Crowell, others suspended — Dogs don’t need this now (UPDATED)
This already is the second time Isaiah Crowell has run into trouble. (Jason Getz/AJC)
(Updated with confirmation of failed drug tests)
Timing is everything.
A few days following Georgia’s biggest win of the season over its greatest tormentors (Florida), the Bulldogs suspended three tailbacks, including Isaiah Crowell, for the next game. But because Saturday’s opponent is New Mexico State, half the team could be suspended, and it wouldn’t make a difference in the result. It just means that with the team now down four running backs, quarterback Aaron Murray’s favorite call in the huddle will sound something like this: “Everybody go out!”
But, yes — timing is everything, and for Georgia this stinks.
The Dogs have won six straight. They’ve started to distance themselves from a 0-2 start. But now the news is not about the team being on a roll and possibly running the table for the next four weeks and winning the SEC Eastern Division. Rather, it’s about three players veering off course again, which threatens to derail some of the momentum the team has built in the past few weeks.
Coach Mark Richt has suspended Crowell (who also was benched for the first quarter of the Vanderbilt game for unspecified reasons), Carlton Thomas (who also was suspended for the season opener) and Ken Malcome.
All three players failed drug tests that were administered last week before the Florida game, two sources told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. And so we have confirmation that, yes, these are college kids who sometimes do really dumb things.
Richt did not mention anything about the suspensions or drug tests at his weekly news conference Tuesday but released a statement later, saying only: “We have certain standards in all that we do, and their actions do not reflect the Georgia way. They will serve their suspensions, learn a lesson and I’m sure be better men for it.”
Now, there’s a lot of speculation out there about what happened and when it happened. The Twitterverse has gone nuclear with suggestions that Richt and school officials knew something was amiss last week but sat on it, so as to defer punishment until the New Mexico State game (which obviously isn’t as important as the Florida game).
Honestly, there are a lot of coaches in Division I college football where I would believe such a conspiracy theory to be true. But Richt isn’t one of them.
Athletic director Greg McGarity told our Chip Towers, “This has nothing to do with anything that [happened before] the Florida game. Absolutely not. … Certain things are found, and we act right then.”
Just when the Dogs finally got going, they stepped in it again. We’ll find out in the coming weeks how much this impacts the team, and it starts with Crowell. He is the biggest concern. He was benched for the first quarter of the Vanderbilt game (Richt never stated why). So this is at least two strikes for the team’s freshman starting running back. There is no need to amplify how important he is to the team. No. 2 running back Richard Samuel already is out for the remainder of the regular season after ankle surgery, so that’s four running backs off the depth chart.
Crowell clearly still has maturity issues. That’s not uncommon for a freshman. But it can’t comfort Richt going down the stretch of the season.
Running back hasn’t been the most stable of positions in Athens. Less you need reminding, the depth chart last season included Washaun Ealey and Caleb King, both potential returnees this year. But they suffered through suspensions and eligibility issues. Ealey transferred to Jacksonville State. King was declared academically ineligible for this fall and went to the NFL (he went undrafted before signing with Minnesota’s practice squad).
The assumption at this point is that Crowell, Thomas and Malcome all will be back in time for the Auburn game in two weeks. But nothing can be certain — nothing except that at a time when the Dogs are finally winning, the last thing they needed was for a few players to start acting like knuckleheads.
And that would certainly seem to be the case here.
By Jeff Schultz
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751 comments Add your comment
Will Muschamp
November 1st, 2011
3:30 pm
Richt must stay!
invictus mon
November 1st, 2011
3:30 pm
Need to call my bookie before the vegas guys change the spread lol
uga= unethical
November 1st, 2011
3:30 pm
why did they not address it at the press conf? why did someone leak that crowell had failed a test before the fla game? and why now. what a joke. so obvious they are hiding this.
Bobby Bowden
November 1st, 2011
3:30 pm
Mark -
You’re finally learning from some of the things I taught you.
Suspend them AFTER the game with your rival and FOR the game with your patsy.
I’m so proud of you – dagummit AND dangnabbit!
Vandy coach
November 1st, 2011
3:30 pm
Please keep Richt, Bobo, and GrannY!
To Jerk bloggers...
November 1st, 2011
3:31 pm
They violated TEAM rules NOT NCAA rules. Here come the haters…..
