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
Dooley
November 2nd, 2010
7:05 pm
Typical bulldog—player or coach, thats why grantham fits ugas mold
GT Fan
November 2nd, 2010
7:10 pm
Why do people look for BS to cause trouble. I don’t blame the Coach if he wanted the kid to choke and make the jester. Hell in the heat of battle its war….. I’m a GT fan but even I wish he had choked.
The Damn Truth Hurts
November 2nd, 2010
7:10 pm
The Bulldog Nation can’t handle the truth and the truth is the Bulldogs coaching staff su*ks starting with coach Richt!!!! Don’t worry there’s always next year!!HaHa!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Bellie Nye
November 2nd, 2010
7:19 pm
“GET REAL and stick with one blog name!!!!!!!!!”
I hate the freaking hypocritical Richt and his dirty players
November 2nd, 2010
7:21 pm
Sure the refs hate UGA look at this cheap shot right in front of a ref. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x0357VcZfmE
Lake Oconee Dawg
November 2nd, 2010
7:22 pm
No big deal! He could have give him the middle finger instead. As Coach Richt said we need to move on. No it should not have happened but it did.
Forget if and move on. Whimp!!! He probably gave the “choke hold” to his sorry A– defense. Coach Richt has got to get ahold of the running of a college football team,. And then when a player or coach does these things they have to answer to the head coach. Period no question that it!!!! bye
Go DAWGS..
91 Dawg
November 2nd, 2010
7:38 pm
Apparently in the minority here, but Grantham and the rest of the coaching staff should “move forward” right out of Athens. I’m tired of the annual loss to Florida and consistently getting less out of good players than any other school. I’ve given up on Richt and the rest of the staff. Doing this stuff Grantham did was classless and reflects the joke that is the UGA coaching staff. No wonder we have more than 10% of the roster get arrested. Goons and thugs and Richt won’t do anything about it. Oh yea, stop running it up the middle on 3rd and 8 with 8 in the box Bobo.
Bleu_Bayou42
November 2nd, 2010
7:41 pm
It’s sad that this story has had a lifespan of two days.
BAMADAWG
November 2nd, 2010
7:42 pm
To say CTG did something wrong is dumb. I wanted him to choke to! Big deal!!!!!!
RosGator
November 2nd, 2010
7:43 pm
I think CMR is living in some sort of self projected reality where nothing is a big deal and life is simply learning and moving forward. He has truly been the “teflon man”. Perhaps if CMR removed the shades on game day, he could see reality of events on the field & sidelines. In any event a 21 yr old punter had the last laugh. woof woof doggies!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x0357VcZfmE
November 2nd, 2010
7:50 pm
Enter your comments here
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x0357VcZfmE
November 2nd, 2010
7:50 pm
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x0357VcZfmE
RosGator
November 2nd, 2010
7:51 pm
“Tod G. wished the situation hadnt happened” Not only is Grantham bush league on game day, he’s not man enought to admit he was immature, in the wrong and aplogize to players and fans. How can CMR expect players to follow rules of self control on field if coaches cannot demonstrate sportsmanship on sidelines. In 50 years of watching College football and pro for that matter I have never seen such.
Soulja Boy
November 2nd, 2010
7:52 pm
When you have a significant number of players who get drunk, wreck cars, cheat in class, abuse girlfriends, ignore summons to court, drive without licenses, what have I left out, oh yeah, carry guns, and destroy hospital plants, you don’t need coaches giving choke signals during a game. Georgia is the laughing stock of the country thanks to Richt, Evans, and Adams.
Jack Handy
November 2nd, 2010
7:52 pm
Well, what did you expect?
“Have a nice day, Sonny?”
These Georgia folks are simple people, the salt of the earth.
You know, Morons.
Typical
November 2nd, 2010
7:54 pm
The whole program lacks class from top to bottom. From drunken players to drunken womanizing ADs.
Coffee Bluff DAWG
November 2nd, 2010
7:56 pm
RosGator,
This was no big deal. Grantham along with all DAWG nation wanted the kid to choke. It was good to see some passion on the sideline.
Credit to your punter that he could come through w/FG in the clutch – most Gator fans could care less about what Grantham did.
