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
Buckeye
December 3rd, 2012
5:12 pm
I’m offended by Glory Glory
Maybe the ACLU can do something for me
someone who knows
December 3rd, 2012
5:13 pm
bad dawg, you’ll have to schedule Bama to play them again…your east run is over…maybe yall can take out your frustrations on North Texas…after Clemson beats that behind…
NCAA Official
December 3rd, 2012
5:13 pm
Officials will miss calls during the course of a season and some high profile games such as this one was, but to miss something as flagrant as this was unacceptable. I promise you the officiating crew will be recieve possible suspensions and penalities from not making such calls as these. I personally know the game was not officiated with the best SEC officials on the field, but it is what it is!
All sides need to stop pissing and moaning back and forth at each other, you are doing nothing but to tarnish the best game ever played in the history of the SEC Championship. Either team could had won the game!
Here is what is ironic; Nick Saban defends UGA in the BCS bowl selection. That speaks well over your complaining!
Great game!
JB
December 3rd, 2012
5:14 pm
The throw down from Ogltree to the Tech guy WAS NOT AGAINST THE RULES. The hit on Murray was.
sportsmed
December 3rd, 2012
5:14 pm
Hits like the one Dial put on Murray have paralyzed or killed too many athletes. The game is dangerous as it is, but a cheap shot like this could have been a career-ender for Murray OR Dial. Yes, Tide fans, the Dawgs got away with a cheap shot with the eye-poke; he should have been ejected for that one, but there is NO comparison of the potential for life-threating injury between that undisciplied display of temper and the hit that Dial put on a stationary and defenseless player. Having dealt with enough concussions in my career, I am more than ready to see HARSH penalties imposed for helmet contact. ( I wonder how long this practice would continue if the face masks were removed????)
jvillebil
December 3rd, 2012
5:15 pm
Laugh all you want Bama fans, you know it was dirty and you won’t be laughing so much if the SEC has any backbone and suspends him for the BCS championship game. I’m pulling for Bama even though I’m a UGA grad because I support the SEC and the southern teams. If you or he was a REAL man he would own up and take his medicince like a MAN!
Fair and Balanced
December 3rd, 2012
5:15 pm
The game ended with another Richt time management issue. Murray was signaling he wanted to spike it (too bad he is smarter than his coach). Also, look close at the last play, even without the tip, that ball was not going to get into the end zone. Just another excuse by Rich.
Mike S.
December 3rd, 2012
5:16 pm
@dealarue, the Ogletree hit wasnt anything like this. The only reason Godhigh left his feet on that is because he weighs a buck 70 or so. Guys sling players to the ground like that all the time. A 300+ pounder leaving his feet to launch himself at a QBs head from the blind side is a completely different things.
Buckeye
December 3rd, 2012
5:17 pm
dogs,
Maybe Murray ( being Murray in big games Murray) had that twiddle-butt trot knocked out of his system. At the same time, the bobble head head bob was hopefully straitened out.
It just hit me. Duh.
I can make millions!
The Murray being Murray in big games Murray Bobble Head!
Just in time for little pups everywhere stocking stuffers!
Mike S.
December 3rd, 2012
5:18 pm
@Fair and Balanced – what do you mean looking at the replay? So you can just automatically tell a ball wont make the end zone if a big paw doesnt get in the way? And if they spiked the ball and Bama got set for them, what then? You’d probably be crying that Richt should have gone ahead and run a play before Bama got set.
JB
December 3rd, 2012
5:19 pm
I don’t think the real feeling of most Bama tickets holders who don’t wear Jiffy lube hats would be like on here today. These are Band jumpers from a distance.
Brick
December 3rd, 2012
5:19 pm
to the first Bama poster, the fumble was hard to tell, but the int hit the ground, so by you saying it was definitely an INT it lets me know you don’t have afrigging clue about the TD?Fumble.
As for as the hit on AJ, it was part of the play, he led with his shoulder and helmets hit, AJ turned around and cried to the ref who called a PF, we were penalized. On the hit on Murray, he was out of the play, it was a cheap shot on the other teams starting qb in a game that was very much in doubt, and he wasn’t penalized. Not once did the refs call blocking in the back that was happening the entire 2nd half on our LB, nor was one holding call made against Bama. It was a good game, great game till the end, but the shot on Murray wasn’t part of the game and was by a coward, why else would a guy who has 100+ lbs on another player have to hit him when the smaller player isn’t looking?
