Georgia, Vanderbilt coaches discuss postgame skirmish
NASHVILLE – Forget Georgia-Florida, Georgia-Auburn or Georgia-Georgia Tech. The new white-hot rivalry for the Bulldogs may be with Vanderbilt.
Players and coaches had to be separated following the Bulldogs’ hard-fought, emotional 33-28 win. The game wasn’t decided until Vanderbilt tight end Branden Barden of Lincolnton, Ga., was corralled at the Georgia 16-yard line as time expired.
Immediately afterward, a skirmish ensued between the teams that appeared to be mostly yelling and gesturing and little actual physical confrontation. Georgia defensive coordinator Todd Grantham was a central figure in the fray.
Grantham pretty much refused to comment directly what went on with Vanderbilt head coach James Franklin at the end of the game. All he would say and kept repeating was, “I love our players. I’m going to stick up for my players. Everybody’s competitive.”
Franklin was a little more telling with his comment: “We just had a tough, emotional game and some things were said that I didn’t think were appropriate. I went to find Coach Richt and didn’t find him, so I found one of his assistant coaches and it didn’t go well. We’re not going to sit back and take it from anyone.”
Franklin said he eventually found Richt.
“I explained to him what happened,” Franklin said. “That’s for me and Coach Richt to deal with. Hopefully we’ll learn from that experience. Those things happen.”
Replays after the game show Grantham screaming at Franklin in the middle of the field as the players from both teams stood across opposing lines separated by coaches in the middle.
Grantham was reprimanded by Richt last year when he made the choke sign toward Florida kicker Chaz Henry as he prepared to make a game-tying field goal attempt to send the game into overtime. Henry made the kick and the Gators went on to win.
Georgia was called for three personal foul penalties in Saturday’s game and Richt clearly wasn’t happy with the way his players or his coaches acted at the end of the emotional contest.
“I don’t know exactly what happened. Maybe TV picked it up and we’ll get a better view of what was going on. But we are grown men and we need to act that way. But we’re also competitors and we all have emotions and xometimes when you get a little fired up it’s hard to keep from getting in some kind of jawing contest.
“I’ll say this: There were times when I was ashamed of some of the choice things that came out of my mouth during the game. So I’ve got to be disciplined, too.”
On the fracas between the two teams at the end of the game, Richt said:
“I don’t know for sure what heppened. I’ve heard a couple of different sides of the story. It’s hard to know which one is 100 percent the truth. But the bottom line is when the game is over the game’s over. You shake hands and you be thankful for the victory. Just like at the end of a play. When a play’s over, it’s over. Go to the sideline. We didn’t do a very good job of that at times.
“It was heated. It IS battle. It’s not war with real bullets but it’s a war in a sense and it’s very physical. Tempers do get flared up. I don’t mind our blood getting hot but we have to be able to get excited or maybe even angry but not foul.”
Georgia was penalized 11 times for 89 yards in the game and generally played sloppy and without poise. When the Bulldogs were trying to salt the game away in the fourth quarter, they threw an interception, lost seven yards and had to punt on one possession, and finally had a punt blocked on its last possession.
Georgia senior punter Drew Butler should probably go down as the hero of the game. After the punt was blocked by another Georgia native — wide receiver Udom Umoh of Fort Valley — Butler managed to gather his wits quick enough to haul down Umoh at the 20 after Umoh had scooped up the ball.
After an illegal substitution penalty, the Commodores got off two plays before the game ended. The first was a pass in the end zone that bounced off the hands of receiver Chris Boyd, another Georgia native, from Roswell.
Said Grantham, whose unit gave up 349 yards to Vandy: “The bottom line is we stopped them three times in the fourth quarter when they had a chance to win the game.”
Said Richt: “I think Vanderbilt did a fantastic job. They were inches from winning the ballgame.”
Tailback Isaiah Crowell did not play the entire first quarter. Richt said it was “just a situation where it was a coach’s decision not to play him.”
Crowell. finished with 35 yards on 10 carries. He did not play late in the game because of the wrist injury that has plagued him the last three weeks, according to Richt.
