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
Paul Midler
October 19th, 2011
6:00 pm
1st. I will tell you again. learn to write. Do you proof read what you post Jeff. 2nd. There was not going to be any actions against the coach or they would be calling many other coaches out for the same thing. Now…..move on.
GT
October 19th, 2011
6:00 pm
Guys in high school would get kicked out of games for fighting and then be afraid to take a shower thinking the other guy was coming in the locker room after him. Wonder if any of this every spills over to these SEC fuctions for coaches, its got to.
Bob
October 19th, 2011
6:02 pm
Hey “count”…I don’t think you have too long to wait. Grantham will be gone, along with Richt, after this season. Even McGarity has seen how pathetic we’ve become.
1eyedJack
October 19th, 2011
6:03 pm
What should have been said:
Franklin: “36 comes up, after a tough game, talking **** to me!
Richt: “What’s your point?”
Franklin: “Rubbing our face in it right after the game!”
Richt: “It looks like he shined that head for you.”
Franklin: “And then your coach when I tell him about it, then he goes after me and the fight starts.”
Richt: “That’s horse **** horse ****. What happened was you told your players to take some shots. I ain’t apologizing for ****. It’s football, you sissy.”
Bob
October 19th, 2011
6:05 pm
Classic, 1eyedJack…you are the man!
Beast from the East
October 19th, 2011
6:05 pm
1eyedjack,
LOL! Pretty funny. My question is this: Why does UGA have to taunt Vandy? Seriously, they stomped on their logo a few years ago and then this taunting after the game. I mean……it’s VANDY!?!?!?
Charles
October 19th, 2011
6:07 pm
Jeff, while you’re asking the league’s officials questions, have you considered asking them about their inconsistent enforcement of these ‘rules’? It’s a serious question. You’d get a ton of views for taking them to task. Two examples from this year. Jon Bostik of Florida takes a swing at a Bama defender, no suspension. The rulebook clearly reads that a swing (even if no contact is made) constitutes fighting. Second, Courtney Upshaw kicking a Vandy player after being chopped, almost in an identical manner to Geathers. No suspension.
Seems the SEC felt compelled to do some suspending here due to the visibility you guys gave the story – congrats on that! But selective enforcement by the big, bad SEC should be frowned upon, should it not? Take them to task!
Yellow Fuzz
October 19th, 2011
6:07 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.
Well
October 19th, 2011
6:08 pm
when you are 2-10 against ranked opponents for the last few seasons, who else are you going to taunt?
KOOL
October 19th, 2011
6:08 pm
Boo hoo… the coaches raised their voices at each other… they need to be taught a lesson!!!!
The sissification of our society is sickening.
Beast from the East
October 19th, 2011
6:09 pm
“Seems the SEC felt compelled to do some suspending here due to the visibility you guys gave the story – congrats on that! But selective enforcement by the big, bad SEC should be frowned upon, should it not? Take them to task!”
Charles,
Valid points, but I think we all know the incident AFTER the game and the coverage on all the national sports channels (ESPN) is what forced the SEC to react. Would you not agree?
GATOR N GEORGIA
October 19th, 2011
6:11 pm
Wow, you gotta be kidding me, players taking the fall for this crap. So, and I’m only asking, because I don’t have a dog in the fight, but do the coaches only get disciplined if they cheap shot the other coach?
bamaguy
October 19th, 2011
6:11 pm
If anyone should be a rival to Vandy it’s Tech: Instead of a “Cocktail Party” you could call it the “Brainiac Bowl”
david
October 19th, 2011
6:12 pm
Vanderbilt started this nonsense and we finished it! There should be no suspensions! We will destroy Florida and whip Bama in SEC Title Game!
1eyedJack
October 19th, 2011
6:12 pm
Beast from the East, have you been around any of the high school campuses these guys come from these days? It’s almost a tribal thing. We got to get a hold of that somehow. Watch TV and what happens when they put the missionary in the pot?
wes
October 19th, 2011
6:13 pm
Richt “threw his player under the bus” by calling him a dumb ***.
LOL
Even UGA’s head coach knows his players are DUMB DAWGS!
ROTFLMAO!!!!!!!
Hillbilly D
October 19th, 2011
6:14 pm
SEC punishes players, but why no reprimand for coaches?
Because the coaches make a lot of money and the players don’t. Players are expendable in the NCAA world.
bamaguy
October 19th, 2011
6:14 pm
I want some of what ever david is having (but thank you for thinking we are going to beat LSU and get to the title game).
Beast from the East
October 19th, 2011
6:16 pm
1eyedjack,
Can’t say I’ve been to any high schools in years. I could understand if UGA went a little nuts after beating UF, given the recent history, but I just don’t understand the Vandy thing. Knida like Duke hoops players taunting players from Coastal Carolina. Just seems silly.
