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
antfederalist
December 5th, 2012
9:00 pm
Poke in the eye ala uf a few years back. Yea, quality sportsmanship.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ze9FrbEBp9k
BAMAJohn
December 5th, 2012
10:40 pm
Murray was not defenseless, He was on the field of play, meaning if you are on the field you will get hit. Murray had on pads and a helmet, why, he was playing D 1 football in the SEC, players get hit! The opponent was BAMA, the others teams QB will get hit! therefore they wear pads and helmets!
Bama fan in Georgia
December 5th, 2012
11:54 pm
As Orlando Dawg said “Ogletrees’ hit on AJ was called…” However, the SEC is not reviewing that
play for possible punishment of Ogletree. How does that work? The player only gets punished
if the Ref missed the call? Using Orlando Dawg’s logic if there is punishment for Alabama’s player
there should also be punishment for Ogletree.
your dad
December 6th, 2012
12:36 am
crimson 1 you are a GD fool and I’m sure a pussy !!
Toothpick
December 6th, 2012
12:57 am
As Jack Lambert, linebacker for the Pittsburg Steelers so eloquently addressed this subject, “if quarterbacks don’t want to get hit, let them wear dresses”!
Michael Odom
December 6th, 2012
9:02 am
Bombastic Bammer Hammer: You are a POS, who is full of sh–. I don’t usually take the time to respond to white trash, but your comments are too much. Bama was penalized twice in the game, whereas they averaged 2 holds per play. The H judge was practically wearing houndstouth. Bama gets the kind of favoritism UNC’s b-ball team does in the ACC. Your comments are ridiculous.
smlarsen
December 6th, 2012
9:37 am
The two oldest people that watch alabama football spoke up on the last page and said the hit was cheap and that Dial should be penalized. Oagletree won’t be because it wasn’t a malicious hit it was part of a “football play”. Any of you people remember what that means. Maybe a player that is part of the play. Yea Murray may have been “moving toward the play” but he was walking towards a play as it was ending and Dial steps up and smashes him H to H. For you people saying he led with his shoulder are you serious. That Big crimson thing with the number on the side and the face mask is actually called a helmet. Get glasses or a life your choice im sure they sell them out there with a 60 day money back garuntee. I dont no what play yall watched but the eldest people in this blog spoke and I appreciate thier honesty and integrity and wish all you blood thirsty losers could get on board with you fans with class. Thats what you lack class and integrity.
Tide Rising
December 6th, 2012
9:53 am
“However, the SEC is not reviewing that
play for possible punishment of Ogletree. How does that work? The player only gets punished
if the Ref missed the call?”
Yeah. That is indeed a mystery. There was no question that Alec Ogletree led with the head in a full head to head contact play. Dial led with the shoulder. So how the hell is it that Ogletree is not being reviewed for suspension??? The fact that the refs caught his cheap shot shouldn’t have a damn thing to do with whether or not he gets suspended. Ogletree should be reviewed as well if Dial is going to be reviewed.
Tide Rising
December 6th, 2012
9:57 am
“Oagletree won’t be because it wasn’t a malicious hit it was part of a “football play”. ”
Bullshyte!!! Ogletree’s hit was head to head on a defenseless qb who had already released the ball. In Dial’s case there was an exchange of possession and Bama was returning the int. It was a live football play and Murray was an eligible defender to be blocked. Good God you dawg fans are damn stupid. You’re as damn stupid as your defense was weak against the power of the Alabama running game. Quit being sore losers and blaming everything on one play.
smlarsen
December 6th, 2012
11:51 am
Ok Tide rising where is the Youtube video of that hit because I sure can’t find one. And why? Because it was not a malicious hit he got to McCarron directly after releasing the ball. Dial saw an oppertunity to smash a defensless, not even mention non part of the play, Murray and not only took it but LED WITH HIS HELMET. Look at the video you moron its actually at the top of the page if you have failed to see it. What makes first contact? Their heads.
dawg
December 6th, 2012
7:51 pm
I thought it was a pretty good game overall. Cheap shots on both sides of the field guys. Some were called and some werent. In my opinion the worst call was the phantom interference call in the end zone on UGA when the ball was 16 miles over the receivers head and our guy didnt touch him anyway.
UA simply killed us on the line of scrimmage. D did all they could for as long as they could. 2 great teams played an awesome game. Too bad we are in the same conference….far as Im concerned that was the NC. Roll Tide beat the Catholics.
BamaBrute
December 6th, 2012
10:48 pm
Hell, ain’t no use to bad mouth Ga/Bama cause it ain’t a-gonna help, but any borderline hit is hard to judge. Best we just wait till next time and settle it like friends ought to…..by kicking the hell outta each other the next time we get on the field together. We both play grown man football and no quarter given.It’s our redneck ways. Next time dawgs…bring it to hell on!!
wtfiswrongwithbamer
December 7th, 2012
11:22 am
What game where you watching bamer fans…STOP IT…You already are douche bags now you are looking like assholes as well. Bottom line the hit was wrong and he deserves to be at the house period. Anything else and the SEC might as well be WWE. #scripted
Daniel
December 9th, 2012
10:42 am
“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.”
Towers, do you even read this crap when you write it? Was out of the play? Then explain why the hell he’s running toward the ALABAMA bench, moron! Also, I’ve watched the video 20 times now and have yet to see the part where Dial “left his feet”. His foot was planted to the ground the entire time!
Crimson Tide
December 9th, 2012
8:59 pm
Dawg fans jealous of The University of Alabama! Can you blame them? ROLL TIDE !
Samford Grad
December 10th, 2012
5:15 pm
The real controversy should be the lack of holding calls on Bama! No wonder they run the ball so well, they hold on every play but never get flagged for it!
mambo
December 10th, 2012
7:18 pm
Go Fighting Irish!!