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
Atticus
October 19th, 2011
3:34 pm
And separate of this, Richt needs to shut the —– up about “The Georgia Way”. He has NEVER clamped down on all the BS stuff that goes on, and has brought the FSU lack of discipline way to Athens. Separate of the Vandy game in which I don’t think much was wrong outside of high emotions by a stupid head coach and a unwise response from TG, there are too many players running their mouths and doing things on the football field that shouldn’t happen. Richt could end it quick but he never has and the players love him but they don’t fear him. Get it together Coach!
Gefilte Fish Schultz
October 19th, 2011
3:34 pm
By questioning why coaches were not suspended, Schultz is guilty of sticking up for players – just like his hero Todd Grantham.
5 Time National Champs Nebraska
October 19th, 2011
3:34 pm
loran
October 19th, 2011
3:33 pm
I have seen much worse than this during this season with no suspensions. What the hell is going on?
_________________________________________________________________________________
Examples?
rnb
October 19th, 2011
3:35 pm
Hey language you dumb a**. I did not go to Georgia but I give over $10,000 a year to the program. I can say we if I want.
doggoneit
October 19th, 2011
3:35 pm
HA! think that game left a bad taste. Wait until we play Florida. We Expect that! We want That! We love That! It wouldn’t be Georgia Florida without out that! If you Don’t understand that Jeff you need to find another profession!
bjohndawg
October 19th, 2011
3:35 pm
The SEC commissioners office is about as fair as a Ludowici speed trap!
Prototype Jacket
October 19th, 2011
3:35 pm
This is complete bullshït.
South Ga Dawg
October 19th, 2011
3:36 pm
5 Time…….Are you trying to say that Geathers wasnt justified?? The ref’s didnt throw the flag until Geathers retaliated. WTF??? Williams was penalized for his personal fouls. But being suspended for it?? Come on……Fairly never was suspended for all of his personal fouls last year. I’m just saying there is a different standard that UGA is held to when it comes to this stuff. “But damn” if some cheap shots are taken on the Ga players and our boys take offense to them. Is it a bad thing for our players to take up for themselves when the ref’s wont??
Matt
October 19th, 2011
3:36 pm
Sorry, but this entire situation has been blown out of proportion. Vanderbilt has always marked Georgia as the game to beat. They really want to beat Georgia. They came in pumped up and ready, and smack talking was everywhere. Why would Georgia players talk smack to Vandy? I mean, it’s VANDY! Secondly, if you look at the video, it’s obvious Franklin started the accusations on our players to Grantham. Coach G was simply defending his player, and I honor that. Not sure why the AJC and Jeff Shultz continues to write about this. Please stop.
Noles Rule
October 19th, 2011
3:36 pm
5 Time National Champs,
How about these two incidents from the MSU/MICH game?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cgtXXRRj9zE
MUCH worse than this incident
WELL DONE
October 19th, 2011
3:37 pm
Jeff, you deserve better than this kind of treatment. These people act like they want to beat you up. I wonder where that mentality comes from. lol
Red Neckerson
October 19th, 2011
3:39 pm
Boys, I think we have a rivalry here.
straitroad
October 19th, 2011
3:39 pm
Schultz, You don’t know football the same way I can’t explain what child birth feel like. It has to be experienced and not just from observation. I don’t think that you are a bad guy (not that you care), but how can you expect to be credible on the subject? It doesn’t matter, you’ve answered my question. I don’t expect you to out yourself, especially in an emotionally charged forum like this. My point about knowing the game is this: You have to experience the game to know what it’s like to be beat up physically and mentally. This particular game had a lot of elements to it, a young, very emotional Vandy coach trying to find an edge for his team. A game that went down to the wire, decided on the last play where both teams are still on edge when they cross the field to shake hands. Franklin was clearly upset about the loss and said some things to a player that instigated the whole ruckus. Only, your reporting started with what happened after Franklin’s actions and I think that’s where you made your error.
