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
TampaDawg
October 19th, 2011
5:00 pm
I agree with those calling for CMR to stand up to the SEC for his players. Problem is, even if he does, or even if McGarity does, we may never know and if nothing changes, most on here will just assume that no one pleaded the case.
Hotdawg
October 19th, 2011
5:01 pm
How ironic that Gatormeat is taking cheap shots at GA people! His application for enrollment must hagot been refused in our state.
The Truth
October 19th, 2011
5:02 pm
Tampadawg said, “It’s a weak argument to pretend you would do anything different than Kwame did in that exact situation.”
So that make it right? You are a stupid loser idiot.
Hotdawg
October 19th, 2011
5:02 pm
Dang iPad -”must have been refused”
Gatormeat
October 19th, 2011
5:04 pm
Tampadog, this is not your mom you are talking to so cut the idiot talk, or the skank talk for that matter. Fact is, pictures of your uneducated ignorant coach threatening to choke our kicker are all over campus, there will be no mercy for your punk players. Quit crying and get your excuses ready, the Gators are going to stomp georgia all the way back to georgia. Where you all belong, the worlds largest trailer park. The only question is how many georgia girls get beat up in their doublewides by their drunk unemployed men after georgia gets beat down a week from Sat?
SanDiegoJacket
October 19th, 2011
5:04 pm
What’s news here?
Gatormeat
October 19th, 2011
5:06 pm
No wonder georgia football is so crappy, just look at the lack of intelligence of their fans in here. The players are probably too busy hitting that crack pipe and collecting their welfare checks to learn anything about football.
TampaDawg
October 19th, 2011
5:06 pm
“The Truth” has resorted to the name calling. Nice comeback. And since you want to call people stupid and loser and idiot (wow, dig deep dude .. must have thought for a while and used a dictionary to come up with those), maybe you should try to GET THE POINT FIRST. The point being that no one on here has room to judge the kid for what he did as a reaction because you can’t say in a similar situation that you would do any different. Right or wrong! Eat that “The lie”
SickandTired
October 19th, 2011
5:07 pm
This horse crap with the SEC completely screwing us over year in and year out has got to stop. Someone has got to take a stand or this is going to go on forever. The SEC loves sticking it to us because they know we are a bunch of pusses and gift wrap everything for them. The whole frigging world new that Auburn cheated. Alabama consistently breaks the rules and old Nicky just dares them to frig with his program. Florida has murderers and felons on their teams gauging players damn eyes out. Vandy coach goes crying because his sorry ass team couldnt cheat and lose and we agree with Vandy!!! UGA makes the SEC and Mike Slive look tough and allow our program to be hosed so they no one will look at them for overlooking the teams that are really cheating. I am sick of it. I had better not run into that SOB Slick Slive in Jax. Gonna pull a Toomer Tree trick on his ass
RedandBlackDawg
October 19th, 2011
5:10 pm
I think we will be OK with Geathers sitting for a half game, but Williams suspension stings a little, even though a half game is not a lot. Don’t worry though Slive, Florida is still going to find it hard moving against UGA’s defense, so your symbolic gesture of showing leadership in the SEC, will not destroy the game being played. It will be a good game despite your attempt at making it less. Now, get back to your job, of bringing in schools, that discount the great tradition of the SEC, and make the title insignificant. It is suppose to stand for the South East Conference, a conference, with a long and storied history of fine sports, not a conference that gets two teams from the west and mid west and still tries to hold onto the name and history of the conference.
GO DAWGS and GATA
AngryDawg
October 19th, 2011
5:11 pm
The officials need to be suspended for allowing Vandy to play so dirty the entire game.
Hotdawg
October 19th, 2011
5:12 pm
Tampadawg just ignore them they are just mad that we have a better record than them this year and they know we are going to kick their tail this year in Jacksonville. You won’t find them trolling on here in about a week and a half. They will be crying and styling their mullets again.
TampaDawg
October 19th, 2011
5:14 pm
Gatormeat
October 19th, 2011
5:04 pm
Tampadog, this is not your mom you are talking to so cut the idiot talk, or the skank talk for that matter. Fact is, pictures of your uneducated ignorant coach threatening to choke our kicker are all over campus, there will be no mercy for your punk players.
————————
You really are that unintelligent I guess. You really think that was a threat to choke the kid? Unreal. I mean, EVERYONE else knows it wasn’t but if you want to think so, then go for it. Even other gator fans on here know it but somehow that one slipped by you.
