%*G! Point the finger at Franklin and his lies!
BurytheBone
October 18th, 2011
2:39 pm
Wow! I think I posted about 20th or so. Talk about some funny and interesting comments. MB you get the best stand award. I agree with you on all points. Dawg258 hats off to you as well. Looks like what CTG did, will not only pay dividends for the players. But it has the DawgNation fired up too!!!!!! I love it. I hope Mcgarity turns him loose. We could certainly use the intensity. Dawg for life………….GATA
TrishaDishaWarEagle
October 18th, 2011
2:42 pm
@dodger,
per what I heard on the radio, the GA player who had two personal fouls within the game (forgot his name, kwame, kweasy, weesy, whatever) was taunting the Vandy sideline after the game and the Vandy coach pointed at him. Leaving all matters between the coaches aside, what powerhouse program (laugh..but that’s what UGA fans see their program as) finds it worthwhile to taunt Vandy? I guess they act like they have been there before, because they have. UGA hasn’t for a long time.
JimDawg
October 18th, 2011
2:50 pm
Schultz and Bradley should be suspended for their crap articles.
Unless they were standing next to Grantham and truly know what was said/happend, they don’t have any grounds to say anything.
SEC fan says...
October 18th, 2011
2:51 pm
UGA fans are the most delusional of us all!
VANDY's COACH STARTED THIS
October 18th, 2011
2:53 pm
VANDY’S COACH STARTED THIS JEFF YOU ARE A CLASSLESS PERSON WHY NOT COME OUT WITH THE TRUTH JEFF I WAS AT THE GAME AND VANDY’S CAOCH WAS YELLING AT SHAWN WILLAMS BUT THAT IS OK YOU IN YOUR BOOK I SEE GET A LIFE YOU CLASSLESS FREAK
Rogie
October 18th, 2011
3:04 pm
What is the point in the ‘yeah, but Coach Franklin was just as bad” justification? That’s what I expect the response of children on the schoolyard to say. Let Vandy and the SEC worry about Coach Franklin. This column is about how UGA handles itself and the way he handled it doesn’t represent the school well at all.
Tommy
October 18th, 2011
3:21 pm
What do you expect from a school that can’t spell OR pronounce “dog”.
GT
October 18th, 2011
3:32 pm
What seems to be missing in all this is Georgia is an underperforming football team. As a Tech guy from an under talent over performing team I should be very happy to see Georgia continue like this. It is like having an eight cylinder engine and only using 4 cylinders. You can BS the NCAA and show up with several alumni who are mentioned illegally being involved in recruiting on signing day yet never raise an eyebrow on the NCAA, getting this dream team. If you don’t straighten this discipline problem, on the playing field up, this 3rd and 58 yards to go for a first down type stuff or this “cheap shots score more points than touchdowns” reality you will never live up to whom you are. The bottom line you are killing yourselves and the cure is right in front of you but you have got to open your eyes and realize the problem.
DodgerDAWG
October 18th, 2011
3:36 pm
@TrishaDishaWarEagle
Just like the AJC, what is shared on the radio is half the story. First off, It was Williams with 2 PF, not Kwame Geathers. Williams first was a hit on a defender just as the whistle blew. He could have pulled up a little, and you will not hear many fans complain about that one. The second PF was against Williams who ran into break up a fight that was initiated by #39 of Vanderbilt against Zander Ogletree during a kickoff return. The ref (Sic) only flagged Williams. Kwame’s PF came after he was clipped in the back of the knees a far distance from the play. Kwame had been getting cut and chopped all night and the refs refused to call it. The refs did flag the clip, but still awarded Vandy a first down on Kwame’s PF. Should have been off-setting replay. The Grantham/Franklin incident was initiated by Franklin. I have watched the game a few times now and I see no “rubbing it in”. What I do see is an excited Williams slapping the hands of his teammates. Then I see Franklin pointing (and obviously yelling, cause Grantham turn to look at the area Franklin is point and yelling in). this is the point that the writers and videos are showing, Grantham goes up to Franklin and VERBALLY protects his players. Then you see a Vanderbilt Campus Security Officer (NOT A STATE TROOPER as reported by some) push Grantham. Other things you don’t see if an IRATE Franklin chasing a play in progress down the field, yelling at the UGA defender. The ref WARNED Franklin. Should have been an un-questioned PF on the bench. The replay of the game is on ESPN3 if you care to get the facts before pronouncing judgement. SCHULTZ, I WOULD RECOMMEND YOU DO THE SAME
TrishaDishaWarEagle
October 18th, 2011
3:41 pm
Well touche’, I would never watch a UGA Vandy game 3 times even to uncover the identity of the shooter on the grassy knoll.. I do have to go by whats reported..if that is inaccurate, my comments may be also. Anyway, as fun as it was to rip on Grantham a few days, it’s old now..we have to prep for our trip to the bayou..I will be proud if we keep it close..War Damn Eagle!