Dirty Dawg
October 19th, 2011
3:39 pm
I don’t believe, as t3 says, that McGarity isn’t a big supporter of Richt. Don’t know where that’s coming from cause I haven’t heard anything from him that would jeopardize Richt’s position. As for Richt having had enough of this crap, then I tend to agree, but not to quit, to deal with it. If Georgia’s DBs had been carpin’ all night at the Vandy bench, as was reported by Georgia-based recruits on the Vandy sidelines,,,if Williams was shootin’ his mouth off at the Vandy bench and head coach at the end of the game…and if Todd Grantham can’t act like ‘an adult’, and further, if he, Grantham, condones that kind of behavior from his players,..then that’s what Richt needs to fix. If after he rights the ship and wins the East, and beats Bama or LSU, he decides to quit, I certainly wouldn’t blame him. Who the hell needs to put up with the lizard-brained, peckerwoods that masquerade as Bulldog fans around here and regularly take shots at him that are not deserved?
You people know who the hell you are and the saddest, most disgusting thing about it, is your also proud of it…well idiocy doesn’t run in my family even if it does yours.
Ted M
October 19th, 2011
3:39 pm
Jeff – You should fire your agent because you should get a bonus for page clicks.
ARdawg
October 19th, 2011
3:40 pm
I see Franklin as the crux of it all. Maybe in the Big 10 you can talk crap to an opposing coach without any retaliation. Grantham would have been justified to dot an eye or two for him
SavannahDawg
October 19th, 2011
3:41 pm
Some of people commenting on this need to remember that Jeff Schultz, Mark Bradley, Bill King, and others are not supposed to propaganda mouthpieces for the University of Georgia or any of the teams and universities (Georgia Tech, Braves, etc.) within this state. Just because they write for a Georgia newspaper does NOT mean they are honor-bound to stick up for Georgia teams all the time. They are supposed to provide facts, and opinions based on facts, not the other way around. It’s not about what UGA and Vanderbilt did or didn’t do; it’s about principles, morals, and ethics. In this case, they are not so much as saying that UGA started the incident, but that UGA should have exercised self-restraint and sportsmanship, which would have been the respectful and honorable thing to do. Yes, football is an intensely emotional sport. However, as I’m sure most of us have been taught, two wrongs don’t make a right. Geathers should not have thrown that punch. Coach Franklin should not have been popping off at our players. Coach Grantham should not have gotten into Coach Franklin’s face. Whatever issues Coach Franklin had with our team should have been sorted out between him and Coach Richt after tempers had cooled down. For all of those who complain that Richt isn’t emotional, I’m pretty sure he got emotional in the locker room after that fracas. It was a good thing he kept calm on the field and was actually trying to cool the situation down by helping to separate players and coaches. But what if Richt himself lost his composure at that moment, and the situation escalated? We’d probably be talking about how Richt would be serving a suspension and paying a fine. But imagine if we did not react the way we did at all. Then we could accuse Vandy of being whiners, classless, and thuggish, while we could claim to rise above such nonsense. I have more respect for the man who exercises self-restraint in the face of adversity and ugliness than the man who loses composure and makes a bad situation worse. Having said that, the SEC should have given Vandy’s Logan Stewart a full game suspension since he started the situation with Geathers. That would have been more fair since Geathers’ punch was a reaction to a willful act which could have ended his career. Of course, it’s only fair that the suspensions ought to be charged to the next games of both teams, no matter who the opponent is. To have UGA’s suspension take effect after the Florida game would have been totally unethical if the same had not been done for Vandy. UGA should not emulate Ohio State, which was able to have their player’s suspensions charged to this seasons games, and not the Sugar Bowl back in January, only to have their wins vacated for the season, including the bowl victory. Treating the rules like a doormat and being ignorant of the facts will only get you so far in the short-run. Hopefully, the players and coaches can learn from this experience and move on. I do not like the outcome of this, either. I understand Mr. Geather’s and other people’s frustrations. But the simple fact is that we should not be condoning this behavior at UGA. Many of us take pains to teach children morals and ethics. Perhaps the “adults” should stand before a mirror and tell themselves that. But now, I’m ready to move on and beat Florida. GO DAWGS!!!
