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
Niceville Dawg
October 20th, 2011
8:34 am
Gatormeat-head,isnt there anywhere you can go to discuss FL football other than here?I visit lots of other school’s blogs and I never see Dawgs stirring the pot.NEVER.But this site is always littered with trash from Tech and FL.I guess its because its free…..
TowDawg
October 20th, 2011
8:40 am
I have to disagree with “Not a Chop Block”.
You’re right that the hit from Williams was completely uncalled for and I have said the same. You are also right that the head shot “could” have put the Vandy player in a wheelchair, but look at the averages. 99% of the time, a head shot leads to nothing, out for the game, or maybe out for the next game with a concussion. Rarely does anything serious come from it.
The shot to back of the knees (espcially on a 300+ lb man) can lead to out for the season or the end of a career. Shots to the knees like that have a much higher chance of truly hurting a player.
Wow! Just... Wow!
October 20th, 2011
8:43 am
Are Georgia fans really this stupid, or does the state of Georgia drug the water supply?
trey burton
October 20th, 2011
9:00 am
Attention gator meat,
You disgust me. You make me wish I had come to Athens. You come to a GA board and embarrass me and the whole team. Take off your high top reeboks, jean shorts and tank top, and for Gods sake put the bottle down. You know your mommy will lock you the house. Again.
Tard Dawg
October 20th, 2011
9:22 am
Best part of all this is UGA is now rivals with Vandy. That program has really taken a tumble from mediocrity to irrelevant.
Gatormeat
October 20th, 2011
9:29 am
You have that wrong trey, it is your mom that has me locked up. She just can’t get enough. Go back to your doublewide, get drunk or methed up, and beat down your old lady like you dog fans do every year after the Mighty Gators have wiped the field with the mutts
MY 2 cents
October 20th, 2011
9:32 am
I think we have beat the horse to death on the Ga. vs Vandy game. Can we move on to something more entertaining?
Blind Homer's Odyssey
October 20th, 2011
9:39 am
In summation:
Georgia good. SEC bad.
Kwame was justified and should have killed the SOB….and his family.
Williams was also justified because everyone knows how dirty Vandy played. Vandy(?) LOL
Grantham was beyond justified. Heroic. Stepped up for his dumbass player by being more of one.
It’s all Richt’s fault.
.
.
.
.
You guys make me proud to be a blind homer.
SE GA Fan
October 20th, 2011
9:50 am
Your title should have included the fact that a Vandy player was also suspended for a game. Also, Geathers “fight” as you call it was a slight punch — there was no fight. The dirty guys were Vandy’s Stewart and Coach Franklin. Grantham was defending his players after Franklin started yelling at him. Also, the officials should have still been around.
SE GA Fan
October 20th, 2011
9:51 am
I’m talking about the title on the front page of the online AJC. Lots of people won’t read the entire story and will think it was only UGA players.
Georgia Nation!
October 20th, 2011
10:19 am
Yay!!!
Ron Swanson
October 20th, 2011
10:35 am
Gatormeat must be a Tech fan. Never heard the Bulldogs referred to as “mutts” from a fan of any other school.
workinDawg
October 20th, 2011
11:54 am
I’m sure its been talked to death, but how chickenshat. Remind me how many games Auburn’s cheap shot specialist (and addmittedly heck of a football player) Nick Fairly received last year? Thats what I thought.
And the NCAA goes apeshat on fighting. I get it, but those guys couldn’t hurt each other fighting if they tried. What they try to do legally to each other for 60 minutes is far more violent than punching a dude who’s wearing a helmet.
DAWGBONE79
October 20th, 2011
12:50 pm
Geathers suspended for fighting? Really! Slive has clearly lost the ability to differentiate between reality and fiction. FIRE SLIVE!!!!!!!!!!!!
DAWGBONE79
mark PRICHT
October 20th, 2011
1:24 pm
UGA has problems from top to bottom and every fan in between…its a sad day when the coaches, players and Ad starts acting like their redneck fans
pcfootballhater
October 20th, 2011
1:38 pm
I hate politically correct football – can we just go ahead and abolish full contact football in the NCAA and go to flag football – then I can start watching mma or something real…
aprilglaspie
October 20th, 2011
2:58 pm
Obvious that Williams was attempting to knock the ball out of the receiver’s hands, and the “contact” was almost non-existent. Ref was wool-gathering.
winderdawg
October 20th, 2011
3:20 pm
The Vandy player should miss a whole game! The league creates all these rules to protect interior lineman from leg injury and then they allow this to happen? The Vandy player had just one motive – to injure Geathers! I really feel sorry for Stewart next year when he comes to Athens that first play will be worth watching!!!!
Same 'ol thing
October 20th, 2011
4:40 pm
Mark Richt = WWJD. Its the truth. Great man, turns the cheek way too much.
Harold Bare
October 20th, 2011
8:43 pm
If the dogs win the SEC East how in the hell can you say the SEC is the strongest conference.
workinDawg
October 20th, 2011
9:42 pm
Harold Bare because there is a “west”. Perhaps you noticed Bama and LSU? Heard they looked pretty good this year.
bennyhaha
October 21st, 2011
7:39 am
Video evidence proves UGA started the cheapshots, and started the fight on the field and Richt used profanity towards Vandy’s, coach end of story. Vandy will retaliate next time too. Just because you outnumber Vandy doesnt make you right. Go YellowJackets.
Buckhead Bulldog
October 21st, 2011
9:30 am
bennyhaha – we area shaking!
DJ Dawg
October 21st, 2011
1:44 pm
bennyhaha = IDIOT .
dc
October 21st, 2011
7:53 pm
half game suspensions for half ass ugay playas
LoveEmory
October 22nd, 2011
10:29 am
Bennyhaha is simply stating what the video evidence provided by the Atlanta newspaper proves, UGA fans knowing they cannot dispute the fact that UGA started the cheap shots, resort to name-calling, LOL
Gatormeat
October 22nd, 2011
12:35 pm
It is about time the SEC did something about the dirty play of georgia. Teams all across the league are getting tired of the garbage the dogs bring to the field every week. Cheap shots and late hits are their calling card, I would not have blamed that Vandy player if he did take Geathers out, he deserved it. It is up to the honarable teams like Florida, Alabama, and LSU to protect the integrity of the league apparently, at least we know how to win without playing dirty. Oh well, at least next week we get to pay georgia back for threatening to choke our kicker, I would not look for Murray to make it to halftime, you dogs have it coming. As usual, you dog fans will be talking smack before the game and crying and making excuses afterwards. Again. No wonder we mock you
DAWG in BAMA
October 23rd, 2011
9:18 pm
@ Gatorbait……as long as UF will allow Brandon Spikes to lead the campaign against our dirty play.
sic'em
October 23rd, 2011
9:36 pm
gatormeat, are you a girl?
video for websites
October 25th, 2011
5:39 pm
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