Richt fumed over Georgia's victory antics at Vanderbilt

There's no doubt football is an emotional sport.

It's especially emotional when you don't play well most of the game, then steal a victory from the jaws of defeat as Georgia did at Vanderbilt last Saturday.

But credit Georgia coach Mark Richt for having the common sense to angrily remove his players from celebrating on Vanderbilt's logo after the Commodores handed Georgia the game.

Vandy blew a 17-7 halftime lead, losing 20-17 when Georgia placekicker Brandon Coutu kicked a game-winning 37-yard field goal as time expired.

When the ball sailed through the goalposts, Georgia players ran to midfield and began hopping up and down on Vandy's 'V' logo like the Bulldogs had won the Super Bowl.

"That was just disrespectful right there," Vanderbilt receiver Sean Walker said. "That's on their character. I didn't really like that."

Richt agreed. He was steaming as he shoved his players away from the logo, and he apologized to Vanderbilt coach Bobby Johnson after the game.

"I scattered them (his players), I did my best impression of Hulk Hogan," Richt said. "I had somebody call my call-in show this week and say Coutu made his kick not far from the logo, and that when our team charged him they just happened to end up on the logo.

"That might have been. But if my perception was that we were celebrating on the logo, then the people from Vanderbilt had to be thinking the same thing. It's something I don't condone. We are not going to do that. We should be celebrating, but not in a way that would incite people's emotions like that."

Johnson accepted Richt's apology, but didn't think it was a big deal.

"You're dealing with young men who had a big victory," Johnson said. "I didn't think anything about being disrespected."

The win ended Georgia's six-game losing streak against SEC East opponents, the most for the Bulldogs since the league split into divisions before the 1992 season.

"I'm glad to snap it," Georgia middle linebacker Dannell Ellerbe said. "I'm tired of hearing about it, and I'm glad it's over. It's time to start a winning streak. Some guys had their heads down at the half, but some seniors and coaches did some talking. They told us we'd be feeling 10 times worse at the end of the night if we don't win this game."

Lock Down Lindley: There might have been bigger names in the SEC at cornerback at the start of the season than Kentucky sophomore Trevard Lindley. But there won't be at the end of the year.

So far this season Lindley has two interceptions, a fumble return for touchdown and three pass deflections and also saved a touchdown at South Carolina by punching the ball out of the hands of tight end Weslye Saunders near the goal line. His fourth-quarter interception in last Saturday's win over then-No. 1 LSU set up Lones Seiber's game-tying field goal.

"Trevard is as good a player at his position as any in the country," Kentucky coach Rich Brooks said. "He's one of the best corners, period, in college football."

Loosening Up: After two straight close losses, Florida coach Urban Meyer decided to lighten his team's mood during its bye week by arranging a non-contact five-on-five game between coaches and players, including Meyer and players Tony Joiner, Justin Williams, Kyle Jackson, Trent Pupello, and Ahmad Black.

Linebacker Dustin Doe, watching from the sidelines, got a chance to throw a barb at Meyer after the head Gator had a pass intercepted by Justin Williams to seal the victory for the Florida players.

"He always talks about carrying the rifle," Doe said of Meyer. "But he dropped it on that play."

Nixing the Hail Mary: With North Carolina set for a last-gasp throw into the end zone trying to pull out a win last Saturday against South Carolina, Gamecocks defensive coordinator Tyrone Nix inserted receiver Kenny McKinley and tight end Jared Cook as deep safeties in a prevent defense. Both players made sure T.J. Yates' desperation pass fell incomplete as time expired, allowing South Carolina to hold on for the 21-15 victory.

When free safety Darian Stewart sprained his right knee batting down Yates' pass on the next-to-last play and limped off, Nix went with two of the Gamecocks' top receivers.

"We just had so many injuries," Nix said, "we put some guys back there that know how to play the ball."

The 6-5, 235-pound Cook said it was his first action on defense since he played safety as a high school junior.

"I thought Jared was going to smack it way down," South Carolina coach Steve Spurrier said, "but he said he knocked it out of their guy's hand at the end there."

Spurrier, who improved to 15-0 all-time against Kentucky two weeks ago, has a 14-0 record against Vanderbilt, today's opponent.