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
Follow me on Twitter (@JeffSchultzAJC). Friend me on Facebook (Facebook.com/JeffSchultzAJC).
Tell us what you think about the site
Customer Care »
Vacation stops, manage subscriptions and more
AJC Services
Sections
Other Editions
Visitor Agreement | Privacy Statement
© 2013 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
724 comments Add your comment
Born2Buzz
October 19th, 2011
4:40 pm
Jeff, you have officially made it…there is a fire Jeff Schultz website. And Harvey Updike is promoting it!!
Sweet.
Calhoundawg
October 19th, 2011
4:41 pm
What are you doing today, Jeff, bowling? Answer my question. You’re only making things hard on yourself.
#36
October 19th, 2011
4:42 pm
Who called me a what?
meh
October 19th, 2011
4:42 pm
first of all Richt shouldn’t be callign his player a dumb a$$. secondly I don’t count this a strike on Grantham. He’s still at one strike in my book. thirdly there’s no need to punich a couple of coaches for yelling at each other. if they had thrown punches then yeah, but not for yelling at each other. fourthly, you’re a turd Schultz.
meh
October 19th, 2011
4:42 pm
and fifthly, I can’t type
Born2Buzz
October 19th, 2011
4:43 pm
And for the record, the hit on Geathers was a cheap shot and he can be excused for his actions. Although the smarter thing to do would be to get the cheap shot artist in the middle of another play and, as they say, “give him the business” under the pile where he wouldn’t have been flagged.
Choke
October 19th, 2011
4:43 pm
Jeff, who do you think you are to be issuing strikes? You are a complete joke, and nobody in the UGA athletic dept. cares about your opinion. You only want public reprimands, as opposed to handling it in-house, because it gives you more fodder to write 3 more lazy columns on. The unwarranted sense of self-importance that you seem to feel is astounding. You just want to continue stirring stuff up rather than letting it die.
VANDY PLAYED DIRTY
October 19th, 2011
4:45 pm
FIRE SLI VE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!COACH RICHT YOU KNOW VANDY PLAYED DIRTY DON’T HUG AND KISS THEVANDY COACHES TAIL!WATCH THE FILMS DANG IT!
Really?
October 19th, 2011
4:45 pm
Franklin: “That’s NOT how my guys do it!”
***
Yeah, we know how you roll, Coach. You encourage dirty play and try to end a guy’s season or career with cheap shots … then have the player giving thumbs up to an encouraging member of your staff on the sideline.
Yep, you’re right, Franklin. A little trash talk after the game is NOT how you do it. It’s with far less class that you do things.
AJC Alert!!!!
October 19th, 2011
4:46 pm
Jeff, you really think that most of these knuckle heads are UGA fans? Funny you actually believe that.
NOT SURE WHY YOU WRITE FOR THE LOCAL GA SPORTS WITH YOUR CONDESENDING DISPOSITION!
Tree Whisperer
October 19th, 2011
4:46 pm
The dying wish of all the pulp wood trees in south Georgia is that they don’t get made into newsprint, shipped to Atlanta, and then used to print a Jeff Schultz article. It is an embarassing way for them to die
Choke
October 19th, 2011
4:46 pm
Now, go ahead and “moderate” my comments. That’s this paper’s practice isn’t it? If you criticize the writer of this rubbish, your post gets deleted.
Tree Whisperer
October 19th, 2011
4:47 pm
Jeff,
Go back to SoCal. Delta is ready when you are
Bama in Atlanta
October 19th, 2011
4:47 pm
Wow, I haven’t seen a fanbase this polarized in quite awhile. There’s been plenty said on both sides so my two cents isn’t worth mentioning; however, this is probably not having a good net affect on recruiting. The UGA/FL game can’t get here fast enough to stave off some of the damage being done. I wouldn’t blame McGarity for hiring a good PR firm at this point.
VANDY PLAYED DIRTY
October 19th, 2011
4:47 pm
FRANKILN YOUR A FAKE! A WORTHLESS NOBODY! BOBBY JOHNSON WAS CLASS YOU ARE NOTHING!
Delta
October 19th, 2011
4:48 pm
Jeff, We are ready when you are
DID YOU SEE THAT
October 19th, 2011
4:49 pm
Did you see the THUMBS UP that the center for vanderbilt gave to the bench after he clipped Geathers. Might be one of the dirtiest things ive ever seen.
ToccoaBird
October 19th, 2011
4:49 pm
I suggest real dog fans start using http://dogbytesonline.com to comment. The AJC has proven time and time again of their bias. enough is enough
AU Fan
October 19th, 2011
4:49 pm
@ Herman…GUARANTEE that UGA will not lose THIS Saturday; check the schedule bubba.
Delta
October 19th, 2011
4:49 pm
Last boarding call for Schultz…..Jeff Schultz please report to your gate
Geoff Shults
October 19th, 2011
4:49 pm
It is me you should be mad at!
