Heat Check: Grantham needs to sit; Johnson needs to chill
Todd Grantham is shown here debating the finer points of decorum.
Our weekly Heat Check arrives a day late due to Columbus Day. (Wait. That was last week? Never mind.) And we start at the obvious boiling-over point.
Todd Grantham, Georgia: He’s proving he’s a good defensive coordinator. (The Bulldogs rank eighth nationally in total defense.) He’s also showing he’s a bully. Giving the choke sign to an opposing player was bush league. Getting into it with the Vanderbilt coach — the Vanderbilt coach, I emphasize — after a victory tainted the whole winning effort and cheapened the Bulldogs’ brand, which had been in the process of undergoing some needed touch-up.
It’s one thing for players to get excited and stomp on a logo. (Georgia managed that trick at Vandy a while back.) It’s another for a grown man — Grantham is 45, which means he meets the Mike Gundy standard for grown-man status — to embarrass the program twice in 12 months. And I don’t buy the whole I’m-just-standing-up-for-my-players line: You can stand up for your players without baying at the moon.
(An aside here: I’d also be careful about angering this Vandy coach. James Franklin is going to beat some big names very soon.)
Don’t know what the SEC will do regarding Grantham. Don’t know if the SEC will do anything. Were I Greg McGarity and/or Mark Richt, I’d suspend Grantham for one game.
And who does Georgia play next? Florida. Yes, it’s a massive game for this football program. But sitting Grantham would also send a massive message: This is not how we do it at Georgia.
Now, do I think such a suspension will occur? Nope. But it should. Heat Index: Too darn hot.
Paul Johnson, Georgia Tech: His team lost at Virginia and looked bad doing it. His postgame briefing was a classic in sardonic semi-humor. A highlight was PJ’s description of the long field goal attempt that was kicked “into the back of the line.” The word “bonehead” was invoked. From a dispassionate perspective, these sessions are always entertaining. That said …
I wonder, not for the first time, how Johnson’s players take them. No, they’re not in the room for his media sessions, but I’d imagine they read the highlights somewhere. I also imagine they hear similar sentiments expressed by PJ himself behind closed doors. And it’s undeniable that the feeling around Tech is that the Jackets win only when they do what the coach says and lose whenever they don’t.
And that, if you’re a player, gets old. As smart as a coach is — and Tech’s coach is very smart — he’s not out there getting smacked by 500 pounds of opposing manpower. Johnson is a great play-caller, but somebody wearing shoulder pads does have to make even the clever plays of his work.
I’m sure it’’s a lot of fun to play for Tech when everything’s working and you’re gaining 768 yards, but I wonder how much of a treat it is to be around Johnson when his team just laid an egg in Charlottesville. Can’t blame a coach for wanting more and better — that’s pretty much his job — but I think he needs to cut his men a bit more slack. Heat index: A chill pill for PJ would not be unwarranted.
By Mark Bradley
Tell us what you think about the site
Customer Care »
Vacation stops, manage subscriptions and more
AJC Services
Sections
Other Editions
Visitor Agreement | Privacy Statement
© 2013 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
900 comments Add your comment
you're right on target w/ UGA...
October 19th, 2011
8:31 am
if CMR doesn’t punish Grantham and Kwame Geathers, it should be the last straw for him. Poor play now coupled with a no-class peformance….what a great day to be a Bulldog…(not)….
CRAZY
October 19th, 2011
8:35 am
THIS IS RIDICULOUS!
Geathers was penalized in the game. Things like that happen all the time. If the referree had felt like it then they would have kicked him out.
Coach Grantham did nothing wrong but show some emotion. No one broke any rules!!!
How can you punish someone that didnt break any rules? Coaches yell at referrees all the time. Whats the difference?
why
October 19th, 2011
8:38 am
why punish someone who did not break any rules.
Geathers was penalized in the game for what he did and its over.
Coach Grantham got mad and yelled. So what…coaches yell at officials every day.
No rules were broken. So how can you penalize a team for something that was not a written rule?
