Caleb King’s loss no big deal for Dogs — it’s Crowell’s show
Washaun Ealey (left) and Caleb King blew their opportunities at Georgia. (Brant Sanderlin/AJC)
(Last update: 4:50 p.m.)
We saw what Washaun Ealey brought to the table for Georgia. It wasn’t good enough.
We saw what Caleb King brought to the table for Georgia. It wasn’t good enough.
So sorry if I’m not all bent out of shape about the sudden news that King has been declared academically ineligible for the Bulldogs in the fall. Nothing against the young man personally, but in terms of how this impacts the fortunes of the football team, it’s close enough to zero. Fact is, the Dogs were going to rise or fall next season on the strength of freshman Isaiah Crowell, any way.
Coach Mark Richt has certainly let it be known on occasion that Crowell was the only running back he really cared about. How often does a college coach say on national letter of intent day something remotely close to this on a recruit: “ I wouldn’t be shocked to see him running that rock in the Dome against Boise State on the opening play if he does what he’s supposed to do”?
Richt was talking about Crowell. He had pretty much had it with Ealey, who a week later was suspended, eventually was granted his release and transferred to Jacksonville State.
Having King for depth purposes might’ve been nice. But what in the last three seasons — given injuries, a lack of production and his own off-field issues — would lead you to believe he could be counted on?
Scouting services had him as one of the top running backs in the nation and the first overall player in Georgia back in 2006. Either they were wrong or he figured he would just let the resume do the work for him in Athens. He had one great game in three years (166 yards against Georgia Tech in 2009). He was injured too often. He was arrested last year for failing to appear in court for a speeding ticket (which came to be something of an epidemic in Athens).
King is 23 years old and would have been a fifth-year senior. How can a fifth-year senior with everything to play for not stay academically eligible? This was not somebody whom Richt could count on.
Some Georgia fans will belabor the lack of experience behind Crowell. That’s a legitimate concern. But in three seasons over four years, King offered no guarantees.
Richt said in a statement, “We wish him the best in whatever he decides to do. However, we have to move forward and this will provide more opportunities for others to step up.”
Others won’t have to step up too much.
Success next season was always going to hinge on Crowell, and certainly the offensive line in front of him. Caleb King was just a name on the depth chart.
By Jeff Schultz
♦
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627 comments Add your comment
Hit A Single
July 8th, 2011
9:08 pm
PT – you are right! We have wiped the slate clean. We need kids that want to be Junkyard Dawgs. Hopefully we have learned alittle something about recruiting. Just because other schools want them doesn’t mean we have to get them. Do some good homework and if they can’t adjust to the program, put them in the dawg house and leave them there.
Big Ten Champs Nebraska
July 8th, 2011
9:08 pm
Again, your logic is retarded. It is the system. You want me to think the education system here in Georgia has to wait for someone to make them better? That’s the point you are making.
As far as Nebraska? They lead the nation in Academic All Americans…..By a significant margin. Something Georgia can’t claim.
"CaneDawg": That's it, enough is enuff....
July 8th, 2011
9:09 pm
St.RIcht. What came first the chicken or the egg? Is the glass half empty or half full at UGa these days ? While your kind is bashing the kids, why aren’t you at least questioning the integrity of the staff at UGa that is consistently failing in whatever they do. When these kids are failing to live up to expectations, doesn’t it in someway make the people that brought them to UGa look very bad considering all the money that was lost in commission of the failure. It is past time for total change to begin at UGa from its top post to the football program or this once great program will remain mired in mediocrity. And try to wake up and be smart because the problems at Georgia are bigger than kids washing out, transferring and quitting the program. With the current people in place at UGa these kids couldn’t have been that smart in the first place for signing with Georgia. You see Cam Newton, a GA. product, politely side-stepped the offer from CMR to be a TE at Georgia, to go on to college football greatness as a QB elsewhere. You got to give the kid credit for being smart enough to stick to his dream of being a celebrated championship QB, instead of being an unknown, little used TE at UGa. (People that take shots at Newton are haters that wish he played for their school and until Ncaa has creditable info than rumors you can’t sham Cam. He’s no Pryor until proven. Meanwhile, one way or another players, fans(and recruiter) are jumping off the sinking ship at UGa like fleas jumping off a sick dog.(pardon the pun) People are fed up and at their limit and saying enough is enough, gotta go, gotta go because how can anyone justify UGa paying $3 million per for mediocrity and commission of a continous series of failure within the program. There is a passive, humble, meek, mild-mannered demeanor at the head of the UGa football program and it transends into and beyond the field. Those are great qualities to have off the field, but UGA needs a more aggressive, fiery,emotionally impassioned, no-nonsense guy at the controls and you will see that junkyard Dawg mentality we crave coming from the players on the field and in the classroom. This guy doesn’t have to be as dictatorial as Saban, but the players need to be able to say to incoming recruits we have a good coach, but he doesn’t take any sh!t. Much like what Miami has found with its new coach Al Golden. Stop placing blame on the kids and holding the paid in full adults in charge accountable.