Language Teacher
October 19th, 2011
3:41 pm
rnb…$10,000 a year? UGA thanks you. But you’re still just a fan, and in this case, with a checkbook. I would categorize you as a ‘wannabe’ but my school appreciates the support. Any way you put it, you’re a Bulldog fan….not a ‘Bulldog.’
ramblingbuzz
October 19th, 2011
3:41 pm
Man, this thing’s gone viral.
Spurrier
October 19th, 2011
3:42 pm
Next year, my money is on Vandy. Bring your A game, dogs, or don’t show up.
dawgfan
October 19th, 2011
3:43 pm
Schultz, can you explain why the AJC never reported on the Georgia Tech offensive lineman that was ejected from the 2007 UGA-Tech game for a dirty block? Multiple blogs and stories have been devoted to Kwame’s supposed punch, but a Georgia Tech player getting ejected from a game was never even mentioned. You said you comment on the news. How was that not news? Can you explain why it took almost 2 years for the AJC to uncover an NCAA investigation of the saintly Yellow Jackets? Why did it take so long for the AJC to get wind of this?
I’m no conspiracy theorist. This isn’t a conspiracy. Its actually quite obvious. The AJC has a funny idea of what is “news” and what isn’t “news.”
Thanks.
5 Time National Champs Nebraska
October 19th, 2011
3:43 pm
South Ga Dawg
October 19th, 2011
3:36 pm
5 Time…….Are you trying to say that Geathers wasnt justified?? The ref’s didnt throw the flag until Geathers retaliated. WTF??? Williams was penalized for his personal fouls. But being suspended for it?? Come on……
———————————————————————————————————————————————–
That’s your logic? So for each time a player takes a cheap shot, he gets to return one? So if someone opens their car door on my Aston Martin, I get to punch them? Awesome!
You rednecks need to understand, it is not an eye for an eye. If Geathers would have walked away, he would be able to play a complete game. I blame the coaching staff for not getting the players to understand what sportsmanship is. As for guys like you, please stay home. I fear accidentitlly stepping on your foot may give me a black eye.
Born2Buzz
October 19th, 2011
3:44 pm
Wow Jeff, and all this time I thought you hated GT. At least that is what a lot of blog posters say whenever you write anything about GT.
Are you actually a UGA hater only or a equal opportunity hater.
Oh wait, that would imply that you hate on Florida and SC and Bama and….I’m sure after reading some of these post they feel you love those schools and only hate on UGA (or is it GT…now I’m confused).
My favorite part of all of this is the “they started it” 8th grade mentality of some of these “fans”.
I thought after last years “choke incident” that Grantham had a serious character flaw. Looks like he confirmed it. Richt has too much character for most of the UGA “fans”.
Bill Stanfill
October 19th, 2011
3:45 pm
The penalties for these players were reasonable. (What didn’t happen to Nick Fairly doesn’t bear going into. Dude has bad karma–the universe will take care of its business with him.)
Before the Vanderbilt game, Dawgs had only committed one personal foul violation. Let’s keep things in perspective.
How long are the SEC refs going to put up with Will Muschamp screaming in their faces and doing the vibrating-head thing? My FLA friends are admitting to being embarrassed by it.
Sack Schultz
October 19th, 2011
3:45 pm
“I wasn’t in Franklin’s press conference. Couldn’t get to both late at night and on deadline. Not sure if he has gone into specifics or not. Not sure it really matters.”
Did they teach you that in journalazy school? You write several articles the next week with a contrarian viewpoint but admit that you did not seek out both sides of this lightning rod story and insult readers by dismissing the importance of getting both sides to an argument. If you insist on defending your shoddy reporting, apply at TMZ, you certainly meet their standards.
robodawg
October 19th, 2011
3:45 pm
Jeff, your comments are appropriate. You’re right, players and coaches shouldn’t be acting this way.
