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
The Bear
December 3rd, 2012
10:06 pm
@kingdaddy yes he was an open target but the hit could have been executed in a different way. But I am tired of hearing all the excuses from some UGA fans. Bama gave UGA a lot of opportunity’s that were not exploited.
Georgia Chokes Again
December 3rd, 2012
10:07 pm
What else is new besides a new set of excuses. Capital One Bowl Bound Baby ! Enjoy your moral victory !
Coffee Bluff DAWG
December 3rd, 2012
10:10 pm
jeffkemp,
Do you read much over there in AL?
Steve Shaw, SEC head official already determined it was a called missed by the refs. Just is case you haven’t followed FB for the last 30 yrs head injuries are serious and protecting the QB is a priority for the refs.
The Bear
December 3rd, 2012
10:12 pm
What I took from this game was Mark Richt seems to have reached the end of his rope with his decision making. I thought the call not to spike the call was the right call, Bama was on our heels. If the ball does not get tipped at the line who knows what happens? Yea UGA go ahead and run the best coach you have had away.
bubba4dawgs
December 3rd, 2012
10:13 pm
Probably no one on this blog remembers many many years ago back in the 50’s when a player Darwin Holt, from Alabama playing for Bear Bryant was playing Ga. Tech on Grant Field in Atlanta. Tech’s player, Chick Granning was fielding a punt and while looking up for the ball, Darwin Holt blasted Granning with an uppercut right under the chin using his elbow and broke his jaw and knocked out several teeth. Holt did it with full force coming completely off the ground. Needless to say, Granning was hospitalized for several days. Wanna hear the funny part…..Bear Bryant took up for Holt and of course no punishment was even given. This seems like de ja vu! Oh well, they teach’em good in Ala-bam-dammy!
Regardless, I do say that Alabama won this game fair and square! They kept our defense on the field and simply wore them out. This is the same thing that happened against LSU last year. The Dawgs hopefully learned a lesson……uh, again!
Stephen
December 3rd, 2012
10:14 pm
Wow! Had not seen the video of the UGA player poking the Bama player in the eye! I hope that guy gets suspended for Georgia’s big bowl!
Saban to hire Richt
December 3rd, 2012
10:15 pm
Richt to be QB coach for Saban in 2013. Roll Tide Mark Richt ! Welcome Aboard !
Saban to hire Richt
December 3rd, 2012
10:16 pm
@Stephen – Georgia is not in a BIG BOWL !
The Bear
December 3rd, 2012
10:19 pm
Here is an easy way for any UGA fan to make a ton of money. Write a book on the conspiracy of college football against UGA and just make it a listing of excuses. The book should be about 30 to 40 pages.
Georgia Running Game
December 3rd, 2012
10:20 pm
Disappointing ! Alabama Running Game – Very impressive ! Guess that was the ref’s fault too ! Roll Tide !
Nick Fairley
December 3rd, 2012
10:20 pm
Clean hit, nice and clean.
ReaderRick
December 3rd, 2012
10:20 pm
UGA players take dirty shots all the time. Just watch. But they can whine when it happens to them.
J Moore
December 3rd, 2012
10:21 pm
Hey Georgia, when you get in the bowl, look for the Tidy Man.
Casmithjr@hotmail.com
December 3rd, 2012
10:21 pm
You are an idiot, Festus.
National Championship Game
December 3rd, 2012
10:22 pm
Georgia vs Notre Dame ! NOT ! ROLL TIDE ROLL !
Wild Dog`
December 3rd, 2012
10:22 pm
You red=necks (Rednecks and Alabama is redundant) are not worried about anyone getting hurt by your stupid actions. You are just teed off because you got caught. I don’t understand what you are crying about you wounderful QD. You people need to get a life .Half of you can’t Spell your state name and the balance of you spell it AL, Good luch in your next game. I know you know that the refs will be leaning toward the Irish. No joke wait and see.
boots
December 3rd, 2012
10:23 pm
I have lost all respect for Chuck Oliver. The guy gets on the radio today and makes it sound like CMR apologized to him for Oliver’s comments being out of line. No class. Seriously, between bashing Georgia all week and then showing up himself at the press conference after the game, 680 should pull him. Was he drunk? Not sure, but there is no excuse for his behavior. Shameful.