murray county mystic
July 8th, 2011
9:10 pm
bet UGA has the lead in arrests…by a significant margin…
Hit A Single
July 8th, 2011
9:12 pm
Man I am impressed with Nebraska’s academics. Just wondering why you are on a blog in Georgia since we are so back in the woods as far as education? Maybe we can get some help from those smart cornhuskers.
murray county mystic
July 8th, 2011
9:15 pm
i’d take Pellini over Richt right now…
Big Ten Champs Nebraska
July 8th, 2011
9:18 pm
The blog is part of a public forum, thus no restrictions as to who can post. I am here to bring some of you imbeciles back to reality. As long as I have lived here, I’ve yet to see a more delusional fan base. I’m all for supporting your team, but too many of you are still living in 1980.
You’re inferior. Deal with it.
Hit A Single
July 8th, 2011
9:18 pm
Let’s judge Pellini over a ten year period. Many coaches win when they first get to a program. Judge them over a period of time.
CHDawg
July 8th, 2011
9:20 pm
Single, Neb is another pretender. He goes by murray county mystic, and several other aliases. A witless kid who can’t use logic to make his points, so he relies on repetitive cut and pastes and different IDs.
Mobile Dawg
July 8th, 2011
9:20 pm
CaneDawg, I feel you pain daily. Everytime I read these blogs and see the comments filtered through “highly sugared kool aid” I get the urge to lash out. This program is floundering mercilessly, but as dim as things are, I see light at the end of the tunnel through the eyes of Greg McGarity. He has put the wheels in motion, the gears are starting to turn, but it’s going to be several years before we are where we need to be, with or without Richt, McGarity will succeed, I believe.
I strongly disagree with your position on Cam Newton. He was a paid gun for one year. I won’t even start discussing or debating specifics on that with you.
Shooting fish in a barrell
July 8th, 2011
9:21 pm
Wow…..That Nebraska guy/girl hit the nail on the head. I’m a Missouri Tiger fan and have dealt with many beatings by the Huskers. I hate them really, but I hate the Georgia fans that just don’t get it either.
Your not as good as you think you are.
Pope UGA XXIII
July 8th, 2011
9:21 pm
Just watching him help knock the Techites out of the Top 10
in 2009 was worth i, but it was time for him to go. Bad attitude.
CHDawg
July 8th, 2011
9:22 pm
Nebraska,
You are wasting our oxygen; leave and take your murray county alias with you.
Hit A Single
July 8th, 2011
9:22 pm
Why are you living in Georgia if it is so bad? Are you going to fly your kids to school in Nebraska? I don’t believe they have a bus that runs that route. This is a public forum and that is why I am on here. What happened in 1980? Oh yea run Herschel run! Nothing wrong with hoping and believing your team is going to be good.
Big Ten Champs Nebraska
July 8th, 2011
9:23 pm
I’m not talking a ten year profile. I am talking all time. You should have realized that by now. Your lack of intelligence gets exposed with each post.
And to Shooting Fish?…..It’s “you’re” not “your”
Hit A Single
July 8th, 2011
9:24 pm
Big Ten Champs – I guarantee you that Nebraska does’t want any part of the SEC. Maybe you’ll should to play in the Ivey League since your academics are so good. What was his name Phillips? The great back that Osborne breast fed.
