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
AceDawg
November 3rd, 2010
8:51 am
Wow – talk about overblown. As if Grantham really wanted to choke the guy… It was an important kick, and I’m glad Grantham at least passionately wanted to see him miss it.
UGA DC regrets choke sign, but offers no apology | ChuckOliver.Net
November 3rd, 2010
9:00 am
[...] http://blogs.ajc.com/uga-sports-blog/2010/11/02/richt-on-grantham-choke-sign-people-do-things-they-p... [...]
Bulldog fan, North Ave address
November 3rd, 2010
9:08 am
They may be sorry LIZARDS, but they sho got Georgia’s GIZZARD – again
Bulldog fan, North Ave address
November 3rd, 2010
9:08 am
Enter your comments here
» SEC: A death at MSU; Grantham’s choke sign John Clay’s Sidelines
November 3rd, 2010
9:11 am
[...] Tim Tucker of the AJC: “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.” [...]
Fantasy Island
November 3rd, 2010
9:12 am
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.”
Jim Rome said it best… “A DC taunting an amatuer player… Stay Classy Georgia.”
Gatorzone
November 3rd, 2010
9:14 am
Not a big deal, just shows what an immature Jerk he is.
TardDawg
November 3rd, 2010
9:14 am
Typical UGA arrogance, all swagger no substance.
UGA2002
November 3rd, 2010
9:15 am
Of course he won’t apologize, he and now Richt do not have any class. And why should we be surprised if our team doesn’t, if they commit penalties all over the place, if players get more and more lazy as their time at UGA goes on and we resort to stupid antics like blackouts and whatever else these lazy worthless coaches can dream up.
Time to start over UGA. I sure as hell hope Auburn and GT help us out here otherwise we will do this again next year and the next and the next and go on for years to come.
SLICK RICHT
November 3rd, 2010
9:18 am
BOO HOO, Mommy, he’s trying to make me choke.
SLICK RICHT
November 3rd, 2010
9:19 am
Will you bed wetters go back to sleep.
Jim Nasium
November 3rd, 2010
9:19 am
Another example of head coach laughing off the example set by his staff. A leader encourages poor behavior through his own behavior – e.g. telling team to get a unsportsmanlike conduct penalty a couple years ago OR not publicly admonishing the immature actions of his staff. Previous A.D. set the tone and it continues. Richt needs to learn to implement ‘tough love’ on staff and players. He’s letting the pressure of not winning alter his morals. I think he knows what’s right, he’s just blind right now.
Choker
November 3rd, 2010
9:22 am
Grantham gets a pass because of the AJC love. If a UF coach had done the same, bradley would have been ripping him up and down for his “low class” behavior. Hypocrisy—at its finest!!!!!
John
November 3rd, 2010
9:28 am
“Jim Rome said it best… “A DC taunting an amatuer player… Stay Classy Georgia.”
Jim Rome. Now there’s a real arbiter of class. Doesn’t Jimmy spend most of his evenings sitting naked in front of his flat screen watching Keeping Up With the Kardashians – Season Two on DVD?
Jim Rome. Please.
Cam
November 3rd, 2010
9:29 am
No apology by Grantham should mean no job for Grantham. Get rid of the jerk.
dawgfan
November 3rd, 2010
9:34 am
If Chas Henry’s high school football coaches were anything like mine, they were calling 14 year old freshmen “p—-ies” when they missed tackles and taunting them when upper classmen played pranks on them. Chas Henry is 21 years old. This kind of crap makes it abundantly obvious that pencil neck media dweebs like Jeff Schultz have never played a single sport in their life and have no idea what the hell they are talking about on anything.
Gatorzone
November 3rd, 2010
9:40 am
Choker
November 3rd, 2010
9:22 am
Grantham gets a pass because of the AJC love. If a UF coach had done the same, bradley would have been ripping him up and down for his “low class” behavior. Hypocrisy—at its finest!!!!!
Post of the Day!!!
SCJack
November 3rd, 2010
9:41 am
My problem is much less with Grantham but more so with the apparent ‘limp, non-reactive’ mood of the UGA players. College ball is emotion-filled and to see the coaches having to act excited for the players speaks volumes about our season….or does our record speak for itself?
I WAS IN THE STADIUM
November 3rd, 2010
9:44 am
I guess NO ONE but me saw Tavarres King get punched in the head TWICE, while he was on the sideline after he tackled Will Hillat the end of the game, from two different Florida players. If your into reviewing tape I invite you to review that play again
uga's girl
November 3rd, 2010
9:49 am
Oh my word! Did CUM apologize for any of the crap they’ve pulled? No, because he doesn’t have to. It’s college football & it was an intense game. I’m glad he did it, it showed passion. He didn’t storm the field, in fact, he didn’t even head down the sidelines. I don’t care who it was, well actually, I do. I wish CMR was the one doing it.
