Geathers’ punch, Vandy player’s clip likely to result in suspensions
ATHENS – Georgia noseguard Kwame Geathers and Vanderbilt center Logan Stewart are expected to receive punishment from the Southeastern Conference for their actions on a play in the fourth quarter of this past Saturday’s game in Nashville.
On the second play of the Commodores’ first offensive possession of the fourth quarter, Stewart comes up from behind on Geathers and dives for the back of his left knee and clips him at the end of a play, in which quarterback Jordan Rodgers is run out of bounds for a seven-yard gain. After he is knocked down, Geathers immediately whips around and punches Stewart in the side.
Referees immediately threw flags. After a lengthy discussion, Stewart was called for clipping and Geathers is called for an unsportsmanlike personal foul. The Commodores were awarded an automatic first down as a result of the personal foul penalty.
The SEC has yet to issue a ruling on the chain of events, but precedent indicates both players will likely be subjected to disciplinary action from the league office.
Just last season, Georgia center Ben Jones was assessed a half-game suspension for his flagrant illegal block against Mississippi State. Jones had to sit out the first half of the Colorado game the following week.
And anytime a punch is thrown during a game, it almost always results in at least a half-game suspension. Auburn players Mike Blanc and Michael Goggans had to sit out the first half of the Alabama game last year after throwing punches against Georgia last November.
Meanwhile, repercussions could also be forthcoming for Georgia strong safety Shawn Williams. The junior starter was flagged for two personal fouls against the Commodores, including one in which he appears to be fighting with a Vanderbilt player.
If Geathers and Williams are subject to suspensions, they will be assessed in the Florida game on Oct. 29. The Bulldogs have a bye this week. Stewart’s penalty would be assessed in Vanderbilt’s game against Army this weekend.
Geathers, a redshirt sophomore from Georgetown, S.C., has started three games at noseguard for the Bulldogs and alternates regularly with junior John Jenkins. He has seven tackles, a pass break-up and a quarterback pressure.
Williams, a junior from Damascus, has started every game this season, including one at inside linebacker. He is the Bulldogs’ third-leading tackler with 34 and has two interceptions, including one against Vanderbilt this past weekend.
Saturday’s game, clinched by Georgia in the final seconds, was extremely emotional. The night ended with Vanderbilt head coach James Franklin and UGA defensive coordinator Todd Grantham in a shouting match at midfield.
Check out the video yourself and tell us if you think Geathers and/or Stewart deserve to be suspended.
– Chip Towers
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530 comments Add your comment
hahahahaha
October 19th, 2011
1:35 pm
@ Mildly Amused – go back to playing warcraft from your bunk bed and shut up already you idiot!
ty ty football guru
October 19th, 2011
1:37 pm
You UGA fans are moronic. A punch after any play is indefensible.
Todd Grantham.
HA HA HA
papadawg
October 19th, 2011
1:38 pm
mildlyamused do you know what’s noy funny? NONE of your comments.
dean
October 19th, 2011
1:39 pm
First time seeing the video. I see intent to injure there. I’d say the vandy guy got off easy with only a punch to the side. I’d also say whomever meted out the punishment to Geathers is a f’ing idiot.
boss dawg
October 19th, 2011
1:40 pm
The bottom line is , Stewart could have pushed Geathers and accomplished the same results from the standpoint of blocking, but decided to go for the knee in an attempt to cause an injury. Chop block, cut block , head in front of his body, who cares? he went for the knee of a guy who couldnt see him coming.
Mr. CondoneIt
October 19th, 2011
1:47 pm
I strongly condone what Geathers did afterwards….this Vandebilt player was trying to deliberately hurt or even worse break his legs with a helmet dive even as it ocurred away from the play. This could have been a career-ending hit. Go UGA.
UGA, Vandy players, not coaches, suspended by SEC | CollegeFootballTalk
October 19th, 2011
1:47 pm
[...] threw a punch at Stewart after the offensive lineman dove into the back of his knees near the end of a play, while Williams [...]
ohhh bull
October 19th, 2011
1:52 pm
HEAD LINE SHOULD READ…Geathers reacts to cheap shop by Vandy player
60-39-5
October 19th, 2011
2:09 pm
Enter your comments here
60-39-5
October 19th, 2011
2:12 pm
update 61-39-5 ………..Geathers should be made to run the stadium steps for not totally whipping the Vandy players ass.
Dawg Fan
October 19th, 2011
2:27 pm
Vandy player needs to receive a 1 game suspension. Geathers… he was punished with the flag and that should be enough. If someone hits from behind and low like that, I’m reactting the same way. It was one little jab, not a fight! The SEC better get this one right!
Tech Fan
October 19th, 2011
2:32 pm
I’m a GT guy and typically root against all things UGA… but that Vanderbilt player deserved to be tossed from the game for that maneuver… and UGA’s 99 was reacting like any player/person would who cares about their health and career.
Chip Towers
October 19th, 2011
2:35 pm
zbulldawg: Yes, I know it was a cheap shot. That’s why I went to great lengths to provide the video for you to see. Think about that for a second.
