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
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
530 comments Add your comment
Vance
October 19th, 2011
11:00 am
While I agree that Auburn got away with some dirty play last year, this is football, not a boxing match. Suspend them both. The coaches should be ashamed at their poor example before the players. This is supposed to be sportsmanship, not a brawl. I was embarraseed to be a bulldog on that evening.
raleigh
October 19th, 2011
11:03 am
okay a low cut block below the knees is a lot more serious than a punch to the sude. a punch to the side when players are wearing pads isn’t going to end anyone’s career, a shot below the knees when the quarterback is already out of bounds is more likely than not. Vandy is making us out to be the bad guys, and they were instigating all night.
meh
October 19th, 2011
11:05 am
The play was over and Geathers wasn’t even near the play. I’d say that Vandy player was purposely trying injure Geathers. Vandy guy should get 2 games. I think Geathers was justified but he did throw a punch so give him quarter suspension.
UGAgirlFAN
October 19th, 2011
11:07 am
I am in COMPLETE agreement with “Dawg stuck in Bammer” Auburn got away with more dirty plays last year than I care to remember, especially Fairley!!!!!!!!!! As far as this video and game, all I saw was a UGA player having a natural reaction to a dirty play.
Sniffin'
October 19th, 2011
11:08 am
“Jap slapped you?” Is that a South Georgia term? Nice! Do you “Jap slap” Crowell when he is drawing on a joint during the week? He is so addicted it is bad news for the future. He is roaming town looking for Doritos and junk food around 11:30 on weekday nights in Athens.
Preston
October 19th, 2011
11:09 am
Kwame shouldn’t be punished at all! That’s BS!
AltamahaDawg
October 19th, 2011
11:09 am
I understand why the Ben Jones example was given as it applied directly to why the Vandy player should get susupended, but then it seems like the article sort of …… Surely it wouldn’t be that difficult to site something similar for what the league has done IF a player is determined to have have “swung” at another by reviewing tape afterwards, but the officials on the spot didnt think it rose to the level of ejection.
We didnt really read this to ponder the fate of the other team’s player.
TampaDawg
October 19th, 2011
11:11 am
Sniffin’
October 19th, 2011
11:08 am
“Jap slapped you?” Is that a South Georgia term? Nice! Do you “Jap slap” Crowell when he is drawing on a joint during the week? He is so addicted it is bad news for the future. He is roaming town looking for Doritos and junk food around 11:30 on weekday nights in Athens.
————————————
Slanderous statements are illegal in all 50 states. Defamation of character law suits end in big settlements. Might want to grow up a little and think before you just run your mouth about someone that I guarantee you know nothing about after the cameras are off.
Preston
October 19th, 2011
11:13 am
Great. Now we let a team with absolutely zero chance of ever winning anything hurt our REAL chances of winning the eastern division and playing for another SEC championship. I guarantee you that kid was instructed by his coaches to take out Kwame’s knee. The vanderchump team needs to realize that they are irrelevant and cut the crap. They’re zeros. Always have been….always will be.
Hurt Kurbstreit
October 19th, 2011
11:13 am
The refs blew it on this one. The Vandy player should have been flagged for clipping and personal foul. His actions looked intentional. There is no justification in suspending Geathers. Richt should go to bat for his player, who was protecting his body from injury.
Sniffin'
October 19th, 2011
11:14 am
Don’t hate on me. There is a lot more going on in Athens than appears from Tampa.
TOO TOUGH44
October 19th, 2011
11:15 am
NO suspension for UGA! SUspend for the warm ups maybe…rhe refs should have ejected the vandy player for trying to intentionally end someones career with a cheap shot flagrant hit! End of story!
TampaDawg
October 19th, 2011
11:16 am
Don’t make accusations that you can’t back up. It isn’t hating on you, it’s simply stating facts.
gdawginkalamazoo
October 19th, 2011
11:20 am
I say call it good on both sides and let it go. That was a nasty clip that could have injured Geathers, he got his retaliation so just move on.
Onto Grantham, just move on too. If the story below is any indication of how lanuage has been used in football we would be suspending all the coaches. No difference yelling at the refs or another coach IMO.
http://espn.go.com/college-football/story/_/id/7119493/florida-gators-muschamp-apologizes-foul-language
afan
October 19th, 2011
11:21 am
he was already penalized in the game. anything now would be wrong. enough is enough with the sec and ncaa. they are not consistent and play favorites. i guarantee you if this was lsu or alabama the week before their game that no one would be suspended!!!
zbulldawg
October 19th, 2011
11:22 am
OH YES CHIP maybe Coach Saban should be suspensed for using the S word. What you think Chippie. Half a game, full game and wash his mouth with soap.I have great ideal why don’t you or AJC start writing a column on what players do for good causes. Each week feature a player from a different team. THERE’S enough negitive going around LET’S GET SOME GOODNESS GOING AROUND What’s you say CHIPPIE
GaDawg
October 19th, 2011
11:23 am
The phone number to the SEC office is 205-458-3000. I think all UGA fans need to call and show support for Geathers. I would hope that McGarrity and Richt would send this video to the SEC office. That was a blant cheap shot by #60. Even so he had the fist bump with #80 while walking back to the huddle. That kid should be suspended for the balance of the year.
