Georgia’s RB legacy takes another hit with suspension
Carlton Thomas is the latest Georgia running back to find trouble. (Brant Sanderlin/AJC)
Back on the Left Coast, USC was referred to as “Tailback U” for its rich history of running backs. Among them: Marcus Allen, Mike Garrett, Charles White, Anthony Davis, Ricky Bell, Reggie Bush and a certain alleged double murderer.
Georgia’s history may or may not be equal to that, but with the likes of Herschel Walker, Garrison Hearst, Charley Trippi, Frank Sinkwich, Rodney Hampton, Robert Edwards and Knowshon Moreno, it has an argument.
So what happened?
The Bulldogs just lost their third running back of the offseason. At least for one game. Junior Carlton Thomas, who only last week spoke of taking on a leadership role with the team, has been suspended for one game for unspecified violation of team rules during spring football, according to our Chip Towers. That’s one less body available for the season opener against Boise State.
Thomas’ suspension follows Caleb King being declared academically ineligible (again) and ultimately leaving the program, then declaring himself for the NFL supplemental draft (good luck with that). And King’s exit followed Washaun Ealey being released and transferring to 1-AA Jacksonville State.
Ealey had a series of off-the-field incidents in Athens. So did King (who also was ineligible for last season’s bowl game and was suspended two games earlier in the season). Now, Thomas falls in line. Or maybe that should be out of line.
When and why did the Georgia running back position become such a parade of knuckleheads?
I’ve stated in this space before: How the Bulldogs perform next season will be based largely on the success of the offensive line and freshman back Isaiah Crowell. The Dogs’ best hope is that Crowell is a departure from his recent predecessors.
By Jeff Schultz
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289 comments Add your comment
Bishop Eddie Longs Red Panties
July 18th, 2011
2:34 pm
@ JB are you sore about losing to your top 6 =(
John Brown
July 18th, 2011
2:35 pm
Why does Richt still have a job? Man, 1980 was a longggggggggggggg time ago. One thing I thought I could always count on was UGA football. Wow, you guys really lowered your standards down there. Glad I went to Northwestern U then, where they dwarf UGA in academics, and at this point, NU dwarfs UGA in football. All those nerdlingers(like me) at a school with 7,000 undergrads has a better football program than the SEC “powerhouse” UGA. Fire Richt. Should have a long time ago. Sad sad sad. I’m a UGA fan 1st, born and raised. I want another championship. Pretty sad it will be NU before UGA.
Glass house FL
July 18th, 2011
2:35 pm
How many times has UF and Aub been on probation in SEC history?
I’d bet their the top two…Gotta love Charley Pell and Gayboy Hall…
Heck, Pell admitted to spying on GA practices and still couldn’t beat ‘em.
Of course Bamalama had the redneck teflon coach in Bear Bryant that the NCAA stayed clear of.
Certainly he was the cheatingest, but must have had more dirt on investigators to keep away from him.
Vain Jangling
July 18th, 2011
2:35 pm
Tailback-U? More like Tailback U-Haul! and doesn’t that Walker kid from down in Wrightsville still owe us one more year?
JB
July 18th, 2011
2:36 pm
The expectations are that Georgia plays in the SEC and Boise plays 10 really weak teams a year piling up impressive stats in a weak conference. It’s a good time for Boise to catch the Dawgs, because most Dawg teams year in and year out would beat Boise 9 of 10 times . I understand they have a pretty good team, but in the SEC they would be Kentucky. Sorry, but it’s true.
Lowcountry Bulldawg
July 18th, 2011
2:38 pm
” We play are disciplined and play as a TEAM – two things UGA has not done in quite sometime.”
That is a very good summation of UGA football the past 5 years. Until this is corrected it will be a rallying cry for rival bloggers. Lets hope CMR understood that finally this past offseason and can silence his critics. Until he shows otherwise that is a fare assessment of the state of UGA football.
