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
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900 comments Add your comment
1eyedJack
October 18th, 2011
1:11 pm
MEMO to Coach Grantham: You just earned the undying respect of 85 guys in your locker room. In the future try and control yourself a little better. You should have requested Franklin meet you in the McDonald’s parking lot in Ringgold.
Choke
October 18th, 2011
1:12 pm
Hell no, you don’t suspend him. We have to beat Florida. That’s the only “Georgia Way” I care about. As long as we’re not cheating–something that could compromise future W-L records–I don’t care about the coaches’ shenanigans . . . as long as we win.
Half Century Dawg
October 18th, 2011
1:12 pm
RedandBlackDawg
October 18th, 2011
1:03 pm
Amen brother, preach it!!
DJDawg
October 18th, 2011
1:13 pm
@Whatta
Hey moron what is so hard to comprehend??? 6ft 8 ft 20ft it doesnt matter you dont take anything up with a player you take it up with the coaches!!! But then again Franklin is probably still cleaning out his draws after TG got through with him!!!!!
Soon to be 20 of 22
October 18th, 2011
1:13 pm
All I’ve got to say ’bout that.
Proud Dawgie
October 18th, 2011
1:13 pm
O’ Brother.
Ron
October 18th, 2011
1:13 pm
roll tide……this from a fan base that poisons trees of a rival……..and you talk about class??????? what a moron!
Larry Munson jr
October 18th, 2011
1:13 pm
We have been reduced to taunting Vanderbilt after a game…..My GOD Bama’s gonna kill us !
JB
October 18th, 2011
1:14 pm
IF……………Richt apologized to the Vandy coach BEFORE he got the facts, then I’m more than done with him. I would of said, ” Coach, Let me get all the facts and I’ll call you in the morning, Good game, talk to you later”.
LHarding Dawg
October 18th, 2011
1:14 pm
I read that Coach Saban cussed out a bunch of reporters yesterday and then had to apologize. Maybe he needs to get his act together before the AJC gets on him.
JB
October 18th, 2011
1:16 pm
Again………..Roll Tide on here………………King of NCAA cheat’n, tree killing, Lap dance coach hiring fools.
Ron
October 18th, 2011
1:16 pm
Roll Tide….yeah, your one to talk about class…….this from a fan base that poisons rivals trees because they blow a 24 point lead and lose……real class moron
BUCK
October 18th, 2011
1:16 pm
I usually enjoy reading your column, but this was too much. When Coach Franklin is calling out your players, you defend them. When Franklin tells Grantham “F” you, that’s over the top.. Sure , Grantham was wrong but how about a little jounalistic integrity, Mark. Report both sides of the issue.
ROLL TIDE.....Loser
October 18th, 2011
1:19 pm
Roll Tide……tell me how classy it is to poison trees of a rival because your team cant hold a 24-0 lead and gets embarrased on national TV……..is that some of that downhome alabammma class….?
wtf
October 18th, 2011
1:19 pm
“I read that Coach Saban cussed out a bunch of reporters…” Too funny. We all know GA fans can’t read.
JB
October 18th, 2011
1:19 pm
IF Richt stays at UGA and Grantham leaves, Mark’s popularity will drop from 30% to about 10%.
You know damn well Grantham has chewed Bobo out a time or two….and I just don’t think Richt cares for Grantham…………….He’s too loud and mean for him….Geez.
Pencil necked geek
October 18th, 2011
1:19 pm
One more thing, why is the assistant coach at UGA being singled out, when the head coach at VANDY, the sophistication venue of the South, not being singled out. Who should be more accountable, an opposing head coach whom singles out an opposing player, or an assistant coach who singles out the other coach. Let’s remember this is a Vandy coach, trying to build a program, who had just stomped by Alabama, and really had some frustrations. I do not believe that Franklin is in the clear here, after all his coaches had to hold him back. Yeah, McGarity and Richt threw Grantham under the bus, but it may have been a mandate from the SEC. I for one don’t think the behavior of either was acceptable, and that is where it should end. Whatever the others want to do about it, they need to do it to it to both coaches. Furthermore, I think both these coaches should be recruited by Vince McMahon for a stint in wrestling.
hmmmRoll tides tongue all tide up?????
