UPDATED: Georgia NG Kwame Geathers, SS Shawn Williams, Vandy player get half-game suspensions
Geathers
As expected, Georgia’s Kwame Geathers and Shawn Williams were handed down half-game suspensions Wednesday for their actions during last Saturday’s game against Vanderbilt. Commodores center Logan Stewart was also levied a half-game suspension in the wake of the Bulldogs’ 33-28 win this past Saturday in Nashville.
The suspensions of the players were based on NCAA rules and handed down by Southeastern Conference Commissioner Mike Slive in consultation with the respective schools.
Williams
“I did have the opportunity to speak to the Commissioner and discuss the incident,” Georgia coach Mark Richt said. “It’s certainly not representative of the Georgia way. I have always trusted the Commissioner’s judgment and understand and accept the decision. We’ll learn as well as grow from this situation and now turn our attention to preparing for Florida.”
Following is the news release from the SEC, which explains its ruling in each instance:
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – Upon review of game tapes of the football game between the University of Georgia and Vanderbilt University, played in Nashville, Tenn. on Saturday, Oct. 15, 2011, Southeastern Conference Commissioner Mike Slive has announced that Vanderbilt sophomore center Logan Stewart, Georgia sophomore defensive lineman Kwame Geathers and Georgia junior defensive back Shawn Williams have been suspended for the first half of their team’s next football games.
Vanderbilt hosts Army this Saturday while Georgia plays Florida in Jacksonville on Oct. 29.
Geathers’ action was in violation of NCAA Football Rule 2-32-1-a for fighting. By NCAA Football Rule 9-5-1-b, the penalty for violation of the rule in the second half includes suspension for the first half of the team’s next scheduled game.
On the same play, Stewart’s suspension is the result of a flagrant personal foul which occurred at the 13:09 mark in the fourth quarter. The action is in violation of Rule 9-1 of the NCAA Football Rule Book, which states that a flagrant personal foul offender shall be disqualified.
Williams’ suspension is the result of a flagrant personal foul which occurred at the 2:08 mark in the third quarter. The action is in violation of Rule 9-1-4 of the NCAA Football Rule Book, which reads, “No player shall target and initiate contact to the head or neck area of a defenseless opponent with the helmet, forearm, elbow or shoulder.”
This action is taken in accordance with Southeastern Conference Constitution, Article 4.4.2 (d), which states that a student-athlete may be suspended if it is determined that the student-athlete has committed a flagrant or unsportsmanlike act.
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 Franklin and Georgia defensive coordinator Todd Grantham a shouting match at midfield. The SEC asked for reports from both schools but about that incident but indicated Wednesday that the is being “handled internally between league office and schools,” spokesman Charles Bloom said.
Here’s video of the hit that resulted in Williams’ suspension:
MORE STORIES ON THIS SUBJECT:
- Geathers’ father upset over suspension, wants apology
- UGA, SEC reviewing coaches’ postgame confrontation
– Chip Towers
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530 comments Add your comment
The Lyam Hound
October 19th, 2011
9:43 pm
“It happens on every team.”
That’s not accurate.
The Lyam Hound
October 19th, 2011
9:45 pm
Old dog
October 19th, 2011
9:40 pm
Why has nothing been said about a pattern of unsportsmanlike play being promoted by Vanderbilt’s coaching staff? In spite of Coach Franklin’s righteous indignation, he needs to be called out for his player’s dirty play.
Shame on Vandy!
That’s a very good question. Why has nobody complained about dirty play from this Vandy team prior to this game. You might want to think about that one for a while?
Smyrna Gold
October 19th, 2011
9:47 pm
How can Richt say? “It’s certainly not representative of the Georgia way,” Plz give me a break.
Dawg48
October 19th, 2011
9:49 pm
I still say if it was not for “gossip sports talk radio” and “gossip journalism” blowing this out of proportion this would have been forgotten and every one would have moved on.
Hit A Single
October 19th, 2011
9:50 pm
I just got my new 2012 College Football playstation game and on it Grantham beats the mess out of Franklin and even the Commodore fans cheer.
Hit A Single
October 19th, 2011
9:52 pm
In Franklin’s post game interview he said fight as many times as Iverson said practice.
