Georgia’s problems reaffirm NCAA needs uniform drug policy
Bobby Bowden supports Georgia's drug policy but says it might leave the team at a competitive disadvantage.
ATHENS – It’s fair to start with this: There is no excuse for doing something wrong.
There is no excuse for stealing money from a teammate’s dorm room, just because you’re short of cash. No excuse for getting into a physical altercation with a girlfriend, just because there was an argument. No excuse for getting high, just because … well, just because. No excuse for exploring the cannabis culinary arts and eating Alice B. Toklas brownies, just because you were on spring break and you were hungry and, really, honest, pinky-swear, you didn’t even know that there was marijuana in them (uh, right.)
These are some of the reasons why Georgia coach Mark Richt has been suspending or dismissing players at an alarming rate lately – eight since January. This is when nobody seems to remember how many stars were by a recruit’s name on national signing day. Funny how that works.
Richt has a problem. But only part of it has to do with the fact that too many of his players are doing really dumb things. The other has to do with a somewhat unlevel playing field.
Georgia has a fairly strict drug-and-alcohol policy for its student-athletes, relative to most other universities, particularly those in the SEC. UGA suspends players for at least one game (10 percent of schedule) after the first positive test. A second positive test mandates a suspension of at least 30 percent of the schedule (or four games) for a non-controlled substance or 50 percent (six games) for a controlled substance or DUI. A third positive results in dismissal.
An examination of schools in BCS conferences by AOL/Fanhouse in 2010 revealed Georgia and Kentucky were the only two SEC members that suspended players following the first positive drug test. Only six of 68 programs overall do so (Baylor, Cincinnati, Miami and Virginia Tech are the others).
Every time Mark Richt looks up, another player is getting into trouble. (Johnny Crawford/AJC)
As a comparison, Florida has among the most lenient policies, with no suspension until the second positive test and no dismissal until the fifth positive.
How often and when, if at all, an athlete is tested also is up to each university. The NCAA, in fact, allows every school to set its own policy.
This is a problem. There needs to be uniformity among athletic programs’ drug-testing policy, not just within conferences but across the country. Anything short of that creates a competitive disadvantage for some.
Among those supporting the idea for uniformity is former Florida State coach Bobby Bowden, Richt’s coaching mentor, who was in Athens on Friday for a high school coaches clinic.
Bowden had a reputation for being soft in the area of player discipline when he coached. But he acknowledges he would have to be tougher if he coached now, saying, “I would have to do a better job of educating the young men, trying to expose them to things where they would learn some moral issues that maybe they missed in their home.”
He supports Georgia’s policy, but doesn’t seem surprised Richt is having problems.
“One reason at Georgia [that] you hear so many boys getting out of line is because they’re so dog-gone restrictive,” he said. “I know a lot of schools — I don’t want to say something I shouldn’t say – but [they] don’t have to drug test. If you don’t want your boys to be caught with drugs, don’t drug-test them. And some schools do that. If you have a strict program, the way our society is, you’re going to have kids [test positive].”
Asked if he supported a universal policy, Bowden said: “Yes. That would be fair. There’s no doubt about it. … Georgia needs to do what’s best for Georgia. And you’ve got to soothe your conscience that you’re not letting bad things happen just because you don’t think somebody’s going to find out. But there’s an advantage if you’re a school that doesn’t test.”
In retirement, Bowden is able to laugh about some things he couldn’t before, such as when Florida State players were found to be receiving free athletic gear from a local sporting-goods store. Borrowing the line from his former thorn, Steve Spurrier, Bowden cracked, “You’ve all heard of Free Shoes University, haven’t you? I had a slogan on my desk: ‘This too shall pass.’”
That is all Richt can bank on right now. And maybe hope for a quieter summer.
By Jeff Schultz
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280 comments Add your comment
Grantham's The Man
March 30th, 2012
3:53 pm
@AuburnCreed. Let me translate for you. I know a few Auburn fans and I’m starting to learn the language.