I can tell you, this Vandy team is not your dad’s Vandy team. There was a kid staying at our hotel in Nashville, with his wife and small baby, that played for Vandy. He had been suspended for game due to grades. Vandy has decided to sell their soul to the devil to win football games.
Stewart is a cowardly tool
October 19th, 2011
11:25 am
He can’t man up against a superior athlete so he sneaks up behind him…………
georgiagirl
October 19th, 2011
11:27 am
So now all players on all teams in SEC will be suspended if they have a personal foul in any games this year. So the SEC Comm. Mike Silva needs to go back to all the games and start suspending all the players that had personal fouls out of all the teams, LSU, BAMA, AUBURN, SOUTH CAROLINA, MISS STATE, OLE MISS, VANDY, TENN AND SO ON. They were already penalized 15 yards in the game so now we have Double Jeopardy. But this will not happen because the SEC Comm. is biast. Really both guys were already penalized, maybe everyone needs to email the SEC office. This has gone too far. But everyone knows the media, took this to the sky. Fox sports and ESPN only wrote a small article.They are more worried about FLA coach Muschamp and his cussing in the Auburn game…. to the fans and the refs BIAST!!! But it’s all about the big dogs making money BILLIONS
georgiagirl
October 19th, 2011
11:29 am
http://espn.go.com/college-football/story/_/id/7119493/florida-gators-muschamp-apologizes-foul-language
Not a Chop Block
October 19th, 2011
11:29 am
A chop block requires two players on the blocking team, with one cutting below the knees. This is clearly only one player, so not a chop block. I agree it was not a necessary block, but don’t really think it deserves a suspension. Honestly, it is a borderline clip – it has to be from behind, which from the video I would argue it is not. The guy falls to the side, which would bake me think he was hit sideways.
Ted Brogan
October 19th, 2011
11:33 am
UGA vs Vandy, now a heated rivalry in the SEC East.
Thanks CMR for making a new tradition.
News | MrSEC.com
October 19th, 2011
11:34 am
[...] involved in an on-field brouhaha during the game, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports that its likely suspensions of some sort will be handed down by the SEC office.On The AJC’s site you can view the clip — literally — of Vanderbilt center Logan [...]
Erk
October 19th, 2011
11:35 am
I haven’t read this entire blog but what about the Florida guy who gouged Ealey’s eye? I could be wrong but I don’t recall the SEC suspending him. I only recall Meyer initially suspending him for like the first quarter or first half of their next game which was Vandy. Then Meyer received so much pressure from the media that he sat him for the whole Vandy game, but I still don’t think it came from the SEC? Maybe I’m wrong? Punishment needs to be applied consistently.
TampaDawg
October 19th, 2011
11:37 am
Not a Chop Block
October 19th, 2011
11:29 am
A chop block requires two players on the blocking team, with one cutting below the knees. This is clearly only one player, so not a chop block. I agree it was not a necessary block, but don’t really think it deserves a suspension. Honestly, it is a borderline clip – it has to be from behind, which from the video I would argue it is not. The guy falls to the side, which would bake me think he was hit sideways.
—————
First off, it is a chop block, but not flaggable because of the “not having 2 players thing”. It is a clip that is flaggable because the video CLEARLY shows the player DIVING in from behind and getting a running start doing it. There was clear intent here as everyone else, including the vandy player for a moment, had slowed up because the play was over. Then vandy dork speeds up to take the shot. He should be suspended for at least 2 games and coach given a warning.
ED
October 19th, 2011
11:38 am
suspension for what geathers did???????????????
you have to be freaking kidding me.
he had the right to rip the guys head off.
the fla scumbag that tried to rip ealys eyeball out got nothing from the SEC, are you kidding me???????
The SEC is def not on my Christmas list this year… « Cover 3
October 19th, 2011
11:39 am
[...] http://blogs.ajc.com/uga-sports-blog/2011/10/18/video-shows-play-that-may-result-in-suspensions-for-... [...]
C. Tampa Ironworse
October 19th, 2011
11:40 am
I’ve heard that Vandy are Taliban members and that Grantham was just fighting the war on terror. USA…USA…USA
gdawginkalamazoo
October 19th, 2011
11:41 am
Not a Chop Block, you must be blind. The play is OVER. There is NO QUESTION that this punk comes RUNNING from behind and DIVES RIGHT AT HIS KNEE. It doesn’t matter if it comes from the back, side or front when you get hit in the knee. THAT WAS A POTENTIAL CAREER ENDING HIT BY THAT#60 PUNK ON GEATHERS. I don’t care what you call it IT WAS A DIRTY HIT. If a UGA player had done something like that I wouldn’t want him on the team anymore.
