Maybe Mark Richt needs to add a driver’s ed teacher to his staff
Another Bulldog traffic arrest.
Well, we’re making progress. Of sorts.
At least Washaun Ealey, arrested early today on misdemeanor charges of driving with a suspended license and leaving the scene after hitting a parked truck in a campus deck, had a real license, albeit suspended. He wasn’t driving on a learner’s permit like some of his arrested teammates. And he wasn’t riding a scooter out of an alley.
Sorry, I know I should take any arrest by a UGA football player more seriously. But, really, the continuing ridiculous saga of the Bulldogs’ traffic court problems has become something of a joke. A not very funny joke.
The stupidest thing Ealey did was leave the scene after parking service attendants confronted him about the collision and told him to wait for police to arrive. It’s hard to figure how he thought he’d skate on that. Had he not noticed that UGA football players are not immune to arrest?
No alchohol was involved, thank goodness, so I’m not sure whether a couple of traffic misdemeanors rises to the level of missing any playing time or not in Mark Richt’s rule book. In this case, though, it probably ought to. Caleb King already was likely to be the starter in the opening game, so perhaps Ealey spending at least a half on the bench — or maybe the whole game — might help him to understand that as a Georgia Bulldog he’s in the spotlight. And he needs to act accordingly.
SIDELINING LORAN
Loran Smith deserves to be part of the broadcast. (Georgiadogs.com)
The news that Bulldogs radio network fixture Loran Smith is being replaced by Chuck Dowdle as sideline reporter during the football broadcasts shouldn’t really have surprised anyone. When the broadcast team was revamped last year in the wake of Larry Munson’s retirement a lot of folks thought ISP might take the opportunity to shift Loran out of the role in which he’d become more of a punch line than an asset and limit him to the pregame show. A year later, they’ve finally done that.
Make no mistake, Loran deserves to be part of the broadcast. As I wrote last year, no one questions that he is probably the most loyal citizen of the Bulldog Nation. He seems to know just about everyone and is topped probably only by the legendary Dan Magill in his knowledge of UGA athletics history. And his Bulldog bona fides are stellar. I mean, a couple of the Uga mascots have even been named after him!
But when Munson would throw it down to Smith with a “Whaddyagot, Loran?” you never knew what to expect except that only occasionally would it have any relevance to what was happening on the field. One of the most beloved stories among Georgia fans concerns the mid-game sideline report from Smith that then-Georgia defensive end Charles Grant likes boiled peanuts — a revelation that was met with silence from Munson, followed by, “Third and six.”
Bit by bit, Dowdle, now retired as WSB sports director, has been assuming Loran’s former jobs … first co-hosting the weekly coach’s TV show and then last year doing the postgame locker room interviews. Now the sideline reporting.
But with four hours of pregame show to fill before the kickoff, there still should be plenty of time for Loran’s rambling interviews with past players and sports celebs and his reminiscences about his many years of involvement with UGA. Listening to Loran is an integral part of tailgating in Athens. And most Dogs fans wouldn’t want it any other way.
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338 comments Add your comment
King Gator
August 27th, 2010
12:15 pm
Maybe D Evans could teach the class he’s available and seems pretty steady behind the wheel while boozin, cruisin and diddling. Go Gators! 21 y/o Soph = Grown A$$ Man – take care of your business – on and off the field!
Alabama Jack
August 27th, 2010
12:15 pm
“Separately, Athens-Clarke County Municipal Court Clerk Rhonda Bolton told the AJC that the court issued a failure-to-appear warrant for Ealey on Aug. 12. Ealey was charged with speeding and tag violations on May 30, she said, and failed to appear for a scheduled court date on July 12. That failure to appear triggered a suspension of Ealey’s driver’s license, Bolton said.
Ealey’s fines in the case would have been $205 for speeding and $125 for the registration violation, Bolton said. Those fines, plus $150 in fees, are incorporated into the $480 bond he had to post to be released from jail today on the bench warrant, she said.”
