Suspension possible for Bama player for hit on Georgia QB Aaron Murray
ATHENS — Georgia athletic director Greg McGarity confirmed Monday the Bulldogs have asked the SEC to review the legality of a hit on Aaron Murray that required him to be helped off the field shortly before halftime in the SEC Championship game. But they need not have bothered; the league office is already looking into it.
Alabama defensive lineman Quinton Dial hit Murray with a above-the-shoulder, helmet-to-helmet strike after Murray threw an interception at the 1:15 mark of the second quarter. Crimson Tide defensive back Ha-Sean Clinton-Dix was in the midst of a 35-yard return when the 304-pound Dial left his feet and made contact with the side of Murray’s helmet toward the end of the play. Murray was out of the play and not in position to make the tackle.
McGarity said he was “stunned” when he saw the replay of the Dial’s hit — he missed it during live-game-action — and immediately moved to make sure the play was going to be reviewed.
“I actually didn’t see the hit until I saw it on YouTube (Sunday),” McGarity said of SEC Commissioner Mike Slive. “It is definitely a play we will submit for review, but I’m sure that’s already being done. “I’m anxious to see what (SEC Commissioner Mike Slive) says about it.”
Steve Shaw, the SEC’s coordinator of officials, has already reviewed the play and determined that Saturday’s referees “missed the call.”
“By rule, you can’t hit a defenseless player above the shoulders,” Shaw told The Birmingham News. “What the determination needs to be is was this a defenseless player and was contact initiated above the shoulders? When we go through video review of it, that’s what we’ll have to determine. And then you as you break it down, did he lead with the head or lead with the shoulder? From game action, it was a personal foul regardless of how we break it down frame by frame.”
That would not have changed the ultimate outcome of the play. Alabama would have retained possession as the personal foul would have occurred well after the interception. But it would have backed it up 15 yards from the point of contact, which was near midfield.
Above-the-shoulders hits and “targeting” defenseless players have been a point of emphasis for the SEC this season and for all of football as the dangers of concussions have become better known. Slive suspended two players — Ole Miss defensive back Trae Elston and South Carolina safety D.J. Swearinger – for one game each for such hits earlier this season. Dial will face the same fate, and the Crimson Tide’s next game is the BCS national championship.
NCAA rules mandate that conference offices review any flagrant personal foul or targeting for possible future punishment, whether a penalty was called on the field or not.
“We do want to stand up for our players when they are in serious danger of being injured,” McGarity said. “This is a case where it could have had serious implications on Aaron, not only in that game but in future games.”
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1,117 comments Add your comment
William G. Little
December 3rd, 2012
7:23 pm
Crybaby whiners should join the ACC.
tenn.DAWG
December 3rd, 2012
7:25 pm
This is a no brainer, he’s suspended.
bamaguy
December 3rd, 2012
7:25 pm
I love all these Georgia excuses and all this self affirmation. “We are a great team” You had your shot and you lost. Move on and watch your relatives on Honey Boo Boo. You all just knew you were going to win. Look at you now. Didn’t really know squat did you?
Sara
December 3rd, 2012
7:26 pm
Dawgs and elephants are both a bunch of p-wads. Get a life all u failed jocks. sleeping’ in your high Skool letter jackets, snuggling’ next to your Skoal-dipping’ cousin. The South is a waistband…
North ave. faithful
December 3rd, 2012
7:27 pm
Got no dawg in this fight. But a cheap shot like that deserves suspension. GO JACKETS!!
UGA = DUMB
December 3rd, 2012
7:27 pm
Murray didn’t get hurt…didn’t change the outcome of the game in any way…lets just move along to more important things…all this whining won’t change a thing…
Put in Timeout by Ken Sugiura,Filtered by Mark Bradley, Banned once by Bill King & Chip Towers but only slightly loved by Jeff Schultz.
December 3rd, 2012
7:28 pm
After MURRAY saw that he is Smarter than his HC & OC when it came to Clocking the ball do you really think he should come back to UGa for another year? A harder schedule and a lot of the D starters gone.
Murray take the NFL money and get away from the Brain Trust that is Richt & Bobo. Learn from Stafford. You could be next years Barkley and get hurt.
Sara
December 3rd, 2012
7:28 pm
Bamaguy time to clock out at wallyworld and head to the trailer park with your smokes and pork pie
Sara
December 3rd, 2012
7:29 pm
Put in timeout your dumb daddy shoulda pulled out…
Put in Timeout by Ken Sugiura,Filtered by Mark Bradley, Banned once by Bill King & Chip Towers but only slightly loved by Jeff Schultz.
December 3rd, 2012
7:31 pm
Sara but you mom said she didn’t want him too cause she need the check.
MA English 75
December 3rd, 2012
7:32 pm
Honestly, how much of a threat is Murray as a “potential” tackle? Does he practice tackling with the Defense? It was a late hit on the QB, no two ways about it.
