SEC discipline likely forthcoming for Georgia, Vandy players, coaches
ATHENS – Georgia expects to hear back from the Southeastern Conference sometime this week regarding possible disciplinary action against coaches and players in the wake of last Saturday’s game against Vanderbilt.
UGA and Vanderbilt were each asked to submit reports about the post-game skirmish that took place following the Bulldogs’ 33-28 win over the Commodores. After the game concluded, Vanderbilt head coach James Franklin and Georgia defensive coordinator Todd Grantham ended up in a shouting match at midfield. Both coaches could be subject to fines, suspensions and/or reprimands from SEC Commissioner Mike Slive for showing a lack of sportsmanship with their finger-pointing, obscenity-laced exchange.
Meanwhile, there is a very good chance discipline could be forthcoming for players based on their actions during the game. Georgia noseguard Kwame Geathers was flagged for a personal foul for punching Vanderbilt center Logan Stewart at the end of of the Commodores’ second offensive play of the fourth quarter. Geathers’ punch was retaliation for a late-hit by Stewart in which he intentionally clips the back of Geathers’ left knee, an extremely dangerous angle that could have resulted in serious injury. Stewart was flagged for clipping on the play and could be disciplined for the hit.
Georgia senior center Ben Jones was flagged for a similar penalty in the 2010 Mississippi State game and was suspended for the first half of the Bulldogs’ next game against Colorado. Georgia’s next game this year is against Florida in Jacksonville on Oct. 29.
“We’re not sure what’s going to happen,” Georgia Athletic Director Greg McGarity said Tuesday. “We’re at the mercy of the SEC. We don’t know if anything is imminent or not. Our only experience is with Ben Jones last year.”
Jones’ discipline was not announced last season until right around kickoff of the Colorado game. At the time it was stated that both Georgia coach Mark Richt and Slive had reviewed tape of the Mississippi State game and agreed that a one-half suspension was warranted.
Here’s the release UGA sent out that day:
University of Georgia center Ben Jones will sit out the first half of the Saturday game against Colorado as a result of a late clipping penalty he incurred in the closing minutes of last week’s game at Mississippi State.
UGA head coach Mark Richt and SEC Commissioner Mike Slive both reviewed game tapes and conferred during this past week. Both agreed the half game suspension was in order.
“It was poor judgment on Ben’s part,” said Richt. “He feels very badly about the incident and has sent a note of apology to the Mississippi State player. I have talked with (Mississippi State Coach) Dan Mullen and he appreciated the concern and Ben’s apology.”
Meanwhile, McGarity does not believe Georgia is an undisciplined team. He pointed out that the Bulldogs entered last Saturday’s game as the SEC’s fourth-least penalized teams. Georgia has been flagged for five personal fouls in seven games this season and all have come in the last two games, two against Tennessee and three against Vanderbilt.
“That’s not a reflection of our team this year,” McGarity said. “The Vanderbilt game hopefully was an aberration. We had a bad second half against Tennessee and lost our composure against Vanderbilt.”
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532 comments Add your comment
BIG MIKE
October 18th, 2011
7:42 pm
I love what I’m seeing in some of these blogs. It’s about time you started acting like UGA fans and back your team. They just might surprise all of you against LSU or BAMA (whoevere happens to be the last man standing in the West). This is football…it doesn’t always go your way on the boards, but these boys are playin’ like JUNKYARD DOGS now and I’m proud of them. They could have easily folded under the pressure Saturday. THEY DIDN’T!!! SEC We’re back!
T.
October 18th, 2011
7:42 pm
Joe
Call it classless, but most people kinda like the fact,
he stands up for his players,when a Lane Kiffin wannabee
starts attacking one of his players.He got a little hot,so what?I betcha alot of folks racking Grantham over the coals, would react the same way if it was there team and there coach.Richt is the one I’m disappointed in.
T.
October 18th, 2011
7:47 pm
BIG MIKE
I say demote CMR to QB Coach or run the scout team,
and promotE CTG to head coach,bring in a WHIZ at OC.
GATA
October 18th, 2011
7:50 pm
This is a load of crap and typical of the wuss pc society we’ve become. Football is a physical, violent game and emotions and tempers will flare as they should. I don’t give a damn which coach said what – they both understandably were heated up after a crazy game and finish. No punches were thrown between them and this shouldn’t go any further than the ADs dealing with it. The fact that the SEC has to get involved is idiotic. I guess tomorrow’s story will be the ncaa, congress and obama stepping in…
Georgia Nation!
