Did anyone really expect the SEC to come down hard on Auburn?
Gene Chizik, getting a Gatorade bath from Cam Newton and other AU players, has taken the "friendly" out of the rivalry with UGA. (Associated Press)
Auburn looks like the SEC’s best shot at having a team in this year’s BCS championship game, which also would help the conference’s chances of getting two teams into BCS bowls. And that translates to a lot of dollars for the conference.
Nick Fairley is a big part of Auburn’s success on the field.
So should anyone really be surprised that the SEC chose not to suggest Auburn suspend its defensive headhunter for the blatant spearing in the back that was only the most egregious of several late hits he delivered to Georgia quarterback Aaron Murray?
Instead, the conference is handling the matter “internally with the institution.” That means any disciplinary action is up to Gene Chizik, the same guy who during the fracas at the end of the game with the Dogs was stirring it up on the sideline and allowing Fairley and one of his assistant coaches to dance in celebration on the field.
Asked by The Macon Telegraph what he thought of the conference’s inaction on the matter, UGA athletic director Greg McGarity said, “I probably better not comment on that. I need to stay away from that. I don’t want to get into any type of trouble or conflict with the conference office.”
Which is a diplomatic way of saying he thought the conference blew it.
I’ll say one thing for Chizik: He’s changed a lot of UGA fans’ view of the so-called friendly rivalry between Georgia and Auburn, as Darrell Huckaby notes on the Dawbone site. Said Huckaby: “I think Gene Chizik has taken the friendly out of the rivalry forever — not because he played a player who most of the nation feels will eventually prevent the Tigers from being able to count the victory in their long and storied history, but because of the way he and his team conducted themselves throughout the contest and particularly at the end.”
I’m sure Darrell will be bombarded with AU hate mail for that, as have any of us who’ve questioned any of the actions of Tiger players and coaches.
Speaking of which, has there ever been a more thin-skinned bunch than Auburn fans, who have been all over the blogosphere and talk shows the past few days trying to equate Bulldogs players running out on the field with Fairley’s cheap shots and taunting?
I like the way MrSEC put it: “Auburn fans need to stop trying to defend the indefensible. As if a team dancing on someone’s logo is reason enough to risk injuring someone. How incredibly stupid. … By defending Fairley’s helmet-to-back shot, it makes it appear as though AU fans would defend anything and everything done by someone in navy [and] orange.”
But I guess that’s what comes from being perpetually the second-ranked program in your state thanks to the school over in Tuscaloosa.
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444 comments Add your comment
Rob
November 17th, 2010
12:53 pm
I’m not sure any rivalry that resulted in one side putting water hoses to the other years ago could be described as “friendly.”
Kyle
November 17th, 2010
12:54 pm
Kevin….you talk like auburn is some kind of dynasty program….like you grace the BCS on a regular basis……what a moron….
UGA Alumnus
November 17th, 2010
12:54 pm
“But I guess that’s what comes from being perpetually the second-ranked program in your state thanks to the school over in Tuscaloosa.”
Bill, what are you talking about? Auburn is 6-2 against ‘Bama the past 8 seasons.
and have you lost your mind?
“stirring it up on the sideline and allowing Fairley and one of his assistant coaches to dance in celebration on the field.”
The coach was CLEARLY trying to get Fairley off the field. He was trying to grab Fairley and pull him to the sideline. What did you think his emphatic gesturing to the bench meant as he chased Fairley down?
Wow sometimes, Bill, you’re a boob.
Why all this whinning? Because we are the best team in college football and if we’d have just pulled it out during those SIX losses then we’d be playing for a national championship?
Rob
November 17th, 2010
12:55 pm
And I just saw the “second-ranked program” line, as well.
OK, but this second-ranked program has schooled UGA to the tune of 54–52–8.
OJ Simpson
November 17th, 2010
12:56 pm
Does Murray wear red panties as well
Another Saint Simons
November 17th, 2010
12:56 pm
I am a Georgia alum but I believe that a lot of Georgia fans are reacting badly to Saturday’s game. I just don’t believe that Georgia fans or players, for that matter, would have reacted any differently than Auburn fans did. Also, the rivalry between Ga and Auburn is still a wonderful rivalry. I have cousins who graduated from UGA and cousins who graduated from Auburn. We don’t hate each other and we never will. Let’s have some perspective about this. As for the football aspect, Georgia needs to get better; more physical on both the offensive and defensive fronts. Perhaps then Georgia can compete for a championship. Go Dawgs!!
