Georgia ends spring — and needs a quiet summer
Like this photo, Mark Richt must stand in background when Isaiah Crowell and Georgia teammates head into summer. (Johnny Crawford/AJC)
ATHENS — On the day spring football came to a close for Georgia, nobody got arrested, nobody got high, nobody claimed to make the mistake of eating brownies baked by Dolly Madison’s Bohemian, hippie sister and certainly no coach yelled, “Wooo! Pig Sooie!” while exchanging 4,300 text messages with the nation’s best-paid, smokin’ blonde, student-athlete development coordinator.
Relatively speaking, Saturday’s G-Day game was nirvana.
But the annual spring game contrasted the past few months. A reported seven players (at least) were suspended or drop-kicked out of Athens for assorted legal missteps or rules violations. Coach Mark Richt appropriately called Saturday, “good medicine.”
Or a needed cleansing.
To suggest the Georgia program has jumped the rails would be overstatement. But Richt and his players know how this sort of thing plays publicly, particularly going into the summer, when free time too often breeds problems. Hot days, cold beer, long nights … you know the formula.
“We’re well-aware of what can happen now,” quarterback Aaron Murray said. “There’s been some incidents that have occurred, and the guys don’t want that kind of attention. They don’t want the additional stress on coach Richt or on the team. There’s a negative image, and we want to get rid of it.”
Six players graced the cover of the spring guide. Only four of them made it to the scrimmage program cover Saturday. Bacarri Rambo and Alec Ogletree were cropped out for expected drug suspensions.
Three other players — Chris Sanders, Nick Marshall and Sanford Seay — were kicked off the team for their involvement in a theft. Sanders Commings was suspended two games following a charge for domestic violence. The other reported suspensions were marijuana-related (though not confirmed by the school): Ogletree (failed drug test, one game), Rambo (failed drug test, four games), Branden Smith (possession, one game).
Steve Spurrier isn’t one to miss an easy punch line. So when asked about the South Carolina-Georgia game being moved from the second week to the sixth, Spurrier swung away. “I sort of always liked playing them that second game because you could always count on them having two or three key players suspended,” he told ESPN.
Here’s the positive news for Richt: He learned something about the resolve of his players last season. The Dogs reeled off 10 consecutive wins following an 0-2 start. Most of those players return in 2012.
The opener against Buffalo isn’t an issue — Richt could plug holes with 10 kids pulled out of the cafeteria line at the Tate Center and still win that game. Game 2 at Missouri might be a little stickier.
What the Dogs’ can’t afford are any more storylines with the words “arrest” or “drug test” in them. This summer will show if the past few months have been some aberration. It also may determine where next season finishes on the average-to-special scale.
“I think I’ve got a good pulse of what’s going on internally, and I don’t sense there are team-related issues that are of major concern,” athletic director Greg McGarity said. “We’ve got some spots where we need tightening up, but that’s true with every program.”
But McGarity is aware of the perception.
“We’re getting beat up a lot — and maybe we can do some things where we don’t have to get beat up so much,” he said.
Elaborating: McGarity said Georgia may begin a practice of not announcing any disciplinary action of players, unless there’s a legal issue that would make it unavoidable.
“If you announce that somebody has violated team policy today, you have to read about it for five months before the first game,” McGarity said. “Do we need to put ourselves in that position?”
There’s only one flaw with that thinking: Almost everything leaks out at some point, and Georgia has a better chance to control the message with a formal announcement.
The bigger issue, though, is eliminating the problems altogether. We can debate all day whether problems among an athletic program exceed the general student population. But the reality is that nobody really cares about the average poultry-sciences major.
McGarity said he meets with Richt “frequently — enough to know where he stands on things.” He knows how this has worn on the coach.
“He feels good about the program, but like anyone he feels frustrated,” he said. “He hates to take time away when something pop up. It can be burdensome.”
There’s an easy answer: Just get 100 kids to promise, “I will not get into trouble.”
Also, maybe buy a lottery ticket.