Supreme Grand Poobah
December 3rd, 2012
5:19 pm
Let’s start a Crayons for Crimson Tide fans drive.
Dawgsgone
December 3rd, 2012
5:19 pm
I love the Dawgs and hated to see them lose Saturday night but in the second half we could not stop their running game and that was the difference UGA played well and scored 28 points which in itself is rare considering how well Alabama’s defense has played all year. Alabama did what they had to do after getting behind, no panic just good football and they won the game on both lines, offense and defense. However anyone who says that hit did not call for a penalyt is as stupid and the others on here saying UGA outplayed Bama and “the refs were against us.” Man up, we lost but that was at least as dirty as the play Ogletree made and we were penalized and all you in bred, trailer trash, sister humping, tree poisioning, toothless morons should at least have the ba–s to call it what is was: a dirty play that shoul;d have drawn a flag. Would it have made a difference in who won or lost? Probably not but anyone with with more that a fifth grade education (whoops, that probably eliminates most of you idiots on here) should be able to see it for what is was. I agree, the plays made by UGA players, eye gouging and whatever the other one was should be reviewed and if suspension is justified, DOI IT. But stop acting like this was not a dirty play and for Gods sake don’t act like if the situation was reversed you guys wouldn’t be doing ht same thing. Look at AJ after Ogletree hit him, he was patting his chin and begging for a flag before the play was over and he got it which was the right thing to do. But PLEASE stop pretending all of your players and fans are fine upstanding citizens. We all know better.
bubba
December 3rd, 2012
5:20 pm
Now entering Alabama. Set your watch back one hour and twenty years.
Don in DC
December 3rd, 2012
5:20 pm
Sadly, the issue involving the hit on Murray – sportsmanship – seems to be lacking on the blog comments.
Buckeye
December 3rd, 2012
5:21 pm
dogs,
Bama won.
You lost.
Stop crying until after Lady Gym dog season.
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
5:22 pm
No it was not a legal hit. Not sure if Murray was Defenseless. He was Clueless for sure. He was looking at the Bama returning the INT and moving towards the sidelines so he could make a play if it was needed.He should have been looking to get hit. I think he has played football long enough to know the QB is a target on TO’s.
An honest question
December 3rd, 2012
5:22 pm
If indeed (big if) the refs always cheat the Dawgs UGA fans, why do you think that is?
Billy Ryckman
December 3rd, 2012
5:22 pm
Alabama got most of the calls. The refs were clearly Bama fans. However, thats not why we lost. In fact the hit on Murray led to the blocked field goal. Even Saban knows that he played at least the #2 team in the nation on Sat. GA was coached up and ready. The hit on Murray was one of the most flagrant fouls in the history of college football.
JB
December 3rd, 2012
5:22 pm
Bama fans are PO’ed because their fannies were puckerd up for 60 minutes vs watching Hee Haw reruns on their smart phones from the half on.
CHDawg
December 3rd, 2012
5:22 pm
dealarue, was the player hurt? He certainly wasn’t defenseless. Thornton was injured by two Tech players’ illegal chop block on him. What are your thoughts on chop blocks? Should they also suspend the Tech O line for actually injuring a Georgia player this year, in addition to the player who was hurt last year by Tech chop blocks?
To me
December 3rd, 2012
5:23 pm
Watching the reply a couple of times the running back appeared to be heading toward Murray’s left and about the time Murray saw him is when he got blocked. It was helmet to helmet but if Murray was moving to make a tackle he was still in the play.
Supreme Grand Poobah
December 3rd, 2012
5:23 pm
Honest Question – I guess our bribes aren’t as good as Bama’s?
Buckeye
December 3rd, 2012
5:23 pm
bubba,
There’s never been s better spokesman for the dogs than you, Bubba.
Beast from the East
December 3rd, 2012
5:24 pm
After I saw that Murray was ok, I died laughing at the replay when they showed it in slow motion. Murray glanced over a split second before the boom was lowered and his eyes got as big as baseballs. Check it out in the video.
That said, it was a cheap shot but I don’t think he should be suspended. Maybe the ref for not throwing a flag?
David Willoughby
December 3rd, 2012
5:25 pm
Reminded me of the Warren Sapp play a few years ago. Attempting to take the QB out and inflict some pain while doing. If a Georgia player had done it, I would admit he was wrong too. I speculate that most of the Fans and Media that ask stupid questions or comments on Blogs have never played.
jaxdawgfan
December 3rd, 2012
5:26 pm
There was poor sportsmanship on both sides (see RJ’s video clip near top) but I didn’t see the eye-poked player being helped off the field afterward nor does the finger appear to have actually made it to the eye.
