No regrets for Todd Grantham: Vandy game ‘was heated, but no big deal’
Georgia defensive end Ray Drew (47) holds back defensive coordinator Todd Grantham from going after Vanderbilt coach James Franklin at the end of last year's game in Nashville.
GEORGIA FOOTBALL NOTEBOOK
ATHENS -- Georgia defensive coordinator Todd Grantham on Tuesday expressed no remorse over his actions at the end of last year’s Vanderbilt game, nor is he dreading how those events might affect this year’s contest at Sanford Stadium.
“No,” Grantham stated flatly when asked if he regretted his actions. “I understood what all was happening. Like I said, everybody’s competitive, it’s heated out there. It’s really not a big deal. I guess that’s football.”
Grantham and Vanderbilt head coach James Franklin had to be separated by players and referees as they engaged in a nose-to-nose shouting match shortly after the Bulldogs’ 33-28 win in Nashville last October. The two teams meet for the first time since on Saturday at 7:50 p.m.
Grantham said that it’s important that the Bulldogs focus on their assignments for stopping Vanderbilt’s offense and not get caught up in any kind of emotional retaliation.
“It’s us against them,” Grantham said. “It’s an SEC game. You know, anytime you play at home in the SEC you need to win those games to get where we want to go and do what we want to do. It’s the most important game because it’s the next game. That’s the focus you need to take because each week is tough. There are good teams in this league and you have to make sure you’re prepared every week. So we’ve got to be prepared.”
Grantham said he didn’t apologize to Franklin or Vanderbilt after last year’s game and he doesn’t plan to before Saturday’s contest. He plans to conduct himself as he always does.
“To be honest, I haven’t thought about it or worried about it,” he said. “I know our players work really hard and they prepare. I want to make sure they succeed. We’re going to work hard to make sure we’re prepared every Saturday we go on the field.
“We’re all competitive people. Things happen and you learn from it and move on. We want to make sure we keep the focus on the game and play a game on Saturday.”
Grantham said he hasn’t crossed paths with Franklin anywhere since last year’s game. But he insisted he doesn’t have a problem with the Commodores’ coach.
“Hey, he’s a good coach, he’s done a good job,” Grantham said. “They’re working hard to be competitive. They had a big game on Saturday. It’s an SEC game so it’s a big game for us, a big game for them. So we’ve got to make sure we prepare to get ready to win a physical game.”
As for Franklin’s joke that they’d vacationed together and drank Mai-Tais in the pool, Grantham indicated he likely wouldn’t be drinking a Mai-Tai.
“But I’m flexible,” he said with a grin.
Jarvis Jones says he’ll play
Jarvis Jones said he’s still bothered by the groin injury that kept him out of the Florida Atlantic game this past Saturday and he’s listed on Georgia’s daily injury-illness report as “limited.” But you wouldn’t know it on the practice field as Jones is not dressed in the traditional green jersey signifying a players’ injured status and he said you definitely won’t know it on Saturday as he intends to start at outside linebacker and play against Vanderbilt.
“I don’t want that green jersey; they can’t make me wear it,” Jones joked following the Bulldogs’ practice Tuesday night. “I’m fine. I’ve been treating it ever since it happened. I’m just getting back in the groove.”
Of course, that’s what he said last week. Asked again if there was a chance he might not play Saturday, Jones reiterated, “I’m gonna play this week.”
More offense ahead for Mitchell
Malcolm Mitchell, perhaps Georgia’s most explosive offensive threat as a freshman last season, has been almost exclusively a defensive player since the spring. Look for that to change, coach Mark Richt said Tuesday.
Mitchell, who played his first two offensive snaps of the season in last week’s victory over Florida Atlantic, catching a 49-yard pass on the first, will remain available at cornerback but reengage at wide receiver, Richt said.
“Malcolm will definitely stay with the defense as far as being ready to play. I imagine he will still play [defense],” Richt said. “His offensive reps will increase, and he’ll probably start to spend some meeting time with the offense as well.
“I’m thinking about trying to find a way to split time with him if he can manage it. We think it can work for us. He’s a guy who I think is in good enough condition. I know he’s smart enough to understand what’s going on on both sides of the ball with the experience he’s had.”
