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
Jeff Schultz
October 19th, 2011
2:38 pm
Oh, and one more thing: Be forewarned that I’m banning for profanity.
moops
October 19th, 2011
2:39 pm
I love how Schultz assumes from the video clip that Williams was the instigator. No one will ever know. WIth that logic, I can say, from the video clip, a grown adult and head coach at a major university was the instigator and went after a student athlete. However, one opinion does more to rile up the readers than the other, so go with that one.
To call the SEC office whining about why coaches didn’t get fined or suspended is ridiculous. Are you sad that you have to throw away the article you wrote about how Granthan deserved to be suspended and fined , and how you were right? Waaah.
I wish this never happened, but it did. What the player did to Kwame was dangerous and deserved more than 1/2 game. Kwame was just retaliating. (And to be fair, Ben Jones deserved more than a 1/2 when he did it a few years back) I guess its ok to gouge at someones eyes (*cough* brandon spikes *cough*), but retaliating after someone tries to ruin your knee is a no-no. Ridiculous.
And for the record, neither Grantham or Franklin deserved to be suspended. Public reprimand, sure. Grantham was sticking up for his players, and I for one commend him for that.
SEC Fan
October 19th, 2011
2:39 pm
Jeff, where was your outcry last year after the Auburn game when Aaron Murray was beaten up BADLY by Nick Fairley?
Dean Tate
October 19th, 2011
2:39 pm
Also wondering why Franklin was not penalized or punished for charging onto the field after the Geathers incident.
From NCAA rulebook Rule 9-2:
b. Other prohibited acts include:
1. During the game, coaches, substitutes and authorized attendants in
the team area shall not be on the field of play or outside the 25-yard
lines without permission from the referee unless legally entering or
leaving the field.
PENALTY—Dead-ball foul. 15 yards [S7 and S27] from the succeeding
spot. Flagrant offenders, if players or substitutes, shall be
disqualified [S47].
Dawg gone Clayco
October 19th, 2011
2:40 pm
I agree randy ray, Richt could have stood up for his player.
P.S Vandy coach was being @$$, getting upset over a player taunting them. In the words of ESPN’S Tom Jacson “Come on Man”!!!
td
October 19th, 2011
2:41 pm
Jeff Schultz
October 19th, 2011
2:26 pm
No Jeff we choose not to go somewhere else. We choose to call you out every time in hopes that your boss might read and find out how biased you are against UGA and reprimand or fine you.
Will you post my comment?
Jeff Schultz
October 19th, 2011
2:42 pm
GregJ — I’ve never written Mark Richt should be fired. Fact is, I wrote that he should be brought back this year, which upset half (the other half) of the fanbase. So your research is a little off.
WKH
October 19th, 2011
2:42 pm
Next slide please!
Abnerish
October 19th, 2011
2:42 pm
Is there a video link to Shawn Williams’ flagrant foul? I honestly don’t remember it. Couldn’t have been that bad.
AL Dawg
October 19th, 2011
2:42 pm
and maybe banning intelligent comment as well?
you really seem to have become a negative nelly when it comes to UGA, never good enough, never “nice” enough, your comments about lies and “click somewhere else” seem sorta like the behavior of our DC. kinda “take your ball and go home”!
Gefilte Fish Schultz
October 19th, 2011
2:43 pm
Gefilte Fish Schultz and his *****y reporting strikes again! At least we all know that the SEC answers to the AJC and their dead horse-beating articles.
Calhoundawg
October 19th, 2011
2:43 pm
Wow, we’re getting closer! Just exactly why, Jeff, do you believe James Franklin should receive a “reprimand”? And while I’m wasting my time here on this site again, why haven’t you said as much from the beginning instead of grandstanding on Grantham’s behavior? I still waiting ……………..
Dawg gone Clayco
October 19th, 2011
2:44 pm
Sorry about the profanity, didn’t read you comment about. Sorry Shultz.
Lame Kitten
October 19th, 2011
2:44 pm
I thought I was the only that could stir the pot. Nice job Coach Franklin. Any publicity is good publicity and you’ll put Vanderbilt on the map just like I did for the University of Tennessee.
george
October 19th, 2011
2:45 pm
what a damn joke. What does this assclown have to do to get suspended. About damn time some players got suspended though. It only took 3 fights/skirmishes (including one that involved 32 players and coaches) for this to happen. Could the Uga program be any more of a classless joke from top to bottom??
