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
Brian
October 19th, 2011
2:50 pm
I agree with Geathers and Stewart getting suspended 1/2 game each, but NOT Williams!
Let me get this straight- Nick Fairley hits Aaron Murray in the back AND the knee and gets no suspension, but Williams’ hit gets him a 1/2 game suspension. Slive is a joke! I bet if last year’s Auburn team was only as good as Georgia is this year, Fairley would have gotten a full game.
DAWGtired
October 19th, 2011
2:51 pm
REPOSTED-so that I can get this point across clearly. Geathers and Stewart-totally acceptable. The fact that they searched additional gametape to get williams for a non-mandatory suspension is clearly bias. Do they review every game and hand out arbitrary suspensions league-wide for personal fouls of the same ilk? Absolutely not, otherwise Fairley would have been suspended half the season last year. Jenkins, Ahmad Black, and Major Wright were NOTORIOUS for those exact kind of plays…as were Greg Blue, Boss Bailey and Sean Jones. This is one of the worst micromanagement decisions that I have ever seen. The SEC just gave itself a major black-eye in lieu of enabling the decisions to be handled by the Coaching Staff and Athletic Directors, which is what they should have done. Pure garbage.
um.....right
October 19th, 2011
2:51 pm
I guess the beloved “Joe Pa” has been running a disgraceful program at Penn State since he ran down and angrily grabbed a ref after a game about a decade ago. What a “t h u g”.
King Gator
October 19th, 2011
2:52 pm
We actually have 3 national championships and 18-3 v. the Pups in last 21 years; not to mention SOS running it up on yall in between the hedges. Put that in your pipe and smoke it Ramboob!
7576DAWG
October 19th, 2011
2:53 pm
Good news is OGLETREE will be back and maybe will get 15 tackles. Jenkins needs to hold up covering the middle until the second half. I’m sure Geathers will be more than ready to help in the 3rd quarter.
UGA Crybabies
October 19th, 2011
2:54 pm
@JJ
Fairley only received one penalty, for the late hit against Murray. Georgia got called for chop blocking Fairley in that game, by your logic, that player should have been suspended too. Why didn’t that happen? None of this matters now. It’s not as if Fairley is still under the purview
of the SEC. If you’re still bitching about him now, it’s sour grapes.
CDAWG
October 19th, 2011
2:54 pm
I like CTG, I am so glad to see a Coach with passion and when you stand up for your players, they stand up for you! Who was the player for Florida a couple of years ago caught on tape gouging our running back in the eyes after the tackle. What about that SLIVE? I totally disagree with Geathers suspension. I just had lunch today with and Oklahoma LB from several years ago and he told me we are supposed to act like warriors on the field and now we get penalized for everything.
um.....right
October 19th, 2011
2:54 pm
King Gator
October 19th, 2011
2:52 pm
“We actually have 3 national championships and 18-3 v. the Pups in last 21 years;”
We?
Wow, you’ve played college ball for 21 years? Dude, you rock!
01HAWK
October 19th, 2011
2:55 pm
Stat of the Week
For the third straight year, Auburn leads the SEC in personal foul and unsportsmanlike conduct penalties, according to cfbstats.com. The Tigers have committed 15 in 2011 and average 1.9 per game over the past three seasons. The next most-penalized teams since 2009 for personal foul/unsportsmanlike conduct infractions are Florida (1.6 per game), Georgia (1.5) and Tennessee (1.3). Alabama has the fewest with 0.9 since 2009.
Summary
October 19th, 2011
2:55 pm
Since we’ve lost 2 games its OK to dole out suspensions. If your 7-0 and in the SEC, Slive isnt gonna touch that(re: Upshaw). He already knows one team out of LSU/UA have to lose. Cant ruin HIS chances of having a team from HIS conference, not in the BCS cashcow championship. :grabs pitchfork and marches on Slive:
DAWG08
October 19th, 2011
2:55 pm
Even if we do lose on 10/28 we’ll still be in front of the Gators for the east race there King Gator.
You guys had your run lately like we had a few years back. We just didn’t get the breaks FL and LSU got with other teams losing late to give us a chance at the NC game. FL is on a downward spiral now. Why do think Meyers left? He saw it coming.
Mama Dawg
October 19th, 2011
2:55 pm
db
October 19th, 2011
1:22 pm
Vandy player’s should have been for a whole game. He intentionally clipped Geathers
Geathers INTENTIONLLY threw a punch.
da name if mistuh spikes
October 19th, 2011
2:56 pm
CDAWG
Dat be me. an it wuznt a fowl cuz corch meyers sait so.