Deb
November 2nd, 2010
7:58 pm
To all of you on Chris Rainey. He came from a very bad childhood and at one time was homeless. He has never been in any kind of trouble and is a good kid thats had a bad life. He sent a disturbing text to his girlfriend, “time to die”, which is a saying often used in the violent neighborhood he came from. No excuse and totally unacceptable, No one believes he had intentions of actually hurting anyone, but in his anger handled the situation as bad as anyone could. He did not play for 5 games. Kicking this kid from the team and chances of a degree or future NFL would not have been the right thing to do.
It makes for great fodder though for Gator haters, just as I know many Gator fans have much to say on UGA’s arrests. Bottom line when facts came out, the police investigated and charged him with a misdameanor and his girlfriend refused to press charges, it was a friend of hers that called the police. I don’t think the police gave him a free ride, the facts didn’t warrant labeling him as a violent abuser.
Scott
November 2nd, 2010
8:00 pm
I liked it. At least we know one coach is showing some emotion on the sidelines and wants to win.
If a UF Coach had done the choke
November 2nd, 2010
8:11 pm
All you dumb Redneck Georgia hicks be whinning and crying too.
Brainiac(Dawg for life)
November 2nd, 2010
8:12 pm
azdawg you are a complete idiot.
Smart like a Fox
November 2nd, 2010
8:13 pm
Jim Rome reported on this topic…….he said classless….I agree
Why would anyone attend UGA?
November 2nd, 2010
8:13 pm
UGA Cesspool of the south.
Denial
November 2nd, 2010
8:13 pm
How ironic. We lose 17 of 20 games and this clown who’s supposed to lead our kids is over there making choke signs.
SAMMY DAVIS JR.
November 2nd, 2010
8:14 pm
moops , I agree 100%.
Unbelievable
November 2nd, 2010
8:14 pm
I’m not a GT fan, so don’t accuse me of being one after you read my post. However, I cannot believe the number of UGA fans on this site who are/were so ready to crucify others for having the audacity to even PLAY a player (Rainey), and then want to give Grantham a hall pass on cursing at an opposing player and making a very un-sportsmanlike gesture. I’ve heard UGA fans say “it’s no big deal,” or “let’s move on,” and so on. Huh?
Before 17 people respond to this post and say that what Grantham did isn’t even close to what Rainey did, please don’t. That’s is absolutely not the point. What Rainey did was wrong, but so is what Grantham did. For UGA fans to not take the same incredibly strong and vocal stance against Grantham for a being a jackA is unconscionable.
Richt's Butt Cut
November 2nd, 2010
8:15 pm
Frankly Im glad to see a coach who shows some passion. He wants to win at all cost which is what we need around here.
Jep
November 2nd, 2010
8:17 pm
You know when that eye-gouging incident happened, it looked pretty bad, but the Georgia player on the bottom of the pile said it was no big deal and he didn’t have a problem with Spikes. Why? Could it be that when he was on the pile, he was doing the same or worse but just didn’t get caught?
Come on, watch a game on Tivo and slow motion it. You will see kicks, elbows and stomps. Spikes got caught and suspended as he should of, but spare me that your team is innocent. All of them do it in the pile, it’s common knowledge.
Richt's Butt Cut
November 2nd, 2010
8:19 pm
Love the emotion and passion Coach G!! Keep it up. To hell with all these pansy a$$ whiners….
Free A.J.
November 2nd, 2010
8:20 pm
Its a non-issue. Grantham is the man for the UGA defense, and the AJC just needs to STFU
Unbelievable
November 2nd, 2010
8:23 pm
Richt’s Butt Cut….
Your pathetick post sums up what is wrong with college football. Everybody wants their team to “win at all cost.” There is no sportsmanship, no loyalty to coaches who have given everything they have to the school, no pride, no class, and certainly no desire to win the right way. It’s just all about wins….and it’s sad.
I am a huge Oklahoma fan, and I certainly have gone through my share of tough times (the end of the Switzer era). However, I would rather have a extra loss on my schedule and be proud of my school for running a clean program and doing things the right way, than to wind up being a classless thug filled football team that is an embarrasment to your state.
