Grantham regrets choke sign: ‘Sometimes you get caught up in heat of moment’
(Updated 7:15 p.m.)
ATHENS – Georgia defensive coordinator Todd Grantham, caught on camera making a choking gesture toward Florida’s kicker near the end of last Saturday’s game, expressed regret about the incident Tuesday.
“As a competitor, sometimes you get caught up in the heat of the moment,” Grantham said. “I wish the situation hadn’t happened.
“It was a tough, hard-fought game. They won it, and I’m ready to move forward and finish out the year strong.”
Grantham said he has talked with Georgia athletic director Greg McGarity and coach Mark Richt about the incident, “and we’re ready to move forward.”
Asked if he feels that he owes an apology to the Florida kicker, Chas Henry, Grantham said: “I’ve kind of basically said what I’m going to say.”
Earlier Tuesday, at his weekly news conference, Richt also addressed the Grantham controversy.
“I’m aware of it, and I would just say that emotions run high,” Richt said. “People do things they probably wish they didn’t do. I think that was what was being communicated. I don’t think he’s necessarily proud of it. We’re just going to learn from it and move on.”
A screen shot and video from Florida sports cable network Sun Sports showed Grantham making a choke sign – grabbing his neck with his right hand several times — before Henry attempted a 37-yard field goal in overtime.
Henry, a Dallas, Ga., native, made the kick to give Florida a 34-31 victory.
In an interview on CBS after the game, Henry said: “Some of [Georgia's] coaches on the sideline were over there giving me a little grief, saying I was going to choke.”
Georgia quarterback Aaron Murray, asked about the controversy Tuesday, said he hadn’t seen the video but had heard about the matter.
Grantham “was probably just like the rest of us, just hoping [Henry] missed the kick,” Murray said. “I don’t think it’s anything too much to get worked up about. It’s not like he charged the field at the kicker and tried to do something to him. . . . I think people are trying to make too big a deal about it.”
McGarity discussed the matter with SEC commissioner Mike Slive, according to UGA spokesman Claude Felton. “To the best of our knowledge,” Felton said, “the SEC is not pursuing anything on that.”
Durham likely out
Georgia wide receiver Kris Durham likely will be sidelined for Saturday’s game against Idaho State but should be available for the Nov. 13 game at Auburn, Richt said.
Durham suffered a bruised lung as a result of a fierce hit on a second-quarter catch against Florida. He returned to the game in the third quarter.
“I was a little upset because at first [doctors and trainers] told me I wasn’t going to be able to go back in,” Durham said Tuesday. “I mean, I wasn’t hurting. Well, yeah, I was a little sore, but that’s nothing.
“The only thing that really scared them was when I started kind of coughing up a little blood. But I felt fine. I could take deep breaths. They listened to my lungs and to my heart and took some vitals. I felt like I could play, so they allowed me back in. … I was very, very grateful for that because it was my last go-round against the Gators.”
Commings’ misplay
Among the Georgia players second-guessing themselves for misplays against Florida: cornerback Sanders Commings, who attempted to scoop and run with a first-quarter Florida fumble inside the Gators’ 10-yard line.
“I wish I would have just fallen on the ball now,” Commings said Tuesday. “It would have given the offense great field position to score, but I guess all I can do now is learn from it.”
Richt said the rule of thumb is to simply jump on the fumble “if there are bodies around” or to scoop and run with it “if you’re out in space.” He said Georgia twice Saturday tried to scoop-and-run with fumbles that should have been jumped on.
The Gators recovered the fumble that eluded Commings. It proved to be the first play of a 91-yard drive to the game’s first touchdown.
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752 comments Add your comment
Unbelievable
November 2nd, 2010
9:11 pm
well said UGA2002…
A team sport is a top-down organization. Your players will behave the way it’s leaders do. Ask UT fans if Kiffin had any effect on how the football team behaved. I believe they will agree with me.
Coffee Bluff DAWG
November 2nd, 2010
9:12 pm
I’m not sure what the Gators want Grantham to do now – maybe send a bouquet of flowers and a singing telegram to the punter/kicker.
The gesture was no worse than Meyer calling all his TO when leading UGA by about 40 a couple years ago. Classy – don’t think so.
Pitbull
November 2nd, 2010
9:12 pm
Does any good news ever come out about Ga anymore? All I read is “we are going to turn this around”, we have too many penalties, turnovers etc etc. We lost but we fought hard etc. Another arrest etc etc. I’m getting damn tired of it! Ga is now a middle tier footbal school. On par with the new Miss State. New because they got a damn good coach now.
LMAO
November 2nd, 2010
9:13 pm
Brian Asselstine @ 8:55, agrees with Swampdog, still LMAO!
42
November 2nd, 2010
9:15 pm
Who really cares. This is like the 25th time the Gators beat the Dawgs in the last 20 years. Sheesh, it not even a rivalry anymore. Georgia sucks and there is nothing your entire state can do about it. Go Gators.
CSDAWGS411
November 2nd, 2010
9:16 pm
Finally some PASSION from the sidelines – could have been direct other ways or to our own players but, finally a coach that shows he cares and is emotional.
