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
Tom
October 19th, 2011
10:03 am
Why is everybody calling for TWO games for the Vandy center, when Ben Jones got a HALF GAME last season for a clip that was just as dangerous and egregious?
Yep
October 19th, 2011
10:05 am
All of these idiots (dean) calling for UGA to get rid of Geathers obviously have never participated in athletics in their entire lives or really pull for GT.
playitagainUGA
October 19th, 2011
10:07 am
The whole world does not like us.Wow,sos year after year with you boys.Time for UF to pound that mug in again.Come get your whippin’ boy!
opinion
October 19th, 2011
10:07 am
Blocking below the knees 5 yards beyound the line of scrimmage should result in ejection and 2 game suspension. If it occurs more than 5 yards away from the ball. 1 year suspension.
GSU
October 19th, 2011
10:08 am
Champion dawg..what kind of Champion are you. This is not girls gym class.
PJ man boobs
October 19th, 2011
10:08 am
GT blocks this way by design. Because it is by the line of scrimmage, it is “legal”.
Michael Veli
October 19th, 2011
10:08 am
Im not from C.S.I. but i have a theory: Geathers is a big guy and of course we all know about the Georgia faithful and their fondness for red panties, maybe the Vanderbilt player thought the panties was ACTUALLY a jersey and he went for them? It’s possible….
Champion Dawg
October 19th, 2011
10:10 am
Coach Richt, Surely after 11 years at the helm, you recognize the passionate hatred from each and every opponent we face. The teams coming to OUR STATE and raiding us for our players. They cant beat us with their players, they have to have GEORGIANS to beat THE DAWGS. Dear Sir, NO MORE MERCY PERIOD. BEAT’EM DOWN, they do it to us when they can. NO MERCY. UGA VS. the world. That includes ESPN, The BCS Bulldog Cheating System, and all foes.P
M. Kearns
October 19th, 2011
10:11 am
I agree, Geathers should still be kickin’ that guys arse ! Good news, Mr.”cheap shot” is a sophomore, welcome to Athens !
GSU
October 19th, 2011
10:11 am
PJ..lol
You’re so stupid..watch the damn game.
Yep
October 19th, 2011
10:12 am
Champion Dog, get over yourself. It is just football….
CalhounNative
October 19th, 2011
10:13 am
Stewart and Franklin started both incidences. I can not believe the media is not showing this correctly. Quit making it out that UGA was in the wrong and start showing how KG and CTG were defending themselves and their players.
RINGS of CHAMPIONS
October 19th, 2011
10:14 am
Sorry! Wrong board.
Champion Dawg
October 19th, 2011
10:15 am
Who is gsu? Cant spell slug without gus. Pinkie gsu meet me in the parking lot and see what girls gym class l took sweetie pie.
PJ man boobs
October 19th, 2011
10:15 am
Tom
October 19th, 2011
10:03 am
Why is everybody calling for TWO games for the Vandy center, when Ben Jones got a HALF GAME last season for a clip that was just as dangerous and egregious?
To the idiot named Tom. Just in case the booze has clouded your memory. He is the tape of Fairleys cheap shots. The last one is the “retaliation” that earned Jones a suspension. ROTFLMAO at the AU idiots.
On each of Fairley’s cheap shots, he takes 2 steps after the ball is thrown by Murray. Worst officiating game in recent memory allowed this to happen.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6xljcMJxJZg
Champion Dawg
October 19th, 2011
10:17 am
M. Kearns, amen brother, l second that emotion.
Football Wizard
October 19th, 2011
10:18 am
Hey Referee, if the block by Vandy’s center was legal, then why is the SEC reviewing it? The blck IS NOT legal, and was called a clip on the field. You’re probably a ref at Foot Locker. Go get me a size 12 bub!
Tom
October 19th, 2011
10:19 am
PJ, Ben Jones’ half-game suspension was for the downfield clip on a Mississippi State player. Nothing to do with Fairley/Auburn.
Dawg Fan 87
October 19th, 2011
10:20 am
IF they are suspended they should all be suspended for league games. Why should the Dawgs be without two starters against UF in a meaningful SEC game, when Vandy would be without a starter in a non conference game that will not impact SEC standings?
