Did you ever see this coming for mega-prospect Isaiah Crowell?
Loading ...Once upon a time, Isaiah Crowell — an AJC Super 11 selection who is considered by some to be the nation’s No. 1 college football prospect at tailback — had planned to announce his highly-anticipated college decision after Carver-Columbus won Friday’s state championship at the Georgia Dome.
At the time, some may have interpreted Crowell’s confidence in his team as, well, overconfidence. Don’t count me among them. I don’t think there’s anything wrong with thinking your high school football team will win it all. Actually, there may be something wrong if you don’t think your team will have a chance at winning it all.
Most players — whether they say it publicly or keep it to themselves privately — feel that way about their team anyways. Crowell’s comments of confidence are very well known … not for cockiness, as much as reporters constantly prodding him about when he wished to reveal his college choice — Alabama or Georgia, among others. Everybody wants to know the future college for the “next Marcus Lattimore,” who has proven yet again that one great player can change a program’s fortunes instantly.
Back to Crowell: We know the rest of the story. There won’t be any Friday announcement at the Georgia Dome because No. 1 Carver suffered a stunning 27-14 upset to Calhoun in last weekend’s Class AA semifinals. However, Crowell had already told Scout’s Chad Simmons a few days before last week’s game that he was delaying his decision until signing day.
Isaiah Crowell had an unexpected ending to his senior year (AJC photo)
How did Crowell do in the game? He rushed for 94 yards on 20 carries. Calhoun coach Hal Lamb told the Chattanooga Times: “We did an unbelievable job on him. We kept hitting him and hitting him. That was our goal and he got frustrated. Our kids never quit and I truly believe in our football team. A lot of people didn’t expect us to win tonight. I’m so proud of our football team. We as a football team believed we could win.”
Crowell was flagged for unsportsmanlike conduct for taunting the Calhoun crowd following a 50-yard TD run that was called back due to a penalty. He was also observed yelling and complaining on the field and on the sideline throughout the game, according to the AJC’s Chip Towers. “Calhoun did a great job on defense and tackled really well Friday night. They didn’t allow any of the explosive runs he is accustomed to,” Carver coach Dell McGee told the AJC on Monday. “Isaiah’s a very competitive person and he wears his emotions on the outside sometimes. He’s got to mature in that regard because it’s definitely going to get tougher on the next level.”
Now it’s YOUR turn: What are your thoughts on Crowell? And what do you think about the Carver loss? I have to admit I never saw that coming. I thought Carver, with its boatload of blue-chip prospects, might be the state’s best overall team (or most talented), regardless of classification.
- Please click here for the AJC’s latest news on FOOTBALL and BASKETBALL … and scroll down the page.
- Follow the AJC’s coverage of Georgia top high school teams and prospects, led by Michael Carvell, on FACEBOOK … and Twitter
Tell us what you think about the site
Customer Care »
Vacation stops, manage subscriptions and more
AJC Services
Sections
Other Editions
Visitor Agreement | Privacy Statement
© 2013 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
125 comments Add your comment
GT
December 7th, 2010
10:32 am
Having all the top recruits means very little in the end… as richt and uga show year after year. You morons went 6-6 while bringing in top 10 recruiting classes every year! Talk about coaching players down!
At least Paul Johnson coaches up his 40th ranked recruiting classes! Proud that we do more with less!
gcs
December 7th, 2010
10:35 am
Confidence is a great thing in an athlete player. Arrogance and egotism is not. I am not saying Crowell has either of these qualities since I have never seen him, but that is how it sounds. It appears that he wants to be on center stage for his big announcement and EVERYONE is just clamoring to hear.
In case you have not heard, Rivals has dropped Crowell from 5-star to 4-star.
.