October 18th, 2011
1:20 pm
Enter your comments here
RunningDog
October 18th, 2011
1:21 pm
You’re overreacting, Mark. Grantham actions, while unfortunate, do not rise to the level of suspension. I’ve seen worse confrontations between baseball managers and basketball coaches. Sit down an recover from the vapors, OK.
HS Coach
October 18th, 2011
1:21 pm
I have read the entire blog and I am somewhat on the fence about Grantham. He now has two strikes against him. He is a representative of the university and should conduct himself as one. On the other hand, how come no one is critical of the Vandy Coach? He is just as guilty if not even more so. His whining and post game comments will only fire up UGA the next time the two teams meet. He should be reprimanded as well. Neither coach deserves a suspension but both should both be accountable for their actions. You as a sportswriter should be critical of both parties. You know the old saying “it takes two to tango”? Chris Welton hit the nail on the head. Coach Russell would bench you if you committed a stupid play and you pay for it in practice for weeks. That type of coaching builds discipline and believe me somewhere down the road you will think about it and it will help make you make a wise decision. Any type of sport can bring out the worst of someone. Grantham should have handled himself differently and I am sure he realizes that now. he is passionate and his players respect him and he does have his defense going in the right direction. They hit a bump against Vandy but all teams can have a off night. It is harder to keep a team focused and playing assignment than anything else you have to do. However, it looks like Franklin feels he did nothing wrong. I have a problem with that. As a former coach I always told my players I would not put up with trash talking and trying to embarrass the opposing team. The only thing that matters is what the scoreboard says. The final score does all the talking. You do not have to like the opposing team but you do need to respect them. Today’s youth is much different in their values than in my day. They watch tv and try to emulate what they see and even go one up on it. We as adults should all serve as educators and mentors. I have always told my players you win with class and you lose with class. Follow the three “R’s”, respect and responsibility brings results. It works in any sport and it works in life.
Coach Johnson is a fine coach. Sure he is stubborn and set in his ways but he believes in what he does and his players respect him. It is easy to sit back and be critical and be a arm chair quarterback. None of us know what truly is going on behind the scenes so until all the facts are put out we are only speculating. I am sure if television and the press were active in coach Bryant’s day then he would have had his detractors as well. We all are human and make mistakes. I am sure that there is not one of us that has said or done something we wish we could take back. Be smart Mr. Bradley and report both sides of the incidents and not just one. There are three sides to every story, his, theirs and the truth. Sorry for the ranting but I just wanted to express my point of view.
Roy
October 18th, 2011
1:21 pm
Maybe a suspenson is warranted for Mark Bradley!
Ted
October 18th, 2011
1:21 pm
Pencil neck…….why is the assistant coach at UGA being singled out, when the head coach at VANDY, the sophistication venue of the South, not being singled out.
That would be discrimination dude…….that’s why…….vandy coach gets free reign….cant touch that….
Kiss The Ring
October 18th, 2011
1:22 pm
No way UGA gets rid of Mark Richt if he wins the east. I love it. UGA is stiuck with him.
Buzziswiser
October 18th, 2011
1:23 pm
Twice in less than a year, Coach Grantham has embarassed the University of Georgia with his on field actions. Best that he work tne UGA-FLA game from the press box. With almost two weeks of media attention that should cause him similar embarassment and remove him from contact with the Florida coaches and players
Tony Martin
October 18th, 2011
1:23 pm
Go back and get your law degree and then you can make reccomendations on what should to coaches and athletes. and maybe even represent Franklin on issues you seem to know so much about. You 2 peeny sports writers know very little about the game or the pressure coaches are under. I do after spending forty years trying to motivate kids and win ball games to keep my job.
Either get on the wagon or get off. Guess you would want coach Grantham to sit out the Florida game because you knoe he is a dam goog coach ,and it might hurt Georgia chanve of winning the game. Go on down to Jacksonville and see if you can motivate your team .
