Auburn DT Nick Fairley Won't Be Suspended By SEC For Aaron Murray Hits

The SEC won't suspend controversial Auburn Tigers DT Nick Fairley for his various dirty hits on Georgia Bulldogs QB Aaron Murray. The conference did say the matter will "be handled between the conference office and the institution," meaning Auburn has been warned to keep Fairley set on kill, not maim.

Fairley's hit to Murray's knee may have been incidental, but his behavior throughout the rest of the game (and his college career) doesn't provide us with any supporting evidence for the reasoned claim that "this is footbaw, skirts on quarterbacks, write about volleyball." 

It's nuts that two Auburn linemen -- DT Mike Blanc and DE Michael Goggans -- will be suspended for the first half against the Alabama Crimson Tide for punching opponents in the helmets, while Fairley isn't being suspended for nearly halving a quarterback who was no longer involved in a play. The rule on punches is there to prevent things from getting out of hand, sure, but Fairley's presence in the game after his shot to Murray's spine meant the game was already partially out of control anyway.

Aaron Murray Injury: Day-To-Day With Bruised Knee And Bruised Sternum

Georgia Bulldogs QB Aaron Murray has a bruised knee after enduring a low blow from Auburn Tigers DT Nick Fairley on Saturday. He also has a sternum injury, and that’s what happens when your spine gets rapidly pressed against your chest by a suspension-baiting coward. No, I’m not exactly sure which hit gave him the sternum bruise.

Murray’s now listed as “day-to-day” as far as practice goes, meaning he’ll be fine in time to play the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets, who don’t hit anybody’s quarterbacks fairly or otherwise, next Saturday in Athens. Murray requested a light week of practice via Twitter. Mark Richt said there’s no structural damage to Murray’s knee, and that the sternum bruise is “pretty deep.”

Aaron Murray Injury: Mark Richt Thinks QB Is Fine

Georgia Bulldogs coach Mark Richt thinks QB Aaron Murray is OK after suffering a knee injury against the Auburn Tigers. Murray was hit low by DT Nick Fairley’s helmet, which was actually one of Fairley’s cleaner hits of the day.

Murray left the game with a drastic limp, unable to bend his left knee while walking, but looked better by the final whistle. Hutson Mason filled in for a few snaps while Georgia linemen went after Fairley and company during and after each play for the rest of the game, resulting in two Auburn linemen getting kicked out for throwing punches.

Richt said the team will find out more about Murray’s status today.

On Twitter, Murray said he “need[s] this bye week bad, hopefully the coaches let us relax some!” Murray’s tweets are protected, in case you think I’m an idiot for linking to somebody’s quotes of his tweets. The Dawgs are off this Saturday before welcoming the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets, with bowl eligibility potentially on the line for both teams.

Aaron Murray Injury: Dawgs QB Says His Knee Is Fine

Last night Georgia Bulldogs QB Aaron Murray left the game against the Auburn Tigers late in the fourth after taking a helmet to the knee from DT Nick Fairley. The quarterback had taken a pounding all day, with many teammates and fans feeling several of those hits were dirty, and managed to limp off the field with assistance before standing to watch the rest of the game.

On Twitter, Murray has claimed his knee is fine. Posting Marc Weiszer’s retweet, since Murray’s tweets aren’t public — but I don’t think he’ll mind Dawg Nation seeing this news:

Murray wasn’t available to media after the game, as he was getting medical attention. He’ll have a week off to rest either way. The Dawgs don’t play Saturday, getting the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets at home in two weeks.

VIDEO: Nick Fairley's Dirty Hit In Aaron Murray's Back

This isn’t video of the hit by Auburn Tigers DT Nick Fairley that knocked Georgia Bulldogs QB Aaron Murray out of tonight’s game — in isolation, that hit was borderline, but you can go here to draw your own conclusions on that video. This hit was a much more egregious shot earlier in the game, when Fairley lowered his helmet and planted it in Murray’s spine well after the ball had been released. Break out the cliches, because this is a dirty hit, cheap shot, punk move, and so forth in every way:

Though it drew a roughing the passer penalty, it should also be considered a piece of evidence as we move forward. Fairley’s body of work on the day strongly suggests he intended to knock Murray out of the game by any means necessary, especially after he spent several minutes following the injury strutting and mugging all over the field. Two Auburn defenders will miss time against the Alabama Crimson Tide, and Fairley should join them on the bench.

Look at this:

Murray has already released the ball at this point. Fairley was about ten feet away, yet still decided to go hit Murray. It would be one thing if Fairley had been barreling towards Murray at full speed until now -- though a full-contact hit in that instance would still merit a flag -- but he wasn't. He actually sped up from this point on, even after he clearly saw Murray release the ball. He wasn't blocked into Murray. Nor was he unaware the ball was out.

And he had no excuse for leading with his crown, even if he did somehow think Murray still had the ball. I guess we can applaud him for not driving Murray into the turf on this play.

VIDEO: Nick Fairley Causing Aaron Murray Injury And UGA-Auburn Fight

Georgia Bulldogs QB Aaron Murray left tonight’s game against the Auburn Tigers with a knee injury after a low hit by DT Nick Fairley. Georgia’s offensive line and bench — including Murray’s brother, safety Josh Murray — very clearly felt the hit was dirty, with fights breaking out on the next two snaps. I’ve yet to find a Dawgs fan who thought the hit was fine. He’s falling anyway, but does appear he could’ve avoided Murray’s knee. See for yourself:

His play earlier in the game does have to color any perception of his motives, though. As ESPN’s Chris Low writes, he got away with a few today, and this wasn’t even his most questionable hit. Earlier on he speared Murray in the back well after the ball was out, snapping the quarterback’s neck back and earning an obvious roughing the passer penalty.

In all the scuffling, two Tigers — DT Mike Blanc and DE Michael Goggans — were thrown out of the game and suspended for the first half next week against the Alabama Crimson Tide, but Fairley was only pulled out of the game by Auburn coaches. Presumably to keep Georgia’s line from going for his knees in return, or worse.

Aaron Murray Knee Injury: Dawgs QB Leaves Field After Nick Fairley Shot

Georgia Bulldogs QB Aaron Murray left the field in the fourth quarter against the Auburn Tigers with a knee injury. Auburn DT Nick Fairley's helmet hit Murray in the left knee, forcing the quarterback to the ground. He was able to leave the field with assistance, but wasn't bending his knee at all. After the game, his limp wasn't quite as pronounced. Huston Mason filled in for a handful of snaps.

On the play after Murray's injury, trap went 31 flavors of Honey Baked Ham, with the Dawgs tearing after Auburn defenders as soon as the whistle blew. Center Ben Jones in particular was scrapping with great spirit, and several Georgia players and coaches entered the field, including Mark Richt, though almost all of them were attempting to keep the peace. From all this, we can infer many Georgia offensive players felt Fairley's hit was dirty. For his part, Fairley spent the next several minutes clowning for the camera and mockingly waving bye-bye to Georgia's sideline.

The Dawgs have a week off for Murray to rest up before taking on the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets. We'll keep you posted as we find out more about Murray's injury.