ATL Fan
December 7th, 2010
10:35 am
I didn’t see the game but got to hear the second half. From what I heard, Calhoun seemed to be in control and made crucial stops when needed. My guess is that the Calhoun staff had their players better prepared with fundamentals than Carver did (particularly the line play). Otherwise, how could the size difference be overcome?
fridaynighter
December 7th, 2010
10:54 am
Saw the game. Crowell was barely a factor. “Hit out of bounds” – didn’t happen. He got knocked into the kicker-net-device once, but in that instance he was hit so hard in bounds that it knocked him almost into next week. He also failed to make some key yardage at key moments. Got stopped in backfield on 4th and 1 near the Calhoun 40. Big play. Throughout game – He was very frustrated and showed it constantly. Acted like a baby. Carver was outcoached and outplayed in other ways in the game: quarterback consistently missed receivers, team couldn’t get the right number of players on the field on special teams, and they got penalized 15 yards at the opening of the second half because they were LATE GETTING OUT OF THE LOCKER ROOM and onto the field!! Calhoun quarterback (Landon Curtis) was truly great. Several long passes on the money. Two in the corner of the end one for touchdowns. Much better quarterback than Nash was last year. Nash never got the ball to Da’Rick during the Buford game. Watch out for this running back – Dustin Christian. Hard working, Tough competitor. Good cutback runner. Calhoun-Buford game will be a classic matchup of two talented, hardworking and well-coached TEAMS – not just a collection of individuals.
Dawg in GA
December 7th, 2010
10:56 am
GT What an idiot. Georgia owns Tech 9 out of 10 to prove it. GT inept and proud of it!
At least we lose well!!
PowerDawg
December 7th, 2010
11:10 am
Looking forward to your highly anticipated arrival in Athens, Isaiah! You and the rest of the 2011 class are going to take UGA back to top of the SEC and on to a national crown. Can’t wait ’til signing day.
Sic’em Dawgs!
MURPHY
December 7th, 2010
11:11 am
GT,
That’s a good one.Yeah I see how well Coach P.J does with that 40th ranked recruiting class. Maybe he could move up to 39th and compete with UGA on the field?
1-9 against UGA
PowerDawg
December 7th, 2010
11:16 am
I see where Mettenberger is gonna be playing in Red Stick! Welcome back to the SEC, Zach!
murfdawg
December 7th, 2010
11:19 am
How tall is Crowell? To be really good in the SEC now, a running back needs to be about 6′2″ and fast. Look at Lattimore at USC. Then look at Dyer at AU, Demps and Rainey at FL, Ealey at UGA. All are decent backs and have their moments, but the big back is the one who breaks tackles and keeps the chains moving. Is Crowell any better than Ealey? Just wondering.
beenwatching
December 7th, 2010
11:21 am
Last year I watched Calhoun coach cry about the calls that went against them in the dome, just like other coaches cried about the calls that they get in Calhoun. Now, you have beaten the team that beat Buford, let”s see if you can win where you wont get the call you get at home.
LaGrange2008
December 7th, 2010
11:28 am
At fridaynighter, I agree with the majority of your post. As far as the locker room, I was at the game. I too was wondering what was taking them so long to get out of the locker room. As I was walking back to my car, I noticed that the Carver football team was behind me. Their locker room was across the street from the stadium, in a shed looking building, behind some other buildings. I know this is no excuse because a team should be able to adjust to the environment, however, they had to walk at least 4 football fields length to get back into the stadium. I am not aware if the home team has to walk the same distance or not. Again, not makiong any excuses, just more curious as to if this is a common practice around the state.
footballguy
December 7th, 2010
11:57 am
To beenwatching Here you go some simple math buford lost by 2 touchdowns to Carver. Calhoun beat Carver by two touchdowns. Thats a 4 touchdown difference. Calhoun wins 28-0 Now cry about that.
LaGrange2008
December 7th, 2010
11:57 am
@gcs. Crowell missed 4 games with a turf toe and knee injury. He still rushed for 1700 yards on the season. As far as him dropping to a 4 star, that really doesn’t matter this late in the year. Perhaps if he had dropped in week 2 then your point may have some merit, other than that it is a moot point. When you think about it, high school football players have to play more games to win a championship than college players. IMO, he is still a 5 star back to me.
Lastly, I saw several of Carver’s games this year. This kid is an awesome running back. I am not going by just what I have heard and have read. Seeing is believing. In the game against GAC, his quarterback threw an interception that should have been a “pick 6,” however, Crowell came out of nowhere and put a lick on the Defensive back that intercepted the ball. This shows me that he is a competitor.
Also, I am suprised that this kid hadn’t gone off earlier than Friday night. In the games that I viewed, there were several instances in which the other teams were taking obvious cheapshots at Crowell. In the Callaway game I saw him go up to the referee in a calm manner and point to his leg (I am assuming on this one but it appeared he was talking to the ref about a couple of cheapshots that were happening after the play was over). Two plays later he was holding his knee in pain.