By Jeff Schultz
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263 comments Add your comment
typical uga frat boy
April 15th, 2012
9:16 am
I’m so hungover! We drank so many wine coolers yesterday after the big win! Go Dawgs!
Wet Willie...keep on smiling
April 15th, 2012
9:18 am
You keep the preacher man sport and we’ll keep our askhole! Pretty sad when your AD has to defend the coach from not doing his job but then again that went right over your head. UGA is just a weak team made from characters instead of chracter. The HC is in charge of building character and discipline and Richt is a complete failure at both. Now get back to your denial. Alabama only had 79k show today for A-Day and Nick will be getting after some azz on the fans soon. I was one of the 79k(as usual) and this bunch is locked and loaded for 2012. If you think you’re getting closer to the level of Alabama then you’re in for a big surprise……………1980…that is a huge statement but again continue your denail.
Aaron Murray
April 15th, 2012
9:28 am
PROBLEM : 26 scholarships signed by Richt who were all 26 supposed to play vs Mizzou now will not. “I would rsather have a good man like Richt run the show wiho gives his team a chance to win” with his 3-13 record vs teams who made top 10 all 11 years. And all those embarrassments on the field with 24 kicked-off the 2012 roster before Summer even starts – nah, that’s no embarrasment at all – just try to cover it all up by censoring those who dare to see the PROBLEM and tell them all 150 separate posters to this blog they should be happier as #23 than as #5 or #1 with 24 kicked off team certainly not embarrassment or even a PROBLEM
Aaron Murray
April 15th, 2012
9:49 am
Recruiting going great guns , like the reason all 26 will not play Mizzou is the recruiting was not the same before and these 15 recruits will not get kicked-off while losing 13 of the next 16 vs teams making the top 10.
1953dawg
April 15th, 2012
9:59 am
It was nice to see some younger players that have been injured step up saturday. T.J. Stripling, Ramik Wilson, Herrera, Drew, Garrison Smith, Dexter Morant, Wesley, Ken Malcom, They all looked good, and they will all contribute alot next year. The problem is still Richt, Murray, and Bobo. Anyone with half a damn brain could clearly see that LeMay is more talented and has better arm strength than the midget Murray. Not to mention he is much faster and is more athletic than Murray, which is very important with our lack of O.L. talent. Yet he doesn’t get a chance to play on saturdays when Murray is stinking up the place with his terrible passes, his Int’s, and his fumbles. UGA will never, and i mean never win with Richt & Bobo in charge. Rich’t lack of player evaluation and his stubborn attitude is getting him beat now, and it has always gotten him beat. There is an old saying that the definition of Insanity is “to continue to do the same thing over and over again, and expecting to get different results” That is the only word to sum up Richt and Bobo. If not, Murray would not be allowed to throw his boneheaded INT’s, and he would be yanked off the field after he throws his pick sixes and his fumbles. And for the love of God, we would not run the ball up the gut every series on second and 10. INSANITY rules in Athens, has for the past 12 years and it will continue.Talent can’t overcome insanity from the coaches.Sorry dawg fans but sometimes the truth hurts.
Censored
April 15th, 2012
10:01 am
Must be nice for UGA homers to post vile language all over the AJC sport’s blogs. Put the shoe on the other foot and you get banned. Dawgtools, never say this paper is anti-UGA. It’s ran by UGA. It should relocate to Athens so it’s closer to Cynthia Tucker.
Censored
April 15th, 2012
10:05 am
WOW!
Everything I posted still stands. For UGA fans freedom of speech means being able to slander at will, but don’t let anyone say anything bad about the dogs. You guys would love North Korea.
typical uga frat boy
April 15th, 2012
10:07 am
Go Dawgs!! We are the best!!
Censored
April 15th, 2012
10:14 am
Eventually these post will be deleted or go to “moderation”. What a joke. UGA has a great tradition of Yellow Journalism. That’s what all you homers should be crowing about.