The return of cornerback-safety Sanders Commings from suspension last week and the return of suspended safety Bacarri Rambo by next week will somewhat alleviate depth concerns in the secondary.
Offense and defense aren’t the extent of Georgia’s plans for Mitchell.
“We need him on special teams, too,” Richt said. “He’s going to play offense, defense and special teams off and on for the rest of the year, I would think.”
Vandy QB situation
Vandy’s Franklin called it “a huge advantage” that Georgia has only one game of tape on which to watch quarterback Austyn Carta-Samuels direct the Vandy offense. Franklin hasn’t committed publicly on a QB starter against Georgia, but Carta-Samuels — a transfer from Wyoming — is No. 1 on the depth chart after surprisingly starting ahead of Jordan Rodgers in last week’s 58-0 win over Presbyterian.
“He played well,” Richt said. “He didn’t have to really run the ball that often and wasn’t pressured much. He did drop back and throw the ball well. It looked like he ran the system well. … They didn’t change what they would have been doing schematically a lot.”
Richt said he “can only assume” Carta-Samuels will start Saturday.
Etc… .
Offensive linemen Dallas Lee and Watts Dantzler, both of whom have left ankle sprains, ran on the sidelines in green jerseys as their teammates practiced Tuesday. Their status remains questionable. In the meantime, the Bulldogs continued to work with Mark Beard at left tackle and regular left tackle Kenarious Gates at Lee’s left-guard position. . . . . Quarterback Aaron Murray became the 14th Georgia player — the most in Division I — to be nominated to the Allstate/AFCA Good Works team. Murray was one of 11 players in this year’s group. They are chosen by a national panel to based on their service to others and “off-the-field positive impact.”
Staff writer Tim Tucker contributed to this report.
MORE ON GEORGIA FOOTBALL
- Georgia LB Amarlo Herrera proving to be more than a fill-in
- A look at Georgia’s next opponent: Vanderbilt
- Quotes & highlights from Tuesday’s news conference
- Bulldogs’ Cornelius Washington likes ‘a good confrontation’
- Vandy’s James Franklin jokes of vacationing with Todd Grantham
- ‘Salary restructuring’ means base-pay increases for 6 asst. coaches
- Georgia-Tennessee game time set to accommodate TV broadcast
- Bulldogs climb to No. 5 in AP poll, No. 6 in coaches
- Notebook: Richt says focus this week on football, ‘not the extracurricular’
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225 comments Add your comment
honey boo boo
September 19th, 2012
11:42 am
hey paw-paw dawgfan how’s your ankle? mama told me you stepped on a empty wine cooler bottle on the way to the kitchen in your trailer and sprained it. did you take your geritol today? i hope you did cause sometimes you get real cranky. luv you paw-paw dawgfan!
LOYAL DAWG
September 19th, 2012
11:53 am
Hey Tech if you can’t beat us join us right?…now as for football, I hope the coaches get into it again. CTG is right, that’s just a part of football. I love CMR and the man he is, but I love CTG’s attitude and fire. GO DAWGS
Brainiac (CMR/UGA Fan For Life/J.Jpnes for Heisman))
September 19th, 2012
11:53 am
78 Dawg:
Judging from your single post you are a very POOR judge of people and even worse in your knowledge of what constitutes “CLASS”. Other than Woody Hayes( former Ohio State HC) name one HC in history that took it on themselves to deal personally with an opposing team’s player rather than through that team’s HC or game officials.
Truth be known you likely couldn’t find your a$$ with both hands in your hip pockets!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
It is UNLIKELY you are a real Dawgfan!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Ole Big Dawg
September 19th, 2012
11:54 am
UGA haters/tech fellars……..you guys are our rented mule…never forget
dawgfan
September 19th, 2012
11:54 am
now me. I’m a real tough guy. I only run my pickle-smoker on anonymous internet blogs. I arm-wrestle 4-year-olds (and usually win pretty convincingly) and I can blacken the ole lady’s eye with 3 or 4 good shots. I didn’t complain much when I stepped on that empty Bartles and James bottle and sprained my ankle, and I only cried for 30 minutes after those mean old Techie frat boys laughed at me after a game. Yes sir, don’t mess with dawgfan…….ruff ruff
Class dismissed,
Thanks
Alphare
September 19th, 2012
11:54 am
dawgfan,
you now sounds like Grantham. Make sure you make as much money as he does.