This is a horse manure article. Auburn fans don’t want to be forced into drug testing our players because if you think it’s a bad problem at Ga then can you imagine how many of our players would fail a pot pee test after not getting tested for all these years!
Just think of all those games that Dyer would have missed had he been tested, atleast we had him for the season. Please believe that it’s only the players at UGA that do this kind of thing!
wezzie
March 30th, 2012
3:54 pm
Why drug test the week after spring break when u don’t have to! You can bet big bucks LSU, FL, SC, and Bama didn’t even think about it! Who made this decision. AD came from Florida-he knows the deal-Richt and his sanctimonial BS. The playing field should be level. Now we lose other recruits b/c UGA standards are higher than our rivals, and know that drug tests will only be administered during the season, and after working their ass off all year they can at least enjoy spring break like 90% of their fellow classmates. Who did not fire up in college-get real!!!?? A level playing field is not to much to ask!
Dawg Haus
March 30th, 2012
3:54 pm
Sorry, Buckeye, we couldn’t hear you over the buzz of your tattoo gun.
Abnerish
March 30th, 2012
3:58 pm
Do people not understand that schools with weak drug policies appear to be immune from this issue because they do not have to publicize any failed drug tests? Georgia looks like it has a much more significant issue than other schools, but it’s only because these other schools don’t test or aren’t forced to publicize suspensions related to 1st time offenders. I think it’s ridiculous that people say Richt is too lenient or doesn’t have control of his team. If anything, Richt and Georgia is among the most strict coaches and colleges out there. I agree with Bowden and Shultz that there should be a consistent policy.
Dawglasville
March 30th, 2012
3:59 pm
If you guys don’t want to treat players like men, and give them the freedom to screw up and then hold them accountable, then all you really want is a plantation. You just want trophies regardless of how many kids get gray shirted, how many kids graduate, how many kids ruin their bodies with dope. If your coach affords you the experience to boast about national titles that 18 – 22 year olds won then your coach is fine with you. Players be damned.
That said, do you really want to go through life as a troll.
Reality Check
March 30th, 2012
4:00 pm
Copied Comment from prior story-seems appropriate here.
Let me offer a possible reality: The current GA players as a group are, no better or worse, no less moral or honest, no less ethical or honorable, than other scholarship athletes at other schools. They do not skip more classes, use more drugs, break more rules, do more things that are illegal, or commit more acts that would bring embarrassment to themselves, their team, or their University. My guess is that as a group, they are in fact, all things being equal, well down on the “good” side of the Bell Curve of Team Morality & Integrity. We are now left with the “all things being equal” question. Having been friends with many Georgia athletes in the early & mid 80’s, as well as hearing my uncle’s stories of his & his Wally Butts’ teammates’ extra curricular activities (no, not drugs), I can’t imagine that those teams, in todays environment would not suffer at least as many suspensions. But back to apples & apples, I would suggest that it is not the players, but the environmental & systemic variables that are responsible for a higher number of suspensions relative to other D1 & SEC schools. Are the Athens & University police more aggressive & less lenient in their enforcement activities? Is the Athletic Department’s drug testing protocols more likely to catch casual drug use? Are Team rules more inclusive & onerous? Is there less likelihood of ignoring infractions? Of course our athletes need to follow the rules and be good teammates & citizens. They need to learn that their actions have personal & broader consequences. We just need to realize that except for game days, The Dawgs are playing on a different field.
3 + 4 + 1 = 0
March 30th, 2012
4:02 pm
So far the Bottom Line here … is UGA can not expect to constantly win due to the requirements of the University, policies of its’ Athletic Department and testing procedures in place. The UGA fan has to accept that it can not longer compete at the highest levels athletically due to its’ (so-called) moral compass, raising the standards where it can only look down upon the rest of the SEC. … and no longer compete.
DIT
March 30th, 2012
4:03 pm
@wezzie
Why do the drugs if you are warned that there WILL be a test when they get back? They were warned, they did not care. Bottom line. That right there shows lack of being a team player.
I saw a post earlier on another blog that states that these are not kids they are adults. Well then, if they are adults they need to start acting like adults.
