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
Lo
November 17th, 2010
6:25 pm
Excuse me to all the GA fans that are calling auburn “classless” look at the facts…both teams were giving late hits, dirty play ect. Just look at the stats. Nick Fairly did not become one of the best defensive players for nothing. He did NOT do anything that deserved a suspension. A player can be suspended for a late hit to the head or neck area not back or legs. Look at the rule book. Stop making excuses. On another note, if burning toomer’s is not classless, then please tell me what is.
NashDawg
November 17th, 2010
6:28 pm
As great grandmother used to say, everything comes clean wash day. It will one day hit Auburn, Chizik and company in the face. I suspect it will start hitting the fan when they find out someone at Auburn paid cash for Cams services. No chief I never thought the SEC would come down hard on Auburn. I am sick of the SEC and hope Oregon wins the whole thing. Go Dawgs….Next year it is on.
Eddie
November 17th, 2010
6:48 pm
I am an old time Auburn fan but have always been a follower and supporter of Georgia in their games. I was disappointed in how this game was played on both sides of the ball. I think it shows in the number of personal fouls called during the game, with 6 against each side. I wont defend Nicks hit on your quarterback anymore than a normal Georgia fan would defend the chop block penalty called on a Georgia player against Fairley. It’s unfortunate the game ended the way it did, and actually, both teams disgraced the history of this rivalry. War Eagle, and go Dawgs beat GT!
PTC DAWG
November 17th, 2010
6:51 pm
F’ the BARN
wildbill
November 17th, 2010
6:57 pm
Maybe GA. should quit and join the ACC.
No Auburn fan
November 17th, 2010
7:07 pm
Thats easy. Auburn fans are simply stupid.
Dumb Alabama Redneck Republicans.. I hear that their women give good had though. The lack of teeth and no brain really makes the experience unusual.
Fairly should have been suspended for the remainder of the year. The SEC is ran by greddy scum almost to the level of MLB.
ChainConsq
November 17th, 2010
7:21 pm
It’s official…Auburn fans are stupid
willdawg
November 17th, 2010
7:21 pm
Hey HAHA, Saint Simmons, nerd boy whatever your name is,
When Duke upsets you and the Dawgs show you who still runs this state, you can go back to World of Warcraft or Dungeons and Dragons.
Anyone else notice that Chizik is Urban Meyer like at end of game. Where’d Gene go to School
UF of Course. So FU UF!!
Go Dawgs!!
Beast from the East
November 17th, 2010
7:26 pm
willdawg,
Very classy. Mom would be proud.
Dennis
November 17th, 2010
7:44 pm
You screwed up the rivalry in 2007 soulja boy! You lose you cry. Get a big box a tissue because your not winning anything anytime soon.
autiger83
November 17th, 2010
8:27 pm
Heres a novel idea dawg fans. Get an offensive line that can BLOCK. if that doesnt work, get the quarterback to roll out and pass. Or keep a back in the backfield. I didnt see much of any of that. Murray is a great young QB but when the entire offense is for him to drop back and launch one to AJ, then sometimes he is going to get busted if the OL doesnt do its work.
if ANY of this happens then the whole “Fairley Scandal” wouldn’t have happened. Time to move on ladies.
Judge and Jury
November 17th, 2010
8:28 pm
How many more players were arrested in Athens this week?
trupert
November 17th, 2010
8:29 pm
Well Dennis it won’t be much of a rilvery for years to come because the piece of trash Fairley will be gone and the piece of trash Newton will either be ineligible or off to the NFL and Auburn will be on probation.
Wont be much of a problem to start a new winning streak against the lo class Tigers. See ya in Athens and it’s not gonna be pretty.
autiger83
November 17th, 2010
8:31 pm
God, what an amazing group of whiners and losers. Thats whats fun about beating UGA. You people cry and whine like spanked puppies the whole year. Nobody else in the SEC does that. Only Georgia fans. Amazing.
D'annis
November 17th, 2010
8:43 pm
It’s official…Auburn fans are stupid.