UGA Insider
September 19th, 2012
11:55 am
DEAR MIKE ADAMS…
SET TREE AND RAMBO FREE!!!! YOU HAVE WASTED ENOUGH OF THEIR TIME!
ole yeller
September 19th, 2012
11:57 am
There will be no exchange of words Saturday between Coach “G” and Coach “F”. There boss have instructed both on conduct for this game.. You may see some close to assault action by some of the players, but coachs “G” AND “F” will say nothing other than football comments. They both like the money they make and makling a fool one’s self could get a hit in the pocketbook. Dawgs wins and it want be like when they (Vandy) played “SC: Dawgs by 18.
Dr. P's Parole Officer
September 19th, 2012
11:59 am
@ Ole Big Dawg:
Good post but “Borrowed Mule” is also applicable!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Brainiac (CMR/UGA Fan For Life/J.Jpnes for Heisman))
September 19th, 2012
12:05 pm
@ UGA Insider:
Rambo and Tree are totally to blame for their missed games and should apologize to their team mates, coaches and fans.
Ole Big Dawg
September 19th, 2012
12:08 pm
Dr.P parole officer….true…we dont pay anything in regards to tech unless it is ownership.
Brainiac (CMR/UGA Fan For Life/J.Jpnes for Heisman))
September 19th, 2012
12:08 pm
@ Alphare:
you sounds like you maybe, kinda, sorta, actually failed English!!!!!!!!!!
Alphare
September 19th, 2012
12:18 pm
Brainiac,
You act just like Grantham now. When others try to discuss real issue, you start finger-pointing, English grammars, etc. What’s next, brain man?
TRUE FAN
September 19th, 2012
12:33 pm
Hey Nerds, 31-17. If Grantham is a joke, then what is Al Groh?
Cdpridg
September 19th, 2012
12:34 pm
Gt4ever…..4ever? Really??? Poor self esteem maybe??
Flat Tire on I-95 in Jacksonville
September 19th, 2012
12:40 pm
Ogletree should sit and have to watch Herrera play all the time
Herrrera is just as good and has embarrassed the program
DawginLex
September 19th, 2012
12:41 pm
Alphare
Do you really believe what you write?
We played a ton of true freshmen against Buffalo and florida Atlantic.
The defense from here on out will not resemble anything you have seen so far.
I understand you hate Georgia but at least try and have a little credibility before you post something.
Flat Tire on I-95 in Jacksonville
September 19th, 2012
12:42 pm
correction hasnt embarrassed the program
Flat Tire on I-95 in Jacksonville
September 19th, 2012
12:46 pm
gt4ever
That joke Defensive Coordinator has shut your stupid middle school offense down everytime
By the way, Im hungry, its lunch time, when is Turkey Neck going to be finished frying those fish
aprilglaspie
September 19th, 2012
12:54 pm
GTBob: You don’t really go to Tech do you? I mean the elctrician trade school does have some standards, right? Grantham tried to start a brawl. Um, no… Franklin ran on the field yelling trash at opposing players. Short of running it up Spurrier style, it’s hard to conceive of more bushleague behavior by a coach. And Vandy closed the game out with three plays that were clear attempts to cause injuries in the last two series of downs. Are you nuts? Blind? Just plain dumb?
Flat Tire on I-95 in Jacksonville
September 19th, 2012
1:00 pm
aprilglaspie
GTBob and the rest of Tech fans like for their team to play that type of ball a Tech lineman purposely rolled Eric Zeir’s knee his senior year
Thats what Tech does they love to take peoples legs out and hurt them thats why Bob and the other Tech fans love Vandy’s dirty coach
Post Master
September 19th, 2012
1:05 pm
Attack me all you want,,I am a grown man, I can take it, But avoiding the question:
Name the Top 25 Teams, The Top 10 Teams, Top 5 Teams the tandem has beaten?