Aaron Murray
April 15th, 2012
10:15 am
UGA homers never discuss the problems, just call you a tech fan 1953Dawg and you too Censored, while acting like we are great embarrassing UGA off the field so Homers can act so superior to #5 Arky off field or on and same compared to Satan #1 Bama. Your problem ? I am but 1 of 150. And you obviously have your hands full STILL with ALL 150 of them. You are a small person in a big pond and we still stink to high heaven off and on the field. Leaving you here to what ? Have AJ-C run them all 150 of them off ? That your midget mind in action ? Ain’t working is it ?
kingdaddy
April 15th, 2012
10:17 am
Censored
Did you have to say Cynthia Tucker’s name so early in the a.m.? I think I just threw-up in my mouth…
Censored
April 15th, 2012
10:18 am
Let the march towards Marxism continue. Cynthia Tucker is smiling.
Censored
April 15th, 2012
10:22 am
What Mr. Murray? What you posted does not make sense. It’s your paper live with it. What the heck does a person in a pond mean?
Aaron Murray
April 15th, 2012
10:23 am
Censoring Homers just admit they have no come-back to how embarrassing our recriuts are on and off the field – especially on Offense.
Censored
April 15th, 2012
10:26 am
Sorry kingdaddy, I’ll STFU now.
typical uga frat boy
April 15th, 2012
10:26 am
Censored, please don’t say anything negative about UGA, even if it is true. It upsets our more “sensitive” fanbase. Anyone up for watching “Steel Magnolias”? This frat house rocks! Go Dawgs!!
Bobby P.
April 15th, 2012
10:30 am
Aaron Murray is the best chance we have to win. Mason played for both teams yesterday and also played the 2nd and 3rd team defense. Maqson had about 1/8 the scholarship offers as Murray. Mason’s family members must be heavy on the blogging today and last night. If you think otherwise I guess you’ve been hanging out with Ealey, Crowell and the rest of the smoking crew.
kingdaddy
April 15th, 2012
10:31 am
A.M.
The real Arron Murray is DGD. Wheather you like him or this program, both deserve better than your snarky, back-snipeing. Murray puts his life and limb in jeopardy every time he steps on the field. He’s ten times the man you are. Its easy for you to hide on a blog and critize a person, but that just shows your character or lack of. It’s not just you, a few haters on here this morning. Change you blog name to Steve Errchol…
kingdaddy
April 15th, 2012
10:34 am
Censored
I like your opinions, interesting on Sunday a.m. I rant all the time, just ask the trolls…
Aaron Murray
April 15th, 2012
10:34 am
Not their paper, not the Homers. None of the Homers pay for AJ-C subscription. Homers are little people in this big POND – called the FREE internet. They have not censored you Censored. Have they, sir ? Why should they try? Because they cannot address your points that we can say our opinion shared by everyone in this big pond. People are small to try to shut up those whom they disagree with. And it not only does not work, but they are still left with 150 others like 1953Dawg telling them Truth they prefer not to have to listen to – since they have no reply. Like UGA is great unable to beat any good team. And, like UGA is not an embarrassment on or off the field trying to cover-up all those recruits Richt signed he had to kick-off the team.
Homepage | MrSEC
April 15th, 2012
10:38 am
[...] 2. With spring practice over and off-fields events dominating the news, what Georgia needs is a quiet summer. [...]
typical uga frat boy
April 15th, 2012
10:40 am
Oh my, this is getting uncomfortable. Go Dawgs! We are the best and UGA is the best school in the world! Makes me proud to read comments from all of my “fraternity brothers” on the AJC blogs. Happy to continue the traditions you guys started.
