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
UGAX
November 1st, 2011
3:56 pm
I don’t really care what they did as long as they are back for the Auburn game…….
GAtorFan
November 1st, 2011
3:56 pm
ESPN is reporting that all 3 running backs tested positive for drugs 2 days before the Florida game. Why were they not suspended for the florida game?
Old Dawg
November 1st, 2011
3:57 pm
WTF?!?!?
Apalachicola
November 1st, 2011
3:57 pm
Ah well… So what? We still won.
Privacy Police
November 1st, 2011
3:57 pm
ESPN’s “source” should be fired from whatever role they have. Results of any drug test is private medical information and is protected by HIPPA and cannot be released to anyone w/out consent of the individual.
Herschel Talker
November 1st, 2011
3:57 pm
Boca Baby:
Under the current environment, it would be more tolerable if he were winning. Sad but true. Richt needs to go because of this nonsense AND because the team has not done well.
HT
marty from trion
November 1st, 2011
3:57 pm
i’d get high too if i had to play in front of you georgia idiots! roll tide!
DesignerJacket
November 1st, 2011
3:58 pm
Georgie runnin’ backs play their best between the ganja bushes….
18 of 22
November 1st, 2011
3:58 pm
I guess CMR needed the time between the positive test on Thursday and the game on Saturday to figure out what action to take. Classic…
Contractor
November 1st, 2011
3:58 pm
Being a Georgia fan, I hate people comparing anyone to Herschel Walker, but how are all those comparisons now to y’all delirious fans? He can’t touch Herschel on the field, but he dang sure won’t even come close sitting on the sidelines in street clothes. The kid has problems, and the way he carries himself shows it. He needs a tough lesson in that this is the SEC, you’re going to get nailed on most plays, every athlete on the field is just as good if not better, and it’s not Team Me anymore like in Little League and through High School. No one player can win every game alone, even Tim Tebow and Cameron Newton needed help, and they are way above the athleticism of Crowell.
invictus mon
November 1st, 2011
3:58 pm
Dadgummit…missed it by 30 minutes.
Bama Mike
November 1st, 2011
3:58 pm
Maybe it was just me but I thought Richt acted kind of goofy after game with comments. ” Glory to God and we got rid of some demons ” I was expecting something along the lines of Hey it may not have been pretty to the viewer but looking up at the scoreboard right now is a beautiful site to me. I could not have be prouder of our guys of fighting through some adversity and coming out with a win”
shlomo
November 1st, 2011
3:59 pm
how dumb can these boys be!
Apalachicola
November 1st, 2011
3:59 pm
Man oh man! Just imagine how good this team will be if Mark can ever get ‘em all sober.
GATA!!!
ICMIII
November 1st, 2011
4:00 pm
Richt (and all this nonsense) gotta go.
Technically Correct
November 1st, 2011
4:00 pm
Once again, it proves difficult to hold crown princes to the standards of mere mortals.
DesignerJacket
November 1st, 2011
4:01 pm
GATA? Does that stand for Get After That Ashtray?
timthebrave
November 1st, 2011
4:01 pm
they were suspended for failed drug tests
Hadenough
November 1st, 2011
4:01 pm
So we will throw for 300 yards and 4 tds against New mexico state.Our D will be the best they will face all season…
tell me again
November 1st, 2011
4:01 pm
Embarassing. I hope it was something stupid and not something illegal. At least they weren’t outside a bar kicking somebody in the head, huh. I guess we will be running The Gator spread on Saturday. I expect to see the scout team running backs and Boykin and Brandon at the running backs position. Very disappointed.
5150 UOAD
November 1st, 2011
4:02 pm
So the DAWGS can’t beat the Gators without CHEATING. The bad Pee tests were before the Gator Game and Coach CHRIST held the decision until today AFTER his Press Conference.
A UGA fan on Tim Tuckers blog Sunday night said he knew Crowell have failed a urine test. The other DAWGS jumped all over the blogger and Tim Banned him. HAHAHAHAAH I guess the guy was right and the mutts & tim tucker look STUPID. I sure HOPE the dawgs can handle the Might New Mexico St team without those guys. So DAWGS fan I guess you need to stop with the Ruben Houston and Joe Hamilton crap now.
marty from trion
November 1st, 2011
4:02 pm
DesignerJacket …nice!
GTJeff
November 1st, 2011
4:02 pm
Well considering we don’t know what happen I’ll leave it at that. I hope both UGA & GT are 9-2 the weekend after Thanksgiving.
football fan
November 1st, 2011
4:02 pm
McGarity has stated results not determined before florida game…they are suspended let it go….we are short on running backs…can we buy a guy for the backfield? It worked for Auburn….just saying
FedDawg
November 1st, 2011
4:03 pm
as bad as I DON’T want to admit it, IC is is falling into the mold of another highly recruited back from the Columbus area named Jasper Sanks…..
Gay Dawg
November 1st, 2011
4:03 pm
If we lose to Auburn is Richt fired? I say it depends on whther we got ot the SECCG.
Jay
November 1st, 2011
4:04 pm
What happened, did they stay out late trick or treating?
Nobody believes this happened over the last two days so shame on UGA, coach Richt and anyone else that waited until a lame duck game to suspend multiple players.
And if it was that they were out too late last night trick or treating then I apologize for my logical conclusions above and say Good Job Richt!
