SEC’s decision to not suspend Dial sends wrong message

Aaron Murray crumbles after helmet-to-helmet hit by Quinton Dial, who wasn't penalized. (Curtis Compton/AJC)

Aaron Murray crumbles after helmet-to-helmet hit by Alabama's Quinton Dial. (Curtis Compton/AJC)

If Alabama goes on to defeat Notre Dame in the BCS championship game, there’s a pretty good chance that Quinton Dial will play only a minor role. So the problem with what happened Friday is not that the SEC just gave Alabama some unfair advantage by avoiding suspending one of its players — the problem is that it is sending mixed messages about how much it really cares about head injuries in football.

Or are hits to the head only important when it’s convenient?

After reviewing three plays from the SEC championship game between Georgia and Alabama, most notably Dial’s helmet-to-helmet hit on Bulldogs quarterback Aaron Murray, the conference declined to issue any suspensions, releasing a statement that said, “After review, all subsequent action will be handled internally by the two institutions and the conference office is satisfied with their actions.”

To translate: The SEC will allow Alabama coach Nick Saban to decide whether to suspend one of his defensive ends for the national championship game. Insert laugh track.

Now, before we jump into the obvious conspiracy theories — 1) Is SEC commissioner Mike Slive just doing whatever he can to ensure the conference wins its seventh straight BCS title; and 2) Will he be mowing Nick Saban’s lawn after the game? — let’s give equal time to the game’s infractions. Steve Shaw, the SEC’s director of officials, also reviewed a roughing-the-passer penalty on Georgia’s Alec Ogletree and deemed it not worthy of a suspension. He also looked at Sheldon Dawson’s attempted eye-gouge of Alabama’s Dee Millner following a kickoff return. Again, no suspension.

Steve Shaw said the Dial's hit should've been a penalty but didn't rise to same level of others that drew suspensions. (AP photo)

Shaw said Dial's hit should've been a penalty but didn't rise to level of suspension. (AP photo)

But Dial’s second-quarter helmet-to-helmet hit on Murray — see video below –easily was the most flagrant foul in the game, made worse by the fact that no flag was thrown. Murray had just had a pass intercepted by Alabama’s Ha’Sean Clinton-Dix at the Tide’s 18. During the return, Murray became a defensive player and Dial had the right to block him. But he came from out of view and collided with Murray helmet-to-helmet. CBS analyst Gary Danielson said, “Aaron Murray, you have to keep your head on a swivel, but that is just unnecessary roughness and a hit to the head …”

Shaw said Dial should’ve been called for a personal foul. “We should’ve flagged it,” he said, adding that an official who seemed to be looking at the play actually was focused on something else. (Note: Even if Dial was penalized, it would’ve affected field position but Alabama would’ve retained possession

Slive's conference is in position to win its seventh straight BCS title. Conspiracy theorists: that was a factor. (AP photo)

Slive's SEC can win seventh straight BCS title. Conspiracy theorists: That was a factor. (AP photo)

because the hit came after the interception.)

The bigger issue here is why Dial is not being suspended. The SEC has suspended three other players for hits to the head, one last season for an Arkansas player’s hit on a punt returner; two this season for hits by Mississippi and South Carolina defensive backs against wide receivers. I spoke to Shaw for 30 minutes and he never would, or could, give specifics as to what prevented Dial’s hit from being considered worthy of a suspension.

He talked about the players in the other three situations being “defenseless.” He talked about the fact that Murray was technically a “defender.” He went on about how “our commissioner and really the SEC has been at the forefront of player safety.”

But when asked for specifics about what Dial would have had to do get suspended, Shaw spoke in grays.

“Do I condone hit? No. It’s something that should’ve been [penalized],” Shaw said. “But as for the acid test of the other one-game suspensions, overall it doesn’t rise to the same level.”

Here’s the problem: A conference either sets the bar on helmet hits and head injuries or it doesn’t. This looks fishy, especially given the proximity to BCS championship game.

When asked if this same decision would’ve been made in September, Shaw said, “My commissioner would say, ‘I don’t really go into hypotheticals.”

When told that left the door open to theories that Alabama and Dial were being given preferential treatment because of the title game, he again gave a vague response.

Finally when asked a third time if the impending BCS title game influenced the SEC’s decision to not suspend Dial, Shaw said, “No.”

