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
Sayed
November 2nd, 2010
3:38 pm
“All I can say is that Schultz must’ve voted for Obama!!!”
Be careful where you’re going with that. 87% of the students and faculty at UGA voted for Obama.
shannon
November 2nd, 2010
3:38 pm
Screw UF. This is the team that called timeout with 1 minute left in a 49-10 game. it is a rivalry. Deal with it. Gee, next year CTG should just go on the field and clean his kicking shoe off and remove any rubble from the kicking spot. UF bows. UM blows. Mark Richt blows. He is a wus.
ga gator
November 2nd, 2010
3:39 pm
bjohndawg, the kicker did look that way when the Georgia coaches called timeout. He wasn’t bothered or upset about it nor should anyone else. A lot worse than that goes on during any game.
wildbill
November 2nd, 2010
3:39 pm
Note to Grantham: Its time to MAN UP!!!!! Grab your crotch next time!
True DAWG fan
November 2nd, 2010
3:40 pm
When ealey got his eyes racked by spikes,you florida fans have no class…well not all of you,but this is football,it happens all the time……I’m willing to bet most of you p@##$’s never played??? that’s what i thought…it’s just sports,go back to playing madden in your tighty whitey’s!
Fake Urban Myer
November 2nd, 2010
3:40 pm
They were calling his name and he looked over there.
Jeff
November 2nd, 2010
3:41 pm
GEEEEEEEEZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ Get over it……
joe
November 2nd, 2010
3:41 pm
I’m by no means a UGA fan or SEC fan whatsoever, but I don’t get what the issue is. If that kicker was rattled by an opposing coach giving him the “choke” sign, then he needs to be kicking for a school like Austin Peay, not a a BCS conference school.
Fake Urban Myer
November 2nd, 2010
3:41 pm
Ealey had something in his eyes and Spikes was trying to help him get it out.
ga gator
November 2nd, 2010
3:42 pm
True Dawg,
Spikes tried but was not successful and when asked after the game Ealey laughed about it. Only whining Dawg fans were upset about it.
Hunker Down
November 2nd, 2010
3:42 pm
Good answer by CMR and time to move on and be thinking about Idaho State now.
chains
November 2nd, 2010
3:42 pm
Better than giving him the bird…….. Really who cares……
Shankit
November 2nd, 2010
3:43 pm
Enter your comments here
Shankit
November 2nd, 2010
3:44 pm
Another reason the game should move to a home and home.
The report and film on Grantham was generated by Sun Sports,
a Florida news agency. I hope they are getting some good
ad money from all the Gator fans.
Wow...
November 2nd, 2010
3:44 pm
Gator Mike, probably the classiest post by a Gator I’ve ever read.
True DAWG fan
November 2nd, 2010
3:44 pm
I agree with you bjohndawg!! well said,they made the play’s they needed 2 when it counted,we didn’t hats off to them,we just have to fight harder next year!!! Good luck the rest of the way….I just love SEC period…..GO DAWGS!!
Ramblor
November 2nd, 2010
3:45 pm
oh, but wait, I thought he was givings signals to his defense. Some mutts just can’t recognize classlessness if it was kicking them in the face….or choking them.
MURPHY
November 2nd, 2010
3:45 pm
Just curious: Whats the score if Rainey didnt play?
Common Sense
November 2nd, 2010
3:46 pm
The only player that choked was Murray.
I love the kid and his future, but he laid an egg on Saturday.
He’ll learn and improve.
Warhorse
November 2nd, 2010
3:47 pm
The choke was self-directed as he realized that he was about to join the sainted Will Muschamp as a defensive leader who never did/will defeat the Gators. Muschamp was 0-4 and Grantham is 0-1, not the stuff of brilliance to be aiming barbs as a player who succeeds under difficult circumstances.
Grantham = overpaid loser who will fit in well in Athens.
RussDawg
November 2nd, 2010
3:47 pm
All this nonsense over nothing.
It sux to lose.
gatorgtboyz
November 2nd, 2010
3:47 pm
Dawgs are whimps. You don’t need eyes in order to live.
Grantham threatened to cut the punter’s air from going into his lungs so he couldn’t breathe!
That is attempted murder my friends!
Ron Burgundy
November 2nd, 2010
3:47 pm
Stay classy UGA
Brock
November 2nd, 2010
3:48 pm
So does this mean Choke is no longer the official drink of UGA? Is it now the official “hold”?
True DAWG fan
November 2nd, 2010
3:48 pm
GA GATOR I WASN’T BEING NEGATIVE OR AM I CRYING IT WAS FUNNY B/C I HAVE A SON WHO PLAYS AND I’VE SEEN FAR WORSE!!! ITS JUST FOOTBALL AND THAT STUFF IS NOTHING COMPARED TO WHAT HAPPENS ON THE BOTTOM OF THE PILE!! ANYTHING GOES IN THERE…ANYTHING!
Flo-Ri-Duh!
November 2nd, 2010
3:49 pm
Schultz is a namby pamby bed wetter and writes a useless gossup column that the rest of us could care less about.
ga gator
November 2nd, 2010
3:49 pm
Shankit, SunSports would even be there in Athens. The game was televised by CBS and SunSports covered it to replay this week. What happened the last time they played it in Athens? It is not Athens, or Gainesville or Jax. It is the players and coaches. Vince Dooley owned the Gators and loved beating them in Gainesville. That is a lame excuse.
ga gator
November 2nd, 2010
3:50 pm
True DAWG fan
Agreed True Dawg, I have bite marks on one of my legs to prove it from 1969.
