The SEC has said that the unsportsmanlike conduct penalty called on wide receiver A.J. Green late in Georgia's loss to LSU was a bad call. Don't expect it to change much.
While acknowledging a "standing tension" between youthful exuberance and displays of self-congratulation, SEC officials coordinator Rogers Redding said that the NCAA rules committee believes in the unsportsmanlike conduct rules currently in place. Redding, the secretary-rules editor for the NCAA football rules committee, said that the committee studied the unsportsmanlike conduct penalty this past year.
"The committee expressed itself as being very satisfied with the way the rule is written and with the philosophy behind the rule, not just the language but the philosophy behind the rule of football as a team game and not one of individual grandeur," Redding said.
Rule 9-2 in the NCAA rulebook prohibits "any delayed, excessive, prolonged or choreographed act by which a player (or players) attempts to focus attention upon himself (or themselves)."
In a statement released Monday afternoon, coach Mark Richt sounded ready to put the matter to rest.
"I did talk to Rogers Redding at the SEC office Monday and I appreciate him looking into the situation," the statement read. "But that game is behind us and all the attention now is preparing our team to play Tennessee."
Last time at Tennessee
Richt has coached 109 games at Georgia. He won't soon forget the Bulldogs' last game at Tennessee. Ranked 12th by the Associated Press and on a three-game winning streak, Georgia was trounced 35-14 by Tennessee.
Said Richt, "If you talk about 60 minutes' worth of football, I don't think there was any game that felt more empty than that day."
One turnover
After committing three turnovers in each of their first four games, the Bulldogs had only one turnover against LSU, an interception on their final desperation drive of the game. While quarterback Joe Cox said he missed on a couple throws, he said that his precaution with the ball was reflected in his numbers (18-for-34, 229 yards, two touchdowns, one interception).
Said Cox, "Even if it's third down, you can't just always try to make a play and do something dumb with the ball."
Rambo on the verge
Expect to see more of redshirt freshman safety Bacarri Rambo. The backup has tackled well and has good ball skills, Richt said.
"He just deserves to play," Richt said. "I think it's good for him, (starting safeties) Reshad (Jones) and Bryan (Evans) if he gets more reps, because you just don't want those two safeties in there having every single rep."
Etc.
Tennessee coach Lane Kiffin dismissed wide receiver Brandon Warren from the team for conduct detrimental to the team following his heated confrontation with receivers coach Frank Wilson during last weekend's Auburn game. Warren, a junior converted tight end, had seven catches with two touchdowns.
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