5150 P.O.A.D
November 17th, 2010
12:56 pm
Jeff
I HATE UGA with a passion, but I do respect their win-loss record against the Team I pull for, but I never prayed for Hershel Walker, D Greene, AJ, Pollack, or Murray to be hurt for life. If FAIRLEY had injuried your child I could see you point, but You are just a FANatic of a College football team. If you really do PRAY, then PRAY for the Troops, our Leaders, Fire & Police to do waht is BEST for the Country & get home safe to their families. God decides who needs punishment for LIFE not some A.Hole UGA fan.
Bleeds Blue and Orange
November 17th, 2010
12:58 pm
You UGA fans don’t give up. I hope you lose to Tech just so we don’t have to hear about you for a year. If you lose to Tech maybe ya’ll can have a intersquad game like your spring game. A bunch of grown babies.
Kyle
November 17th, 2010
12:58 pm
UGA Alum….I can only hope and pray you are not a UGA alum…..I am not sure what game you were watching but it clearly wasnt the UGA-AU game….you are the boob and clearly no UGA fan….if you are an alum…you are an embarrassment to those of us who really are
Lint
November 17th, 2010
12:58 pm
Suddenly, UGA becomes the beacon of playing SEC football in a “gentlemanly” way?
Talk about living in a glass house…
Anotherview
November 17th, 2010
12:59 pm
I won’t try to defend Fairley’s late hits. He was appropriately penalized for the hit in the back. The helmet to the knee was football. Anyone objectively watching the game knows that. As for the end of the game, I wonder if Bill King was there? Chizik was doing what Richt should have been doing – keeping his team on the sideline. Trooper Taylor went on the field to get Fairley off it. It also comes across as whiney when you rail about Fairley and AU’s dirty play and completely ignore the fact that the first PF of the game was called on a UGA player – on the opening kick-off no less. I won’t even get into the logo stomping stuff during pre-game. The apparent fact is Richt wanted a high intensity game. Looks to me like he got it. If you can’t stand the heat, don’t go in the kitchen. Either way, quit whining about it. Doesn’t do your team or school justice.
Power Of Dixieland
November 17th, 2010
1:00 pm
Because you never played the game, you can never understand. It’s tough. On the O and D line, it’s nasty. And after the first play, it’s personal.
Larry
November 17th, 2010
1:00 pm
This just makes me laugh. You GA fans can’t let it go, can you? Try looking in the mirror you bunch of losers.
Can’t you just admit your program is in shambles and you can’t blame anyone but yourselves and your sorry program?
Pitiful.
Honky Talkin'
November 17th, 2010
1:01 pm
If Georgia had a good team this year and beat Auburn, no one would be whining about the hit.
Auburn Got it Coming
November 17th, 2010
1:01 pm
I have watched college football for 30 or more years and never have I watched a team play as dirty as Auburn played against UGA.All you Auburn fans know ii’s coming,so don’t act stupid.Tuberville left because he would not allow alums to pay players,so Chizik is the only dumb ass who would agree to such trash.IT’S COMING AUBURN IT’S COMING AND IT AINT GONNA BE PRETTY !!!!!!!!!!!!!!
how2fish
November 17th, 2010
1:02 pm
5150 P.O.A.D same B.S Fairley doesn’t get a flag for driving Murray into the ground and your all well the ref didn’t call it so it was just football…did you see any flags on the plays you mentioned…didn’t think so …man it suxs when folks hold you to the standard you use…
Anotherview
November 17th, 2010
1:03 pm
LOL!! That’s a good one Got It Coming. Wow. And I thought Bama fans were eat up with it.
UGA Alumnus
November 17th, 2010
1:03 pm
@Rob
November 17th, 2010
12:53 pm
Why did everyone turn delusional this week? Or has it been this way all along and it took this loss to really bring it out?
Don’t you remember why Auburn turned on the irrigation system? Because even after the announcers asked the fans to stay off the playing field at the end of the game, our fans stormed the field anyway. We don’t allow fans Between the Hedges, and they don’t allow fans on the field at Jordan-Hare.
But you’re right about one thing, this rivalry has always been heated. But it’s still more friendly than others.
