Georgia Football Player Dazed After Slap in the Head by Coach Mike Ekeler

Georgia linebacker coach Mike Ekeler got a little too amped up on Saturday (think two shots of espresso paired with a tall bottle of Mountain Dew). After a big second half stop against Auburn, Ekeler congratulated cornerback Rico McGraw with a congratulatory slap on the head that left the defensive back dazed.

While the hit was enough to bring McGraw to his hands and knees in need of medical attention, he would, however, be deemed fit to take the field the very next series.

Now, to be fair, football is a game of serious emotions and a celebratory slap on the dome isn't exactly anything new. If there were a list of unwritten rules, rule No. 1 would go something like this: If you are a wearing a helmet, you are consenting to a possible helmet slap (even the 11-year-old in the stands with the plastic replica helmet understands he's fair game).

To most, it may all seem a little excessive. But players, coaches and fans alike live and die with every snap of the ball. And when you only have 12-odd games in the span of 365 days, the intensity is magnified that much more. However, there are moments – seldom in football, but they're still there – where you can be too juiced. And this happens to be one of those moments.

Considering Georgia's frustrating season thus far, it's understandable that Ekeler got a little jazzed. Georgia was the hot pick to win the SEC east in the pre-season, but have struggled their way to a disappointing 6-3 record, before this past Saturday's showdown with Auburn, in the considerably weaker eastern division. They have had issues at quarterback all year long, and been on the receiving end of a few unfortunate injuries––most notably a season ending knee injury to star running back, Nick Chub. So it' easy to see why Ekeler wanted to celebrate. After all, you have to enjoy the little victories!

It's just unfortunate the way things went down.

In hindsight, Ekeler would surely tell you he should have toned it down a notch (he'd also almost surely say decaf would have been the play). The moment, this time, just got the better of him.

Let's just hope McGraw really is okay.