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:
Tell us what you think about the site
Customer Care »
Vacation stops, manage subscriptions and more
AJC Services
Sections
Other Editions
Visitor Agreement | Privacy Statement
© 2013 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
667 comments Add your comment
Art
October 16th, 2011
1:52 pm
You know this taunting junk by players has become the norm. The only problem is coaches are doing to. I was watching the Delta State and U N A game Thursday nite which is the #1 vs #2 game and one of UNA’s pkayers Jenoris Jenkins(Yes the former Florida stand out) got ejected from the game. Well the TV showed the coach of Delta State waving goodbye to the player and the announcers never said a word about it. I am hoping that Delta State loses every game from now on as that is not something a coach should do nor should Todd Grantham done it. It is a shame that nobody has said something about this before.
Thanks for letting me comment.
a win is a win
October 16th, 2011
1:56 pm
GO DAWGS!!!!All the haters just keep on hating gotta love it!
pfffft
October 16th, 2011
2:00 pm
“UGA OWNS gtu”, STFU
Venerate or Denigrate? My Thoughts on Grantham | android tab - android tab news entertainment and lifestyle
October 16th, 2011
2:03 pm
[...] in the game, the second guy is the one that always gets caught. His condescending statements about the situation merely show that: “We just had a tough, emotional game and some things were [...]
Joe
October 16th, 2011
2:05 pm
“Everyone else saw the personal fouls on Georgia and the punch thrown by Geathers.”
It was a blatant cut block well away from the play, and after the play was over you stupid swine. There were also numerous chop blocks and cut blocks by Vandy throughout the entire game that were never called.
You’re an idiot whose parents should be slapped for giving birth to you.
Flat Tire on I-95 in Jacksonville
October 16th, 2011
2:14 pm
I thought we looked prepared last night
We got beat on another fake
We got beat by an inferior D-line all night
Their offense pushed our D line around
Once again we get inside the 30 and have to settle for field goals
We barely hang on to win
Wait I forgot this is Vanderbilt,
they have won more games, more conference championships, more national championships than anyone in the SEC
This was how this game was suppose to go
LOL
gt4ever
October 16th, 2011
2:15 pm
Todd Grantham what a JOKE…. Is anyone surprised at that idiots actions…. The real disappointment will be that CMR will do nothing to control this kind of behavior… Yeah, GT may not be as good as UGA in football, but we have a class coach on the sideline that would never let anything like this happen… UGA football is a complete embarrassment to the state of Georgia…
Rob
October 16th, 2011
2:16 pm
@Are you guys stupid?
You’re an idiot. Look at when the teams were first coming out after the game and you can plainly see the Vandy coach screaming and pointing at one of our players, and Grantham looking back to see who he was yelling at. I’m sure that’s why told him to shut the f… up.
Atlantan
October 16th, 2011
2:17 pm
Grantham is going to go Woody Hayes on a player one day… but you gaggers will say he was just sticking up for is players. You Uga fans who support his behavior, aren’t bothered by the multiple player run-ins with the law under CMR are an embarrassment to the state. Win at all costs and you still get 6-7. This year you might finish 8-4. Go You Hairy Postmen!
UGA Law Dawg
October 16th, 2011
2:20 pm
The so called fans on this blog who say” wish he would have punched Franklin”, “retaliating for chop blocks”, “grantham was defending his players” are all excuses and show your immaturity.
Any coach at any school who promotes a physial altercation and draws ill afforded negative critisim for the second time in a year does not belong in collegiate athletics. Grantham is promoting his players to react negatively and that folks is not what winning programs do.
We have received enough negative reporting for the past 3 plus years and TG is not helping us with his behavior.
Rob
October 16th, 2011
2:20 pm
@gt4ever
Your head coach acts just like that you moron.
Flat Tire on I-95 in Jacksonville
October 16th, 2011
2:20 pm
I remember SMALL JOHNSON telling Tech fans to go out and punch UGA fans in the mouth
Now thats some class ehh Tech fans
gt4ever
October 16th, 2011
2:21 pm
Good Grief Rob,
Whatever…
emmysmom
October 16th, 2011
2:36 pm
I would imagine Grantham was embarrassed at his team’s performance (as he should have been), which caused his childish temper tantrum. He needs to grow up, stop making excuses, and set an admirable example for the young men he leads. It is laughable that a UGA coach can’t contain himself at a Vanderbilt game.
RedandBlackDawg
October 16th, 2011
2:39 pm
Why would a tech. fan (?) even wnat to be on a UGA blog this morning. Don’t they have one to go to here they can say, they were robbed or something else to make them feel better. You are on a winners blog from yesterday. Find a university of Virginia blog and go bad mouth them. Coming onto UGA’s blog, just shows you are being whinny little babies again.