Put in Timeout by Ken Sugiura,Filtered by Mark Bradley, Banned once by Bill King & Chip Towers but only slightly loved by Jeff Schultz.
December 3rd, 2012
7:32 pm
Calling BAMA fans classless?
Wait didn’t some UGa fans/students Egg Murray’s House?
Dirty Dawg
December 3rd, 2012
7:32 pm
Don’t worry Bama, the league has already shown with calls on the field – Dont give me any of your tree-killin, sexual-assaultin, BS about the refs jobbin you…hell, even your Buddy Danielson said the ball hit the ground – so you shouldn’t expect him to not play in the game that the networks, the NCAA, the BCS and the SEC all wanted – the mighty Turds, er Tide, versus that Catholic school in Indiana…the one that’s losing the College Football HOF to Atlanta. No, they’ll just do what Florida did to their linebacker that ‘really’ gouged the eyes of a Goergia RB a few years back…he had to sit out the first quarter of their next game – Vandy. And one final point bammer hammer…KMRBAYMFSOB.
Alpha23
December 3rd, 2012
7:33 pm
bama was LUCKY to win it!!
bamaguy
December 3rd, 2012
7:34 pm
Time for you guys to realize the game is over. You lost. It happened.
Put in Timeout by Ken Sugiura,Filtered by Mark Bradley, Banned once by Bill King & Chip Towers but only slightly loved by Jeff Schultz.
December 3rd, 2012
7:34 pm
MA English 75………..nothing LATE about the hit…………learn the rules of football….the play was still live.
as Max Dawg would spell it ………Helmut-2-Helmut…..is what should have been called.
Dawg in bama
December 3rd, 2012
7:35 pm
dont worry its all of theme here in bama land. just like usc all good things will come to an end
Alpha23
December 3rd, 2012
7:36 pm
tide was DAMN LUCKY to win it!
Sara
December 3rd, 2012
7:37 pm
Enter your comments here
Is the dawgs starting lineup still in the Athens jail?
December 3rd, 2012
7:37 pm
Georgia would have to add another coloring book to its library to join the acc
kingdaddy
December 3rd, 2012
7:37 pm
First off let me congratulate the Tide on a great season and a well played SEC-CG. Overall, the game was a normal slug-fest between two brothers. I saw non-calls go both ways, but I saw more non-calls go Bamas way. That being said….
Why are the Techies still in here trying to act like UGA had a crappy year??? You have got to be kidding me. Techies laughing at us for barely losing the SEC-CG? One more play, and we could have won, yet, THE WORST GT TEAM IN MY MEMORY, HAS FANS EVEN WORSE THAN THEIR CRAPPY TEAM!!! Have a little Dignity Tech. We know you hate a program that has beaten you worse than any team in History. We understand that you are jealous of UGA and wish you were more like us. When you have to live in any other teams victory over UGA because your own team can’t get the job done, then you show everybody just how far you have fallen as fans. GT deserves better fans. You idiots are the real reason, that Tech will never be anything other than bad. That being said…
UGA has had a great year. Yes it could have been better, but we will end up a top 5 team in the country for 2012. Way to rebound Doggies and our fans, after a bumpy ride, showed class and dignity after the Bama loss. Proud of my Dawgs and disappointed in the Tech Fans that prove day in and day out, what losers they really are…
Bill
December 3rd, 2012
7:38 pm
It was a cheap shot and refs missed it, even the announcers said it was an egregious hit.
Let’s move on.
bamaguy
December 3rd, 2012
7:38 pm
That one guy still doesnt want to tackle.Lacy. ha ha
bamaguy
December 3rd, 2012
7:40 pm
Acceptance is the forst step to recovery. It happened
bamaguy
December 3rd, 2012
7:41 pm
Acceptance is the first step to recovery. It happened
Big Dawg Dave
December 3rd, 2012
7:42 pm
All you luck Bama fans are grade A AHOLES. Your player will be suspended and just how much Bama money did it take to pay off the refs? 7 penalties to your 2….give me a freaking break. The pass was tipped, it has been proven if you backward country punks can afford glasses…oh yeah shoes would be nice as well! You would see the ball was tipped as the trajectory (look it up DA’s) changed. Ogletree’s shot was completely clean, but your fat ass soon to be suspended player was as cheap as they come. Other than your rushing game we outplayed you in every aspect of the game. I’m from the South and a die hard SEC fan, but I hope the Irish kicks your ass!
Big Dawg Dave!!
Woofy One
December 3rd, 2012
7:42 pm
The game is over. We (UGA) had a good shot at winning but this will not change the score. Tee it up on ND and keep the trophy in the SEC.
RTR Every Damn Day
December 3rd, 2012
7:43 pm
How about UGA fans just shut up. There are late hits all over the place and they aren’t all caught. How about y’all RESPECT the 23x SEC Champions. Roll Tide
bamaguy
December 3rd, 2012
7:43 pm
How about that tank. 42?
