Best account I’ve seen yet of the pregame skirmish that occurred before Georgia-Florida this past Saturday comes from Palm Beach Post reporter Jason Lieser.
I didn’t see but the very tail-end of the incident myself as it happened right around the time they were preparing for the pregame toss. But according to Lieser, Florida safety Matt Elam instigated the incident by bumping Georgia’s Devin Bowman. Apparently a bunch of Georgia players then responded to the taunts of Elam and teammate Dominique Easley, including Todd Gurley, Malcolm Mitchell, Corey Moore and Arthur Lynch.
Liesler reports that Florida strength coach Jeff Dillman interceded and ended up shoving Moore. That drew Georgia defensive coordinator Todd Grantham and some other assistant coaches and referees into the fray. This is the part I saw and skirmish quickly dissipated with both sides squawking as they went their separate ways.
Wrote Lieser:
Gators strength coach Jeff Dillman, who later had at least one very animated conversation with a ref, was involved as well. Dillman shoved Georgia safety Corey Moore, then got in the face of a Bulldogs assistant.
The whole affair was over in less than a minute and no penalties were assessed (though officials would make up for that later).
Georgia coach Mark Richt claimed on his Sunday conference call he knew nothing of the incident until seeing a vague reference to it on the TV broadcast replay.
“You know what, I don’t know what happened,” he said. “I watched the TV copy of the game and they showed a little bit of that. You could tell there was some chirping and all that, but I don’t think anybody got physical or anything like that.”
Informed for Dillman’s shove and when it happened, Richt said: “I’d have to look at it. I’m not really worried about that right now.”
Grantham acknowledged the incident after the game but claimed he was merely telling the Georgia players to get out of the way. “I was telling our guys to get off the field,” he said.
The “chippiness” carried over into the game, where the teams combined to be flagged 24 times, including several personal foul penalties.
“That was one of the most intense games I’ve ever coached from start to finish,” Richt said. “. . . You want intensity with discipline. But I didn’t want to slow anybody’s ability to keep their blood hot.”
280 comments Add your comment
dale
October 30th, 2012
8:27 am
If Georgia loses to Bama and FL beats FSU the FL would likely get the Sugar. That’s just how it is.
As for the chippiness, it was from both sides. But I must say that my impression of the Gator nation is that they love when their team/coaches disrespect other teams, they relish in it, but as soon as it goes the other way they are beside themselves and start using words like “classless.”
Bobo
October 30th, 2012
8:28 am
It’s too bad that Dillman didn’t cold-cock Grantham like James Franklin should’ve done and put him in his place. Grantham is the most boorish idiot I’ve ever seen on the sidelines. He is a complete embarrassment for UGA.
old dog
October 30th, 2012
8:28 am
Gotta say….cannot blame Bobo……Murray threw into coverage while other receivers were wide open……………………………………couldn’t blame the play calling. D won this game, true. Now, lets not pretend it is 1976 and get tripped up by Ole Miss!
VA Dawg
October 30th, 2012
8:29 am
OK I am all bout beating UF but time to look ahead. Lets see some stories about the match up with Ole Miss.
DawgNation
October 30th, 2012
8:31 am
It makes no difference what Florida does from here on out if the Dogs do not prepare for Ole Miss. I watched the replay of their Arkansas game and they have the ability to score frequently. If the defense that played Kentucky shows up then and embarrassing loss will wipe out the excitement of the the win against Florida. CMR and company had better be taking this game seriously and leave the trash talking and bowl wishing to the blogger experts here because I see another shoot out with the Rebs like the one with the Vols.
o-my dawgs
October 30th, 2012
8:34 am
This is a BS story..Grantham even said they were just trying to get players to move. Richt is right its a non issue…Both teams played dirty as hell…nothing to be happy about. Ok dawgs got to win the rest of them now..Go dawgs.
