Frank Beamer announced at this afternoon's press conference that defensive end Dadi Nicolas will be suspended for the first half of the Virginia game after making contact with referee Ron Cherry on Saturday against North Carolina. Beamer noted that he believes the contact was unintentional.
#Hokies coach Frank Beamer said DE Dadi Nicolas will be suspended for first half of the #UVA game for slapping ref Ron Cherry's arm Saturday— Mike Barber (@RTD_MikeBarber) November 23, 2015
#Hokies Frank Beamer on Nicolas suspension: "I talked with him this morning. He was very apologetic... I'm convinced it was unintentional."— Mike Barber (@RTD_MikeBarber) November 23, 2015
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Comments
Clearly unintentional.
Also clearly stupid on Dadi's part.
Is this a team suspension or being handed down by the ACC?
My guess is that it was Frank's decision.
... but if Frank hadn't done it, the ACC would have.
What!!! It was clear to me from section 33 in the East Stands that it was unintentional.
It probably was, but I'm pretty sure that Frank still realizes that it probably wouldn't have given the program the best look if he didn't do anything about the situation.
Check the video I posted below - I'm not sure there is anything "unintentional" about the swat...
Agreed, I watched the replay. Dadi was looking right at the guy as he made contact. I know we always want to believe the best things about our players but it was about as intentional as it gets. I'd be more prone to give him a pass for the heat of the moment or something like that, but you can see on replay that he saw the refs arm there.
yes it was blatant and egregious. There is no place for it and I think Dadi should consider himself damn lucky that he won't be suspended for the entire game. For all he knows, it just might be his last.
Honestly when he first did it I immediately turned to my wife and said "well he's thrown out of the game." I couldn't believe he wasn't chunked.
I said the same thing to my wife. I thought it was about as intentional as you could get.
His head was, but were his eyes? He very well could have closed as he's angry and complaining. We don't really know. Doesn't excuse him, but I don't see him hitting the ref intentionally. He was swinging his arms 5 yards before he even got near Ron.
If you're flailing around while pissed off, you shouldn't go near anyone let alone a ref. It might not have been intentional, but it sure seemed like it from basically everyone that saw it and he should be punished for it since you can't have players doing that and then saying "No guys, it was an accident I was swinging like a madman and didn't see him."
As a player you shouldn't be near refs after a play, especially after a penalty since you really can't change the outcome (99% of the time). You can only really only piss them off and hurt the team.
I'm not excusing him. I'm shocked he wasn't tossed or benched by Bud. I know how it looked and how it seemed, but if you've watched Dadi's erratic swinging and emotions over the last 4 years, you know what to expect from him and what is behavior versus intent. He should be punished as though it was intentional, but it wasn't intentional by any means. If you wanted to swat Ron Cherry's arm, you don't do it with your forearm.
At the stadium it looked unintentional, but that replay looks like anything but. Somewhere south of here must be very chilly, but Ron Cherry was justified throwing that flag.
everyone has a perspective, but we can all at least agree on one thing - be disciplined and simply do not go near a referee.
I understand that emotions can get the best of us all, but Dadi should have been more disciplined than to keep approaching the direction that Ron Cherry was in - Cherry was clearly established in the 'penalty calling stance"
Good, he deserves it, even if it was unintentional. Have some awareness and don't let your emotions get the best of you like that.
Mihota getting his first start against his brother's old school.
Its sad to think of what Dadi's senior season could have been if he wasn't Lobster Boy. I really thought he could push 15 sacks this year.
Don't. Hit. The Ref.
Unintentional or not, I'm surprised he was allowed to finish the game this weekend.
me as well. when I didn't see him for a couple drives there after it happened I was wondering if he did get kicked for the rest of the game. the 2 plays after the penalty were a little bit of a blur and I don't remember if he was out there or not.
Yeah he was on for the rest of the drive
Dadi missed!!
Just kidding just kidding
If only that could have been Joey Crawford.
They're just keeping him fresh so he can put up a repeat performance of last year's second half pass rush.
It is beautiful when the opposing QB has that many grass stains on the back of his jersey.
now that's a thing of beauty, brings a prideful tear to my eye.
Only Famous Jaymous is allowed to touch the refs...
And Kyle Fuller.
Well he was asking for a high five and Fuller obliged...
And, evidently, Rolando McClain.
So many years ago and I'm still mad about that one.
"Penalty against number 90. Giving the ref the business. Half the game against LOLUVa."
He had to be #69.
meh. I think it's a bit much. a 1Q suspension, or even no suspension would've been fine in my opinion. Clearly unintentional, didn't get ejected, very contrite about it... I understand sending a message about awareness and taking setbacks in stride, but 1/2 a game is a bit much.
