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
SOS Dawg
November 2nd, 2010
1:44 pm
What he really meant is that our team had once again choked. I think CMR is beginng to think that Grantham is a bad hire. Should have hired Manny Diaz…..
Brian Smith
November 2nd, 2010
1:44 pm
As a Gator fan, I assumed Grantham was making this gesture at Aaron Murray and not the Gators.
Double Standard is correct
November 2nd, 2010
1:44 pm
seriously how do you UGA fans expect your players to conduct themselves appropriately on and off the field when your leadership (Grantham, Damon Evans) doesn’t lead by example
UGA will continue to have multiple off-season arrests with buffoonery such as this
NO WE RUN THIS STATE
November 2nd, 2010
1:44 pm
the story here isn’t the choke sign, its 18 out of 21!! And we’ll see y’all in Atlanta in December!!
Kenny Powers
November 2nd, 2010
1:45 pm
CMR reminds me of JoePa in that he does not tolerate poor behavior from his coaches, however how did he not know what he was getting with this guy. CTG will be a better man/coach by the time he’s done at UGA. Nothing wrong with showing a little class when things are on the line, or when things don’t go your way.
Tyler Durden
November 2nd, 2010
1:48 pm
http://www.richtsgottago.com
Phil
November 2nd, 2010
1:48 pm
11 arrests and 1 juvenile delinquent assistant coach. Gold ole politician Richt covering for all the thugs.
PTC DAWG
November 2nd, 2010
1:50 pm
We are way too PC as a society.
Yeah, I wanted him to choke too..
Blue
November 2nd, 2010
1:51 pm
A million times “worst”? There’s that UGA education at work. The time outs were in response to CMR sending his team onto the field to rub the Gator’s noses in it…but I’m sure you forgot about that.
DaGlove
November 2nd, 2010
1:51 pm
i’ll accept the “emotions run high rationale”, reasonable enough. but a 21 year old kid with no disciplinary history has a bad break with his girlfriend, “emotions run high”, he sends one ill advised text, serves a 5 game suspension and has numerous other conditions imposed on him – where’s the reasonable response from the other side on that?
GaDawg
November 2nd, 2010
1:51 pm
hit a nerve buzzy, punch my daughter in the face and you’ll get more than a choke sign. Your coach never really apologized for that either, shows allot of class
dawgfan
November 2nd, 2010
1:51 pm
German Shepherd Dawg: “recruit a big time runningback?”
News for you: that’s what georgia has done already. If they won’t run the ball, you’ll never know what the RBs you have can do.
dawgdawgdawg
November 2nd, 2010
1:51 pm
For all of you Gator and Tech fans calling this “classless”, let’s not forget that Meyer isn’t exactly an angel. You guys act like he has been king of class in this rivalry.
Speaking of class – how about the 1 Florida fan sitting in my section at the game. During team introductions, he proceeded to tell the elderly UGA fan in front of him that he would let him clap once, but if he did it again, he would beat his @#$%@, and he was not joking. After verbally assaulting the man and his 2 daughters, we had to watch the game with 3 security guards sitting in our section.
Let’s not lecture on class, Florida fans…
cgatlanta
November 2nd, 2010
1:52 pm
Gator alum checking in.
Bush league, but no big deal.
GoJackets88
November 2nd, 2010
1:52 pm
11 arrests, your number one recruit being homeschooled b/c he couldn’t keep it in his pants at school, and a Coach acting like a 21 year old. I am all for emotion and getting fired up or mean. But he just looks immature…
I really think UGA will clean things up next year. They should keep Richt. He is a good guy and a great coach. He deserves another chance.
Can’t wait for our game!
Good luck to UGA against Auburn.
Go Jackets!
Tombo
November 2nd, 2010
1:53 pm
What a non-issue. Some emotion from a coach on the UGA sideline is refreshing. This is like saying that calling a time out to ice the kicker is bad. If you don’t want emotion in football, go play in mamby pamby land. Part of the game is physical and psychological intimidation.
BirdDawg
November 2nd, 2010
1:55 pm
Grantham is a jerk…doesn’t fit Richt’s nice guy attitude. Just imagine what Grantham must say about CMR behind his back.
JDW
November 2nd, 2010
1:55 pm
It was a bit tacky but I can’t believe anyone outside of Schultz and the odd Nerd think this is a big deal.
Double Standard
November 2nd, 2010
1:55 pm
PTC, I am 100% certain that every UGA fan watching was hoping the kicker would choke and miss the kick but this is not about a fan or even a player. It is about a coach/teacher/leader of young men acting in such a childish and unsportsmanlike manner while representing a state university and in so doing looking like a complete jerk (whether he is or not). If he wants to have passion and show fire on the sidelines, let him direct that passion and fire at his own players and not those of the opposing team.