Cdpridg
October 30th, 2012
8:36 am
The florida football gators was outphysicaled at the point of attack…whipped in all phases of the game. All the gator players and staff had was hope…hope they could get in the heads of a better talented, better coached football team. The constant chirping and classless moves by the florida team is all they had. Florida is no longer more talented or better coached…that is evident over the last 6 or 7 yrs…the series has evened even slight edge to the Georgia Dawgs…order is being restored….as it should be
Dawg2
October 30th, 2012
8:39 am
Yes Bobo@8:28– I agree on idiot Grantham..one time Richt got in his face and pushed him back off field on side-line. dirty Coach =dirty players.
mike on lake hartwell
October 30th, 2012
8:40 am
our only hope for the nat’l championship is to whip an undefeated alabama
and have AT LEAST 1 of the 3 other undefeateds lose. but we all know about
the uga bias out there. we wont get in even if we accomplish that feat. but
if lsu beats bama and beats us in the sec, LSU will for sure get in. let me
remind u about all the tv folks saying in 07 that if u dont win ur division, u
dont get the chance to play in the nat’l champ game. well, that didnt hold
true for bama last year. i dont care how good they were, they didnt win
their division and that was the excuse for not giving us the chance in 07.
so anyone who thinks we’re getting in it this year better hope for a bama
victory over lsu and 2 of the 3 other undefeateds to lose cause thats the only way it is definitely
happening. if fla loses again we should get the sugar if we were to lose the sec, so pull for fsu,
if uf beats fsu then we’re headed to orlando against michigan. i hate the trend of how not
reaching the sec championship game is a benefit to a better bowl game. that needs to be
fixed. but it all starts w/ole miss sat so GATA DAWGS!
Dawg2
October 30th, 2012
8:47 am
Cdpridg, yes lets brag on ourselves a little bit. Both teams were chirping and classless~~we were just alittle more lucky and had “jarvis the difference in game”..Coaching was equal.
MA English 75
October 30th, 2012
8:50 am
Although a Bulldog, I felt sorry for Driskell by the end of the game. His uniform was practically green.Can’t imagine getting knocked down by JJ & Co as many times as he did. Our O-line did a great job of protecting Murray.
hornblowermg
October 30th, 2012
8:52 am
i just love to hear the fla people cry. especially the tampons. you lost. get used to it.
bigboysec
October 30th, 2012
8:53 am
I’m not making excuses for the gators,but playing lsu,then sc, then uga all in Oct?Well they may have been just a little beat-up as any team would have been when uga got them. Ga has one or two big stars on D, I saw a good TEAM on the other side that was just tired. but ya got be ready every week in the sec. just hope we dont get a kansas vs nd champs game.
Munsondawg
October 30th, 2012
8:55 am
I dont feel sorry for Driskel one bit.
dale
October 30th, 2012
8:59 am
Florida lost, so there must be some outside reason why, there must be an explanation, something had to have been unfair.
SKB
October 30th, 2012
8:59 am
Florida thug.
Dawgingatorville
October 30th, 2012
8:59 am
I hope the Dawgs understand that if they lose either of the next two games it will make beating UF worthless.. HUNKER DOWN YOU HAIRY DAWGS!!!
rolltide
October 30th, 2012
8:59 am
fear the bulldogs, get used to it??? you are kidding, right? you won a close game by a td. give us 6 turnovers and we would have put 50 on those lizards.
DaWg 34 Forever
October 30th, 2012
9:00 am
Every media outlet in the country has Georgia going to the ……………………..Capitol One Bowl to play Michigan.
I, for one, am happy about that, being we are slipping in the back door of the SEC championship. We will get toasted by Michigan. Here is the reason……
Jarvis is NOT going to risk his NFL stock just for a bowl game. Nor is any of the other jrs and sr’s.
VinnyD
October 30th, 2012
9:02 am
I’m a dawg fan and I remember seeing the “incident” when it happened. It is a complete non issue and no one should be disciplined and no one on the GA side should really care too much about it. If you have a problem with being shoved, you should probably quit football and go collect stamps or take it out on every player next year by working your tail off in the weight room during the offseason to show them what strong really is. Non issue, who cares.