Kool Aid
October 19th, 2011
2:45 pm
bwahahahaha, is this who Richt is calling a dumb $hit on that transcript? Does number 36 know that or even better his parents?
Shawn Williams
Career Highs: 7 tackles (3x), last at Tennessee in 2011
2011: Appeared in seven games making seven starts.
*Recorded six tackles, an interception and three pass break-ups at Vanderbilt.
*Tied career-high with seven tackles and a pass break-up at Tennessee.
*Recorded five tackles, an interception, and a forced fumble vs. Mississippi State.
*Had three tackles, including one for a loss, at Ole Miss.
*Had three tackles, including one for a loss, vs. Coastal Carolina.
*Recorded six tackles vs. No. 12 South Carolina.
*Recorded four tackles vs. No. 5 Boise State.
*Earned one of team’s True Grit Award for defense at conclusion of spring practice.
*Recorded three tackles, defended a pass and forced a fumble in spring G-Day game.
*Recipient of the Milton “Red” Leathers Football Scholarship.
If you fined the coaches for their actions, it would stop dead in its tracks. End of it. Any of you geniuses in the SEC or NCAA ever think of that? Of course not.
Calhoundawg
October 19th, 2011
2:45 pm
“I’m”, dang it! This cold weather’s got my arthitis acting up. God Bless Coach Richt AND Coach Grantham. James Franklin needs to coach high school ball. Go Dawgs !!!
S
October 19th, 2011
2:45 pm
The five hundred thousand dollar paycheck for Todd Grantham seems excessive.
Vain Jangling
October 19th, 2011
2:46 pm
Schultz, after reading these posts, I’m pretty mixed up. You’re either a damnable liar, worthless and weak, or you’re a prophetic sage with Pulitzer insight. Schizophrenic? You’re bleeding quadrophrenic! [No charge for The Who reference]
Uuuuuugh...
October 19th, 2011
2:46 pm
@td
I hate to say it but your…ummm…protests (?) are having the opposite affect on JS’s boss. They probably look at the # of people clicking on the article (you count for +1 at least) and the # of people commenting (again +1).
You see the AJC sells ad space that is valued based on the amount of interest a particular writer is expected to generate with a post.
Your protest is lmost as well thought out as Occupy Wall Street. Good Show!
rally
October 19th, 2011
2:46 pm
Ladies and Gentlemen of America, witness the responses to this issue that come from inhabitants of the armpit of the USA: Georgia. Now you understand what everyone else in the SEC has to withstand. Bad puppies.
Fleming Island Dawg
October 19th, 2011
2:47 pm
Does anybody remember which penalty Shawn got busted for? The one where the Vandy player punched first or when he hit the receiver in the back, not head or neck area, when from behind it appeared he may have caught the pass?
Almix77
October 19th, 2011
2:47 pm
The SEC definitely should have at least reprimanded both coaches… no doubt… and emphasis on BOTH. Most media have been giving Franklin and Vandy a pass on this. In reality they were in the trash can with us. The little thumbs up the OL gives his sideline after the incident with Geathers and Franklin pumping his boys up (as seen in the video) shows that.
Kool Aid
October 19th, 2011
2:48 pm
now the “non story” has just blossomed into a nightmare. What will Shawn Williams and better yet his family think of Richt calling him a “Dumb $hit” bwhahahahahahahahahahahaa
Cdpridg
October 19th, 2011
2:48 pm
We have not heard yet why Franklin should be reprimanded…..a slanted side about why Grantham isnthe worst human being walking the earth…..lol this is all childish….when you write articles it has to be factual first off….and then fair and balanced based upon the facts. Not what your personal feelings are of the coach…not that you don’t like how he answers your questions or if he will answer questions.
td
October 19th, 2011
2:49 pm
Jeff Schultz
October 19th, 2011
2:37 pm
I will respond. It is a shame that the flagship University in the state of Georgia does not have the same support from the major paper in the state as the other universities in the SEC. If this would have happened at UAT or UTK the paper would have wrote front page stories defend CTG and the players actions (Due to cheap shots) and demanding the SEC not take any action (See Farley last year). Our major news paper allows their sports reporters do several negative stories about the university and place all the blame on the university. How sad.
kappellmeister
October 19th, 2011
2:49 pm
Haha, Schultzie – these jerks on here finally got you fired up today. Love it! I think you should ban people that merely take personal shots at you, too! And I agree – after reading some of these blogs it is no wonder the rest of the country thinks we r just a bunch of dumb rednecks.