White Jeezus
November 1st, 2011
3:32 pm
When the rednex finally get tired of this sh!t??
AL Dawg
November 1st, 2011
3:32 pm
Muschamp, you still would not have won without Crowell. or Thomas. We need a big body running back in the next Dream team. Not a guy with what seems to be recurring issues. Jeez!
rduck
November 1st, 2011
3:32 pm
gotta say… you could see this coming from a mile away with Crowell. the whole facebook photo shoot, the gangsta profile, and the look at me attitude. dude is gonna be real problems for UGA if he is not stopped before it’s too late. hate to see kids with so much talent just go to waste… and Thomas seems to be having issues of his own also…
disgruntled
November 1st, 2011
3:32 pm
I heard this happened last week. Why weren’t they held out of the Florida game????
Figures.. Richt
Will Muschamp
November 1st, 2011
3:33 pm
Georgia needs to vacate their win this past weekend!!! Once again, they cheated!
JAXdawg
November 1st, 2011
3:33 pm
WOW!!! Jeff I have not seen one article from you giving congrats to the DAWGS for beating the Gators (even though you picked the Gators to win) however the first piece of negative news you hear, you jump out with one of your many bashing comments concerning the DAWGS. Just go ahead and admit that you don’t like the DAWGS.
Boca Baby
November 1st, 2011
3:33 pm
Herschel Talker: I guess Florida should have fired Urban Meyer since he had more players in trouble and disciplinary problems than Mark Richt. Oh, but he was winning national championships so that’s ok. Would you be complaining about this issue if Richt was winning NCs?
UGA alum
November 1st, 2011
3:33 pm
Really, guys….. really?
FaithfulDawg86
November 1st, 2011
3:34 pm
Trolls are never happy! If the athletes commit offenses and aren’t suspended, Richt is too soft. If he suspends multiple players, y’all claim he “waited” for a convenient time… Rambo and Boise State ring a bell? And what is so convenient about suspending your entire running game when your other tailback (Samuels) is out? No matter who we’re playing, this could be disastrous. He’s a good coach dealing with 18-22 year-olds who have been treated like rock stars since Pop Warner days, and some handle it better than others. Richt is providing much-needed discipline for the individuals regardless of the consequences for his so-called hot seat job!
TennesseeDawg
November 1st, 2011
3:34 pm
Why does this not surprise me? Richt will buy himself another year just to flop next year.
Parrott
November 1st, 2011
3:34 pm
So HT, who do you think can stop kids from doing stupid things? Name one? I’m curious
Don
November 1st, 2011
3:35 pm
You’re freakin’ kidding me right? Enough is enough! Bench them and invite someone from the student body and let them start.They are getting a very expensive college education, et al., and all we ask is that they conduct themselves within the confines of the rules…few though they are. As far as I’m concerned, Crowell can go back to his ghetto in Columbus, and take his thug attitude with him.
Scholarship
November 1st, 2011
3:36 pm
T-1, T-2, T-3 and T does not stand for Tailback.
Atlanta87
November 1st, 2011
3:36 pm
Who cares? I could play tailback against New Mexico State and UGA would still win. This just gives Bobo an excuse to throw the ball 100 times in a game.
FaithfulDawg86
November 1st, 2011
3:36 pm
@Say it ain’t so. Could you be any vaguer? Exactly to what rumors are you referring?
Dawg Fan
November 1st, 2011
3:36 pm
I love my dogs, but this doesn’t hold up to me. I’m HOPING that whatever the case may be, that it happened after the Florida game…
Jeff
November 1st, 2011
3:36 pm
Crowell has the makings of a cancer for this team….in trouble….has to come out of games….always hurt…Hmmmmm….sounds alot like Caleb…..
Boca Baby
November 1st, 2011
3:36 pm
Who now plays running back against NM State?
Bogey
November 1st, 2011
3:37 pm
Crowell already has the reputation as a “me” guy and this will just add fuel to the fire. Malcome has been unhappy and even left the team for a day earlier this year so he’s probably on thin ice. Second suspension for Thomas as well. What’s going on with these guys?
5 Time National Champs Nebraska
November 1st, 2011
3:37 pm
Again?
What is wrong with this team?
JackDennis
November 1st, 2011
3:38 pm
Dawgs: EASY winners of the Fulmer Cup.