Mike Bobo
October 30th, 2012
9:03 am
I am the best OC in the country. I know how to call plays. I most likely will take over when Mark resigns.
Love,
Mike
War Eagle
October 30th, 2012
9:03 am
Heck, we may kick bama’s butt this year. You never know
Alphare
October 30th, 2012
9:04 am
lake hartwell,
“tv folks saying in 07 that if u dont win ur division, u dont get the chance to play in the nat’l champ game. well, that didnt hold true for bama last year.”
Well, tv folks are talking heads, they don’t decide anything. It’s all decided by BCS ranking. Why is it so hard for UGA fans to understand? are you sure you got a college education?
heyrolltide
October 30th, 2012
9:04 am
6 turnovers will never = 50…back to school for you bud.
boo
October 30th, 2012
9:09 am
And so does your mama. But, she was goooooood
uga74
October 30th, 2012
9:10 am
Why in the hell are you punished if you lose the seccg? We beat uf and they will end up with a better bowl game? BS!!!!!!!
dale
October 30th, 2012
9:10 am
An Alabama fan has entered the building and has posted under 4 names in less than 10 minutes.
G-Dawg
October 30th, 2012
9:11 am
Alphare…some tv folks, coaches, and sporting analysts have a vote in the BCS equation..so yes, they do influence who plays for the trophy. Its not strictly based off strength of schedules and wins.
waverlydawg
October 30th, 2012
9:16 am
Why did the Gator cross the road?
Because it couldn’t cross the goal line!
Dawg Fud
October 30th, 2012
9:16 am
In all fairness to Driskell, he delivered a game tying drive. The ball was fumbled in the endzone.
dale
October 30th, 2012
9:19 am
There is no question that sports analysts impact the rankings and who will play for the title. They can talk up the team of their choice. And don’t give me “impartial,” did you see how giddy Lou Holtz was at halftime of the UGA/SC game, and how despondent he was after SC lost to FL? Had SC won, he becomes a trial lawyer pleading a case for SC.
mymoney
October 30th, 2012
9:20 am
would be Driskell will turnout to be a better qb than the one ga had playing Sat.The kid has only been playing one full year. Now our new qb coming in from Camden Co will be better than both.
Nole Fan Nick
October 30th, 2012
9:23 am
Love what you did to the gates but have to disagree with most of your blaming the gates for the pregame encounter. Was at the game and had a good view. All of the confortations took place between the gates tunnel and bench. A place where no Bulldog player should have been. Hate the gators and love Richt but do not like to see that in college football. Had the Georgia players stayed where they should have nothing would have happened. Can’t think if any reason for the Georgia players being where they were other than to stir things up.
Will Muschamp
October 30th, 2012
9:23 am
Hey Tampon Gator,
what time is it in Florida???
Answer: Seventeen to Nine.. and it will be all year!!!!!!!
UGGA STILL ON ICE
October 30th, 2012
9:24 am
I must give praise when praise is do and damn it the DAWGS earned it! GREAT GAME GEORGIA! As it stands you are in the hunt at #6 in the nation!! Aron Murray better get his S%*T together!!
DawgNation
October 30th, 2012
9:27 am
There is no way UGA will play for the MNC even if we do beat Bama in the SECCG. The best ranking they will have by the time of CCG will be 5th. Beating the # 1 team with Kansas State, Notre Dame, Oregon still ranked above use will put two of those teams in the MNC. The best UGA can hope for is the Sugar Bowl but the most likely, as has already been stated, Florida will go to the Sugar and UGA will go to the Capital One Bowl. Hard pill to swallow but I’ll take a SECCG appearance any time.
rolltide
October 30th, 2012
9:27 am
I can’t wait for these dogs! We are going to put you to sleep pups.
Freddy
October 30th, 2012
9:32 am
Why do university administrators tollerate behavior like this from coaches and players? If a member of the faculty yelled at students or shoved them they would be suspended and dismissed.