Compared to dawgtards, Auburn fans are PhDs and Rhodes Scholars.
Dawgtards are morons.
icedawg
November 17th, 2010
8:46 pm
We got to move on. I hope that the outcome will be for the SEC to change the rules about hitting in order to protect the qb and receivers from unnecessary hits. It was wrong for all the DAWG players to march out onto the field. Should have been a penalty called on that. It is sometimes difficult for players to control their emotions, but they must.
Boise Fan
November 17th, 2010
8:52 pm
Hey Auburn Cheaters,
I have one thing to say to you cheating SOB’s——THANK YOU FOR PUTTING US IN THE NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP GAME—–Next year NO SCAM,NO DIRTY FAIRLEY,3 YEARS PROBATION = BACK TO THE BOTTOM HALF OF THE SEC WEST
AU=THUGS
November 17th, 2010
9:19 pm
I wouldn’t have felt that way 2 weeks ago, but the way AU has conducted themselves..all the way to the head coach, is pitiful.
The next four beatdowns will be worse than ever for AU.
Jethro Dawg Tull
November 17th, 2010
9:24 pm
autiger83
The point people are trying to make is it’s not that Fairley sacked Murray, it’s how late he was in doing so. Your Ignorance keeps you from seeing the real picture.
tiger killer
November 17th, 2010
9:38 pm
I hope the Auburn team plane crashes and kills the entire scum lot. I HATE everything about that redneck crap hole.
Penny Glover
November 17th, 2010
9:42 pm
Enter your comments here
Bill Stanfill
November 17th, 2010
9:44 pm
The hammer’s gonna fall–and Auburn fans know it. They’re backed into a corner, so they’re lashing out at whatever’s in front of them.
I always thought as the Auburn–UGA rivalry like that between brothers–hard-fought yes, pretty much even, a tough fight but a respectful one. But not the kind that exists between Auburn–Alabama or UGA-Tech. Not anymore. UGA and its fans no longer have an ounce of respect for the whole Cam, Fairley, Chizik led Auburn program.
Penny Glover
November 17th, 2010
9:56 pm
How jealous, & childish Georgia fans r,even set Toomer’s Corner on fire,your players started the fight I am also proud of AU 4 never acting like that when u won,yes they were happy they won if u were this close u would be also, AU has class, Georgia certainly doesn’t. AU has also had the referees against them,many penalties called that SEC later rebuked, & many penalties from opposing teams not called, 3 face mask in 1 game never called,30 yd runs called back etc. they have had a hard time, grow up ! bye the way sense u haven’t noticed, football is a barbaric sport.
Cuz
November 17th, 2010
9:56 pm
This is just plain idiotic. This game has always been one of my favorites because of the cross exchange of coaches and the similarities of the two schools. Both are cow colleges. Dirty play and the response to dirty play just took the fun out of the game for me. I am not telling Chizik how to deal with his players but if I was the coach, notice the I, and my assistant coach tried to get a player off the field and that player refused and strutted instead. I would sit him down for the rest of the game, bring him into my office on Sunday and say, you are out for the rest of the year unless you can prove to me why you will change and listen to your coaches. After the whatever explanation, I would say, you will play, but if you embarass me and this institution one more time, you are done for the season.
It works in the real world, why not here.
Bulldog In Jail
November 17th, 2010
9:58 pm
Could some of you Georgia fans please come to Auburn and bring me bond money so I can get out of jail? I’m the one who set fire to Toomer’s corner after my beloved Bulldogs got their butt’s kicked against Auburn. Thanks very much for your support. Woof Woof! Go Dogs!
IRISH DAWGS
November 17th, 2010
9:59 pm
AUBURN THE DEATH PENALTY IS HEADED YOUR WAY.THE NCAA IS GOING TO MAKE YOU PAY FOR ALL THE CHEATING AND PAYING PLAYER TO PLAY AT AUBURN. AUBURN WILL SUCK NEXT YEAR AND MANY YEARS TO COME.