Jamaica Dawg
July 18th, 2011
2:38 pm
Shultz – yes seriously – let’s put it into perspective – a one game hit to a likely backup tailback does not equal a serious “Hit” to the tailback legacy at UGA. I say “sensationalized” because it created, not one, but two articles from two separate AJC authors. Let’s get some more quality, investigative reporting from you guys, not the multiple article and constant rehash of old information . Dawgnight got two major future commitments for the Dawgs at tailback and it got limited mention which was my real point.
So close
July 18th, 2011
2:41 pm
Yeah, AL probably deserved the death penalty throughout history as much as USC, OH St., FL, Aub, the entire old SWC and the one that got it SMU!
Vain Jangling
July 18th, 2011
2:42 pm
And BTW, Schultz, I wish these bloggers would make up their minds. Either you’re an unrepentant homer, ignoring the man behind the curtain whilst sucked up to UGA’s hind teat, or you’re laughing like a hyena on crack, clicking your heals in shuddering glee after every Bulldog arrest or suspension. It might be one or the other, but it ain’t both!
Hee hee, I said “teat” on the computer.
JB
July 18th, 2011
2:43 pm
@2;42……….good way to get banned.
Russ, the Temporary Running Back
July 18th, 2011
2:44 pm
Being a running back and a mascot at the same time is something I am glad to do for Coach Richt and the program. The hardest thing for me will be the “no-bite” rule. A little dog gets anxious when he’s playing ball and there is a tendency to snap at the tackler. Watching the game from the sidelines while your sitting on a bag of ice is different, just ask Barbara Dooley. I think getting to play on Saturdays is going to be a real treat. Being a football player may open some doors for me and help me with the girls. Something about a girl in a pair of coveralls, can’t describe it.
slydog
July 18th, 2011
2:45 pm
@ if they could only speak… yes i cringe and it is bordering on anger. the answer: these young men are gladiators in a meat market. for a majority of the african american players, this is there ticket out and some school administrators, scouts, recruiters, agents the NCAA, AND the NFL need to have a steady supply of meat. You throw the coaches on that bus too. The results speak for themselves.
@Boise all I can say is, I will make some money in Vegas in september. thanks for the tip. it BEHOOVES YOU to go with the underdog (yes, pun intended) This is not VA Tech. Furthermore, this the beginning of the season, not the middle where UGA normally stumbles, and CMR butt is on fire and so will the teams psyche. They will be fresh, fast, stronger, bigger (john jenkins), and have a chip on their shoulders.
@ Buckeye please go read your own blog. you may not have a football team in a few years.
Beast from the East
July 18th, 2011
2:47 pm
Glass house FL,
UF certainly does have their (notice the correct usage?) fair share of NCAA violations in the past. My question is, do you really want to got there? UGA is tied for 9th all-time with 6 major infractions. Does Jan Kemp or Jim Harrick ring a bell? Glass houses, indeed.
RedandBlackDAWG
July 18th, 2011
2:47 pm
Come on Jeff, legacy? I hardly think he was going to leave a legacy to be remembered at UGA or in the SEC.
Now you want legacy, ask Jim tressel what that means. No wait, he is retired, ask his AD, mr. Coverup.
has the game started yet?
July 18th, 2011
2:48 pm
lots of folks here that know how to coach………anyone want to apply for CMR’s job?
Beast from the East
July 18th, 2011
2:51 pm
I’ll take it for $3,000,000 a year. LOL!
A lot of mouth coming from a deadeye
July 18th, 2011
2:52 pm
How’s that big 10 (or are you able to count to 12 now?) thing going for OH. St. this year?
And Boise, quit crying that you want to be one of the big boys….Go to a real conference and then if you win, you won’t have to feel like a red headed stepchild.
Dumbo Donnan
July 18th, 2011
2:54 pm
Actually ealey was let go first. Then king.
Dogs in for a world of hurt this year on offense. Freshman rb’s contantly miss blocks. Qb’s get mangled with them in there. They also fumble a lot. With no aj to throw to, this offense will be very anemic.