Unbelievable
November 2nd, 2010
9:16 pm
Coffe…no, but I think an apology would be in order.
As far as the timeouts are concerned, why do you think Meyer did that? Short term memory problems? Maybe that the entire GA team celebrated on the field the year before? Come on.
dawg lover
November 2nd, 2010
9:17 pm
Well who cares? If the shoe had been on the other foot I would say he got what he deserved when his team lost. I would get much more pleasure out of that. He looked ended up looking really dumb; he has to live with it, learn from it, and digest the crow. He showed poor judgment and got caught up in the emotion of the moment, but it wasn’t a crime.
Brian Asselstine
November 2nd, 2010
9:17 pm
LMAO you are correct. UGA strength coach is awful. So I agree with swampdog.
Actions Speak Louder than Words
November 2nd, 2010
9:19 pm
LEADERSHIP
Our goal is to maintain a model athletic program which other colleges and universities may wish to emulate. Beyond this, we shall continue to pioneer and promote policies which will enhance the quality of intercollegiate athletics throughout America.
Dedication to the personal development of our student athletes, unfailing integrity and excellence in our programs, teamwork, and determination to play a leadership role nationally…these are the values which underlie our endeavors and the standards by which we measure ourselves.
Unbelievable
November 2nd, 2010
9:20 pm
Dawg Lover…a lot of people care. It’s clear that you don’t, but don’t get so frustrated that many many others do.
If you want to fall on the side of “getting caught up in the moment,” ok. I think it’s shameful to think that, but ok
Brian Asselstine
November 2nd, 2010
9:20 pm
All of this is rather pointless. Until Georgia stops allowing UF to own them, all arguments are pointless. Until you can be competitive in a rivalry, you lose every argument.
Unbelievable
November 2nd, 2010
9:22 pm
Brian…I think you can lose and still have integrity. I don’t think the two are mutually exclusive.
SOS
November 2nd, 2010
9:22 pm
This is the same chump that ran his mouth to me after we embarassed them Dogs!!!!!!
LMAO
November 2nd, 2010
9:22 pm
42:
“This is like the 25th time the Gators beat the Dawgs in the last 20 years.”
Don’t you think that you should get off of mommy’s computer and go do your arithmetic studies?
It seem that you are not grasping the basic fundamentals.
Brian Asselstine
November 2nd, 2010
9:25 pm
I am not talking integrity. Meyher should not have played that kid but he and UF dominate the series so it is ok with most. I mean the media does not make a big deal etc. UGA coach makes classless gesture, you are dominated in series so media takes off. Grantham wrong, Meyer wrong. which one are you hearing about?
SOS
November 2nd, 2010
9:25 pm
This is the same rookie chump that ran his mouth at me after I spanked Dawgs again!!!!!!!! Next time I will hang half-a-hundred on him.
1980 was so long ago
November 2nd, 2010
9:26 pm
Grantham has as much class as the entire uga program, which amounts to the number of their national championships in the last 4 decades……………….. ZERO!!!!!!!!!!!!!
boots
November 2nd, 2010
9:26 pm
Stupid excuse of a controversy. Who cares. There are much bigger issues at stake for both schools, and what he did was somewhat stupid but hardly troubling.
Grantham Watch
November 2nd, 2010
9:28 pm
You make all so proud of you
You make us all so proud of you Coach Grantham!
1
dawg lover
November 2nd, 2010
9:28 pm
I care that he looked stupid and emabrrassed UGA, and he can deal with that. But what more do you and all the “many, many others” want? He said he regrets it happened. You sound like you are leading a lynch mob for heavens sake. You obviously don’t con tribute any money to the UGA program, so I don’t get why it is such a personal crusade for you. I agree we have a lots of problems that need to be solved in the off season, but his one gesture concerns me a lot less than the off the field arrests, the sorry ass play and the worse than sorry coaching.
Brian Asselstine
November 2nd, 2010
9:30 pm
Trivia- What coach made same gesture years ago and was able to get to the top of his game after the controversy died?
LMAO
November 2nd, 2010
9:31 pm
Brian Asselstine:
“All of this is rather pointless. Until Georgia stops allowing UF to own them, all arguments are pointless. Until you can be competitive in a rivalry, you lose every argument.
Son, do you realize that this rivalry has been around for 95 yrs. and that UGA owns this rivalry with an overall record of 47-40-2. We also owned UF for almost a decade until the Ole’ Ballsack became the coach.
Why don’t you go and educate yourself on the history of this rivalry.
Portland State
November 2nd, 2010
9:33 pm
Lookout Dawgs Idaho State took us right down to the wire but we pulled it out 38-3.
Be careful on Saturday. Is this a 10:00 AM start?
Chris Phillips
November 2nd, 2010
9:34 pm
I did not realize Grantham did that or was that classless. Now I am glad the Dawgs lost. This season can not end fast enough. Pack it up dawgs and go home. You have got to make the hard leadership decisions during the Summer Coach Richt. If you do not, then you need to be let go. Now is the best time to dial up the coach at Boise State.
UGA FAN
November 2nd, 2010
9:34 pm
I’m sick of losing to Florida.
