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
papadawg
October 19th, 2011
12:18 pm
Fault? The referees should also be at fault if all the chop blocks and clipping was going on and they weren’t calling anything. I’d be ticked too if I was clipped from behind especially at the knees. Career ending injury possible
Brian
October 19th, 2011
12:19 pm
I think Geathers and Stewart are both at fault and they should get equal punishment. Either they both get half a game or neither does. Williams shouldn’t get any punishment.
ty ty football guru
October 19th, 2011
12:20 pm
UGA fans can whine about anything. The block is questionable but a football play. It might not have even drawn a flag without the punch after the play causing a discussion. The punch is the only ejectionable offense here. Discipline is non-existant at UGA. From the coaching staff to the field.
Not a Chop Block
October 19th, 2011
12:21 pm
gdawginkalamazoo – A clip is by defined as from behind, so clearly it does matter if it is from the front or side. I agree it wasn’t necessary, but he probably didn’t know the play was over, and I doubt the whistle had blown when he blocked him.
TampaDawg – You are confusing a Cut block and a Chop block – a Chop Block requires two blockers. The defender is engaged with one up high and the second dives at their knees. A cut block (which is what Stewart’s block would be unless it was from behind, which is debateable) is legal. If he is suspended for 2 games, Geathers should get 6.
What?
October 19th, 2011
12:22 pm
Why should Williams get nothing?
why are all of you so dense?
October 19th, 2011
12:22 pm
yeah, clearly an attempt to intentionally injure……can I get the lotto numbers for this week, too?
it was an illegal block….and he was penalized for it. geathers threw a punch….and he was penalized for it.
move on.
AltamahaDawg
October 19th, 2011
12:22 pm
I don’t know about the RB cutting back, but he was certainly already stopped on the tarp and walking back before that “block” started.
3 + 4 = 0
October 19th, 2011
12:23 pm
Get it the right order … the “clip” result in the “punch” … some true reporting …
Brian
October 19th, 2011
12:24 pm
I’m a pretty calm-minded person, but I would have hard restraining myself if someone chop-blocked me. I mean, I might have shoved him instead of knocking him down, because of the chance of suspension, but I definitely wouldn’t just take it.
TampaDawg
October 19th, 2011
12:24 pm
don’t even comment to him or the other idiot agreeing with him kalamazoo. Everyone slows up on the video because the play was over. No debate available for that. Even the dumb vandy player slowed up, then seeing his couterpart, Geathers, available for an open shot, he speeded up for the hit.
bryce
October 19th, 2011
12:25 pm
Has Coach Grantham had his rabies’ shots–He looks like he could be rapid–what a good example for student athletes.
BILLY JACK
October 19th, 2011
12:27 pm
This is truly amazing,this play was not a chop block but they were many of those in this game.This was purposeful illegal clip from behind with intentions to cripple Geathers who they were having a hard time blocking.Those are the facts and they are undisputed.
ryan
October 19th, 2011
12:28 pm
Haters will never give UGA the benefit of the doubt they just want to accuse UGA with out looking at the hole video.
Brian
October 19th, 2011
12:28 pm
My brother is a big Alabama fan and he told me that Upshaw took a swing at a Vandy player. He says Upshaw is not a dirty player, but that he was harrassed by that guy during the game and finally got him back.
WHO LET DA DAWGS OUT!
October 19th, 2011
12:32 pm
Regardless of team, any player that does that intentionally (the play was over) should be suspended multiple games…. there is no place for that in the game.
I mean.. no wonder Shawn Williams was gloating about the win. That dirty clip was prob the reason Grantham almost killed someone.
I don’t care if you’re a UGA fan or not, that’s a dirty play that deserves serious punishment. Otherwise every team would have some no-name player go out there and do it… Vandy sure does.
Brian
October 19th, 2011
12:32 pm
Georgia is always “guilty” in the eyes of some people. It amazes me how people talk so much trash about Georgia. I don’t get on the Tech or Auburn sites and criticize their teams! Worry about your own teams instead of being obsessed with hate for Georgia.
TampaDawg
October 19th, 2011
12:32 pm
“A cut block (which is what Stewart’s block would be unless it was from behind, which is debateable) is legal. If he is suspended for 2 games, Geathers should get 6.”
We may be talking a matter of splitting hairs in terminology but that last statement is absolutely the most laughable thing on the board right now. There is nothing debatable about where it was and in fact, it doesn’t matter. How about this then? Let’s say it was from the side. Do you realize that more damage can be done to ligaments from a shot to the side of the knee? A dislocated patella can tear ligaments, tear meniscus, chip portions of the bone structure and yes, end a career. Truth is this, a sucker punch from Legarette Blount cost him a season despite the fact that something like that would hardly cost someone a career. So why should this Vandy player EVER be allowed on the field again this year? It was clearly after the play was over, clearly intentional and clearly designed to injure.