Yeah we can go there Glass House FL
July 18th, 2011
2:54 pm
Florida still tops UGA in NCAA crimes.
Real.Dawgs
July 18th, 2011
2:55 pm
Not that Georgia ever had a chance to beat Boise, but it gets worse every week.
I was predicting a 2-3 td loss with and improved and health team, but it’s gonna be bad, maybe 3-4 td loss for my dawgs with all the losses. Oh well, just another year, at least we can defer to SEC dominance instead of worrying about our dwindling Georgia team.
Tailback U
July 18th, 2011
2:56 pm
Jeff, I gotta add a shout-out for Sam “Bam” Cunningham too! Man he was a bruiser and had some fine years on some bad Patriots team as well. How long until kick-off????
RabidDawgFan
July 18th, 2011
2:56 pm
This is being blown out of proportion. I could see it if we lost him for the season. He’s not even an EVERY DOWN back and likely wouldn’t have gotten many carries vs. Boise anyways. Seriously. We have Samuel, Malcome, and Crowell and most SEC teams only have about 2 backs that can get the job done anyway, well we have 3. We’re FINE. If the O-line comes through and blocks like they should, then we’ll be fine. For the most part, we have everybody we need to go out and get that win vs. Boise on Sept 3rd.
Sopwith Camel
July 18th, 2011
2:56 pm
Russ, you are too funny!!
Boise beatdown
July 18th, 2011
3:01 pm
Weak running game.
No standout wide receiver
Murray sophmore slump
No blocking for Murray=
Boise 31 Ga 17
icallbs
July 18th, 2011
3:01 pm
“When and why did the Georgia running back position become such a parade of knuckleheads?” About the time the public school system went to hell in a hand basket – no accountability, no fear of punishment, rewarding of incompetence (students, teachers, administrators). One way of looking at it is that the public school system is producing EXACTLY as it is designed to do so; a school system designed to produce knuckleheads is succeeding spectacularly well. The Atlanta Pubic School System would be the poster child. Yeah, I know Caleb King went to a private school, which highlights that particular school as a joke.
How bad was Scam Newton?
July 18th, 2011
3:03 pm
So bad even FL kicked him out….and those cheaters hardly ever kick “an employee” off the team.
It's Enrico Pollazzo!!
July 18th, 2011
3:07 pm
Shame for the little guy to get in trouble. Isaiah Crowell is saying “holy sh&t Batman!!”
DentalDawg
July 18th, 2011
3:11 pm
Who woulda guessed Sgt. Schultz would be the one pointing out another UGA woe.
UGA Spin Machine
July 18th, 2011
3:15 pm
Scenario #1: Player in trouble and gets dismissed from UGA.
UGA spin: Isn’t Richt great? The other SEC coaches and the local police who are all corrupt would have just swept this under the rug.
Scenario #2: Player in trouble but not dismissed from UGA.
UGA spin: Isn’t Richt great? The other SEC coaches would have gotten rid of him to open up scholly’s.
Gator Mascot
July 18th, 2011
3:17 pm
Russ, The Temporary Running Back
Russ, at least you are alive and can contribute,
I am down here in the Ben Hill Sky Boxes, stuffed
and in a glass case.
Newman
July 18th, 2011
3:20 pm
You should add first-round picks Tim Worley and Cleveland Gary to the list…And what about Super Bowl MVP Terrell Davis?
Randall "Pink" Floyd
July 18th, 2011
3:22 pm
2 departures + 1 suspension = 3 blessings in disguise.
Lowcountry Bulldawg
July 18th, 2011
3:23 pm
Tim Worley was a good back—-flunked out of NFL due to drugs, hardly one I really would want ot attach my name to.
Cleveland Gary—-didn’t even finish his career at UGA
Terrel Davis— Ray Goff obviously misevaluated his talent.