kingdaddy
April 15th, 2012
10:43 am
I watched the Alabama game and the Ga. game and the Ga. game was twice as exciting. UGA and Murray will have a huge year in 12 and all you trolls saying it ain’t so, just are going to eat a whole lot of crow this year but once we get by S.C., youll be Doggies again, just not DGD…
badlands dawg
April 15th, 2012
10:48 am
game changer I have said that all last year the bigger the game he does not get into the game.same thing this year Mizzio is going to get in his HEAD big time.I still say Mizzio is going to give Ga a lesson in football… nobody fear GA football or Ga CMR…….thats been that way for a long time………
evil empire
April 15th, 2012
10:56 am
i gotta disagree with you badlands dawg…la-lafayette fears uga…nm state fears uga…coastal carolina fears uga…ucf fears ……nevermind…you’re right…
kingdaddy
April 15th, 2012
10:58 am
You Techies are so transparent. 1953 and me and Bobby P. are the only Dawg fans on the blog right now. More will trickel in but I’m not really sure if Censored is on the right blog. A.M., you need to go get some sleep son, you been hitting the crac$-pipe a little too much last night. Its ok to have construtive critizism, just have some respect. That’s what you Techie trolls lack. Go to the G.T. site and talk about the last show of The Big Bang Theory LOL…
Aaron Murray
April 15th, 2012
11:05 am
That’s your opinion of me personally. In the face of my facts our 24 recruits forced off the team were signed on by Richt, who also has Lost his Last 9 in a row who made winning SEC record, Lost last 7 in a row who made top 10 all the way back to 2006. Lost 8 of Last 9 who made 10-wins, and Lost last 9 in a row who made any top 25.
JB
April 15th, 2012
11:08 am
We need to send the Athens police to Alabama this summer to understand how you keep the team at full strength. They are all in over there.
"The Georgia Way"
April 15th, 2012
11:10 am
So the new policy of the athletic department is to bury their heads in the sand and refuse to acknowledge that problems exist. This approach didn’t work so well for Petrino. The worms just won’t stay in the can. And then there are always those pesky police reports.
kingdaddy
April 15th, 2012
11:12 am
Auburn fears S.C. LMAO!!!! UGA 2011 S E C-East Champs… Evil, what division did you say you were in??? We gave you the win, you can’t say that about Allbarn. They handed you your A** and we destroyed them, so keep telling yourself how great you are but don’t wrench your shoulder out of socket, patting yourself on the back. Laughing at you…
Beast from the East
April 15th, 2012
11:13 am
“Georgia ends spring — and needs a quiet summer”
Don’t we all. There’s not a program in the country that looks forward to having their kids get into trouble. I won’t throw any stones at UGA because we have plenty of our own problems in Gainesville.
1eyedJack
April 15th, 2012
11:19 am
Any fool can criticize, condemn and complain and most fools do.
Schultz, never let an opportunity to bash the Dawgs pass. On a day of positives, you saved the day. McGarity is right, dirty laundry shouldn’t be made public. But you guys would have nothing to write about to draw hits and sell papers between now and August without a few misfortunes for Dawg haters to criticize and condemn.
As any adult can attest, the combination of alcohol, testorsterone, a belief in one’s own indestructability, and free time, are as lethal a combination as matter and anti-matter.
kingdaddy
April 15th, 2012
11:19 am
Georgia Way
I agree, that’s not the answer. What the hell is he thinking???
kingdaddy
April 15th, 2012
11:20 am
Beast—A M E N!!!
Aaron Murray
April 15th, 2012
11:21 am
You said the same about South Carolina last year and the year before. They beat us both years in a row and made far better ranking than we did both current years as well. Now, when there is only 1 team on the entire schedule 2012 who made any top 25, you run in here about how much better Dawg fan you are than I, satisfied with mediocrity. Guess what ? That’s exactly what makes you a worse dawg fan with no retort but that we are all 150 of us, Teckie-fans. Where is your list of excuses for all our recruits run-out of this program and your list of excuses for all our losses, leaving us #21 won-lost after 2005 ?
evil empire
April 15th, 2012
11:22 am
kingdaddy…what post are you talking about?
kingdaddy
April 15th, 2012
11:36 am
It would be nice if all the schools had the same penaltys and policies concerning infractions and reporting of infractions. Drug test should also be uniform and carried out by an certified independent contractor. This should only be for preformance enhancing drugs OR everyone should have to be tested! Every Coach,Assistant, Staff, secretary, Teacher, Proffessor, Meter Maid and Campus PoPo. That’s fair isn’t it???
kingdaddy
April 15th, 2012
11:37 am
E.E.