Mean Machine
October 19th, 2011
2:56 pm
Kwame getting suspended is total BS! He actually showed a lot of restraint after taking that cheap shot. If that happened to me, I would have broken that center in half, damn punk!
Brian
October 19th, 2011
2:57 pm
King Gator, congrats on your team’s accomplishments, but none of that matters for this year’s game. Goergia is notorious for choking against Florida and I get that, but that doesn’t matter once this game gets here. Maybe you should be a little worried considering your Gators lost to a bad Auburn team and got spanked by LSU and Bama.
TampaDawg
October 19th, 2011
2:57 pm
george
October 19th, 2011
2:36 pm
ABOUT DAMN TIME!!!!!! After 3 fights/skirmishes in 8 games including 32 players storming the field to fight and ZERO consequences this is a long time coming. Hopefully grantham is next. Could the Uga program be any more of a joke?????
———————————–
Could you possibly fabricate more crap? 32 players storming the field to fight? 3 fights in 8 games? Dude, step away from the computer, your bong is ready.
King Gator
October 19th, 2011
2:58 pm
Sorry, please replace “We” with “my alma mater” or “the University of Florida” – still doesn’t change the results..
sad for the pups. Go Gators!
beyond ready for a change
October 19th, 2011
2:58 pm
Last I heard Mike Singeltary was lookin for a coaching job…think Franklin would buck up to him….and what about that Gruden guy he’s got a pair and a ring…..bet he wouldnt have scouted Scam out to be a TE
UGA Crybabies
October 19th, 2011
2:58 pm
@Mama Dawg
It wasn’t intentional! That Vandy player ran into Geathers fist!
PR
October 19th, 2011
2:58 pm
Where was the “FIGHT” after tge game that the AJC talks about. Sure there was arguing, but no fighting. Sensationalism at it’s best (worst). More of the same from the AJC…
UGA Poofer
October 19th, 2011
2:59 pm
UGA Poofer’s top, Talk talk Talk, and never any action!
King Gator
October 19th, 2011
2:59 pm
Brian,
I’d be worried against anyone else, but lets face it – the Gators own Georgia and almost always win – I’m sweating the Vandy game more than this one. It’s a helmet game, Georgia runs out of the tunnel sees the Gator helmets and that’s all that needs to be said. Go Gators!
King Gator
OkieDawg
October 19th, 2011
3:00 pm
Based on the way the SEC dishes out punishment for punches, it looks like UGA will have a couple of free swings in the Florida game. Any suspensions would be applied during UGA vs. New Mexico State. Florida on the other hand will have to play Vandy. They may not be as willing to take a couple of swings. I like the way this fight is shaping up. Thanks to the suits in the SEC office.
TampaDawg
October 19th, 2011
3:00 pm
Mama Dawg (probably not a dawg at all) “Vandy player’s should have been for a whole game. He intentionally clipped Geathers
Geathers INTENTIONLLY threw a punch.”
He sure did and most everyone on here if someone went after their knee probably would too if they were being honest with themselves. Easy for people to sit back having never taken a field, having never had someone try to injure them, possibly on a permanent basis, and pass judgement. Especially that King Gator knucklehead. Time for UF to remember the 80s for a while.
Summary
October 19th, 2011
3:00 pm
In Honor of UA v Tenn
http://desmond.imageshack.us/Himg840/scaled.php?server=840&filename=426677118.gif&res=medium
Brian
October 19th, 2011
3:00 pm
Something to keep in mind dawg fans- I’m hoping our team doesn’t have the mental mistakes that we had in last year’s game… otherwise we probably will lose. But part of the reason for us being 1-5 in the last 6 is because of Meyer’s coaching. He was one of the best coaches in the country and in my opinion, a lot better coach than Richt. He is not at Florida anymore, so that advantage seems to be gone.
Blind Homer's Odyssey
October 19th, 2011
3:01 pm
I guess I really am blind as it just now occurred to me that the bug-eyed temper tantrum just elevated Grantham past St. Richt’s sainthood to deity? I must have missed the meeting. The majority of the perspectives apparent of us blind homers is that God Grantham was sacrificing his dignity, such that it is, in protection of his poor little defenseless motormouth and enforcer. Of course perspective is a narrow thing with us blind homers. We don’t see the just to the brink of flag dropping celebrations and exuberant dances after tackling a guy downfield as either offensive or ignorant. We also don’t see the jaws working and all of the other after whistle shenanigans as anything other than God Grantham’s inspiration. Of course, if a ref finally gets enough of the cumulative effect and finally drops his hankie it is only because Richt has always had a discipline problem.
