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
Oh really?
November 17th, 2010
3:23 pm
THE CATHOLIC HAMMER
Only one Pac-10 team has won the championship in the past 30 years.
You were saying?
Bo Knows
November 17th, 2010
3:25 pm
Bo knows that Herschel could kick his @ss! Roll Tide!!!
THE CATHOLIC HAMMER
November 17th, 2010
3:29 pm
Oh really?
Two: USC and Washington.
You folks don’t know college football, like I said.
IDIOTS.
Also, Arizona State went undefeated in ‘70 and ‘75 and are regarded as “mythical National Champs” some less-than authoritative polls.
You people need to just shut the F up if you don’t know what you’re talking about.
Anti Richt Hit Squad
November 17th, 2010
3:32 pm
When are you going to call Richt out for his sending a hit squad out for Fairley. Richt is the one that caused the game to get out of hand at the end. He talks the talk but doesn’t walk the walk….brought the FSU thug mentality to Georgia from day one.
JBosh
November 17th, 2010
3:36 pm
Wow even the geaogia media are crying…lol…Please don’t report about all that is wrong with GA dawgs….Oh well you always have next year…hope you get by GT and not completely embarrass the SEC.
Oh really?
November 17th, 2010
3:38 pm
“Two: USC and Washington.”
USC had their only one revoked. LSU won it in 20003.
Washington????? LOL!!!!! When?
I don’t see Washington on this list.
http://www.collegefootballpoll.com/champions_national.html
Oh really?
November 17th, 2010
3:39 pm
“You people need to just shut the F up if you don’t know what you’re talking about.”
Make us.
Oh really?
November 17th, 2010
3:39 pm
“You folks don’t know college football, like I said.”
You give stupid a whole new meaning.
Oh really?
November 17th, 2010
3:40 pm
“Also, Arizona State went undefeated in ‘70 and ‘75 and are regarded as “mythical National Champs” some less-than authoritative polls.”
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH
THE CATHOLIC HAMMER
November 17th, 2010
3:41 pm
Oh really? just proved my point.
In my life, I have noticed that given enough time, the idiots always prove themselves to idiots. I have him the rope, and he hanged himself.
If anyone ever pays attention to “Oh really” ever again, I will consider them idiots as well, and discount their opinion 100%.
Oh really?
November 17th, 2010
3:42 pm
“just proved my point.”
Yes, you proved that you are a moron.
“the idiots always prove themselves to idiots. I have him the rope, and he hanged himself.”
So you are a klanner.
THE CATHOLIC HAMMER
November 17th, 2010
3:47 pm
Only an idiot would associate someone with the name “Catholic Hammer” with the notoriously anti-Catholic Ku Klux Klan.
Oh really?
November 17th, 2010
3:49 pm
Only a klanner would make references to hanging people.
Catholic Hammer molests little boys.
smokewagon
November 17th, 2010
3:49 pm
A – Alabama
U – Usually
B – Beats
U – Us
R – Red
N – Necks
Blog Security
November 17th, 2010
3:50 pm
Oh really?
Idiot Tech Poster-Ran off from Barnhardt blog earlier.
The Truth
November 17th, 2010
3:51 pm
Amen!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Pac-10 is a third rate football conference
November 17th, 2010
3:52 pm
Oregon is overrated.
Bobby
November 17th, 2010
3:54 pm
Ha. This rivalry was never friendly.Years ago I went to an Auburn-UGA game. I was a little kid, WAY before Chizik was at Auburn. A UGA fan threw food at me after the game. Who knows why. I was a little kid. So don’t try to blame this on Chizik. UGA fans didn’t help by setting toomer’s on fire and they smashed plants next to my dorm.
Perry
November 17th, 2010
3:54 pm
SEC Vegas connection is real. Eevery year, the SEC darling gets favortism from the ref’s, been Alabama, LSU (remeber the Georgia game refs?), Florida, now it’s Auburn’s year.
Here are just a few of the many things the refs TOTALY MISSED in the Auburn Georgia game:
1- Onside kick should have been overturned–the kicker touched it too fast
2- Fumble by Cam on the goal-line 9even the tv announcers called it)
3- Pass interference on Georgia (phantom call if I’ve ever seen one)
4- 10 penalities on a Georgia team who averages 5 a game?????
5- Missed calls on 3 illegal hits by Nick Fairley
Observer
November 17th, 2010
3:55 pm
USC winning the SEC with 3 losses, eliminating AU from the MNC game, would be poetic justice. The FBI getting to the bottom of the Newton saga will be real justice. Unfortunately, as with Reggie Bush, it will take a while.
j
November 17th, 2010
4:00 pm
you are so dumb
FACTS
November 17th, 2010
4:01 pm
Oregon has only played 2 winning teams.
UGA is horrible.
Bama is going to lose 3 games this year.