10:56
kingdaddy
April 15th, 2012
11:42 am
A.M.
Why do you hide behind ADGDs name? Claim your school, it’s sure not Ga. You hate Ga…
kingdaddy
April 15th, 2012
11:48 am
I don’t like it and think it su*ks but I have to drug test for my job. It’s an intrusive part of life but fair or not,I have to do it for a good job…
kingdaddy
April 15th, 2012
12:03 pm
A.M.
I’m not saying don’t speak your mind. That’s all good. All 4 teams that beat us last year would have been just as brutal against C.L. or H.M. Football is a team sport, you win as a team and lose as a team and real fans support and care for their teams in the good times and the bad. Doesn’t mean you can’t complain. Support your team or change teams,it’s simple…
Game Changer
April 15th, 2012
12:32 pm
As a GA alumn, Shultz is 100% correct. GA football should not be heard about until the season starts. After watching and listening to Richt during G Day game, I am very concerned about the team as a whole in 2012. I was not overly impressed with the defense, our linebackers are to small for the defense we run, and defensive backs are only good when facing Aaron Murray as the QB. The other QB’s shredded the defense including a walk on. Not a good sign regardless but hopefully TG will get them where they need to be by Sept.
Aaron Murray will still destroy our team in 2012. Bobo nor Richt should be allowed to say AM holds the ball to long, AM panics, AM has happy feet, AM should get rid of the ball and not take loses, AM should protect the ball better, Four years and it will be the same ????. I am over Aaron Murray, I would rather lose with Mason than continue losing with Murray. Aaron Murray is much to short to play QB and it always shows. GA football in 2012 with A Murray as QB — RIP!
Frank Lane
April 15th, 2012
12:32 pm
On MIchael Erdman’s catch and run with the White team heading East, a GA white jersey flashed by most everyone down field to catch up, get in front of Erdman and throw a block Most speed I have even seen. WHO WAS IT? I did not catch the number
Someone tell who was it?
Hairy Dawg
April 15th, 2012
12:57 pm
Aaron Murray is the real deal and he lead us to promised land of BCS champs. He already wons the East and now he up it to bigger fish to fry like SEC and that means BCS. We goning extends streak as 7th SEC BCS champs. Then we reload and become first SEC BCS repeater in streak. And it cause Dawgs get recruits from Georgia and then we got to keep them Bammer Krystal balls from trying to come in state and stealing our recruits. Someone should pass a law to keep Sabans away from state players who needs to play for Dawgs. The real mens that play big boy football in state have to be mentored by Dawgs into being Christian and learning to exposing talents for NFL. And that what a coach Richt do.
Game Changer
April 15th, 2012
1:04 pm
Hairy Dawg, you post with the intelligence of Billy Madison in Back to School. If you are in any way a student at the University of Georgia or any University for that matter, the school system failed you tremendously.
evil empire
April 15th, 2012
1:05 pm
after that post, isn’t it clear that trolls have a place on these blogs???…reallly???…back to back BCS titles???…ahahahahahahaha!!!…try beating someone with a respectable record, then build on that…
Hairy Dawg
April 15th, 2012
1:06 pm
Hudson Mason is a DGD but Aaron Murray is The Man. He slready wins East and now Dawgs expanding our dominants to SEC and BCS champs.
Go Dawgs!
Dawg Tired
April 15th, 2012
1:09 pm
Well, it might be a good idea to not test the players as they arrive back on campus from spring break. The entire student population would be ineligible under the UGA rules. Of course, they could all play in every game at South Carolina. I’m convinced that Garcia actually played in games while high on something. 5 suspensions but never prohibited from playing in a game until the higher-ups kicked him out.
typical frat boy
April 15th, 2012
1:09 pm
You said it right Hairy Dawg! Gotta go, the frat house is about to start our Sunday “drinking chick drinks through straws” festival. It’s great to be a dawg!
Granitedawg
April 15th, 2012
1:53 pm
Jeff, can’t you do something to keep those TechMites off your board?