Oh, & don’t give me the “well you’re a Dawg fan” crap. I’m a college football fan. I’ve been watching football since I came out of the womb. I love intensity!!!! That makes it fun & fabulous!
And giving a Jim Rome reference……gag! Jim Rome is burning, in his nether regions. Why anyone watches his show is beyond me. It’s a show for “poor-mouthers”, naysayers & Star Magazine readers.
Intense game, intense coach. I wasn’t for hiring CTG & still not a fan of his, but his passion is getting me a little hooked.
GO DAWGS!
stevo
November 3rd, 2010
9:54 am
Who cares!?! I wish we could put Grantham in the game. Our players lack the fire which was clearly evident in the first half. And for Buck Bulue to be calling out the DC is gutless. I witnessed many times all year where defenders were in a position to make a play and they just didn’t do it. We should have had three easy turnovers gained in ther Fl game. Buck should be questioning the last 3 play calls against Arkansas and Florida. With the game on the line, we call pass, run and pass. Same play calls in both games. I actually think Bobo called a great game. But he seems to have a brain cramp when the pressure is at its greatest. While I’m at it, we need to get a RB coach that was actually a RB.
Duggs
November 3rd, 2010
9:56 am
Worst Gator team in 20 years? Who really choked then?
uga's girl
November 3rd, 2010
9:57 am
“I was in the Stadium”, I saw them & the many other situations just like them. UF players instigated a great deal of pushing, hitting, stepping on helmets…. We were baffled at the many missed calls for unsportsmanlike conduct. Ones that were directly in front of refs too.
I’m not hearing anyone cry for apologies from the players for their actions and they were actually dangerous. Oh that’s right, everyone hates the Dawgs on this blog (except for true dawg fans), so no one will say anything. It’s all about a coach showing intensity. No harmful actions, just a simple “I hope you miss this mutha” gesture. Football is football & I love the smack talk on the field, but the other stuff, not so much.
How Bout That
November 3rd, 2010
9:58 am
The past three seasons we have done absolutely nothing but embarass ourselves. Arrests, Choke sign, Rush the field after the 1st touchdown of a game, Lose during blackout, lose,lose lose to Florida, Best bowl opponent Hawaii, losing to Vandy, Losing to Kentucky, Losing to Colorado, I am just SICK OF IT. Get us a new coach! NEW BLOOD! NEW Passion! Reason to feel Good Again!
Most of our problems go back to the Florida victory several years ago. We beat them on a day the HEAD COACH called for a team wide “UNSPORTSMAN” Penalty. How can we expect assistant coaches to behave with the head coach making such decisions? How can we expect the players to follow the law when the Head Coach violates the rules of his livelihood on purpose????
gt
November 3rd, 2010
10:05 am
Buck Bulue gutless? How about Georgia coaching staff immature? It is a requirement there it seems. Remember how hard it was to even find a person who wanted the job of defensive coordinator at Georgia? Maybe there is an atmosphere there that no one wants to address. Bulue does it and he is gutless? I beg to differ, he and Fran T. may be some of the few real adults you have around that program. If they are gutless then that is what Georgia needs more gutless, or better yet we will take both of them any day you have had enough of them. We could use some gutless at Tech, I didn’t know it was called that but load us up with gutless.
stevo
November 3rd, 2010
10:14 am
gt…Not that it matters, but I saw the dawgs beat the Fighting Irish at the Sugar Bowl in 1980. I was 8. And thanks for doing your part. I am completely frustrated as to how our team continually comes out unprepared. I listen to Buck every day and Saturday mornings. I just wish he would find another whipping boy than Grantham. He talks about how we as fans need to support our team so it will not negatively affect recruiting but his blogs say otherwise. Why not bring Fran in as an adivser. That’s a great idea. At least he calls out the entire coaching staff and players. Thanks for such a passionate response.
Gatorzone
November 3rd, 2010
10:36 am
Stevo, I agree. Buck was and is classy just as Herschel.
Tommy G
November 3rd, 2010
10:36 am
Is it wrong for an opposing coach to want a kicker to miss a field goal? Should he be happy that if the kick is made his team will lose? It might have been an unprofessional gesture but is certainly no felony or misdemeanor words that both teams are too familiar with.
Saint Richt
November 3rd, 2010
10:43 am
I have prayed from Coach Grantham and he will never make this mistake again. Now, my players on the other hand.
hotroddawg
November 3rd, 2010
10:54 am
Seriously??? THIS is getting press? Our DC having a competitive spirit and showing it is getting “negative press”??? I mean, really? ALL of the Dawgnation was hoping Henry would choke…what’s news about THIS?! That wasn’t being disrespectful, that was wanting to WIN! I still can’t believe THIS wound up making such a stink…goes to prove that even when there isn’t drama with the Dawgs, the press has to make up some! Pick on another team for a change!