Steve
October 19th, 2011
4:51 pm
Jeff is your college football pick’em site down?
Delta
October 19th, 2011
4:51 pm
If you want to issue a second strike to Grantham, I’ll go ahead and issue you strike number three since this is the third (or maybe fourth) article that you written this week on this event. Everyone is tired of you beating a dead horse on this (non)issue. Three Stirkes and urrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr outtttttttttttttttttt
john from catfish farm in starkville
October 19th, 2011
4:52 pm
maybe if vandy guys would stop chop blocking UGA players wouldnt talk trash after a win.
whats wrong with talking trash fater win, is UGA the only team that does this in the ncaa’s…wow, I do dnot know that.
Cheatin Gene
October 19th, 2011
4:52 pm
Outkasted, 08fx4 — It’s called commenting on the news. That’s my job. You don’t like it? Click elsewhere.
Mr. Shultz, I have clicked elsewhere, I no longer subscribe to the AJC and intend to keep it that way.
Your biased opinion grates on everything Georgia, or as you say “UGA. Do your self a favor and find another job, if this area is so wrong.
Wood (UGA, 73)
LakeDawg
October 19th, 2011
4:54 pm
CMR was right. #36 was a dumb*** and Grantham’s actions were horse****. The only positive I got from the Vandy game was CMR’s demeaner in the locker room after the game. He was not happy. 1st time I’ve heard him give anything but banal responses after a game. It gave me hope that he wasn’t going to once again allow UGA to regress into a bunch of trash talking, primping losers. I hope he can do it.
David
October 19th, 2011
4:54 pm
Schultz . . . you are such a douche. What really makes it worse is that you can’t write worth a damn either.
Jeffery the Clown
October 19th, 2011
4:54 pm
Really? Your transcript is off dude! It is made up fuggin garbage! You and that Bradley clown should have 1mil strikes against you at this point. Handing out strikes like you are the fing chess master! DBAG
Funny how shallow you are not to point out the many P fouls in this game that never get sent to the league. You would think for one min. you take UGA’s side and win some cool points from you reader. No you have to continue to kick when down. Well guess what YOU HAVE LOST MANY FANS WITH THIS STORY~!!!!!!!!!!!!
hey Bama in Atl.....
October 19th, 2011
4:55 pm
lord knows Bama has needed PR firms for all kinds of things in the past, thanks for the advice.
Geoff Shults
October 19th, 2011
4:55 pm
And another thing, Tech is a better program!
TampaGator
October 19th, 2011
4:55 pm
I will guarantee you that neither Florida or Georgia will lose to each other this weekend…..and that Muschamp will not use profanities to address an incompetent ref or Grantham will not give a choke sign or try to attack Muschamp after the game….GUARANTEED. Also….Williams and Geathers will have to sit out the entire game this weekend, not just a half. GUARANTEED. Also…who knows who will win when Georgia and Florida play their football games the following weekend…or what Muschamp or Grantham will do…..but we know this…..Richt knows when he will be playing Florida…..he better.
Geoff Shults
October 19th, 2011
4:56 pm
How do you anger a UGA fan?
Tell the truth.
gator hater
October 19th, 2011
4:58 pm
Shultz who cares what you think, that is the reason the SEC will not respond to you with any further comments. Can you find something with some fact matter to report on and quit giving your useless opinions on a subject that has been blown way out of proportion.
BeeBoppa LuLu
October 19th, 2011
4:59 pm
Trash talking thugs is all UGA is. Ill bred little punks. I knew it wasn’t just Franklin.
Sack Schultz
October 19th, 2011
4:59 pm
Q: What do you call someone who is arrogent and biased, wears a blazer, wears nerd glasses, needs to move back so SoCal where he came from, and can’t write a article on football to save his life?
A: Jeff Schultz
5 Time National Champs Nebraska
October 19th, 2011
4:59 pm
Are you UGA fans always this delusional and unreasonable?
I’m still at a loss as to why you are so upset.
Redneck Bill from Trailerville
October 19th, 2011
4:59 pm
Seems to me we need a knock-down, drag-out at the end of every game. Including the fans and coaches.
And no suspensions! All game long the hate has been building. It’s just natural that people need a way to get the anger out. We can have first-aid stations and all that to make sure nobody gets killed.
It’s the only way to end a football game. Heck with this sportsmanship bunk. We say it, but we don’t really mean it.Do you really go to a football game thinking about what good sportsmanship you expect to see? Heck no! You want your team to kill the other team! You want to see opponents writhing on the field in pain. You want to see players loaded onto that cart or into an ambulance. So let’s let it all hang out. This is UGA, not a bunch of wimps.
I got first dibs on Schultz.
TampaGator
October 19th, 2011
5:00 pm
Cheatin Gene….