So attaching Tailback U to these guys is really a mixed bag.
rogeriter
July 18th, 2011
3:25 pm
All of you Boise State fans–remember all the sports announcers said Ga. couldn’t stay with Hawaii (same league) in the sugar bowl. But they found out that play in the SEC is different. I’m not saying Ga. will win–just that I wouldn’t pay much attention to what sports announcers on TV say. They are the same ones who pick Ohio State vs SEC in National Title games.
Beast from the East
July 18th, 2011
3:25 pm
“Florida still tops UGA in NCAA crimes.”
Are we talking major NCAA violations? If so, then not according to the data I’ve read. If you have some other info, please provide a link. If you’re referring to player arrests, then I bow to the reigning Fulmer Cup champs. It seems you have us Gators beat on both fronts. Kudos!
another day at the office
July 18th, 2011
3:26 pm
Boise won’t get 21, Georgia 35+
joe
July 18th, 2011
3:28 pm
I heard Coach Donnan has contacted Thomas earlier today, saying he’s got a sure-fire way of growing a $100 bill ten-fold in just 30 days…
Beast from the East
July 18th, 2011
3:28 pm
I would be more concerned about the Boise game at this point. I’m sure they’ll blitz often. Bobo and McClendon need to really work to ensure the remaining RB’s are ready to pick up the biltzes. If they are, then Murray could have a HUGE game. If not, then it could be a long night.
One Year Left
July 18th, 2011
3:30 pm
Not to worry. I’m a 63 year old UGA grad who has one year of eligibility left. I’m already increasing my daily walking and lifting my grandchildren for 10 reps each. Put me in coach. I am a model citizen, so you can count on me.
Jimmy Crack
July 18th, 2011
3:32 pm
What about Vandy? How can a school so scholastically anal as them not have big dumb jocks who can’t make grades or can’t differentiate between dating girls and assault? They do have a defensive line like everyone else, you know. I smell a cover up! Oh, nevermind, that was me.
Decatur Dawg
July 18th, 2011
3:33 pm
Weak article. Lazy journalism. You my friend, are an idiot.
Jimmy Crack
July 18th, 2011
3:35 pm
Lars Tate.
Chip Folendore
July 18th, 2011
3:36 pm
I have a question for you Jeff. Why was investigation of Tech never mentioned in your column until day penalties were announced?
Bobo, Bobo, a pirate's life for me
July 18th, 2011
3:39 pm
what about Terrel Davis?? I loved watching him in Denver.
Paddy
July 18th, 2011
3:41 pm
UGA should beat Boise St with only 1 running back, whomever he is. This is not that big of a deal! If we can’t beat a weak sister like Boise St then UGA needs to look into the mirror and make some big changes. I, for one, am not worried about our opener!
Saywhut
July 18th, 2011
3:43 pm
Since the Dawgs aren’t opening with Idaho State, I doubt anyone will notice that Carlton Thomas is not there.
FL Stats
July 18th, 2011
3:43 pm
B from the East,
how many felonies have been documented for FL players since urban took over? I’ll tell you that there have been none under richt at UGA in that same time periord. Are there more arrests at UGA? Probably. Of course, those misdemeanors include DUI, DWI, suspended license….which are embarrassing, but let’s not compare the type of arrests to take place down in gainesville to what has occurred up in athens.
Real.Dawgs
July 18th, 2011
3:46 pm
I love Georgia, but Boise’s gonna put a beat down on us that will be felt through SEC country for years, and worse, Boise will go undefeated and into another BCS bowl if not the NCG, and will probably beat another SEC team. This may be a bad year for the SEC. I’m worried.
Trojan
July 18th, 2011
3:47 pm
Jeff: Why not write a story titled: “Carlton should have went to Auburn and taken an independant study class”? Why not applaud UGA tough standards? Why not applaud UGA for suspending Kings last bowl game for not going to tutoring sessions? Why always such a negative slant? Do you not agree that UGA is trying to do the right thing with the suspension?
Trojan
July 18th, 2011
3:48 pm
A 3rd string RB at UGA gets more press than probation at Tech?