SE GA Fan
October 19th, 2011
9:55 pm
@Ryan…Yep…You have someone try to take you out and end your life career. What would you do? Turn around and say, “Oh, I’m so sorry I was in your way while you were trying to repair the divot on the field?” Get real. I used to think Vandy was a classy team and school, but my thoughts have definitely changed in the last couple of years. Being an *** doesn’t turn a basement SEC team into a winner. Franklin is the one who needs to get some class.
bravos0516
October 19th, 2011
9:55 pm
Looks like Ogletree may be back at safety for a game to replace Williams. That will answer the question of keeping the linebackers, who have done well, in tact against Florida.
CHDawg
October 19th, 2011
9:56 pm
Ly’n hound, I guess we should just pretend this didn’t happen? Franklin is not even close to Williams as he comes out pointing at him and yelling at Grantham. I guess Geathers’ dad is lying when he says that the Vandy player gives a thumbs up to the Vandy coaches after he tries to end his son’s career with a cheap shot. He only spent 13 years in the NFL, so he probably doesn’t understand the game as well as you do? Your ability to deny reality is shocking.
FLA DAWG
October 19th, 2011
10:02 pm
Ants at a picnic.
Who cares?
SE GA Fan
October 19th, 2011
10:02 pm
Another thought…if nothing was really being called fairly, why not go out and do whatever. Where were the officials when all this trouble was occurring? Heading to an all-night diner? There really wasn’t much fair officiating in that game. Franklin reminds me of some of the little boys I taught in my 30+ years who initiated everything and then claimed someone else started it. Get a life.
The Lyam Hound
October 19th, 2011
10:05 pm
Franklin was not pointing. Neither you nor I know exactly what was said between them on the field prior to the confrontation. The physical confrontation is what triggered this media crap-storm, and that’s all on Todd Grantham.
I’m sure that Geathers’ dad is unhappy. So what?
no big
October 19th, 2011
10:10 pm
no big deal–florida’s terrible this year—Ga can beat them easy even with backups in the first half. Look for an easy Ga win this year: Ga 30 fla 10
Mr. SEC
October 19th, 2011
10:14 pm
I told you last night that this would happen; hell when Alabama and Auburn play, the next week both starting O’s and D’s for both teams will be suspended for one half for the next ball game I guess? Yea Right!
Anything to hurt UGA’s chances of beating Fla. and I grant you the NCAA and it’s bumbs called “Commissioners” is a joke.
Lets all go independent and do away with the NCAA!
The Lyam Hound
October 19th, 2011
10:16 pm
@SE GA Fan
“There really wasn’t much fair officiating in that game.”
That’s not accurate. Perhaps you can explain why the live blog during the game on this very website contains no significant complaints about either Vandy’s play or the officiating?
Here’s a sample post from the live blog:
“not a fan of williams…celebrates too much for me…just do your job and shut up…”
This is what you guys were saying about your player during the game. Now you tell a different story – but your words are recorded.
Here: http://blogs.ajc.com/jeff-schultz-blog/2011/10/15/live-another-win-keeps-georgia-in-sec-east-hunt/?cp=all#comments
CHDawg
October 19th, 2011
10:20 pm
Yes, he is pointing. Watch the tape. You are probably looking at youtube clips. Watch the game tape. Franklin is walking toward Grantham pointing at Williams and yelling from a distance. Grantham is calm, and double takes when he realizes what Franklin is saying. Grantham says he was defending his player. The next thing we see is the policeman trying to keep Franklin and Grantham apart, and Grantham screaming obscenities at Franklin. No, we don’t know what was said, but we do know that Franklin initiated the altercation. We know that Grantham was perfectly calm, and in “shake the other team’s hand” mode, when he was jarred into very uncharacteristic and foul behavior by Franklin. We know that Franklin was unhappy with Williams and that he said he wasn’t going to take it from anyone. I think it is very obvious that Franklin was attacking Georgia’s players, and if Geathers is right, his staff was directing cheap shots to injure Georgia players. Maybe he told Grantham that he tried to take Geathers out? Who knows, but it really made Grantham mad–whatever he said, and he felt he needed to defend his players. Spin it however you would like, but that is the evidence.