Lindsey
November 1st, 2011
3:38 pm
Why does everyone assume these guys violated team rules before the GA/FL game?? What about the possibility of the guys doing something after the game to celebrate that went against team rules. I don’t think CMR is the kind of man to play these guys then suspend them, if they would have done whatever got them in trouble before the game I am sure CMR would not let them play, that is the kind of coach he is. Hope the guys shape up the GA Way, GO DAWGS!!!
Destin Dawg
November 1st, 2011
3:39 pm
Zander Ogletree will impress !!!
GT 79
November 1st, 2011
3:39 pm
There is no way to know what caused the suspensions due to the typical “violation of team rules” statement from the University, but the fact that Crowell is involved should be troubling to UGa fans and coaches – 2 suspensions in his first year is not a good sign. I always hope that Tech and UGa can recruit fine young men and great athletes, but being 18 yrs old and told you’re the best thing since sliced bread your entire life and being coddled to go along with it most of the time is very detrimental to developing good character. Hopefully, he will learn and turn things around off the field and have a good career at UGa, but I would not put my hard earned money down on it – probably 2 yrs at most and off to the NFL if he’s good enough.
Paul Garmon
November 1st, 2011
3:39 pm
What do you expect? Just take a good look folks. This is the worst 6 – 2 team in football.
Columbus Dawg
November 1st, 2011
3:39 pm
I guess I will have to tote the rock this Saturday for my Dawgs!!!!!!
Boobie Bowden
November 1st, 2011
3:39 pm
Take the Aggies and the points…
Steve
November 1st, 2011
3:40 pm
Hardon will get most of the carries but look for Boykin and Smith to get some action. Both would be more than capable and we shouldn’t need them on defense.
Destin Dawg
November 1st, 2011
3:41 pm
Maybe Muschamp will replace Ron Zook at Ill.. ?? Weiss back to N.D. ???
Lee
November 1st, 2011
3:41 pm
@Ralph………….and the way they learn to count at UGA is 1 suspension, 2 suspension, 3 suspension, 4?
cmac22
November 1st, 2011
3:41 pm
18 yr old idiots …. we’ve all been there!
Jeff Eats Quiche
November 1st, 2011
3:41 pm
We need to recruit a top back next year. Crowell is showing himself to be unreliable, on the field and off.
Scholarship
November 1st, 2011
3:42 pm
Gold Teeth, Braids and hanging out with high school thieves who stole from UGAockerroom. Enough said.
Gay Dawg
November 1st, 2011
3:42 pm
How humiuliating!
joe
November 1st, 2011
3:42 pm
Guess it’s time to take the redshirt off Robert ‘Bobby’ Boucher Jr.
Jeff Eats Quiche
November 1st, 2011
3:42 pm
And for God’s sake, get a hair cut while you’re serving the suspension, son. You look like a gay hairdresser.
Kiss The Ring
November 1st, 2011
3:42 pm
What a pathetic program! BWAHAHAHAHAHA
John Kemp
November 1st, 2011
3:42 pm
New Chevy Commercial: “It’s the same ol’ tradition, it’s the same ol’ ‘G’, when folks play Georgia they know our kids all probably rolled up a fat one and each took a ‘Hit’!”
What’s Quincy Carter doing now by the way?
5 Time National Champs Nebraska
November 1st, 2011
3:42 pm
This is making me laugh. When are you UGA homers going to realize this program is in DEEP trouble?
This sort of thing(nearly weekly problems) does not happen at Nebraska.
Omnipotent One
November 1st, 2011
3:43 pm
It’s been confirmed that this all took place BEFORE the FL game…..how could they NOT be suspended for the FL game? Hypocrites.
beachdog
November 1st, 2011
3:43 pm
We know Schultz is popping chamagne corks.
Bogey
November 1st, 2011
3:43 pm
test
H.D. Morgan
November 1st, 2011
3:44 pm
Team rules? Georgia has team rules?? Is this something new??? When you recruit with character being no factor in your evaluation process, you get this. If you’re surprised, I have some swamp land in Lowndes County you’d just love. Dirt cheap. And, they’ll all be back for Auburn. Only a murder indictment could prevent that. Though I’m sure Ed Tolley would try to get it delayed for a few weeks.
Scott
November 1st, 2011
3:44 pm
I will admit from having to take a drug test myself that it DOES NOT take a week to get results. You can determine marijuana in 5 minutes. Nice cover up mutt nation. Typical