The administrators should suspend coacches and players who behave this way!
Play the game, keep the crap out of it.
DeaconHayes
October 30th, 2012
9:32 am
We have got to win out, everything else does not matter. We have to do what matters! We have to be that JUNKYARD DAWG! The one that will put something on their behind and want look back! The next game is all that matters! Go Dawgs!
PMC
October 30th, 2012
9:32 am
Bunch of hot headed loser idiots down in Gainsville I guess.
Will Muschamp
October 30th, 2012
9:34 am
Rolltide,
Lsu may spank your AZZ.. Dont be so cocky little boy.
Fla reduced to Chick-fil-A Bowl
October 30th, 2012
9:37 am
Richt owns Muschamp!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
KingGator
October 30th, 2012
9:40 am
This game has taken on the heatedness that the old FSU-UF games did back in the ’90’s with Spurrier and Bowden. GA has finally found their winning ways after like 30 yrs, so now it’s time for the Gators to wake up and take them seriously. Just hoping that Muschamp has his loyalties in order since he’s a GA grad. Surely he knows who signs that paycheck. No Gator coach since like Charley Pell has lost two games in a row in a row to GA, and now along comes an ex GA football player, and sure enough it happens. Muschamp will need to win next yr to dispel that link to his past
Alphare
October 30th, 2012
9:42 am
G-Dawg,
BCS ranking is determined by Harris poll, Coaches’ poll, Computer polls.
1. Coaches poll has no “tv folks” involved.
2. Computer polls have no “tv folks”
3. Harris Interactive College Football Poll is comprised of 115 panelists and includes former coaches, players, administrators and current and former media.
OK, Harris may have the current “tv folks”. I don’t know how many “tv folks” are among the 115 panelists. But even the 115 people are counted as 1/3 of the BCS numbers. BTW, some of the “tv folks” are UGA fans.
So, according to your “tv folks” conspiracy theory, how does the numbers add up to displace UGA out of NC? can you elaborate?
Tech Sucks
October 30th, 2012
9:46 am
GO DAWGS – SMASHMOUTH
2010 UGA vs Florida
October 30th, 2012
9:48 am
UGA should//woulda won that game, except for Murray throwing that dumb OT pic and thusly, allowing Florida to kick FG for the win.
No, the series is back to game day situations. IF UGA continues to sign talent and we beef up our o line play with depth and talent, we should win 50% of the games.
Umpire must have had a $100 on the Gators
October 30th, 2012
9:49 am
I watched the replay last night on CSS. UGA won again!
I was wondering during the Gator’s last drive how they were suddenly opening huge holes for their RB. I have never seen more blatant, obvious holds right in front of the umpire with no calls. At the 4:00 mark, Ogletree is pulled down from behind by a horse collar 6 feet in front of the umpire. The offensive lineman didn’t try to hide it, Ogletree stepped around him and was in the hole with a clear shot at the RB and he was pulled down. I think it injured him and prevented him from making the tackle on FL last play, the fumble. The same guy didn’t call the obvious face mask on the Dawgs last series, it was the side judge. Either the umpire is biased or incompetent.
If you don’t believe me, watch the play at just below the 4:00 minute mark in the 4th.
Alphare
October 30th, 2012
9:50 am
dale,
USC has one Lou Holtz, but UGA has David P and another guy whose name I forgot.
is that why UGA is ranked ahead of USC despite the fact USC beats UGA like a drum?
olddawg58
October 30th, 2012
9:52 am
The Fla coaches were just trying to keep a pregame riot from breaking out!They did what coaches do and yeah its fine to push players to keep them seperated.Probably stopped a riot and maybe saved the game from being halted.Both teams have to get this taken care of in the locker room.I’m amazed that no player was kicked out during the game and fortunately for us Malcolm Mitchell wasn’t one of them!
Bama Man in Macon
October 30th, 2012
9:55 am
I’m nervous about this weekend’s game against LSU. Wonder how much longer we can continue a streak?