Brian Asselstine
November 2nd, 2010
9:35 pm
I know the history. I am talking recent history which is the only thing that really matters. Just like all of the people still living in 1980. Walker is not coming back. Sorry. They have been owned since 1990. That is why this is pointless. Until they can compete again, UGA has no lege to stand on.. Kindo of like when Tech wins once every 10 years and actr like they can talk. tech needs to shutup to UGA until they can compete again.
Brian Asselstine
November 2nd, 2010
9:36 pm
Any trivia answers?
UGA FAN
November 2nd, 2010
9:37 pm
I don’t think Boise State’s coach is the answer. Look at their former coach at Colorado eventhough he beat us. I think Dan Mullen is the guy Georgia should pursue. He beat Florida with mediocre talent so imagine what he could do with Georgia’s talent.
Best5lossteam
November 2nd, 2010
9:38 pm
30 players arrested; an AD arrested for DUI holding red panties; a 44 year old coach making choke gestures to a 19 year old kid and a fan base who says “no big deal’. PROUD TO BE A DAWG
dawg lover
November 2nd, 2010
9:40 pm
Does anyone remember a few years back when we were playing and beating Alabama, the camera was ground level for a close up shot of UGA’s face and he suddenly turned and the whole picture was full of his jewels instead? There was a sudden commerical. I just hope UGA doesn’t do that at Auburn or we may have to go get a new UGA.
Portland State
November 2nd, 2010
9:41 pm
Answer: Pete Carol
UGA FAN
November 2nd, 2010
9:42 pm
I think we will lose close games to Auburn and Tech. This is our first year in the 3-4 so the Tech game could be dangerous for our defense. If they play ball control and get a couple scores things could work heavily against UGA. If Richt lost both of these I think McGarity will step in and make the coaching change.
Unbelievable
November 2nd, 2010
9:42 pm
Brian….it’s pretty clear that most people aren’t upset about Rainey playing. It’s also clear that most people think what Grantham did was wrong.
JLowell
November 2nd, 2010
9:43 pm
what a pu$$ move. your defense gets SCHOOLED by shytty UF and that is your play? SAD
Urbans' wife
November 2nd, 2010
9:43 pm
Dawg lover, I remember…they were bigger than my husband’s.
Unbelievable
November 2nd, 2010
9:44 pm
Dawg Lover…an apology. That’s it.
Brian Asselstine
November 2nd, 2010
9:45 pm
Portland St wins the free meal at the sizzlin. Pete Carroll made teh gesture to the Dolphins kicker when he was the Head Coach of the Jets before he went to USC. Un- that was my point. UF gets the free pass on Rainey in the media because they are dominating the series.
spinitpups
November 2nd, 2010
9:46 pm
any way you want,But this guy makes you look bad,REALLY BAD!
The Exterminator
November 2nd, 2010
9:46 pm
I think House Republicans just gave House Socialists, er, Democrats, the choke sign.
georgiagirl
November 2nd, 2010
9:46 pm
Really don’t you people have more important things to write about .
Gator Mike you are so right, AJC and Co have nothing to really write about.
Everybody was hoping and wishing he would miss the field goal, everyone watching the Game at a business that I was at saying choke, ALA, AUBURN, TENN AND GA FANS. Get real!!!!!!!!!!!!
Everyone gets emotional in these games All the College have these things happen. AJC ALWAYS LOOKING FOR DUMB BULL.
KOOL
November 2nd, 2010
9:47 pm
A choke sign? WGAS? Seriously.
Todd Grantham
November 2nd, 2010
9:48 pm
Look, I kind of apologized. Now blow me.
UGA FAN
November 2nd, 2010
9:49 pm
I don’t know who could turn this thing around. My reason for saying Dan Mullen is because he know’s the Florida program and could be a key to us defeating them consecutively. He is also familiar with the SEC which helps also. Pete Carrol, hum I think UGA doesn’t want to end up probation for two years like USC.
Big Dawg Man
November 2nd, 2010
9:49 pm
I don’t see anything wrong with the choke sign. It is not like he told the kicker it was time to die or anything like that.
Unbelievable
November 2nd, 2010
9:49 pm
Brian,
I think Rainey/Meyer gets the hall pass because people thought that it wasn’t as bid of a deal as what Grantham did. Kids make mistakes…people get that. Grantham is 44 and the leader of those same kids…people dislike that more.
LMAO
November 2nd, 2010
9:49 pm
Look Asselstine, there’s no need to climb up on a pedestal and start chest thumping because your team that had previously lost three in a row won a tough one. If UGA had capitalized on the three UF turnovers and had not commited four, the outcome would have been considerably different. I’m just saying…good win for the gators, a real tough loss for the Dawgs
dawg lover
November 2nd, 2010
9:50 pm
So would you like him to send it directly to you then you can pass it one to all the “many, mnay others” you seem to know so well?
Unbelievable
November 2nd, 2010
9:51 pm
Todd Grantham…hilarious!
Actions Speak Louder than Words
November 2nd, 2010
9:52 pm
http://www.dawgsports.com/2010/11/2/1789772/separating-richt-the-man-from-richt-the-coach