Ridiculus
July 8th, 2011
9:25 pm
I am a red blooded Dawg but even I have to admit that we get dumb players it seems every year they are either in jail or flunking out. I did not go to college so I am not looking down on Caleb but we have to get players that can stay in school and stay out of jail or we will have no chance to win a championship
Patriot Man
July 8th, 2011
9:26 pm
I’m a big Patriot fan, but I just came on over to this public forum to voice my displeasure with UGA football. Just because you beat GT every year, you guys think you are great. You are all terrible losers, and I just wanted you to know. Btw, I love murray cty, nebraska, and missouri, too.
Big Ten Champs Nebraska
July 8th, 2011
9:27 pm
I love living in Georgia…..The winters here are awesome. The city of Atlanta is great too, albeit some infrastructure problems. The people are overwhelmingly friendly. There is FAR more to do here on any given night. Still, I call it as I see it. The UGA program is not that extraordinary. it’s good…..Really good over the life of it’s program, but not exceptional.
Beverly Hall
July 8th, 2011
9:27 pm
Looks like the Georgia fans are a little sensitive tonight.
What could be the reason?
Big Ten Champs Nebraska
July 8th, 2011
9:29 pm
Ahhhhh…..Bring up a player that was on the roster over a dozen years ago……With UGA, you only have to rewind a dozen hours to find a problem.
FYI, Damon Evans is from Nebraska……
kerryb
July 8th, 2011
9:29 pm
Nebraska hasn’t done anything since Eric Crouch and they were an option offense. What makes you think they are going to do anything now? Do you think they are going to win a conference championship because they couldn’t beat Oklahoma and Texas and moved to the Big 10? Yea, you might be right. The Big 10 is going to be down because OSU is in shambles and Michigan is changing coaches. The only way Nebraska wins anything.
Ringleader
July 8th, 2011
9:29 pm
Nebraska…………….I have a better idea for you……Go find a light bulb socket to lick.
Mobile Dawg
July 8th, 2011
9:30 pm
Beverly, are you attempting to use humor with that comment?
kerryb
July 8th, 2011
9:31 pm
Michigan State will win the Big 10 this year not Nebraska.
Hit A Single
July 8th, 2011
9:31 pm
Big Ten Champs – Now you talking! Nobody has crowned UGA champions, but there is nothing wrong with going into each season on a positive. There is nothing like southern hospitality and we welcome you here to Georgia and we may not be extraordinay, but I guarantee you everybody on our schedule no matter what sport respects us.
Big Ten Champs Nebraska
July 8th, 2011
9:31 pm
RIngleader…..That’s the best you got? Really? I think it is close to your bed time. Go brush your teeth and get in to your jammies.
You people are awesome…..So much to laugh at.
@ Hit a Single
July 8th, 2011
9:33 pm
you are hilarious !!
Big Ten Champs Nebraska
July 8th, 2011
9:33 pm
@ @Hit a Single
How so?
Hit A Single
July 8th, 2011
9:35 pm
@hit a single – who are you? Are you from Nebraska also? Damn we are being invaded. Hey do you’ll have a Johnny Rodgers we could have?
Woofy One
July 8th, 2011
9:35 pm
All gain and no loss. Neither did anything but consume resources that are better focused elsewhere.
murray county mystic
July 8th, 2011
9:36 pm
thank you Patriot man…I have only one “handle”…I am the Murray Country Mystic…no association with my new friend from Nebraska or anyone else. Our common thread is our joint need to vent when it comes to UGAG football, more to the point, the idiots in the UGAG WalMart gear, spouting the percieved “greatness” of the mid-tier program based in Athens. I have lived in several states and you GA fans are easlily the most delusional in this great country of ours…1980 was a long time ago…
Colonel Reb
July 8th, 2011
9:36 pm
I can’t speak for the other teams on Georgia’s schedule, but we don’t respect you.