JB
October 18th, 2011
1:23 pm
Bama and Auburn folks should NEVER post on here about class, integrity, honesty etc. Those two schools are why half the rules in the NCAA have been written.
CMR = John Cooper, Ohio St U
October 18th, 2011
1:23 pm
Richt and Cooper are the same guy…can’t beat the school’s biggest rival, wins around 8 games every year, team never reaches it’s potential…guess Georgia should keep Richt after all…Ohio State never was relevent after Cooper left (there was the tatoo incident!)…but there also was the raising of the crystal football incident too…Cooper couldn’t get it done and neither will Richt…hate to break the news to you mouth-breather jawga fans, but CMR has peaked and it’s all down hill from here…
Shutout UF!
October 18th, 2011
1:24 pm
fla only got 6 against auburn’s bad D—Ga can shut them out cold! Grantham’s angry about last year’s game and will get the D to play on fire against fla. Georgia 27 Fla 0!!!! Ga–wins the east—bank on it!!!
wtf
October 18th, 2011
1:25 pm
ROLL TIDE…..Loser
October 18th, 2011
1:19 pm
Roll Tide……tell me how classy it is to poison trees of a rival because your team cant hold a 24-0 lead
Seems your little dawgies couldn’t hold a 21-7 lead with AUB.
CMR = John Cooper, Ohio St U
October 18th, 2011
1:25 pm
the name says it all…
bamaguy
October 18th, 2011
1:25 pm
Bamaguy is hoping Roll TIde is an imposter. I have opinions, but try to never talk down about an opposing school. Truth is, things have happened at all our schools we are not exactly proud of. But you hope you get past it and keep on supporting your school.
Ted
October 18th, 2011
1:26 pm
guess we finally shut Roll tide up………what a loser….
Oh, the Humanity
October 18th, 2011
1:26 pm
Tim Tucker was right to close comments on his blog. He saved the University of Georgia from further embarrassment by not allowing this hillbilly fan-base to rub salt in the wound.
JB
October 18th, 2011
1:26 pm
Buzzwiper……………Why don’t you go to the mall and get Johnson the book ” How I beat being Arrogant in 6 weeks”.
suspension
October 18th, 2011
1:27 pm
if mcgarity orders grantham suspended, wait until the kentucky game. Ga can beat them by 40 by just showing up.
JOS
October 18th, 2011
1:28 pm
Don’t know what the fuss is about – UGA always has classless, hooligan players and now they have a classless, hooligan coach. Bet Grantham is on his way to Hancock County to recruit some of the players that ambushed and beat the opposing team’s coach – UGA player material.
DC
October 18th, 2011
1:31 pm
I love how someone can compare how well a team does one week and state that as fact on how they will play in a couple weeks…teams grow and correct mistakes…
If AU didn’t correct their mistakes they would not have beat USCe or FL..
Plus game is in neutral site..kinda..
DJDawg
October 18th, 2011
1:31 pm
@Oh, the Humanity
You are on this blog so you must be very interested in what this hillbilly fan-base has to say!!!
CMR = John Cooper, Ohio St U
October 18th, 2011
1:32 pm
Cooper couldn’t beat Michigan, Richt can’t beat Florida…both won/win 8 games a year…the fans comfortable with mediocrity loved/love them both…couldn’t find anyone better to replace them…
Bama fire Shula for Saban
AUburn fired Tubberville for Chizik
LSU fired DiNardo for Saban
OSU fired Cooper for Tressel
Texas removed Mackovic for Brown
USC fired Hackett for Carroll
Florida fired Zook for Meyer…
and won National Championships soon afterward…
and, Penn State keeps Paterno around as long as he wants, like CMR will be in Athens, minus the National Championships…
TONY REGISTER
October 18th, 2011
1:34 pm
bradley get a life. you stupid idiot. anything that has to do with the bulldawgs you have a different standard.
gdawginkalamazoo
October 18th, 2011
1:35 pm
TomB, didn’t say anything about the SEC being all that great. How did that LOSS work out for you?