Hardly anyone subscribes to a newspaper anymore…..wow! You told Jeff, didn’t you. But you sure hit his blog…..so he must be doing a good job and that is why the AJC has him writing for them….to get you and me to hit his blog so they don’t go completely out of business and good writers like Jeff keep their jobs. So, thanks, for the visit. I am sure Jeff appreciates the hit, if not the hitter.
Soulgaboi
October 19th, 2011
5:02 pm
Ima quit postin here cause I ain’t herin what I wanna here.
Isaiah C.
October 19th, 2011
5:03 pm
Hey! My smoking buddies at LSU got suspended after a drug test! Glad they don’t test me at UGA. They never did in Columbus.
savannahdawg
October 19th, 2011
5:03 pm
Seriously, enough of this drama queen crap. It’s football people…………….FOOTBALL!!! Stuff happens every game. Players talk crap, coaches talk crap also. Players take cheap shots and the other players react. Sometimes pushing and shoving breaks out. Happens every game, high school, college, the pros. It happens! Is it right? No. You want good sportsmanship and a good clean game. But it is football. Stuff will happen.
Stop defending Vanderbuilt and bashing Georgia. Stop the damn drama.
TampaGator
October 19th, 2011
5:04 pm
Heck….why didn’t they go smoke a joint before the Florida game. At least the final score would have been closer….maybe.
A person SMART enough to know......
October 19th, 2011
5:05 pm
UGA is a town run by LEEBURN and parents REALLY want their Daughter to go to the #1 party College? STUPID parents……………read and learn why your daughter has a 68% chance of getting date/acquaintance raped while she is UNDERAGE drunk at college in Athens. There are not Enough people of LEGAL drinkinage to support all the Alcohol sales in Athens……………..As UGA students and football fans can tell you, Athens has one of the highest per-capita bar populations in the nation. There are more than 200 businesses in the small downtown area and almost half of them have licenses to serve alcohol, officials estimate.
More Atlanta area news »
Economy takes toll on pets, too
DeKalb eyes cutting garbage pickup to weekly
Wind, big temp drops
Man speeding wife to hospital is ticketed
Search: Georgia voters guide
But a move to put a limit on them has apparently hit a dead end.
Mayor Nancy Denson had requested that a committee of the Athens-Clarke County Commission consider capping the number of bars in the downtown area, according to the Athens Banner-Herald.
The committee considered a number of data, including crime and revenues, and voted unanimously Tuesday against a cap, the Banner-Herald reported.
Commissioner George Maxwell noted that the nightspots have made downtown Athens a thriving tourist destination.
rally
October 19th, 2011
5:08 pm
Nothing for the AJC having to worry about regarding subscription cancellations. Most Mutt fans do not know how to read anyway. They just know how to present the demeanor of a redneck thug.
That's funny
October 19th, 2011
5:09 pm
“Expects them to behave with class?” What level of class? They certainly behaved with LOW class. You can’t have those expectations without discipline, which is has been missing there for quite some time. “All this was brought on by poor officiating.” Yeah, somebody else is always the problem. There is NO EXCUSE on either side for that kind of revolting stupidity. You always have a choice in how you react to an unfair situation (whether or not it is unfair), and if you choose to react by fighting, then you are responsible. Not the refs. Not the other guys. You.
UGANSFLA
October 19th, 2011
5:18 pm
Jeff Schultz is Horse****Horse****! Case closed, what else do you have to write about Jef, you JO.
IBDawgfan82
October 19th, 2011
5:18 pm
Schultz, I hope you are sued for libel for putting this “transcript” out there. Anyone who watches it objectively cannot say that Richt definitively called Shawn Williams a derogratory term, and certainly not without being able to see Richt’s mouth. I think it would more appropriately be considered unintelligible, and to me it sounds more like “he shouldn’t have done that.” But good job Schultz of trying to not have any liability by just passing along what the Nashville news said. I hope they find a way to sue you and them. At worst it is libelous, at best it is inappropriate and unprofessional journalism…just what I have come to expect from you and the AJC. You have had it out for Richt ever since he made you look like the child you are in that press conference years ago, and you hardly even make an attempt to mask your disdain for our coach and program.
Boobie Bowden
October 19th, 2011
5:18 pm
Intelligent Georgia fan? The ultimate oxy-moron.
Highlands
October 19th, 2011
5:19 pm
Love how everyone keeps piling up on UGA while Vandy gets a free pass. I dare you to try to find a bigger, more blatant cheap shot than the knee hunt by Stewart. Glad our coach isn’t a little crybaby b*tch like James Franklin. I guess CJF will get more better at losing, though…he’ll have lots of practice.
By the way, I certainly hoe that those brave Vandy lads who painted “UGA INBREDS” on their chests in the stands have the character and fortitude to do that next year in Athens.
Terry
October 19th, 2011
5:19 pm
A person SMART enough to know…… , Just to let you know, your not very smart, I looked at the first line, and passed on the rest.