UGA blog finds new home
Morning all. As I’ve said a couple of times this week, we’re converting this blog over to a WordPress platform and it will be a permanent move the first of next week.
Those of you who are regulars probably know that I’m not what you’d call techno-wizard when it comes to these things. But from what I understand the technology offered in this new format should make the blogging and commenting experience better for all. Of course, I’ll be learning as we go along, too. But I’m hoping to provide more pictures and video and things like that which should bring the blog more to life.
Of course, this blog is nothing without all you guys so I want to heartily invite (read: beg) you to come over to the new site by CLICKING HERE ON THE NEW ADDRESS and save it in your browsers. As of Monday, Feb. 23rd, this will be the permanent home of the UGA blog you so love or, in the case of some of you, love to loathe. If you’d prefer to copy and paste or just memorize, the new address is: http://blogs.ajc.com/uga-sports-blog/.
See at the new place!
AJC > Sports > UGA > Blog > Archives > 2008 > March > 03
Monday, March 3, 2008
Video shows Gaines punched; now what?
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Just returned from Baton Rouge this morning and that debacle of a basketball game at LSU.
As usual the Bulldogs fought hard and actually led by 16 points midway through the first half but didn’t have the horses to finish the race. Of course, it didn’t help that their most versatile horse [Sundiata Gaines] was ejected with 13:20 to play.
It was an unusual postgame for a number of reasons but chiefly because coach Dennis Felton summoned me and the Athens Banner-Herald reporter (we’re the only publications that staff every UGA basketball game) to the coaches locker room to see the video of the controversial play that led to Gaines’ ejection. For what it’s worth - and it’s really not worth anything - I agreed with Felton’s assessment that the LSU guy, Alex Farrer, punched Gaines in the mouth before Gaines forearmed him.
From the copy of the video Felton was watching (I can only assume the refs were looking at different angles, it’s perfectly clear in Felton’s copy). But, as is always said, it’s always the second guy that gets burned in those types of incidents.
I heard later from a friend who covers LSU that one of the Tigers’ players said that Farrer was intentionally trying to get under Gaines’ skin. If so, he certainly did a good job of it. Today I talked to LSU coach Butch Pierre (he and Farrer were long gone by the time I watched the video) about it on the SEC teleconference today and asked him if Farrer would face any repercussions if it was proven that Felton was right about him punching Gaines.
By rule if you’re caught doing it live in a game you’re automatically ejected and face at least a one-game suspension afterward. Here’s what Pierre said:
“I will do exactly what the Southeastern Conference office requires or whatever the rule states when a player that does something that’s not conducted the right way during a basketball game,” said Pierre, who was named interim head coach when John Brady was fired on Feb. 8. “Other than that I haven’t really stressed anything about it or look at the tape and try to make a judgment call. I’m just focused on this basketball team and what we’re doing right now and looking forward to playing Alabama.”
I asked Pierre if he took issue with the way Felton handled the situation.
“I don’t have a problem with Coach Felton,” Pierre said. “He’s pretty much taking up for his team and his player and the situation as he saw it from his view. I just respect the Southeastern Conference officials and what they do. They made a judgment call and if it had gone against us with Alex I pretty much would have probably taken it as it stands.
“I’m a pretty competitive guy and I know Alex may have got caught up in the moment. But from my view I didn’t think he did anything that would cause him to be ejected from the game. Like I say, they had a veteran crew out there. Those guys are very experienced and have been in that situation for a number of games, so I just respect the call of the officials.”
Personally, that’s the first time I’ve had a coach show me video right after a game (isn’t technology great?), though it’s happened a number of times from many different coaches over the years in their offices a day or two after a controversial game. As ever, it’s not going to change the outcome. It just concludes once again that officials are human and make mistakes, just like the players that they officiate.
Meanwhile, we will find out if there are any repercussions for Felton. The SEC office has really clamped down on coaches commenting on officiating and, lest we forget, Felton has done more than his share of commenting (remember ‘Bama last year and Vanderbilt last week?). He may get some kind of reprimand from the league office before this thing is over.
Anyway, on some levels I can’t blame Felton. Seems like the guy just can’t catch a break and I’m sure this season has been extremely frustrating for him as it certainly has been for Gaines.
So what was your take on the deal? Was Gaines out of line? What about the LSU player? If it’s determined Yata was punched, should anything else happen to Farrer? Did Felton handle the whole thing correctly? If not, what should he have done?
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