lawzoo
October 18th, 2011
3:42 pm
Vandy-Ga.—–when those two teams get together you can throw up right out the window !
Woof, woof !
GT
October 18th, 2011
3:55 pm
DodgerDAWG it is always the ref with Georgia people. I can see how you get that because being the most penalized team in the SEC there has to be refs involved. Tony Barnhart is right there with you on this. The fact that if you just grow up and played football instead of being a rap act from hell these refs would disappear, has never entered your minds. You would rather do it your way, jaw your way through a game and when you had your fun but realized you have lost, a minor consideration to the Dawgs of late, you find that excuse in stripes. Lord I hope you never change. What would we have in this state for entertainment.
DodgerDAWG
October 18th, 2011
4:14 pm
@GT
I love it when trolls spew about things they have no clue on. The most penalized team in the SEC this year is Florida. As for the refs, research gnat and you will find that UGA is not the only one with issues with the SEC crews. Tech is not exactly penalty free this year they are averaging 41 yards/ game in penalties; only 14 yards less a game than UGA. To further break that down each GT penalty is 7 yards and each UGA penalty is 8 yards. Sorry to have broken your glass house.
GT
October 18th, 2011
4:22 pm
DD we don’t blame spit on the refs. When we get beat we say we suck, like we did against Virginia. We however are not the model of a winning program we have no dream team, we are just blue collar workers trying to get along. So you like where your going with this program, I got to admire that. Just make sure you shut the lights off when you leave.
True Dawg Fan
October 18th, 2011
4:27 pm
Jeff Schultz
October 17th, 2011
1:50 pm
JaxDawg — “Ok here is one for you Schlutz, if a grown man yell at your son like crazy what will you do? apologize to the man and ask for forgiveness?” … Your “Q and A” is too stupid to warrant a response.
Shultzie unfortunately for you, the only dumb person is you. This combined with the recruiting article adn Mrs. Bradleys article its clear that the sprts writers at AJC have no qualifications.
And give me a break on writing about what ppl want to hear hahahahahahaha. Your a journalists you dont care all you care about is blowing something as stupid as this out of proportion. If it werent for idipots like you and MB stuff like this would have died by Sunday, but no UGA has some negative attention so lets write 8 articles bashing them.
Your a clown Shultzie. and you know nothing about football that much is apparent. Maybe you and MB could go cover the dreams offseason together.
And if you dont get it yet that you have no credibility anymore, you will soon
Cya Idiot
UGA in Milton
October 18th, 2011
4:28 pm
I want AFDawgs job, he may set a record on number of posts…….your passion for UGA is quite……..scary
True Dawg Fan
October 18th, 2011
4:34 pm
UGA in Milton
October 18th, 2011
4:28 pm
Also a Dawg from Milton!!
Live From New York
October 18th, 2011
4:35 pm
It baffles me that many Georgia fans can cheer the hotheaded, profane behavior of Coach Grantham. It defies logic.
This brings to mind the inverse, upside-down world of “Through the Looking-Glass.” Also, the lyrics of “Anything Goes” resonate in this circumstance: “The world has gone mad today and good’s bad today and black’s white today and day’s night today.”
The point is that whatever poor judgment, unhinged actions and unsportsmanlike conduct Coach Franklin displayed, Grantham did not have to respond in kind. As a coach, leader and role model for his players, Grantham could have and should have taken the high road and refused to allow an opponent’s wrongdoings draw him into the same cellar.
I wonder how many of those who applaud Grantham’s actions on Saturday put on their pious faces and went to church the next day. The Golden Rule is not situational ethics.