MIKE T
November 17th, 2010
10:01 pm
If Fairley played for us, Auburn would be claiming the same thing we are.
Gene Chizik is a thug.
Alabama Jack
November 17th, 2010
10:07 pm
Even for a homer, you are a dildo.
Georgia needs to get serious
November 17th, 2010
10:08 pm
AU has class, Georgia certainly doesn’t.
What because you said so? Your nobody.
Georgia needs to get serious
November 17th, 2010
10:13 pm
The Death Penalty is a coming, The Death Penalty is a coming.
That was sad 80,000 plus idiots shaking them puke orange pom poms knowing its
just a matter of time before Cam Shaft brings down their program.
Mike T.
November 17th, 2010
10:16 pm
How many more players were arrested in Athens this week?
Don’t know but we know two in Auburn that needs the cuffs put on them.
Alabama Polytechnic fouls up again
November 17th, 2010
10:22 pm
Auburn was moaning last year when they hired Chizik, and now they will be moaning when they fire him for taking the team down a path of corruption.
Headscratcher
November 17th, 2010
10:25 pm
No particular dog in this hunt, but out of curiosity I watched the comcast replay and I just don’t get what the dog fans are barking about (other than the pain of watching their team take an early lead and blow it.) The Fairley guy had the blatant late hit and was flagged – a play that killed a 3rd down stop and led to a UGA score! The knock to Murray’s knee toward the end was unfortunate but hard to call intentional, and it was UGA that then amped everything up by running over Fairley and mugging him on the ground. Chizik is rooster but at least he kept his team on the sidelines when UGA’s entire team stormed the field to rumble. Very classy move by Richt to take a knee to end it. Other than that it was just another big-game Saturday…the LEAST classy thing about it as far as I can tell is the reaction of Georgia fans here….
Gen Neyland
November 17th, 2010
10:26 pm
Cuz : Comparing the real world to college football..? Well, some coach’s still try to get their men ready for the real world, I guess. But when you’re in the running for the BCSNCG and nothing else matters, ya gotta keep the knuckle-draggers happy.
JLA
November 17th, 2010
10:30 pm
So what you want AU fans but Fairley is a freaking thug who probably can’t even spell his name! Yes Georgia threw a chop block but it was only after he had drilled Murray late 3 prior times with a “no call.” Do you all take pride in this? Apparently your coaches do. Georgia decided if the refs were not going to handle it then they would. I don’t condone intentionally trying to ruin anothers potential career but I am glad our guys stood uo for Murray. I would be concerned if they didn’t. I also don’t care what any of you say, the play in which Murray got hurt was not contributed to Fairley being blocked into Murray. He could have avoided. I DVR’d this game and have gone over the plays several times. He intentionally made contact. I believe in playing agressiveley on D and you have to have a mean streak and toughness in you. However, this was bullsh*#!!
autigers27
November 17th, 2010
10:33 pm
Why is everyone hating nick fairly we are playing tackle football a QB should not be protected from getting hit a late hit yes but if a d lineman is coming for the qb and he let’s the ball go just before he gets there than the defensive player is supposed to finish the hit not stop and avoid the QB at all costs and get up and say good throw man your really good its football men not ballet. And the blow to the back was wrong and a flag was thrown. And UGA has no right to call anyone classless I’ve been to the au uga game in athens and was treated like pure crap also remember soldier boy the whole team dancing on the sideline yea that’s class let me tell you.
Red
November 17th, 2010
10:36 pm
Dawgs can only blame themselves for the loss to Auburn. They should have been wearing their lucky red panties.
Alabama Polytechnic fouls up again
November 17th, 2010
10:38 pm
No particular dog in this hunt,
the LEAST classy thing about it as far as I can tell is the reaction of Georgia fans here
Well maybe if you ever have a Dog in the hunt, and your QB is intentionly
drill into the ground sedveral times and then have a cheap shot on his leg, you’ll understand.