What counts it that you guys have won what 1 game this decade? If you are a tech fan trying to run smack on us beat us first. I can’t run smack on a Florida fan so I don’t and for good reason. That’s just the way it works.
An SEC Fan
October 18th, 2011
1:38 pm
Here is a picture of a Georgia coach/Staff member actually in the face of a Vanderbilt player. Please post the one of James Franklin.
http://www.tennessean.com/article/20111018/SPORTS0602/310180020/Vandy-coach-stands-behind-post-game-actions?odyssey=tab|topnews|text|Sports
The bluster, mean spiritedness and fair weather nature exemplified by many Georgia fans, the lack of poise and discipline exemplified by its players and the inconsistency of its coaches has led to the decline of a once great program. My condolences
Oh, the Humanity
October 18th, 2011
1:38 pm
DJDawg
October 18th, 2011
1:31 pm
@Oh, the Humanity
You are on this blog so you must be very interested in what this hillbilly fan-base has to say!!!
What can I say? Everyone wants to look at a trainwreck.
ToccoaBird
October 18th, 2011
1:39 pm
What this proves is Mark Bradley and Jeff Schultz hate when a Georgia Coach defends his players, typical AJC. This also shows that Mark Richt isn’t the right person to be Head Coach of Georgia. Do you think a Coach Saban,Meyer, Muschamp or Mullen would apologize to a coach because that very same coach went after their players? HELL NO. If the AJC is against Coach Grantham it proves HE should be the head coach because he WILL defend his players and therefore they will play their hearts out for him. Cudos Coach Grantham keep up the excellent work.
DC
October 18th, 2011
1:39 pm
Firing Tubberville was the best thing AU has ever done…he had great success at AU but he did not think of BAMA/Saban as a threat and was getting recruits taken out from under him from bama…
I was saddened by the move…love the guy..he had swagger and was great AU man…
but, the SEC passed him by and was time for a change…does that sound familiar UGA fans..
dap01
October 18th, 2011
1:40 pm
Why would CMR not say “I will speak to Grantham” to get his side of the story instead of believing another coach who was yelling at UGA’s players? Why don’t CMR ever speak about the stupid play calling by Bobo?
Georgia Recruits @ The Game
October 18th, 2011
1:41 pm
“You know, Georgia won the game fair and square but they didn’t really show that much class about it,” Stephenson linebacker Darreon Herring told the AJC. “To be honest, I think Mark Richt should’ve handled the situation a little better than he did. The whole game, the Georgia DBs were talking trash, pointing fingers and taunting the Vanderbilt sidelines. I just feel like Georgia didn’t have that much discipline.”
“Yes, Vanderbilt was right to step up after all of that. They disrespected our head coach with all the taunting toward the sidelines and dancing on the Vanderbilt star in the middle of the field. Georgia should’ve just shook hands after the game and left it like that.”
Tucker linebacker Jacob Sealand said, “I respected the way Vanderbilt played, even with Georgia having several personal fouls. Vandy didn’t react to any of them. They didn’t get any personal fouls. Coach Franklin said he is going to coach with class and if we’re going to win, we’re going to win with class. I think that’s something that everybody can respect.”
Sealand said he felt like running on the field in support of his future college coach. “Honestly, it got my heart pumping, and I know with a lot of the recruits around me, it got their hearts pumping, too. It gave me a lot of pride about Vanderbilt and made me realize how much I love that school already without being up there yet. Coach Franklin has won his players over, and has already won me over, too.”
dap01
October 18th, 2011
1:42 pm
Why would a blog be closed to comments? Surely no one from the AJC can be questioned. Should the AJC count on Tech’s fans to support them? They don’t even fill up a 3rd rate stadium. The AJC needs to think about who reads their ramblings.
gdawginkalamazoo
October 18th, 2011
1:42 pm
TomB, no the point is you still LOST. The other point is that neither Tech nor Vandy recruit UGA calibre players. Which might be a good thing.
Old Gold Britches
October 18th, 2011
1:42 pm
A lot of blinders being worn and Kool-Aid being consumed around here!