You waste more talent than we could ever dream of having at Ole Miss.
wes
July 8th, 2011
9:37 pm
Crowell’s highlight videos aren’t even impressive.
Good luck!
Hit A Single
July 8th, 2011
9:38 pm
Murray county mystic- I am fading out up here on the Atlantis and my internet connection is not good, but I can see why you have lived in so many states. They don’t let you stay long and who has said anything about 1980?
'94 UGA Alumni
July 8th, 2011
9:39 pm
Hey Jeff,
I totally disagree and think this will definitely have a negative impact on the Dawgs this year. You can’t loose all your experience at running back and it be a good thing. We are putting all our hopes and dreams on an 18 year old kid who got stuffed by measely Calhoun in the high school playoffs and proceeded to flick off all the fans who were there. He also has struggled in the summer workouts and has never played a down in SEC football so forgive me if I’m a little concerned. Personally, I am expecting more out of Ken Malcome than I am Crowell.
The Richt Cup
July 8th, 2011
9:40 pm
Dayum, he sure did help with the coveted Richt Cup. I’m sure we have more thugs..er, uh playuhs….in the system.
kerryb
July 8th, 2011
9:40 pm
Wes, I guess nothing impresses you. They looked pretty good to me. Never goes down on first contact. Gets out of tackles like Knowshon Moreno. Has break away speed when he gets into open field. I just love it when someone comes on here and makes a moronic comment like that
Jeff Schultz
July 8th, 2011
9:40 pm
Some of you are getting the wrong perception of what I wrote. I’m not guaranteeing success for Isaiah Crowell or predicting he’ll be a superstar. Merely stating that Caleb King had done nothing to show that he was going to help. In fact, on and off the field, he had showed just the contrary.
Hit A Single
July 8th, 2011
9:41 pm
Colonel Reb – I bet you that Archie and Eli respected us and they are the ones that count, not you.
Hit A Single
July 8th, 2011
9:43 pm
Jeff – you are right. We couldn’t depend on him and I am glad he is gone. He had way too many chances and I really believe he thought he was better than he really was.
kerryb
July 8th, 2011
9:45 pm
I agree with you 100 percent Jeff. Tired of his not going to class and getting in trouble with the Police. I had no confidence that he was not going to get into some kind of trouble again. Better to be done with him now than to get 5 games into the season and all of a sudden he is gone.
kerryb
July 8th, 2011
9:47 pm
Now Crowell and Malcome can get most of the reps which will help them get up to speed in a hurry. Crowell’s speed and ellusivness and Malcomes power will be a nice change of pace.
kerryb
July 8th, 2011
9:49 pm
Florida’s going to lose 5-6 games this year for sure. Not worried about them.
Hit A Single
July 8th, 2011
9:49 pm
Jeff – you know we spend time talking about kids like King that just don’t know how good they have it, and then I see what happened at the Texas Rangers’ game and see a kid lose his dad like that and I just wonder if it will ever balance out. My heart goes out to this young man and is family. His dad was a true hero as a firefighter and died trying to please his son.
Jeff Schultz
July 8th, 2011
9:51 pm
1eyedJack — “Maybe Saban will waive a running back before camp starts.” … Hilarious comment.
Mobile Dawg
July 8th, 2011
9:51 pm
Good perspective Single, I witnessed an auto accident several days ago that had me counting “all my blessings”.
murray county mystic
July 8th, 2011
9:52 pm
amen Flying Tigers…UGA is a better fit in the ACC; no longer competitive in the big-boy conference…Hit a single, read my friend Tigers comment…he’s correct regarding UF completely choking out UGA dreams…
Nate
July 8th, 2011
9:53 pm
sorry but you don’t rise or fall on a freshman rb jeff. these guys HAVE to be broken in. he’s not playing in the southern conf. he’s going against some big nfl bound tacklers. not the 5′10 210 pound high schoolers. when isiah coughs up the rock 5 times in his first two games, dawg fans will be screaming at why they let ealey go.
kerryb
July 8th, 2011
9:54 pm
Murray, why don’t you and Tiger take you love fest with each other somewhere else. If we want to read moronic comments on a blog we will go to the Tech blog.