Now, as for that other stereotyping trash talking garbage that you spewed out (keep in mind there scooter that I live down here in Florida and you just described a lot of this state. We see towns like Umatilla, Apopka, and Gainesville on the show Cops quite often), keep it to yourself because you can’t say any of it without it describing what’s in your mirror. It was classless, baseless, and lacks any shred of character. If you want to have a football debate (this kind of goes back to what King Gator and I were talking about earlier), then have the debate. But don’t go talking crap on here that you can’t back up. You sound like a little teenager that hasn’t learned how to keep his dignity in a debate format yet. All I have said to you was this, you can’t back up the accusations of dirty play so why say it. And to think that our coach was threatening your kicker when it’s WIDELY documented fact that he was trying to get in his head to “choke” on the kick is just not even a debatable thing. Just you trying to make it something that every other gator fan knows it’s not.
TampaDawg
October 19th, 2011
5:15 pm
Hotdawg, you’re right and yes, let the teenage troll get to me. But I also think they are scared because things have gone south fast and they know Vandy will do the same thing to them right before the FSU game.
beachdog
October 19th, 2011
5:17 pm
>>>Slive got caught up in the frenzy created by the two blogger chicks (Bradley and Shultz) at the AJC and reacted to it.<<<
Was Fairly suspended for the Iron Bowl? Did Bradley and Schultz whine about it?
Help me out, did I forget?
Spineless Head Coach
October 19th, 2011
5:18 pm
Have you watched the video of Richt and Franklin after the game? The real issue is not the player suspensions. It’s a head coach (Richt) who lets the other head coach disrespect a player and RICHT AGREES WITH HIM ON THE SPOT calling Williams an __hole. Then, Richt apologizes for Grantham. And you Dawg fans expect Richt to stand up to the SEC??? C’mon…Richt cowers before the wrath of the mighty Vandy coach! What player would want to play for Richt? I’ve been a coach. Rule #1: You give your OWN PLAYERS, not the other team’s coach, the benefit of the doubt. Spineless.
01HAWK
October 19th, 2011
5:21 pm
OXFORD, Miss. — Mississippi coach Houston Nutt says receiver Melvin Harris has been dismissed from the football team.
The 6-foot-6, 210-pound junior from Buford didn’t see much playing time this season with two catches for 21 yards and a touchdown. As a sophomore, he was second on the team with 30 catches for 408 yards and three touchdowns.
Dawgbreath
October 19th, 2011
5:22 pm
Spineless – Richt knew Franklin was out of control. The last thing he wanted to do was start a fight with him and then start a brawl and lose half our team and coaches before the Florida game. Cooler heads prevail in that situation.
rally
October 19th, 2011
5:25 pm
For you Dawg fans that missed Williams’ cheap shot, you can view it here
Headline: The Play That Led to Georgia-Vandy Confrontation: Georgia Defensive Back Shawn Williams’ Cheap Shot
http://www.outkickthecoverage.com/the-play-that-led-to-georgia-vandy-confrontation-georgia-defensive-back-shawn-williams-cheap-shot-.php
The Ole Ball Coach
October 19th, 2011
5:26 pm
Silve is unbalanced NOT FAIR TO EVERYONE in his decisions ….. Why was Newton, Fairley, and Spikes not suspended?
Why are the refs allowed to make unjust decisions weekly, Muschamp mouth? Alabama allows their players to sale suits – No issue but don’t sale your own jersey ask AJ…… Tennessee allows its players to knock out cops but don’t defend yourself when the ref want in a game……. SEC has no leadership that will be fair and just. $$$$$$$$$$$$ rules Silve just pay him off.
dawgster
October 19th, 2011
5:27 pm
@Gatormeat…Your comments earlier calling Geathers and the dawg program trash is probably the most classless comments I have ever read on here…I’m the rest of the gator nation is proud of you…regardless of you hatred towards the dawgs, calling someone trash is about as low as you can get in my opinion…but hey sitting behind a compute and spouting off like that must make you feel really big…Its sad that people like you have that mindset…Its. truly sad but i’m sure you are proud of yourself…
Dawgbreath
October 19th, 2011
5:30 pm
Gatormeat is most likely an angry techie trying to get everyone stirred up!
SLC Dawg
October 19th, 2011
5:33 pm
yelling, taunting, gesturing, and even taking 180k to play college ball shouldn’t be treated as seriously as intentionally trying to injure another player.
Matthews Dawg
October 19th, 2011
5:34 pm
Tampadawg and Dawgbreath….you are both correct!
We will never know if McGarity or CMR says a word to the SEC. I find it hard to believe that some on here think CMR or McGarity won’t stick up for their players! That is crazy IMO.