I think what has people angry is the seemingly arbitrary way the SEC imposes these penalties. Clip a player or throw a punch and you’ll automatically be suspended is just not widely enforced. And they should be. Selective enforcement is just not fair.
Maybe the SEC is starting THIS WEEK to apply the same rules consistently to everyone. But I’ll believe it when I see it.
keepinitreal
October 19th, 2011
3:46 pm
Wow.
Someone from Nebraska just called us rednecks.
Spanky
October 19th, 2011
3:46 pm
Jeff, you got guts for your stance on this, knowing that panties will get into wads! LOL! I do, however, think Grantham was justified in his action..THIS TIME. Would you allow another guy to get in your kid’s face? Kids will talk trash, it’s part of football, and getting that mental edge! Franklin is in for a long rest-of-season if he can’t thicken his skin!
Other than that, have you heard anything on Ogletree coming back? Oh,…and Jeff, Don’t stop believin!!
Don Draper
October 19th, 2011
3:46 pm
Everyone who believes ‘5 Time’ has an Aston Martin raise your hand.
dawgs67
October 19th, 2011
3:47 pm
The majority of the comments about this latest Shultz article summarize the current ineptness of the UGA football program. Bottom line: We have an undisciplined team (offense, defense and special teams) which is a result of poor coaching. If fans believe this team is worthy of going to the SEC Championship, they are wearing blinders. The five consecutive wins are a result of playing five horrible teams that cannot get out of their own way. We have played 2 good teams and lost both games. I have watched every play of every game this year and we continue to gift wrap scoring opportunities for our opponents. I want to believe, but visual images on the ol’ flat screen do not lie.
It will be a long day for the Dawgs in the Gator Bowl.
True Dawg
October 19th, 2011
3:48 pm
Schultz you continue to prove your a hypocritic idiot!!!! What about the clip that could have easily ended Geathers career????? Jawing after a game aint ever hurt no one- C’mon Schultz you weak man!
JB
October 19th, 2011
3:48 pm
I would rather read a story on the concessions at Sanford Stadium than this. It’s high drama about nothing. And does Coach Franklin have a tough time with TSA when he fly’s?
IL Jacket
October 19th, 2011
3:48 pm
Congratulations to Coach Mark Richt. The more I see of this guy, the more there is to like. He does, however, seem to have lost some of his team and at least one coach.
JB
October 19th, 2011
3:50 pm
Let’s see some more blogs on Tech’s cheating ways and their 4 year probation. That’s what I’m talking about!!!!
Really?
October 19th, 2011
3:50 pm
I have NEVER seen a coach whine about a player after a game (period!) the way franklin is whining to Saint Richt AND THEN to another assistant coach. I hope S. Williams has thicker skin than franklin after being called a dumba** by his own coach – at least Grantham has his back!
FG
October 19th, 2011
3:50 pm
Run, Jeff, Run. lol
Troof
October 19th, 2011
3:51 pm
The more important question is this: In the picture Schultz has on this article Richt is not looking nearly as tan as he normally is. Is he ok? Has he been sick recently or something?
ThreeDawgKnight
October 19th, 2011
3:52 pm
Jeff:
Once again, I must disagree.
Your remarks about coach Grantham are now …
seeming hateful and personal.
You keep bringing up last years choke sign.
“Okay we get it, you think he’s boorish”
but let that drop. That happened, it’s over.
This is entirely different;
Franklin, who -was- grandstanding for recruits,
instigated this mess.
1st he lied when he said he was looking for Coach Richt,
then found an asst coach, he knew who Grantham was.
He sought out Grantham purposely and antagonized him,
hoping for a show and got one.
Where’s the tape of what Franklin initially said to Grantham?
Jeff, I disagree with you both ernestly and obstreperously.
I am so very upset with the harsh criticism Coach Grantham
is receiving over this. I think our society has gone too far
in trying to be politically correct.
This was a football field, after a game, two grown men;
we don’t know the exact words spoken by both men.
We do know that the rent-a-cop exacerbated the situation
by attempting to manhandle Coach Grantham.