No Dawg Lover
November 17th, 2010
10:40 pm
AU has class, Georgia certainly doesn’t.
Amen, that’s the truth.
Whiner
November 17th, 2010
10:40 pm
Bill,
Quit BI*CHING… You’re bitter. I’m not even an Auburn fan, but good lord. It wasn’t just the logo stomping that uga players did, they often started their share of extracurricular activity during the game, and how about those chop-blocks buddy…a great christian act by saint marky mark going after a D-Lineman’s knees. This wasn’t the first time this season either he’s had his olinemen do that to a dlineman who was beating them… You’re a pathetic little man
JLA
November 17th, 2010
10:40 pm
Scam Newton! The kid who was constantly in trouble in Gainesville, kicked off the team, finds a home and load of cash at AU!
NOBODYYOUKNOW
November 17th, 2010
10:41 pm
Think back dog fans. It seems everytime you guys lose its a bad call by the refs. The fumble that never was a fumble. Some player takes a cheap shot and injures your QB. On and on. “cry babies cry”. I’ll never forget years ago when UGA beat Bama and there was a queston about a pitchout on the last play of the game that won it for the dogs. When someone asked Coach Bear Braynt about the play his reply was “we just got beat by a better team”.
NOBODYYOUKNOW
November 17th, 2010
10:41 pm
Think back dog fans. It seems everytime you guys lose its a bad call by the refs. The fumble that never was a fumble. Some player takes a cheap shot and injures your QB. On and on. “cry babies cry”. I’ll never forget years ago when UGA beat Bama and there was a queston about a pitchout on the last play of the game that won it for the dogs. When someone asked Coach Bear Braynt about the play his reply was “we just got beat by a better team”.
NOBODYYOUKNOW
November 17th, 2010
10:42 pm
It an’t my fault the thing was posted twice!
JLA
November 17th, 2010
10:44 pm
Truth is, this whole season has been a mess for my DAWGS. We have athletes but why aren’t they producing? Coaching??? That’s my bet! It’s obvious
Tiger Fan
November 17th, 2010
10:57 pm
Auburn won…Georgia loss!!! Get over it. UGA fans say we broke rules and Auburn fans say that UGA broke rules. Get over it. No one got hurt, for real. WAR DAMN EAGLE!!!!
aarh
November 17th, 2010
11:25 pm
UGA ha been heavily penalized over the last few yrs., but this yr. they’ve sut that way down. I don’t know waht you’re talking about, but I wouldn’t say everyone hates UGA either…speak for yourself!
aarh
November 17th, 2010
11:30 pm
autigers 27- When UGA dansces to Souljah Boy on the sideline…IT WASN’T TO SHOW AU UP…IT’S JUST SOMETHING THEY DID AT EVERY GAME! I get so tired of AU fans complaining about thtat when I know that their intent wasn’t to try to show AU up. THe problem is that most people only watch their team, bc if AU fans had watched other UGA games…then they would know that someone at UGA’s home game just started playing the song, & the team started dancing. It was just a way to have fun, & get everybody hyped up. That’s all!
j
November 17th, 2010
11:31 pm
Of Course not, because if the SEC came down on Fairley it would have to suspend Georgia’s Ben Jones, Clint Boling, Washaun Ealey, and Possibly Marc Richt for the Georgia Tech game. Georgia would have to play Tech without most of its offensive line. The 3 mentioned all threw punches, and Ben Jones was the cause of the whole incident after jumping Fairley and punching him while he laid on the ground. Richt for going on the field and telling the official why he sent his players out like head hunters to deliberate ignore all the rules and to start a brawl.
aubman1
November 17th, 2010
11:36 pm
For a bunch of fans who don’t seem to be concerened with Auburn, why not just admit that you ARE concerned with Auburn. You got a beat down in Jordan Hare and can’t stand it. And as for being the second best in our state? Maybe 1/2 the time. We beat them as often as they beat us. Can you say that about Florida? Tennesse? Ga Tech? You have a second rate program with second class fans. I hope Tech beats you like a drum.