Don in DC… right on!
JB
December 3rd, 2012
5:26 pm
Buckeye………….you really have a fetish for Dawgs as you live on here. Isn’t there a bar in Atlanta with some nerdy, freaky OS fans to entertain you?
Buckeye
December 3rd, 2012
5:26 pm
And the Spikes eye gouge on that punk freshman spitter Ealey was the second most egregious
I vote for the Oregon Duck ( now Buccaneer) cold-cocking the other team’s player after the game.
The biggest blown call of the night
December 3rd, 2012
5:26 pm
Was the faux tipped pass by Georgia that nullified a pass interference call on Georgia. Next play, Georgia is in the endzone after a blocked punt.
This play may have been the rudest but the one mentioned above had the biggest effect on the game.
John
December 3rd, 2012
5:26 pm
That eye gauge by Dawson was worse than the hit Dial put on Murray. Dial’s hit can be argued as football play. Eye gauging is not. I recall UGA fans up at arms at Brandon Spikes for the same thing. This was more blatant!
jvillebil
December 3rd, 2012
5:26 pm
My dad was a coach and if one of our players did that he would have found himself on the bench for the remainder of the game. Funny thing is all of these Alabama fans talking all this trash about it was just a hard it, if they had a son and he got a cheap shot like the one Dial put on Murray to their boy and he ended up with a broke neck, they’d be loading up their pickups with their cuzins and redneck brothers and going with their shotguns for some revenge.
Roll Tide
December 3rd, 2012
5:27 pm
In the SEC football is not a contact sport it is a collision sport. Get over it. Ya get hit, ya fall down, ya get back up. Look at the dudes in hockey who get nailed into the boards and are right back up.
jaxdawgfan
December 3rd, 2012
5:27 pm
JB – Alabama doesn’t have smart phones. They don’t have any smart phone operators.
Beast from the East
December 3rd, 2012
5:28 pm
jaxdawgfan
December 3rd, 2012
5:26 pm
There was poor sportsmanship on both sides (see RJ’s video clip near top) but I didn’t see the eye-poked player being helped off the field afterward nor does the finger appear to have actually made it to the eye.
Don in DC… right on!
——————
I seem to remember a total outrage over the same eye-gouging by Brandon Spikes a few years ago. Most Dawgs wanted him publicly executed for it.
Still feel the same way about your own?
Weak Sauce
December 3rd, 2012
5:28 pm
What a bunch of whiners…ball was coming back his way and he was in the area to make a tackle…get over it. And refs gave the edge to Alabama? BS…the so called pass that was tipped was a huge call that would have put Alabama at the 10 YL with 1st & goal.
Enjoy the Capital One Bowl Dawgs
BombasticBammerHammer
December 3rd, 2012
5:28 pm
You Dumb Puppy fans do realize that UGA had 314 yards with 1 minute 8 seconds left to Bamas 512 right ?
Lets see the tipped pass that never was changed the game by 10-14 points
The non call on the T.D. that put UGA up 28-25 ……Clearly a blatant obvious hold on Mosley.
350 yards rushing …..37 minutes time of possession vs 22 minutes……
We beat the hell out of Georgia , I had gained some respect for you guys until your wussie admin. piled on with this B.S.
Alabama 23 SEC titles and 14 National Titles.
We are the GREATEST OF ALL TIME BABY………..
Buckeye
December 3rd, 2012
5:28 pm
jb,
I am working on my doctorate. Topic: Delusion.
dogs provide the perfect research subjects
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
5:28 pm
CHDawg
December 3rd, 2012
5:22 pm
dealarue, was the player hurt? He certainly wasn’t defenseless. Thornton was injured by two Tech players’ illegal chop block on him. What are your thoughts on chop blocks? Should they also suspend the Tech O line for actually injuring a Georgia player this year, in addition to the player who was hurt last year by Tech chop blocks?
===========================================
You will have to show proof of that. You have a YouTube link for PROOF?
No? I didn’t think so. What year did that happen?
