ATHENS — Todd Grantham took note of Saturday’s barb from Steve Spurrier –- and returned the volley Tuesday night with a reference to Spurrier’s lack of success in the NFL.
Spurrier, the South Carolina coach, poked at Grantham, the Georgia defensive coordinator and long-time NFL assistant, after Gamecocks running back Marcus Lattimore had 182 yards rushing against the Bulldogs by saying: “That little inside zone play, the NFL doesn’t run that play. That’s a new scheme, I guess.”
Grantham was asked after Georgia’s practice Tuesday if he saw Spurrier’s comment.
“Yeah, that was texted to me,” Grantham replied with a grin. “I appreciate his assistance, you know. But we actually knew what plays they were running. And they actually run that play in pro ball, and our offense actually runs that play, too. So we’re kind of on top of our game.
“It was kind of an out-of-left-field comment,” Grantham added. “I kind of took it more as a shot at the NFL. I really wasn’t sure if it was because of his lack of success there or what. So I kind of took it more like that than anything.”
Spurrier was 12-20 in two seasons as coach of the NFL’s Washington Redskins.
Grantham coached in the NFL for 11 seasons before being hired as Georgia’s defensive coordinator this year.
South Carolina beat Georgia 17-6 on Saturday.
715 comments Add your comment
Roy Wood
September 15th, 2010
12:37 am
goodness did I see something about a gator wr being arrested today they are out of control at FLA.SC wins one and thinks they are going to whip the world.Fla not once in a decade at least make it two and still one to go.Well I will say you can know whats coming and still not stop it.You older people do remember The Green Bay Sweep the packers ran it Regular and wasn stoped very often. Texas Dawg
Steve
September 15th, 2010
12:52 am
Why is EVERYONE so focused ont he defense. Our offense was horrible. We didn’t control the ball or the clock. The defense only gave up 17 points despite the other team having the ball for well over 60% of the game.
I am not saying our defense was good. I think the only thing that really stopped USC was their play-calling in the second and third quarters. That being said, our offense is problem number one. You will not win a single SEC game scoring 6 points folks. Not a single one.
ManiacalDawgHoyden
September 15th, 2010
12:56 am
How many pro and college head coaching jobs, Heismans, and NFL and NCAA Championships has Grantham held or won? Enough said!
MikeP
September 15th, 2010
12:57 am
Grantham needs to be quiet if the best he can come up with is:”We knew what you were doing but I couldn’t figure out a way to stop it.” Sheesh!
nike sale
September 15th, 2010
1:16 am
Nike Air Max 2009 a feature is the use of the most fervent flywire technology, the use of lightweight materials will be running to most vamp, will the weight limit to theory. And AIRMAX continue to use the whole foot cushion, give great comfortable foot dare and visual impact.
nikesaler.com
Tom
September 15th, 2010
1:55 am
You know thats what I dont understand about UGA coaches. They say something like that in response to a coach that just ran the ball down the heart of a defense with a freshman running back. So you tell me did the 11 seasons really help you or what? You can talk back when you actually beat someone of worth.
whatever
September 15th, 2010
2:10 am
So, Coach Grantham states that “But we actually knew what plays they were running. And they actually run that play in pro ball, and our offense actually runs that play, too. So we’re kind of on top of our game.” Well, why in the heck didn’t you STOP them. What an idiot. And this is the Defensive Coach that CMR hired??? Wow – another mistake of character. Hey, Grantham – it looks like the Evil Genius did EXACTLY what he wanted to do – he got into your head – which you have lost again.
5150 P.O.A.D.
September 15th, 2010
2:20 am
Todd where were you a HEAD Coach at any level? Todd you can’t hold Steve’s jock strap. You have nothing even close to what DARTH VISOR has done in coaching.
DIZZY DOG
September 15th, 2010
2:33 am
Why is Steve carrying Todd’s jock strap? It didn’t use to be that way back when I was there…
brenda
September 15th, 2010
3:31 am
I would much rather have a funny DC who can trade barbs than a winner on the field. Good job, Grantham – get your joke book ready for Urban and the Gators!
Jen
September 15th, 2010
3:45 am
Spurrier is s donkey.
Athletic tape
September 15th, 2010
4:02 am
Thanks for giving this great blog about the sports and too good concept about the given topic.
Athletic tape
JT
September 15th, 2010
5:14 am
It is called a ball control victory…17-6 is huge when you control the clock 60% to 40%.
JT
September 15th, 2010
5:23 am
Oops!!! It was basically a butt kicking…We had poor tackling, not hitting, and they controlled the clock. Last year the game lasted long enough for us to hang on and win by a tipped knocked down pass on the last play,,,This year, we had no chance because of their running game.