He hit a ref
I'm surprised it wasn't a full game suspension. You don't hit the ref, period.
Hit is a strong word for the contact he made with the ref.
I mean...he did hit him. It wasn't a light tap like that Arizona guy.
https://vine.co/v/izaBPrjIEi6
That's more than enough to warrant an ejection.
Eh, I'm not going to keep quibbling. I think a 1/4 suspension would've been enough, just my 2c
That's for posting that clip.
That was clearly intentional, and he deserves a suspension. Not cool to hit a ref.
What the clip doesn't show is Nicolas walking around swinging his arms like that for quite a while before getting to the ref. The clip is also in slow motion which makes any action look more deliberate. He smacks the ref's arm with his own forearm, hardly the kind of strike someone would make in a pre-mediated fashion.
Dude is an emotional player and pouts like a 3 year old sometimes, and it's not a stretch to imagine he isn't paying attention to who/what is around him as he walks around doing his temper tantrum thing. Doesn't excuse it but IMO an action like this is less egregious than shoving a ref twice the way Jameis Winston has done (without any penalty or repercussion). http://ftw.usatoday.com/2014/11/jameis-winston-pushes-referee-out-of-the...
Winston should have been called for a penalty on that play.
So.... who the hell starts in his place?
Dooley? At least he will be well rested and fresh. /s
it will all be SETTLEd soon, no need to worry
Mihota
what will be hilarious is when we get to half time and we've got a serious lead and their QB has been has been hounded all game. Nothing like coming out of the locker room knowing you couldn't handle the backup and now the all conference (american? everything?) DE is finally allowed to come into the game.
And he's gonna be pissed...
via GIPHY
I think this is 100% deserved. Seeing it in the stands I didn't think much of it. After seeing the replay and the vine that resurfaced after the game, all I can do is facepalm and say "What the hell were you thinking?" It sucks but I think it's definitely the right decision.
I'm just glad Dadi didn't see the replay of the 'catch' that won the game. He might have cleaned Ron Cherry's bell...
Watching on TV, as I saw him getting closer and closer to the ref I knew that he may do something stupid, and that's exactly what happened.
I was more than a little angry when Dadi did that and thus is, to my mind, an appropriate punishment.
You don't hit the ref. Periond, end.
Anyone defending him has his or her maroon and orange goggles on. Love Dadi but if the ref had been turned around and seen his whole charade he would have been ejected
I 100% agree with this. I'm honestly surprised he wasn't ejected after seeing the ESPN video of the incident.
Why don't we just fine him some of his cost of attendance money? Ducks....
Link to ESPN here - I still cannot figure out how to embed ESPN video...
Yea, unintentional.
this is sarcasm right?
It is, sir.
I hadn't seen it until now but damn he should have been ejected for that. He's getting off real light with only a 1Q suspension
it was clearly intentional. It's a 2Q suspension, btw. I agree, though, it's letting him off easy.
The ESPN link I posted has a fairly long clip of it. I can speak for the people in our immediate section - we thought he was gone after it happened. Very surprised he remained in the game.
This is just another reason why I love Frank. He's got too much integrity to let crap like that go like many coaches these days would.
Not defending Dadi's actions, but I'd like to see a replay of the play in question and see if the center moved the ball prior to the snap. The UNC Center had something like 3 false starts and 1 illegal snap penalty for doing exactly what Dadi was screaming about.
He was called for being in the neutral zone because he stepped over the line specifically to point at one of the offensive lineman for moving so I'd say it was probably legit. The refs didn't care to watch most of UNC's o-line play.
You mean Ekanem getting mugged by their LT seemingly every time he beat him?
Oh good, I wasn't the one thinking that.
Does the "because" matter, though? Dadi was in the neutral zone when the ball was snapped. He was called for it. He should not have been across the line. Yes, if the officials were perfect, the call would have been on the center. But Dadi should know by now that refs aren't perfect. You don't put yourself in the situation where you're counting on the ref to make the right call. When a player is more concerned about the officials than about doing his job, he's lost focus.
Well Ron started by calling false start, reversed it to offsides, then Dadi hit him. So it was probably frustration getting to him. But YOU CAN'T HIT THE REFS! I am very disappointed in him.
LOL UVA breaths a sigh of relief for the first half.
40+ comments and no gif of Kyle Fuller dapping the ref?
We're better than that.
Hear. Hear.
If you're going to touch the ref, that's the way you do it.
I would have suspended him for next year's opener.
Saban is that you?
This may be on another thread, but what's the word of facyson? Could be without him, too
I don't know but I saw him working on technique with Adonis on every timeout. It was pretty cool to watch.