Dumbo
October 19th, 2011
6:16 pm
Daniella…..only a Tech Turd would know all the STATS of UGA players…sad dude, what’s even worse, you chose a female name to try and hide your sexual orientation at that weird U on North Ave. Go back home to ManBoobs the Hypocrite
David got it
October 19th, 2011
6:17 pm
from the two LSU players who were suspended today for failing drug tests
RGB
October 19th, 2011
6:17 pm
“That’s what I thought happened, I apologize. It’s horse **** horse ****.”
At least he didn’t say “dawg **** dawg ****”.
That would’ve have carried self-deprecation a bit too far.
Yellow Fuzz
October 19th, 2011
6:19 pm
What every non georgia fan has known for 50 years……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.
Yellow Fuzz
October 19th, 2011
6:20 pm
Sitting out half a game is nothing compared to a world class education…….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.
Yellow Fuzz
October 19th, 2011
6:22 pm
Sitting out half a game is nothing compared to sitting out half of life……..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.
Yellow Fuzz
October 19th, 2011
6:23 pm
Don’t grow up to be a 1EyeJacked or DawgInLex…….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.
#1 School in Ga
October 19th, 2011
6:25 pm
The Bails Bondsman Association of Georgia just presented their annual award to the University of Georgia for being their #1 source of clients and revenue.
bamaguy
October 19th, 2011
6:25 pm
I read about the LSU suspensions (I thought it was three) but haven’t seen a disclosed reason. Talk about altering the outcome of a game. The UGA suspensions are nothing compared to that.
Terry
October 19th, 2011
6:26 pm
Jeff Schultz, Jerry Hinnen of cbssports.com said, we don’t blame the SEC for suspending either Geathers or Stewart; while Geathers is fully justified in being angry (and even in reacting angrily in some fashion) a thrown punch is by this point universally recognized as just cause for a suspension. But it would have been nice if the SEC sent a message about Stewart’s play by handing him a greater punishment than Geathers’–say, a full game to Geather’s half. If we’re comparing the two offenses, there’s no question in this blogger’s mind, which one is more likely to result in an injury, which is more premeditated and less emotional, or which falls further outside the bounds of acceptable conduct on the football field. Geathers’ punch probably hurt, but Stewart’s clip might have ended Geathers’ career, and came far too late to have anything to do with the play.
Do you agree or disagree with this Bloggers assessment?
Also, THE TENNESSEAN Asked James Franklin if he had any regrets, this is what he said,
“I’m not a guy that really has a whole lot of regrets,” Franklin said. “I’m pretty calculated, and I’m pretty well thought out with the things that I do for the most part. I am an emotional guy, as you guys know as well. I would have liked the game to end differently.”
Looks like the only thing Franklin regrets is losing the game, and according to what he said, it was premeditated.
bamaguy
October 19th, 2011
6:26 pm
This was fun, but now it’s time to go watch Talkin’ Football. Wonder what those guys will have to say.
David got it
October 19th, 2011
6:27 pm
From Espn
The LSU student newspaper, The Daily Reveille, first reported Wednesday that, according to a source, Mathieu and Ware both failed drug tests.
The suspensions are only for one game, a source told ESPN’s Joe Schad.
A source told the Associated Press that defensive back Tharold Simon is also suspended. LSU spokesman Michael Bonnette would say only that the players were involved in an internal matter that coach Les Miles “will handle accordingly.”
1eyedJack
October 19th, 2011
6:27 pm
You know, these guys have had some really good role models to emulate.
OJ, Artest, Ray Lewis, Pacman, Neon Deion, T.O, Plaxico, ……
As for the Geathers retaliation, somewhere Ray Nitschke and Dick Butkus are smiling.
Spanky
October 19th, 2011
6:28 pm
Bravo, 1eyed Jack! It’s a shame it didn’t go down like that! Well, at least ONE of the coaches has the players’ backs!!
Blind Homer's Odyssey
October 19th, 2011
6:29 pm
Get readddddyyyyy to rrrrrrrrrrrrrrummmmmmbbbbbble! Yes, in answer to the blind homers’ clamor it’s the long anticipated grudge match event of the century! “Good Gravy Grantham vs Flagitous Fiend Franklin!
We are dispensing with mamby pamby football rules and even normal ‘rasslin rules. No kids as proxies. No athletic directors. No school presidents. NO SEC!
Retaliation Allowed! Encouraged! As suggested by the fans we were issuing each combatant a Kimber 45 but this killed the pay-per-view deal as it stood to be a short match. Instead the combatants will use their choice of a long neck beer bottle or an athletic supporter filled with buckshot.