Casmithjr@hotmail.com
December 3rd, 2012
10:24 pm
Yeah, Roll Tide, alright. Toilet paper roll. You guys are rancid bunch of Goobers. (Get a smart friend to explain it to you.)
kingdaddy
December 3rd, 2012
10:25 pm
@The Bear
Hey bro, that was a great game which I enjoyed. (Except for the final score) You are a really smart and nice guy who I have always respected. Doesn’t mean we always agree, we don’t need to. I don’t know where you get 50% of our fans are complaining. There’s a small handful of them in denial, but for the most, we thought it was a fair hard fought 60 minutes. I’m pulling for Bama to crush ND.
Just wish so many of YOUR FANS weren’t in here being a PRC. (Not to be confused with a PRC 25, our outdated mobile FM radio in the field) …
Good Luck in the Big Dance bro…
2013 Georgia Recruits
December 3rd, 2012
10:26 pm
.
Flipping commitments to Alabama in February. They want to win championships
.
rooster
December 3rd, 2012
10:26 pm
@bubba4dawgs: You got the story right about the Holt-Graning incident, except that the game was played on 1961 at Legion Field in Birmingham, where Bama played many home games back in the sixties.
Bryant never disciplined Holt. The following year, a Tech player “ran into” an Auburn player who was on all fours at the end of a play, clipping him on the side of the headgear with a knee. Dodd immediately suspended the Tech player.
Solomon
December 3rd, 2012
10:30 pm
The player won’t be suspended. Nicholas Lou “Nick” Saban won’t allow it. He will back down the SEC officials and have them fired if they cross him!! Hey I know what to do to settle this. Lets have UGA’s Murray and Quinton Dial compete in a spelling test. I doubt Dial has a GPA at bama. Also heard a couple of the Alabama Jr. players are considering staying at Bama instead of going Pro. The reason? Too much of a pay cut. That’s why Cam Newton is unhappy in the NFL!
aladawg
December 3rd, 2012
10:30 pm
To all you back woods ignorant no good alabama morons Your mothers must have worked in houses of ill repute and slept with pigs. That SOB could have hurt Murray really bad and you ignorant retard simpletons run your mouth that we should tell our quarter back to not throw interceptions. The state of alabama is full of scum just filthy scum bags and that includes you sisters and especially your mothers. I hope ND whips your scum bag asses good.
bill Tetley
December 3rd, 2012
10:31 pm
Bear Bryant is in hell, lol
Georgia Defensive Line
December 3rd, 2012
10:31 pm
Georgia defensive line was a bunch of punks that got steam rolled Saturday night. Nebraska game plan will be simple. Run it up the middle all night long. This was suppose to be your best team in 30 years ? REALLY ?
kingdaddy
December 3rd, 2012
10:33 pm
@The Bear
Also, there are a boatload of Tech posters in here pretending to be Bama fans just to push our buttons. I’m sure you’ve noticed, but most of the “real ” Bama fans don’t seem to mind. We didn’t have this much carping before the game between Bama/UGA. Maybe you should tell them to stfu!!!
The Bear
December 3rd, 2012
10:35 pm
@kingdaddy same to you. Just talking about the posts on here and those folks know who they are. I thought it was a hell of a game! Richt went with his gut feeling and I agreed with it. I thought it was the right decision, but the play got wrecked by CJ Mosley. GA and Bama played a game for the ages.
The Bear
December 3rd, 2012
10:37 pm
And UGA is getting screwed not going to a BCS game and I would say the same for Bama if they lost as well.
The Bear
December 3rd, 2012
10:41 pm
Both HC’s made bad clock management decisions. There were calls missed on both sides. It boiled down to who made the last big play.
kingdaddy
December 3rd, 2012
10:42 pm
Bear 10:35
AGREED…
Its starting to get ugly in here and I don’t feel like babysitting tonight. Might go to the Bravos blog for awhile. Once again, Congratulations on one of the best games I’ve seen in a good while…
The Bear
December 3rd, 2012
10:45 pm
@kingdaddy take care!
Go Dogs
Alabama - The Greatest Of All Time
December 3rd, 2012
10:46 pm
A victory over No. 1 Notre Dame in this year’s national championship game would make Alabama the best football team of the BCS era.
The Crimson Tide are attempting to win their third BCS title in four seasons, which would be a remarkable accomplishment given the fact that they have advanced to these championship games from the SEC conference.
Going through the SEC undefeated or with just one loss has been difficult over the last decade because the quality of the conference is so great.
The last six BCS champions have been SEC teams, and the conference is 8-1 all-time in BCS championship games (the only loss was in 2011, when Alabama defeated LSU).
Head coach Nick Saban has done an amazing job of recruiting and coaching during the program’s current period of championship success.
All of his Crimson Tide teams that have advanced to the national title game have featured different star players carrying the team to success. Saban has rebuilt his team year after year, and Alabama’s success hasn’t declined at all despite losing so many great players to the NFL.