The Lyam Hound
October 19th, 2011
10:23 pm
You assume a helluva lot. Can’t blame you. The truth is ugly.
CHDawg
October 19th, 2011
10:24 pm
Ly’n hound, nobody is defending Williams’ cheap shot that I see. The problem is the double standard. Fairley’s multiple cheap shots on Murray were much worse, but no suspension. I wish they would suspend all of the players doing this sort of thing. They don’t.
FLA DAWG
October 19th, 2011
10:31 pm
no big,
Yeah, The Dawgs should beat them – by 20, I don’t think so.
As a matter of fact, I don’t think we will beat UF.
Richt and his coaches always seem to find a way to lose a “big” game.
UF 13, UGA 10
The Lyam Hound
October 19th, 2011
10:34 pm
@CHDawg
I’m not arguing that something that happened last year should have gone unpunished. Only that it is not relevant to what happened in this year’s Georgia – Vandy game.
Now if Ted Roof had attacked Mark Richt after the game… Who knows?
CHDawg
October 19th, 2011
10:34 pm
No, I am looking at the evidence. You are the one assuming. You are assuming that you know that Franklin wasn’t pointing when he clearly was pointing. I suspect you are assuming what you see on youtube or on the AJC is all there is to it. Watch the game tape. You are also assuming Grantham went from happy Cub Scout to an angry bear protecting his cubs for no reason! What do you think Franklin said to make Grantham so angry? We know that Grantham said he was defending his players, so I think it is fair to assume Franklin was attacking Georgia’s players. I am also reading what Mr. Geathers said, rather than assuming your story line is true. I’m not defending Grantham. He should have known better than to get drawn into it. My beef is that the punishment wasn’t fair. Franklin should have been suspended for a couple of games, and Grantham should have been suspended for a game or two. The players were singled out. Think of the terrible fouls that have occurred in SEC and nobody got suspended. I am all for discipline, but they have to do it consistently. They can’t just suspend Georgia and Vandy’s players for infractions that occur almost weekly in the SEC.
SE GA Fan
October 19th, 2011
10:35 pm
How does “should be disqualified” for Stewart’s hit and Gaethers 1/2 game equalize each other? The SEC is just being weird. Are we sure the SEC Board and officials are not AJC sports writers? Both groups hate UGA, no matter what they say, and Mark Richt is only speaking for himself lately. This is the most unfair conference I have ever seen, and I watch college football each Saturday and have been for years. I am 64 and don’t like what I’m seeing in the SEC controlling cazrs plus in some of the coaches. Losing unnecessary games is one thing, but having your coach not defend his team is another. I don’t want Richt to be classless Franklin for sure, but defend your players and coaches. Franklin wasn’t looking for you; he was finding UGA players to antagonize. Don’t believe him.
The Lyam Hound
October 19th, 2011
10:35 pm
Gotta call BS on that and call it a night.
The Lyam Hound
October 19th, 2011
10:37 pm
Read your own live blog dummies.
You can’t hide from what you said while the game was happening.
CHDawg
October 19th, 2011
10:41 pm
Time to rack out, but I would ask you to watch the clip…Cub Scout to yelling vile obscenities at Franklin, and the two right at the point of a fist-fight, all in a split second after an angry and pointing Franklin meets Grantham. It was ugly. The ugliest part was that the coach who caused most of the problems got off completely–at least publicly. And the other coach who lost his temper got off, too. The players, otoh, got disciplined. I guess they should have known better.
The Lyam Hound
October 19th, 2011
10:43 pm
I watched it. Franklin stood his ground pretty well when Grantham came after him. He didn’t even flinch. Grantham is a nut-job. He needs professional help.
SE GA Fan
October 19th, 2011
10:49 pm
@ The Lyam Hound
Sounds like you are very strange tonight and must not be from Georgia. You would know Jeff Schultz hates UGA and will say anything negative about them if he can. Your other posts sound weird, also. As my mom always said, “Consider the source.” Obviously, you and Schultz are in the same boat and shouldn’t be considered. Give it up. Most of the readers have given up on Schultz already. Don’t know why he’s still at AJC. Must have some connection, but it’s not with the readers or bloggers.