You dont. You talk to them about it and warn them not to do it again or then there will be a punishment…
still a dawg fan
October 19th, 2011
8:40 am
Grantham is doing what any GOOD COACH would do & that was to have his player’s back especially after the Vandy Coach was going after one of our players after the game. There coach should be the one to be punished with all of the cheap shots their offensive line had
why
October 19th, 2011
8:41 am
anyone that thinks there should be suspensions for that is just stupid and knows nothing about football.
Do you see baseball players get suspended for yelling at each other? NO.
only if it comes to blows.
All they did was get heated in conversation. What happened to being able to share ones feelings? amazing…
Georgian
October 19th, 2011
8:46 am
Its about time a coach (or anyone for that matter) had some fire about them at Georgia. I found it funny that the Vandy coach was crying bc Georgia players was “rubbing it in”.
georgedawg
October 19th, 2011
8:48 am
Bradley, You and Schultz need to move on. We deserve new, interesting columnist. We got rid of that racist Tucker and now you advertize the fact trying to build your subscription base up. Note to AJC get us some fresh voices in sports – I may even decide to re subscribe to your liberal rag.
I like to see more examples of Vandy’s cheap dirty play – it happenned all night – why not write about that or is that too much work.
RTR
October 19th, 2011
8:48 am
Consider who wrote this artice, Mark Bradley enough said. I don’t put much stock into anything you write Mark. I agree emotions got the best of Todd but Vandy didn’t play the cleanest game either. I don’t know why Coach Franklin was going after Shawn Williams. Strange of all the video I have seen nothing caught Williams disrespecting Vandy or Coach Franklin. I think the Todd’s punishment will come internal and I agree Franklin is going to make some noise soon with what he is building at Vandy. Especially with Rogers at QB. As a matter of fact I talked to a diehard and long time Alabama fan and he said that we was glad that Rogers did not play the whole game against them b/c if he had ran around on them like he did against GA it might have been a different ballgame. Go Dawgs!!!!!!!!!!!
Georgian
October 19th, 2011
8:49 am
Richt is the one who needs to go, no punishment is needed here. What is punishable? What one thing? A coach defending his squad? What was so offensive? To me what was offensive was Richts need to say sorry for his 8th ranked nationally d-coordinator standing up for his team. Maybe Richt just isnt that close to the team HE is the head of.
Cdpridg
October 19th, 2011
8:51 am
For some reason we live in a part of the country where it is a bad thing to show fire and emotion…especially if you are the home team…we don’t want to step on anyones toes…we worry too much about what others think. That is one reason why this city is thought of as a bad professional sports town…..no passion! Show some life or passion….ohhhhh what are we going to do….this person is a hellian…let’s run them out of town. It’s the bible belt…loosen up…it is ok..Really!
bradley is a bone head
October 19th, 2011
8:54 am
Not a word of the dirty play tacticts used throughout the whole game by vandy. Bradley should sit out.
Ex Dawg
October 19th, 2011
9:01 am
It’s over. RIP Georgia football tradition.
Nate
October 19th, 2011
9:02 am
Wrong as usual Bradley,
The only bully in this story is CPJ. From his laughable hypocrisy with recruits to how he dresses down his players in front of the media every chance he gets to how he deliberately runs the score up against far lesser competition. You sir need your head examined if you cannot see this reality, but then again, the AJC has always been the Tech Buzz in disguise.
GT
October 19th, 2011
9:03 am
ld50 if you love Grantham we can get you a dozen more tomorrow. Losing is not a trait many colleges go after. I think he might have been the fourth or fifth choice here after some real coaches turned it down. There is a picture there you don’t see everyday at a school that use to be an icon.
How did Fairley work out? Let’s see does winning the national championship mean WINNER? And now he is with the biggest turn around job in the NFL which again says WINNER. I can promise you the AJC is not Georgia’s problem unless it is reporting too little of what is causing 1000s of watts of talent to be wasted on average or less football teams. Richt wanted to make Newton a tight end for crying out loud.
LOL@Gawga
October 19th, 2011
9:17 am
Todd Grantham…
HA! HA! HA! HA! HA! HA! HA! HA! HA! HA! HA! HA! HA! HA! HA! HA!