Try This
October 19th, 2011
12:35 pm
Can you post the gouching of the UGA player’s eyes vs Uf a couple years back?
why are all of you so dense?
October 19th, 2011
12:35 pm
“My brother is a big Alabama fan and he told me that Upshaw took a swing at a Vandy player. He says Upshaw is not a dirty player, but that he was harrassed by that guy during the game and finally got him back.”
Finally? Upshaw’s kick happened in the FIRST quarter….
You people are unreal.
There were NO chop blocks in that football game. Show me photo or video evidence of one single chop block and I’ll show you a photo of pigs flying.
why are all of you so dense?
October 19th, 2011
12:38 pm
“This is truly amazing,this play was not a chop block but they were many of those in this game.This was purposeful illegal clip from behind with intentions to cripple Geathers who they were having a hard time blocking.Those are the facts and they are undisputed.”
Are you a lawyer? The only undisputed fact is that it was an illegal clap. Nothing else is fact and it’s far from undisputed.
monkey see monkey do
October 19th, 2011
12:39 pm
I think Vandy’s center learned this from Georgia’s center, as Jones did the same thing in a game last year.
1eyedJack
October 19th, 2011
12:41 pm
Geathers did what any self-respecting “man” would do when attacked from behind…he threw a punch. The personal foul resulted in a first down for Vandy.
Stewart cowardly, and from all indications, purposely clipped. No real penalty was realized. However, he does play for Vandy so he’s being punished anyway.
gdawginkalamazoo
October 19th, 2011
12:43 pm
Not a Chop Block, good I think we can agree that it was an unneccessry cheap shot? The obvious dive in the direction of his knee.
TampaDawg
October 19th, 2011
12:46 pm
why are all of you so dense? as mentioned on here over and over (but apparently, it isn’t sinking in for you), the play was over and Stewart had even started to slow up, AS DID EVERY OTHER PLAYER ON THE FIELD. Then he picks up some steam and charges into the back/side of Geathers knee. It was intentional and the actions on the video can be used, if you must talk a little lawyerese, to demonstrate intent to injure.
TampaDawg
October 19th, 2011
12:47 pm
Mildly amused is also extremely childish and unintelligent.
BUZZ
October 19th, 2011
12:47 pm
BUSHLEAGUE!!!! No suspension unless the player from Vandy gets double or even more time!!!
Not a Chop Block
October 19th, 2011
12:50 pm
TampaDawg – Do me this favor. Pause the video right when the quarterback steps out of bounds. You will see that the blocker had already started his block, so clearly the play was not over. I agree football is a dangerous sport and it probably wasn’t a necessary block, but he got his penalty and that should be it. The penalty for an illegal clip (which is what was called) is the 15 yards he was penalized.
C. Tampa Ironworse
October 19th, 2011
12:50 pm
There is no “i” in team, but there’s an “odd” in Todd and a “me” in Kwame. Nuff said…
Nick
October 19th, 2011
12:50 pm
I think Stewart needs to be suspended the rest of the season.
TampaDawg
October 19th, 2011
12:56 pm
Not a Chop Block
October 19th, 2011
12:50 pm
TampaDawg – Do me this favor. Pause the video right when the quarterback steps out of bounds.
—————————
If the play wasn’t over, then why is everyone, and I mean EVERYONE including Stewart starting to slow down? That’s what the video shows. What isn’t shown on the video is the cute little thumbs up he gives to the sidelines afterwards. It was planned, it was intentional.
why are all of you so dense?
October 19th, 2011
12:58 pm
the play was not over….before the official raises his hand indicating stoppage of play, stewart has already made his lunge
you’re seeing what you want to see
was it unnecessary? absolutely. are late hits out of bounds unnecessary? absolutely. are those always intentional attempts to cause injury? are we going to start handing out suspensions for all personal fouls (which, by the way, this wasn’t)? it was an illegal block and was penalized accordingly.
TampaDawg
October 19th, 2011
12:59 pm
Get Real People
October 19th, 2011
12:49 pm
A block, even an illegal block, is a football play.
Taking a swing at another player is not (I repeat – is not) a football play.
———————————
For a simple mind, sure. But, as your analysis goes, an intent to injure is NOT a football play either. There was clear intent here as demonstrated by speed of play shortly before Stewie headed in Geathers direction and by Stewie’s little thumbs up to his bench after it was over.
hotdawg
October 19th, 2011
12:59 pm
OMG!!! I didn’t see that Vandy jackhole do that on TV!! Geathers should still be beating the crap out of him! What a dirty cheap shot!! Better be glad he didn’t end his career. I hope Army wipes the field with these Vandy INBRED cheap shot bottom feeders!!