But I’m less concerned about Quinton Dial than I am the seriousness of head injuries in football. With the blur of concussion-related litigation in the NFL and the suicides of several former players being tied to depression, dementia and other forms of brain damage resulting from head injuries, this is no time for inconsistent rulings from conference officials. There is too much at stake.

Yes, even more than a BCS title.

By Jeff Schultz

Here’s one YouTube view of Dial’s hit on Murray

446 comments Add your comment

5150 UOAD

December 15th, 2012
4:37 pm

I have no idea how many, although it’s pretty well known that Tech has a “questionable” blocking scheme–whether cuts or chops.

BS go look up how many flags were thrown on Tech for illegal chop blocks?
You dumb Parrot. Think for yourself. The NFL uses Cut Blocks every football league allows Cut Blocks.

5150 UOAD

December 15th, 2012
4:43 pm

NoleDwag read again I said you mutts STFU and worry about your team and Bama will worry about their team. Stop CRYING about a hit when your players do it all the time.

BS Patrol

December 15th, 2012
4:49 pm

What’s really nauseating is the doggies will claim they’re the real NCs after Bama beats ND. It’s just that the clock ran out too soon. Haw Haw. We’ll be hearing about it for the next 32 years.

DawgNole

December 15th, 2012
4:51 pm

5150 UOAD
December 15th, 2012
4:43 pm

NoleDwag read again I said you mutts STFU and worry about your team and Bama will worry about their team. Stop CRYING about a hit when your players do it all the time.
_______________________

No need to resort to lying, liar. Look at your post below. I don’t need to read it again. And when is it that you’re going to clean house at that mess you’ve got over there? Just hard to believe you’re on here poking at others given the way your losers are performing.

5150 UOAD
December 15th, 2012
11:40 am

Either it is wrong or it isn’t. Clean your own house and let Bama clean their own house.

5150 UOAD

December 15th, 2012
5:00 pm

exactly NoleDwag…..your players had dirty hits. Bama players had dirty hits. So STFU crying about the other guys crap and suspend your players for what was a dirty hit and don’t worry about what bama does to its players. Richt is such the good Christian Moral man then he should suspend the UGa players for doing what you want Bama players suspended for.

Wet Willie...keep on smiling

December 15th, 2012
5:04 pm

Did any of you play HS football?

Did any of you play college football?

5150 UOAD

December 15th, 2012
5:25 pm

WW…..High School and in College we had the Only Full Contact Intramural football league in the US at the time. North Georgia College the companies played each other it was a chance to take it out on some people with more rank. LOL it could get dirty for sure.

Dawg Tired

December 15th, 2012
5:25 pm

WW – Yea, I did. That may be why I’m not bent completely out of shape by the Dial hit. In fact, while I said it should have been a penalty, I was referring to the current rules. 20 – 30 years ago it would not have even been considered worthy of anything except oohs and ahhs from the fans. The changes in the rules are necessary because of the tremendous increases in the size, strength and speed of the modern day player. Back in the day, the Dial-Murray hit would have been a 200 to 220 pound lineman hitting 180 pound quarterback. Don’t get me wrong, being blindsided and getting up trying to see through the ear hole of your helmet is not fun, but the long-term effects were no doubt somewhat less. Plus, today, we know the devastating brain injuries caused by such hits at the speed of today’s game. Back in the day, we had no idea how dangerous all this helmet to helmet stuff actually is.

Pitbull

December 15th, 2012
6:11 pm

Alabama has always run the SEC rather than vice versa.

Its the same as how Texas ran the Southwest Conference – right into the ground.

The answer is simple. The Presidents and AD’s of the 13 other SEC schools need to vote the current SEC administrators out of their jobs and hire fresh blood.

If Alabama doesn’t like it then they can join the ACC or the Big 12 or whomever.

Alabama needs to quit receiving preferential treatment and if firing the SEC officials and replacing them is the answer then the other 13 schools need to grow some and do it. And Alabama can go their own way.

dawgnation

December 15th, 2012
6:33 pm

Hey toga sure this is not the NFL but if it had been you legal hit would have been a 15 yeard and at least a 75k fine think I am nuts askthe Steelers harrison, you have issues if a ND player hit Mccarron like that you will be the first one to jump up and cry

dawgnation

December 15th, 2012
6:37 pm

Hey BS you listen to too much bad music Dawgs did not say they were the real NC, you have mental issues or just want your big mouth to be heard, Ga fans and players blame themselves for not wnining, no time management, but I will say this. If bama shows up and stinks up the joint like they did against Texas A&M just close your mouth and walk away

dawgnation

December 15th, 2012
6:41 pm

As fro Pollack being on the dawgs side there is no one more bias than Lou Holtz, between ND and South carolina that all he does is bragg on them

Whiznot

December 15th, 2012
8:48 pm

The SEC needs to suspend Mark Richt for not spiking the ball and for being the most boring coach on the planet.