Oops.
dawgs01
August 27th, 2010
12:20 pm
I know someone who dates a player and they are not allowed out in Athens right now and during the season so they all pile up in there cars and go a couple of citys over to get drunk and i dont get it just study and play football you are not a normal student if you want to be quit the team and party every night
Fleming Island Dog
August 27th, 2010
12:21 pm
Here is a quote from Washaun’s famil “We are totally speechless over our son’s criminal activity. We have officially kicked him out of the family for the shame and embarrassment he has brought to this family. Why couldn’t he go out and beat up a cop, or his girlfriend, or steal a dead woman’s credit card, or shoot an AK-47 in a crowd, or fail a drug test, or break into an impound lot. That we could have lived with. But this we can’t. He will no longer carry the Ealey name.”
dawgs01
August 27th, 2010
12:21 pm
This is not a scrub either he is a starter on the defense and this is a very true story.
Fleming Island Dog
August 27th, 2010
12:24 pm
Let me add one more Ealey family quote for the gators “why couldn’t he have just got drunk and passed out at a red light with the engine running instead of this?” By the way “No alcohol involved”
DawgNation
August 27th, 2010
12:25 pm
Well if I am getting this right. All of you UGA Haters won’t be satisfied till CMR nails Washaun Ealey to a cross in front of Sanford Stadium proclaiming him the foul destructiveness that is the problem with the UGA program. For those of you who are over the age of 15 posting on this blog take a look at your own youthful driving records and tell me your are the perfect driver. Whether or not you got caught I bet there is something there that you did that was due to inexperienced youthful stupidity. Myself included. NO alcohol was involved. NO injuries to anyone. Leaving was dumb but I am sure he left due to panic. Not excusing it just explaining it. Two things. He knew he was driving on a suspended license and he also should have known leaving an accident is against the law. Both of these are misdemeanors. Washaun will have to pay restitution to the truck owner, appear in court, pay a hefty fine, give up his licenses for another year, and attend some sort of driving school. You know just like all of use regular people would have to do. I believe CMR will take all that into account and by the guidelines set up within the athletic department will probably get a game suspension. Sorry if all you SC, UT, GT, UF fans didn’t get your year suspension with a 6 month jail term out of this but there is NO story here except what you want to make up and spit out over these blogs. So enjoy working in the words red panties in with your childish jibs of this story if that is what gets you through each day.
Ealey's Family
August 27th, 2010
12:31 pm
Sorry, but we forgot to include WHY Washaun has been kicked out of our family for the shame and embarrassment he has brought upon us and his school:
1. Speeding (cold)
2. Tag Violations (still cold)
3. Failure To Appear In Court (getting warmer)
4. Driving On A Suspended License (pretty hot)
5. Hit and Run (OMG, I just s#!t my pants!)
We’re afraid of what may be next on the list…
how2fish
August 27th, 2010
12:31 pm
Fleming Island Dog funny stuff right there ! DawgNation great points however we will have to fine you 500 demerits as you used actual logic on a blog…sorry that’s the rules!
Go DAaaaaaaaaaWGS
August 27th, 2010
12:33 pm
Yep Dawg lovers, keep sweeping this stuff under the rug, its no big deal. Richt told the dude in July, “You have a suspended license, so DONT DRIVE”
Oops, ignored CMR and look what happened.
Like I said, no biggie, everything is wonderful at UGA, keep those blinders on puppies. LOL
St. Bernard
August 27th, 2010
12:34 pm
Let’s substitute swim day every season with updating driver’s license and making sure that everyone’s stuff is up to date. These minor traffic violations are out of hand. How about this: In order to practice first day of the year you show a valid driver’s license.
I’m not sure this offense is worthy of a suspension.
King Gator
August 27th, 2010
12:35 pm
Fleming Island Dog’s red panties are in a bunch … dude, all of these teams have thugs, knuckleheads, drunks, players, student athletes and even a few good guys. He should serve his suspension, pay his fine, get some insurance and learn a life lesson and move on. Now your A.D. – everyone should expect more. Go Gators!