They are the one’s that agreed and signed on for a free education and to play football. No one forced them.
wezzie
March 30th, 2012
4:05 pm
LWK weed is not pyhsically addictive substance. It is mentally addictive-anybody can beat it if they want to bad enough.
Rambo didn’t hurt his draft status w/ this suspension-he only hurt his team-of which he said was the main reason he was returning for Sr yr. I don’t for a minute believe the brownie BS. Dude screwed up!
The Monger
March 30th, 2012
4:07 pm
Insanity! UGA’s drug policy is SOOOO Asinine and downright terrible! Personally, I smoke marijuana and feel there is NOTHING AT ALL wrong with the plant, and actually encourage many people in my personal life, who are feeling stress or anxiety to try it medicinally. The fact that a player was disciplined at all, let alone for a quarter of the season, is downright disgusting and should be a crime. I hope Richt gets what he deserves for this and gets fired immediately. Let players be FREE, this is America isn’t it? Secondly, the author and Bobby Bowden are SPOT ON about UGA’s drug policy, and that it needs a MAJOR step down in harshness and fairness. Player’s all over the SEC smoke marijuana regularly and face no suspension or discipline at all. Some don’t even test, and the others require multiple failed tests before a suspension is warranted. UGA is putting itself at a competitive disadvantage and harming their future recruits from coming to UGA. If UGA and Mark Richt don’t stop this nonsense very few 4 and 5 star recruits will be willing to come to an authoritative, abusive, unfair school whose discipline rivals 19th century catholic schools. Just ridiculous we are even talking about discipline for smoking weed in 2012. The only shining light is that Richt will be fired in the next few years for exactly this….He will be playing a bunch of St. Pius christian school 3rd stringers, while guys like Bacarri Rambo and Alec Ogletree are sitting on the bench. In the next few years, these elite players will almost all go to Alabama, LSU, and Florida where they don’t have to worry about this stuff. Richt goes 6-7 with 3rd stringers next year and is fired. Thank god!
John John
March 30th, 2012
4:08 pm
UGA’s drug policy is SOOOO Asinine and downright terrible! Personally, I smoke marijuana and feel there is NOTHING AT ALL wrong with the plant, and actually encourage many people in my personal life, who are feeling stress or anxiety to try it medicinally. The fact that a player was disciplined at all, let alone for a quarter of the season, is downright disgusting and should be a crime. I hope Richt gets what he deserves for this and gets fired immediately. Let players be FREE, this is America isn’t it? Secondly, the author and Bobby Bowden are SPOT ON about UGA’s drug policy, and that it needs a MAJOR step down in harshness and fairness. Player’s all over the SEC smoke marijuana regularly and face no suspension or discipline at all. Some don’t even test, and the others require multiple failed tests before a suspension is warranted. UGA is putting itself at a competitive disadvantage and harming their future recruits from coming to UGA. If UGA and Mark Richt don’t stop this nonsense very few 4 and 5 star recruits will be willing to come to an authoritative, abusive, unfair school whose discipline rivals 19th century catholic schools. Just ridiculous we are even talking about discipline for smoking weed in 2012. The only shining light is that Richt will be fired in the next few years for exactly this….He will be playing a bunch of St. Pius christian school 3rd stringers, while guys like Bacarri Rambo and Alec Ogletree are sitting on the bench. In the next few years, these elite players will almost all go to Alabama, LSU, and Florida where they don’t have to worry about this stuff. Richt goes 6-7 with 3rd stringers next year and is fired. Thank god!
Keith T.