If Alabama can end Notre Dame’s impressive run to the school’s first national championship since 1988, the Crimson Tide would win their third BCS title, which would move them ahead of LSU and Florida for the most ever.
A win would also give Alabama back-to-back BCS titles, which has never been done before. Florida won two BCS championships in a three-year period (Alabama is the only other team to do this), but no school has won back-to-back or three out of four yet.
Alabama can also become the second team, along with the Gators, to be undefeated in BCS championship games among teams with multiple BCS titles.
This year’s BCS title game is the Crimson Tide’s fourth BCS bowl appearance in the last five years, and the school’s third appearance in a BCS championship game, which is the second most in history.
Winning a third BCS title in four years would make Alabama a dynasty and the top team of the BCS era in college football.
It’s rare that we see this kind of success for such a long period of time, but Saban has done a legendary job motivating his players despite all the success that they have previously achieved.
The Crimson Tide have an opportunity to become an even bigger part of college football history than they already are with a win over the Fighting Irish on January 7. Alabama would become the best school of the BCS era with another national title game triumph.
Al
December 3rd, 2012
10:47 pm
This just means that this player is in the same class act as Nick Farley and those of you sounding off so cheaply must also be Auburn fans
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
10:50 pm
@Al…… you forgot UGa’s Ben Jones as Dirty too.
UGA24-7
December 3rd, 2012
10:56 pm
Does anybody on here have a job, or family or something that may at least resemble a life..I’ve seen bama make dirty plays,oh and also auburn, florida, georgia tech, and UGA. IT HAPPENS BY EVERY TEAM…your team is dirty thugs…no your teams is dirty thugs….just reading the blog i hope it is all females posting cause cause everyone is bleeding and grouchy…
hypocritedawgs
December 3rd, 2012
10:56 pm
Waaa Waaa Waaa Tattle tell Crybabies Georgia fans and coaches are crybabies !!!!!!!!!
Waaa Waaa Waaa Tattle tell Crybabies Georgia fans and coaches are crybabies !!!!!!!!!
Waaa Waaa Waaa Tattle tell Crybabies Georgia fans and coaches are crybabies !!!!!!!!!
Waaa Waaa Waaa Tattle tell Crybabies Georgia fans and coaches are crybabies !!!!!!!!!
Waaa Waaa Waaa Tattle tell Crybabies Georgia fans and coaches are crybabies !!!!!!!!!
Waaa Waaa Waaa Tattle tell Crybabies Georgia fans and coaches are crybabies !!!!!!!!!
Waaa Waaa Waaa Tattle tell Crybabies Georgia fans and coaches are crybabies !!!!!!!!!
Waaa Waaa Waaa Tattle tell Crybabies Georgia fans and coaches are crybabies !!!!!!!!!
Waaa Waaa Waaa Tattle tell Crybabies Georgia fans and coaches are crybabies !!!!!!!!!
I’m gonna tell my mommy I’m gonna tell my mommy
I’m gonna tell my mommy I’m gonna tell my mommy
I’m gonna tell my mommy I’m gonna tell my mommy
I’m gonna tell my mommy I’m gonna tell my mommy
I’m gonna tell my mommy I’m gonna tell my mommy
Boo Hoo Boo Hoo Boo Hoo
Boo Hoo Boo Hoo Boo Hoo
Boo Hoo Boo Hoo Boo Hoo
Boo Hoo Boo Hoo Boo Hoo
Whine baby dogs whine whine whine
Whine baby dogs whine whine whine
Whine baby dogs whine whine whine
Whine baby dogs whine whine whine
See what an embarrassment you are to the conference??????????????????????
ylojkt
December 3rd, 2012
10:56 pm
Watching the game Saturday, with the Alabama players blowing up the puppies with big, vicious, knobberslocking hits, I was laughing so hard I was crying. Watching the puppies players respond with the only class they have (none) and whimpering was just beautiful. And to come in here and read 15 pages of whimpering from dwag fans about how “they just hit us too hard, boo hoo hoo” is just icing on the cake!
Here’s a hint, a$$holes, don’t play dirty against other teams and celebrate it like it’s the best thing ever if you don’t want it to happen to you. And if you feel good about your team doing it, don’t whine when someone does it to them. Bi^*hes!
yellow hammer
December 3rd, 2012
10:57 pm
Sour grapes bull puppies. You choke in big games and tried to talk yourself to a win by intimadation that may work in the east but in the west you have to play big man football. 9 draft picks on D and you gave up 350 rushing. Next year Georgia that’s been your cry since 1980.
yellow hammer
December 3rd, 2012
10:57 pm
Sour grapes bull puppies. You choke in big games and tried to talk yourself to a win by intimadation that may work in the east but in the west you have to play big man football. 9 draft picks on D and you gave up 350 rushing. Next year Georgia that’s been your cry since 1980.