Why do they not report the date these violations occurred at least? They would not have to state what violations they broke, but after resting Sunday it could have only been something to do with Halloween. Yeah right…
It just never stops!! Where are the TRUE coaches that want to make firm statements and better their athlete’s lives & behaviors while they have them under their wings? The SEC is all about wins, wins, wins and most all of us SANE people use logic to reach conclusions and the odds that three guys get suspended two days after the Florida win with one being a rest day and the other Halloween is pretty low… I mean L-O-W!
Buck Belue to the rescue on 680thefan radio!!! Go tell all of us SANE people that it just happened Buck… One quick slant pass and hundreds of hand offs to Herschel and he represents the Bulldog nation….Pathetic all the way around…
The Boise State program is the only one I see being ran correctly, but I am sure there are others. BUT NOT IN THE S.E.C.!!
Why does the ajc even bother reporting the suspensions?
At least post a POLL Mark!! Question: What UGA players will be out for Kentucky?
Then we can find out the week of that game and you can award a prize…
Same ol'..
November 1st, 2011
4:04 pm
In the great tailback tradition of Caleb….Washaun…..
DesignerJacket
November 1st, 2011
4:04 pm
They got suspended for “getting into a bowl” before the season was over.
ICMIII
November 1st, 2011
4:04 pm
Get Another Toke, Already.
Bill
November 1st, 2011
4:05 pm
Don’t worry they will all be back for Auburn just like the druggies and felons will be playing against Alabama. College football has certainly gone to the dogs. Win at all costs is now the norm.
UGAX
November 1st, 2011
4:05 pm
5150 –
I don’t recall IC or any of the alleged ‘dope smokers’ making an impact against UF. On the contrary, our 4th string LB did run through your weak defense like melted butter……maybe you should pull a random on that sorry excuse for an offensive coordinator you hired for a million a year………
and, by the way, you can keep Muschamp……
GT 79
November 1st, 2011
4:05 pm
ESPN is reporting that all 3 failed a drug test administered before the Ga-Fla game, although it was not known when the test results were known. Not a good sign.
Uh-OH
November 1st, 2011
4:05 pm
What’d they do? Try to read a book?
dummy from Dalton.
November 1st, 2011
4:05 pm
Columbus is the epicenter of stupid in Georgia. Take it from me; i’m from Dalton and we know a little bit about stupid up here.
Everybody Does It!
November 1st, 2011
4:05 pm
I’m just glad he waited till this week to suspend them. We needed that Florida win. We could lose this week and still win the East.
5 Time National Champs Nebraska
November 1st, 2011
4:06 pm
Privacy Police
November 1st, 2011
3:57 pm
ESPN’s “source” should be fired from whatever role they have. Results of any drug test is private medical information and is protected by HIPPA and cannot be released to anyone w/out consent of the individual.
———————————————————————————————————————————————-
It’s HIPAA and drug tests are not under the jurisdiction as it is not considered insurable health care.
timthebrave
November 1st, 2011
4:06 pm
They took the tests on thursday so probably got results yesterday or today…..Idiots
GTBob
November 1st, 2011
4:06 pm
McGarity has stated results not determined before florida game…they are suspended let it go
Yes, we should all believe the completely objective McGarity in this case. Even though ESPN is reporting otherwise.
Shine
November 1st, 2011
4:06 pm
How convenient…against New mex State. The Crumb Crowell will be glad to be benched. No getty hitty sitting down. What a bunch of losers
Scholarship
November 1st, 2011
4:07 pm
Video Replays showed T Grantham kept both hands in his pockets on each UF FG Attempt.
Rhall55
November 1st, 2011
4:07 pm
CMR mismanages this Team worse than our country is handling the budget!! Some form of bad news every week!! Great for getting recruits in UGA!! Love on them; haha!! Time for a change; ok Kool Aid drinkers; “Have we looked like a dominant team this year? HAHAH!!”
DesignerJacket
November 1st, 2011
4:08 pm
Just goes to show…running backs in the SEC “take hits” week in and week out.
KBP
November 1st, 2011
4:08 pm
Again, blame the coaching staff for on field lack of discipline. Off the field lack of discipline is primarily on the kids. Richt’s primary job is to win games without violating NCAA rules. All of this “coach speak” about helping them be better men is highly over rated on every level of athletics. They can possibly help the kids who want to be helped but for those who don’t, there’s very little a coach can do. Again, sports journalists, why not attempt to interview a kids parents when he get’s into trouble?
invictus mon
November 1st, 2011
4:08 pm
I’m just pissed they closed betting 30 minutes before I got on to cast by bet. Spread was -34.5. That’s printing money right there! Oh well, we’ll get em back sooner or later, and it’s not like we couldn’t beat the Lobos with our scout team. I should know (had to watch em play when I went to Air Force).
Simeon Rice N Gravy
November 1st, 2011
4:08 pm
Puffed the ganj… got suspended… next —————–>
Gay Dawg
November 1st, 2011
4:09 pm
We should all get down our knees and thank Aaron Murray for being our QB!
Matt from MN
November 1st, 2011
4:09 pm
ESPN reports as failed drug screens. Wow, they must really NOT have wanted to play against NMSU this weekend.
Scholarship
November 1st, 2011
4:09 pm
Hershel = Class
Crowell= Trash
Sam Robards, Dawg Fan
November 1st, 2011
4:10 pm
Funny, LSU has a sh!t-ton of major players suspended, and no one says anything. UGA has a couple of players suspended, and people act like UGA players are the only ones that get in trouble.
Yeah, it was idiotic for this trio to do whatever it is they did, but get some freaking perspective people. We play New Mexico State this week.
And yeah, I anticipate them to be back rested for Auburn.
Go Dawgs