Nick at AU
October 19th, 2011
11:44 am
Did not get suspended because the coins from Lee Co were once again accepted.Just like last week when the NCAA found nothing was wrong with Mr.Newton. Just give these guys(SEC/NCAA) what they want and your problems will go away.BTW,Not bad Auburn! $600k was a small price to pay for that NC.200 for Mr.Heisman and double it for the NCAA.Nice Job!!
Win P
October 19th, 2011
11:45 am
Don’t know who got SEC defensive play (er) of the week, but it should have been Geathers for his response punch.
There have been two opposing players, IMO who earned the right to be carried off (via officials or medical staff) the field for dirty play. Spikes at Florida for eye gouging and Nick Fairly for trying to take Murray out of the game with an injury last year.
Russell
October 19th, 2011
11:49 am
Geathers let him off easy…should have been two punches in there instead of one…that was a planned illegal dirty hit from the Vandy player, he got up and pointed to the bench in approval…
Rick S
October 19th, 2011
11:49 am
That was a cheap block that could have ended Gathers career so I don’t blame him for slugging that idiot!
Energy Vampire
October 19th, 2011
11:50 am
gdawginkalamazoo
Well you have one pal–Ben Jones. BTW that wasn’t a clip, his head was in front, secondly it was the left leg9not right knee) and lastly the play wasn’t over, the RB could have cut back and it would have been a great block
Cedric
October 19th, 2011
11:54 am
That is the only way that player could get Kwame on the ground. LOL. Cheap hit, if he plays next year they will pay him back.
Good 4U Energy Vampire
October 19th, 2011
11:56 am
Finally!!! Someone else is watching the same video I have seen too.
1977TIGER
October 19th, 2011
12:01 pm
Paid who off? You guys cry about everything! I can’t wait to play Georgia again.You think we punished you last year? Wait till we put it on you again in your own backyard.Auburn always has found a way to win there and we will again!!! WDE
GaDawg
October 19th, 2011
12:01 pm
@ Energy Vampire – You are a moron. The play was over the ref had called time as 60 went for the knee. Rogers had already handed the ball to the ref. Wake up moron!
Energy Vampire
October 19th, 2011
12:01 pm
Thanks
Watch close
October 19th, 2011
12:02 pm
Look real close. Words were exchange at the LINE ……Before the play. And the Vandy player payback the Big Mouth UGA player. Go Vandy
GaDawg
October 19th, 2011
12:06 pm
What words were exchanged? The center had his head turned to the qb. There are words exchanged on every play. Still no reason to injure another player.
AltamahaDawg
October 19th, 2011
12:09 pm
Words = Cripple. Go with that.
jim8307
October 19th, 2011
12:10 pm
cheap shot by Vandy player in an attempt to intentionally hurt the UGA player.
gdawginkalamazoo
October 19th, 2011
12:11 pm
Energy, I said RIGHT AT HIS KNEE, I didn’t say right knee, you must have failed reading comprehension. Plus I said I don’t care WHAT YOU CALL IT, it was a dirty hit designed to HURT Geathers. Well the RB didn’t cut back the play was over.
azdawg
October 19th, 2011
12:13 pm
This is pure BS if Geathers and Williams are suspended in any way. Fairley got away w/murder last season but the SEC did nothing to him for fear it would ruin AU’s chances at a NC. Favoritism toward any team should not be tolerated.
ryan
October 19th, 2011
12:14 pm
Yea from what i have been hearing the Vandy player tried to end Geathers career and Franklin condoned it that is very dirty CTG and Geathers should not be suspended .
jbirdawg
October 19th, 2011
12:15 pm
Enter your comments here
Kwame Geathers’ father upset over his son’s forthcoming 2-quarter suspension | UGA sports blog
October 19th, 2011
12:15 pm
[...] Mr. Geathers is referring to Vanderbilt sophomore center Logan Stewart, who was flagged for clipping on the play. Kwame Geathers was called for a personal foul after he turned around and punched Stewart in the side while both players remained on the ground. You can GO HERE TO WATCH THE VIDEO. [...]
BILLY JACK
October 19th, 2011
12:16 pm
If you can find this years vandy bama film you can see more than 5 times bama players trying to talk to officials about something.Finally Courtney Upshaw had enough and just kicked a vandy lineman in the head.This is clearly taught by vandy coaches.Whoever thinks the Geathers block was legal is a lying turd.
jbirdawg
October 19th, 2011
12:17 pm
That was technically not a chop block. As a DL you have to be engaged with an O blocker when someone tries to cut block you, a dangerous situation, to be a chop block. That was personal foul clip.