Bush League
October 19th, 2011
3:02 pm
I wasn’t even THINKING about making a comment until I saw this! The Vandy player was way out of line on this one! Heck, the ball carrier was out of bounds! I can’t blame the Ga player at all! Just thankful his football career is not over. Dirty play!!
Jonathan
October 19th, 2011
3:11 pm
Vandy fan here…
That was definitely a dirty foul by Stewart and I think he deserves at least a full game suspension, not the half game suspension assigned to him.. Dirty dirty play and i’m embarrassed that he was wearing the black and gold while he did that..
I do not think Vandy fans and UGA fans disagree on this issue at all..
That being said, I do believe the kid who was mouthing Coach Franklin and the sidelines was a jerk.. he wouldnt stop talking and making gestures at our sidelines and head coach.. Franklin DID NOT approach the kid face-to-face but went to a coach.. I side with Franklin on this other issue…
Lastly, good game UGA fans.. It was a tough loss for us. Good luck the rest of ur season.
GTBuzz85
October 19th, 2011
3:25 pm
The Vandy player should be suspended for at least one game. That could have ended Kwame’s career and was blatant! Kwame showed incredible restraint to only throw one punch. SEC should not have suspended Kwame and was way too light on Vandy player.
Mike
October 19th, 2011
3:27 pm
No dad … he shouldn’t have punched him. he should have jumped up with all 350 lbs done one of those WWE leg drops off the top rope on that fool. That was terrible. I mean, he was like a scud missile aimed at his knee.
TheItalianDawg
October 19th, 2011
3:27 pm
Chip, why my comment is not posted?
TheItalianDawg
October 19th, 2011
3:29 pm
Ok revised comment
Yup Im 100% convinced Geather SHOULD NOT be penalized! what the vandy player did is as dirty as it get and probably he was ordered by Franklin to do that and received his blessing. Geather and big Jones are both NFL bound. they are big men with rare size for the 3-4 D.
bounty on Logan Stewart
October 19th, 2011
3:30 pm
Is there a bounty on Vanderbilt center Logan Stewart?
MRJ
October 19th, 2011
3:36 pm
UGA fans live in some kind of fantasy land where they never chop block, players don’t get arrested on a monthly basis and are allowed to skate by with one game suspensions from CMR, they don’t clear the benches, they don’t have coordinator’s trying to fight head coaches at more lofty institutions…
No wonder the program sliding. No identity because everyone is totally out of touch with reality. Read the WSJ today, which describes that AU-UGA is the dirtiest rivalry in America, with UGA being the worst offender of that rivalry. You’re not a disciplined program, but you’re reacting with willful ignorance.
Face it, schools with less natural advantage in this conference (LSU and Auburn) are getting it done and you aren’t. The NCAA stripped you of your moronic Cam Newton excuse, and now you’re left as the largest, wealthiest institution in the conference that pulls in top talent, but can’t finish. After Auburn won last year, I actually heard UGA fans, the benefactors of perennial top 15 recruiting, complain that your deficiency was in talent. No, brainiacs, you get plenty of talent. You’re becoming the college football equivalent of Occupy Wall Street. Man up and put your program back together instead of acting like 1980s Miami and crying about it when you get in trouble.
Atlantan
October 19th, 2011
3:40 pm
I don’t pull for the dogs, but I don’t blame his reaction. I think many players would’ve had the exact same reaction. It was a cheap shot by the Vandy player and dumb – it could’ve really hurt Kwame.
Grantham on the other hand…..
Its Clear
October 19th, 2011
3:42 pm
Geathers was wrong to do what he did ! Period !! Anyone who has eyes and can see the video knows that !
Rampdawg
October 19th, 2011
3:43 pm
Buford T. Puss ee is more like it.
Coach
October 19th, 2011
3:44 pm
Being a former Defensive Lineman, I would have did the same thing!!! That was wrong for that center from Vandy to do that…He knew what he was doing!!!
Rampdawg
October 19th, 2011
3:49 pm
Now, to all you no nothings about football. It’s not a chop block, it’s not a cut block. It is a clip, and clipping has been a PF for more than 80 yrs.
Anonymous
October 19th, 2011
4:02 pm
So everyone knows a chop block is not Illegal unless the person getting chop blocked while already ingaged with another blocker. Educate yourselves!
Billdawg
October 19th, 2011
4:04 pm
I don’t get it. An intentional act to cause unprovoked personal harm; i.e. “assault”to an individual; which resulted the party assaulted being punished for responding to the physical assault. Don’t believe a court would delve out equal punishment to both the agressor and the responder to aggression. Both should be punished, but not to the same degree.
why are all of you so dense?
