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
Paul in RDU
November 2nd, 2010
2:50 pm
Does anyone in the UGAA sports information department talk to Richt before he has his weekly press conference? All CMR had to say was Grantham did something in the heat of the moment, is sorry (no “I think”) and has learnt from it.
What Grantham did was stupid but it’s not the end of the world.
macrotech
November 2nd, 2010
2:51 pm
I like dawgfans earlier post…”What he supposed to do? Walk out onto the field and wish him good luck?”. In truth, THAT might have messed the kicker up more than ANY gesture! This is much ado about nothing…the coach ONLY did what every Dawg fan was hoping for. Next topic.
Shankit
November 2nd, 2010
2:52 pm
I got my handle by my buddies when I
was addressing a shot on a par three,
and one of the A holes hollered “Shank”
Guess what happened?
Next time we need to try hollering “Shank”
right before the snap, it works better than
the choke sign.
cmac
November 2nd, 2010
2:53 pm
To bad grantham is man enough to address the subject. What a great leader for his players to follow!
The only choking was his defense that closely resembles what we have had for the last 3 years!! FL scored 6 on ALA & 7 on MISS ST.
There are a few GA fans that would like to choke grantham! What an embarrassment!
JP
November 2nd, 2010
2:54 pm
I am a Gator fan, and this is more amusing than anything. I wonder if CTG yelled “drop it” to our punt returner before he caught the ball. Not a big deal in my opinion….
Honky Talkin'
November 2nd, 2010
2:54 pm
At least this controversy deflects the attention from CMR losing complete control of his team.
DawgBone
November 2nd, 2010
2:54 pm
What is the saying in NASCAR…..If you ain’t cheatin you ain’t trying
It is a non issue, the guy is intense, both sides wanted to win very bad. I am sure he looked back on it and shook his head thinking “what was i doing.” I rather have this than Willie.
richtfan
November 2nd, 2010
2:55 pm
there was nothing wrong with what he did. in fact i would encourage him to continue doing it if it helps us win.
Bulldawg Richie
November 2nd, 2010
2:56 pm
Hey, he got caught up in the heat of the competition. To me it’s no big deal. CMR has addressed it. Now they should move on and not answer any more questions about it again.
34DAWG
November 2nd, 2010
2:57 pm
I was sitting in front of the tv waving my hands tring to distract the kicker myself.
BUZZ
November 2nd, 2010
2:57 pm
Fans are one thing…. But for a coach?????
Shankit
November 2nd, 2010
2:58 pm
Is it okay for our nose guard to
talk trash to the center and quarterback?
SadDawg
November 2nd, 2010
2:58 pm
Who damn cares? Come on Richt, don’t start your ever-ending apologies, like you felt you needed to do after the ‘07 game.
An asistant coach grabbing his own throat, from the sideline, is no more worthy of attention than a head coach waiting until the snap of a potential field goal (a la Myer vs LSU in ‘07) to call time out. Both are intended to unnerve the kicker.
If Richt doesn’t like Grantham’s fire, he shoulda hired a DC that looks like he doesn’t have a pulse.
Billboard material. Jeez. The team with the best coaches wins. Which is why Richt has now lost 8 of 10.
What's the fuss?
November 2nd, 2010
2:58 pm
Did we not call a time out to try and ice the kicker – which is an attempt to make the kicker choke!!! It’s not as if he Woody Hayes’ed the guy up side the head!!!!!
Woody Hayes
November 2nd, 2010
2:58 pm
I would never have condoned this.
FlintRiverFunk
November 2nd, 2010
2:59 pm
YAAAWWWWNNNNN……..
gatorgtboyz
November 2nd, 2010
3:00 pm
As a life long UGA season ticket holder, I am no longer going to support UGA due to Grantham’s child abuse behavior.
If that kicker was my child, I would have probably ran out onto the field and poked someone’s eye out.
Shankit
November 2nd, 2010
3:00 pm
We promise never to use the choke sign again
provided you (Gators) do away with the chomp.
Bobby Cox
November 2nd, 2010
3:01 pm
A coach should remain calm.
Mullen
November 2nd, 2010
3:02 pm
When I become coach, no more choke signs,
Just COW BELLS
What's the fuss?
November 2nd, 2010
3:03 pm
By the way, the defense should not shoulder the blame for losing this game – the offense gave the ball away so UF didn’t have to go very far to take and extend the lead. Don’t forget, we didn’t complete a pass in the first quarter. After the first turnover, the D pushed them all over the field and then they missed the field goal try – team game so spread the blame around.
The REAL GA Gator
November 2nd, 2010
3:03 pm
It’s gonna make great billboard material, but who really cares? It wasn’t a ‘throat slash’ move and he wasn’t instructing a player to do anything dirty so who cares? I understand it’s not something a big time coach does, but UGA is no longer a big time program.
SadDawg
November 2nd, 2010
3:04 pm
cmac, you are really a football genius.
Grantham’s D is ranked in the 20s in the NCAA, while Martinez’s was 84th (out of 120) in ‘09. And that’s after losing three players to the NFL, including 2 huge interior tackles. Also after installing a new defense.
Just keep your fingers away from the keyboard if you don’t know what you are talking about.
