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
ramguy68
November 1st, 2011
5:07 pm
Doing drugs or drinking in college is most definitely not “thuggish”. I have a hard time understanding how some of you dress yourselves in the morning.
They only repeat some words they have heard before. Most of them wouldn’t know a thug if one fell out of the sky on their faces and started to wiggle.
Emory Football Still Undefeated
November 1st, 2011
5:07 pm
Ganja, Ga–nja, in my pipe I find, just that old sweet smell keeps ganja on my mind . . .
captguitarman
November 1st, 2011
5:08 pm
Fishy timing. No details given as to who, where, when, what, and how. Good for CMR taking action now. But if violations occurred prior to the Florida game, also good, no wait, better, for CMR taking action now, instead of then. Making them into better men . . . that is admirable, and absolutely part of his job. But, if he caught these violations, serious enough for full game suspensions, before the Florida game, and then waited until now to execute punishment . . . . then guess what? He is condoning their actions and their attitudes about themselves (i.e. we are inexpendable stars/players who will always get special treatment – even if we are caught and “punished”), and he is not making them into better men. And the next time trouble comes, which it certainly will if they got delayed suspensions because of the big game, the timing could be even worse. Funny thing about truth and Karma — one always comes out somehow, and the other always catches up with you. Let’s just hope that for all the Puppies’ sake, CMR played this one straight.
UGA SAILOR
November 1st, 2011
5:08 pm
The only thing that I have to say is who are all of you people to criticize and judge others? This kid is maybe 18 or 19 years old… Who can say that they made all the right decisions when they were that age? I know that I can’t. He committed the infraction, he is going to serve his suspension and then come back to the team. As far as him going missing and not having any work ethic. What is his average carries per game? He did not come to UGA till late spring if I remember if not summer (I may be wrong if I am I apologize). He does not have the conditioning yet, for all we know the coaches may be holding him back so he does not get injured…. Just let it be…Get over it and move on…
cliff from waleska
November 1st, 2011
5:09 pm
Finebaum will be covered up by LSU-Bama news…too bad, because he’d have a field day with the athens three…
The AJC Stinks
November 1st, 2011
5:10 pm
They put the Thuga back in the U…..Thuga U….
Father Flanagan
November 1st, 2011
5:10 pm
It’s not a drug if I like to take it.
J
November 1st, 2011
5:10 pm
woof woof, puff puff … annnnnnnnd repeat.
bonz
November 1st, 2011
5:10 pm
These boys can’t leave the weed alone. I have a feeling Crowell won’t last thru next year.
ramguy68
November 1st, 2011
5:10 pm
The only thing that I have to say is who are all of you people to criticize and judge others? This kid is maybe 18 or 19 years old… Who can say that they made all the right decisions when they were that age?
Not only that they wouldn’t have the sand to play on the Dawgs team.
sheepdawg
November 1st, 2011
5:10 pm
thugs
LawDawg
November 1st, 2011
5:11 pm
5150 UOAD : You sound like a lot of fun.
The Dude
November 1st, 2011
5:12 pm
Hey now, go easy on the guys. How do you know they weren’t sucked dry by an energy vampire. It was Halloween after all.
Da Po Po
November 1st, 2011
5:12 pm
They failed a drug test. Trust me on this one.
Father Flanagan
November 1st, 2011
5:12 pm
Nothing to see here people. Just get over it… Move on. Pay no attention to the man behind the sunglasses.
5150 UOAD
November 1st, 2011
5:13 pm
Law you have to be Drunk or Stoned to have FUN? You sound like an enabler.
Bob
November 1st, 2011
5:14 pm
My gripe is that they let the team down. A football scholarship is worth approx $40,000 accordingly to UGA’s Hartmann Fund report, so I guess they let all of us down who donate/purchase tickets/attend the games, too. Why not suspend them from the Bowl game as well?
LawDawg
November 1st, 2011
5:15 pm
No, but who at 18 in Athens is not going to the bars and hitting on girls (and maybe making some bad decisions along the way)? Lame people.
UGA SAILOR
November 1st, 2011
5:15 pm
@ bob Was OSU right for not suspending Terrel Pryor and the others for the bowl game last year?
J
November 1st, 2011
5:15 pm
ramguy – i highly doubt you know what a thug is yourself
UGA SAILOR
November 1st, 2011
5:16 pm
Thank you LawDawg finally some one who is being real…
J
November 1st, 2011
5:17 pm
also, i always have lame a$$ dawg fans on my Hawks blog bashing the Hawks & the NBA all the time … serves you a$$e$ right
Bobby B
November 1st, 2011
5:20 pm
For anyone who wants to criticize the timing of the suspension, take a look at this article. UGA and UK are the only SEC schools who suspend on the first offense.
http://mrsec.com/2010/12/sec-drug-policies-arent-created-equal/
Dawghater
November 1st, 2011
5:20 pm
Converstation weeks ago in Athens:
“Coach we think we have some key players using drugs”
CMR ” Test them on Thursday before the FL game and I don’t want any results until after the FL game. We will deal with it after the FL game. I have to win this game in Jacksonville.”
Yea, tough penalties at UGA. Suspend the kids for the New Mexico State game. Wow, that’s tough punishment in Athens. Not surprising, it’s UGA!
Dawghater
November 1st, 2011
5:21 pm
Bobby B – that’s because UGA has a track record of bad behavior. McGarity had to do something!!!! And LSU suspended kids for the 1st offense. Holy are thou, ehh!