San Francisco Dawg
November 3rd, 2010
11:12 am
Grantham was actually choking, not pretending…giving up all those yards and points is disgusting…Fire him and get someone who knows defense…the 3-4 does not work for the talent set on this team…
gt
November 3rd, 2010
11:21 am
You are a good man stevo. Thanks for responding. To play at the University of Georgia should be a privilege. Lord knows Fran and Buck did their share to make it so, as did my high school friend Billy Payne and hundreds of more. The conduct of their coaches should reflex this as being a special place, for a special few. If you can’t live up to these standards there are five young men for ever position that will come here and take your place. No school in the southeast can do that like Georgia. Tech sure can’t we have to beg to fill a roster. One kid does not make a team, that is not a saying that is a reality. The future of everything good in this state starts in Athens. How they conduct themselves effects not just the University but the whole state. There are actual studies that show a sorry football teams directly effects the enrollment and contributions of the entire institution which in turn effects the economy and health of this state. These are adult jobs being held by anyone involved with the University. They need to lead not follow, and certainly not follow the lead of 18 year olds.
DD795
November 3rd, 2010
11:25 am
I thought the gesture was for his defence.
tiny tim
November 3rd, 2010
11:26 am
The only people that care about this are Florida Fans.
Are you a Florida Fan???
dawgdawgdawg
November 3rd, 2010
11:34 am
DD795 – before attempting to make a witty comment, you should make sure you know how to spell the word “defense”, otherwise the comment just doesn’t have the same effect.
Otto Morman
November 3rd, 2010
11:43 am
I would certainly hope that the actions of the UGA defensive coordinator do not reflect the feelings of UGA’s coaching staff. If they do then there should be league(SEC) sanctions. .
stevo
November 3rd, 2010
11:44 am
gt…you are absolutely correct sir. I hope and prayer our AD recognizes the points you have so eloquently described. There is no more that can be said. Have a good day.
Dawg Gawker
November 3rd, 2010
11:55 am
Let’s see…Mark Richt went to Univ of Miami, and UGA is looking like the old “U” thugs more every day, now including the coaching staff. Only difference is Miami has the national championships.
Chief 1
November 3rd, 2010
11:57 am
I thought if you are a Coach in any Sport that you was Suppose to pull for you team reguardless, I would have been upset if he had not want the kicker to choke he wanted Georgia to have another chance to win DA ………………Are you stuck on STUPID ?????
Dawg Gawker
November 3rd, 2010
11:58 am
Chief 1 – are you really ignorant enough not to understand the difference between “wanting” the kicker to choke and gesturing wildly to a college athlete? Congrats UGA, you are once again being laughed at and mocked on a national stage. Perhaps even funnier than the blackout beat down.
stevo
November 3rd, 2010
12:06 pm
Is there some form of editing software on these blogs? I wrote hope and pray and when it pops up on the blog it says hope and prayer.
uga's girl
November 3rd, 2010
12:15 pm
stevo, i notice it a lot. i usually try to edit my posts, do a couple of re-reads, and still, somthing will post differently. whether it be extra letters or punctuation. not sure what happens. that’s why i overlook a lot of the posts which seem to have them. like yours for example. i knew what you meant & knew you probably typed “pray”. it’s strange. i’ve noticed it on other blogs also, not just ajc, but a few i follow on blogspot.
just wanted you to know that you’re not the only one who notices it.
kent
November 3rd, 2010
12:27 pm
Is it possible that he was giving the choke sign to Mark Richt??
JBWright
November 3rd, 2010
12:27 pm
I am sick of Richt and his whole “look at me, I’m religous” bull-crap. Get Muschamp now!!
Dogs Smell
November 3rd, 2010
12:31 pm
Just 2 days ago those lame dog fans were making excuses for this action. Typical. Dog fans have you digested yet that your team may win just 6 games this year and next year doesnt show promise ?
Dogs Smell
November 3rd, 2010
12:35 pm
gt- To play at the University of Georgia should be a privilege? Are you kidding ? A priviledge? What has been to most teams this year is a “W” and it doesnt get any better next year ? In the words of Mora ” A Privilage”
Dogs Smell
November 3rd, 2010
12:40 pm
done.- Last year Georgia had the week off before the UF game and you still got blown out ! Get your facts in order fool !
'94 UGA Grad
November 3rd, 2010
12:46 pm
If Commings would have just fallen on that fumble I truly believe the whole game would have been different and we would have won. Or if he would of just deflected that pass near the goal line that he was in perfect position to defend and didn’t. I’m ready for Vance Cuff again and that’s scary in it’s own right.
258DAWG
November 3rd, 2010
12:46 pm
I didnt hear Spikes appologize for the eye gouging….. keep that in mind!
258DAWG
November 3rd, 2010
12:49 pm
94 grad…… how about if Rambo could catch a pass thrown directly to him with no UF WR within 10 yards of him…
then again if rennie and jones were here would it be different? let me know when AJ goes pro this year and Demps and Rainey come back and I’ll tell you as long as this keeps happening we won’t blow them out like we should!