Yes Lord the BullDawg nation will now get its vengeance. Never mind those pesky alumni who care how their institution is portrayed. We paid enough money to license the logos to the newly formed Tough Hooligan University of Georgia Beatdown Fanatics Fund & Society (THUG BFFS). Coach Grantham’s red union suit inspired design by Nike will of course then have the famous G stolen from Green Bay as licensed. Coach Franklin has chosen a black thong with a couple of strategically placed stars. A survey of the Dawg Nation revealed that most were unclear what a Commodore may be but Russ sent his regrets due to a lack of ass paint so no mascots will represent the schools.
So anyway the match is SUNDAY!, Sunday, sunday at the Omni (whoops), Municipal Auditorium (whoops), Hahira Trailer Park Events Center. Those who can’t attend in person never fear as the Pay-Per-View rate is set at a low, low $29.95 affordable to every trailer & shack with a dish.
So support your school, even if you didn’t go there, actually especially if you didn’t go there. And don’t forget preliminaries will include a St. Richt dunking booth and a 15 round smack talking event. BE THERE, Be There, be there.
Don’t forget the coming event the following week with Good Gravy Grantham vs Mealy Mouth Muschamp!
.
.
.
.
©THUG BFFS, UGA and Vanderbilt Logos licensed and well PAID.
1eyedJack
October 19th, 2011
6:30 pm
Yellow Fuzz, you wouldn’t amount to half a whole moron. Go to the academic blog. Men are trying to discuss football here.
GR82BAG8R
October 19th, 2011
6:30 pm
So a winning player at the end of a game is talking **** to the the losing team’s coach. If that had been a UGA coach (imagine Florida is the winning opponent – - not hard to imagine), would UGA fans expect the coach to settle it with the other team’s coach, or attempt to dress down the player then and there?
Answer that question honestly and you will understand why Franklin did what he did, and why Richt expressed his opinion of his own player and coach.
RiffRaff
October 19th, 2011
6:32 pm
This whole incident between the coaches is way over-blown. The way the Dawgs played on offense, defense and special teams is of more concern. If we play the way we played last Saturday night we will lose to Fla next week.
JB
October 19th, 2011
6:32 pm
Wonder if the Cox Family, who own the AJC, will suspend Schultz for this story?
Honey Badger
October 19th, 2011
6:32 pm
Well got to sit for a game. Cant practice. Thought I would troll the dawg nation. Looking forward to hooking up with what I hope is the dawgs back in dome. Good luck rest of the way.
GR82BAG8R
October 19th, 2011
6:33 pm
1eyedJack, the only thing Tech fans have to celebrate is their academics. They will never be able to compete with UGA, much less the SEC.
Sorta
October 19th, 2011
6:35 pm
like you SEC least teams when it comes to playing the SEC BEST teams
JB
October 19th, 2011
6:36 pm
Tech, who consider themselves elitist, bragging about being 84. Did Morehouse beat them? They worry about beating school #385 in any sport way to much.
1eyedJack
October 19th, 2011
6:38 pm
GR82BAG8R, let tell the Miami Hurricanes where they rank in academics. I’m sure they’ll be real interested.
JB
October 19th, 2011
6:38 pm
Tech #84………………Reggie Ball & Stephen Maurbury (sp). …nuff said.
DAWG MAN
October 19th, 2011
6:39 pm
Richt wouldnt have hired Grantham unless he knew he was that type of coach. UGA will always find the players and coaches to do anything down-grading to the University. Mcgharrity needs to hire a coach with class, that brings in class type platers and coaches
Weather Channel Expert
October 19th, 2011
6:42 pm
I never thought I would say this: the Vandies are a bunch of thugs.
JB
October 19th, 2011
6:42 pm
Richt Hired Grantham because his rope was real short in Athens and the “football” world knew it, thus any legit DC avoided that job. Even good ole boy Grantham had the sense to demand a 3 year contract.
Ditto the OL coach Will friend hire from UAB. The fat lady is spraying her throat in Athens.
Danny G
October 19th, 2011
6:45 pm
Probably true Jeff. I doubt if ajc has 9 subscribers left. I hae never read the NCAA rule book, but I don’t think there is a rule that says that coaches get reprimanded for yelling at each other.
JB
October 19th, 2011
6:47 pm
It’s Richt’s fault the game wasn’t over by the middle of the 3rd quarter and the bench playing and all the emotion gone. Going to the wire with the doormat of the conference is all on Richt, Mr. CEO.
really?
October 19th, 2011
6:49 pm
Jeff, this story is old news. You continue to write the same story over and over and over. Please find some new material.
Also, what journalism school did you attend? Clearly it wasn’t one where they taught you to tell both sides of a story.