Wilddawg
November 2nd, 2010
3:04 pm
Daddy Urban that large man on the sideline is scaring me! Make him stop it! Give him the gator chomp or tell Rainey to text him!
gatorgtboyz
November 2nd, 2010
3:04 pm
Forget the cowbells.
Everyone pull out their vuvuzelas!
ocmom
November 2nd, 2010
3:05 pm
“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.” Joke
,,,,,Now if a Player would have threw up his hand or made any kinda of hand or mouth movement after making a touchdown…he would still be doing morning run…
dogfan
November 2nd, 2010
3:05 pm
For an assistant making 3/4 of a $million dollars a year, another weak response from the Coach representing the University.
Shankit
November 2nd, 2010
3:06 pm
The REAL GA Gator
Then why all the excitement about beating a small time program.
Oh, by the way, your big time program is sliding without Strong,
Mullen and Tebow.
Bulldawg Richie
November 2nd, 2010
3:08 pm
Football is a vicious game. If you are going to get your feelings hurt over the least little thing you shouldn’t be playing. This is NOTHING. The media is always looking for something to harp about. CMR should not fall into that trap.
Urban
November 2nd, 2010
3:08 pm
Personally, I would have called time-out in the middle of his kick.
SadDawg
November 2nd, 2010
3:08 pm
Dang, guess who’s offended? Nobody but the NERDS! The NERDS!
Why don’t you girls get a life?
Shreveport Bowl Official
November 2nd, 2010
3:09 pm
To all you Gator fans out there, after your two
more losses to Spurrier and Jimbo, we would
like to offer you a slot in our bowl game pitted
against another big time program, Notre Dame.
Pat
November 2nd, 2010
3:10 pm
All is fair in love and football. Who really cares?
luVsMyDaWgS
November 2nd, 2010
3:10 pm
He needs to publicly apologize to the Henry kid or get his butt out of Athens,GA.IF he will not do it,Fire him! This is a grown man not a teenager.
Grantham's antics were over the line -- it's not even close | Jeff Schultz
November 2nd, 2010
3:12 pm
[...] Richt at his news conference Tuesday, via Tim Tucker’s Georgia blog: “I’m aware of it, and I would just say that emotions run high. People do things they probably [...]
Shankit
November 2nd, 2010
3:12 pm
luVsMyDaWgS
You are a good example of what is wrong with the Dawg nation.
This is football you wimp.
Toilet Bowl Official
November 2nd, 2010
3:13 pm
I applaud Grantham for taking the heat off his boss, who should be answering questions about how he has let this program fall to pieces instead of who made what sign on the sideline. Anything other than the final score of this game or season record is simply letting Richt off the hook. As a dawg fanI am embarrassed to see that staff on the sideline and it has nothing to do with a choke sign. Ray Goff would be an upgrade at this point.
Bulldawg Richie
November 2nd, 2010
3:15 pm
I say forgitaboutit. Just get ready for the next game. Richt has already handled the situation and none of knows what was said or done to Coach Grantham.
Itstheshoes
November 2nd, 2010
3:15 pm
What coach Grantham did was not a big deal……..just a stupid deal. What’s to be gained from that? What was gained was an OT loss, and looking like a no-class Pete Carrol type adult.
Shankit
November 2nd, 2010
3:15 pm
Again, the game ended in a tie.
The Gators got lucky with the coin toss.
Sandra
November 2nd, 2010
3:15 pm
No harm…they’ve done it before also.
River Dance
November 2nd, 2010
3:16 pm
How about Chas’ River Dance celebration. Was that gay or what? I guess with a name like Chas he’s already knuckle deep.
DawgGoneFishing
November 2nd, 2010
3:16 pm
Grantham is one(1) and gone I hope !!!
Same opinion as before the choke !
wildbill
November 2nd, 2010
3:16 pm
This is all ‘much ado about nothing’. Who cares about a choke sign when our team looks like the day after a New Orleans New Years Day celebration.
Toe Meets Leather
November 2nd, 2010
3:17 pm
As a GT alum, I think this whole thing is no big deal, and I would not be mad if he did it to the Tech kicker in a similar situation. He showed some fire. It was a very intense game, and he was caught up in the moment. That said…Go Jackets.
reality
November 2nd, 2010
3:18 pm
HA HA!
So the kicker was focused on the GA sideline before the kick?
Is that how they coach them down in FL?
The next team will probably have the cheerleaders pull their dresses up before the kick.
ga gator
November 2nd, 2010
3:18 pm
It is football, a lot worse than that goes on during the game. Shankit was there luck in Murray’s 4th and final turnover? In case you don’t know the rules; the game didnt end in a tie.
timthebrave
November 2nd, 2010
3:18 pm
Grantham was not giving the choke sign to the kicker. He was giving Chris Rainey advise on how to handle ex girlfriends
Grant Ham
November 2nd, 2010
3:19 pm
Grantham hasn’t commented on the matter yet.
Of course he hasn’t. What could he possibly say that wouldn’t either be a lie or expose him as a no-class jerk?
ga gator
November 2nd, 2010
3:19 pm
reality
The next team will probably have the cheerleaders pull their dresses up before the kick, something like that happened to Wally Butts when Ray Graves coached Florida.