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
Sara
December 3rd, 2012
7:56 pm
Tough call for the national championship. Do I root for the Bama farm animal thumpers or the catholic child molesters. Both sick!
GaDawg
December 3rd, 2012
7:56 pm
Body slams are legal in college not the NFL. So drop the whining. The hit was a cheap shot. Did you see Murray’s head jerk to the right. Poking eyes wrong! Shows how blind the officials were, two standing right in front of him when he did it.
Pitbull
December 3rd, 2012
7:59 pm
What does an Alabama girl say after the first time she has sex?
Get off me Daddy. You’re crushing my cigerettes.
Contractor
December 3rd, 2012
7:59 pm
This is precisely why most Georgia fans are despised by the rest of the college football world. Not only do you feel your team gets shafted every year for a National Championship, but now you’re blaming the loss on a non-call. It’s not like Georgia got the ball back if the call is made or that they were guaranteed points. Don’t cheapen up your teams amazing performance by acting like a bunch of sore losers. Just deal with it and quit being such poor sport cry babies. And save yourself the agony and uneducated marks by calling me an uneducated inbred trailer park tenant and all the other lame comments you make in an attempt to sound big and bad.
Paul Finescum
December 3rd, 2012
7:59 pm
Hey uga4eve don’t feel bad about pulling for the Irish. All the tide fans were pulling for them when they played the dawgs in 1980. At that time they hadn’t beat ND and couldn’t stand for UGA to do it. Their record againt the Irish is 1 and 5.The Bear never beat ‘em
bamaguy
December 3rd, 2012
7:59 pm
300 plus rushing. Try stopping that next time
bamaguy
December 3rd, 2012
8:01 pm
How about make a tackle?
kingdaddy
December 3rd, 2012
8:03 pm
Most Dawg fans are not criticizing Bama or blaming the refs for our loss. Hey, football is a rough sport, players get shots. If you are a wussy, then don’t watch. If you can’t stand to lose, then don’t play. Losing is part of the game. Its what makes winning so much fun. This politically correct world would have everyone get a “trophy” if they could, but that diminishes the will to win and in the long-run, makes us all losers…
Doggies, we were beaten fair and square by a really good team. The only ones making fun of us are “butt-hurt” Nerds who pretend to be Bama fans. Real Bama Fans know we played them a great game. Techies on the other hand, are trying to bask in the glory of a Dawg defeat, no matter how well UGA played. Our Commissioner called it one of the best games ever and I agree with him. Coach Saban stood up for UGA after the loss, claiming the Dawgs are legitimate. The Tech Trolls on the other hand, are so embarrassed by their own teams ineptness, that they try to twist our good year and the great showing in our championship game as failure. I just hope more fans show up at the Sun-bowl, than did to the ACC-CG. That was embarrassing for everybody in the state of Florida and Georgia. Tech fans need to worry more about their own team and less about the top team in the State of Georgia…
bamaguy
December 3rd, 2012
8:04 pm
I know the refs caused your D to get drug up and down the field by our two tanks? Gotta blame that record setting performance on something.
Gay dawg
December 3rd, 2012
8:04 pm
He’s lucky he will only get a suspension. Last guy that hit me got jail.
Pitbull
December 3rd, 2012
8:04 pm
The University of Alabama – where football is more important than academics.
No. 1 Leg Humper:
December 3rd, 2012
8:04 pm
For ANY person to make light of the hit on Murray is an indication of just how ignorant and stupid SOME Bama fans are but don’t for one minute think ALL Bama Fans are like a lot of these on here. Same goes for a some of UGA Fans.
The action by Dial is approx. the same, only worse than Nick Fairly of Auburn in 2010 and for those of us old enough to remember, Darwin Holt of Alabama when he broke the jaw of GT’s Chick Granning with an illegal and deliberate hit. The official who was only a few feet away from the hit on Murray and could not possibly have missed it and should be fired(For sleeping on the job)
The “eye-gouging” did NOT happen unless UGA’s No. 2 has 6 or 8 inch long fingers. Check the film Ogletree’s hit on McCarron was almost a “no-call” until McCarron waved at the referee who had NOTeven made a motion towards his flag. I don’t have a problem with Ogletree getting the flag thrown for his hit though.. Regardless, it was nowhere near the same as the hit on Murray.
It was one of the best UGA games I have ever seen in my 62 years of being a Dawg Fan and I hope Bama clobbers ND in the NC game
Sara
December 3rd, 2012
8:05 pm
Bamaguy-
How bout wiping your arse…
Contractor
December 3rd, 2012
8:05 pm
kingdaddy,
One of the best comments I’ve read so far.
marseilles mutt
December 3rd, 2012
8:05 pm
TGT @7:14
That’s really all it is…SEVERAL Rednecks (misnomer, for that is an insult to all good rednecks, Bama’s and UGA’s as well) in fact let’s strike the ‘rednecks’, and simply say AH’S, OK?