Thomas Brown

December 15th, 2012
8:53 pm

David Pollack is most assuredly NOT on The Georgia Bulldogs’ side, nor Aaron Murray’s side. Repeatedly, he makes is poignantly painfully clear that it’s football and was hit fairly after the pick.

bubba4dawgs

December 15th, 2012
10:22 pm

Shaw is bulls**t!! It was a flagrant foul! Dial was simply trying to take Murray’s head off and didn’t care whether he got the penalty or not! He wanted to win at any cost! Reminds me of the time way back in the 50’s when Bear Bryant was coaching and Alabama was playing Georgia Tech in Atlanta. Chick Granning was waiting on a punt to return when a short bas***d named Darwin Holt threy his elbow under Granning’s chin with full force as he came completely off the ground with his leverage. Needless to say, it knocked Granning out cold, knocking out several teeth and breaking his jaw. He was in the hospital several days. Was Hold reprimanded? Absolutely not and Bear Bryant didn’t so much as apologize.

Moral of this story: If it’s Alabama, it’s OK Is this typical? Apparently, yes! Good job, Shaw! Keep up the good work! Message to UGA, when you hit, make it count!!

Thomas Brown

December 16th, 2012
5:47 am

bubba4dawgs,

Darwin Holt Chick Graning had nothing to do with Georgia Tech leaving SEC. I know. Georgia Tech had to play Alabama and Georgia, back-to-back end of seasons, and Georgia Tech would end up with no one caring for Georgia Tech, and there were not many bowl games, back then. It was a bad decision, as it turns out for Georgia Tech, but the reason to get out of SEC then, as now, would be the same : They could not compete.

Darwin Holt Chick Graning and flack of SEC Revenue-Sharing, which Georgia Tech would love to be getting a piece of nowadays, neither had any affect on Georgia Tech leaving The SEC.

Georgia Tech could not compete.

Georgia Tech losing 10 to nothing. Georgia Tech having to punt at the end of the game, or it would be 17 to nothing. The Georgia Tech punt was shanked. Darwin Holt was the best player on Bear Bryant’s defense, and he had the job of blocking Chick Graning. The play was definitely Live. Darwin Holt blocked Chick Graning. Darwin Holt was tough. While the fair catch signal was being made by Alabama’s Richardson, Darwin Holt saw Chick Graning running down the field, and as it turned out broke his jaw, cheekbone, and knocked out 3 teeth. It was not after the fair catch.

The BS in the AJ-C : There were 2. Jesse Outlar. Furman Bisher. There was the Constitution at 7 am in the morning and the Journal at 4 pm. The Saturday Evening Post published the Furman Bisher story. Bear Bryant sued them and won a third of a million dollars. No one seems to remember any of this now, and those who say they do, write about it with a slant. There are still those who remember the BS stories as is Gospel, when again, Bear Bryant won a third of a million dollars and put it to rest.

Darwin Holt Chick Graning can never be put to rest when stories of how important the play was to Georgia Tech’s entire never to recover history is at stake.

Chick Graning had a facemask of a single piece of plastic across his entire face, like he was a tough guy which Darwin Holt most assuredly was.

It was a penalty.

Darwin Holt was crucified by the AJ-C. Again. I know. I read every article at the time, each morning, every single day from 1957 to today. I believe I know what was said in the AJ-C.

Bear Bryant did not teach dirty tactics, and neither does Nick Saban.

Both incidents are PENALTIES.

The fact that neither was, is what makes these 2 incidents the same

bubba4dawgs.

Darwin Holt Chick Graning had nothing to do with Georgia Tech leaving The SEC, and Bobby Dodd and Bear Bryant were the closest of friends before and after Darwin Holt Chick Graning.

The game was at Legion Field. Alabama would win its 1st Bear Bryant National Championship.

_________________________________________
Georgia Tech football program started Waning 1957
_________________________________________

Bobby Dodd had long-since seen the writing on the wall.