SE GA Fan
October 19th, 2011
10:50 pm
@ The Lyam Hound… Go to bed… Full moon coming soon.
The Lyam Hound
October 19th, 2011
10:52 pm
I don’t know or care about Schultz’s opinion of UGA.
I do know this, Schultz didn’t create this story. Todd Grantham created the story.
The Lyam Hound
October 19th, 2011
10:52 pm
Ha!
I agree!
Good Night All
Always Right
October 19th, 2011
11:00 pm
Your an idiot. Both players were wrong. Both coaches were wrong. Penalties are fair. Geathers dad does have a point about career threatening play. Video does show vandy coaches clapping after the hit then getting angry their boy got socked. Bottom line vandy wants to be on the next level so bad and they were very close to beating uga. I cant believe franklin let a player get under his skin. Grantham is a hothead but i wouldn’t trade him for anybody.
#7
October 19th, 2011
11:11 pm
Starting DB from Florida gets arrested, how many does that make?
Thomas Brown
October 19th, 2011
11:17 pm
Without these actions by these two (2) coaches, their players would not have been suspended today – so, where are the leaders’ the role models’ the adults’ the coaches’ suspensions ? Hello, SEC, tell me would you really have suspended any of the 3 players had not James Franklin, smartly as it turns out, confronted Todd Grantham, both of whom wear their hearts on their sleeves ? Go ahead, it’s ok, you can tell us.
Mark Richt has maintained throughout that Todd Grantham is, also, Guilty.
ga gator
October 19th, 2011
11:20 pm
#7 is the correct answer; have we caught up to yours in 2010?
dirty ball
October 19th, 2011
11:37 pm
richt coaches dirty, just like he learned from bobby bowden at fsu. Hit late, twist knees in the pile, talk trash during the game and after the game, then act like some kind of preacher to the media! The SEC office doesn’t buy that BS act.
My God, a freshman!
October 19th, 2011
11:41 pm
ga gator, you are a born loser. You are clueless as to any football knowledge. And tell your mom to type you a better moniker you moron. I can’t wait to run over you freakin’ reptiles. And watch willie cry to the refs or cuss them out.
Shane
October 20th, 2011
12:05 am
I am just glad that the suspension wasn’t for the entire game. Regardless, I think we will walk away with a win in Jax. I think the bye will re-energize the team and they will play with intensity. I hope it’s not down to the wire like last season, that game gave me gray hair. GO DAWGS!
or give me south georgia
October 20th, 2011
12:07 am
I’m glad Geathers isn’t hurt. As others have pointed out, must be a slow week with no game this weekend…
or give me south georgia
October 20th, 2011
12:10 am
I hear Vandy just lowered the required SAT and ACT standardized tests scores for athletes… that, along with this story, tickles me.
Niceville Dawg
October 20th, 2011
12:13 am
Ahhh…..Georgia-Florida week(s)Let the mind games begin.
AtlAub
October 20th, 2011
12:23 am
Auburn released a press release tonight formally apologizing for playing football too “hard” and tackling in a rough manner in the game last year. We also accept Coach Granthams assertion that Cam Newton “is not that special” in his post game interview from the same game.
Bulldogs who played for the likes of Erk and Vince (both Auburn grads) understand why this team has not mattered in a while. You are soft and cry like a C-USA team when someone takes it to you. Take it like men and get better on the field instead of whatever this fan base has turned into over the past few years.
Dyed in the Wool
October 20th, 2011
12:58 am
I love all the Auburn fans coming out of the wood works (err … trailer parks) to comment on this story, like AtlAub and SCTiger. Really? We’re going to get lectures from fans of a school whose only pathway to winning runs through greasing palms with cash? UGA fans are the most hated in the SEC? … Puh-lease! Whatever … How’s it feel to return to irrelevance? You know, the place you’ve been for most of your pathetic excuse for a school’s existence. Yeah, that place. The one that sent me a letter in the mail saying I was accepted to Auburn … and I never even applied. Yep. No school in the SEC can disappear faster into irrelevancy than Auburn … until they find a way to lure players to their trash dump of a city and school with cash. Nothing like a legacy that not even a temporary halting of an NCAA investigation can erase.
