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
DawginLex
December 3rd, 2012
6:26 pm
Doesn’t change the outcome of the game. We played our guts out and lost. The team is better. The coaching is much better. Bobo did a great job in 2012. Grantham needs to prove more to me. Next year are all his guys.
Richt and McGarity make a great team and we now take a backseat to no one in the SEC. Yes, we lost and yes it sucks but good lord how can anyone say we haven’t gotten light years better?
Ryan Jackson
December 3rd, 2012
6:27 pm
I would be embarrassed and upset if Mal Moore ever called Mike Slive in reverse roles. One of the many things that seperate our two universities
DawginLex
December 3rd, 2012
6:28 pm
I’m pulling for Bama against ND. Once that 2-3 TD beatdown is over, people will realize that we have a pretty darn good team in Athens
Dutch
December 3rd, 2012
6:29 pm
If the SEC is serious about the safety of players, they’ll send a message and this guy will be sitting at home for the national championship game. It was a cheap shot and is exactly the type of scenario that needs to be addressed – one where the only point of the hit done in that manner was to cause injury.
tigerman
December 3rd, 2012
6:29 pm
someone needs to hit that midget (sadan) and slive in the head ( die you sob”s)ala dirtiest team in america and sec office protects them sad
DawginLex
December 3rd, 2012
6:30 pm
Ryan
McGarity is just doing his job. The refs missed it and it was a point of emphasis for 2012. The crew got to do the game because they were supposedly the best in the conference. They get evaluated just like all employees. Mal Moore would do the same thing if AJ got clocked helmet to helmet. What if AJ got it and it was a concussion and he missed the BCS title game? I guarantee you there would be crowing
GTDog
December 3rd, 2012
6:33 pm
DAWGINLEX: I couldn’t agree more
Ryan Jackson: Whatever
tigerman: Huh?
cadwellnek
December 3rd, 2012
6:33 pm
i like bama but to the idiot that defended that dirty hit, you are the worst kind of stupid and give your school and team a bad name. you also need to see a doctor about your eyes if you couldnt see the ball on the ground. yes 345 yds rushing and you still almost lost the game.
Alex
December 3rd, 2012
6:33 pm
NOW, you dawg fans are saying bama held….? REALLY, is that alll you got…..I guess LSU held your poor little players last year,,,,and Auburn held them the year before….
This is why Athens is one of the worst places to watch a game, you are bad losers…Been to every stadium (not MI or TX) in the SEC, and you guys, win or lose, are poor sports…
pityfull…
hjs
December 3rd, 2012
6:34 pm
Murray’s star went up big time for me. Hope you all enjoyed the big city weekend now go home and chew up some tobaccie and do your cousins. ND will destroy Alabama. Anybody with more than 3 teeth and a 5th grade education would call it what it was…….a disgusting late hit. Sure does give cause to hope we play alabama next year..
UGA = DUMB
December 3rd, 2012
6:34 pm
well dawgs, you lost to the worst Bama team of the last 5…you had the easiest schedule you could ever have, loaded with NFL players…in basically a home game…and you still cannot win?? what the heck is it gonna take?? how about moving over to the ACC…stop embarrassing yourselves and the SEC with your incompetence…
Gene
December 3rd, 2012
6:35 pm
The SEC is cowardly if they don’t suspend the Bama player, but we know that “Brother” Saban is special.
I Could Careless Either Way
December 3rd, 2012
6:35 pm
If this were another lineman, a wide receiver, a running back or any other player this would not be an issue!!!!! The fact is, Murray should have run off the field!!!! Once he thows that interception, HE BECOMES A DEFENSIVE PLAYER!!!!!!!!!! He is no longer a Quarterback once he goes in pursuit of the Alabama player with the ball!!!!! KNOW THE RULES!!!!!!!!!!
Not a Georgia Fan, nor an Alabama Fan!!!!!!!
GIG’EM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! LMAO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Defender
December 3rd, 2012
6:36 pm
That cheap shot on Murray should cost Bama 4 points.
