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.