Richt's Butt Cut
November 2nd, 2010
8:24 pm
People love to hate us because we are the envy of the SEC. Yes our team sucks right now, but we have the classiest, most successful leaders in the league. Look at the city of Atlanta and who runs the town/state/southeast… ALL UGA grads. So all you Florida cheese d!cks, Alabama hillbillies, Tennessee rednecks, GT nerds, Auburn farmers just keep on hating.. Sucks being jealous.
DawgDays
November 2nd, 2010
8:26 pm
You got to admit that if the Gator DC did what Grantham did, we’d all be pi**** off. Just saying.
Richt's Butt Cut
November 2nd, 2010
8:26 pm
Unbelievable- It takes a real man to call someone pathetic online?? You’re probably some 150 pound nerd who couldnt fight his way out of a paperbag..
As for all of our arrest, they were mostly minor traffic violations…
Unbelievable
November 2nd, 2010
8:27 pm
Richt’s Butt Cut…you are either a really bad comedian or on drugs. Envious of what exactly? Your womanizing AD that got caught with a another woman’s panties? Your mile long football arrest record? Your 4-5 record? Your classless DC?
Wait…you do have a good gymnastics team. I’ll give you that.
private plane watching
November 2nd, 2010
8:27 pm
Only if we had another 5* recruit… we would have won the game. Can’t wait for Idaho State! We are going to crush them!!! 2 wins away from the Pappa Johns Bowl. Anyone know a good hotel in B’ham???
Ramguy
November 2nd, 2010
8:28 pm
Still no comment about the cheap shot the Fla player put on Tavarres King after play was over on the interception? If people are upset about the choke sign they should be outraged at the cheap shot!
Richt's Butt Cut
November 2nd, 2010
8:28 pm
Unbelievable– Learn how to spell idiot. Pathetick??? LOL typical Oklahoma d!psh!t.
When will it end
November 2nd, 2010
8:29 pm
He was’nt calling out or coaching his defensive team to try to block the kick. He was trying to unsettle a 20 something year old young man instead. I understand why this technique has not led to long term success.
Mike Tyson
November 2nd, 2010
8:29 pm
The only ones choking is UGA and its miserable make every excuse fans.
You and UGA are just a mediocre underacheiving program. You guys get used to being a second tier program and mark richt adds another embarrassing moment to his tenure
Unbelievable
November 2nd, 2010
8:29 pm
RBC…like it takes a big man to to point out that I called you pathetic online? Of course we are online…your point?
I doubt that you are a BillyBadA…if you are, then why are you ready posts just like me?
Moron
Richt's Butt Cut
November 2nd, 2010
8:30 pm
Come out from under your dirt shack in OK… UGA grads run this state/town/southeast moron.
UGA is a sad sack of sh*!
November 2nd, 2010
8:30 pm
UGA = Lack of Class. From fromer AD, to coaches, to player arrests, to the fans. You should be disgusted when you put on dawg gear.
JaxDawg
November 2nd, 2010
8:30 pm
Gaytors are hypersensitive, I dont see anything wrong with what Grantham did, I can give any sign I want except the middle finger but now Im actually giving the middle finger to all Florida and Gtech fans
private plane watching
November 2nd, 2010
8:31 pm
After UGAY beats Potato State, I can see all the homers talking about how “good” the Thugs are now! The good news is no arrests so far this week!!!
Richt's Butt Cut
November 2nd, 2010
8:32 pm
LOl.. “then why are you ready posts just like me?” Huh??? OK Retard.. and yes BBA I am. pu$$y.
BG
November 2nd, 2010
8:33 pm
MOVE ON! The AJC is becoming TMZ!!
Beast from the East
November 2nd, 2010
8:33 pm
Butt Cutt,
I guess anyone not from the state if Georgia gets called a name by you? Stay classy!
Unbelievable
November 2nd, 2010
8:35 pm
UGA grads run the Southeast? really? Then I take back everything that I said…your record isn’t 4-5…you haven’t had 13 arrests on your football team…your DC didn’t make a distasteful gesture…your AD was completely innocent.
ckgator
November 2nd, 2010
8:35 pm
Caught up in the moment, sure. But its the “moment” – when the chips are down – that define you.
Grantham defined himself all right. This is the only story putting UGA on the national radar screen this season, so yes time to move on.