Fact of the matter it was a great game and I never heard AM complain about the hit in the first place…and I really didn’t think it was that much of a cheap shot….was not a late hit and AM needed to be more aware, although he did see it coming at the last minute, second?
Certainly nowhere near as bad as Fairly going for his knees long after the play was over a couple of years back. Now THAT was a cheap shot!
Actually, any of us who played- regardless of when or where- have probably either done the same, or had it happen to us. I had it both ways on many occassions.
For either side to act like a bunch of scabs on the ass of humanity demeans what was probably one of the best games of the season.
Played @ UGA, so go Dogs and RTR! Let’s both do our best to even up the WoNA!
Oh Well
December 3rd, 2012
8:06 pm
You dumb ass bama fans can’t see the truth! Go back to your trailers and stay the hell off our vent!
Neutral
December 3rd, 2012
8:06 pm
What the heck is wrong with poking a Bama player’s eyes out?
Those suckers can’t read so who cares!
Sara
December 3rd, 2012
8:07 pm
Bear Bryant was a well-known cross-dresser in the underground scene…
coredawg
December 3rd, 2012
8:07 pm
fair and balanced
the truth is you are an idiot. We will always out class you. The truth will set you free, however you will never understand the truth
Gay dawg
December 3rd, 2012
8:09 pm
Bama is the barry bonds of football. They make lance Armstrong look legit
craig
December 3rd, 2012
8:09 pm
The bama fans sound inbread as they make their arguments. i like Saban and will pull for bama but it was wrong.
sec fan
December 3rd, 2012
8:09 pm
Slive will kiss Saban’s backside and apologize for any inconvenience.
SECfan
December 3rd, 2012
8:12 pm
This is from a non-Bama SEC fan: Georgia: The state where they crow about being #2 ……. year after losing year.
Gay dawg
December 3rd, 2012
8:12 pm
Rooting for bama is like rooting for SMU
Pitbull
December 3rd, 2012
8:14 pm
The three most common lies told by Alabama residents:
3. My trailer is paid for
2. I didn’t know she was my sister
1. Honest officer, I was just helping the pig get over the fence.
Is the dawgs starting lineup still in the Athens jail?
December 3rd, 2012
8:14 pm
If I paid my athletes as much as georgia pays theirs, I woul be upset we lost too
FL Gator
December 3rd, 2012
8:18 pm
BAMA needs to consider offering courses on CLASS. see another of todays headlines – http://www.ajc.com/news/ap/crime/ala-man-gets-2-years-in-jail-for-viral-bcs-video/nTJLs/
Need I say more?
Ignorance
December 3rd, 2012
8:19 pm
Dawgs,
Pile driving someone’s head to the ground is not legal. You look like the Bama fans on here trying to justify the hit on Murray. Look at this picture. http://georgia.scout.com/2/1243324.html. If you don’t see how that could really hurt someone then you I’m glad someone like you isn’t in charge of the rules around the league. Yes, you are suppose to tackle the ball carrier. That doesn’t mean you can sling him over your head to be a show off (He could’ve just wrapped him up and brought him to the ground?) but cudos to Ogletree I guess.
globeflyer
December 3rd, 2012
8:20 pm
Hat’s off to UGA for a great game. Dial does not have a rep for being dirty, but it was late IMO. (In other words, he’s no Nick Fairly.) It didn’t change the outcome of the game since the interception was already made, but I hate it happened.
Gay dawg
December 3rd, 2012
8:20 pm
pat dye, gene stallings, Charlie pell, Jackie sherrill, Danny ford, Howard schnlenberger, mike dubois
Who are coaches that coached for bear and then went on to garner major nCAa sanctions alex?
wileydog
December 3rd, 2012
8:21 pm
You bama fans are classic, if your quarterback had been taken out like that you guys would have had a fit too. Ogletree’s hit which was flagged was not even in the same catergory. That one play almost took the sportsmanship and hard play from both teams and made it look like cheap football.
Its a game and things happen, but when its done on purpose and ment to hurt someone, well thats a different story. we went throught the same thing with nick fairly a couple years back with auburn. i guess thats how alabama boys roll, you may win, but you dont do it the right way.
Pitbull
December 3rd, 2012
8:21 pm
At least our players can read and write.
There’s a reason Forest Gump was written as attending Alabama.
Stupid is as stupid does.
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
8:22 pm
KingDaddy…………..you have to be honest. Did you want Fairley suspended for the Bama game after the UGa vs UGa game dirty play?
Do you also want the SEC to follow it’s own rules and suspend ben Jones for the Tech game and EVERY UGa player that left the bench area during the fight on the field?
No you didn’t and now you are Crying about a Bama player needing to be suspended.
You can’t have it both ways. Dirty plays are wrong when your players do it too and you should Scream to Suspend your players for their Wrong doings too.
I said UGa played a great game and MURRAY really played a good game.