March 30th, 2012
4:08 pm
UGA’s drug policy is SOOOO Asinine and downright terrible! Personally, I smoke marijuana and feel there is NOTHING AT ALL wrong with the plant, and actually encourage many people in my personal life, who are feeling stress or anxiety to try it medicinally. The fact that a player was disciplined at all, let alone for a quarter of the season, is downright disgusting and should be a crime. I hope Richt gets what he deserves for this and gets fired immediately. Let players be FREE, this is America isn’t it? Secondly, the author and Bobby Bowden are SPOT ON about UGA’s drug policy, and that it needs a MAJOR step down in harshness and fairness. Player’s all over the SEC smoke marijuana regularly and face no suspension or discipline at all. Some don’t even test, and the others require multiple failed tests before a suspension is warranted. UGA is putting itself at a competitive disadvantage and harming their future recruits from coming to UGA. If UGA and Mark Richt don’t stop this nonsense very few 4 and 5 star recruits will be willing to come to an authoritative, abusive, unfair school whose discipline rivals 19th century catholic schools. Just ridiculous we are even talking about discipline for smoking weed in 2012. The only shining light is that Richt will be fired in the next few years for exactly this….He will be playing a bunch of St. Pius christian school 3rd stringers, while guys like Bacarri Rambo and Alec Ogletree are sitting on the bench. In the next few years, these elite players will almost all go to Alabama, LSU, and Florida where they don’t have to worry about this BS. Richt goes 6-7 with 3rd stringers next year and is fired. Thank god!
DIT
March 30th, 2012
4:09 pm
I agree with your last post weezie. Again, for me, it’s the 2nd time he did this same offense. I’m all for chances, but when a SR commits the same rule violation after the suspension and behind closed door punishment that he received from the coaches then it’s an individual problem.
Rambo is a great player and yes we need him, but at what expense? 2nd violation he needs to be kicked off the team. No, for now, it won’t be a big deal, but later in life he will have wished he made a better decision after being warned.
Big Crimson 75
March 30th, 2012
4:13 pm
I love it how pup fans think some sort of Universal Drug Policy will somehow level the playing “Field”.
Nothing is gonna help UGA’s much deserved Thug Image — except maybe some Discipline!!
How do y’all expect to win BIG, when your Players don’t even care about winning?
If they cared, their wouldn’t be this kind of trouble day after day – week after week – year after year.
Roll Tide
Our Coach runs a little tighter ship!!
Footballrules
March 30th, 2012
4:13 pm
New UGA cheer for Rambo (if he ever get’s to play again)….HEY BROWNIE, YOU’RE DOING A HECK OF A JOB!!!!!!
A Father
March 30th, 2012
4:14 pm
Please keep on the GA articles in the future!
reality check: I disagree in an extreme way. The pot in the 70s and 80’s is nothing like today in strength, huge difference. Now the problem with the players today is they are smoking daily and during the season, something that was very rare in the past but today people claim it is the same, it is not in any way.
The problem, every player is in the same meeting from day one and signs they understand the punishment for pot is suspension during off season from games, during season dismissal. What really pisses me off is thieves and assaulting women, ogletree should have been told that after the stealing incident – anything else you are dismissed. The same goes with Sanders Comings – if you assault a female you are gone regardless of excuses – you are dismissed.
Richt is a pssy and so is McGarity and the others supposedly in leadership position and responsible.
Georgia is now Bobby Bowdens version of Florida State, criminals and THUG U. A bunch of bilbe thumping talking head hipocrites!
GT
March 30th, 2012
4:15 pm
And who wrote this blog today? The Georgia Athletic Department. Take the drug test out of the equation and I still bet Georgia has one of the highest behavior problems in all college football. You are blind if you don’t see the real problem but cheerleaders seldom do.
This team plays sloppy on the football field. This team had an athletic director that gets locked up for a DUI in a car with a girl’s pantie’s in his lap. Every month it is “we are going to improve ourselves” and every month someone out of this very small group of privileged people goes to jail or should of for breaking the law. And I bet for every one in the paper there are 10 that get off because of who they are or influence for adult groupies who have no life. This team does not want to play for Georgia, I am not even sure the coaches even care beyond their own selfishness to what this does. I don’t think Georgia realizes these kids lose football games because of off field lack of disciple. Cry all you want to about unfairness, I see a bunch of wasted talent, because things have been made too easy not too hard. These guys lost to Colorado two years ago the worst team in football They lost to Mississippi State, no amount of suspensions should have allowed this fine a group of athletes to lose to those far less talented groups.