October 19th, 2011
4:15 pm
guest….so true
i have no problem with the penalty….and i don’t really have a problem with the suspension, as the play was unnecessary, but technically, it’s debatable if it was even a clip….freeze the video….head was clearly in front and appears the shoulders are too
Just in case you were wondering
October 19th, 2011
4:30 pm
Georgia Tech, ranked no. 84, is the leading school in Georgia, ahead of Emory at 114 and the University of Georgia at 385, according to the rankings compiled by U.S. News and World Report.
mark fox
October 19th, 2011
4:39 pm
To be serious i would have chocked that vandy player to an ounce of his life
Eric
October 19th, 2011
4:40 pm
Christopher, that’s not even remotely close to a chop block. It’s a CLIP. A chop block is a combination block of one player high and one player hitting low. Meaning it takes 2 teammates to commit a chop block infraction. This is a CLIP.
mark fox
October 19th, 2011
4:40 pm
how bout them cavs techies
Return to Glory
October 19th, 2011
4:48 pm
Cheap shot but you have to keep your composure, do not whine just get even on the next couple of plays.
chrisUGA
October 19th, 2011
4:49 pm
That Vandy player could have ended Geathers’ career. What a punk b*tch move….far away from the end of the play. Suspending Geathers for the first half of the Florida game? COME ON MAN
chrisUGA
October 19th, 2011
4:51 pm
Return to Glory…he tried to get even with a punch and got the suspension unfortunately.
jay
October 19th, 2011
4:54 pm
Hope the Vandy player gets suspended too. Clearly he threw a block to injure Geathers after the
play had passed them by.
chrisUGA
October 19th, 2011
4:54 pm
Watch the video…the play was over! Did not think Vandy was dirty. Guess they had high hopes going 3-0 against no names. Then the real schedule kicked in and reality slapped them in the face.
chrisUGA
October 19th, 2011
4:56 pm
Army is going to whoop Vandy
Pete
October 19th, 2011
4:57 pm
@Anonymous
That was an illegal clip.. you idiot.
jvillebil
October 19th, 2011
5:03 pm
I would have jumped up and fully kicked his butt. It was dirty and cheap and a natural reaction to strike back. If someone walked up to you on the street and slapped your mother in the face, are you going to just walk away. I don’t think so.
jvillebil
October 19th, 2011
5:10 pm
I used to be a park and recreation director many years ago. Whenever two kids wanted to act bad in front of everyone, I take them to the equipment room, lock put them inside and tell them, “I’m going to lock the door you two go ahead and fight it out, I’ll be back in 5 minutes.” Every time I locked the door and put my ear up to it, never heard a word. Until late in my career I did it to two 12 year olds in my office. The minute I closed the door they went after it like to pit bulls. Just about distroyed my office. (Remember this was many years ago) They sue me in this day and age for that. But the point is, everyone wants to look tough in front of a crowd. I guarantee you if you put that punk Vandy player in a locked room with Geathers he would have wimpered like a little girl.
why are all of you so dense?
October 19th, 2011
5:17 pm
Or….
a) the play was clearly not over….why don’t you actually watch the video?
b) it was a clip, not even a personal foul penalty
c) although it was unnecessary and certainly could’ve caused injury (just as any number of plays in any given game could), it was certainly no worse than the helmet first shot williams took to a completely defenseless player for which he was suspended
JARROD
October 19th, 2011
5:19 pm
I think we should all pray about it and be more concerned about the way our Univeristy looks! Coach Richt is the worlds best coach and in him we trust! GOOD FOR KG , I WOULD BROKE THAT GUYS LEG THE NEXT PLAY! FIRE RICHT…..NOW!
ATLien052
October 19th, 2011
5:45 pm
@why are you all so dense?
a) the play was over. The ball carrier was clearly out of bounds and the referee was waving his hand over his head to stop the clock. You need to rewatch the video.
b) Though it was clipping, it was obviously unnecessary and egregious. If it were a simple clip, the SEC would not have suspended the Vandy lineman for two quarters.
c) I can’t comment on this point…I watched the game but don’t remember either of the Williams penalties. As of now, no video of that to review, so you may be right.
Can someone find the Williams hit that led to the suspension and post it, please?
charliedawg
October 19th, 2011
6:00 pm
BTW, Fairley was suspended for the first half of the Bama game.
Flat Tire on I-95 in Jacksonville
October 19th, 2011
6:00 pm
Mark Bradley
You sir should appologize for your stupid article about Todd Grantham
Sorry
I would have reacted just like Grantham with that dirty play
Richt should use that as motivation instead of having the team read books on Energy Vampires
Stogie Vol
October 19th, 2011
6:04 pm
It would be nice to allow a player to defend himself if he is attacked in a manner that could severely injure him and end his career. In the context of this situation, and in my opinion, the Vandy player should receive a multi-game suspension. Franklin should receive a warning from the SEC office about enforcing clean play from his players. The Georgia player needs no further repercussions.
Frank Johnson
October 19th, 2011
6:09 pm
This player is a freshman I think- Vanderbilt comes to Georgia next year. He might want to sit this game out next year. Coach Franklin must be real proud of his team. The Dawgs will be waiting on you and your chop blockers next year.Half a game suspension for chop blocks? Coach Franklin might want to bring a few extra state patrol guys to protect him between the hedges next year if he doesn’t clean up his teams play.
Flat Tire on I-95 in Jacksonville
October 19th, 2011
6:14 pm
Gratham has shown he stands behind his players
Richt doesnt
Guess thats why our defense has improved and the offense sputters along in mediocrity
players play harder when they know you have their back