When Georgia hired Vince Dooley, that was it for Bobby Dodd. Bobby Dodd never beat, and always lost to Vince Dooley, too.

The only year Bobby Dodd beat Bear Bryant was the next season in Atlanta. I was there.

Bobby Dodd never did ever beat Vince Dooley.

That’s why he wanted Georgia Tech out of The SEC, and no other reason – especially nothing to do with Darwin Holt Chick Graning, or Revenue-Sharing.

Bobby Dodd, his football program waning starting 1957, lost 6 of 7 games against Bear Bryant, his closest friend, and never did beat Vince Dooley, losing every time.

That’s why Georgia Tech wanted out of The SEC, and no other reason. I know. I was there.

People try to write about it now, and say this or that; but, they were not there then to know what the story was.

In fact, many people point to that Darwin Holt Chick Graning game at Legion Field in Birmingham 1961 as the point in which Georgia Tech football never recovered from and never will; but, it had started 1957, not 1961 when Georgia Tech’s football program went on the wane.

I watched those games. That was not dirty football. Yes, they were both penalties which neither were called. Both, under today’s understandings of especially collegiate football, require the players to be removed from that game as soon as officials on the field or in the booth, witness it. And, both then cannot play in the next game for Alabama. Darwin Holt cannot play against Auburn 1961 before Alabama beats Arkansas in the Sugar Bowl to win the NC 1961. Quinton Dial cannot play against Notre Dame before Alabama beats Notre Dame in Miami hell hole Orange Bowl BCS Title Game.

__________________________________________
“Bear Bryant taught hard tough intimidating football
but he didn’t teach his players to be dirty.
There’s no doubt in my mind about that.”
__________________________________________

Quote by Chick Graning, Georgia Tech himself.

The next year, 1962 at Grant Field, I was there, too. After the game, the Georgia Tech fans threw liquor bottles on the field. 1963 was back again at Legion Field. 1964, Vince Dooley’s 1st season at UGA, the game was back at Grant Field, and Bear Bryant came on the field wearing a football helmet to protect himself from flying liquor bottles from the notoriously poor sportsmanship forever by Georgia Tech fans. Again, I know. I was there.

In this game at Grant Field 1964, Bear Bryant in a football helmet to protect himself, at the end of the game, a Georgia Tech football player saw and Alabama football player take his helmet off. The Georgia Tech player walked right up to the Alabama player and smashed his elbow into the Alabama’s defenseless, helmetless, face. And, no penalty was called on that, either. In fact, no one even talks about it.

Darwin Holt had already graduated from the University of Alabama and was in his Master’s program at the time he blocked Chick Graning. Chick Graning went on to try to play NFL football and then Canadian football and tried to coach football. Chick never did live in Atlanta after the incident, not wanting to and moved to Mississippi where he sold insurance.

Bear Bryant said repeatedly every time he was asked about it, that the official standing right there less than 5 yards away, looking directly at the play, should have thrown the flag because Darwin Holt’s elbow most certainly did hit Chick Graning in the face when Chick Graning kind of bent his knees as the blow was coming. If Chick Graning had not of bent his knees just as the hit was made, it is clear the hit would have been to Chick Graning’s chest. Chick Graning bent down just as the block was being made. It is a penalty.

It is a penalty that Quinton Dial did to Aaron Murray too, and should have been dished out by the Replay Official. Why have replay Officials if we cannot protect the players such as Chick Graning and Aaron Murray ?

The Saturday Evening Post went out of business over the incident trying to make it out for what it’s not.

I knew Furman Bisher for many years. He passed earlier this year. This incident was his darkest hour. His interviews he conducted for this article for the Saturday Evening Post were rejected out-of-hand. Both Wally Butts and Bear Bryant were both victorious in their lawsuits and lived comfortably because the won the lawsuit.

The AJ-C should never have tried to make Darwin Holt Chick Graning what it was not.

“It was scheduling and the fact we had trouble beating Alabama and Georgia back to back at the end of the seasons and be passed over for lucrative bowl games,” Bobby Dodd said. “So we had to do something. It might not have been the wisest decision in the world, but we decided we should become and independent and leave the SEC. It wasn’t bad blood that lead to that.”

Bobby Dodd had asked to get out of the Alabama game for many years prior to 1961. I know. I was here. Georgia Tech had not, and still has not done anything starting 1957. And, 1961 was 4 more years of losing to Alabama every single year.