SoCal Dawg
November 17th, 2010
4:08 pm
Are you kidding me!? Haven’t we talked this to death? I think Fairly is genuinely dirty and no one will be able to convince me otherwise. And to answer someone’s earlier question yes I do believe he was trying to hurt Murry, by the way it’s not because we lost. Nobody really thought we were going to win in the first place. Also I would have rather lost with Cam playing then win with him on the bench.The SEC has spoken so move on.
SavAU
November 17th, 2010
4:15 pm
So for the record…GA fans think that AU is a second rate program? I will sympathize with you for a second because you guys are still grieving the loss of Staford and Moreano, but other than that…WAKE UP. As a AU fan (and Richt fan) I think it is sad most of the posts are basically saying that AU (Fairley) was PLAYING too hard. That is all it is. How many of you actually played High School football? College Football? Then some of you know that it is the intent of most players to “hurt the guy with the ball” That is meant and said in a figurative way almost everytime. It is a proven fact that injuries or if your not playing 100% due to the fact that your opponent is… To say Nick was trying too hard is just not right as a football fan in general. I am not defending the hit to the back, because it was a stupid foul and hurt the AU team and defense at the time, but these are kids. Kids that want to play as well as possible every down of every game. Reality check folks…kids make mistakes. As far as the end of the game goes. Well, the hit to the shin was actually caused by a hold and a takedown by the OL that was trying to block him (and a double team OL that was a little late) and was by all means on accident. Did it cross the line? No. Was it the straw that broke the dawgs back? Yes. I live in GA and have met many GA fans throughout this season that would say the same things. Losing hurts and can cause stress. So can getting illegal chopblocks and double teams with punches (open hand basic blocking tech) to the gut (which are legal if done between the whistle)
As for the taunting and Nick is concerned…flip the page to #18 and see Rambo
Gregg
November 17th, 2010
4:19 pm
So… who’s your coach going to be next year UGA?
SoCal Dawg
November 17th, 2010
4:23 pm
Mark Richt
Rick S
November 17th, 2010
4:25 pm
It’s time that Georgia fans quit thinking the rivalry with Auburn is just a good old friendly rival because it’s not- A true Georgia fan hates Auburn as bad as they hate Florida! Auburn’s continued recruiting of thugs and low academic student athletes from the state of Georgia who do not qualify academically for entrance to UGA is crap and is lifting Auburn Football to unrealistic and unfair heights. I have always said if it was not for the players Auburn recruits from Georgia can you imagine the quality or lack-of their program. One day soon when the NCAA slams the hammer down on that red-neck school things will change for the better! Why the recruits who have a chance to go to Georgia and receive a high-quality education and help lift Georgia to championship caliber program where it belongs, elects to go to Auburn, I am confused but on the other hand when you watch thugs like Nick Fairley it all becomes very clear! Can’t wait until next year when Auburn visits Athens!
embarrassing dawgs
November 17th, 2010
4:46 pm
JUST IN THE FBI IS LOOKING AT A KNOWN MILLION AIRE OWNER OF VICTORLAND GIVING MILLIONS TO AUBURN AND CAM NEWTON’S FAMILY.$$$PROBATION IS COMING$$$.
powerhouse?
November 17th, 2010
4:51 pm
Did the dogs do something illegal when about half the team stormed the field evidently looking for a fight? Did you guys even get a flag?
Dogs funny…pay a team that grows potatoes to take a dive and continue your known tendency to be the most penalized team around and you lucked out.
Too bad you did not luck out on the score.
phil
November 17th, 2010
4:58 pm
Auburn could have beaten UGA with their 2nd string. There was no need to play dirty.
Joe
November 17th, 2010
5:01 pm
Anybody see this http://www.wtvm.com/Global/story.asp?S=13521233 on Cam Newton?
Gen Neyland
November 17th, 2010
5:04 pm
Dadgumit. Hate to put it his way but had you people up in arms over Fairley’s game against UGA had watched the AU-LSU game, you would have known what was coming down the track. Same and similar behavior. Dancing around when he knocked out Lee in the 2nd qtr, a hit on Jefferson that was beyond the whistle by 2 plus seconds…Whatdaya expect, that he’d let up on your QB..? If only the SEC office had stepped in earlier, huh..? We’ll see if Fairley has learned how to put on the brakes in the Iron Bowl.
UGA92
November 17th, 2010
5:10 pm
the friendly rivalry has certainly changed after last week’s game. Athens will not be a very hospitable place for Auburn fans next year. I think the Sanford grounds crew needs to make sure those fire hoses are ready to go. Let’s give em a bit of their own medicine.
listen to the dawgs whine
November 17th, 2010
5:12 pm
Question: where where the georgia people in 07 when the UGA d line was doing everything it could to make sure that Tebow’s shoulder felt as much pain as possible?
Answer: They were on the other side of this arguement.