Not a Tech Man, Just a College Graduate who retired from the post office as a Post Master and now work in the Engineering Field ( not a GT Graduate). I actually work in an office that is represented by UGA, GT, Florida, Florida St, Clemson, Alabama, Miami, South Carolina, Tennessee, Vandy, and Texas schools.
The fact is, the kid he gave the choke sign to was a player, he is a coach( errrr…teacher) and is suppose to act like one instead of a baffoon. He is a coordinator and he should have gone to his HC and had him address the opposing team’s HC( Franklin) and moved on.
From 2010
Penalities(Personal Fouls)
The top 11 (along with record):
Southern Mississippi, 27 (7-3)
Arizona State, 26 (4-6)
Illinois, 26 (5-5)
Washington State, 25 (4-4)
Maryland, 24 (7-3)
Texas Tech, 24 (5-5)
Baylor, 23 (7-4)
East Carolina, 22 (6-4)
Georgia, 22 (5-6)
Idaho, 22 (4-6)
UNLV, 22 (2-8)
2011
All Penalties…
Name G Pen. Yards Pen./G Yards/G
1 Alabama 13 49 369 3.8 28.4
2 Kentucky 12 59 482 4.9 40.2
3 Mississippi State 13 71 567 5.5 43.6
4 Arkansas 13 80 593 6.2 45.6
5 Tennessee 12 69 561 5.8 46.8
6 Georgia 14 86 664 6.1 47.4
7 South Carolina 13 82 632 6.3 48.6
8 LSU 14 86 702 6.1 50.1
9 Vanderbilt 13 81 653 6.2 50.2
10 Auburn 13 75 676 5.8 52.0
11 Mississippi 12 80 692 6.7 57.7
12 Florida 13 100 773 7.7 59.5
The stats reflect how undisciplined the UGA team really is and that is from leadership of their coaches and coordinators.
AltamahaDawg
September 19th, 2012
1:06 pm
Was there a rule against a football player smoking pot on the books before spring break? Did they break that rule? What is the written penalty for the second time breaking that rule?
Trying to look cool by blaming Mike Adams for doing the parts of his job that football fan don’t like is sooo 2008.
Post Master
September 19th, 2012
1:12 pm
This is the stat most UGA fans should be worrying about…..this affects the outcome of games.
http://www.cfbstats.com/2012/leader/911/team/offense/split01/category12/sort01.html
Turnovers…….
-0.33 per game
10th in the conference and that came against two weak teams and Missouri…
Cdpridg
September 19th, 2012
1:13 pm
Postmaster….we are an undiscplined #5 team in the nation…..Sic’em!!.
Dawg Fud
September 19th, 2012
1:15 pm
Can the AJC get any more mileage out of this Franklin-Grantham story.
Move on. This is pitiful. No one wants to read this garbage.
Cdpridg
September 19th, 2012
1:15 pm
Postmaster…the outcome of the games have been winning..winning and more …winning
Flat Tire on I-95 in Jacksonville
September 19th, 2012
1:15 pm
Post Master
Weak teams LOL
The entire ACC is weak the only team Tech plays is UGA and we know what happens there
GTBob
September 19th, 2012
1:16 pm
GTBob and the rest of Tech fans like for their team to play that type of ball a Tech lineman purposely rolled Eric Zeir’s knee his senior year
You sound really upset about something that supposedly happened 18 years ago. Let it go man.
Post Master
September 19th, 2012
1:20 pm
Buffalo, FAU…….enough said, your argument fails….Flat Tire……
Post Master
September 19th, 2012
1:22 pm
Sagarin Strength of Schedule has UGA at 138….138…..
http://sagarin.com/sports/cfsend.htm
Mark (another one)
September 19th, 2012
1:23 pm
People keep giving Franklin a pass and I’m tired of it. There’s a reason Maryland gave Max Garcia a full release with the restriction that he couldn’t transfer to an ACC school (Maryland’s conference) or Vandy.