The bottom line is, at the end of the day he is a human being. Any of us who have ever played a sport or lived life has gotten frustrated about something. No one on this site is perfect, so for some to bash this young man like they have never done anything wrong is shameful, IMO. I know that we are all entitled to our own opinions, however, I refuse to jusdge him negatively based on one night. Especially when other teams have taken cheap shots at him in the past.
footballguy
December 7th, 2010
12:00 pm
Lagrange Didn’t Carver have to walk to the same lockerroom at halftime. Did the distance get longer on the walk back at halftime?
LaGrange2008
December 7th, 2010
12:06 pm
@football guy, I agree, that’s why I said that teams must be able to make the adjustment. However, I am used to going to stadiums where you can at least look out and see if the band is finished playing. There is no way a team should have to leave out of the entire stadium to go to a locker room. Too many opportunities for mishap.
GT VET
December 7th, 2010
12:19 pm
Carver did have to walk farther than Calhoun back to the field..about 200 feet.. and beenwatching what was the CALL Calhoun got that your refering to?? Right didnt think so..Crowell was NEVER hit out of bounds..but was HIT hard and often in bounds.Having said that Anyone that saw Crowell play Calhoun or any other team and dosent believe that kids special is either nuts or dosent know football.IM a BIG GT fan,and I take my loses like a man and move on(unlike some poor losers at GT).I personally know several UGA players and although their are some UGA thugs(like most other schools) for the most part UGA has young men dedicated to playing football and getting an an education as they should.I really hope UGA takes a hard look at Crowell and his attitude before signing him.UGA can get most any RB they want and I believe theres another one out there that will serve UGA better on the field and especially off it.Crowell will be a star in college.But does anyone believe that his attitude will really change?I hope Im wrong about the kid,and wherever he goes(Im guessing UGA) he will be great.Good Luck with him UGA(except against GT)hope he isnt in the Atlanta Journal Constipation in a Bad way….Go Jackets!!!Calhoun and GT
dap01
December 7th, 2010
12:24 pm
I am sure that he will either got to Auburn or Florida. At Florida he can be a felon, have numerous “unreported” traffic violations and get caught cheating and still be fine.
At Auburn, he can be a thug and still admitted and we all know that Auburn pays more than Miss. State.
gdawginkalamazoo
December 7th, 2010
12:24 pm
Over the river and through the woods to the lockerrooms we go. That’s hilarious. Had to leave the stadium to get to the lockerrooms? Anyway good that Crowell gets upset when he doesn’t perform like he thinks he should. Sounds like he wants to win.
Terry
December 7th, 2010
12:27 pm
GT, CPJ is only .500 his first three year at Tech, Coach Richt was .750 his first three years, how is that a better Job? Also, you can’t compare the ACC to the SEC, being that CPJ was in a weaker Conference and still has a worst record than Coach Richt his first three years.
Ace
December 7th, 2010
12:34 pm
UGA just finished a 2nd dissapointing season in a row with this season worse than last. 2 more before they hit bottom. GT had a dissapointing season also, but last year was a good one, next year will tell something about Johnson.
C-Town
December 7th, 2010
1:02 pm
DAY 2 of Crowell haters……
lay low- I see Calhoun won the game. Good game move on….but why come tell lies & hate about Crowell….lets talk about that Jerk DaRick Rodgers…..Did AJC write a story on him when a 5-7 155 soph DB shut him down???? Then he goes to Tenn and beats up a policeman…and gets of scott free…..But you wanna give Crowell hell about for doing a fist pump in the inzone atfer he went 60 yards…..You can’t have it both ways……Crowll is a very nice kid….Smart already has the test scores to get in UGA or Bama……..Can’t say the same for Da rick last year…..Nash bought his grades…Carver had a great year 13-1…..the sun will still come up…..Crowell still has one last High school game….ESPN all American …he will put on a show in Jan 2011…..He still was the best player in GA this year…..
Bill Stanfill
December 7th, 2010
1:07 pm
Remember when?