October 18th, 2011
7:51 pm
We Beat Vandy!
We’re Back!
Fact for UGA fans
October 18th, 2011
7:51 pm
Since 1980, Let me say something ALL of you mutts can understand,National Championships,Clemson,GT,UA,AU,LSU,UT,UFx3 since your last one.Now, argue that with me you bunch of clowns.For fans to call themselves a TOP program,year after year, after year,you’re either stupid or alcoholics,hey,maybe both? With a cigarette hanging from your lip too.
private plan watching
October 18th, 2011
7:55 pm
We beat Vandy!!! The dream team is rolling!!!
pragmatic
October 18th, 2011
7:55 pm
Win at all cost. That what we say. Some way to live
T.
October 18th, 2011
7:55 pm
GATA
AMEN DUDE!I agree with the exception of the AD’S GETTING INVOLVE. Just chalk up as a dispute, it fizzled,move on
and get ready for Florida.You know what? the dawgs defense
know their man will stand in the gap for them.
BIG MIKE
October 18th, 2011
7:55 pm
NO WAY MAN!!! CMR is the Vince Dooley of our day and Grantham is the ERK RUSSELL we’ve been looking for. Let Grantham coach. Richt has his hands full with this media crap and managing Bobo. This team bears more and more resemblance to the late ’70’s-early ’80’s teams every day. Don’t touch a thing. Just stand back and enjoy the show. They will be competing for years to come.
T.
October 18th, 2011
7:56 pm
pragmatic
Win at all cost. That what we say. Some way to live
Wrong Blog. Goodbye.
Lee
October 18th, 2011
7:58 pm
Not once in all these articles has anyone quoted the exact words Franklin said to Grantham. Also, IMHO, the Vandy rent-a-cop escalated the situation when he physically shoved Grantham back.
Bottom line, none of us know what really transpired and the SEC, Richt, Grantham, Franklin, et al are not being forthright with their stories.
Gay Dawg
October 18th, 2011
7:58 pm
Oooh, GATA! You’re making me feel all tingly!
You sound like my kinda guy.
Brainiac(Dawg for life/Richt fan for life)
October 18th, 2011
7:58 pm
There is a lot of things I might not understand like why a lot of “trailer-dwellers” are up to your eyeballs in hate over CTG taking up for one of his players that was being verbally attacked by Vandy coach Franklin. CTG did NOT touch another person and neither did Franklin although Franklin initiated it. CTG did use some unsavory words but there has never, even in sandlot/pickup football games, where some discouraged participant didn’t utter a couple of profanities. I guess had the attempted “Ealey Eye Extraction” been sucessful it would not be near as bad as CTG looking out for his players. Grow a pair…… or maybe not. Your reproductions would be undesirable. Your collective IQ’s are approx. double digit.
61-39-5 vs Tech- 47-40-2 vs Florida
October 18th, 2011
8:02 pm
For fans to call themselves a TOP program,year after year, after year
Georgia number 11 in all time football victories.
Oh yeah all NC are mythical.
Mr. SEC
October 18th, 2011
8:03 pm
I’m not saying that what Gathers and Grantham did was right, but I don’t blame them for their actions. Again, all the crap has ben targeted towards UGA as always. Anything anybody can do to hurt UGA’s chances vs Flordia will be done in the Fla. game! UGA gets screwed again!
61-39-5 vs Tech- 47-40-2 vs Florida
October 18th, 2011
8:05 pm
Fact for UGA fans
Also dummy, were talking about an altercation that happen after a game, not whose won NC’s.
Not Lee
October 18th, 2011
8:05 pm
Lee
October 18th, 2011
7:58 pm
“Not once in all these articles has anyone quoted the exact words Franklin said to Grantham.”
That’s because what Franklin did, or did not say is irrelevant.
“Also, IMHO, the Vandy rent-a-cop escalated the situation when he physically shoved Grantham back.”
Your humble opinion is wrong. Anyone in that stadium or watching on TV saw that the State Trooper only intervened when Coach Grantham lunged at Coach Franklin. Coach Franklin didn’t even flinch. He just stood his ground.
“Bottom line, none of us know what really transpired and the SEC, Richt, Grantham, Franklin, et al are not being forthright with their stories.”
Bottom line: Everyone who saw it knows what happened and it makes the University of Georgia football program look bad. Deny it it all you want, but that’s the truth.