True Bama Fan
December 3rd, 2012
6:36 pm
Look, if you Georgia fans don’t stop this about the cheap shot hit Dial did, we bammer fans are going to come over there and poison your trees and marry your sisters instead of our own sisters. We don’t have anything else to live for except our bammer football team cause we live in Alerbamer. We can’t help it we are stupid. Inbreeding will do that.
Wah...Wah....WAAAAAAAHHHHHHHH........
December 3rd, 2012
6:37 pm
At Alabama we play BIG BOY FOOTBALL, not old man football…..Tell Murray, Richt, and McGarity to grow a pair…..quit crying, we whooped your tails……and get over it………ROLL TIDE ROLL! WE ARE THE SEC CHAMPIONS and you get to go to the (big whoop) Capital One Bowl……real national champion calibre you are……..
hit a single
December 3rd, 2012
6:37 pm
What they need to do is review the whole game. The roughing of the Alabma QB was a joke. The white hat didn’t throw his flag until the QB threw his hands up like you not going to call that. Also how do you not hold at all. Watch the Ala. lineman with their hands up under the shoulder pads of the Dawgs. The rule says you have to keep the hands inside the shoulders. Well they have the outside of the shoulders. Alabama is a good enough football team without needing help. Kevin Butler was right on when he call out the name of one official. How do you not call the hit on Murray helmet to helmet. One official was right there. I know how the Saban intimidation.
UGA = DUMB
December 3rd, 2012
6:37 pm
Nice to see DawginLex embracing a loss in a big game…practice makes perfect!
redandblackdog
December 3rd, 2012
6:38 pm
You REDNECK MORONS that couldn’t spell “ain’t”–Get a life, you A–holes!!! What Dial did is sorry, and is TOTALLY INEXCUSABLE. Your coach showed a lot of class. But again, you don’t understand the word as well as can’t even spell it. You can stay off this board, you third rate, degenerate, illegitimate children of prostitutes.
The King Here - Chuck Oliver
December 3rd, 2012
6:38 pm
Coach,
Your team played 3 better than average teams this year and you lost 2. Which I guess is better than your 0 for 4 last year.
Coach, coach… pay attention… the question is.. Would you like to comment on your 1 and 6 record against teams that matter the last 2 years?
Rabbit
December 3rd, 2012
6:38 pm
Ignoring the piggish bloggers here, I suggest the hit potentially changed the outcome. Projecting that the half would have ended in a tie at 7 apiece, the third quarter explosion could have put the Red Elephants in a two touchdown hole. This may have caused them to throw more and possibly never getting the two backs unleashed as they utimately did.
Regardless, it was a cheap shot – very different from the Ogletree hit which was pretty much a full body check caused by momentum. Not saying he couldn’t have missed, but the hit was less deliberate that Dial’s
Just an opinion and the name callers stand shamed in advance.
Old stogie
December 3rd, 2012
6:39 pm
Just taking the time to really analyze the posts here, it is quite obvious that the Alabama Fans are obstinate, and arrogant beyond belief. I truly want to pull for all SEC teams, however I am not so sure I can pull for Alabama. Auburn? Yes, Auburn has class like Alabama can’t uneven fathom. Auburn fans did not come over to tuscaloosa and destroy any of your trees. Bama doesn’t have class because their attitude is win at any and all costs. Yes, the player who hit the UGA player should be suspended for the BCS Championship game. Thugs don’t deserve to attend any post season activities. If one plays dirty in order to go to the bowl game, then punishment should be to exclude that person from that game. Nuffield said!
UGA = DUMB
December 3rd, 2012
6:40 pm
Dial did what needed to be done…proud of his actions…
TIM BUCK
December 3rd, 2012
6:41 pm
DA GAWGEE EYE GOUGERS TOOK A PAGE OUT OF BRANDON SPIKES BOOK….AND EYE GOUGED LIKE A PUNK ASS COWARD….DIAL AINT GOING NO WHERE….1980 DA DROUGHT IS STILL ON……………..
bamaguy
December 3rd, 2012
6:41 pm
How about getting the SEC to look into that Tank(42) that ran through your so called D too while your at it. Pathetic whiners.