Here’s some video of Coach Franklin’s postgame news conference:
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667 comments Add your comment
CreekWolf
October 16th, 2011
8:17 am
It is admirable when one has the composure to keep their mouth shut, as those who love the tongue must eat its fruit. Those on here criticizing grantham are obviously those who know how to button the lips when it counts… so hard many times for those of us with fire and passion.
RedandBlackDawg
October 16th, 2011
8:17 am
Some of you people on this blog are just impossible to please. You complain when UGA supposedly isn’t spirited enough. You complain that CMR and the other coaches lack passion. You saw passion last night and a fiery spirit at the end of the game. Vanderbilt did get away with a few clips last night. In fact, on one penalty the announcer called the clip that the ref ignored and there were a lot of questionable chop blocks as well. Franklin, was just trying to fire up his troops, by saying what he did. He has to try and do something. They came up short in a game they tried very hard to win.
The win wasn’t pretty but it is a W, keeps us on pace for the SEC East and a true fan will realize the value of the “W”. Now the young men can take the week off, recover and heal and get ready for Florida. UGA has the tools and athletes to win that game so it is nice to get a week off from a game, and plan out a good game. Any true DAWG fan should be proud of these young folks, even though, last night was not a stellar performance. IT is a SEC win, keeps them in the hunt and shows that they can still win even if they weren’t burning on all 8 cylinders last night.
GO DAWGS and GATA
taron
October 16th, 2011
8:19 am
Let me qualify myself as saying I am a REAL Dawg fan, and I DID graduate from UGA in case any of you tech folks are worried about it. Why that matters to them, I’ll never know. However, this UGA team is walking a fine line between winning, and total disaster. How the WHOLE team, except Butler, can contribute to almost getting beat by VANDY baffles me. Let’s quit settling for field goals, and put others away early. Otherwise, we’re going to suffer more defeat down the road.
John D
October 16th, 2011
8:20 am
And for those who say “this is the kind of game we would have lost last year”, what do you think the SC game this year was??? Hellooo, wake up! If the Vandy receiver had caught that pass in the end zone and we had lost we would be that team last year, as it is we’re still near shades of it. Apparently some fans are deluding themselves into thinking our team is something it is not. Our special teams are putrid, arguably much worse than they were last year. Blair Walsh looks like he’s been spooked by the Blair Witch…God help us if the game is on the line and he’s kicking, what is he 50/50 on kicks this year?? How many TD’s have we given up on special teams this year, I’ve lost count….We’re a bad team hanging on by a thread and we’ll be better off without Richt next year.
Elbert
October 16th, 2011
8:20 am
you win some you should lose and lose some you have won. Thats Football
Maybe grantham was peeved
October 16th, 2011
8:21 am
since his team gave up 21 points with two lengthy drives to a team that has an ABYSMAL offense
Elbert
October 16th, 2011
8:22 am
Sorry;
some you should have won
trupert
October 16th, 2011
8:23 am
Grantham said a few choice words that he would want to take back, but he was standing up for and protecting his players.
This game almost got out of hand (fighting) for the same reason the Auburn game got out of hand. Players don’t like getting hit in the back and ribs with illegal helmet first hits and getting their lower legs blocked on every few plays. These SEC refs did not do their job and protect his players, so, Grantham gave the Vandy coach a piece of his mind. Any good coach who cares for his players would.
Sorry Ga haters, yes, his D had an off night, but Ga now has a great defensive coach. Get over it and find one for yourselves. Go dawgs!!!
John D
October 16th, 2011
8:26 am
RedandBlack Dawg, we’re not impossible to please. I don’t really care about us playing with passion, I’d just like to see us play smart and sound football, is that too much to ask?? Is that being unreasonable?? I’d like to see us play like we did the first half against South Carolina and we haven’t played much like that since. Comparing us to an engine??? We are not only not firing on all cylinders, we’re leaking oil, transmission fluid, and antifreeze. Just keep deluding yourself, you’ve got plenty of company. I’ll bet money that this team will implode against Florida, and it will be the best thing that ever happened because we can get a younger coach that doesn’t look tired to beat some discipline into these monkeys heads.