Dagny
November 2nd, 2010
1:56 pm
Lovely, just lovely. So many players being arrested and embarrassing UGA, now a coach making national headlines. Get rid of Grantham now, the guy is a miserable jerk.
Gary
November 2nd, 2010
1:56 pm
You’re kidding, right? This is a controversy? A coach wanting the kicker to choke on the game winning field goal? Give me a break. I was screaming at the tv the same thing when he came out to kick it. What Georgia fan wasn’t? This is a non-issue and people should leave Grantham alone about that. Let’s focus on what we can do to prepare for Auburn and what Murray can do to overcome obvious jitters in the first half where he kept leaving the defense with a short field to defend. I was sick too that we lost the game, but I would be even more concerned if my DC wasnt in the moment doing everything he could to fire up the defense.
Michael
November 2nd, 2010
1:56 pm
he should have actually run out on the the field and choked the kicker instead.
sogadog
November 2nd, 2010
1:56 pm
Making the choke sign was not a very classy move on Grantham’s part, but he is a defensive football coach not a sunday school teacher. Chas Henry got the last laugh though, so it is no big deal. Hats off to Henry for making the kick and Meyer for coaching up his team.
Phil
November 2nd, 2010
1:57 pm
This is not a non-issue as some of you refer to. This reflects badly on the program and our coaches are supposed to be an example to these kids, not joining in with the thugery! Classless act and Grantham should be suspended or fired.
dawg
November 2nd, 2010
2:01 pm
Why don’t we see what Henry did after the game! Was he a class Act? Good kid, but we may not have a photo of what he did….
dawggone shame
November 2nd, 2010
2:01 pm
He was mimicking McGarrity when the ad found out what Richt pays Grantham a year. Really, no big deal, the 21 year old student athlete got the last laugh. Just like Grantham’s defense, this did not work either.
Chris
November 2nd, 2010
2:03 pm
I’m rooting for UGA to win out, and maybe FLA lose to SC. Then it could be a GREAT rematch in some lesser bowl of UGA/FLA II…That would be a slobberknocker!
Dr. Philly
November 2nd, 2010
2:05 pm
Can we have some counselors present on the sideline for the next time this sort of thing happens?
My 6 year old daughter was frightened.
Rabid Dawg
November 2nd, 2010
2:06 pm
Well whoop-tee-freakin’-doo… Rainey threatened to kill a woman and the Corch let him play, but you “Holier than Thou” Dawgs keep acting like Richt runs a prison dorm because our guys get caught drinking or a DC makes an offending hand gesture. Down in Florida they could care less about what kind of hypocrite coach they have or what kind of heinous acts their players commit as long as they WIN. Again, discipline is what happens AFTER a player gets into trouble. At Georgia we rid ourselves of top talent that really screws up – they do the same at Florida, only down there they will get reinstated when Meyer’s offense begins to sputter. The loss last Saturday can be blamed on the “moral soapbox” Georgia fans like to stand on as much as the player’s execution. Montez Robinson could have really helped out with our pass rush this year but, unlike Florida our stance on discipline doesn’t change from week to week based on who we are playing. We pay a price on the field for our fans so-called “morality” so all you hypocrites need to either get behind our “thug” players or go root for a team like Vandy. The Commies of Nashville never get arrested so I would recommend throwing all your Bible-thumping support behind them since you fools want to play for the afterlife instead of playing football. In closing, after the disgusting display put on by Meyer Saturday, no one should EVER question the disciplinary practices Coach Richt implements at Georgia. GO DAWGS!!!
Cobb Dawg
November 2nd, 2010
2:06 pm
Must be a slow news week.
bubs
November 2nd, 2010
2:07 pm
Greg McGarritty knows he has a big mess on his hands. Hope the coaches have taken notice after the dismal of the volleyball coach. Richt , Perno and Fox better figure out how to get r done.
Cobb Dawg
November 2nd, 2010
2:08 pm
Rabid Dawg, I heard that Rainey lives in a van down by the river!
Richard Cranium
November 2nd, 2010
2:09 pm
“11 arrests, your number one recruit being home schooled b/c he couldn’t keep it in his pants at school, and a Coach acting like a 21 year old.” from GJ88…
Bingo. Classless players. Classless coaches.
And UGA fans say it’s ok, no big deal… How Sad.
wes
November 2nd, 2010
2:09 pm
“Chris”….Bowl tie-ins don’t work that way.