Dawgbreath…you are correct IMO that CMR knew there was nothing to be gained at that point with Franklin! Some on here want him to be out of control and some want a HC with class! I personally like the class act that CMR is in all things! He has been that way for the last 11 years and recently that hasn’t been good enough. But, as we all know WINNING cures a lot of ills!! Go Dawgs
Matthews Dawg
October 19th, 2011
5:40 pm
rally…. point made with that video! His punishment looks to be deserved and I’m sure he will be dealt with or has already been dealt with by CMR and the other coaches. That was cheap!
But, the Vandy kids was cheap too and he got punished. I feel like KG punishment does not fit the crime! Maybe a qtr and that is all. I think he held it together well, because I would have tried to beat the crap out of the guy.
Both persoal fouls are bad by both teams! Let’s move on here and get ready for UF! Go Dawgs
Dawgbreath
October 19th, 2011
5:40 pm
Ok nothing is going to change the suspensions or consequences now. Can we focus on the Florida game and just wait until next year to pay back Vandy on the field without the personal fouls. Vandy will be under the microscope now so if the are having to play dirty to compete then they will start getting blown out again from here on out under the watchful eyes.
TrishaDishaWarEagle
October 19th, 2011
5:40 pm
the ole ball coach doesn’t even give UGA the respect of calling the coach by name, he calls him that GA coach.haha..he is not on your side
Click CLack
CoopDawg
October 19th, 2011
5:42 pm
I’m a Dawg fan and I say the suspension for Williams and the Vandy player are justified and probably should have been more games for both!! But Geathers’ got screwed!!
01HAWK
October 19th, 2011
5:47 pm
AUBARN may pu;; the upset. See below:
LSU has suspended top running back Spencer Ware and one of the best defensive backs in the country in Tyrann Mathieu for Saturday’s game against Auburn, the LSU student newspaper reported today. The AP reports a third player, starting cornerback Therold Simon was also suspended.
TowDawg
October 19th, 2011
5:47 pm
Yes, I’m a Dawg fan, but I’m trying to step back and look at this without that influencing my opinion.
I agree with the poster earlier said Geathers should not have any punishment because it was a reactionary action against a malicious, deliberate attack that was aimed to “take him out”. Shots at the knees from behind like that, very often end a players career, especially someone of size of Geathers. Stewart, in my opinion, should be suspended a MINIMUM of 1 game. Not to mention the fact that he made a thumbs-up gesture to the sideline and seemed to get approval from the coaches!
As for Williams, if the hammer is to be brought down on Stewart, it needs to be brought down on Williams as well. I missed it during the game, but watching the tape that Vandy submitted showing the hit, it was totally unacceptable. Granted, a shot to the head might put someone out for that game or the next versus taking a man’s knee out, but it was still a blatant attempt to hurt him. If you have watched the tape, you see Williams absolutley launch himself off the ground and the receiver’s head well after the ball had passed over and the receiver was slowing down.
If we are going to scream for Stewart to get punished, the we need to ackowledge Williams is guilty of the same.
TrishaDishaWarEagle
October 19th, 2011
5:49 pm
01Hawk..wooohoooo We got a outside shot maybe!!!
War Damn Eagle!
masivatack
October 19th, 2011
5:50 pm
OK so does that mean the AJC reporters will shut up about the “Incident”. I doubt it. 7 of the top 8 stories in this blog are addressing this BS.
01HAWK
October 19th, 2011
5:53 pm
TrishaDishaWarEagle …………………………………Those are two of their best players It must have been pretty bad what they possibly did.
Haha
October 19th, 2011
5:53 pm
Daniella did not get accepted to UGA. Hatred is such a terrible thing.
01HAWK
October 19th, 2011
5:56 pm
The report on the LSU players is possibly a failed drug test.
The Daily Reveille said the suspensions could be for longer than a game. LSU coach Les Miles will reportedly address the issue tonight.
I hope they are out for BAMA game also.
01HAWK
October 19th, 2011
5:59 pm
If LSU survives this weekend’s contest, all eyes will be on Miles to see if he reinstates this trio prior to the Tigers’ “game of the year” matchup with Alabama.
The AP did not go into details regarding the suspensions, but The Daily Reveille claimed Ware and Mathieu were suspended due to failed drug tests.
01HAWK
October 19th, 2011
6:03 pm
GAINESVILLE – Florida cornerback Marcus Roberson is facing an underage drinking charge following a September arrest.
Roberson, 19, was arrested by the University Police Department on Sept. 14 in the parking lot of the Springs Complex, which are residence halls on campus. According to the notice to appear, Roberson had a bottle of Four Loko. Roberson was 18 at the time of his arrest.
He was charged with possession of alcohol by a person under 21 years of age, a misdemeanor. Roberson is being represented by Huntley Johnson, a Gainesville attorney who frequently represents UF athletes. Johnson entered a plea of not guilty on Sept. 28. A pre-trial conference is scheduled for Nov. 7.