Boise Dawg
March 30th, 2012
4:16 pm
I agree completely Jeff, but I also think the NCAA would need to enforce it by conducting the testing themselves. Clearly Georgia isn’t afraid to test its star players and right after Spring Break no less.. but unless the NCAA also creates tight rules around who is tested and how often, you will have the same problems of teams policing themselves and not testing their best athletes or by giving them a heads up, so the test isn’t a surprise or random.
Isn’t Syracuse potentially in trouble because they didn’t enforce penalties for their failed tests under their own policy? Again, stupid for them to get in trouble for that when there is nothing set in place that says they even have to have a set policy.
Unfortunate for Georgia this story was leaked… it will be difficult now for Rambo to “appeal” and have his suspension either swept under the rug or reduced to 2 games.
Boise Dawg
March 30th, 2012
4:19 pm
Good for Georgia for having a tough policy and actually enforcing it. I am not upset with Richt or any of the coaches over this. Sit Rambo’s butt and let the next guy step up and play. If he wants to quit on his team and enter the supplemental draft because he has to face the music.. then good riddance, next guy up. I’ll be cheering hard this fall for the players on the field.
TossSweep
March 30th, 2012
4:19 pm
It’s surprising that NCAA allows each school to have their own drug policy especially when it comes to sports. There definitely needs to be standards and equal playing field when it comes to something this serious. I side with CMR on this one. He’s doing what’s right for the University, the team, and the players.
TallaDawg
March 30th, 2012
4:20 pm
LWK- If your brother is doing all of that he is doing something much more harsh, addictive and expensive than weed.
Dumb dawgs
March 30th, 2012
4:20 pm
“Awww AuburnCreed don’t be sad because your little program cheats (CAM) and gets put on probation all the time.”
Auburn hasn’t been on probation since 1993, cupcake. Besides, you should be more worried about all the drug addicts that come through Athens.
Dumb dawgs
March 30th, 2012
4:21 pm
THUGA is well on it’s way to another Fulmer Cup. It’s about the only thing THUGA can win.
Dumb dawgs
March 30th, 2012
4:21 pm
“You can bet big bucks LSU, FL, SC, and Bama didn’t even think about it!
And those schools aren’t having issues like THUGA. Worry about your own school.
Dumb dawgs
March 30th, 2012
4:22 pm
“Just think of all those games that Dyer would have missed had he been tested”
Dyer was kicked off the team, cupcake. What is it with all of the jealous hate of other schools? You THUGA fans need to get a life.
Dumb dawgs
March 30th, 2012
4:23 pm
“UGA’s higher standards are lauded and respected while continually improving policies.”
Two words: Red Panties
Dawglasville
March 30th, 2012
4:25 pm
A Father – I’ll ask you again, like I have on other blogs, who is your team? You love to examine my school’s program but we can’t take a look at your school’s program. That makes you one of the most spineless trolls on this board.
GT
March 30th, 2012
4:25 pm
Get the police involved, then it would be fair. Take it out of the hands of the college and athletic department who have a conflict of interest. Drugs are illegal and you have proven you have people taking drugs, what more do you want. I would have the paddy wagon over there and cuff em and take a ride down to the station. No influence from the school, or alumni could stop it, you just lock them up now and save the state a lot of money locking em up later. These people need to understand there is something out there bigger that that dumb coach they are fooling all the time and they are obviously dumb beyond description. It is call the law and they don’t care if you are an All American you are a common criminal in their eyes or should be. Very fair system.
Boise Dawg
March 30th, 2012
4:27 pm
GT… you live in a glass house? Isn’t one of your tennis coaches being charged with rape? Glenn Rice Jr? Javarris Crittenton? And I know there have been plenty of football players at Tech in trouble the past few years… yes Georgia has problems with players, but you look silly when you act like it is any worse than what goes on at Tech. The media just cares more about Georgia.
And it is really laughable when any Tech fan wants to talk about Georgia not beating other teams. One win us Georgia fans can count on most years is beating Tech.