Anotherview
November 17th, 2010
1:05 pm
Alumnus, I’ve always enjoyed the oldest rivalry in the deep south. And to my recollection, the fans on both sides, for the most part, have always respected one another and been very gracious and civil.
Larry
November 17th, 2010
1:05 pm
are you queers just mad that Cam didn’t come to play Tight End at GA?
timthebrave
November 17th, 2010
1:06 pm
Even if Auburn wins a nc or sec championship it will be taken away. Just imagine watching the BCS Championship knowing that if Auburn wins it will be only temporary. If Auburn thinks that Cam Newton father claiming his son didn’t know will fly with the NCAA you are fooling yourself. We lost…No excuses….But your season will stink worse…I’m rooting for Alabama just because I know what will happen if you win anything
Jaded_n_cynical
November 17th, 2010
1:06 pm
Oh my, would you look at all the idle chatter about who-did-what. Obviously, there’s some lingering naivete out there amongst the readership.
People, one last time: Absolutely, positively *everything* is about either money or sex. Everything. Keep repeating this mantra for all situations, and you’ll stay ahead of the game.
11 Arrests 5 Wins
November 17th, 2010
1:07 pm
BWWWWHHHHHHHHAAAAAAAA!!!!! bwHHHAAAAAAAAHHHHHHH!!!!!
Eaassyy
November 17th, 2010
1:07 pm
5150-
How does it feel to live vicariously through Auburn and Florida? if only your Techie packed half the punch, huh?
Jeff
November 17th, 2010
1:08 pm
5150….yes, I do really pray…and pray for those you mentioned first and foremost. My child DOES happen to play…and there is NO room in this or any sport for the likes of Fineley. You’re right, had it been my son he hurt, we would not have to worry about what the SEC did or did not do….the names you also mention, NEVER conducted themselves like this moron did. That you even mentioned their names along with Fairley is a slap in anyones face that loves this game and has kids that play.
timthebrave
November 17th, 2010
1:08 pm
Auburn…tell me if it’s worth it when you are on probation and your titles, wins, scholarships get stripped. You know it’s coming and sticking the middle finger up at the NCAA is just going to make it worse
JoeDon
November 17th, 2010
1:08 pm
Sadly, Bulldogs fans have been reduced to making up any story or excuse to explain the simple fact that UGA’s program sucks due to rotten coaching. Even sadder, the program won’t be any better next year.
timthebrave
November 17th, 2010
1:09 pm
Auburn fans…Do you really think just because Cam Newton’s father is saying that his son didn’t know it will fly…Really
HAHAHHAAH!!!!!!
November 17th, 2010
1:10 pm
BigCountry
You’re team isn’t going to a bowl game this year.
Nuff said.
Anotherview
November 17th, 2010
1:10 pm
Hey timthebrave, since you obviously know every detail about Cam Newton’s college career, how about getting with the NCAA and ending this saga. Better yet, get a job with ESPN. You fit their ilk perfectly. You have no facts, but you’re comfortable declaring the outcome. I think you’ve got a solid career ahead of you.
5150 P.O.A.D
November 17th, 2010
1:11 pm
AUBURN Got it
Aand UGA hasn’t had it coming? You are to Funny. UGA is getting what they have been giving.
You must not remember the 1984 Clemson 26 UGA 23 win in Athens. That was a DIRTY DIRTY game by both teams and UGA cried that the REFS stole the game from UGA then too.
HAHAHHAAH!!!!!!
November 17th, 2010
1:11 pm
“IT’S COMING AUBURN IT’S COMING AND IT AINT GONNA BE PRETTY !!!!!!!!!!!!!!”
Are you an FBI insider?
11 Arrests 5 Wins
November 17th, 2010
1:12 pm
Maybe is your over rated, over hyped O line could protect your over rated, over hyped QB; you could shut up about this.
HAHAHHAAH!!!!!!
November 17th, 2010
1:13 pm
timthebrave
Unless you have inside info on this situation, please do us all a favor and shut up.
UGA Alumnus
November 17th, 2010
1:13 pm
@Kyle
November 17th, 2010
12:58 pm
What did I say that would be an embarrassment to other UGA alumni? Is it embarrassing that I’m not delusional?
We got beat by a better Auburn team. We’ve lost SIX games this season. I think we might actually be the best 5-6 team in the nation right now, but we are still FIVE and SIX!