Negi Uno
November 1st, 2011
5:22 pm
Wow, guys
They are young man and they make mistakes, they are not perfect but most of yall in here is whinning and complaining about this. Yall must been very good people while in college or something like that. They made a mistake and they are going to pay for it. End of Story. So stop talking about them like yall are bunch of angels that never did anything wrong around their age. If they did it again, it is the coach and coaches staff not us to judge them.
Bob
November 1st, 2011
5:23 pm
@Sailor…thanks for serving our country in the Navy. I think OSU was wrong.
24-20
November 1st, 2011
5:23 pm
Just Win….
JIm (not Mora)
November 1st, 2011
5:24 pm
Looks like UGA is becoming the training site for future NFL thugs. Is Woody Hayes still alive?
Here’s a “Woody” quote….”There’s nothing that cleanses your soul like getting the hell kicked out of you.” Maybe some UGA players need a kick in the pants or two. Doubt the current coach will do it.
adh
November 1st, 2011
5:24 pm
Lucky this is a trap game for New Mexico State. It falls right between Nevada and Fresno State.
What a sham.
?
November 1st, 2011
5:26 pm
5150 needs to get in his pulpit after his AA meeting
Knowall Moreno
November 1st, 2011
5:27 pm
Crowell will never last as a Bulldog, might as well transfer to Southern & smoke weed down there! party on dawg
?
November 1st, 2011
5:27 pm
Lawdog, 5150 probably doesn’t like girls
?
November 1st, 2011
5:28 pm
J, sounds like your lame a$$ is here….go back to your nba
gtne80
November 1st, 2011
5:30 pm
YAWN…..UGA players suspended for a walkover game……back to our regularly scheduled program.
Bobby Bowden
November 1st, 2011
5:30 pm
Marky, this is going to bite you on the a$$yet.
You would have had a built-in excuse if you’d suspended then before the UF game – like you should have (even tho’ I wouldn’t have).
Reminds me of my best suspension in Tallacrappy. Two of my boys got into a bar fight. I suspended one for a week. I suspended the other for the season. The one with the week suspension didn’t play that week ‘casue we had a bye week. He played the next week. The one I suspended for the season already had a broken leg and was out for the season anyhow.
I am the Master of suspensions and would NEVER be a hypocrite, dangnabbit!
Dawg Man
November 1st, 2011
5:31 pm
Good timing. Suspend them for the New MexicoState Elementary School. Typical Georgia football thugs. You can take the man out of the hood, but you can’t take the hood out of the man. We really have a good reputation.
UGA SAILOR
November 1st, 2011
5:31 pm
GET OVER IT PEOPLE>>>>>>Its done and we cannot do anything about it. For all you haters at least they were not suspended for the FL game… or else that would have set off a whole new set of rants geez…
Classless in Athens
November 1st, 2011
5:32 pm
These team members DO NOT have any respect for Coach Richt. They obviously don’t take him seriously. I have a problem with that. What message is he sending or not sending these young men that they just CONTINUE to make moral mistakes?
Coach Richt has lost his credibility with his team.
Is Georgia recruiting hopeless thugs that are good athletes but have no morals?
?
November 1st, 2011
5:32 pm
All the bashers are simply JEALOUS…….pathetic that your pitiful life is spent in a blog anonymously bashing others.
Vince
November 1st, 2011
5:34 pm
Janky, Janky, Janky. That UGA!
?
November 1st, 2011
5:34 pm
Classless…..Yeah richt has lost his credibility to a 6 game winning streak and continuing….you’re definitely one of the pitiful.
Doug
November 1st, 2011
5:34 pm
He’s a good Christian man. Glory be to God.
Wonder Woman
November 1st, 2011
5:35 pm
Everything for convenience…”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.” How convenient is that?
5150 UOAD
November 1st, 2011
5:35 pm
These boys and their friends are why we have the POS in the White House. Stoned and Drunk is what makes Athens the FLAGSHIP of the state? The state of Georgia sucks in Education for this very FACT.
Scholarship
November 1st, 2011
5:35 pm
LawDawg
November 1st, 2011
5:04 pm
Doing drugs or drinking in college is most definitely not “thuggish”. I have a hard time understanding how some of you dress yourselves in the morning.
Thug means a cutthroat or ruffian and derives from the name of an Indian band that committed human sacrifice. What they did was stupid, but calling them “thuggish” is just really, really stupid.
The problem with your logic is it is biased in favor of UGA. Any athlete who cares about his or her future realizes early on that doing any type of ILLEGAL drugs is acknowledging they are not focused on the job at hand and their immediate future. Once a player fails a drug test he or she must take random drug test for the remainder of their career or for a minimum of 2 years. Any athlete who decides to smoke dope( synthetic or real) after the LSU HEADLINES three weeks ago is dumber than a box of rocks.
Stop making excuses and admit on a dumb thug would put themselves over the team.
Football Bat
November 1st, 2011
5:35 pm
QUESTION: What is the STRENGTH of this team? Is it the running game? Passing? Our defense? Tackling? Special Teams? Conditioning? Fundamentals? Discipline? No, it’s not.
That’s right – we don’t have one. What we do have is the Mark Richt ATTITUDE of “Play at your opponents level and run for the locker room.” “Build character instead of winning games.”
?
November 1st, 2011
5:36 pm
ARdawg,…there’s no reasoning with the moronic
cliff from waleska
November 1st, 2011
5:36 pm
who knew there even was a “Hawks blog”??
Dawg hater
November 1st, 2011
5:36 pm
Wow! ESPN is reporting they failed drug tests administered BEFORE the Florida game. How convenient they are just now announcing the ONE game suspension. Cheaters! I hope GT kicks your a**