And, oh, yeah. Can’t wait to pound you pathetic little sissies into the ground next month … even with our sorry team this year … that’s still going to win its division.
Preston
October 20th, 2011
12:59 am
Geathers shouldn’t even be disciplined for hitting someone that tried to tear his knee up. I’m proud of him for not killing the MF after what he did. That could’ve ended his career. I’m very disappointed in CMR for not publicly defending his player in this instance. Purely shameful. Put Grantham in there as head coach and put an end to this whimp ass attitude at UGA from it’s head coach. This is BS!
L.A. BULLDAWG
October 20th, 2011
1:13 am
I DON’T AGREE WITH COACH RICHT’S DECISION! KWAME IS ONLY HUMAN, AND REACTED TO A BLATANT CHEAP SHOT THAT COULD HAVE ENDED HIS FOOTBALL CAREER! JUST BECAUSE KWAME IS HUGE, SHOULD NOT BE A SCAPEGOAT OR VICTIM OF ABUSE BY AN O-LINEMEN WHO WAS CLEARLY OVERMATCHED! FORMER LSU D-LINEMAN, GLENN DORSEY ALMOST SAW HIS CAREER END AGANIST AN AUBURN O-LINEMAN 5 YEARS AGO IN A SIMILAR PLAY! QB’S AND WR’S GET PROTECTED, SO, HOW COME D-LINEMEN DON’T GET THE SAME PRECAUTIONS? KWAME HAS A BRIGHT FUTURE AT THE NEXT LEVEL! IT’S HARD TO TELL A BIG D-LINEMAN NOT TO REACT, WHEN BODILY INJURY WAS BLATANTLY THE INTENT BY AN INFERIOR OPPONENT! KWAME, YOU HAVE A LOT OF SUPPPORTERS WHO KNOW THE GAME, ESPECIALLY ON THE LINE OF SCRIMMAGE! HOLD YOUR HEAD HIGH, BECAUSE YOU ONLYREACTED THE WAY A LOT OF US WOULD HAVE, WHEN A FUTURE CAREER IS THREATENED!
dbc
October 20th, 2011
1:41 am
Way to stand up for your players CMR. At least Grantham realizes the injustice of a possible career ending hit. More of the same from old bacon back Richt. When will someone, ANYONE in the UGA front office realize Richt is a spineless worm. Good luck getting your players to lay it on the line at Florida. You provided an example at Florida with the celebration a few years ago — now you want to go back to “shaking hands.” And then Meyer ripped you a new one and what did you do? Backed down with an apology… How can any player respect such a mealy mouthed coward.
DAWGMAN
October 20th, 2011
2:03 am
Tired of losing to Flawduh. Tired of bad coaching. Tired of the team playing and the fans acting like the first few games don’t count. Tired of counting on someone else losing rather than us winning. Tired of saying, ‘Wait till next year’. This is next year.
Unless all you Dawgs want to lay out on a 20 pound sack of ice and cool your privates for another year.
cmdawg99
October 20th, 2011
4:04 am
Well we ought to be able to challenge penalies now right..The previous
game is under official review.
Gatormeat
October 20th, 2011
5:58 am
Tired of losing to Florida or not, it is going to happen again next week. We will pound the dogs into the ground all day. No one down here is surprised the lowly dogs are in trouble, they have been a disgraceful program for decades run by disgraceful people. For example, what really happened between V Dooley and that lady cop in New Orleans back in the day?
The play that got Shawn Williams suspended | Get The Picture
October 20th, 2011
6:34 am
[...] Here’s what the SEC had to say about that: Williams’ suspension is the result of a flagrant personal foul which occurred at the 2:08 mark in the third quarter. The action is in violation of Rule 9-1-4 of the NCAA Football Rule Book, which reads, “No player shall target and initiate contact to the head or neck area of a defenseless opponent with the helmet, forearm, elbow or shoulder.” [...]
Not a Chop Block
October 20th, 2011
8:22 am
The Williams hit is the worst of the group. That plus the two personal fouls he was called for should have resulted in more than 1/2 game suspension. Yes, the cut could have hurt the player, but going at someone’s neck could put them in a wheelchair.