Then in the end God Grantham gets to increase his legend with the blind homers by justly dispensing his wrath upon a vicious attacker to his flock. Never mind that the receiver of the attack had kicked sand into the eyes of the Great Satan Franklin. Never mind that he had coached and turned a blind eye himself to his own defensive player’s post-whistle handiwork, actually even blessed it by not even pulling the player for receiving the wrath of the referee. All can see that this is all the pretender St. Richt’s fault for not excusing these sinners and the newly deified Grantham’s star is on the rise.
Head Coach Grantham, Georgia’s Grantham, the taunting terrorists’ champion, all being whispered and bandied about. A fine representative of a fine institution.
AltamahaDawg
October 19th, 2011
3:02 pm
I’d rather have players suspensions for reacting to a shot at the knees than the ones for running from a parking garage Barney Fife.
george
October 19th, 2011
3:02 pm
dawg 258 can you really be that dumb?????? I Guess you forgot about the 32 players AND coaches uga sent on the field to fight and according to the bylaws every single one of them should have been suspended but how many were???? ya that is what I thought ZERO.
King Gator
October 19th, 2011
3:03 pm
I’m old enough to remember the whipping the Dawgs put on the Gators back in the day, which is also why I so enjoy the 18-3 run the Gator’s are on v. the sad sack Pups. Go Gators! If only you guys could get Herschel back…
King Gator
October 19th, 2011
3:04 pm
Brian,
Zook was 2-1 v. CMR/Georgia while at Florida – exlpain that?
King Gator
I-DOG
October 19th, 2011
3:04 pm
I originally thought that Geathers should be suspended for the punch, but after seeing what the Vandy center did to him, I can’t blame the guy at all. Geathers was well behind the play and it was one of the cheapest shots that I have ever seen after watching it on the videos on the AJC site. A swipe at the Vandy player might have hurt it if connected, but it wouldn’t end his career. Geathers is lucky that his life wasn’t forever altered (NFL career)by that cheap shot.
That being said, I am fine with Williams suspension and actually think that Washington shouldn’t play against FL due to his DUI. If he does play, two games is just too little and is the minimum imposed by UGA for any alcohol infraction (if I understand that correctly).
It is one thing if a guy is just drinking underage. I think the drinking age should be 18 anyway, but that doesn’t put the public in danger. Washington put lives in danger by driving 90 miles an hour at 3 AM and his blood level was well over the legal limit. He could have killed or maimed someone and 2 games isn’t enough (if that is indeed the punishment).
RamboDog
October 19th, 2011
3:05 pm
King GaY Turd, you are right…doesn’t change the fact that you are still 7 games down after winning 18 of 21??? Man, we were so far ahead of ya’ll it wasn’t a rivalry anymore. Time to change gears and start kicking that arse again…starts in 10 days. See you there.
Hope you are on here that Sunday, but I DOUBT it…probably crawl back in the mud hole like you have been in for last 3 weeks….If Auburn beat UF,,, just imagine what is in store for you end of October. It will be like a Friday the 13th sequel …body bags with UF players everywhere.
Wells
October 19th, 2011
3:05 pm
All this whining you would think that the Georgia player didn’t do anything. He punched the guy and he received a half game suspension. Doesn’t matter why he did it. It’s the correct punishment.
Georgia and Vandy fans have their coaches to thank for having these young guys suspended. If the coaches would have been able to keep their cool then the issue would not have been reviewed like it was.
Brian
October 19th, 2011
3:07 pm
King Gator, understood. But that doesn’t necessarily mean that Georgia will play scared this year. Last year, we came back and almost won despite committing a ton of turnovers. Murray was a freshman and had to do almost everything himself because of our lack of a running game. Crowell is definitely an upgrade over King or Ealey, so if he is healthy, I like our chances on offense more than last year. The main problem I would see against Florida is big plays on special teams by Debose and Demps, if they are healthy and play.