Emphasis on lack of penalties has placed us on the timid side of playing. The offensive play calling makes no sense with its lack of consistantly confusing anyone. We still have to hit people on defense and keep them guessing on offense…We did neither on Saturday. If Ark gets ahead early Saturday, with their passing and our passing, it will be a long day in more than one way….the time of those games go on forever…. the games like last Saturday’s game are a lot shorter….We cannot shorten a game because we have no running game and we practice more on the passing game than the running game.
ck hall
September 15th, 2010
5:33 am
About the only thing the Dawgs are good at is to bitch about Spurrier!
B-Bro
September 15th, 2010
5:42 am
If I were Georgia I’d be worried about winning games and keeping my players out of jail. It doesn’t look like Spurrier’s having those problems.
Stinger
September 15th, 2010
5:50 am
How many head coaching jobs did Grantham have in the NFL? Zero/Nadda/Not a friggin one!!! Time to keep his mouth shut. Visor boy just crammed it down your throat and Grantham couldn’t do anything about it. LMAO
blord
September 15th, 2010
6:48 am
Dawg fans shouldn’t bring up TG past in the NFL go back a few years and his defense was right at the bottom of the nfl. can’t remember the team but they fired him before he went to Dallas.
Alabama Jack
September 15th, 2010
6:48 am
Sticks and stones may break my bones, etc.
Remember we hit and run and fumble this state.
MB
September 15th, 2010
7:02 am
Why does Grantham even believe he can compare his career to Spurrier’s? I’m not even a Spurrier fan but a position coach talking about success to a head coach. He’s been a DC once and got canned……..unbelievable. Keep drinking the Kool Aid UGA.
athenian
September 15th, 2010
7:03 am
Grantham the “savior”. Shouldn’t pop off after letting a freshman RB trash his defense for 186. What a turkey!
yankeedawg
September 15th, 2010
7:04 am
South Carolina under investigation by NCAA ! What ever happened about Hotelgate!Spurrier will leave just like Holtz through the back door!!!!
O'Leary
September 15th, 2010
7:10 am
It is very obvious – part of a dogs life, when playing where he’s not supposed to, he’s going to get run over.
Buck Belue wears a toupee
September 15th, 2010
7:11 am
What a complete joke this Grantham guy is. Hie defense just got torched and he has the nerve to say something? He should be in hiding watching film, not playing games with the media.
No wonder it’s been 30 years..
FORTY ONE POINTS to your seventeen points
September 15th, 2010
7:18 am
nice DC you have there..get’s his a$$ handed to him, and then runs his mouth. Loser.
(((((((((((((((((((((41-17)))))))))))))))))))
JB
September 15th, 2010
7:19 am
BIG BIG NEWS THIS MORNING……. Panic in Bama………..For REAL………….Source: Co worker who works for the guy in Birmingham who owns that big steel company that who is the big money man at Bama. Saban’s house on lake Burton has gone up for sale. Word going around that Jerry Jones of Dallas Cowboys fame is gunning for Saban at years end. Money no object. This from a pretty good source. Now, who knows, but their are concerns in Bama. If Saban wins another title this year, what’s left to do over there. I wonder who Bama would to.
JB
September 15th, 2010
7:20 am
that s/b…………wonder who Bama would turn to ?
Larry
September 15th, 2010
7:21 am
South Carolina under investigation by the NCAA. I wonder if its for a certain freshman running back ?
Reality
September 15th, 2010
7:27 am
Sour grapes, Larry?
sportzfan
September 15th, 2010
7:29 am
I’ve noticed on this site that dawg fans say SC is not a rivilary because of UGA dominance….you may reconsider after two more years of Lattimore. Oh, and by the way, Spurrier said when he came to SC that it would take a few years to get talent level high enough to compete for championships. After past Sat., I would say he’s very close. Now you’ve got spurrier and Lattimore to deal with.
Also, since Fla. is such a big rivilary, shouldn’t you try beating them before it’s considered such a big game?
GTJeff
September 15th, 2010
7:30 am
Way to go Grantham! Spurrier is a d-bag. Can’t wait to see Bama lay the wood to them. Hope Clemson steps up at the end of the year & destroys them too.
JB
September 15th, 2010
7:38 am
Spurrier is starting to look and sound like Lou Holtz………….A little bitter old man. Most ‘decent’ gentleman in the game would have said something complementary after a win. But not Spurrier. Richt has never gone on record to saying something derogatory about Carolina as team or staff after beating them. Never. Spurrier is just some bitter little fool.
Little Dawg
September 15th, 2010
7:40 am
Spurrier and Kiffin???? Must be related . . . both sew with the same needle!!!! Use same patterns!
Notso Fast
September 15th, 2010
7:40 am
What the SC Coach was saying was that Ga. could not stop their running. On that Sat he was right. Don’t do a lot of talking. Next year just stop the run and win. You will stop the talking.
