SEC punishes players, but why no reprimand for coaches?
Vanderbilt coach James Franklin stated his case to Mark Richt after the game.
(Updated with SEC statement on coaches.)
Georgia’s attempt to achieve a rare exacta — 1) beat Florida; 2) win the SEC East — just got a little more difficult.
The SEC, in an expected move, has suspended two Bulldogs defensive starters — safety Shawn Williams and nose tackle Kwame Geathers — for their actions in last week’s victory over Vanderbilt. Each must sit out the first half of the Florida game. Also suspended for a half was Vandy center Logan Stewart.
Meanwhile, the conference chose not to act on the actions of Georgia defensive coordinator Todd Grantham or Vandy head coach James Franklin. That’s odd. It sends mixed messages.
This is not to suggest either Grantham or Franklin should have suspended, and a conference spokesman wasn’t even aware if there is precedent for a coach being fined for an on-field action. But the minimum of a public reprimand certainly seemed in order.
I sent an email to SEC associate commissioner Charles Bloom asking why there was no publish discipline of any kind for Grantham and Franklin. This was his emailed response: “Matter handled internally between league office and schools.”
Coaches should be held to at least as high a standard as players. Actually, higher. They are the adults in this scenario, at least theoretically.
As for the impact of the suspensions: The Dogs’ defense has improved this season — notwithstanding a poor second half against Vanderbilt — so the loss of Williams and Geathers, even just for a half, hurts. Williams has been one of the defense’s best players, but was flagged for a flagrant personal foul in the third quarter. Geathers drew two personal fouls, one stemming from a punch at Stewart, who clipped him from behind.
Williams reportedly also was one of the initial sparks to the post-game scrum involving the two teams. Various videos from news sites have popped up, the most recent indicating that Williams was popping off after the game to Franklin, who then returned verbal fire, which brought Grantham into it. Then things exploded.
WSMV television in Nashville released raw video footage on Tuesday that showed a post-game conversation between Franklin and Georgia coach Mark Richt, who apologizes to the Vandy coach for the actions of Williams and Grantham (while also calling each a name).
Suffice to say, Richt did not intend for those comments to become public, even if he probably was right.
Here’s the transcript from the news video:
Franklin: “36 comes up, after a tough game, talking **** to me!
Richt: “Okay.”
Franklin: “Rubbing our face in it right after the game!”
Richt: “He’s a dumb***.”
Franklin: “And then your coach when I tell him about it, then he goes after me and the fight starts.”
Richt: “That’s what I thought happened, I apologize. It’s horse **** horse ****.”
Then coach Franklin finds another coach to express his feelings to.
Franklin: ” Hey, 36 after a tough game, come over and going to talk **** in my face after the game. That’s NOT how my guys do it!”
This is two strikes for Grantham, including last year’s episode when he gave multiple choke signs to a Florida place kicker. But there has been no official statement from the school, and athletic director Greg McGarity has only referred to Richt’s post-game comments, in which the coach expressed regret for the way his team acted after the win.
On the field, the Dogs definitely will take a hit in the first half against Florida next week. But they take a hit off the field as well.
By Jeff Schultz
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724 comments Add your comment
Hit A Single
October 19th, 2011
8:31 pm
AJC, get over it! Way too much coverage of this event. Cover something like the Rodgers kid’s great effort or how the UGA defense looked shakey for the first time in a long time.
Gatormeat
October 19th, 2011
8:32 pm
What is that putrid smell coming from the SEC. Oh, it is just georgia playing football again. Cheap shots, late hits, and arrests, the calling card of georgia football. That and getting smacked down in Jacksonville by those Mighty Gators
The REAL PHIL
October 19th, 2011
8:34 pm
GR82BAG8R Shultz isn’t a reporter, he’s not reporting. He is a columnist and as such he is opining his thoughts on what should have happened. His “reporting” of the facts are incomplete and spun in such a way as to give support to his opinion. An opinion that is an example of what is wrong with our country these days. Saying that Grantham is at fault for the confrontation with Franklin, saying that Geathers is at fault for “punching” (that’s a punch?) that low life scum that clipped him, is like saying it’s the fault of the United States for entering World War II with Japan. That same exact logic says that the effect should share equal blame with the cause. So by reason it’s just as much the fault of the US because we had those big ships just sitting there waiting to be bombed. What kind of moron thinks like this? Today about half the country.