Roberson, a freshman from Ft. Lauderdale, has started all seven games for Florida (4-3, 2-3 SEC) and has 18 tackles. Rivals.com ranked Roberson as the No. 2 cornerback in the country coming out of St. Thomas Aquinas.
“The coaching staff was aware of the incident and it has been handled internally,” said UF spokesman Steve McClain.
——————————————————————————–
Video: FSU corner Greg Reid has put questionable arrest behind him
——————————————————————————–
He is the seventh Florida player to be arrested this year and second for underage drinking. Safety Matt Elam was arrested in July on the same charge.
Roberson was charged two days after teammate Dee Finley was arrested following a traffic stop at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium. Finley was originally charged with driving with a suspended license and resisting an officer with violence, a felony.
That charge was reduced on Sept. 13 to misdemeanor resisting an officer without violence. Finley was suspended for that week’s game vs. Tennessee. Florida announced last week that Finley, a reserve linebacker, would be transferring.
Finley is one of three players who were arrested that are no longer with the team.
RamboDog
October 19th, 2011
6:05 pm
Gator Meat, if Murray gets hurt, I am holding YOU responsible. I’ll be coming for you little man.
01HAWK
October 19th, 2011
6:06 pm
Richt mentioned on Sunday that he wanted his players to cut down on “chirping” at the end of plays.
Tight end Aron White said Richt “always says he wants us to go out and do our talking between the whistles and show people what we can do by the way that we play. He’s never been a coach that’s big on a lot of talking and taunting.”
SICK
October 19th, 2011
6:07 pm
Daniella, Your the cesspool on this board. Im embarrased enough responding to your ignorance. Take your hatred for uga to the Nerd board.
Swamp Thing
October 19th, 2011
6:08 pm
Enter your comments here:Suspended for 1/2 of the next game? WTF? Lets see, Brandon Sykes was suspended for gouging NoShow Morenos eyes – a penalty that wasn’t called and No Show said never happened. And then there was the late hit on Tebow by Smith that wasn’t called. Come On Dogs – Man Up..
If you think Grantham can pull his ego bloated BS on FLORIDA – welcome to Will Muschamp.
Georgia’s balls shrink again when they see the Orange and Blue come on the field. Please publish the W-L records of the SEC teams Georgia has beaten..They have ONE win and about 11 or 12 losses.
We’re waiting in Jacksonville – SOS said “how can we lose to Georgia in a bowl named for us and played in Florida” UGA: 3-18 in the past 22 years..
GATORBAIT…
01HAWK
October 19th, 2011
6:13 pm
Houston NUTT is as good as gone. Suspended players for BAMA game missed practice to go fishing are what the rumors are.. How do you miss practice and you have a game coming up.
OXFORD — Brandon Bolden said the weekend was “stomach-turning.”
Instead of being with his teammates, instead of playing on Saturday, Bolden was at A.J. Hawkins’ house.
The two, along with Alex Washington, sat and watched No. 2 Alabama beat Ole Miss 52-7.
All three, along with Philander Moore, were suspended for the game for a violation of team rules.
Bolden said the group missed practice.
SICK
October 19th, 2011
6:13 pm
Im looking forward to seeing Will Mushmouth make a fool out of all the florida family. I cant wait to see him curse and stomp at the officials all day long. What a great day to be a gator hator!!!!!!!
trey burton
October 19th, 2011
6:16 pm
I wish I wouldve went to UGA!
CoopDawg
October 19th, 2011
6:18 pm
Finally SOMEONE in the media had the balls to actually stand up and tell it like it is. Nick Cellini on sports night on CSS just said Vandy’s o-line was throwing illegal chop blocks all night and the block by Stewart was one of the dirtiest plays he’s ever seen.
dawgfan
October 19th, 2011
6:19 pm
Enter your comments here
CoopDawg
October 19th, 2011
6:22 pm
Honey Badger and Ward are suspended one game against Auburn for failing drug test.
Dennis
October 19th, 2011
6:24 pm
Please be kind to our widdle team. They is just trying to stand by they man. Is it try that Mr. Coach is taking the whole team to visit Soulja Boy in jail. Scared straight.
TrishaDishaWarEagle
October 19th, 2011
6:25 pm
What kind of ignorant, selfish, self entitled idiot gets a free ride at a University that , odds are, their SATs would not come within sniffing distance of getting into without football equilization, screws it up by taking drugs or violating other laws/ team rules…that mindset eludes me. As a female softball player i was grateful and protective of my 1/8th scholarship 2 years..
bitter taste
October 19th, 2011
6:25 pm
f@#$%——-mike slive———what a turd——-pick and chose who to hammer based on his
—————like of the football school——————-grantham rules