I guess the rings
October 18th, 2011
8:09 pm
are mythical too? Just put a big fat L on that bald head pal & go put your Munson cassette tape in,Grab a cold one and a chicken leg too.But,tomorrow,you will still be uga.RTR!!!!!!!!!!
Not Lee
October 18th, 2011
8:10 pm
BTW: Only an idiot would call himself Brainiac.
61-39-5 vs Tech- 47-40-2 vs Florida
October 18th, 2011
8:11 pm
If Florida and GT ALTERNATED winning the NC for the next 100 years,I
Brainiac(Dawg for life/Richt fan for life)
October 18th, 2011
8:12 pm
FACT FOR UGA fans: None of the group you listed except Florida has a winning record against CMR(whose team finished No, 2 in the nation 3 years ago. What has your hairlipped team accomplished. It wasn’t too many years ago that everybody wanted Bama as their homecoming game and Auburn couldn’t buy a win against UGA. recently until last year. You apparently are dumb enough to be triplets. I saw you in “Deliverence”.
bamaguy
October 18th, 2011
8:12 pm
Yes, there is an obvious conspiracy to keep UGA down. The SEC is determined to do everything in its power to see that Florida beats Georgia. The reason is that so many people outside Georgia are just obsessed with keeping Bulldog Football down. They think about it all the time.
Seriously? No one outside this state gives a darn about UGA football. You have been irrelevant going on three years now. I know, because for several years Alabama was irrelevant. But we didn’t try to blame anyone else. We fired Shula and moved on.
All of your rivals have crystal footballs. And it eats you alive.
James Franklin big sissy
October 18th, 2011
8:12 pm
Really james – the players were “rubbing your faces in it” – this is football – it happens – IMHO Franklin is to blame for not just walking off the field – these are kids they do kid things – it happens every game – is Franklin going to beat up or threaten every kid that is excited about a win?
61-39-5 vs Tech- 47-40-2 vs Florida
October 18th, 2011
8:12 pm
it would still be better to be a Georgia Bulldog.
TampaGator
October 18th, 2011
8:13 pm
What Grantham did was unprofessional and childish…….but…….it is over and done. He just needs to clean up his act on the sidelines and after games. He cannot continue to embarrass UG if he wants to stay on the staff….long term. But….this story is old now. The AJC needs to move on to the game in two weeks and report on that.
Also……Muschamp made a public apology for his obsenities directed toward the refs last Saturday. His antics on the sidelines need to be energy filled, but not obsenity lased. I hope, like Grantham, he has learned from his mistake and will behave more professionally and represent GatorNation more appropriately in the future…..same for Grantham and the U of G.
SA GA AU FAN
October 18th, 2011
8:13 pm
1) There is no conspiracy by the SEC or anyone else against UGA.
2) You don’t have a snow ball’s chance in hell of beating LSU or Bama this year.
3) UGA fans calling someone else dirty is laughable.
4) Both coaches are equally at fault in this. They should have to kiss and make up on ESPN.
War Eagle!
61-39-5 vs Tech- 47-40-2 vs Florida
October 18th, 2011
8:14 pm
We fired Shula and moved on.
CMR time is coming.
James Franklin big sissy
October 18th, 2011
8:14 pm
And for those of you still talking about the choke sign – get over it – so he wanted the kicker to choke and miss the kick – why do so many people make a mountain out of a mole hill
MY 2 cents
October 18th, 2011
8:14 pm
what
TampaGator
October 18th, 2011
8:14 pm
…….but maybe the bad behavior and choices of the players is rubbing off on the coaches…..vs…..the good behavior of the coaches rubbing off on the players. Not good.
Burgess
October 18th, 2011
8:14 pm
Not Lee, what video did you watch ? It’s clear Franklin started the whole mess. He had no business yelling at the Georgia player. I’m glad Grantham had his player’s back. I’m mad at Richt for apologizing…what a wimp.
As a matter of fact, Vandy’s chop blocks are what started the whole mess with the personal fouls.
61-39-5 vs Tech- 47-40-2 vs Florida
October 18th, 2011
8:15 pm
You don’t have a snow ball’s chance in hell of beating LSU or Bama this year
Same thing was said in 05,BEFORE we beat LSU.
MY 2 cents
October 18th, 2011
8:16 pm
filter, filter filter. this sucks
61-39-5 vs Tech- 47-40-2 vs Florida
October 18th, 2011
8:17 pm
SA GA AU FAN
Dawgs 4 of the last 5
James Franklin big sissy
October 18th, 2011
8:18 pm
Not Lee is a ? – really the incident makes the whole University look bad – come on man – really?