Beast from the East
October 19th, 2011
8:37 pm
GR82BAG8R,
Yeah, that’s the tinfoil hat wearing brigade with their conspiracy theories. I’m sure Schultz’s sole mission in life is to take down UGA. LOL! We’ve got ‘em down in Gatorland, too. They think Bianchi is trying to do the same. Me? I just choose not to read him too often.
Beast from the East
October 19th, 2011
8:40 pm
The REAL PHIL,
Do you really think the post-game confrontation would’ve happened if Williams hadn’t shown his a$$ after the game? There is certainly enough blame to go around on both sides.
Muffican Jam
October 19th, 2011
8:43 pm
Dawg nation listen one and all…It’s a slow off week before your annual beat down with the Gators. But, you will bring home a nice check for your (lack of) efforts. If you lose this year to them, you should have your spot in the SEC revoked and you should be immediately sent to the CAA. At least you’ll competitive there. You should be talking about how a down year by the Gators and an injury to the best back in the conference, Lattimore, may have opened up a slim chance for you play in a meaningful football game in December.
GR82BAG8R
October 19th, 2011
8:55 pm
Beast, you are right about Bianchi….
The REAL PHIL
October 19th, 2011
8:57 pm
BEAST from the Forest: A. According to Franklin in his press conference, he had calculated his actions long before the end of the game and he didn’t regret them. Now that’s just what he said. That means he decided to confront the player (over the personal fouls?) BEFORE the game ended and Williams acted like an idiot. I mean I wasn’t there, that’s just the facts from the Coaches own mouth. and B. There is NO Excuse, none, zero, zilch, nada, that would allow an adult to verbally assault a kid, any kid not just a football player, that is not under his guidance. What if he had done that to YOUR kid? If you think that it is in any instance acceptable for an adult to assault a kid in ANY way, you have problems that go way beyond the game of football. and C. I was referring more to the clip/punch being punished equally than the yelling between the coaches.
JB
October 19th, 2011
8:58 pm
Beat Vandy 34-0 like Bama did and there is no emotion from Vandy say after mid way through the 3rd Qtr. Let them hang around close and Almost win with a great punt block in the last few seconds, you get a lot of raw emotion. Saban and Crew were already thinking about the next game by start of 4th qtr. Richt and Bobo peeing on themselves trying to get out with a win.
The Lyam Hound
October 19th, 2011
8:58 pm
So here’s what I’ve seen so far.
Wait… I should first mention that I probably wouldn’t have thought twice about the Vandy vs.Georgia game but for the heroic(?) actions of one Coach Todd Grantham after the contest had already ended.
Okay… Now back to the game. This outing wouldn’t have gone down as a particularly dirty SEC game. There were maybe a few personal foul calls. That typically happens in a game. Now that attention has been brought to the way the game ended, some are claiming that it was an extraordinarily dirty game, with the Vandy team committing chop blocks on a regular basis throughout the contest.
Well folks, I watched the replay on television today. I didn’t see any chop blocks and I didn’t see an unusual amount of cut blocking on the line either.
“So how about the youtube clips?”, you ask. Yes. I’ve seen those also. The block that triggered the punch from the Georgia player was close to being a clip. Perhaps it actually was. It appears as if the Vandy player got his head and shoulders in front of the Georgia player’s legs, but he was coming at an angle from behind. It’s certainly a close call. I wouldn’t consider that a block worthy of being called “dirty”, even if it was an illegal block. I don’t think that this block would have triggered an SEC suspension, had it not been followed by the punch.
The other questionable block is less dubious. The Georgia player speared the Vandy player from behind. That was a dirty hit. It was clearly an intentional foul. There have been reports that this same player had, on multiple occasions, grabbed his crotch and made lewd exclamations toward the Vandy bench during the game, but I have seen no youtube video evidence of that happening. From reading reports of the incident, this is the same guy who was harassing Coach Franklin after the game.
