Did Todd Grantham make a choke sign on a play involving a field goal attempt? If he did, he wouldn't be the first, or the most famous. (More on that later.)
As you may have seen by now, a screen-shot of Grantham appearing to make the choke sign is making the rounds on the web. The Georgia defensive coordinator seems to be yelling at the field as he grabs his neck; many are assuming that Grantham was telling Florida’s Chas Henry he was about to choke before he attempted a game-winning field goal in overtime.
(Henry made it, as you doubtless already know.)
Pat Dooley of the Gainesville Sun tweeted the following this evening: "Just checked the CBS broadcast again. Todd Grantham grabs his neck and says "You're gonna bleepin' choke. You're gonna choke" to Henry.” The Associated Press has also picked up the story and sent it over the wires.
We didn’t get a chance to talk to Grantham or head coach Mark Richt about it. They’re not usually available on Mondays. Grantham usually speaks on Tuesdays.
Until we have definite proof, I’ll hold off on debating the merits of such an action.
But if true, it wouldn’t be the first time a defensive coordinator has done something like this.
In 1993, an up-and-coming NFL defensive coordinator was criticized for making a choke sign after a Miami Dolphins kicker missed a critical kick. The move was called a “breach of etiquette” by The New York Times.
The name of that young assistant who made the choke sign? Pete Carroll.
Grantham spent the past 11 years in the NFL, so maybe it's just a pro thing. If it's what he meant to do. We'll let you know as soon as he or his team responds to all this.
Monday, November 1, 2010
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31 comments:
I hope this doesn't go anywhere. What is worse? Playing a felon or telling someone they are going to choke to try and psych them out?
idk why a coach would do this... whats going through his mind?
he was probably trying to bail his D out of giving up 34 points to a Flordia team that has had a mediocre offense up to this point. I dont see the big deal about this. Its hard for me to see how a intense, in your face Grantham works under a guy like richt. We all saw Grantham all on Rambo at first game of the year (something that uga has missed since van gorder left) and we havent seen it since. Hard not to speculate that Richt did not approve of that.
Also possible, and yes coaches do this, that he was telling his players to yell at the kicker and say he was going to choke. I can tell you from experience, the block team stops at nothing on a big kick to make you miss.
Eh...just thought I would share.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bjI9buPtkaM
More classless gator nonsense - did they not see their corch gator chomping the UGA fans after the game.
Play a felon with pride - criticize a fired up coach trying to fire up his players.
God I hate Florida and its jorts wearing redneck fans.
In all honesty, who really cares? It's media trying to make a big deal out of nothing. It's not like he texted anyone or threatened anyone.
Move on. Ob-la-di, ob-la-da.
OMG a FOOTBALL guy curses and tries to get in a kickers head... Stop the *bleepin* presses...
Move on....
Meyer was chomping the UGA fans because they said, 'you're going to hell Urban for playing Rainey'
Just the intensity of the rivalry showing. Who cares about Grantham making the choke thing? I don't see how it's unclassy to chomp though.
Other than the news media no UGA fans give a rats butt. I personnally wish Todd would choke the living shat out of Urban.
I agree with the last comment. I don't give a flying f*ck if Grantham taunts Florida's kicker. What I wish is that he would actually choke the last breaths out of Urban.
In response to the gesture Rainey texted Grantham "time to die".
Rainey was off the team. They lost 3 and he was brought back from the rock pile. Meyer has now set a precedent that he must continue to follow and therefore the story 4 weeks ago about his dirty program has validation. It is good the camera didnt show what I was yelling to coach Meyer. Furthermore if I were Coach Richt I would have made sure Rainey first 2 carries would have been the last two of his career and sent a message to anyone that threatens to harm women.
This actually happened because Henry raised his helmet and started taunting the coaches. Not saying it was right, but I watched the whole thing from the stands. Henry was taunting the UGA fans since pre-game warmups. Grantham just did what the rest of us in the stadium wanted to do ourselves.
Lots of good football to be played by UGA. But my second favorite thing to watch is FLA when they get beat. Their own fans boo them. Now thats about as classless as the Coaches Fla has. A choke sign doesnt hold a candle to the way FLA fans act. Is it any wonder why every SEC fans most hated team is FLA? If FLA plays any other team in the SEC, everyone associated with the SEC cheers for FLA opponent. Yes FLA is a dirty program that just barely got a lucky much needed win against an unranked UGA. The truth of the matter, bad as the loss hurts, GA fans and team will handle the loss better than FLA would have. Which would have made beating them even better. FLA will fire a coach at the drop of a hat and mark my word. Meyer is vulnerable to keeping his job at a place with a dirty program, esp a place that would boo their own team. Ask Pat Dooley (fla writer) what his opinion of FLa fans is. Lets win out and watch Fla lose out and boo their own team.