I watched Emanuel County Institute play in the Class A high school football championship game in the dome a couple of years ago. ECI lost. Its two heralded stars, Waushan Ealey and Dexter Moody, were both UGA commitments–and both of them acted like brats during the game. They would deliberately walk toward an an opposing player after the play was over and try to bump his shoulder, daring the player to not move out of the way. A lot of that kind of stuff, especially in the latter part of the game when it was clear they were going to lose. Their coach should have benched them–but how many coaches have the guts to do that? Not enough. It later came out that Moody had other “behavior issues,” more serious ones, and UGA rescinded its scholarship offer. Ealey has had a few issues at UGA.
Some of these high school stars need some real character maturing–a firm coach, learning to lose, and in a few cases, a good spanking from their mama would help.
Hopefully in Crowell’s case, he’s a quick learner and is open to doing a little growing up.
Redux
December 7th, 2010
1:14 pm
Haven’t we seen this state final before? Oh that’s right…Buford kicks Calhoun right square in the hind quarters and sends them back to the hills to the trailers. This will be third year in a row with same outcome…..
layinlow
December 7th, 2010
1:29 pm
Lagrange 2008, you might want to get a yard stick out and does some studying. The visitors locker room is no more than 75 yards from the stadium. The Carver coaching staff were out coached big time so quit making silly excuses about lockerroom distances.
C-Town, news flash, I’m not a Calhoun fan and only went to the game to see Crowell play and came away disappointed. I could care less about da’rick rogers or his darn grades or where he went to school or how many times he gets arrested. Hows that?
C-Town
December 7th, 2010
1:57 pm
Lay low -Well for the last 2 days you have been on Lamb & Calhoun Jock. How were you Disappointed? Crowell still had 95 yards with one call back..60 yards…..I mean what did you want?….Who cares what you think…..When Guys like Mark Richt & Nick Saban come stand on the sideline to watch him play doing the year……..he went 90 for Richt & 95 for Saban…So he shows up in big games…..Calhoun did a good job of slowing him down………But he wasn’t stop….Name a better RB that has come from this State in the last 5 years????……..So stop your hate…..
shankit
December 7th, 2010
2:24 pm
Still no mention of Colquitt over Grayson.
All I read about last week was how strong
Grayson and Gwinnett was and how weak
Region 1 AAAAA and South Georgia football
had become. ?????
layinlow
December 7th, 2010
2:30 pm
I’m disappointed in his attitude not his play. Just calling it like I see it. Also I worry about his durability.
Name a better RB that has come from this State in the last 5 years????…….. Sorry but that has yet to be determined. Too many of these hyped recruits flame out at the next level. He hasn’t proven anything yet. He could turn out to be jasper sanks 2.0 for all we know.
TJ
December 7th, 2010
2:59 pm
If you see Crowell’s Facebook pages, you don’t want him around anyone you care about. No respect for women or as he calls them stanking ho’s…. And most pics are of him shooting birds with both hands!
JJ
December 7th, 2010
3:11 pm
I’m sure Not the legacy he wanted to leave. Evidence he is still a TigerCub/BulldogPup/CrimsonRipple. He has some growing to do. Character is what you do when no one is watching or win the chips are down!
uncidon
December 7th, 2010
3:27 pm
This guy may be another Caleb King for Georgia!
secbama
December 7th, 2010
3:38 pm
Dee Hart going to Florida. Hill to LSU and Isaiah Crowell going to Bama to team with Trent Richardson to win SEC title in 2011.
Slick
December 7th, 2010
3:51 pm
This guy will fit in perfectly at THUGA……
carver fan
December 7th, 2010
4:03 pm
i am a big time carver fan, always have been. but calhoun just flat out, out played carver, and we were out coached. This calhoun team might just give buford a big shock this year.
Houn
December 7th, 2010
5:32 pm
Hey footballguy, why didn’t Calhoun win by 15 last year against Buford? I guess where you are from, they teach simple math. Maybe they should teach logic.
CAM JUICE DADDY
December 7th, 2010
5:41 pm
SHOW ME THE $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$
Paddy
December 7th, 2010
6:28 pm
Tone….your analysis of the unsportsmanship rule is, well, silly. Give your posts a little more thought and also consult a rule book or better yet, watch an actual football game. WOW
Andy Lander
December 7th, 2010
7:23 pm
he’s going to Bama Hell I can’t keep the top High School Girls basketball players in state why do you think Mark can LOL
BAMA
December 7th, 2010
7:31 pm
layinlow
Why are going on every thread about Isaiah Crowell trashing him ? You are a hater plain and simple. Are you jealous or obsessed ? Get a freakin life and stop talking down about a teenager that you don’t even know jerk.