Dirty Dawg
October 19th, 2011
3:07 pm
The thing that got Willliams was the second personal foul he had picked up during the game. This one, I think did occur in the fourth quarter and followed a late hit from a Vandy guy following the tackle – might have been on a kickoff return (one that didn’t go for a touchdown) – followed by a retaliation from the Georgia guy…followed by Williams jumping in and taking a swipe at another Vandy guy that had retaliated to the Georgia retaliation (by the way yet another Vandy guy, number 15 if I recall, but it might be someone else, also took a swing at Williams as he went by but that wasn’t called at all.
All in all, it was an ugly game and I’m afraid that both sides have to share the guilt. You can’t make me believe that all the cheap-shots that Georgia was receiving weren’t part of a plan to ‘bait’ us into just this kind of reaction. At the same time, we’ve got to just stop this ‘jaw-bonin’ crap, it’s classless and will only serve to get us in deeper she-ite with the Conference.
AltamahaDawg
October 19th, 2011
3:07 pm
my bad chip. wrong timeframe. the Williams infraction is what I meant. I’m sure it’ll surface.
True Dawg Fan
October 19th, 2011
3:08 pm
King Gator
October 19th, 2011
2:59 pm
Brian,
I’d be worried against anyone else, but lets face it – the Gators own Georgia and almost always win – I’m sweating the Vandy game more than this one. It’s a helmet game, Georgia runs out of the tunnel sees the Gator helmets and that’s all that needs to be said. Go Gators!
King Gator
Hey Retard whats the overall record?????? Yea thats what I thought. Idiot
King Gator
October 19th, 2011
3:08 pm
http://media.photobucket.com/image/Grantham%20choke/sicemdogs/choke1.jpg
Oops DC G – better luck this year! Go Gators!
say what
October 19th, 2011
3:09 pm
I dont remember the guy Ben Jones took out the exact same way last year at Miss St. punching him afterwards
Markman
October 19th, 2011
3:09 pm
UGA always plays dirty…..it’s about time they finally got penalized for their dirty antics!!
King Gator
October 19th, 2011
3:10 pm
Figures a Georgia fan would lead with the word “retard”, you guys deserve what you get year after year. I guess that’s all you’ve got left to hold onto, memories of when you were good. Go Gators!
kevin
October 19th, 2011
3:11 pm
King Gator,
All you have as memories too. Yours are just slightly more recent.
Brian
October 19th, 2011
3:11 pm
Brian,
Zook was 2-1 v. CMR/Georgia while at Florida – exlpain that?
King Gator
I’m aware of that. But we had a chance to win all three games. We just came up short. I admit a mental thing sets in a lot of year, but it was the same way with Notre Dame and Navy and then Navy won 2 of 3. So you never know. I just feel like Florida isn’t as good as they normally are and because of that, we definitely have a chance of winning… but I could be wrong. We’ll see in about a week and a half.
True Dawg Fan
October 19th, 2011
3:12 pm
I love how there are so many people coming on here and saying we have no class. Have you read your own posts???? Get over yourselves. Alabama, Auburn, Florida, LSU, USC, UT, MSST none of which have any more class than UGA.
Every single school outside of maybe Kentuck, Ole Miss, and Vandy before UGA game, has had issues like this. So dont come on here and act all innocent and that UGA is the Devil. It just shows how ignorant and stupid you are.
And to the redneck comments, guess what??? We are all in the South East, everyone has rednecks.
So once again all you ignorant retards should think before you post.
SLC Dawg
October 19th, 2011
3:12 pm
don’t you think Franklin new any suspensions his team received would be in next game against army when he came up with this strategy?
MY 2 cents
October 19th, 2011
3:13 pm
Buck blew, your an absolute moron. Apparently you didnt see the video.
True Dawg Fan
October 19th, 2011
3:13 pm
Markman
October 19th, 2011
3:09 pm
UGA always plays dirty…..it’s about time they finally got penalized for their dirty antics!!
O really please fill us in on how we ALWAYS play dirty??? We will wait for intelligent response
King Gator
October 19th, 2011
3:13 pm
Brian,
I think Georgia actually had a better team last year and this year, but for some reason they just can’t put it together v. Florida and usually find away to the lose against the Gators. If Brantley plays the Gators win, if not.. probably still find a away to slip away with the victory; but I’ve been wrong before. I’ll stick with the Orange & Blue in this one. Go Gators!
King Gator
TampaDawg
October 19th, 2011
3:14 pm
King Gator “If only you guys could get Herschel back…”
Dude, he has one more year of eligibility, he came out as a junior (joking of course), be careful what you wish for.