Beast from the East
September 15th, 2010
7:42 am
Kinda like a 6th grader talking smack to a senior after he just had his lunch money taken isn’t it? The basic rule is this: you can talk smack when you EARN the right to. Other than that, you just look like a poor loser. Not a very bright guy if he’s choosing to get into a sparring match with someone who just gashed his defense on national television. Doesn’t sound like Grantham learned too much in his 11 years in the NFL, does it? At least Spurrier learned a LITTLE humility while there.
Reality
September 15th, 2010
7:42 am
Little Dawg
September 15th, 2010
7:40 am
Spurrier and Kiffin???? Must be related . . . both sew with the same needle!!!! Use same patterns!
Well, they both have winning records vs GA
Andrew
September 15th, 2010
7:43 am
Now it’s time to learn how to tackle. Do they teach that in the NFL?
T Grantham
September 15th, 2010
7:44 am
HEY! Don’t forget–the Cleveland Browns fired me!
T Grantham
September 15th, 2010
7:47 am
Just wait ’til ARK throws for 400+ yards, and lights up the scoreboard…I’ll REEALLY talk some smack!
S Spurrier
September 15th, 2010
7:49 am
All those recruits….same ol’ GA.
Randy
September 15th, 2010
7:50 am
Hey Georgia dawgs you got an answer for this?
As for the Heisman, Georgia’s Herschel Walker won the trophy in 1982, one year after remedial English instructor Jan Kemp came forward and complained that the athletic department had pressured her to give passing grades to nine football players who failed her course, so that they could play in the 1982 Sugar Bowl against Pittsburgh (a game Georgia ultimately lost on a fourth-quarter touchdown pass by Dan Marino). Ms. Kemp was never forced to reveal those names, but the scandal tainted not only Mr. Walker’s career at Georgia, but his Heisman Trophy. He has never been asked to return his Heisman.
Smokewagon
September 15th, 2010
7:53 am
I like Grantham’s fire and passion. This was only his second game using Willie’s personnel. When fired upon you fire back and aim to kill. I see things moving in the right direction but it is going to take a little time. This loss should be a good learning experience for TG and the Dawgs.
John
September 15th, 2010
7:57 am
So, Grantham knew the plays, and in fact the Georgia O runs the plays in practice, yet Grantham’s D still couldn’t stop it? Is that what Todd is saying?
Lilburn Dawg
September 15th, 2010
8:01 am
I appreciate that Grantham felt like speaking up. But the circumstances need to be right and you need to be standing on firm ground when you do it. This was a case of speaking up at the wrong time.
Spurrier was taking delight that they ran the ball down our throats and we couldn’t stop them. He was just rubbing it in because of the beatings he has taken from UGA in the past.
But Grantham’s comments didn’t even make sense. The analogy is if you had been in a boxing match with someone and they pounded the ever-living crap out of you and left you lying in a bloody heap on the ground and you look up at them standing over you and say “But I knew what you were going to do and when you boxed the guy in the next town over, you didn’t do so well”. Well, the fact is Grantham got his a$$ handed to him on a platter. There’s just not a whole lot he can say. And he really shouldn’t try to say anything. He’s just not in a good situation to say anything at all except to say to Spurrier, “Yeh, you beat me fair and square”.
And I sure hate saying this because I love the Dawgs but sometimes you have to just accept reality and when we don’t do too good of a job we just have to admit it and do better next time.
GaGator
September 15th, 2010
8:07 am
“Yeah, that was texted to me,” Grantham replied with a grin. “I appreciate his assistance, you know. But we actually knew what plays they were running. And they actually run that play in pro ball, and our offense actually runs that play, too. So we’re kind of on top of our game.
Todd Grantham
Let me get this straight coach, you knew what plays SC was running, you are are”ON TOP OF OUR GAME——-yet a freshmen runs for 182 yards. I’m affraid all that shows me is a DC that’s way over rated. Note to Grantham, you can through out barbs when you win, when you lose STFU
and coach a liitle better. Looks like Grantham fits very well with the Georgia program, ya’ll like to talk about how good you are and then can’t back it up.
Start backing it up and then start talking———-I recall last week Georgia was running the table
beating Alabama and winning the National Championship. What a difference a week makes!!!!!!!!!
GaGator
September 15th, 2010
8:10 am
Lilburn Dawg
Very mature response, a tip of the hat to you.
WonderDawg
September 15th, 2010
8:16 am
GTFan: “What a maroon this Grantham guy is.”
************************
I thought maroon was a color, GTFan?
DoubleDownDawgFan
September 15th, 2010
8:18 am
Grantham is an idiot!! It sure looked like they were on top of there game. Spurrier may be a Jack A**, but he is usually right.
ga gator
September 15th, 2010
8:18 am
WonderDawg, slide rules dont have spellcheck.
DawginLex
September 15th, 2010
8:19 am
Spurrier and humility don’t belong in the same sentence.
Good for Grantham to give it back. Martinez would have sent one of his defensive backs to stand twenty yards away from Spurrier’s office and holler at the coach.