Bobby Dodd, of course, also was winning only 3 of 10 games against The Georgia Bulldogs from 1957 through the end of Bobby Dodd just quitting, not only The SEC, but coaching football. Bobby Dodd conceded when he quit that he could not beat Alabama or Georgia.

Starting 1957, Bobby Dodd could beat The Georgia Bulldogs only 3 times in 10 games.

Georgia Tech played Alabama and Georgia to end those seasons. Once those games were over, the once promising Georgia Tech was not appealing to any of the bowls, and the lucrative bowls went to the winning teams, not to the teams who at the end of the season against their opponents, Lost.

This is why Georgia Tech quit The SEC. This is why Bobby Dodd quit football. Bobby Dodd said so, himself.

Thomas Brown

December 16th, 2012
8:27 am

Has anyone seen Quinton Dial apologize ?

Darwin Holt Chick Graning had nothing to do with Georgia Tech leaving The SEC, as Georgia Tech fans still try to say about the incident in 1961.

You said Darwin Holt Chick Graning was a dirty play. It was a penalty which Bear Bryant said about the play every single time he was asked about it his whole entire life, starting 1961.

Alabama most assuredly did apologize.

Darwin Holt was sent to the Georgia Tech campus as reprimand, to be escorted around the campus by none other than Chick Graning.

Your depiction of the incident is based on stories by Jesse Outlar and Furman Bisher, who called the play a dirty play and who tried to make it stick that Alabama was dirty, which is exactly your point about it 51 years’ later.

Were you even alive 51 years ago ?

I know everything about Darwin Holt Chick Graning. And, everything that has transpired since, about it.

Chick Graning’s concussion lasted a month in the hospital.

Chick Graning was unable to remember anything about the whole entire game for an entire week

The game between eventual national champions Alabama and long-since on the wane starting 1957 Georgia Tech was on Saturday November 18, 1961. It was nearly Christmas before Chick Graning could even get out of the hospital.

I read every story at the time on the AJ-C. Saw all the photos of him in the hospital.

I saw the sensationalism of the entire incident.

I saw the game at Grant Field the following year.

And, the game 2 years after that where Georgia Tech’s player used his elbow into the Alabama player’s face after the Alabama player took off his helmet at the end of the game. I was there. I saw it.

Dirty ?

You want Dirty ? That was dirty.

Now, I thought Quinton Dial’s hit on Aaron Murray was dirty. I was there.

I thought the Georgia Tech player’s hit on the Alabama player at Grant Field when the Alabama player had removed his helmet was dirty.

This is 2012. We know the importance of concussions on football players, no matter how tough the player is. Quinton Dial still December 16, should not get away with what he did at the game I was at.

Darwin Holt ? That was not a dirty play and Bear Bryant did not teach dirty plays. Darwin Holt Chick Graning, like Quinton Dial Aaron Murray, were plays which were not called penalties and should’ve been.

I have read Darwin Holt apologize for 51 years. I’m over that incident and all the hype posters here at the AJ-C have said about Darwin Holt Chick Graning, which is why I do know everything about Darwin Holt Chick Graning.

Quinton Dial knew full well that Aaron Murray was looking the other way when he went full-tilt into him and that he is twice Murray’s size, leading with his shoulder and helmet into Aaron Murray’s helmet in 2012 when we know the results of these hits.

Maybe The SEC office does not; but the rest of us surely do long before now.

In 2012, that’s a dirty play.

51 years’ ago, in 1961, that was a much smaller man Darwin Holt blocking a much bigger man Chick Graning, a man who would go on to the NFL in one Chick Graning. And, Darwin Holt cold-cocked Chick Graning with an elbow obviously not intended to his helmet, which ended up there when the bigger future NFL player, Chick Graning, bent his knees while the play was still live and long before the whistle and before the punt by Georgia Tech was caught by Richardson.

Quinton Dial and Darwin Holt should both have been penalized. Quinton Dial by the Replay Booth, and Darwin Holt by the official looking directly at the play from 5 yards away according to Bear Bryant after the game and everyday he was asked about it after that.

Jeff Schultz is right.

____________________________
DARWIN HOLT CHICK GRANING
____________________________

doesn’t need to be sensationalized again 51 years later for what it was not. Much of the blame for Darwin Holt Chick Graning is Chick Graning and his idea that he was a tough guy wearing a single piece of plastic on his facemask when he had previously been hit repeatedly in the nose from it. 1961 not everyone had a single piece of protective plastic across his face. And, he’s the 1 who bent down as the hit was applied to what would have been his chest. These are the facts.