Confused UGA Fan
October 19th, 2011
2:49 pm
Is our media so out of control that it can’t report on facts! It is obvious that this game got out of control because the Ref’s closed there eyes to what was happening and it began to snowball. Anyone who has ever played competitive sports surely understands that after a while you cannot continue to turn your cheek because they soon will both hurt, so you fight back. Interesting concept to stand up for yourself and your players on both sides. Really are we just to accept Franklin’s report because his ranting and crying was not as in your face as Granthom’s. It would be like a youth baseball coach going after a kid on the field. Would society accept this! I don’t think so but the angelic coach from Vandy gets a free pass i guess. Let’s put it all on the Dawgs that’s the easy way out forget the fact that after taking out Kwame the shameless center for Vandy gave the thumbs up sign to the sidelines! Question we all should be asking is was he told to do this??? Hmmmmn!
Glg
October 19th, 2011
2:49 pm
SLOW news week? Can we move on now!!!!!
Fleming Island Dawg
October 19th, 2011
2:50 pm
Obviously a fake video or at least canned audio because Richt would never use that kind of language.
Kool Aid
October 19th, 2011
2:51 pm
ok now Mark Bradley has a new idea for a story to write about Richt using profanity, OMG, does Guatemala know that? Or his Bible Study group? WWJD?
And calling his player a DUMB $hit.
The only thing Bradley has to find a way to get Paul Johnson involved in this inbred cr@p to make it look like it is an instate thing.
atlien052
October 19th, 2011
2:51 pm
Schultz – Love the way you are going after those who comment about your writing. You’re writing and encouraging the comments and then take offense when people are provocative towards you. Sounds more “bush league” than that Vandy player’s cheap shot on Geathers. If you can’t handle to chat, turn it off. Better yet, quit writing for the AJC.
kappellmeister
October 19th, 2011
2:52 pm
And why must CMR have been CALLING him a dumb $hit? Couldn’t he have just been inferring it was all a bunch of dumb $hit???
Abnerish
October 19th, 2011
2:53 pm
Two things about that video:
1) Richt was obviously trying to diffuse the situation by “agreeing” with Coach Franklin. He knkew the right thing to do was to just let Franklin whine and say whatever it took for him to calm down.
2) Coach Franklin is the biggest freaking crybaby I’ve ever seen! “#36 came up to me and made me feel bad…WAAAA…WAAAAA…” Coach Richt was right in saying that was horse sh$#. Franklin getting all bent out of shape over that is what is horse sh$#. The game ended on the last play of the game and Shawn Williams was excited that we won and may have taunted the Vandy sideline a little bit (don’t really know…haven’t seen that video yet). C’mon, really? Coach Franklin is the one who overreacted here.
Troof
October 19th, 2011
2:53 pm
Yada yada yada. Can we get past this non-story and every other “story” involving UGA? Let’s discuss things relevant to the SEC as the best conference in football. How badly does Bama beat UT this weekend? Is Trent Richardson having a better year then Mark Ingram’s Heisman year?
When UGA becomes a decent program with some actual discipline on and off the football field then perhaps they should be deemed news worthy again. So in other words don’t hold your breath.
31 YEARS AND COUNTING DAWG FANS SINCE YOUR LAST NATIONAL TITLE!!
RTR!
Live Free or Die
October 19th, 2011
2:54 pm
The SEC followed the Rule Book and all these people start blaming Jeff Schultz.
Jeff Schultz
October 19th, 2011
2:55 pm
Vain Jangling — “Schultz, after reading these posts, I’m pretty mixed up. You’re either a damnable liar, worthless and weak, or you’re a prophetic sage with Pulitzer insight. Schizophrenic? You’re bleeding quadrophrenic! [No charge for The Who reference]”
I could be either, depending on whether you agree or disagree with me. Funny how it works that way.
WHOOOOO. Are youuu ……??? (Love those guys.)
Troof
October 19th, 2011
2:55 pm
And I must say I was shocked Richt actually cursed. Are his players influencing him? I thought the coach was supposed to shape his players’ attitude and actions, not the other way around?