SKB
August 27th, 2010
12:36 pm
Richt needs to hire a driver for each of his players.. UGA 3rd rate program at best, thats what? 8-9 arrest this year, and so many more last 2 years.
patrick
August 27th, 2010
12:37 pm
1. I\n Georgia you cant be “arrested” for driving on a suspended license unless you have been served. So Unless he was served (via a cert letter or having been stopped (and let go as the law requires) once before then he was not “arrested” only served. If he was not served his charges of driving without a licence will be dismissed.
.
2. Failure to appear disappears once the fine is paid for the past speeding ticket.
.
3. that leaves only the “hit and run of a parked vehicle” which is no more serious than bumping a fence and not reporting it.
.
So in conclusion his only offense that has merit is “striking an object without reporting it” a 5oo.00 fine.
.
HARDLY MURDER.
SouthGaBrave
August 27th, 2010
12:40 pm
Clarabelle — I’d say 90 wins in 9 years and a 7-2 bowl record is hard to match by any team out there. CMR may not have brought us a National Title, like they have at Bama, UF, and LSU…..but you would be hard-pressed to find anything better out there. The grass may look greener across the border, but we’ve had (and still have) alot to cheer for here.
Wreckem
August 27th, 2010
12:44 pm
Well, you dog fans are wondering when all this stupidity will stop. I know when it will. When you stop recruiting stupid players.
As a GT fan and Alum, I have to say all these arrest are easy fuel for the endless trash talking between our two schools and i do enjoy usung that fuel. But I must say it is really sad. dawgs don’t blame CMR, he can only do so much. I can’t believe he did all of this in his roommates car. If I were the roommate I would be mad. uga football team get straight, I want a good game in November.
Mr. Reality Calling
August 27th, 2010
12:46 pm
DawgNation, quit making excuses. This guy should have waited for the police to show. Since he did not, that leads me to believe that he probably was drinking, or he had drugs on him.
EducatorNTraining
August 27th, 2010
12:46 pm
The fact that he is a 21 yr old sophmore should explain the level of thinking behind this incident.
tired of this crap
August 27th, 2010
12:46 pm
Yeah, patrick…Your logic is EXACTLY why UGA leads the nation in avg arrests per player for another year now! You’re CMR’s legal consultant, right?
Oh, and just “bumping a fence and not reporting it” isn’t something they can take you to jail for either. Just ask Washaun (once he gets sprung from the Hoosegow).
You still don’t get it do you? He was told the police have been called and are on their way – “Don’t leave”. He drove off, which in some states could be considered “fleeing” or “attempting to elude a police officer”. Yeah, just bumping a fence. Keep telling yourself that, kid.
Fleming Island Dog
August 27th, 2010
12:47 pm
I know “Ealey’s Family” are not talking to their son but the should have held their bowels because it’s not “Hit and Run” it’s more like duty upon strike law(you can tinkle yourself a little I guess). Like I said I know Washaun is the first ever to drive on a suspended license so they brought in SWAT from all over the stae.
Fleming Island Dog
August 27th, 2010
12:49 pm
Hey King Gator I’m glad you got my point about all teams having these type problems and I agree with eveything you said except the red painties. They are black!!!!
Blackberry Cobbler
August 27th, 2010
12:50 pm
No kid needs to be out at 3:30am.
Stupid.
Fleming Island Dog
August 27th, 2010
12:52 pm
Tired of this crap, yes maybe he should have stayed but no where near eluding police. They were parking attendants and as far as he knew they called their buddies to come kick his butt. The law says you have to notify which could mean leave a note. You don’t have to stay just because some yahoo told you to just be sure to leave a note or notify the police yourself.