Brainiac(Dawg for life/Richt fan for life)
October 18th, 2011
8:19 pm
Nut Lee: you are like Coach Franklin. All mouth and no action and what I call myself is precisely NONE OF YOUR BUSINESS. NUT LEE is a prizewinner. It is quite obvious that you couldn’t find your a$$ with both hands in your hip pockets. CTG and Brainiac have stepped over better men than you, getting to the fight.
61-39-5 vs Tech- 47-40-2 vs Florida
October 18th, 2011
8:21 pm
No one outside this state gives a darn about UGA football.
Then why are you spending time on a Georgia blog?Don’t Tuscaloosa or B’ham newspapers have internet,GO there and read up on the Gumps.
tripwire
October 18th, 2011
8:21 pm
I am not a Clemson fan ,but Farley took a cheap shot on a Clemson player while his back was on the ground last year and no call. SEC officiating has sucked,The SC game with MSU last week,Jeffery was in the end zone with a defender holding him with a bear hug. He also pulled Jefferys Helmet off right in front of official . They appear to call or no call depending on which team they want to punish.
James Franklin big sissy
October 18th, 2011
8:23 pm
I agree with GATA – let the school deal with it an move on – that is what is wrong with the world today – we want to pusify every thing out there – I mean some states don’t even want to keep score in high school foot ball games and then they give a trophy to every little kid that plays – back in the day – you only got a trophy if you won and you could run the score up to 100 if you wanted – so for you mom and dads that don’t want to keep score and think your kid deserves a trophy for being on a loosing team – get over it.
Brainiac(Dawg for life/Richt fan for life)
October 18th, 2011
8:23 pm
Tampa Gator: Explain your 8;14 pm comment please.
Red Stick
October 18th, 2011
8:24 pm
Mr. SEC
October 18th, 2011
8:03 pm
“I’m not saying that what Gathers and Grantham did was right, but I don’t blame them for their actions. Again, all the crap has ben targeted towards UGA as always. Anything anybody can do to hurt UGA’s chances vs Flordia will be done in the Fla. game! UGA gets screwed again!”
Based on the last 18 or so meetings, I don’t think the Gators have needed any help in winning.
Geaux Tigers
Go SEC
TampaGator
October 18th, 2011
8:24 pm
People from everywhere come onto the AJC blogs because the AJC covers the south like no other paper in the south. You Georgia fans just need to get over other team’s fans coming on these sites…..”Georgia” site or not…….
You could also say…….doesn’t the Athens paper have a Georgia blog and why do you depend on an Atlanta paper (the home of Georgia Tech) to print about your school.?……which would be just as stupid a comment to make. Get over it.
James Franklin big sissy
October 18th, 2011
8:24 pm
That is funny – all you people that keep saying GA Football is irrelevant – why the freak are you on this blog then?
TampaGator
October 18th, 2011
8:27 pm
Why are coaches everywhere starting to exhiit inappropriate behavior both on and off the field…..aren’t they suppose to be role model for players…..many of which need a good role model based on the backgrounds from which they come?
Like….Muschamp cursing out the refs in front of his players…..Grantham nearly causing a riot……coaches recruiting players and jumping to another team for a few more dollars…..etc. etc. etc.
WAAHHH WAAAHH I AM A GEORGIA FAN
October 18th, 2011
8:28 pm
I WHINE AND CRY ABOUT EVERYTHING WHEN IT DON’T GO OUR WAY. WAAAHHHH WAAAAHHHH WILL SOMEBODY CHANGE MY DIAPER! WAAAAHHH WAAAAHHHH
James Franklin big sissy
October 18th, 2011
8:28 pm
TAmpaGator – it is called life – don’t kid yourself
TampaGator
October 18th, 2011
8:29 pm
James Franklin…….
Any team that plays football in the SEC is relevant…….well…..maybe not Vandy….but they certainly are relevant academically.
bamaguy
October 18th, 2011
8:29 pm
Because this is not a UGA blog, it is an AJC blog. I live in Atlanta, therefore, I read the AJC. I just hate that the AJC got so politically correct that they dropped their “Covers DIxie Like the Dew”. I always liked that.
THWG
October 18th, 2011
8:30 pm
It’s beginning to shape up like last year when the Dawgs needed weekend work release to field a team.