james
December 3rd, 2012
6:42 pm
It was a great game it don’t matter who won it I am a ga fan and it don’t matter it was a good game and by the way I wish people would go ahead and stop arguing about it and go back and watch the game ga did get called for unsportsmanlike conduct with that eye poke It was defignetly uncalled for but it also followed a push so we were penalized for it the shot that was taken on Murray was meant to try and hurt him I just get tired of the arguing when everyone can just admit it was a good game
Specialk
December 3rd, 2012
6:42 pm
Obviously none of you have anything better to do in your lives than to trash talk the other. Get a life!!! It’s over…the best team won…and will go on to win #15!! I’m a die hard Bama fan & know beyond a shadow of a doubt that our fans, (past & present) coaches, players, administration and students are the epitomy of class! It’s people who can’t shut their big mouths & take a win…or a loss…with grace & humility that make the rest of us look stupid! So, all of you…GA fans…Bama fans…enough already! Go SEC & ROLL TIDE ROLL!!!
hit a single
December 3rd, 2012
6:43 pm
The SEC won’t do crap. Farley of Auburn should have been suspended many times and also the LB from Florida that nearly tore out the eyes of a UGA running back should have been suspended. No we worry about a team coming out on the field after a TD and getting an unsportsmanlike penalty. That is the crap we worry about instead of the important stuff.
daddo
December 3rd, 2012
6:44 pm
Oh my, there goes Lacey again. hahahahahahahahahahahaha….
JSH
December 3rd, 2012
6:44 pm
I was at the game and the replay boards in the dome really sucks. So we didn’t see the close calls. Alabama won and I congratulate them on the win. After the game, we went to dinner with 5 Bama friends and had a great time.
As a SEC fan, I have said for years if you want to win the SEC, you have to beat the Alabama Crimsion Tide and the Birmingham refs. Until the university president make the SEC offices move from Birmingham it will always be that way. It is what it is, and everybody in the free world knows it.
If I could change one play in the game, it would be the missed field goal in the first quarter. Those 3 points would have been hugh at the end of the game.
Again, congradulations to the Tide for winning a very physical game. Both teams left it all on the field. Now I hope the SEC beats the crap out of every team in their respective bowl games.
UGA = DUMB
December 3rd, 2012
6:45 pm
I wish Georgia had to play over in the SEC west for a couple of seasons…probably would help knock some of the stupid off of their fans…
larry dothan al
December 3rd, 2012
6:46 pm
everybody know get more personal foul in a game than any sec school.so quit crying and take it like a man.
great
December 3rd, 2012
6:46 pm
“crimson1″ – classless – Are you really so insecure that you can’t give credit where credit is due? By the way, to belittle UGA, who came darn near to beating you, is saying that your team is not tough by association. When you admit that UGA is a tough team, you’re giving your Bama team props by saying that they were a little tougher. Of course, I’m not sure that you’re smart enough to see that irony. Let me make it more simple for you to understand. People who know a lot more about football than you do are calling this the best SEC championship game ever. That’s not possible if UGA sucks so bad. Grow some maturity, get over yourself, and stop showing others your foolishness.
jh30906
December 3rd, 2012
6:46 pm
For all you Alabama fan’s. I know you want your team to win just like us but everybody in the Nation could see the media bias coming into the game as well as the bias by the officials. I have never seen more offense holding and face masking not be called. From the hit on Murray to the pass interference call that was 10yrds over the reciever’s head, A uncatchable ball, To even grabing our LB’s face mask on runs to gain extra YDS. Even Nick Sabin spoke up for us and said UGA is the best team They played all year including A&M and it is wrong for us not to get a BCS invite. In fact he voted us #3 in the coaches poll.
So quit acting like you are god’s gift to CFB and except the fact UGA has closed the Gap between our programs. in fact why dont they let us play YOU for the NC instead of ND. After all you got the benefit of the doubt last year playing LSU twice. I will tell you why, All the corprate talking heads would loose alot of money WHEN you LOST!
Keep your heads up and your mouths running. See you next year!!
Is the dawgs starting lineup still in the Athens jail?