Fairley had some flagrant hits on Murray. It sucked. But we played Auburn well. They beat us because they are the better team. They are likely the best team in the nation right now. And we are not.
I’m a proud Dawg, and am actually wearing a UGA shirt as I type this. I love the University of Georgia and I love Athens. But I can also see clearly through all this emotional blindness that has taken hold of the Bulldog Nation.
Snap out of it people. You’re making us look pathetic. Football is a vicious sport. It’s not for babies.
Big Al
November 17th, 2010
1:13 pm
When the smoke clears, Auburn will be known as Auburnt.
how2fish
November 17th, 2010
1:14 pm
5150 P.O.A.D you know what would really be Karma if UGA takes out what Auburn deserves to get on the Bugs…now that’s KARMA!
HAHAHHAAH!!!!!!
November 17th, 2010
1:14 pm
For all the idiot UGA fans shouting about how Cam is the only thing Auburn has…
McCalebb is Auburn’s x-factor
http://www.al.com/sports/index.ssf/2010/11/blogger_roundtable_mccalebb_is.html
Robert Sinnott
November 17th, 2010
1:14 pm
This is a Florida fan. I have no favorite in the Auburn / Georgia battle, although I rooted for Georgia in the game because they’re SEC East. But to make any defense of Nick Fairley’s play is absurd.
He absolutely lifts and drives quarterbacks into the ground, exactly the way Florida State’s defensive ends did back in the 1990s.
HAHAHHAAH!!!!!!
November 17th, 2010
1:15 pm
“When the smoke clears, Auburn will be known as Auburnt.”
LOL!!!! Gotta love the inbred bama fans.
THIRTY FOUR POINTS to your thirty one points
November 17th, 2010
1:15 pm
and to make things even worse,
((((((((((((((((((((((((34-31))))))))))))))))))))
18 out of 21
8 out of 11
3 straight
1eyedJack
November 17th, 2010
1:16 pm
You don’t kill the “Goose that lays the golden egg”, and this year it’s Awbun who is “honking” loudest.
Money talks and cheaters walk.
Dorsey Hill
November 17th, 2010
1:16 pm
There was a time that I naively believed in the integrity of the sports and sports in general. Then I watched the Pitt/WV a few years ago when WV needed to win to play in the BCS title game. You cannot convince me that the refs were not trying to earn it’s conference that additional $ for a title appearance. It was blatantly obvious. Having witnessed that first hand it is impossible for me to discount the notion that decisions regarding Newton and Fairley are directly connected to the value Auburn represents to the conference should they win the next two games.
Ralph
November 17th, 2010
1:16 pm
This BLOG and these posts are indicative of how low thUGA fans are. thUGA fans and tornadoes have a lot in common – eventually they both will end up in the same trailer park.
HAHAHHAAH!!!!!!
November 17th, 2010
1:17 pm
1eyedJack
Have fun watching everyone else go to a bowl game this year.
timthebrave
November 17th, 2010
1:18 pm
Anotherview, Cecil Newton admitted to trying to get money from miss state but said his son knew nothing about it…Look it up…No better yet…stick you head back in the sand…buy the sec championship t shirt…just don’t be surprised when the NCAA hits you with probation
Courtney
November 17th, 2010
1:18 pm
Anyone that has to live in Auburn, AL has had pnishment enough. That part of the world is lame. When WALMART is your mall then how else can you punish these people?
HAHAHHAAH!!!!!!
November 17th, 2010
1:19 pm
timthebrave
Have fun watching everyone else go to a bowl game.
Anotherview
November 17th, 2010
1:19 pm
Dorsey, that’s a fair observation and perhaps partially true. But you also have to remember that AU was in contact with the SEC and NCAA long before they became an apparent cash cow (pardon the pun) and, frankly, before Cam Newton even stepped on the field at AU. You might be right that the decisions currently being made are being influenced by the potential dollar impact. But while we’re just now having this story “broken” to us by the media, the story is actually a year old.
HAHAHHAAH!!!!!!
November 17th, 2010
1:19 pm
“Anyone that has to live in Auburn, AL has had pnishment enough. That part of the world is lame. When WALMART is your mall then how else can you punish these people?”
Yeah, they enjoy lower taxes, no traffic, less crime…….
BTW, Walmart is EVERYWHERE.