Gunther Sphinctertingle
October 19th, 2011
9:20 am
Forget about the Grantham incident on Saturday — I’m more concerned about the bigger picture. Do we really have a team now that feels the need to “rub their faces in it” because we escaped Vanderbilt, at the wire, with a 5 point win? A team that prances and preens after every reception and tackle, as if they’ve done something special? I’ve heard all the “urban culture” excuses for this behavior, but let’s please call it what it is — a complete and utter lack of class. I don’t care what environment the players come from — I look to the coaches to instill some class and discipline in the program, and that ain’t happenin’. Very sad.
T3
October 19th, 2011
9:23 am
Attention: 3rd Generation UGA, True Dawg Fan, LHarding Dawg:
See today’s AJC: Worlds Top 400 Universities:
#84 Georgia Tech
#114 Emory University
V
V
V
V
V
V
V
V
V
V
V
V
V
V
V
V
#384 UGA
ROTFLMAO !!!!
Dawg Fud
October 19th, 2011
9:28 am
Suspended? Grantham should be fired.
chazzo
October 19th, 2011
9:30 am
a) Did you see the hit on Geathers? He obviously went for the side of Geathers’ knee while Geathers was running away from him and the play over. I am all for sportsmanship and self-control, but in this case, I think the punch was warranted. That could have ended his career.
b) I fully accept that regardless of what Franklin said, Grantham overreacted and let Franklin get the best of him because of it. That being said, however, we don’t know what Franklin said to Grantham. It is pretty clear to me that Franklin is milking it for all its worth. (it is worth? its worth? both make sense). I think Franklin did the verbal equivalent of throwing a sucker punch and then played all innocent. He is a squirrelly guy.
c) As far as Alabama and LSU teams not participating in such activities (as I read from a couple of different posters)…. HA. Are you kidding me? Anyone who doesn’t believe that this kind of psychological game playing and taunting isn’t a part of sports at every level should read about the renowned Jordan led Chicago bulls teams or watch the documentary of the Bird/Magic rivalry. Or read a book about sports. Every time a player on a team opposing Bama does something good against Bama, that player is marked. Anyone see that Bama player take out the punt returner on a fair catch before the ball was even close?
Dawg Fud
October 19th, 2011
9:31 am
T3,
Just for some perspective. they did the same rankings for US Schools a few months ago and UVA ranked #40. It was the highest public university on the list. No doubt GA Tech is a fine instituion but I think these ranks are a bit like football preseason rankings. It sells.
Speaking of UVA…don’t they have a better football team than Tech?
True UGA
October 19th, 2011
9:32 am
Rub it in? Woof woof woof. We’ll show those nerds how we do it in Nov. HAHAHa
Walker
October 19th, 2011
9:33 am
Looks to me like the Vandy player was trying to take out and destroy Kwame’s future in football. I don’t blame him or his coach for standing up to that kind of crap. It was low class for the Vandy guy to intentionally clip our lineman. Why don’t you talk about where the blame should go.
chazzo
October 19th, 2011
9:35 am
why posted at 8:38AM:
why punish someone who did not break any rules.
Geathers was penalized in the game for what he did and its over.
Coach Grantham got mad and yelled. So what…coaches yell at officials every day.
No rules were broken. So how can you penalize a team for something that was not a written rule?
You dont. You talk to them about it and warn them not to do it again or then there will be a punishment…
AMEN!
Anonymous
October 19th, 2011
9:36 am
At least on media outlet is reporting that Shaun Williams said some provocative things to Franklin after the game, leading to the confrontation between Franklin and Grantham.
matt
October 19th, 2011
9:37 am
Grantham didnt embarrass the georgia brand he is re creating an edge we havent had since bvg. Stop stirring the pot with richt and the dawgs . We know you love to see georgia struggle but it aint gonna happen this year so you may have to actually work to find a story this season. And by the way noboby gives a damn about the doors their logo or their wanna be tough guy coach. I bet he dont want to see Grantham without those cameras around cause then you got to back that mouth up!