December 3rd, 2012
6:47 pm
Georgia fans are just like Obama – something goes wrong, blame Bush. Go back to your double wides and drink your beer and beat your kids and complain that your boy was taken advantage of – bunch of hypocrites!
Big Crimson 75
December 3rd, 2012
6:48 pm
One can only assume whatever punishment Dial gets, Ogletree will get the same punishment.
Ogletree did exactly what Dial is being crucified for, with the exception being Ogletree’s hit drew a penalty.
Do what you wish to Dial, just make sure Ogletree gets the same punishment for the same Foul.
Dawgs are thugs who got out thugged
December 3rd, 2012
6:48 pm
I live in Athens and love hearing the Dawgs on the local dawg radio crying about the “worst loss in history.” The bottom line is that Bama gave them 14 point gifts and they still couldn’t measure up. Richt is a good guy but recruits a passel of thugs especially Rambone! Wallow in your slop Dawg Nation, you got to the hill by not playing any of the elite until Bama and they ran it down your throats. Like Gary Danielson said during the broadcast “they have nine NFL quality players on defense that cannot stop the run.” Any jackass with a bean of football knowledge has watched this “dream team” Grantham defense being gashed by everyone they play including hapless Kentucky. Good luck with Clemson and LSU next year, we’ll miss you at the SEC game in ‘13.
hit a single
December 3rd, 2012
6:49 pm
Hey daddo why didn’t you’ll run 42 against A&M on that last possession? Him or #4 could have scored and you would not have been beat. I guess you could second guess Saban there. Thank God Oregon got beat.
BammaSlamma
December 3rd, 2012
6:49 pm
The hit on Murray was not late! It was a block to clear the lane for the ball carrier!!
Carol
December 3rd, 2012
6:49 pm
I wouldn’t have agreed with it if I was and Alabama fan. Can’t believe the official was right there and didn’t call it. You can play a sport with integrity or you can play like a thug. Honestly, I thought Alabama had more class than that. There are some teams who are known for playing dirty ball…now Alabama joins those ranks.
UGA = DUMB
December 3rd, 2012
6:49 pm
best team won, but not best Bama team…you lost to the worst Bama team of the last 5 years…Bama played down to their competition Saturday…and still won…
bamaguy
December 3rd, 2012
6:51 pm
It probably wasn’t too fair that we just kept running on just about every play either. I mean c’mon mix it up a little and be fair. Sniffle. Sniffle
hit a single
December 3rd, 2012
6:51 pm
UGA=DUMB – mama said to get off the computer and come to supper.
Tim
December 3rd, 2012
6:51 pm
I was at the game and the whole 3 days with my family we only had to tolerate 3 obnoxious Alabama fans. Everyone else was a football fan very gracious in the win. I look in this column and find 3 Alabama idiots right out of the gate. Try learning how to win instead of giving your school a bad rep! You are an idiot if you think you should have won by 14 points. These two teams are the 2 best in the country. Hate to see a–holes on these blogs. Long as I brought that up, any of you Georgia fans that have a problem with CMR or any of the players after this game, you should change your alligience to Georgia Tech! Go Dawgs!
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
6:52 pm
DiLex…… Yes, we lost and yes it sucks but good lord how can anyone say we haven’t gotten light years better?
=============================
You got a GREAT and EASY Schedule. Playing Bad teams with UGa’s Talent you would THINK you are better but not true.
As good as UGa is they Never put away a team and play the backs most of the second half. UGa should not have had Murray playing most of the 4th quarters against 8 teams on your schedule.
VFP42
December 3rd, 2012
6:52 pm
If the SEC really want to make a statement about this vulgarity, they need to send Alabama to Orlando and Georgia to Miami.
coredawg
December 3rd, 2012
6:52 pm
Enter your comments here
TIM BUCK
December 3rd, 2012
6:52 pm
CRY GAWGEE CRY
UGA = DUMB
December 3rd, 2012
6:53 pm
just be quiet and take your medicine, hit a single..
Question for All on Here
December 3rd, 2012
6:54 pm
What is the difference between a Georgia and Alabama fan?
(personally, I don’t see a whole lot… if you know whatta mean)