GO DAWGS and GATA
Wow!
October 16th, 2011
2:41 pm
Lose vs loose
This confusion can easily be avoided if you pronounce the word intended aloud. If it has a voiced Z sound, then it’s “lose.” If it has a hissy S sound, then it’s “loose.” Here are examples of correct usage: “He tends to lose his keys.” “She lets her dog run loose.” Note that when “lose” turns into “losing” it loses its “E.”
Get it? Got it? Good!
hbdawg
October 16th, 2011
2:47 pm
This game had the dumbest call I have seen in my 50 years of going to the dawgs . We were at the game and I was stunned that the dogs just didn’t snap the ball and either take a knee or run around. It was 4th down with 15 seconds on the clock and Vandy did not have a timeout. Snap the ball and the game is over. Instead they were going to kick and give Vandy and chance to run it back and win? Worse, give them an opportunity to block the punt? No way. Richt is too smart for that – right? Wrong. We were lucky that Vandy could not get a handle on the blocked punt or else they would have won. Also that first pass hit the receiver in the hands and we could have lost it there. How could Richt have been so out of it is beyond me.
AFAN
October 16th, 2011
3:02 pm
UMMM I do believe several points were put on the board because of special teams once again and not the D.
There was a kickoff return for a TD.
A fake punt that ended up in a TD
and a blocked punt that almost sunk us.
take away those 14 points and once again the D held an opponent to 14 points and that is not bad.
Crow Much
October 16th, 2011
3:05 pm
Have faith, loyal dogs. By April, you’ll return to your perennial position as pre season national champs (at least in your own minds). This will last until the season begins, but not much longer.
GAGEEDAWG
October 16th, 2011
3:05 pm
Good game between UGA and the Vandy Puppies. All those GA players on the field at one time. Next yr. with more GA players on Vandy they could win or be a closer game. Everyone wants players from GA cause we are BETTER.
UGA OWNS gtu
October 16th, 2011
3:05 pm
Tick tock gtu fans… it’s almost that time of year again! IT’S TIME FOR YOUR ANNUAL BEAT-DOWN BY UGA!!!!
BWAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAA
UGA OWNS gtu
Always have, always will.
AFAN
October 16th, 2011
3:06 pm
what gets me is how many times our D can get caught napping on fake punts. That just amazes me. The first responsibility for the D line is to stay home. Make sure the punt is done and then run to block.
Why else do you see these punters stand back there so long and do these run for a second and then kick. if the D front was attacking like they are supposed to then this would not be an issue.
The ole Ball Coach
October 16th, 2011
3:07 pm
Franklin started it and did not get the response he expected.
He needs to stick with pointing fingers and yelling at his own players.
CTG is a man and acted as a man would when some one screams and points a finger in your face. Franklin needs to control himself.
DP
October 16th, 2011
3:07 pm
Lattimore is out for the season. I’d love to see Georgia win the East and play Alabama or LSU in the SEC championship game.
AFAN
October 16th, 2011
3:07 pm
florida has no offense at all since Brantley went down. UGA should win this one.
john w. holmes
October 16th, 2011
3:08 pm
Football is a game of inches
john w. holmes
October 16th, 2011
3:11 pm
If I played RB for Richt I could score from 14 inches out every time.
Gdawg
October 16th, 2011
3:26 pm
To All UGA Fans: Unfortunately for Mark Richt, I am convinced that it is time for a change. Our offense is very predictable, our defense has improved but we still have not played anybody and won. I would like to keep TG and bring in the guy from Texas Tech that got fired. We need to modernize our offense, and I don’t think BOBO can get er done. Also, Granthan should have slapped the s%@# out of that Franklin guy, as he came running toward him raising cain. Also, when your offense fails to 6 times to put TD’s on the board that is just terrible. I thought we had improved, but look what ALABAMA did to OM yesterday and that tells you how far behind we are. Top 5 recruiting year after year and we can even break into the top 25, because we are not well coached. We need a coach like the guy from Boise ST or Auburn. As bad as I hate to say this: you can take this to the bank, we will not beat Auburn and I doubt we will beat FLA. We need a new culture to take over, as we are in the same predicament as when Donnan took over for Golf. The program is going in the wrong direction and it is time for a change!!!!!!
GO DAWGS!!!!!
McDawg
October 16th, 2011
3:28 pm
i’ll take the win
special teams is on CMR
we did our best to lose but didn’t-another marked improvement from last year
pfffft
October 16th, 2011
3:28 pm
HBDAWG
clock stops on change of possession, like a 4th down play. dee dee deer.
Just a Fan
October 16th, 2011
3:29 pm
He is a liar and he lacks class!. Grantham should have knocked him on his butt!