THE REAL ANSWER TO YOUR PROBLEMS FAIRLEY HATERS IS TO MAKE SURE HE IS A NON-FACTOR IN THE GAME. Problem is….no one can seem to do that. So, in the spirit of today’s society, rather than making sure it doesn’t happen to us….let’s just whine…
what is so funny is that uga has the best offensive line in the 10 years of mark richt and murray still got pulverized. THAT’S THE REAL PROBLEM…..
Freddie
November 17th, 2010
5:17 pm
A great video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H7mGTZ_k838
Snack Shack
November 17th, 2010
5:34 pm
I told my wife today “I don’t think I’d want to be an Auburn football player, or fan, and go to Athens next November to play the Dawgs”. Unfriendly may be mild.
JB
November 17th, 2010
5:45 pm
As the song say’s, it will soon be hammer time…..Boy, it’s getting out fast……I don’t know about the death penalty, but 3-4 years probation and I say at least the loose of 15 scholarships.
JB
November 17th, 2010
5:46 pm
that’s Loss
Everybody Hates Georgia
November 17th, 2010
5:52 pm
the Refs and god does too. Fleabag nation always crying about something when they lose.
embarrassing dawgs
November 17th, 2010
5:55 pm
TMZ.COM IS REPORTING A BIG AUBURN BOOSTER MILTON McGREGOR OWER OF VICTORLAND GAVE MILLIONS TO AUBURN AND THOUSANDS TO NEWTON’S FAMILY. FBI IS REPORTING THIS. THE DEATH PENALTLY IS COMING AUBURN!!!
trupert
November 17th, 2010
5:56 pm
Bill, Thank’s for calling it like it is. Yes the rilvary has changed atleast until Auburn brings in it’s next coach and that depend on him having integrity and class.
It has just gotta suck to finaly be in position for a NCG and knowing that you still don’t have any respect or class and this while dealing with the readheaded step child sendrome of being the second best in your state in 8 out of every 10 years.
Everybody Hates Georgia
November 17th, 2010
5:58 pm
Thanks for the video Freddie.
Everybody Hates Georgia
November 17th, 2010
5:59 pm
TMZ? HAHA
SoCal Dawg
November 17th, 2010
6:06 pm
Freddie – I love UGA. But that is hilarious. If you can’t laugh at that you’re to up tight. That’s funny… I don’t care who you are.
Beast from the East
November 17th, 2010
6:07 pm
Bill,
I cannot believe you are jumping on the conspiracy theory bandwagon! I know you write the UGA blog, but you are supposed to be a journalist…..not a “sidewalk fan” throwing accusations around whenever UGA loses. Yes, Fairley had several unsportsman-like plays. So did UGA with the cut-blocking. It was an intense game and emotions got a little out of hand at the end. Kind of like Coach Grantham at the end of the UF/UGA game. But that would not suit your argument would it?
Grow up and quit being a poor loser. Your alma mater deserves to be better represented than that!
tigergirl
November 17th, 2010
6:07 pm
This is a pathetic, biased article. So delusional that Auburn did all wrong and Georgia did nothing. Take a look at your own team. PATHETIC!
kybodawg
November 17th, 2010
6:07 pm
guess who broke the story about tiger woods? tmz sounds pretty credible to me. but yall hired chizik because of his character not his coaching. haha
Big L
November 17th, 2010
6:15 pm
Is Milton the Yella Wood guy?
Texas Dawg
November 17th, 2010
6:16 pm
Why does anyone connected to, or who loves UGA (I’m a 1981 UGA grad) even WANT to maintain a “friendly rivalry” with any team we play, especially a conference school. Friends are fine for academic work and administrative issues, but on the fields and court of play, we are “enemies.” We don’t like Auburn, Florida, Alabama, LSU, South Carolina, Tennessee, etc., and they don’t like us. And that’s as it should be. I’m tired of Georgia people saying that now, after Saturday’s dirty game, Auburn vs. Georgia will never again be considered a “friendly rivalry.” We never should have thought of it that way in the first place. Our job is to try and beat their brains out, all the time, EVERY time. Auburn plays dirty. Auburn cheats. The SEC will do nothing about it. Is any of this really breaking news anywhere. I’m the first guy to say we ought to play clean and do things right. But I want our teams (not just football, but all our athletic teams) and coaches to play their games with a friggin chip on their shoulders. We can be friends at the after-party. Go Dawgs and THWGT!
Ga Fan
November 17th, 2010
6:24 pm
Why are Auburn fans so obnoxious? Most sports bar owners will tell you that more fights break out during a Auburn vs Ga or Auburn vs Alabama game than a Ga vs Alabama game. That is because there is mutual respect among Alabama and Ga fans. Auburn gets no respect because their fans are obnoxious.
Auburn won…get over it and get off the Junkyard blawg.