C-Town
December 7th, 2010
7:50 pm
LAW low……Like i told you yesterday…..Jasper Sanks had talent………Jasper finshed 2nd in the SEC in Rushing in 1999!!!!…..How many RB’s on UGA roster can say that???? Mark Ingram only had like 800 yards this year& Ingram is a great RB…….my point Jasper had more than him in 1999….so had talent…his problem was of the field…….You are trying to make Crowell a thug because he did a fist -pump in the Inzone, & got a 15 yard flag…..AJ Green did the same thing in 2009 vs LSU…..is AJ a Thug???…..NO…..and the ref who threw that flag was wrong too….Lay Low….when crowell goes off on Bosie St next season as true Fr…….don’t jump on the bandwagon…..its to late…HATER
Jeff in Calhoun
December 7th, 2010
9:16 pm
I saw the game. Crowell is a great running back that faced a great defense. This is the best Calhoun team that coach Lamb has had there. This is the best Defense. Landon Curtis is the best quarterback. He is better then Nash Nance was last year. Dustin Christian is the best running back. He is better at slicing up a defense then Crowell. He has more shifty moves then Crowell. Crowell may be slightly faster. The receivers out jump and manuver the ball away from any corner back. The kicker is the best they ever had. He is even better then Scott Blair was. The defense hits like no other I have ever seen in high school ball. Buford is in for a battle this year.
Jeff in Calhoun
December 7th, 2010
9:23 pm
Crowell reminds me of DaRick Rodgers last year. Last year against Dalton in a 31-28 Calhoun win. DaRick almost cost Calhoun the game with his unsportsman like conduct penalties. Every time he scored he would take off his helment and hold it up to the crowd for a 15 yard penalty. Buford stopped DaRick and won the game. We stopped Crowell and won the game.
Buford83
December 7th, 2010
9:37 pm
“Swopes got kicked of a team as a Sophomore for his behavior. Maybe he has grown up some. But The University of Buford keeps recruiting the best.”
Ty, way to prove that you’re a dumb@$$. His brother played for Buford last year and he already has family here. You don’t know chiat about why he came here so just keep your mouth shut.
Snoopy
December 7th, 2010
10:00 pm
The Wolves of Buford will maul the Jackets from Calhoun… Sending them back into the N Ga mountains… Four-Peat for Buford, three-peat for the Stingers… See ya Fried Day @ 4:30 in the Georgia Dame!!
CMR
December 7th, 2010
10:02 pm
If Calhoun pretty much Stops Crowell from big plays and takes him out of his game,Nobody on Buford is gonna do anything against Calhouns Defense..Bet on it….Calhoun by 2 touchdowns..AT LEAST!!
CMR
December 7th, 2010
10:07 pm
@snoopy..Uhmm Calhoun has plans to go back to the N.Ga. Mountains after the game anyway.Buford wont send them anywhere.Calhoun will have a short ,GREAT ride back to C town with a State Championship Trophy, making them the BEST in football and Baseball in 2010…
poof!!!
December 7th, 2010
10:07 pm
Calhoun will beat Buford this year! I was surprised that Calhoun beat Carver, but I don’t see it as an upset being that Calhoun has been really good for some years.
Snoopy
December 7th, 2010
10:09 pm
LOL – Buford plays “Team Football”, throws, runs, very well balanced..
Defense is second to none, check the box scores..
Jeff in Calhoun
December 7th, 2010
10:15 pm
LaGrange, the only way Carver could even score in the 2nd half was throwing the ball. Why in the heck did they wait so long to figure it out? After they scored and got the 2 pt. conversion they went back to running and failing again. Out coached and out played! Plain and Simple!
Tomdawg
December 7th, 2010
10:23 pm
Buford83, why are all the Buford people so sinsitive about the words ” university and recruit “? It’s really pathetic. If you guys want to buy your championships, go ahead. Just don’t act like you’re winning with all the neighborhood kids.
Jeff in Calhoun
December 7th, 2010
10:26 pm
Well, I think the University of Calhoun will win! Mega STAR Adam Griffth will kick the winning 50 yard field goal! Write it Down!