*[the only physical contact]
Honestly Jeff, I think you owe Todd Grantham an apology,
as does Coach Richt for seemingly -NOT- backing
his coach nor his players, while referring to them in a
churlish manner. (very un-Richt like)
Really – which was worse ? Grantham, Franklin, or Richt ?
Sincerely & well mannered,
TDK
Dawgs are good at one thing
October 19th, 2011
3:52 pm
JAWJA BULLDAWGS: 2010 FULMER CUP NASHNUL CHAMPEENS!!!
Bill Stanfill
October 19th, 2011
3:52 pm
I want a Will Muschamp bobble-head doll.
Troof
October 19th, 2011
3:53 pm
Spanky, are they red panties that will be in a bunch? We all remember where that got UGA last time!
Dumbfounded
October 19th, 2011
3:53 pm
Hey Schultz, why not ask the SEC why punishment for players is not consistent throughout the league? You would think the “hometown” newspaper would actually do some research in favor of UGA instead of against it.
ramblingbuzz
October 19th, 2011
3:54 pm
Miami senior defensive tackle Micanor Regis has been suspended for Saturday’s game against Georgia Tech (No. 22 BCS, No. 20 AP) after he punched a North Carolina player in the groin last weekend, the school announced Wednesday.
“Micanor’s actions in the North Carolina game will not be tolerated,” first-year coach Al Golden said in a statement. “We expect our players to represent our program with class on and off the field, and when they do not, there are consequences. Quite honestly I’m embarrassed and I just apologized to Coach [Everett] Withers and shared that sentiment.
DAWG with two bags over his head
October 19th, 2011
3:54 pm
Jeff,
You couldn’t move on like MB did. You gotta keep sticking it to us. Why don’t you and CPJ move to Hawaii and make it offical. Lazy journalism at its best.
Peter
October 19th, 2011
3:55 pm
Poor richt. Dumba$$ players and a dumba$$ coordinator.
JaxDawg
October 19th, 2011
3:55 pm
Shultz you make me sick! This article is a truck load of Bull Crap! I can’t stand your articles anymore go and watch the video clip that Chip posted. Franklin needs to shut his mouth and play ball. Grantham should be mad on what happen to his player. Geathers is a victim.
ramblingbuzz
October 19th, 2011
3:56 pm
Miami senior defensive tackle Micanor Regis has been suspended for Saturday’s game against Georgia Tech (No. 22 BCS, No. 20 AP) after he punched a North Carolina player in the groin last weekend, the school announced Wednesday.
ACC blog
ESPN.com’s Heather Dinich writes about all things ACC in the conference blog.
• Blog network:
College Football Nation
“Micanor’s actions in the North Carolina game will not be tolerated,” first-year coach Al Golden said in a statement. “We expect our players to represent our program with class on and off the field, and when they do not, there are consequences. Quite honestly I’m embarrassed and I just apologized to Coach [Everett] Withers and shared that sentiment.
Mildly Amused
October 19th, 2011
3:56 pm
Q: What’s funnier than CMR calling his player a dumb@zz on the Nashville Evening News?
A: Todd Grantham.
HA! HA! HA! HA! HA! HA! HA! HA! HA! HA! HA! HA! HA! HA! HA! HA!
Phillip Fulmer Is Laughing his butt off!
October 19th, 2011
3:57 pm
Wow….Richt calling his players DUMBA**’s to Vanderbilt Coaches and that their conduct Was HorseSh**…..What a surprise from such a holy man and Awesome Christian! I wonder if he talks that way to his personal lord and savior Jesus Christ??
Liz
October 19th, 2011
3:57 pm
Why is averyone so suprised about these suspensions? The UGA football team has always played dirty, always. The officials let calls slide in every single game. Are you all suprised that they got called on the carpet for playing dirty or just figured that them dirty dawgs should get away with their actions & did not this time? The coaches aren’t doing anything to curb this behavior on or off the field so the SEC “finally” stepped it. GOOD for the SEC – finally punishing rotten behavior. Oh FYI punching another player in the ribs/kidney area is not in any legal NCAA play book!