Champion Dawg
October 19th, 2011
10:22 am
50-50 Candy Franklin probably takes another job instead of showing up in Athens next year. Where he will be exposed for a wimp. l say he has not got the brass to stay and take it like a real man. Gutless. People who talk WALK, People who cause pain, sit quietly, are silent, then black mamba strikes them unconscience.
zbulldawg
October 19th, 2011
10:24 am
CHIP do you have anything positive to say about UGA.That was a nasty cheap shot!!!! Geathers will learn from this flare up.Let’s not forget that there coach is teaching WE WILL NOT PUT UP WITH ANYTHING ANYMORE!!!!!!!!!!!! oh well they ran into THE BULLDAWG BITE FRANKLIN WECLOME TO THE SEC.AS far coach Grantham I would be upset too if I thought for one second a coach was teaching cheap shots like that.THE SEC is a war zone PERIOD.The record speaks for it’s self. If it’s too hot for you CHIP TOWERS get out!!!!!!!! Maybe Lingerie Football would suit you better
GSU
October 19th, 2011
10:26 am
I’m your greatest nightmare. Beware gym class puppy!
Tom
October 19th, 2011
10:27 am
If Vandy makes the catch in the endzone at the end of the game we’re not even talking about all this. Just sayin’.
UGA Insider
October 19th, 2011
10:29 am
If one good thing happened it is that this UGA team got brought back down to planet earth. I told you last week that the team had had a bad week of practice and walked around beating their chest because they beat UT. I told you we would play sloppy and be lucky to win. Please note..I have watched this coaching staff and this is what you come to expect. The D played very well in the 1st half but were gassed in the 2nd. Anyways, I think this win will get everyone motivated again and hopefully UGA will play with some fire on the 29th.
GSU
October 19th, 2011
10:30 am
No Champion@10:22..lol, whats your IQ 40?
"Innocent Bystander"--Whatever
October 19th, 2011
10:36 am
Cut blocks are legal but not when they are after the whistle and from behind…….
zbulldawg
October 19th, 2011
10:36 am
Yes Champion Dawg he can always catch a hilly billy chopper.Franklin was looking for a fight that’s what he got.He just put massive pressure on the 2012 team.This will be the team everyone will love to BEAT excuse me STOMP
Charles
October 19th, 2011
10:40 am
Suspensions expected by whom? Courtney Upshaw flagrantly kicked a Vandy player for doing the same thing earlier this season, and was not suspended by the SEC. The only precedent here is that there’s no precedent.
Dale
October 19th, 2011
10:42 am
anybody know the line on the GA FLA game?
Boom Boom
October 19th, 2011
10:42 am
I would still be beating that cheap shots a$$.
Dawg Tired
October 19th, 2011
10:42 am
A chop block from behind is EXTREMELY DANGEROUS and potentially can cause an ijury that can be career ending. The imediate reaction by Geathers to such a block is understandable and natural. Any one who has ever player football understands this. A suspension for Geathers would be an over reaction. Therefore, I expect him to be suspended for the Florida game because the SEC front office basically has demonstrated time and time again that they are stupid. Florida linbacker trying to gouge Georgia player’s eyes resulted in no league action. His coach suspends him for 1/2 game which was a complete joke. So the player suspended himself for a full game. The conference did nothing. Just one example of many.
TampaDawg
October 19th, 2011
10:43 am
Football Insider
October 19th, 2011
9:53 am
I can’t believe how many people on here don’t know what a chop block is.
It is IMPOSSIBLE to have a chop block with just one person. A chop block by definition is a blocker CUT blocking low (legal) but another
————————————————-
Where on earth did you come up with this crap? It isn’t true one little bit.
The cut block is when an offensive football player attempts to get a defensive player to the ground by diving at his feet and ankles rather than his upper body. This technique, however, borders the thin line between making a good block and maybe injuring someone.
http://www.essortment.com/cut-block-illegal-football-player-execute-43222.html
schmeckdawg
October 19th, 2011
10:44 am
He should not be suspended for one damn second. That was a blantant clip that could have ended his career.
The punk from Vanderbilt is the one who should be suspended!!!!! Total cheap shot with an intent to injure another player!!!!!!!!!
MY 2 cents
October 19th, 2011
10:44 am
I agree with z. Fanklin just wrote a check his team cant cash. I expect a beat down in Athens next year, like nothing weve ever seen.
Hey Dale
October 19th, 2011
10:47 am
look for UF to be getting anywhere from 3 to 4 1/2.Could be higher if their starting qb is still out!
TGT
October 19th, 2011
10:47 am
To WhoDat,
I didn’t watch either of those games in full, and I saw nothing as blatant as the clip on Geathers. If that were the case, then some UGA players should have been removed from those games as well. Also, what does your reference have to do with the UGA/Vandy game?
gofortwo
October 19th, 2011
10:48 am
For Sale! Two tickets to the 2012 Vanderbilt-Georgia game in Athens.
why are all of you so dense?