Dawg '88
October 19th, 2011
1:05 pm
AJC keeps fanning the smoldering flames…Film at 11!
What else is new? The ajc can’t come up with any creative story writing. Always looking for controversy…this broken record is warped!
A guy tries to injury another permanently and he is supposed to show restraint?
TampaDawg
October 19th, 2011
1:05 pm
you have two guys up top engaging in a normal block, everyone else, including Vandy players are focused on the play and slowing up. Except for Stewart who is starring down Geathers and focused on the legs as he runs right at him.
Not a Chop Block
October 19th, 2011
1:07 pm
TampaDawg – I am not sure what video you are watching. There are two players 10 yards further away from the play still engaged in a block at the time of Stewart’s block. The play was not over.
TampaDawg
October 19th, 2011
1:08 pm
Q. What is funnier than a classless, characterless, immature idiot named mildly amused trying to take pathetic, hypocritical shots at a program and it’s coaches?
A. Nothing
Not a Chop Block
October 19th, 2011
1:10 pm
Looks like Williams, Weathers and Stewart were all suspended for a half. Now we can move on….
Dawg '88
October 19th, 2011
1:11 pm
OMG….all this saying Geathers punched him? Watch the video…it was not more than a love tap. He couldn’t have put a whole in a wet paper bag. He just reacted and did show restraint. He could have beaten the crap out of him with good reason. That was the dirtiest of plays by the Vandy chump. And the coaches applauded this?
Hey Franklin and ajc…those in glass houses should not throw stones!
Clean up your own house….whiners!
Wah,wah,wah
Coach
October 19th, 2011
1:13 pm
ok people it is NOT a chop block. get educated on football before you post! a chop block is when on o-lineman is blocking a defender high (at the sholder pads) and another o-lineman comes in and blocks him low (at the knees)! THAT is a chop block. what thius vandy TOOL did was dirty, and it was a clip, NOT a chop-block! he should get a 2 game suspension for that!
Dawg '88
October 19th, 2011
1:13 pm
Not a chop block….it doesn’t matter one bit that the play may not have been over…its still illegal, dangerous and a malicious block. But a Techie wouldn’t see anything wrong with it
sr. citizen dawg
October 19th, 2011
1:13 pm
what does the vandy player expect when he committs a clip like that?………Geathers’ is a natural reaction………..could’ve been lot worse…………………………………..point is that if the vandy player hadn’t started it then the dawg wouldn’t have had to finish it………………………..
aprilglaspie
October 19th, 2011
1:15 pm
Clipping call was bogus, as the play was over. Should have been offsetting personal fouls, play 2nd down. Ref had his head up his butt, as the officiating crew did the whole game. The Vandy player’s cheap shot was typical of how their offense played the entire game, and that has to come from the coaches, particularly the head coach.
North Ave Killer Beez
October 19th, 2011
1:16 pm
Good for Geathers! He should have grabbed dudes face mask and ripped his head off… Dirty dirty dirty! Btw… GO JACKETS!!
Logan Stewart
October 19th, 2011
1:20 pm
I’m tired of this guy pushing me around all night!! Coach says we are not going to take it anymore!! Tired of being a loser!! Hey I have a wide open shot on this guy and can take him out of the game and possibly end his career so I don’t have to face him next year! Yeehaaaa here I go!! How you like that coach?? Thumbs up coach!!
All 3 are gone fo the 1st half
October 19th, 2011
1:22 pm
http://www.vucommodores.com/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/101911aaf.html
Tell it Like it Is
October 19th, 2011
1:24 pm
Lots of ignorant comments on this blog and lots of good ones. Which ones are right? (1) Franklin is beyond contempt – what a piece of trash; (2) Vandy center intentionally tried to hurt Kwame Geathers – deserved a lot worse than a punch; (3) Richt and McGarity should stick up for their team and coaches and stop being so mushy; (4) Slive is an ego-maniac and the SEC office is completely inconsistent and biased in how they dole out punishement – no one in the national title hunt or a favored program like Alabama or Florida would get single out like this.
Georgia NG Kwame Geathers, SS Shawn Williams and Vandy player get half-game suspensions | UGA sports blog
October 19th, 2011
1:27 pm
[...] Video: See Geathers’ punch and clip that led to it here [...]
Ed Loomis
October 19th, 2011
1:28 pm
Dad’s right! Really dirty play. The Vandy guy should be tossed for the season.
guest
October 19th, 2011
1:29 pm
Watch Stewart’s path to Geathers, he runs outside to in, getting his head and nearly shoulders ahead of Geathers body, and I agree with coach, do your home work before you go calling it either a chop or cut block.
Clipping – “A blocker contacting a non-ballcarrying opponent from behind and at or below the waist” No question that the block was below the waist, but I think you could argue wheter or not Stewart’s body was strictly behind Geather’s at point of contact.