Gay dawg
December 3rd, 2012
8:23 pm
Any team busted for pay 150k to a coach to get a recruit is marred with scandal
EagleDawg
December 3rd, 2012
8:23 pm
Alabama = Rednecks
Gay dawg
December 3rd, 2012
8:24 pm
Aj mccarron looks in the closet
Gay dawg
December 3rd, 2012
8:26 pm
Nick saban looks like he would be I those to catch a predator NBC specials
ellsee
December 3rd, 2012
8:26 pm
It takes a weak man to hit a weaker man when he is down. Thus the dirty play against Aaron. Bama, take your friggin’ ball and crawl back to the dustbowl town whence you hail. And for one, Crimson Tide is nothing but a bad monthly. Not too many people know or care what it really is. I do, and I still don’t care.
Kaedibyrd
December 3rd, 2012
8:26 pm
Alabama is my Alma Mater. Georgia is my daddy’s, granddaddy’s, and great-granddaddy’s. Also, I spent the years at Georgia getting a masters degree, and watched Georgia play in 1980 under Vince Dooley – when you couldn’t spell “Sugah” without UGA.
So I’m a Tide fan first, but was glad to see Georgia play a good, old-fashioned, Junkyard Dawg game. I had no doubt either one of those two teams could handle Notre Dame.
BUT, as an alum of both schools, I was deeply disappointed to see the poor sportsmanship exhibited by BOTH teams throughout that game.
I mean, go ahead, play a good, hard, SEC-caliber, physical game. But between plays, act like you got some good, Southern upbringing. The whole rest of the country is watching. For God’s sake, have a little pride and act like decent folks, boys.
That goes for the rest of ya’ll, too.
uga fan
December 3rd, 2012
8:27 pm
I am shocked that the Bama fans are posting any comments. I did not think they could read or write after earning their degree !!!!
Gay dawg
December 3rd, 2012
8:27 pm
You still have to live in backwards northern Alabama… But congrats on all the wins. I hope your souls were worth it
bamaguy
December 3rd, 2012
8:28 pm
You had guys diving to the ground to avoid tackling Lacy so I guess that hit on your QB does seem a bit harsh. Especially since your D was playing like they were having a pillow fight at a tickle party
kingdaddy
December 3rd, 2012
8:29 pm
Contractor
Thanks bro. I watched the whole game and loved every minute of it. What an exciting ending. We had our shots, but Bama plays 60 minutes football. That’s why they won. Yeah, there was holding, but it was on both sides, same for the pass-int. non-calls. As far as I’m concerned, Dial should have been called for a PF, but also Murray should have his head in the game as well as having it on a swivel, lol. To be honest, if Murray was paying attention better, he wouldn’t have gotten hit like he did. Dial may have still gone after him, lol, but it wouldn’t have been so ugly. Most UGA fans probably feel similar. …
I’m pulling for all SEC TEAMS IN BOWLS and can’t wait to see USC bodyslam GTs FANS TO THE CARPET! NERDS THOUGHT THEIR BEATDOWNS WERE OVER, LMAOFF. One more “butt-hurt” coming for the bugs. The anticipation will ruin their Christmas…(or holidays for you pc idiots…)
Pete Van Weird
December 3rd, 2012
8:30 pm
Bammerhammer yellowjammer whatever thehell….your guys held all night long, took cheap shots on defenseless players directly in the line of sight of your officials, yes…your officials, who never have and never will call anything fearing the wrath of Saban, and so take your shoddy BCS trinkets because until there is a playoff, you are still and always will be mythical national champions
Texas Tea
December 3rd, 2012
8:30 pm
Pitbull,
How many points is a three point basket worth? Yeah, academics at Georgia are a high priority I see.
Roll Turd Roll
December 3rd, 2012
8:30 pm
What about a suspension for the referee who was standing in plain sight of this dangerous cheap shot and did nothing…….???? What excuse has he offered…???
Gay dawg
December 3rd, 2012
8:31 pm
Bama probably does not even offer same sex partner benefits
OkieDawg
December 3rd, 2012
8:33 pm
Collectively, the Bama folks have the lowest self-esteem of any statehood in America. They constantly complain about Brando, Danielson and Lundquist, officials, etc. not giving them respect. Well, I guess their lack of self-esteem is deserved. They should just be proud of their team and forget about all the lack of respect. The only thing that the state of Alabama has that any other state would want is their coach or team. No one would want their obeisity rate, their poverty rate, their educational system, their HS drop out rate, their politicians, that other university that finished last in the SEC West, their median income level, their infrastructure, their illiteracy rate, etc. etc..
Alabama just quit complaining and play in your NC game.
bamaguy
December 3rd, 2012
8:33 pm
L
WestOfAthens
December 3rd, 2012
8:33 pm
This is for the trolling Bama “fan” that is clueless.
What closet were you in? Points were a premium and both teams slugged it out for 60 minutes. Equal missed opportunities, and the call was a fumble,not an interception, although it was the latter, equally,either way, you proved yourself, moron