Dawglasville
March 30th, 2012
4:31 pm
Big Crimson 75 – “Our Coach runs a little tighter ship!!” Absolutely. Massa Saban so’ run a tight ship.” That’s the way you Bama guys like it.
Heavyhitter
March 30th, 2012
4:32 pm
It is amazing the games players are suspended for such as The Citadel, Georgia Southern and Jacksonville State. You seldom see them suspended for the games that count. Just a slap on the wrist! What kind of kids does Richt recruit?
George Stein
March 30th, 2012
4:36 pm
Last I checked a charge wasn’t a conviction, Boise. Javaris Crittenton is no longer attending Tech and hadn’t for several years. I know it’s difficult, but next think three seconds, then speak. Got it?
do the math
March 30th, 2012
4:39 pm
UOAD @2:37, you are an idiot. Watch the tape of the 2010 AU game..the UGA players were 5 yards onto the field, not “charging” or “storming” it. It was akin to baseball players at the top rail of the dugout. You were hoping for suspensions because it’s the only shot your pathetic GT Nerds had….
Boise Dawg
March 30th, 2012
4:39 pm
Best way to punish these guys is to recruit well and have replacements ready to go. Aren’t disciplined or smart enough to lay off the reefer when you know there is a chance you will be drug tested in the next 30 days? Keep that bench warm… next guy up.
Boise Dawg
March 30th, 2012
4:43 pm
George.. where did say conviction? Has Tech had problems with players/coaches in their athletic department over the years? I don’t rag on Tech or any other team when problems like this come up… because I know it can and does happen at Georgia. If you didn’t get my point, I can’t help you…..
Hoopster
March 30th, 2012
4:45 pm
This just shows how stupid UGa is as well as their players. Supposedly has one of the strongest drug policies, yet these dumb athletes still do the things to get in trouble. And this whole “i didn’t know the brownies had pot in them” is a huge joke.
C'mon man!
March 30th, 2012
4:46 pm
The opinion in this blog and the comments are exactly what is wrong with this country. Instead of taking responsbility and trying to correct the problem at UGA, I’ve read “we need to make fair playing field” and “others just do not test.” First, if the UGA athletic department makes its standards, then they have no right to try and impose their standards on anyone else. There are NCAA and SEC standards. If the school does more, fine. If it “harms” the school then that is for the school to deal with but UGA has no authority or right to impose its testing standards on any other institution. Obviously, UGA’s standards and discipline are not working. Second, the results of drug testing are private as they should be considered a medical report. Why this information is always reported in the AJC, I have no clue. It is possible that other schools are testing, the athletes’ tests are negative, and there is no reason to announce it to the world. Just because some UGA athletes test positive does not mean that the other SEC schools are covering up their positive tests. Maybe those schools have better drug awareness programs or those athletes realize if they miss a few games, they will not see the field because their backup will take their position. Just because it happens in Athens, does not mean that it happens in Gainesville, Columbia, or any other SEC town. Third, the plantation comments are so offensive. So UGA has drug testing. So what. that does not mean that the other schools do not care about their players and treat them as products of a plantation. The last time SEC football graduation rates came out which emcompassed enrollees from 2001 to 2004, UGA ranked 4th behind Vandy, LSA, Florida and Bama. Auburn and MS State were close behind UGA. Three schools that finished ahead of UGA in graduation rates have won national championships and so did the one right behind. Maybe the issue goes beyond the positive drug testing or stealing from your teammates. Maybe it goes to the dancing in the endzone or the coach making the “choke” sign to a college student. Maybe the AJC should worry about the field at UGA before comparing it to other schools because in reality, it does not compare.
GatorInATL
March 30th, 2012
4:48 pm
I love it. An UGA player gets busted for pot and you try to turn it around and make UF look bad. You know, it is possible to just say “we screwed up” without pointing out everyone else’s problems as well.
George Stein
March 30th, 2012
4:49 pm
But of course you did just rag on Tech for it because … you don’t like our football team? I guess I see no reason for you to bring up an accusation against a tennis coach or a charge against a former player, except for deflecting this away.