Flo-Ri-Duh!
November 2nd, 2010
3:51 pm
gatorboyz – I guess that would put him in the league with “Time to Die Rainey in your eyes and if it is alright to play Rainey then what’s the big deal with a little choke sign? Meyer can’t say much about it since he condones worse on his team.
True DAWG fan
November 2nd, 2010
3:52 pm
you kids are funny..period…both programs have carried around black eyes for on the field and off the field crap…so don’t try and polish your school off b/c they won..post with class and real info…
ga gator
November 2nd, 2010
3:52 pm
Can’t recall Dooley ever beating the Gators in Gainesville (or Mecca
as my A Hole Gator buddies call it.)
Ron Burgundy
November 2nd, 2010
3:53 pm
In other news, Grantham has a small penis
True DAWG fan
November 2nd, 2010
3:54 pm
my son has been punched in the nuts for a fumble ga gator…it’s just every man for himself…that’s why football isn’t for everyone,but there is no better sport on the planet!!
ga gator
November 2nd, 2010
3:54 pm
Can’t recall Dooley ever beating the Gators in Gainesville (or Mecca
as my A Hole Gator buddies call it.)
An pu$$y imposter posted that.
GTEAGLE
November 2nd, 2010
3:55 pm
Would Erk Russell have done that? How bout Vince Dooley? Dont think so…..
ga gator
November 2nd, 2010
3:55 pm
True DAWG fan
Agreed brother. I went to the game with my UGA lady friend and was astonished by the lack of taunting after the game. I guess a sign that both fan bases know their teams are not up to par.
BG
November 2nd, 2010
3:56 pm
No different than Meyer doing the gaytor chomp at GA fans as he was leaving the field. Classy move by the head coach!
messin with...
November 2nd, 2010
3:56 pm
this was payback for brandon spikes gouging ealey’s eyes, you fools!!!!!!!!!!!
ga gator
November 2nd, 2010
3:56 pm
GTEAGLE dont know but Woody Hayes did worse.
CHARLOTTE DAWG
November 2nd, 2010
3:56 pm
WHAT THIS EARLIER POSTER SAID!
“Red-N-Black
November 2nd, 2010
1:26 pm
WHO REALLY CARES!!!! I hope he did it, I can’t stand the lizards either. If he wasn’t tryint to disrupt the kicker then the Dawgs don’t need him on the sideline! Thank God he has a competitive spirit and wants to win, if you think otherwise you shouldn’t be watching sports or consider yourself a fan. Art of War – show no mercy to your enemies! I want a leader who is doing everything they can to disrupt the opponent, for the love of all that is Holy stand behind him and get your tail from between your legs.
Link Report this comment
Techie
November 2nd, 2010
3:57 pm
Waaaaaaaaa!
Waaaaaaaaa!
That coach hurt that little kicker’s feelings!
Waaaaaaaaa!
Waaaaaaaaa!
Classless!
Thugs!
Waaaaaaaaa!
ga gator
November 2nd, 2010
3:57 pm
BG UGA fans were long gone when he left.
AltamahaDawg
November 2nd, 2010
3:58 pm
So, Sunsports would be banned from watching the CBS feed if that game was in Athens?
SadDawg
November 2nd, 2010
3:58 pm
Don’t you nerds have a fish fry to go to? Go curl up on PJ’s manboobs and get nursed. It’ll be better, girls . . .
True DAWG fan
November 2nd, 2010
3:59 pm
wow let it go….the game was a great one no matter who you were pulling for…yet here we stand talking about a choke sign…please remind me did that play any role in the game????????? no you had 2 teams playing hard and we came up short…could of been florida as well…I wish they would go back to playing home and home series again.
Hendu
November 2nd, 2010
3:59 pm
Just the press trying to make something out of nothing. Are you supposed to be hoping your opponent is successful? Dummies you journalists are.
Mr. Small
November 2nd, 2010
3:59 pm
“In other news, Grantham has a small penis.”
gbal
November 2nd, 2010
3:59 pm
Notice to: All GA players, coaches, alumni, fans, students, cheerleaders, and supporters.
After carefull cousultation with Jeff Schultz, expert on rules of football ediquette, it is no longer acceptable to distract an opponent on the field in the act of performing his job or duties. You are expected to sit on your hands, keep your mouth shut, and give the opponent the courtesy of complete silence so that he will not be disturbed or distracted and have a fair chance to perform his job. No taunting jestures shall be tolorated.
While we are at it, UGA will expect its fans and all school personnel to practice this same rule during basketball events on campus. We will no longer accept yelling, shaking pom-pom’s, waving of the arms or anything of a distracting nature during free throws or any other time during play.
Feel free to show your enthusiasm during time outs, between quarters, or before/after the game.
Campus security shall be informed of these new rules and will enforce a one game suspension on anyone caught in violation of these new policies.
We appreciate your cooperation in helping us make the gameday experience more enjoyable for the players and fans alike.
Sincerely,
Michael Adams
……..I cant believe CMR even addressed this…. he is going to run TG off with his silliness…
Travis McGee
November 2nd, 2010
4:00 pm
I couldn’t see the coach for the brown haze over the stadium as the dawgs with getting the crap stomped out of them again by the Gators.
DILLIGAF
November 2nd, 2010
4:01 pm
Fake Urban Myer:
“UGA should have gotten a penalty for knocking the helmet off of one of the GATOR players; he used his elbow to knock the helmet off.”
Too bad his head wasn’t still in it.
Now, that’s funny, I don’t care who you are!