Maybe grantham was peeved
October 16th, 2011
8:27 am
Please show me a list of accomplishments from that “great defensive coach”, and I might change my mind that he STINKS
The Ghost of Wally Butts
October 16th, 2011
8:28 am
What a fine way to spend a beautiful autumn evening!
I see my beloved team struggle to beat the permanent weak sister in the conference.
I see one of my coaches trying to pick a fight with any opposing coach/player that would stoop low enough to join him in poor sportsmanship.
I see the Second Coming of Herschel benched for “non-injury related purposes”. Oh well, he has more time to braid his hair and work on his chest beating gestures after his runs.
I see my Head Coach lament the lack of discipline. Well, if it ain’t the job of the Head Coach, then who is running the show? The ‘playas’?
The 5-2 record is deceiving – place us in Tennessee’s schedule and we would be toast.
Paddy
October 16th, 2011
8:28 am
trupert…….if a team uses the cut block as their basic fundemental, you don’t go for the players lower legs every few plays. You go after the players lower legs on EVERY run blocking play. I don’t understand your position on this fundemental?
bart
October 16th, 2011
8:29 am
Wake up folks! We are never going to be a championship team with this coaching staff. But it seems like a lot of fans are satisfied with mediocrity.
bucket
October 16th, 2011
8:30 am
Head Coach Franklin should have either made his comments to Head Coach Richt or he should have kept his mouth shut. He knew exactly what he was doing by going after Grantham. Franklin wanted to mouth off and he did and Grantham didn’t back down. Come to think of it, the way Franklin handled it was the way things took place all night. Vandy started it and UGA got flagged for it. Vandy’s punter was trash talking last night! Go back and watch the game before you come on this blog trash talking Grantham or any UGA players. We are lucky that Geathers isn’t in the hospital after the clip he received from a Vandy olineman.
John D
October 16th, 2011
8:30 am
I love our team, I hate the way they embarrass themselves and our university. Some of you will call me out and say the same thing, but it’s only because you refuse to be honest with yourselves and admit that we’re not getting the production we should be from this talented of a team. And the mental errors/penalties are killing us once again.
Gay Dawg
October 16th, 2011
8:31 am
those beefy coaches got me all hot and bothered!
trupert
October 16th, 2011
8:31 am
Grantham’s defense went into the Vandy game giving up a whopping 6 yards more per game than the LSU defense and were ranked #7 in total defense in all of CFB.
Not that that would impress a hater troll, right?
tndawg
October 16th, 2011
8:34 am
Georgia players and coaches with FIRE? Thank God! It`s about time!
I knew Vandy was going to give Ga a hard time. But, it kinda looked like I was wrong until the 4th Quarter.
I still say that S.C. needs to win the East. Because the West winner will flat run over the East. It will only be another loss. So, let S.C. have it.
Speaking of the incident of last year with Grantham. The “choke sign” meaning for the kid to choke and miss the field gold. Not to be “choked”. You know the sport term “to choke”? Not to kill.
I think there are a lot of bitter Tech fans here today.
Go DAWGS!
nwfladawg fan
October 16th, 2011
8:35 am
grantham and patton , lombardi hell yeah…a win is a win ….when you play on road in sec you better
strap it up and then slap other coaches…GO DAWGS….BEAT THOSE GATORS NEXT AND SLAP
WILL…
dog fan sitting on rocky top
October 16th, 2011
8:37 am
DAWGS would have found a way to loose this game last year.
(STILL) 2-10 Against Ranked Teams
October 16th, 2011
8:38 am
As I wrote on the other blog….Just as with Obama…I want Richt to FAIL!!!!
There, I said it, for the sake of the (Dawg) nation…
Let the howling begin: 3, 2, 1…………..
Floze
October 16th, 2011
8:38 am
I love the passion from coach grantham. Keep it up. Those of us who actually attended the university of Georgia defend those who represent us.