Atticus
October 19th, 2011
9:43 am
Mark, I appreciate all your articles. But you are wrong on this. It’s football. Both coaches were wrong. Move on.
Cdpridg
October 19th, 2011
9:48 am
This is the thing with the calculated Franklin…he is classless first of all….thought he was going to follow, point and yell across the field at a player that is not his. He stepped across the line. The misfortune for him is that CTG was there, saw it and put the man in his place. Franklin is a first year coach in the conference and is arrogant..flying choppers and the whole it…thought he could say what he wanted and walk off the field….that did not happen. He then went in front of the media and looked like an even bigger douche bag…baby…spoiled brat. Choose your analogy. I love seeing people like the calculated Franklin stood up to and put in their place. Could not see Franklins face…but I am sure it was priceless standing there hiding behind his player.
JenDawg
October 19th, 2011
9:50 am
Mark – I appreciate that this is your opinion and you are free to share it. The question is, do you have an opinion about Franklin’s behavior after the game? Or the cheap shot on Geathers? I don’t condone either behavior but think it is getting ridiculous the slant that the media is taking on this painting Vanderbilt in the victim role. Both did things wrong. Both should get the heat.
Bogey
October 19th, 2011
10:01 am
Mark, not for you to say regarding CTG. The image is bad but neither you or I can know the whole story and while I agree some discipline is warranted it certainly should be from the university–not us.
Dean
October 19th, 2011
10:01 am
UGA should get rid of Geathers and several other t-h-u-g-s now. Send them home to their mamas who did such a crappy job of raising them.
And fire Grantham, the biggest t-h-u-g of all.
The doctor is in
October 19th, 2011
10:04 am
Grantham should be locked up in a place where they keep other psychotics.
HAHAHAHAHAAHAHAH
October 19th, 2011
10:07 am
UGA Insider, you are a moron. You don’t have ANY inside info.
What’s that? OH THAT’S RIGHT YOU PREDICTED AUBURN WOULD GO ON PROBATION AND GET THE DEATH PENALTY BECAUSE YOU HAD “INSIDE” INFORMATION.
HAHAHAHAHAAHAHAH
October 19th, 2011
10:09 am
“I remember when the fire hoses were turned on all the UGA fans at Auburn. That was ten times worst than this. Where was all the media then?”
Dawg fans deserved it. The media was laughing at UGA.
Yellow Fuzz
October 19th, 2011
10:12 am
Just another one of about 100 embarrassing moments over the last 3 years for the georgia bulldogs and the dog nation!
Yellow Fuzz
October 19th, 2011
10:15 am
HAHAHAHAHAAHAHAH
October 19th, 2011
10:07 am
UGA Insider, you are a moron. You don’t have ANY inside info.
What’s that? OH THAT’S RIGHT YOU PREDICTED AUBURN WOULD GO ON PROBATION AND GET THE DEATH PENALTY BECAUSE YOU HAD “INSIDE” INFORMATION.
.
.
.
HAHAHA. YEAH AND THAT “KIRBY SMART WILL BE THE NEW DC BY NOON TOMORROW”…”BANK IT”…?…HAHAHAHAHAHAHAH
Kelly
October 19th, 2011
10:16 am
Erk’s Eagles: agreed. Franklin started berating a UGA player. And then got on his Twitter demanding respect. Sounds like there’s more than one coach who needs to grow up. Twitter? Demanding respect?
Dublin Dawg
October 19th, 2011
10:20 am
Yellow Fuzz
October 19th, 2011
10:12 am
Just another one of about 100 embarrassing moments over the last 3 years for the georgia bulldogs and the dog nation!
Fuzz, how bout the thousand embrassing momments over the last 3 decades for you and that mighty tech nation you represents!