Interesting……..
Nick Saban would be proud of his salty language but he doesn’t have time to watch the video.
Kissinger
October 19th, 2011
2:56 pm
Geathers would have been justified in ripping the guy’s head completely off. Clip was one of the dirtiest plays I’ve seen in college football.
Jeff Schultz
October 19th, 2011
2:56 pm
Uuuuuuugh — I cracked up the other day. A reader actually commented on a blog that I get a bonus for page clicks. G_d, I wish that were true. If you think I’m obnoxious now . . .
Ginger
October 19th, 2011
2:56 pm
Jeff—-I did agree that Grantham did not handle things properly….But Franklin did not either.
Franklin should not have talked with Grantham at that time…..Franklin and Richt should have talked when minds were cool and clear. Not on the field in front of the players…And Franklin approached Grantham mad—-Approach someone mad and you may get a mad reaction.
Question—-was Grantham defending Williams, Kwame or both ?
I think Grantham has a legit right to be made about the Vandy center going for Kwame knee….Could have been career ending for Kwame….Kwame could not defend himself—hit was from behind at 13:09 in 3rd Q….film clearly shows Kwame defenseless…….so in my view Kwame has to turn around and defend himself—-he has to let Vandy center know he is not going to take it and Vandy center may do it again…….If Grantham was upset about Vandy center and defending Kwame—even though it was the wrong place and time to do it….I can understand it….Going for Knees is inexcusable.
Almix77
October 19th, 2011
2:57 pm
Jeff,
Are you really shocked that you tick people off… it has to be more than half the reason you write what you write. It gets you clicks and page views… If you didn’t want to do that, you would have written at least something about Vandy… but that wouldn’t make for as interesting of a read. So, essentially you’re an escalator… Wait, you’re Todd Grantham!
Fleming Island Dawg
October 19th, 2011
2:57 pm
Troof, this is a GA vent go talk about those teams somewhere else. Usually if you are on a blog at the end of an article you respond to that article. Would seem stupid to talk about something else. Thought you might need to be educated on how this works.
Jeff Schultz
October 19th, 2011
2:58 pm
TD — Any media outlet that acts as a cheering section for anybody, any entity or any team is not doing its job. That’s in the domain of public relations people.
SenoiaDawgs
October 19th, 2011
2:58 pm
Richt calling his his own to another coach a dumbSh!t out to get him fired even if he Wins the East and pulls of the truly unthinkable of beating Bama or LSU going to Sugar and whipping Boise the second time around. That’s how serious of an offense I think that is. Never again will coach CMR have my support.
I still say CTG is a Damn Good Dawg!!!
Jeff Schultz
October 19th, 2011
2:59 pm
Kappellmeister — No, I never ban for people who take personal shots. That’s half my audience!
Calhoundawg
October 19th, 2011
3:00 pm
Seriously, Jeff, people are ragging on you for a reason. You write this one-sided, biased junk about our coach and program and then sit back like you’ve gotten your feelings hurt. How many times do you have to hear the same thing before you start to pay attention? I’m not going to let you off the hook.I’m going keep brining this up for as long as it takes for you to respond. I’ll use every pseudonym and e-mail address I have to until they shut down this site. For the last time, answer my question. Why didn’t/haven’t you addressed James Franklin’s role in this incident?
Noles Rule
October 19th, 2011
3:00 pm
Schultz, why don’t you bother asking the SEC why Bostic of Florida wasn’t suspended for his punch several weeks ago. The AJC blew this whole non-story up and forced the SEC’s hand, that’s why! The media in Florida takes care of the Gators, that’s why we don’t hear about any of their arrests until weeks later (hence the underage drinking arrest revealed just today, 3 weeks after the incident).
Jeff Schultz
October 19th, 2011
3:00 pm
Kool Aid — Sorry, I’ll only comment on what I write, not what Mark writes.
Spanky
October 19th, 2011
3:00 pm
Jeff, do you not agree that it is a slippery slope when it comes to allowing the opposing coach to get in your kid’s grill? Both sides were jawing back and forth,…it’s football, it happens! I prrrromise you, sir, when that coach yells in my kid’s face, I WILL let him know forthwith, that is not acceptable! Franklin knew better!