Bring that fire to jacksonville. If Florida needs a field goal to beat us in two weeks give the choke hex again. Loyalty.
gdawg
October 16th, 2011
8:38 am
“Are you guys stupid”, try Dr Wolfson for you lasik surgery moron. Stevie Wonder saw the cut blocks. Why do you think Kwame through the punch, you tried to end his career. Even Tim Couch who looked asleep the entire game saw it and commented on it. Get real or dont comment moron.
Brucerugby79
October 16th, 2011
8:41 am
BEAT FLORIDA
DP
October 16th, 2011
8:45 am
To the Nebraska clown at 12:20 who says you never see this type of behavior at Nebraska, I’m sure I’ve seen it multiple times from the Pelini brothers, particularly when Carl was screaming at the Texas players and coaches after losing the 2009 Big 12 championship game.
As for the Dawg fans who look past their typical 3 personal foul penalties and claim that Vandy was chop blocking, it’s funny that when Alabama beat Vandy 34-0 last week there wasn’t a word said by Alabama coaches or players afterwards about Vandy chop blocking. Richt said nothing about chop blocking either. Looks like Grantham has another reprimand coming.
John D
October 16th, 2011
8:48 am
Trupert, you are the special moron that looks at numbers in isolation without out qualifying/validating them. Those stats you hail for our D come against the likes of Mississippi (which was decimated by Alabama), Missippi State (which was beaten soundly by LSU), and a Tennessee team that couldn’t run against a nursing home staff. In addition to Tenn and Missippi St., LSU’s defense has held down a veteran and polished Oregon attack with all their players fresh and prepared, West Virginia and Florida was held to 11 points. There’s absolutely no comparison. South Carolina has struggled against decent defenses as evidenced by their games against Auburn and Miss St, so that performance by our D is looking less and less stellar.
SC Dawg
October 16th, 2011
8:50 am
“Some of you people spend too much time playing crossword puzzles or watching old episodes of Oprah. If you don’t like how tihs game is played or how the coaches are coaching, go back to the day time soap operas. Are you kidding me???? This is FOOTBALL, not BINGO!!!”
———————————
Don’t care much for Oprah but do like me some good puzzles…and don’t get me started about those purple haired old ladies down at the VFW! They’ll rip off your arm for a good card or slap you in the mouth before you can get, “Bingo”, half way out. Just sayin’.
BigDaddy
October 16th, 2011
8:51 am
Coach G was showing what UGA needs more of FIRE!! Go Coach!
papadawg
October 16th, 2011
8:51 am
Coach Richt if there hadn’t been some cussing during this game then I’d say fire the staff. I did enough of my own especially toward the special teams coach
SU when you dont see the whole play
October 16th, 2011
8:51 am
How can you say Geathers was wrong when you only saw the end of the replay and not the 10 sec. before – that is what is wrong with you people – the media shows and tells you what they want you to see and you think it is the end all be all – and for those of you saying Vandy is not that good – well I believe a change is coming and they found their qb of the future – that Rogers guy was pretty darn good – he will make a game on most – anyway a win is a win and I love the fire at the end of the game – it is called passion and emotion for those of you that have never played the game
ROCK STEADY FREDDY
October 16th, 2011
8:51 am
Grantham should have beat Franklin down. Someone needs to get him while he’s down here recruiting.
Ronald 1981-1988
October 16th, 2011
8:51 am
“from what I’ve heard the heated discussion was due to cut/chop blocks throughout the game that Vandy was throwing”. Really? Well get ready for a brawl with the Jackets!
St Simons - we're on Island time
October 16th, 2011
8:51 am
like the other poster said, the $scam cheetahs are coming to town, and you can bet the dirty cheetahs that can’t win straight up are gonna watch this film. The league has got to do something about the dirty cheetahs and the Birmingham ref office before the member universities get (rightfully) sued by a parent with a severely injured kid.
VININGS DAWG
October 16th, 2011
8:52 am
Grantham should be suspended or fired. He is overpaid and an embarrassment. He is complaining about chop blocks and cut blocks. Uhh, remember the Auburn game and what our OL was doing all night. Grantham is a class 1 jerk and embarrassment. If he is upset about cut blocks then teach our players to get off them, don’t look like a total idiot on ESPN.