I'll not accept any discussion on appropriate or classy behavior from Florida fans or from their felon-condoning coach.
Breach of etiquette? This ain't an afternoon tea, OK? Find molehill. Add water. Voila! A mountain! Who. Bleepin'. Cares.
Sorry, but Grantham's got to control his emotions a little better.
Frankly, I don't see the big deal. We are WAY too touchy of a society these days. Everything must be so PC...
I was fully hoping for a choke job by their kicker.
Guys. Come on.
This was TOTALLY unacceptable behavior. These are 18 to 22 year old kids that he is coaching - at an institution of higher learning.
I don't know if you guys who are supporting him aren't alums or what, but as an alum, I am ashamed of this.
Our coaches are supposed to represent UGA, its students, its alumni, and its fans.
Grantham's choke sign and taunt to a 21 year old (just guessing his age) kid by a 44 year old man is embarrasing and shameful.
Unacceptable.
All's fair in love and war, right? And this isn't exactly a gentleman's game.
Is icing the kicker not considered rude? I mean, you're trying to get in his head, although in a much more passive aggressive way.
Is the 90,000, or however many bulldogs are in Sanford Stadium, screaming at the opposing team's offense not rude? If you've ever been around a good rivalry, you hear plenty of things. Grantham's just truly representing the fire of the rivalry.
A) It's a football game. B) Get over it. C) We're not exactly the first or the last to do something that isn't considered "classy."
Move along.
Who cares...? It's great to see SOMEONE on the sideline who has a little emotion and actually has a pulse!!! Our head coach sure doesn't show any signs of life. I'm past accepting the "well, we just gotta play better" comments, it's time that we take a deep look at this program. We bring in top 10 recruiting classes each and every year, and UGA is in the top 10 with players in the NFL currently. What happens to them when we have them? Where are the championships? We have a coaching problem.... and it starts at the top. This program needs a makeover!
I just don't see how this is acceptable. Of course we're all hoping the kicker chokes but the fact is Todd Grantham isn't a fan. He's a coach and he gets paid a lot of money to not only win but to represent our university well. Cursing at an 18-21 year old kid doesn't accomplish that. It was really unnecessary.
And you know that all of you would be screaming bloody murder if it was one of Florida's coaches.
DOES ANY BODY GIVE A S$%T PLEASE PEOPLE KEEP POLITICAL CORRECTNESS OUT OF SOUTHERN FOOTBALL. IT BELONGS IN THE IVY LEAGUE.
Thank you Ginny.
I honestly think the people commenting and saying it's no big deal don't have a degree from UGA on their wall.
As I said at 9:51, this was unacceptable behavior and reflects poorly on UGA.
If you think otherwise, you clearly do not understand the mission of a University.
Who cares? Some people will find something to be upset and up in arms about no matter what in this world. The guy is a football coach, not running for Senate. Trust me, the players aren't exactly exchanging pleasantries during the course of the game. Get off your high horse Poindexter, straighten your bow tie and get over yourself.
Hey Poindexter, I proudly display a UGA degree on my wall and have been a season ticket holder for years supporting the GEEF. Spare me your uppity attitude. Things happen in sports during the heat of the moment. Maybe you're too busy judging from the comfort of your couch to know what that means.
BullyMack-
Glad you're a proud alum and season ticket holder (me too).
Still, as I've said twice here, I just don't believe this is appropriate behavior for a University representative. And I don't buy the "heat of battle" argument.
Like I said, if the action by Coach Grantham was okay, the we need to re-examine the mission of UGA because the school has bigger problems than a sub-.500 football team.
Isn't one of the reasons we say that we like Richt is because he's a good man and a good rep for the school???
Doesn't that have to cut both ways when someone shows himself to be a bad rep for the school?
Ok guys, for the sake of logical reasoning in hindsight, Grantham could have witheld the gesture. But I don't blame the guy for being passionate, so for that I do not fault him. He actually gets some style points in my opinion.
I'm an alumnus as well as a long time season ticket holder. Our sideline has looked like a graveyard since 2006. If Grantham can get some anger and emotion going, then I don't really care how he does it. This isn't gymnastics, folks. Football is a violent sport played by violent men. If you don't like it, stop watching.
Anonymous @ 12:18 has a bloody vagina apparently.
anonymous @ 12:18 doesn't buy the "heat of battle" argument because he's never been in the heat of battle.
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