Aaron Murray was far better protected, but damn, that was an intentional vicious hit of a guy Quinton Dial knew completely was looking the other way entirely.

Was Chick Graning looking the other way ? No. He was looking right at Darwin Holt of Alabama and bent down with his 1-bar plastic facemask as the hit was applied.

For which Darwin Holt has apologized for 51 years and was reprimanded sent to Georgia Tech’s campus to be escorted around the Georgia Tech campus by Chick Graning right afterwards.

Why is it we write articles about Quinton Dial and don’t ask Quinton Dial if he apologizes ? Because we don’t want to ?

Academy Award Nominating Committee

December 16th, 2012
8:58 am

Murray has just been nominated for an Oscar for his marvelous job of acting like he was injured.

So he does have some talent, after all.

Jean the Bean

December 16th, 2012
9:06 am

It’s really sad that UGA alumni and fans have only their football team to take pride in. It’s even sadder that this pride depends on the performance of illiterate dummies who don’t even come close to meeting minimum academic requirements. 94% of UGA football players are what UGA calls “special admits,” which is just a euphemism for admitting bozos who can’t even read.

This sorry practice not only cheapens all UGA degrees (which are pretty worthless to begin with), but embarrasses the State of Georgia and its citizens. And Mark Richt is the one behind the atrocities at UGA.

So enjoy your victories, and be kind to your former players when you see them working menial jobs in custodial or sanitation services. Or pushing a shopping cart around, looking for a warm place to sleep at night. That’s your UGA reality.

JHook

December 16th, 2012
9:13 am

Shaw, a cum laude graduate of the University of Alabama, is married to the former Jamelle Kabase.

DawgNole

December 16th, 2012
10:01 am

5150 UOAD
December 15th, 2012
5:00 pm

exactly NoleDwag…..your players had dirty hits. Bama players had dirty hits. So STFU crying about the other guys crap and suspend your players for what was a dirty hit and don’t worry about what bama does to its players. Richt is such the good Christian Moral man then he should suspend the UGa players for doing what you want Bama players suspended for.
______________________

Sorry, had to take a 17-hour break for a Christmas party and the associated recovery process.

Now, back to your lying posts.

Please show the posts where I

- was “crying about the other guys crap”

- expressed “worry about what bama does to its players”

- said I “want Bama players suspended”

You can’t show those posts because they never happened, which means you’re lying–again. Hey, it’s a blog–we can swap barbs, exchange insults, and express different opinions all day long. But lying SHOULD be out of bounds, even for you–a Tech fan whose tiresome, nonstop berating of all things UGA on blogs about UGA topics gets old. Old this time simply because it comes from a Tech fan who pompously declares that UGA and Bama should “clean their house” when his own team’s house is far from the model of cleanliness.

Take care of home first–before you climb on your high horse and make idiotic pronoucements about the homes of others.

Voyager Dawg

December 16th, 2012
11:40 am

The hit by Tree on McCarron was bang-bang and not helmet to helmet. McCarron called for the flag and he got it. Dawson was not attempting to gouge anyone’s eyes out, his arm was fully extended and his index finger sticking out. His hand was barely touching the guys face mask. To compare these two with the hit from Dial is ridiculous. None the less, it’s over. If Georgia wants to start getting some of these calls, quit having so many penalties on our side, get tough and continue playing like they did this year. You have to earn the respect that Alabama has! GATA Dawgs!

The Fulmer Cup Trust

December 16th, 2012
5:01 pm

Ogletree hit McCarron with his helmet to the chin. But the message this non-suspension sends is the SEC is not ready to play football with skirts on in a flag football league. It would not have happened if Murray was paying attention.

SEC bias

December 16th, 2012
6:29 pm

Here’s the problem: A conference either sets the bar on helmet hits and head injuries or it doesn’t. This looks fishy, especially given the proximity to BCS championship game.

Now, before we jump into the obvious conspiracy theories — 1) Is SEC commissioner Mike Slive just doing whatever he can to ensure the conference wins its seventh straight BCS title;

But when asked for specifics about what Dial would have had to do get suspended, Shaw spoke in grays.

“Do I condone hit? No. It’s something that should’ve been [penalized],” Shaw said.