Wreckem
August 27th, 2010
12:52 pm
Blackberry
All the kids in Athens are out at 3:30am. They are going home cause the bars close at 3am. GO CHuga!
how2fish
August 27th, 2010
12:53 pm
tired of this crap where oh where do you get the average player arrest data at hmmmmm? Pulling out of you AZZ? Lets recap 9 players arrested and 4 are no longer on the team…yep that old softie CMR.
how2fish
August 27th, 2010
12:55 pm
Blackberry Cobbler are you nuts or just a nerd…all college kids worth the name spend a good portion of their time out in the wee hours…it a rite of passage.
King Gator
August 27th, 2010
12:56 pm
No self respecting D1 footballer shows up to a late night bootycall on a kick ‘n go.. keep your driver’s lisc valid, avoid parked cars, make her drive to see you if your drunk, buy some insurance and dont make babies with co-eds from the atlanta burbs in Athens.
tired of this crap
August 27th, 2010
12:56 pm
What’s wrong with you Fleming Island Dog? Are you condoning this kind of behavior because it sure sounds like it.
He was given a date and time to appear in court. He failed to show.
He was told not to drive when his license was suspended. He drove.
He was told not to leave the scene after witnesses saw him hit a parked vehicle and reported it. He left.
It concerns me that you don’t see a negative trend in behavior with this individual. If he was 3rd string right guard would you feel differently? If he was a Florida Gator would you feel differently?
how2fish
August 27th, 2010
12:57 pm
Wreckem sorry I forgot not at Bugville as there are no co-eds…wait sorry your right Bugs are still out that’s when the shift changes on the 24 hour WOW sessions..sorry.
86 Dawg
August 27th, 2010
12:58 pm
How about making the entire team except Ealey run every single step in Sanford Stadium while Ealey has to watch sitting on a lawn chair at the 50 yard line. Let the Seniors take care of Ealey and all other “misbehavors” in such instances. I am sure the rest of the team would mete out a greater punishment than Saint Mark.
patrick
August 27th, 2010
12:59 pm
“tired of this crap”
.
If you doubt my knowledge of the law….google it. Georgia is quite clear………without notice you CANT be arrested for driving on suspended license He failed to appear 13 days ago….no way the state could have had time to process his suspension and mail a cert letter). He was arrested for “striking an object without reporting it”. The 480 fine he paid ERASED the failure to appear on a speeding ticket. So UNLESS he was served prior to the incident then the charge of “driving on a suspended licence” (and the time frame makes that prohibitive” will be dismissed. His only charge that has merit is “striking an object without reporting it”.
.
Unless you want to look more foolish than I have already made you look. Stop commenting.
Dawg 39
August 27th, 2010
1:00 pm
I hope Carlton Thomas is ready to play. Looking at the 2 deep depth chart, The Dawgs are in good shape. I do hope that Faloughi at OLB, Tripp at DE, & especially Thomas can step it up a notch.
Ealey will probably be out for only 1 game. The punishment fits the crime. More than that would be overkill .I still look for Ealey to be as good as Moreno. Time will tell.
patrick
August 27th, 2010
1:00 pm
tired of this crap……………where does it say he was “told not to drive”?
Congratulations UGAG
August 27th, 2010
1:01 pm
On winning THE FULMER CUP
ROTFLMAO
Starring Kam Fong as Chin Ho
August 27th, 2010
1:03 pm
tired of this crap, if this were your son would you feel differently? Would you want your son talked about the way you and others are talking about Ealey? Would you disown your son in a similar circumstance?
Eight Bulldogs Arrested This Calendar Year
August 27th, 2010
1:03 pm
THUGA IN THA HOUSE!!!!
Wreckem
August 27th, 2010
1:03 pm
how2fish, glad to see your response. You are somewhat correct. “Bugville” does have co-eds and 95% of them are wayless than desirable I will admit that. But that is what Georgia State is for. And as for the WOW shift change, couldn’t tell you when that happens I’ve never played it. I was part of the few Techies that were leaving the bars at 3:30.
LOL
August 27th, 2010
1:03 pm
how2fish = Bill King(of Denial)
Dawg Whisperer and Apologist
patrick
August 27th, 2010
1:04 pm
he didnt pay a speeding ticket on time…..its now been paid
.