Georgia Dawg
December 3rd, 2012
5:29 pm
It is funny that you hear nothing from Alabama all year becuase of their “Strong” schedule but as soon as they have to limp out of a game, they all come out of the woodwork complaining and they all have to take cheap shots at UGA fans and coaches. Some actually go after someones religion. For people who call UGA fans classless, you guys are pulling your share too. I know all bama fans are not like that but this whole comment section is out of control. The hit on Murray was un called for and if you dont see that I feel sorry for you. Imagine if that was your 8 year old playing ball and some one came up and did that. There is no man up for that. The hit on AJ was no where near as bad as Murrays. If you look at it, Olgetree hit him in the chest with his shoulder and then AJ’s head hit his helmet. Nothing dirty about it. But if that got flagged, so should Murrays. No argument. Yes you would still have the ball but I do not think they would have got any points that drive. To that person that said that it was not a fumble but a TD, you need your eyes checked. That was not even close! The incomplete pass? Are you serious, it hit the ground! Lets talk about all the missed block in the back calls, or the Pass Interfenrence calls! ‘Bama was lucky to leave that stadium with win. The Refs helped! Yes ‘Bama ran for 350 + yards and that was terrible defense by UGA. But all the ‘Bama fans need to stop whinning. Your team, coach and fans are not God. You guys are not the holy grail of football, so stop acting like it. You call UGA thugs but I promise you I saw a lot of thugs wearing marroon Sat. Get off your high horse and I will get off my soap box.
JB
December 3rd, 2012
5:30 pm
Roll Tide…….You just showed that Bammer education. Helmet to helmet hit above the shoulder is a penalty. Don’t make yourself look any dumber on here.
Big Red Dawg 81
December 3rd, 2012
5:30 pm
BombasticBammerHammer is right, if not for the refs Georgia would have won by 14-17 points!
bubba
December 3rd, 2012
5:30 pm
Thanks Buckeye. If you want a bowl this year you can go to the bathroom.
AdMan
December 3rd, 2012
5:30 pm
I love all the BAMA fans trying to justify the hit on Murry. It was a cheap shot prue and simple.Even the ESPN crew before and in the studio agreed it was a cheap hit. The Bama fans can’t understand that it won’t change the outcome of the game. In thier mind Bama can do no wrong. Most of the posts on here are from people who claim to be Bama fans but never attended the school because they were too dumb to get in. The majority of the students that go to Alabama from the state of Georgia go there only because they could get in Georgia……Bammer is a joke… I’ll bet he could spell the word class if you gave him the ass……let’s face it fans like him like to win at all cost even if it comes down to breaking the rules. I would have loved to see him when Bama was losing to La Monroe a couple years ago…I’ll bet he even had an excuse for that…but then again he might have still been trying to walk cause he sure posts like a little boy….what a tool he is!He doesn’t understand that everyone is laughing at him behind his back!
Guy Martin
December 3rd, 2012
5:31 pm
I’ve watched this replay numerous times. It was indeed a vicious hit. However, it was a BLOCK. The QB had just thrown an interception, and at the moment the ball changed hands, he became a defensive player. Whether he looked the part of a tackler, or not, he really was in position to at least get in the way of the ball carrier. I don’t know what replay everyone seems to be watching, but the ball carrier fell forward to within a few yards of where Murray was blocked. If he had been allowed to continue forward, he could have been involved in the tackle. If the hit had been made on any player other than the QB, this devastating block would have made all the highlight reels in a positive way. The only question in my mind is if a potential tackler is “protected” from any helmet to helmet contact. I keep reading and hearing the phrase, “helpless player”. Maybe the Georgia coaches need to teach their QBs that if they throw an interception, either get off the field, or put their head on a swivel if they’re going to stay involved in the play. I believe Michigan’s QB was a little shaken up in the first game when he was involved in a tackle after he threw an interception. QBs do make tackles (or at least try) after they throw a pick.
ga gator
December 3rd, 2012
5:31 pm
Buckeye; what is the delusion? That you woke up from a dream where you beat an SEC team?
DawgFan
December 3rd, 2012
5:31 pm
Bombastic, you must have watched a different game…everything you said was completely opposite of the truth…hopefully you don’t have any tree poison in your garage.
JB
December 3rd, 2012
5:32 pm
LS who……………………LOL……….
dewnsav
December 3rd, 2012
5:32 pm
STUNNED at the classless comments about this hit…Bama won the game fair and square…no crying here…I think the ref’s missed several calls BOTH ways,..this was textbook “targeting”…and a CHEAP shot to boot…we’ll see if the SEC is serious about this…and I would say the same thing if a UGA player had done this…I stated it that night and I will repeat, he will be suspended for this, and rightly so…go dogs