When asked if this same decision would’ve been made in September, Shaw said, “My commissioner would say, ‘I don’t really go into hypotheticals.”

When told that left the door open to theories that Alabama and Dial were being given preferential treatment because of the title game, he again gave a vague response.
———————————–
Slive cares about winning, plain & simple, not about doing the right thing, and Shaw’s one of his employees (i.e. My commissioner would say…). This is why NONE of the players metioned, on either UGA or Bama, will be suspended for their bowl game …. Both are playing NON-SEC teams.

Wins by the SEC teams vs Non-Conf opponents make the SEC look invincible (see all SEC teams’ OOC schedules).

Enjoy the ride while there’s still gas in the tank.

[...] Jeff Schultz on the decision by the SEC not to suspend Alabama’s Quinton Dial for a hit on Georgia quarterback Aa… “The SEC will allow Alabama coach Nick Saban to decide whether to suspend one of his defensive [...]

After further review

December 17th, 2012
9:49 am

Just as a side comment: congratulations to Valdosta Stae for winning the Division 2 championship, and to Mt. Union for winning the Division 3 championship. For all yhou SEC boosters, it might be interesting to know that this year was Mt. Union’s eighth consecutive apperance in the championship game, and that they have won 11 Division 3 national titles since 1993. They have been so dominante in their division that since 1993, no Mt. Union senior football player has left school without at least one national championship ring. All this in a school with a total enrollment of about 2,500, or less than half the size of the incoming freshman class at most SEC schools.

BP85

December 17th, 2012
10:30 am

Clearly, the hit was head to head and deserved a flag and supension. The earlier hit from Ogletree to the the Alabama QB, what’s her name, did not deserve a flag. Tree hit her as she was turning loose of the ball, and the referee threw a flag before the QB burst into tears.

AFDawg

December 17th, 2012
11:14 am

I used to never despise Auburn or Alabama. I always viewed them as quality opponents who played with class. After Fairley’s hit on Murray — I started hating Auburn because you could see the program and Chizik were encouraging it. I’ve been laughing my butt off ever since because Auburn and Chizik got what they deserved — especially at the hands of UGA (karma baby). Unless Saban takes the appropriate action against Dial, I will feel the same about Bama — a dirty program that cheats. Yes, trying to deliberately take a star player out of the game is cheating. SEC or no SEC, maybe ND will get the upset — that would be a good start (unless of course Saban benches Dial), which would be the honorable and courageous thing to do).

bamafan

December 17th, 2012
12:16 pm

Funny how your perception of eye gouging has changed in the three years since you raised hell about the Florida player eye gouging the UGA running back. Dial’s hit was clean ….no flag…..no suspension. Some one needs to coach Aaron Murray about what to do when he throws an interception.

Blitz

December 17th, 2012
1:13 pm

Dawg fan, here. Dial led with his shoulder and made contact with his helmet. It happens. The hit wasn’t late and the hit wasn’t unnecessary. Throw the flag for helmet-to-helmet and end the story. FWIW, the same could be said for the SCar DB earlier in the season. Suspension was ridiculous in that instance. The only suspension that was justified was the MMA move from the Bama player. Completely obvious in that instance that malicious intent was involved.

AFDawg

December 17th, 2012
4:44 pm

bamafan, You have to be kidding me — even the head of SEC officials said it should have been a penalty. He said it wasn’t called because the ref was focused on something else. How stupid can you be — oh yeah, you’re from Alabama, I almost forgot.

After further review

December 17th, 2012
10:32 pm

Fopr what it’s worth: since he’s a defensive lineman, there should be a running play or two in the playbook that would allow two offensive linemen a shot at him next possession. Perhaps getting sandwiched a couple of plays in a row would teach him the downside of cheap shopts on your QB.

Lamar

December 18th, 2012
1:57 am

IF I AM ANOTHER COACH AND ONE OF MY PLAYERS GET SUSPENDED FOR HEAD SHOTS, THEN THERE IS NO WAY I HONOR THEM TELLING ONE OF MY GUYS TO SET OUT A WEEK!! REASON?? I WOULD TELL THE SCUM BAGS I WANT THE SAME TREATMENT AS DIAL GOT!! NONE!!!! ALABAMA IS THE GOLDEN CHILD BUT THEY ARE ABOUT TO CRASH AND BURN!!! BESIDES I BET THEY DON’T WANT ANYMORE OF GA!! CAN WE HAVE A REMATCH LIKE THEY GOT LAST YEAR?? NO!! WHY?? BECAUSE WE ARE GA!! ENOUGH Said!!