If any particular football play (punching is not recognized as a “football” play) in that game brought the SEC into the picture, it was Georgia’s spear block from behind on the Vandy player. Still, I’m not sure there would have been a suspension handed down for that hit – had Coach Grantham not had to be restrained from engaging in physical violence in front of a national television audience after the game was already over.
5150 UOAD
October 19th, 2011
9:02 pm
Dawgs Please get mad and defend your players and coach. If your player had thrown that punch on the Street it would be a felony and Assult. Now keep talking crap. Todd Grantham do the same crap on the street and you will get SHOT you big bad UGA Man. LOL. Don’t bring as BIG MAN attitude to the Street THUGS unless you are REAL THUGS like UGA Men like to act like. Grantham is a Pusscator cause he knew he would never get close to the other coach.
Beast from the East
October 19th, 2011
9:09 pm
The REAL PHIL,
Now you’re just making things up. He never said he had decided to do anything before the game ended. Calculated doesn’t mean he was planning this since birth. I’m really sure he knew Williams was going to act like an idiot. Riiight.
Secondly, he’s not a “kid”, but a college student and he showed his butt. No excuse for his behavior. None.
Sorry, but I thought I was conversing with a reasonable person. Put your tin hat back on and have at the conspiracy theory. Let me know how that turns out for you.
JB
October 19th, 2011
9:21 pm
As time goes on, Vandy will still turn out smart people and win 4 or 5 ball games a year. Georgia, hopefully, like this country, will get new leadership and seize on the fact that they have the 5th most fertile Div 1 talent state in the country and only second to Texas in money and start winning again….and work on the 384 th rating of school academics………….while Tech, who can’t beat us with the greatest coach in America and our program in almost shambles, will continue to troll these blogs wondering what a weekend in Athens with a woman would be like.
Beast from the East
October 19th, 2011
9:22 pm
JB,
What’s your prediction for UF/UGA?
With Brantley….UF wins 30-24
Without Brantley….UGA wins 31-15
Your thoughts…..
Weather Channel Expert
October 19th, 2011
9:23 pm
Click, click, BOOM
JB
October 19th, 2011
9:28 pm
You know Beast, a lot of our folks got the impression we had a team in the making because we won 4 games, who have since gone 1-13 by the way, and then get tangled up with a frisky Vandy team, almost lost and gave up some big yardage. I know Muschamp wants this bad. Real bad. We have the Athletes to compete…and catching you guys in transition, But we have been known under Richt to show up not ready to play. If Brantley plays and Demps and Rainy are at full speed, it’ll be tough, say Florida 24-17.
If Murray is on and we show up to play, we could win in an upset 31-24
Eldawg
October 19th, 2011
9:30 pm
Jeffy,
Do blogs have the same level of scrutiny from you editors as print articles , i.e. fact checking and objectivity? just wondering.
Please keep writing this..whatever you call it, it’s a great motivator. Coach G may be bat sh*t crazy but his players would eat nails for him. We are going to detonate on UF. Please keep the hits coming Schulty.
Beast from the East
October 19th, 2011
9:32 pm
JB,
Muschamp has wanted them all pretty bad. Our defense would have to be able to pitch shutouts for us to win without Brantley. I hate to say it, but we can’t sustain a drive with either Driskell or Brissett. They just aren’t ready for SEC football yet. Slow on their decisions, late on their throws and when they get hit a few times they get happy feet.
JB
October 19th, 2011
9:33 pm
Herman, we do have a tendency to get the ole deer in the headlights down there.
JB
October 19th, 2011
9:34 pm
Beast, lot’s of Dawgs think you guys win with a tackle playing QB.
Beast from the East
October 19th, 2011
9:36 pm
JB,
I wish that was the case, but it’s not. I wasn’t surprised with the outcomes of the Bama and LSU games, but Auburn was a wake-up call. We’ve got alot of growing up to do before we can beat a decent team. It might not be this year unless they grow up FAST.
JB
October 19th, 2011
9:37 pm
Also Beast, the way to negate Crowell is to hit him hard early, as he will take himself out a lot and limit himself to 15 carries or so. He just doesn’t have SEC toughness yet. He can tote the rock though I believe.
JB
October 19th, 2011
9:40 pm
Good night all. I’ve got a 6:30 meeting.