Sara
December 3rd, 2012
7:44 pm
I don’t care who won. However, the state of Alabama is full of inbred rednecks. They need this more then Georgia. Other then that, put in timeout and bama squeeze are major pud pullers.
Richt Must Go
December 3rd, 2012
7:44 pm
I hope they ruin Dial’s knees next time we play them. What an effing POS thug.
Pitbull
December 3rd, 2012
7:45 pm
So if a man and woman get married in Alabama and then get divorced in Alabama, are they still brother and sister?
Fair and Balanced
December 3rd, 2012
7:45 pm
coredawg
December 3rd, 2012
7:18 pm
Fair and balanced The fact is we whipped your ass and out classes you also
Look pal, sometimes it is better to remain quiet and be thought a fool than to write your drivel and remove all doubt..
Real Problem
December 3rd, 2012
7:46 pm
Defenseless QB?????????
May I suggest when you throw an interception you not cruise across the field watching the game as if you are immune to getting hit. Guy got blasted….was it high and deserving of a flag…..sure. With that said…..he needed and got a wake up call. My guess ……next INT we see a wide awake Murray.
bamaguy
December 3rd, 2012
7:46 pm
There goes Lacy again
Sal Adelstein
December 3rd, 2012
7:47 pm
This blog is choke full of Birthers.
onegadawg
December 3rd, 2012
7:47 pm
That is just Alabama …..putting your genitals on a drunk fan that can’t defend himself….poisoning your rivals century old oak trees…..head coach’s daughter acting like trailor trash fighting and getting arrested…It was a cheap shot and there is no way to justify it. Alabama and Auburn deserve one another.
Richt Must Go
December 3rd, 2012
7:49 pm
Bama is nothing but a bunch redneck knuckle draggers.
just sayin
December 3rd, 2012
7:49 pm
That whiney quarterback for ALabama ran up to the officials when he was barely hit and they penalized Georgia, but this scumbag for Alabama almost decapitates Aaron Murrey and nothing happens…thats called Saban rules. This is a crock of $hit!!!
bamaguy
December 3rd, 2012
7:50 pm
Be happy that you were a part of the best SEC game ever. The losing part.
Smooth Operator
December 3rd, 2012
7:51 pm
crimson 1
December 3rd, 2012
2:53 pm
Tell your quarterback to not throw interceptions and stop running into guys two times bigger then him. He’s lucky to have his head on his shoulders. Dial is not a dirty player. He was just the bigger, stronger player.
******************************************
But what you will really love is he won’t be playing against the Fightin’ Irish…………!!
Sara
December 3rd, 2012
7:51 pm
I feel for all the farm animals that got a work-out after another Bama sham victory at the hands of crooked refs.
Dirty Harry Reid
December 3rd, 2012
7:52 pm
Coach Saban was classy with his remarks about Georgia but the Bummers on this sight are trailer trash!
Alabama Al
December 3rd, 2012
7:52 pm
Let’s just call it like it is – after watching UGA players celebrate like Super Bowl champs after each routine play, after watching thuggish behavior over and over again, after watching so many unsportsmanlike conduct penalties that you can’t keep count not one of us Bama supporters gives a crap bout a late hit on Murray. The truth is that you dogs can’t handle big-time competition because you have neither the coaching or the character. Does it ever occur to y’all that trotting out Richt, Bobo, and Grantham year after year is not going to yield different results?
Dawgfan58
December 3rd, 2012
7:52 pm
These Bamathug excusers have me wanting to go to Catechism Classes and wear Green and Gold!
georgiagirl
December 3rd, 2012
7:53 pm
BAMA REDNECKS HAVE COME OUT OF THE WOOD WORK
bamaguy
December 3rd, 2012
7:54 pm
Dial doesnt start for us. We will win with or without him.
Smooth Operator
December 3rd, 2012
7:54 pm
bamaguy
December 3rd, 2012
7:25 pm
I love all these Georgia excuses and all this self affirmation. “We are a great team” You had your shot and you lost. Move on and watch your relatives on Honey Boo Boo. You all just knew you were going to win. Look at you now. Didn’t really know squat did you?
**********************************
Bama is no different than the cheatin Saints. Wonder if that was a bountyh shot on Murray…….
Put in Timeout by Ken Sugiura,Filtered by Mark Bradley, Banned once by Bill King & Chip Towers but only slightly loved by Jeff Schultz.
December 3rd, 2012
7:54 pm
UGa fans finally stepped up in crying and hating another SEC team.
2010 UGa fans cried and hated AUBURN
2011 UGa fans cried and hated VANDY
2012 UGa fans cried and hate BAMA
Who will the the SEC team to make the UGa cry and hate on in 2013?
Dawgs 32
December 3rd, 2012
7:55 pm
Quit crying tide fans! He took a shot at Murray and you know it. He will probably get suspended a half or something, but it won’t matter because Bama will whoop punk ass Notre Lame anyways. Congrats Bama good game. Go Dawgs