Old dawg
October 19th, 2011
10:50 am
I try not to make many comments on this site but, after reading what Ga dawg 10 had to say could’nt help my self. You need to lay off Mr Grantham and let him take care of his players. As far as being a embarrassment, It would have been a bigger embarrassment if he had rolled over & played dead. You have no idea at what Franklin may have said that set Him off. Get all the facts before you write these comments. And for there weak offense, They are a much better team when Rogers is the QB. If they were playing him all the time they would have scored a lot more than 3 points. So saying this, if they are a embarrassment to you maybe you should be to embarrased to attend the games or watch on tv. And to Mr. Bradley get all the facts before you pop off the mouth. Mark Richt needs to learn how to defend His player & coaches at least in public instead agreeing with the other coach so quickly. Now let’s all forget about this and go whip a gator.
Loyal Dawg
October 19th, 2011
10:55 am
GaTech fans are hilarious posting here about embarrassing moments for UGA. I’ll take ours over their 2 probations since 2001 (especially the one where the bastion on academic excellence forgot how to calculate GPA’s) LOL!!! I’ll give it to you guys, you have a good sense of humour.
Coach Franklin
October 19th, 2011
10:59 am
You guys are being mean to me on this board…I’m going to tell on you to the commissioner!
Coach P. Johnson
October 19th, 2011
11:01 am
Hey, if it weren’t for my crummy players, we’d be the national champs this year. Who recruited the chumps anyway? They should be fired!!!
Coach P. Johnson
October 19th, 2011
11:19 am
Hey Coach F, I hope you guys get bowl eligible. I can’t wait to take you on in the Music City Bowl!
enz
October 19th, 2011
11:56 am
Id say PJ tells his players a lot more than he tells you media people
WAR CAM EAGLE (not guilty)
October 19th, 2011
12:35 pm
THINKING FLORIDA, AUBURN, GEORGIA TECH AND CENTRAL FLORIDA WILL ALL BEAT THE DOGS AGAIN THIS YEAR
Brent
October 19th, 2011
4:15 pm
Mark Bradley, you’re full of sh*t to even suggest that CPJ laid all of the failures at the feet of his players in the post-game conference. A couple of direct quotes:
“It can’t be all their fault. You’ve to shoulder some of the responsibility because ultimately it falls on me. Because we didn’t play very well, so when you don’t play well, maybe we didn’t have ‘em ready to play well.”
“I’m not just going to throw them under the bus and say, ‘We had ‘em ready and they didn’t do it.’ We’re all responsible. Ultimately, I’m accountable at the end of the day for how they play. We didn’t play particularly well.”
However, he’s not going to sugarcoat it if a player does something inexplicably stupid, like kick a field goal attempt so low that it hits an opposing player in the chest at the line of scrimmage.
As for people who claim he runs up the score against lesser competition, GTFO. Since he came to GT, the team’s scored over 60 points twice. In both games, the starters were benched for the majority of the second half and base plays were run with backups.
Yellow Fuzz
October 19th, 2011
6:06 pm
This just in……Georgia Tech, ranked no. 84, is the leading school in Georgia, ahead of Emory at 114 and the University of Georgia at 385, according to the rankings compiled by U.S. News and World Report.
HJacket
October 20th, 2011
12:22 am
Mr. Bradley
Many of CPJ former players, who now professionals in a field in something other than the sport they played aka USMC officers, can tell you that the term “Bonehead” is really a term of endearment.
This Marine finds CPJ communication skills on due “course and speed”
Oh by the way I have one “saved round” , I’d like you to know most of your articles appear to be written by a “Bonehead”
S/F
Hjacket
Lisa
October 20th, 2011
7:59 am
“This is not how we do it at Georgia?” That is hilarious. That is exactly how you do it at Georgia and it always has been. “Class” and “UGA football” have never been synonomous.
Chuck
October 20th, 2011
11:07 am
Yellow Fuzz – you are a small trade school with a very limited criteria; if you weren’t one of the best at your limited focus there would be no purpose for the state to have invested so much in the UGA-Athens campus
UGA’s function is to take on much a much larger scope and to cover the spectrum of majors that Tech does not have to worry about.
Quit crowing and explain to us why you’re not the best engineering school in the country.
PigIron
October 20th, 2011
5:27 pm
Pwned by Vandy…
Sad. Just sad.