In 2009 Franklin was named Maryland’s Coach in waiting while Ralph Friedgen was still the head coach. A year later Franklin was accused of lobbying the administration to fire Friedgen and let Franklin take over. They did but then Franklin left for Vandy and started recruiting Maryland’s players to transfer. Class act.
If Franklin had an issue with a UGA player, he can pick up the phone and call Richt, not attack the player on the field after the game. What a classless act by a head coach. If it was my son on the field, I would want Grantham to take up for him. Otherwise, my son might be in jail and Franklin on a gurney.
Post Master
September 19th, 2012
1:25 pm
Cdpridg
September 19th, 2012
1:15 pm
Postmaster…the outcome of the games have been winning..winning and more …winning
But you have to play somebody with some “WOW Factor” in order to be able to jump some of these better teams, and giving up easy points to a Buffalo, FAU team with your first defense in the game shows some major holes that good teams will exploit…..enjoy beating those soft teams with half a stadium filled.( maybe 3/4 filled)
Flat Tire on I-95 in Jacksonville
September 19th, 2012
1:26 pm
Bob
When Tech fans like you come on here running off at the mouth about Grantham yet your program plays dirty with those chop blocks etc
Flat Tire on I-95 in Jacksonville
September 19th, 2012
1:29 pm
Post master
Lets see
Presbyterian
Middle Tennessee
Duke
Virginia
Maryland
UNC
Boston College
Now thats a tough schedule
gdawginkalamazoo
September 19th, 2012
1:31 pm
Dr. P, okay to disagree on that. No I didn’t see the Vandy/SC game. Yes I did see the Vandy/UGA game last year. It is a matter of playing down to an opponents level which has been our problem the past two to three years. AND part of the slow starts we have had in every game so far this year. I was proud to se the dawgs play a full 60 against Missouri, God knows how long it had been. So IF we want to consider ourselves a top 5 team, then yes, we should beat Vandy by 3 TD’s at least. Whether or not that is the case, well, that’s why we play the games. You don’t see Bama going into a game saying, “well we should play them close.” It’s all a mentality of winning and winning as big as possible.
Cdpridg
September 19th, 2012
1:33 pm
Postmaster…you seem to be a litt e negative….maybe u need some cheering up. I know lets talk abt your feelings pstmaster….how do u feel week to week as the Dawgs just keep on winning and winning and climbing and climbing in the rankings? Secondly, explain to everyone your feelings each year knowing you are going to lose the week of UGA…i am sure there are plenty of Dawg fans here that would be more than happy to lend u some moral support
Post Master
September 19th, 2012
1:33 pm
Flat Tire on I-95 in Jacksonville
September 19th, 2012
1:29 pm
Post master
Lets see
Presbyterian
Middle Tennessee
Duke
Virginia
Maryland
UNC
Boston College
For Tech it may be, running an option game with a HC who is too stubborn to adjust.
But that is for Tech Fans to argue with, not me.
GTBob
September 19th, 2012
1:34 pm
When Tech fans like you come on here running off at the mouth about Grantham yet your program plays dirty with those chop blocks etc
I see we have another UGA fan who does not know the difference between a cut block and a chop block.
Flat Tire on I-95 in Jacksonville
September 19th, 2012
1:36 pm
Bob
I guess Frank Beamer who was complaining about it doesnt know either
Show Me Your TDs
September 19th, 2012
1:37 pm
“then we should blame your father for raising you to create rabble rousing correct”
Best comment of the day!! lol
Post Master
September 19th, 2012
1:40 pm
Not Negative at all, just a realist. Pretty darn Happy person who enjoys college football. I actually get to go to quite a few games as a guest of my boss, who works as an official throughout the league as a play clock operator.
I just see things that as they are, no sugar coating, no pampering, no homerism.
Grantham was wrong for what he did, he stepped over the line on both occasions and his attitude is reflective of his players and their on and off the field issues. He bullied Bobo to get one of his best players on defense and he is a constant bully who has not beaten anyone during his tenure as DC who ended the season ranked.