Beast from the East
October 19th, 2011
9:40 pm
JB,
They need to get him in the weightroom this off-season. A little more bulk and he’s gonna be special. He’s got great vision and good speed. I want to know what they’re feeding ‘em over in Tuscaloosa. Have you seen the size of those guys?!?!? They look like the Steelers on defense!
Offendedbymadeupreporting
October 19th, 2011
9:41 pm
I have listened to the video over and over and do not hear Richt cursing. You can’t read his lips either because they are not visible. This was all made up by Schultz just to have something to write. Kwame is getting shafted. If Vandy’s player had not tried to end Kwame’s career, none of this would have ever happened. Oh, and why is nobody on Franklin’s case for jawing with a player. Somehow, I don’t see Dooley ever jawing with a player. Franklin has no class and the Dawgs will remember. Next time we have the chance, we will run up the score. In the past Georgia has had mercy on them when way ahead, I doubt that happens next time.
Eldawg
October 19th, 2011
9:41 pm
Jeff,
I ask again, are you a gossip columnist or a journalist?
JB
October 19th, 2011
9:42 pm
Bama looks like an NFL team no doubt. I’m on record as not being to upset if Kirby Smart comes home. Can he be a HC ? Who knows, but he knows what it looks like, smells like, taste like, practices like, works out like, and prepares like. Our current staff doesn’t. He’s learned a lot.
ARdawg
October 19th, 2011
9:45 pm
5150 Toad
Why don’t you quit being a douche. You are letting your manboobs do the talking for you
JB
October 19th, 2011
9:45 pm
Toad is the ultimate Nerd.
Hit A Single
October 19th, 2011
9:48 pm
I just got my new 2012 College Football playstation game and Grantham beat the mess out of Franklin.
Jimmy it'
October 19th, 2011
9:50 pm
Mr. Schultz,
I must say that I have never really been a fan, but I have always just chalked it up to different opinions. But i am very disappointed that you have published your “transcript” as if there is no dispute regarding what was said. I have watched the video in question several times and there is no way you or anyone else can absolutely determine that Coach Richt called anyone anything.
Did you bother to watch the video yourself?
It’s sad that it seems that every year that this paper’s coverage of the state’s flagship university has grown more and more biased toward’s the negative side.
Jimmy McDonald
ARdawg
October 19th, 2011
9:50 pm
JB
I just don’t think FL has the horses to beat us this year but of course that hasn’t stopped them in the past when we showed up with supposedly more talent and supposedly better coaching. I wouldn’t call it either way but I do expect a nailbiter
bitter weak fools
October 19th, 2011
9:53 pm
JEFF you and SAINT RICHT both can catch the next GRAYHOUND out of town——-
———GRANTHAM has spirit and richt is turning out to be YELLER—-PU$$_
———SCARED OF THE LOUD MOUTH black coach who was trained by the nAAcp
——————throw your playa’s and coach’s under the bus——–richt just F___$–OFF
————————TROLLS THE dawgs will now roll over on this big pu$$_ and loose by 5 TD’S
————————————–to FLA—RA—DUH————————-ALL BURN by 6 TD’s
—————————————————–soon to be XXXXXXXXhead coach richt
Dr. Phil
October 19th, 2011
9:53 pm
When a coach is foaming at the mouth, it sets a bad example for a team that is a case study in bad behavior.
The Lyam Hound
October 19th, 2011
9:53 pm
“In the past Georgia has had mercy on them when way ahead, I doubt that happens next time.”
2006 – 22-24
2007 – 20-17
2008 – 24-14
2009 – 34-10
2010 – 43-0
2011 – 33-28
Which one represents “showing mercy”? Looks like they either lost, struggled to win, or blew them clean out of the stadium on the year that their Head Coach quit on them.
Beast from the East
October 19th, 2011
9:54 pm
ARDawg,
We’ve got the horses, but they’re not a wagon team yet. Loads of individual talent with moments of brilliance, but too many rookie mistakes (penalties, turnovers, missed assignments, etc.). Sound familiar? They look eerily similar to UGA last year, in my opinion.