Still hurting from the humiliating beatdown by Bama

December 18th, 2012
8:41 am

32-28
32-28
32-28
32-28
32-28
32-28
32-28
32-28
32-28
32-28
32-28
32-28
32-28
32-28
32-28
32-28

No Problem

December 18th, 2012
10:39 am

Next time we play the tree killing tea baggers, take a late, cheap, to the head, shot; and leave their QB twitching on the field.
That will send the message that the SEC won’t.

No Problem

December 18th, 2012
10:40 am

4 points is a himiliating beatdown.
Bamatards are good at math.

No Problem

December 18th, 2012
10:41 am

No Problem

December 18th, 2012
10:42 am

**humiliating

Too bad, so sad

December 18th, 2012
3:19 pm

When you take the humiliating beatdowns by South Carolina and Alabama and add in the incredibly humiliating loss to Iona, the dawggies will be in mourning for many months.

That is sooooooooooo sad. ;-)

After further review

December 18th, 2012
9:52 pm

Personally, I would not charaterize 32-28 and driving for the winning score whentime elapsed much of a beatdown. A tough loss the way thinngs played out, but hardly a beatdown.

BigDawg

December 19th, 2012
11:31 am

First off the person who should be fired is the official who was looking at the play and called nothing. Next this entire officiating crew should be suspended for deciding the outcome of the game with no calls against Bama. After the 3rd series their offensive line was not even attempting to block they were grabbing on every play. Next they were spotting the ball forward for Bama and spotting it back on Georgia. They called every tacky penalty on Georgia, it is hard to beat a bad team when the officiating is so one sided much less a great team like Bama has.

AFDawg

December 19th, 2012
3:55 pm

Reports are coming from the Alabama campus that Dial is bragging and laughing about his cheap shot to Murray — he’s actually taken responsibility for playing dirty. I think (or at least I would hope) he would be singing a different song if Murray were laying paralyzed in a hospital from a broken neck. Doesn’t he realize he could have ended a promising quarterback’s career with that blatantly vicious hit? Nobody likes a program that plays dirty and cheats. I’m praying for karma to kick in and for ND to score the upset, or any other karma that might affect Bama down the road. Lord knows karma certainly caught up with Auburn after Fairley’s and company dirty play and cheating. Dirty play and cheating permeated that entire program from the top on down — to see their program disentegrating now is karma at it’s best and well deserved. Whatever happened to playing by the rules with honor? Saban and company don’t know the first thing about that — gray shirt scandal, telling players to move to Alabama so they can recruit them, trying to take out star players with cheap shots — it’s disgusting.

All Saints

December 21st, 2012
8:26 am

In tribute to our beloved martyred Saint Jan Kemp, let’s all bow our heads for a few moments of silent prayer. Thirty years ago, this courageous young lady risked everything to expose the corruption and academic fraud instigated by Vince Dooley, sleazy practices that continue to this day under douchebag coach Mark Richt. Gone but never forgotten, Saint Jan lives on in our hearts and minds as a guiding inspiration and as a symbol of resistance to the malevolent evil and corruption that dwell in Athens.

And now, let us all pray for Saint Jan…
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Thank you, you may now resume your normal activities.

Only one report that matters: 32-28

December 21st, 2012
8:37 am

AFDawg: Reports are coming from the Alabama campus that Dial is bragging and laughing about his cheap shot to Murray.

Sure they are, you liar. Why don’t you post a link to these alleged “reports”?

What a jerk. Another whining, lying leghumper.

funny...

December 21st, 2012
8:48 am

Alabama fans are like spoiled little children.

Listen, no one said hitting the quarterback on an interception isn’t illegal. It was the manner that Dial hit Murray.

No one said that Georgia’s players shouldn’t be suspended or penalized either.

Of all the fans on earth to act like they’ve done it before it should be you.

But then again, you are from Alabama. It’s all you’ve got. Well, that, and Wal-Mart

funny...

December 21st, 2012
8:50 am

Alabama fans talking about lying. Post a link to all of your National Championships as supported by the NCAA

LOL, that’s what I thought.

Not sure why Alabama fans have such a chip on their shoulder. You’ve had all this success and you act like South Carolina.