Shawn may be the big hitter that we need!
McDawg
October 16th, 2011
3:30 pm
Lattimore maybe out but USC’s D is good enough to win out
i think the Dawgs were drinking the koolaid this week –we learned how to win despite of how we played
I don’t know what to think « Year of the Dawg
October 16th, 2011
3:47 pm
[...] quotes from Coach Richt: “I don’t know exactly what happened. Maybe TV picked it up and we’ll get a better view of [...]
Mike Bobo 17 INT
October 16th, 2011
3:50 pm
The scores will tell……
Todd granthem
October 16th, 2011
3:54 pm
Coma after ME! I’m A MAN IM 40!
Return to Glory
October 16th, 2011
4:05 pm
Dawg fan always..but come on quit crying and play like a man, Alabama did not cry and whine and give up 200 plus rush yards, they smacked them,down our defense was pitiful in the second half.
Niceville Dawg
October 16th, 2011
4:23 pm
I’ve watched it over and over.Coach TG says [screams] his peace and is trying to walk away…the Vandy head coach and an assistant coach are both jawing at him as he’s WALKING AWAY.And yes,he comes back and tells them a thing or two.I’m not good at reading lips but I don’t think it could be repeated on this blog.I do not think we have dirty players,just think tempers flared.Hell,no one is as dirty as Nick Fairley and look what it got him.A NC and a fat NFL contract.And before any of you go there,no I don’t want any of our players to stoop to that level.
Dawg48
October 16th, 2011
4:25 pm
Georgia fans are the biggest bunch of cry babies!!
BILLY JACK
October 16th, 2011
4:27 pm
One more time- Geathers did not get cut block-after the play he got clipped behind both knees it was clearly a cheap shot.The cut blocks also happened as early as 1st qtr on.The vandy coach pointed and cursed at Shaun Williams 36 and Granthem heard it and went crazy.You dont point out another teams player ever especially in front of an opposing coach.No coach in the SEC would tolerate this and Granthem stood up for his player.
john w. holmes
October 16th, 2011
4:27 pm
Do you think Peter North would make a good OC? He would score in spurts and could certainly finish any opponent. Thoughts?
RedandBlackDawg
October 16th, 2011
4:28 pm
Mcdawg,
It will be kind of hard for S.C. to come up with another person who accounts for 68% of their offense. I would bet that Arkansas can score against their defense, just like UGA did. S.C. has had a lucky horse shoe situated in the back south so to speak and I think that horseshoe has just fallen out.
GO DAWGS and GATA
burgess
October 16th, 2011
4:29 pm
hbdawg, that may be the dumbest comment I’ve read in my 50 years…..obviously you don’t know the timing rules. It was 4th down…when the play would have been over, the clock would have stopped for change of possession and wouldn’t have started until the next snap. No way UGA was going to be able to run all 15 seconds off the clock.
What was dumb, was Rambo kneeing the ball when he did. He could have easily run 20-30 yards before sliding, taking a knee or whatever….and the Georgia would never have had to punt. He’s got to have better football savy than to do what he did
Dawg48
October 16th, 2011
4:29 pm
Right own BILLY JACK!!!!
Dawg48
October 16th, 2011
4:34 pm
James Franklin is a lane kiffin wanna be!
TheWad
October 16th, 2011
5:06 pm
DawgCop…if anyone`s spineless, it`s not CMR. He is wise enough to know what is given as an explanation after the game MAY not be entirely accurate. That explanation MAY have alot of emotion wrapped up in it. No reason to make a hasty decision you may have to back away from later when the full story comes out. Love Grantham`s fire but he needs to do things without becoming the center of the firestorm. You don`t always have to sink to the lowest common denominator to make your point. Love the defense the Dawgs are bringing right now. The O line is starting to control more of the line of scrimmage. Goods things ahead.
john w. holmes
October 16th, 2011
5:20 pm
I love how the D was bringing it last night. LMAO. They were getting gashed just like I used to gash Ginger Lynn.
JChip
October 16th, 2011
5:37 pm
You silly Mutt fans kill me. Grantham is a goober and should be fired by Monday.
Dawgs Rule
October 16th, 2011
5:41 pm
vanderbilt needs to stop the chop blocks or the SEC may suspend their coach! Grantham will not put up with this. Look for payback big time next year in Athens!
SLim
October 16th, 2011
5:43 pm
I didn’t see any cheap shots by Vandy and UGA is not far from the “basement with Kentucky.”
Buzz Engineer
October 16th, 2011
5:43 pm
I heard that grantham’s already working on a new choke sign to use in the florida game to try and intimidate florida players! It might work!!! Grantham knows his stuff–remember, he used to be in the nfl.