October 19th, 2011
10:48 am
Geniuses, that is NOT a chop block. It is an illegal block (ONLY because it was from behind) and was penalized as such.
All this nonsense about VU chop blocking all night is beyond out of control. I have watched the first half twice and there isn’t even one instance of a VU cut block, much less a chop block. Of course, none of you geniuses know the difference.
Michael Veli
October 19th, 2011
10:49 am
GSU you should back off, it’s obvious that Champion Dawg is a physical brute as well as a literary genius. His classic phrase ”Can’t spell slug without gus” should immediately be translated into latin and put in it’s rightful place along the classic masters and shared with the world. I don’t see how Shakespeare or Voltaire missed that one…
Football Fan
October 19th, 2011
10:50 am
It was a deliberate and calculated dirty hit by teh Vandy center, but Geathers was stupid. Don’t try to rationalize his personal foul as ’standing up for himself’. That was just undisciplined and stupid. It wil cost his team. The guy is a difference maker on the field.
TampaDawg
October 19th, 2011
10:50 am
The cut or chop block is only illegal when it is done by two players with a delay as it demonstrates more definitively an intent to injur a player.
RedandBlackDawg
October 19th, 2011
10:51 am
The penalties were assessed and the SEC should just stay out of it. They are becoming as bad as the present U.S. Govt. administration, they want to try and control everything. The game is over, and their decisions could directly affect UGA in it’s upcoming game with Florida. It would seem to me that the offices of the SEC would have better things to do than get involved in a situation that was handled properly on the field. Tempers got a little heated, but this is football, a full contact sport. It is not played in some board room with nice southern gentlemen discussing the weather, over their glass of bourbon. When the outcome of a future game can be altered or at least handicapped by a bunch of supposedly intelligent men, sitting on their little mountain, is it really football anymore. You would think these jokers would have better things to do, like expansion, for the sake of taking in more money, but ruining what is the SEC, by taking in a south western and mid western team and trying to kill the tradition, and history of the best conference there is in college football today. But, NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO, they now have to try and influence the outcome of future games by over governing. How come there is not much outcry about Saban’s now famous press conference or Mushcamps, curse filled outrage against the refs in a game. Oh that’s right, it did not involve UGA.
GO DAWGS and GATA
TampaDawg
October 19th, 2011
10:52 am
Football Fan
October 19th, 2011
10:50 am
It was a deliberate and calculated dirty hit by teh Vandy center, but Geathers was stupid. Don’t try to rationalize his personal foul as ’standing up for himself’.
————————-
I also believe it wouldn’t be fair for you to say that in the same situation, you wouldn’t do the same and that most players wouldn’t do the same. Impossible for you to know how you would react to what you believe is an intentional act to take out your knee.
St Simons - we're on Island time
October 19th, 2011
10:53 am
Geathers should get a medal for not putting that cheap shot punk away. And Grantham should get a raise for not beatin the snot out of the trash talking wannabe coach. Good, you have my support, and be sure you know this is a rehearsal for when the $cam cheetahs come to town.
icedawg
October 19th, 2011
10:54 am
Dirty hit. If Geathers is disciplined then so should the blocker. That kind of block could end a career.
AltamahaDawg
October 19th, 2011
10:54 am
I wouldn’t call that a “block” of any kind. Or even a clip. Those would seem to imply to me there was some sort of attempt to affect the play but just executed against the rules.
That was Simply a hit to the back of the knees after the play was decided.
1eyedJack
October 19th, 2011
10:55 am
Kwaeme will get another chance to discuss it with that gentleman next year in Athens.
I don’t think Kwaeme should get any suspension. He made an immediate reaction without hesitating to think about it, the same as you would do if someone walked up to you and jap slapped you.
The Vandy kid should get at least a half game.
TampaDawg
October 19th, 2011
10:56 am
1eyedJack and Altamaha with back to back great posts.
wes
October 19th, 2011
10:58 am
Want a 1st down? Clip a Georgia player (not even near the play) and hope he reacts! Stewart should have been thrown out of the game!!!
GT is a 4th rate High School Team
October 19th, 2011
10:59 am
For those who are curious. I looked at the website Roster and Depth chart of VU, and I do not see any Stewart in the depth chart. In the roster, there is a Logan Stewart #60 listed a C/OG and a SO. Another Stewart is listed as Jimmy #95 DE/LB and FR.. I wonder if he is just one of those “hired guns”, you know, “provocateur” just planted for a particular time and purpose with minimal risk if caught or suspended.