He was not given a “notice of suspension” so no charge of driving on suspended licence will stick….per Georgia law
.
His only offense (that has merit) is “striking and object without reporting it”…also, per Georgia law
how2fish
August 27th, 2010
1:04 pm
tired of this crap at 3 am the only person telling me to stay or leave is a police officer period. He didn’t make his court date and that’s just wrong and he’ll pay for it. But if he was a 3rd string Gator guard that bought the car with a dead girls credit card and was spraying automatic weapons fire around the parking lot when he bumped into that truck it would be a different deal..but otherwise no not so much.
hotbobby
August 27th, 2010
1:05 pm
You people need to quit making excuses for him. He’s 21, old enough to know better, and it sounds like he had something to hide. It all starts at the top.
smart like a Fox
August 27th, 2010
1:05 pm
who lets these kids drive? it’s not their fault, after riding the short bus for 14 or 15 years. They all want to impress the lady’s and roll up behind the wheel. Maybe a Special Ed/Drivers Ed is in order there. It would save thousands in insurance dollars.
robodawg
August 27th, 2010
1:05 pm
Well said about Loran.
Seriously, a football staffer needs to regularly review every player’s driver’s license and vehicle registration and make sure everything’s in order. And the department should probably arrange for some driver’s ed as well.
On the other hand, is an arrest really necessary when it comes to traffic violations? It seems like they bend over backwards to NOT show any leniency to football players, b/c they rightly don’t want to show favoritism, but the result seems to be that players get booked for things that many ordinary citizens would not get booked for.
Save the arrests for people who are actually dangerous.
tired of this crap
August 27th, 2010
1:07 pm
patrick, you make yourself look foolish by continuing to dismiss these acts as having no negative consequences. Let me guess: you’re still in school and football Saturdays mean more to you than acing a final exam, right?
Just because he’s not charged with something, then he didn’t do anything wrong, correct? That’s the logic you keep using and it makes you look like a pre-pubescent teen.
Fleming Island Dog
August 27th, 2010
1:07 pm
What’s wrong with your reading skills “tired” I didn’t condone it I said he should have left a note or call the police himself. What i said is you are off your rocker if what he did is considered eluding police unless parking attendants are police. And yes I wouldn’t care who it does it still not eluding police. Just saying some acting like he committed murder this is no where near that.
LOL
August 27th, 2010
1:07 pm
Shouldnt this cesspool be called The Drunkyard Blawg?
Dbalcer
August 27th, 2010
1:09 pm
I hope that everyone here who is calling for Ealey to be dismissed wants to be treated the same when they mess up and also wants the same to happen to their children. Driving offenses and parking accidents can happen to anyone. No he should not have left the scene but sometimes fear makes us do stupid things. I would feel the same way if it was any student at any university. It is a sad person who glorifies in the misfortunes of anyone else.
how2fish
August 27th, 2010
1:09 pm
Wreckem that’s fair…Ga State did have some honeys, back in the day a lot of the Bug students hung out at Underground Atlanta, I used to drink and sometimes fight with them at the Mad Hatter..good response glad we can joust without putting out anyone’s eye !
tired of this crap
August 27th, 2010
1:10 pm
how2fish:
So if YOU hit a parked vehicle @ 3am and witnesses came over and told you to stay there because they saw what happened and they’ve called 911 and the cops are on the way, then you’d drive off, right? I think that’s what you just said.
C’mon Washaun…..When did they start giving jailbirds Internet access? Hasn’t anyone been down there to give you a Get Out of Jail Free Card yet?
3/4 game suspension in order
August 27th, 2010
1:12 pm
Richt needs to go by the Paul Johnson (Robert Hall- 1 game) and Urban Meyer (Spikes- 2 quarters) school of discipline. The happy medium will be Ealey sitting out 3 quarters.
Imagine it will be tougher than that. What other coach in the NCAA has ever suspended a player for a game for underage possession? Most just do it like Kelly and keep it inhouse.