Not saying UGA is not good, I think they are. Probably better than 95% of the teams in the country, but they always seems to play down to other teams level and cannot play up to the level of the great teams when the pressure is on. They have some very self centered players who do not know what the word “Team” means. If they had a few more Jarvis Jones attitude players they would be unstoppable on defense but they do not and UGA fans have to live with the fact Dumb players and dumb coaches make dumb mistakes.
GTBob
September 19th, 2012
1:44 pm
I guess Frank Beamer who was complaining about it doesnt know either
He had a good crying session after the 2009 game that amounted to nothing. If we are illegally blocking guys then it is up to the officials to make the call. It is not a hard penalty to spot and we rarely get called for it. Either we pay the officials a good bit of money to completely overlook it or we are making clean blocks almost all of the time. Which is it?
Show Me Your TDs
September 19th, 2012
1:45 pm
“Let’s be reasonable and logical please.”
“For 3 quarters, UGA almost lost to an un-ranked Mizzo team. Of course, Vandy is un-ranked either.”
“But the Mizzo game does tell us that UGA is no better than an un-ranked team in the 1st 3 quarter.”
But arent games played for 4 qtrs?? Plus wasnt Vandy being the Cocks for 3 qtrs? Come back when you really want to be logic across the board.
Cdpridg
September 19th, 2012
1:47 pm
Postmaster…no..no…we are here to help u. For that to happen u have to open up and explain your feelings. Back to question 1…….reread…think before you post. This is a UGA related article so we need a quality response. Try again….I am going to show and have patience with u little fella……go ahead now…give it another try…
rhbDAWG1
September 19th, 2012
1:49 pm
Football is a bottom line (No sugar coating, no pampering, no homerism? {is that really a word?}) game, so Bottom line records: UGA 3 wins 0 losses; GT 2 wins 1 loss.
dawgfan
September 19th, 2012
1:53 pm
“I guess Frank Beamer who was complaining about it doesnt know either”
Add Miami coaches to that list. They have complained about it as well. I saw a Youtube video of Georgia Tech’s cheapshot that knocked Deangelo Tyson out of last year’s game. But this is all just a figment of our imagination according to Tech fans. We have no idea what we’re talking about because the triple option is so awesome, righteous and holy. Its above our comprehension. You have to have an engineering degree to understand it.
What a joke.
Post Master
September 19th, 2012
1:53 pm
Cdpridg
September 19th, 2012
1:47 pm
Postmaster…no..no…we are here to help u. For that to happen u have to open up and explain your feelings. Back to question 1…….reread…think before you post. This is a UGA related article so we need a quality response. Try again….I am going to show and have patience with u little fella……go ahead now…give it another try…
You addressed what I posted first….I need not explain anything to you if cannot comprehend English.
I take it your level of education prevents that from taking place.
We all knew USC was not a top ranked team, That had nothing to do with UGA. UGA was a benefactor.
You act like UGA invented Football, when it has not been relevant since 1980. What the score of the last time UGA played in the BCS Championship Game?
When was that last win against a Top 15 Team?
When was the last time UGA won a road game against a Top 25 team?
What is their record for the last three years against Top 25 Final Ranked Teams..
You see,your spin does not work. Be a Realist, you will go much further in life, and out of you or your mom’s basement.
Post Master
September 19th, 2012
1:56 pm
Cdpridg
September 19th, 2012
1:47 pm
Postmaster…no..no…we are here to help u. For that to happen u have to open up and explain your feelings. Back to question 1…….reread…think before you post. This is a UGA related article so we need a quality response. Try again….I am going to show and have patience with u little fella……go ahead now…give it another try…
You have no argument, and you and your cronies throw in Tech, when Tech is not in my world.
Answer my questions and see where you stand…..winning and winning against Good teams are two different things in the big picture…..
SOS 138…..Enough said….it will rise this weekend after playing Vanderbilt.
GTBob
September 19th, 2012
1:57 pm
I saw a Youtube video of Georgia Tech’s cheapshot that knocked Deangelo Tyson out of last year’s game.
Once again dawgfan, if UGA can’t physically handle cut blocks then they should stop playing teams that cut block. They should also consider having their players wear skirts for the game.