.22
December 3rd, 2012
10:57 pm
One .22 cap to Dials knee might change his attitude. If he isn’t suspended by his coach. The coach might get one too.
The Bear
December 3rd, 2012
10:58 pm
For all you arm chair QB’s let me tell you as a former player it is rough and dirty in the trenches!
UGA24-7
December 3rd, 2012
10:58 pm
NOW THAT I LET THAT OUT I CAN GO BACK TO DOING WHAT I LIKE TO DO….READ ABOUT UGA FOOTBALL…NO OTHERS TEAMS “FANS” OFFEND ME
aladawg
December 3rd, 2012
10:59 pm
This message is to bear, coffee bluff Dawg, Georgia chokes again, stephen, saban to hire Richt, Nick Farley, J Moore, and chuck oliver. I have a Masters Degree in Psychology from Troy State University. And yes, I live in shit hole called alabama (Job) I have never met so many idiots in my life. Don’t believe me, just listen to the paul finebum radio show. Talk about retarded half-wit, idiots and simpletons alabama has sure got tons of them to include the afore mentioned retarted idiot, mongoloids. I hope your mothers are ashamed of you if not she is as stupid as you guys are. alabama is a pure and simple idiot state. Half of you don’t have all your teeth and the ones you do have are stained with all the snuff you use. When time is done all people like you all will wake up in the fires of hell.
hypocritedawgs
December 3rd, 2012
11:01 pm
Dawgs lucky the SEC forced Texas AM to lower tier bowl or they might be playing in the “Tear Jerker Whiny Whine Whine I’M Gonna Tell My Mommy Bowl”
kingdaddy
December 3rd, 2012
11:02 pm
Smart
might as well include all the cheapshot “chop-blocks” delivered by your crappy team. Is it OK to call Tech “crappy”? Maybe you have a better word. If I like it, I’ll use it next time.
BTW PEOPLE, Check out the Heading of this article. Fans are just responding to an article with an opinion. If you don’t like their opinion, don’t read it. Its really not a big deal…
It's Time to Part ways with Mark Richt
December 3rd, 2012
11:03 pm
It’s time for the Dawg Nation to wake up and smell the coffee.
This is the same old crap we see each every year:
- Team loaded with 4 / 5 star recruits
- This year… 9 NFL caliber defensive players alone
- Best tandem of RBs in the country
- Experienced QB
- And this year… an unbelievable weak schedule.
Bad Mizzou team, Bad Ky, Vandy is still Vandy, Ole Miss same as always
Tech is down, Aub in the dumpster, and Tenn couldnt stop a HS team.
plus 3 other non-conf puff cakes.
So what happens?
We play 2 good teams. And GET BLOWN OUT in one, and fluke past the other with 6 turnovers while barely managing 200 yds offense.
And then Alabama. It was a great effort, and of course we’re all proud.
But then again, think about it. We allowed over 500 yds while only gaining 350, they were blowning ‘great’ defense away. We got 7 pts off a blocked FG, they lost 7 on the int in the red zone, and our last drive was against their prevent. This coulda easly been a 20 pt loss.
Don’t be fooled… if we can’t win something this year… we never will with Mark Richt.
It just will never set up any better than this year.
It’s time to part ways
hypocritedawgs
December 3rd, 2012
11:03 pm
aladawg At least the Bammers don’t run around eating vomit, leg humping each other, licking balls and sniffing rear ends like them dawgs.
They also don’t go running to the SEC commissioner crying about calls not going their way.
Crybaby Crybaby
Go tell your mommy Go tell your mommy
Wimper Wimper
Wimper Wimper
Boo Hoo Boo Hoo
LoganvilleDAWG
December 3rd, 2012
11:05 pm
Hey Bammer and Crimson1; both of you are idiots…..go back and date your cousins……thr refs were very bias during the game…..you must of not been watching the game instead you were making out with your cousin!!!!
ouch
December 3rd, 2012
11:05 pm
@It’s Time to Part ways with Mark Richt
Then get the f*ck out you inbred punk.
Rambo Dog
December 3rd, 2012
11:05 pm
Bammer…. You are a little man who probably never has been hit in your life. Those that can’t play the game, live in trailers with their inlaws and holler “Roll Tide”, you know?