Mobile Dawg
October 19th, 2011
9:55 pm
Reading the “raw” comments by Richt indicates what I’ve said all along. There’s no backbone, he’s an apologist. Right or wrong you never throw your guys under the bus. You want their respect, you defend them to the death, and then you kick their a$$, and work them to death. They will wilt or bloom, their choice. Richt is toast, bank on it. Richt has once again been outclassed, outsmarted, by his opponent. Pathetic ! ! !
Good insight Beast and JB.
Mobile Dawg
October 19th, 2011
9:56 pm
Respectfully Jeff, go hug a tree.
ARdawg
October 19th, 2011
9:56 pm
I don’t agree with Schultz in any shape or form on this subject. However, He’s calling it the way he sees it and he has every right to do that just as anyone else does. Because he writes for the ajc doesn’t put him in alliance with UGA, GT or any other school. If you don’t like what he has to say, then say so but the conspiracy theories and attacks on his mother are uncalled for. Don’t shoot the messenger
ARdawg
October 19th, 2011
10:01 pm
Beast
Yes it does and I agree with you. Your guys actually scare me down the road. Your new coach and system hasn’t had time to click yet. No doubt they have the talent especially, young yet to mature talent. By all accounts we should put a hammer on the Gators this year but, I’m not convinced of it. We have the talent yet we play mediocre and no improvement from week to week. “IF” Muschamp and Fat Charlie get it together, ya’ll can certainly beat us.
On another subject, I just don’t see Weis working out in the long run at FL
doggoneit
October 19th, 2011
10:01 pm
Jeff assuming that the Bulldogs get to the SEC championship game, how bad does Georgia get there butts kicked?
5150 UOAD
October 19th, 2011
10:02 pm
No dawg football this weekend? Who will get arrested for doing something DUMB?
Todd Grantham has my BET.
What a PIG and you mutts are trying to Defend the Indefensible.
Everybody was wrong but the Mutts are crying like their boys are clean as a Fresh Snow in Alaska.
Beast from the East
October 19th, 2011
10:03 pm
Mobile Dawg,
I don’t buy that Richt said it. I can’t make it out, so I don’t how know how anyone other than an expert could either. So far, I have seen an expert opinion and doubt we ever will.
Beast from the East
October 19th, 2011
10:07 pm
ARDawg,
He should be there at least 4 years. One of the main reasons he came was because Will was willing to let his son learn the ropes while he’s a student at UF. I believe he’s just a freshman, so that’s why I say at least 4 years. He’s getting paid well ($1,000,000 I think), his wife supposedly loves the area and the deal with his son may make this a lengthy deal.
ARdawg
October 19th, 2011
10:07 pm
That’s nore like Franklin’s and the Tennessean’s version of what Richt said. If Richt ever admits to that actually being what he said, I’m done with him (not that he gives a flying rats patootie but, I do
bitter weak fools
October 19th, 2011
10:10 pm
its funny all fla—ur—da fans running smack when there are no fla. teams in the top 25
————————-please gator/siminoles/cocains/south/north/west/east/central fla.—-
—————-all loooooosssers———–FLA FOOTBALL===JOKE
ARdawg
October 19th, 2011
10:10 pm
Beast,
Maybe it works out for him. It doesn’t seem that Muschamps intensity and Weis’s lackidaiscal slow moving @zz on the bench approach are going to work in the long haul. Hopefully, I’m wrong. I have nothing against Weis. He’s a very good offensive mind, so say those who are suppose to know
Beast from the East
October 19th, 2011
10:12 pm
“If Richt ever admits to that actually being what he said”
That’s not gonna happen even if he did say it. I still don’t think he did. Way out of character for him.
Mobile Dawg
October 19th, 2011
10:13 pm
I can clearly hear Richt saying he’s a dumb a$$ Beast. As for the rest, can’t tell. My opinion and that’s all it is, I can see it.
D. Nigh All
October 19th, 2011
10:14 pm
Shawn was coming back commercial on Sunday and just trying to find out from Coach Franklin where to best go to Sunday School the next morning. Coach Grantham had to defend Shawn from the bad man though we’re still not sure why not wanting to ruin his perfect Sunday Schooll attendance record needed defending. Can you get shining armor in a size 50 extra stout?