No one is perfect. All humans are flawed in different ways and to different degrees. But a sports coach at the university level needs to remain cool under pressure, control his temper and set an example of right behavior for his team. In doing that, there will be no post-game confrontation and no embarrassment for the university.
savdawg
October 18th, 2011
4:38 pm
I’m sure you have a Tech tatoo somewhere on your body. You guys need to watch the film. Franklin went after Shawn Williams after the game. Grantham came to his defense, as he should. Geathers got hit low from behind, first, then retaliated. I guess Vandy is being coached to play dirty, because they can’t play good enough to win in this league. There are two sides to the poor sportsmanship that night, not one. I don’t know about your candy ass, but most of us are taught to hit back. This is football, not tennis. What do you think Nick Saban would do if any opposing coach went after one of his players after the game ? Where were you last year whrn Nick Fairley tried to cripple Aaron Murray ? Please take a job in another state, please !
True Dawg Fan
October 18th, 2011
4:39 pm
Live From New York
October 18th, 2011
4:35 pm
It baffles me that many Georgia fans can cheer the hotheaded, profane behavior of Coach Grantham. It defies logic.
This brings to mind the inverse, upside-down world of “Through the Looking-Glass.” Also, the lyrics of “Anything Goes” resonate in this circumstance: “The world has gone mad today and good’s bad today and black’s white today and day’s night today.”
The point is that whatever poor judgment, unhinged actions and unsportsmanlike conduct Coach Franklin displayed, Grantham did not have to respond in kind. As a coach, leader and role model for his players, Grantham could have and should have taken the high road and refused to allow an opponent’s wrongdoings draw him into the same cellar.
I wonder how many of those who applaud Grantham’s actions on Saturday put on their pious faces and went to church the next day. The Golden Rule is not situational ethics.
No one is perfect. All humans are flawed in different ways and to different degrees. But a sports coach at the university level needs to remain cool under pressure, control his temper and set an example of right behavior for his team. In doing that, there will be no post-game confrontation and no embarrassment for the university.
Go watch womens bball you fairy
Jon
October 18th, 2011
7:33 pm
Jeff,
It’s easy for you to WRITE about what is right and what is wrong. I’m sure that you can emphasize with Todd Grantham say, if Mark Bradley is closing in on a deadline and hasn’t typed the first word and from afar you give the ol’ universal signal for choke implying you wish ill will on MB. Why don’t you stop worrying about this and go write about Paul Johnson blaming his players for everthing that goes wrong.
BigDawg
October 18th, 2011
10:00 pm
Considering the last few years of UGA football…this incident was WAYYYY overdue. If Franklin is stupid enough to come clear across the field and openly confront a Defensive Coordinator after a freakin WAR…then he’s stupider than Vanderbilt gives him credit for. If he was trying to teach his players ‘toughness’ and ‘not taking any crap’…he definitely went about it the wrong way. And although I love Mark Richt….It’s just about time some serious FIRE came back to the dogs!! It’s looonngg overdue. Both men were stupid for Saturday night and those issues need to be addressed. But hats off to Grantham for having some emotional nads.
payback!
October 19th, 2011
1:56 am
Georgia’s going to remember this disrespect from vanderbilt next year and lay a beatdown in athens. Look for richt to really run up the score to rub it in.
Yellow Fuzz
October 19th, 2011
6:08 pm
This just in……Georgia Tech, ranked no. 84, is the leading school in Georgia, ahead of Emory at 114 and the University of Georgia at 385, according to the rankings compiled by U.S. News and World Report.
Referee
October 20th, 2011
2:14 pm
There were several cheap shots by both teams on Saturday night. It usually started with a late hit by a Vandy player and a Gerogia player reacting in the wrong way. The problem was the referees saw the reaction and missed the cause. That happens a lot when all seven refs have the head up there %^$% or in the sand. The block by # 60 was intended to blow a knee out and the refs didn’t call it right. The Georgia plyer reacted in the wrong way.
Now!
No coach should even think about dressing down an opponent after the final horn blows. That happened and TG over reacted. But what do you do, thank Franklin and ask for another.
Franklin had to find someone to wine to because he just could not take the third loss in a row.
BIG DAWG
October 20th, 2011
6:04 pm
LAST.