Look, I’ve said a million times that the behavior of one individual (or several individuals) doesn’t reflect on a school. The fact that people are even trolling on this stuff frustrates the fool out of me.
Dr. Kenneth Noisewater
March 30th, 2012
4:53 pm
Good Article JS!! I agree on universal testing & policies across the board. Same applies to NCAA when it comes down to other “issues” that they can’t seem to get straight- 4 games for this, 2 for that, 6 for this, etc.
Paul in NH
March 30th, 2012
4:54 pm
UGA’s drug policy does appear to be much sterner than most other schools but I am not sure that having an NCAA sanctioned standard would level the playing field – even if all of the membersw could agree on a workable standard. If schools can work out how to work around scholarship signing limits they can work around drug testing limits. You’d see school A with random testing of players school B tested them on a schedule.
Big Crimson 75
March 30th, 2012
4:54 pm
Dawglasville — I know you’re disappointed in UGA but no need to get racial.
That type of language died with the Jim Crow Laws. Sorry.
Boise Dawg
March 30th, 2012
4:55 pm
George… not trying to deflect anything. Just calling out one Tech fan that thinks Georgia is the only athletic department that has bad apples… which I did find ironic given recent media stories about Tech. I don’t make a habit of trolling about other teams problems.
I’ll say it again.. glad Georgia supposedly has a tough drug policy and if Rambo did flunk his test, glad it has come out and I hope he does sit for 4 games.
George Stein
March 30th, 2012
4:59 pm
Then that Tech fan is a moron. He isn’t the first and probably won’t be the last.
Perhaps I’m a bit testy because I have found myself in the unenviable position of defending UGA players recently. If so, I apologize.
CDAWG
March 30th, 2012
5:00 pm
So what some are saying is to hell with the rules and mentoring these young men, win at all costs. I like to win as much as anyone but these are CMR’s policies and I agree with him. Just like I tell my son, I don’t care how stupid you think the rule is, it’s a rule and either follow it or pay the consequences.
Earl Hickey, You don’t know much about UGA with your statement that anybody that can spell CAT can get in. Check out the averagae GPA’s of the last few freshman classes coming in.
Wet Willie...keep on smiling
March 30th, 2012
5:04 pm
There is no way auburn would have graduation rates that high! Less than 50% of thier black football players graduate from Auburn(not my story USA Today last year posted the results). Remove the so called drug issues from the UGA issues and you still have major discipline problems and it shows each and every game. Richt has no problem playing thugs since he came from Thug U and only upgraded is resume at FSU. Someone in the AD complex likes the guy no doubt. He wins some games but is no threat to take it to another level due to lack of player discipline and just respect. The UGA players fell the need to get into the face of the opposition each and every game and that is a fact and that is on the staff! Do your job and STFU and play but that isn’t good enough for your team. You talk a great game but you don’t play at the same level.
Stop blame game and fix the problem! I can see Crowell walking away from Nick Saban after one of his many feckups! Yeah right. That speaks volume for anybody with half a brain.
Dawglasville
March 30th, 2012
5:04 pm
Big Crimson 75 – I’m a 46 year old, white, Georgia native who thinks that Alabama runs it’s program like a plantation. If your coach didn’t, he wouldn’t gray shirt and he would enforce a tough drug policy. He has built a winning machine and you guys don’t care how it is built as long as wins. I think that is sad. I’m not getting racial, I think it is a very fair critique. Now, you had your troll moment and I had my response.
Bobby Bowden on coaching: ‘Try raising 100 kids; it ain’t easy’ | UGA sports blog
March 30th, 2012
5:10 pm
[...] shared a lot of what Bowden said about drug-testing and the behavior of modern student-athletes in his Friday column. But following is some of the other good stuff Bowden shared as he addressed the group for about 15 [...]
Dawglasville
March 30th, 2012
5:10 pm
George Stein – Stay the course my friend. As you know it is better to be right and let the red/black/gold chips where they fall.
George Stein
March 30th, 2012
5:11 pm
Christ. Can we stop calling people who make a mistake thugs?