But seeing as though you’re a Georgia fan, this doesn’t surprise me.
Buckeye
November 2nd, 2010
2:09 pm
More lack of class from UGA. Lest we forget these kids are in school to be taught. A Coach’s job is first to teach so what’s the lesson here? Sure, UGA wants him to miss the kick but sportsmanship should rule the day. So, I guess they the lesson is clear: Show no class and show no sportsmanship. Perhaps Gantham should change his name to Noonan.
DawgByte
November 2nd, 2010
2:10 pm
This is a non-story, period.
WayneBrady
November 2nd, 2010
2:11 pm
Is Todd Grantham gonna have to choke a biotch?
What's a d a w g?
November 2nd, 2010
2:11 pm
Who cares?
Chris
November 2nd, 2010
2:12 pm
Wes…As UGA will not have a great record (7-5 at best) thought some of the smaller, lessor bowls don’t have such stringent tie-ins…ANd Wes, why take an innocent hopeful suggestion and want to be a prick about it??
PreyDawg
November 2nd, 2010
2:13 pm
Oh for petes sake….GROW UP…The kicker is 19 or 20 not freeking 4. If this hurt his widdle feewins then he should try out for ballet. The kicker didnt even make a big deal out of it. Schultz did.
There is no comparison to this and Muttenberger assaulting a young lady or the GAYTURD threatening to kill his girlfriend. There is no double standard in play. And NO I would NOT be talking differently if it was a Gator coach. I was pretty ticked off when they tried gouging out our eyes though or calling timeout when they had a huge lead. That was classless thuggery. (and the celebration which Richt apologized for repeatedly is not equivalent) This incident is nothing. What a bunch of girls.
Answer this GT Fans
November 2nd, 2010
2:13 pm
You NERD fans look at your own fat arse coach: telling you all NERDS to punch a Dawg fan in the face. That is no better and if anything that is worse.
puppydawg
November 2nd, 2010
2:15 pm
Why the hell is this even a story? Did we hurt the kicker’s feelings by wishing for a missed field goal? Did Urban cry over it or something?
SMITTYSTHEMAN
November 2nd, 2010
2:15 pm
I’m sure all the Dawg fans are very proud of their would-be defensive savior that everyone said before the season would be all they needed to win a national championship. Grantham talks a big game…. he was, what, their fifth choice after several others turned down offers? Nuff said.
joey
November 2nd, 2010
2:15 pm
He was saving someone else form doing it to him
The Ghost of Wally Butts
November 2nd, 2010
2:16 pm
Hard to imagine a Vince Dooley, or a Bear Bryant, or a Bobby Dodd, or even CMR’s Mentor Bobby Bowden, pulling out a choke sign the way CTG did.
CMR’s casual attitude about it will speak volumes to the players. So now we have a Coach displaying that kind of behavior, and it’s no big deal to CMR, huh?
Now that the Coach gets a free pass to show no class at all, something tells me that we only THINK we have seen THUG behavior from our players.
collegeballfan
November 2nd, 2010
2:16 pm
“GT Alum – you shouldn’t and you shouldn’t be on Bulldog discussion either.”
This is not a “Bulldog discussion”. It is a sports fan discussion. All are welcome, Dogs, Jackets, Gators, Vols, Fighting Irish – well maybe not Fighting Irish – lets don’t push this thing to far. But the forum is not owned by the Dogs but by Cox Enterprises.
Just saying.
dlagator
November 2nd, 2010
2:16 pm
Damon Evans wants his “friends” red panties back…
lance
November 2nd, 2010
2:16 pm
Funny how all your Gaytors fans are all over Grantham for the choke sign but were so darn happy Rainey played and he threatened a co-eds life via text in front of a police officers. Give me a break. And really — do you think anyone outside of GA & FL really care — NO.
Gator Mark
November 2nd, 2010
2:16 pm
Clearly it’s something he wishes he would not have done (or maybe just wishes he would not have got caught) but regardless, just add it to the list of slights (or perceived slights) that both sides use to claim the other are classless, spineless or (insert your favorite adjective here).
It is another brick in the wall that builds a great rivalry where both sides really don’t care for each other and find new and different was to express it.
In the CBS telecast view of this, it is pretty funny to watch the two guys standing sort of behind and next to him (one player and one student manager). They are watching him and listening to him and have a look of disbelief on their faces like “is he really doing that”.
The Ghost of Wally Butts
November 2nd, 2010
2:16 pm
Oh, and another thing….I don’t recall that ERK RUSSELL ever needed to resort to a choke sign on an opponent.