F.A. Grantham
October 16th, 2011
8:53 am
Let me set the record straight. I was asking the Vandy coach about the post game spread when he told me there wasn’t one I went off. I worked up quite a hunger letting Vandy run up and down to field on us the second half.
hornblower
October 16th, 2011
8:54 am
richt had better back up his coach on this one. that piece of crap from vanderbilt apparently has coached his boys to throw semi-legal chop-blocks that were sending our big guys to the sideline limping. and Georgia will face the master of this tactic when they play tecch.
hornblower
October 16th, 2011
8:55 am
vinnings dog needs to go back to tecch.
mike addington
October 16th, 2011
8:58 am
Crowell is a whimp. Every shot of him on the sideline shows him either looking disinterested or whiny. I’ve never out of maybe 20-30 shots seen him look involved or spirited. Me thinks he will be one of those who eventually will be injured all the time. In other words, an energy vampire the talking heads keep mentioning.
Paddy
October 16th, 2011
8:59 am
gdawg…….I also watched the cut blocks all night long. Never saw a flag from an official. You know why? Because cut blocks are LEGAL. Some of you folks need to buy a rule book!!!!!!!!!GEEZ
DP
October 16th, 2011
9:00 am
John D, while all your points are valid, calling Auburn a decent defense might be a bit of a stretch. They were rated as one of the worst defenses in the country before shutting down South Carolina thanks largely to QB Stephen Garcia, who apparently spent more time drinking and smoking pot than he did preparing to play football. Prior to that game the Auburn fans were howling for Chizik to fire defensive coordinator Ted Roof. And yes, Auburn shut Florida down last night, but Florida had been beaten to a pulp by Alabama and LSU in the 2 previous games and was without starting QB John Brantley and all purpose threat Jeff Demps. Auburn has already given up over 30 points 4 times this season.
Are you kidding?
October 16th, 2011
9:00 am
Starting a fight AFTER the game isn’t the way to demonstrate passion. (Unless of course you’re a child)
papadawg
October 16th, 2011
9:00 am
All I can say is DAWGS remember the chop blocks when they come to our house next year. OOOPS that’s old school way of playing football and will hurt some of you panty waist feelings. Oh Well
Gay Dawg
October 16th, 2011
9:00 am
Grantham is a major beefcake!
trupert
October 16th, 2011
9:01 am
@ DP, Let me guess, you missed the helmet first hit on out receiver Bennett. The one where he ask to come out of the game and was grimacing in pain and holding his lower back.
Just like last years game at Auburn. When the other team keeps playing dirty and the officials keep letting them get away with it, it’s no wonder our players get mad and start to hit back.
Coach Franklin has a choice. He can emulate a dirty coach like Chizik or he can coach his players to play the game the was it’s supposed to be played, with class. Last night he got very Chizik like.
RGP
October 16th, 2011
9:02 am
Any road win in the SEC is a good win. Vandy was primed for the win at home. Murray had a great game passing under a lot of pressure. He did well considering the running game was weak. To beat Fla all areas defense, special teams, and offense need to be clicking.
THE MAJOR
October 16th, 2011
9:04 am
Amazing all this big talk about the Dawgs and how they are going to roll over Florida and Auburn. Well just to remind you experts, the putrid Auburn defense has held two the East powers to a total of 19 points. UGA has beaten 4 SEC teams that have a total of one victory in the conference. Come play in the West where the big boys play. You boys are laughable.,
Dore Stompers
October 16th, 2011
9:04 am
Beating Vandy is HUGE!!!! We should do it more often. I’m going to the doctor because it gave me an erection that’s lasted more than 4 hours.
Gatormeat
October 16th, 2011
9:05 am
I see georgia is the same trash they always are. Some things never change. The Mighty Gators will kick that weak team in the teeth all day long. Again
The best of Todd Grantham, part one | Get The Picture
October 16th, 2011
9:06 am
[...] he’s got a point here. … Said Grantham, whose unit gave up 349 yards to Vandy: “The bottom line is we stopped [...]
Nut Job
October 16th, 2011
9:06 am
LOL