Richt dangles possibility of Dome start for Crowell
Isaiah Crowell could start in the first game of the season, Mark Richt says. (Associated Press)
Most of the time, college football coaches downplay the possibility of true freshmen competing right away, or hedge about it at best.
Mark Richt wasn’t doing any hedging Wednesday when he talked with ESPNU about running back Isaiah Crowell, who had just signed to become a Georgia Bulldog.
Richt said Crowell will contribute “heavily” this coming season.
“I expect him to come right in and compete right away,” the coach said. “I wouldn’t be shocked to see him running that rock in the Dome against Boise State on the opening play if he does what he’s supposed to do.”
Talk about giving an incoming player some incentive …
Some might see going with an untested back in a big, nationally televised game as a gamble. Will he have picked up all the nuances of Mike Bobo’s offense by then? Can his pass protection possibly have progressed enough strictly in practice?
Probably not. Doesn’t matter. Richt sees Crowell as a game-changer and knows he’s in a position where playing it safe isn’t going to cut it.
Let’s face it, coming off a losing season and needing to get both his program and his fan base back in the right mindset, Richt faces a tremendous challenge in opening with what’s going to be a heavily hyped game in Atlanta against one of the flashiest teams in the nation.
Can he rise to the occasion, as Erk Russell would say? So far, with Georgia’s tremendous Dream Team recruiting class, Richt has. Now the Dogs have to do it on the field, and Richt obviously recognizes that what Georgia’s been doing in its running game isn’t getting the job done.
So if that means starting a true freshman tailback against Boise State, so be it.
Looks like Richt is going “all in,” as the Auburn folks would put it.
Sounds like a plan to me. How about you?
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376 comments Add your comment
Gator Man
February 4th, 2011
5:52 pm
Of course you are not on our blog what can you say 18 out of 21 and remember you have best talent every year.
I really hate for us to beat us because you guys will tear down the goal post, thats what happens when you are not use to wining.
I just love to see you losers make a fool out your self every signing day.
Denverdawg
February 4th, 2011
7:24 pm
He may not start but he will play.
Stinger
February 4th, 2011
7:53 pm
GIVE ME A BREAK !!!!!!! This kid is the most overated kid in the country. It’s doubtful he can even make it without the JUCO route. For a coach to talk about playing a kid who has never played 1 second of college football in the opener against a team that will stomp you just proves how ignorant Mark Richt is. Oh well, Joe Cox was undefeated until he started a college game. Mark Richt is soooooo delusional. LMAO.
Stinger
February 4th, 2011
7:56 pm
The poor dog is much better off. He won’t have to watch this mess again.
PETA should investigate the cruelty of having to watch your team play.
Floria Gator
February 4th, 2011
8:18 pm
Classic Rich; talking instead of coaching. Here’s a prediction, Dawg fans… This class ends up about the same as the last four or five for one huge, unavoidable reason: great coaching matters.
If recruiting great talent were enough, Ron Zook would still be coaching at Florida.
The horrifying reality for all you folks is, especially if you’ve been following Muschamp’s press conferences, that you missed out on possibly being to hire him before we did. Has to hurt.
Ramblin
February 4th, 2011
8:46 pm
Condolences on your dog. Was he heartbroken?
Tell Burke
February 4th, 2011
8:50 pm
Crowell’s my Hoss if he don’t never win no race !
oakwood dawg
February 4th, 2011
9:43 pm
I have nothing else to say except–THERE IS NOTHING GREATER THAN A GAYTOR HATER!
Vance Duly
February 4th, 2011
9:48 pm
It is being reported that Vasi “Tombstone” Papulu is still considering UGA, along with UCLA, Texas, Oregon and a few other schools. A 6′6 380 nose tackle would be a great addition to go along with John Jenkins!! Reports of Papulu delaying college ball to do a Mormon mission for 2 years is apparently inaccurate, as he converted to being a Methodist and is no longer a Mormon. It’s time to add some bulk to the D-line!!! One report had him enrolling at a JUCO, but apparently no LOI was faxed.
Ga > Boise st.
February 4th, 2011
9:58 pm
boise st. will be overrated as usual—they will not be able to deal with UGA’s size and speed. Look for an easy win–crowell gets 140 yards and a long TD—book it.
cjw
February 4th, 2011
10:23 pm
I think with a tough running game we can go back to ole school UGA football. With some experience on the wide outs will help too. Also as long as our new conditioning coach does his job and we can play all 4 QRTS strong and our offensive line can make gaps, then I have no worries. Goooo DAWGS Sic’em
Freddie G
February 4th, 2011
11:40 pm
Isaiah may be all that and more, but his success will depend on whether the line will be able to create the holes for him, and if you all remember the line was supposed to be a strength last season and they performed well below expectations.
My biggest problem with Ealey last season was his celebration after he gained a 1st down or a run of 5 yards. With Caleb his off field problems was a result of his slow maturity and indiscipline, I hope they will both have matured sufficiently by next season and that it will be evident on and off the field.
We have just had a great recruiting class, but some recruits we lost may have been a result of the stuff that some of you write on these blogs. The kids who are looking at Georgia read these blogs too and they cannot enjoy the things that have been written about King and Ealey, so guys and gals be kinder to these athletes.
Just win a title before I die
February 5th, 2011
12:07 am
Enough of the 1980 crap. It’s time to get that monkey off our back. Win it in next three years. GATA.
Swampdog
February 5th, 2011
12:24 am
tech_sting:I agree UGA had afew games won and fell apart but if my name started with tech i would keep my mouth shut
RMikel58
February 5th, 2011
4:26 am
I would just say to Crowell to not get with a bad group of people that could land him in jail. Hopefully he is smarter than that and has a good head on his shoulders like Ray Drew. The Seniors should pick 3 players to take under their wings and mentor them while their in school to keep them out of trouble.
I dont want to start next season with 5-6 players landing in jail or doing something silly that could cost them playing time on the team.
This is one of the sore spots that Georgia faces year end and year out and has seem to only escalate each and every year.
RMikel58
February 5th, 2011
5:31 am
Its amazing how ppl that are Florida fans come here talking crap. What im reading here are mostly georgia fans commenting on georgia’s recruiting and not bashing Gator fans. Its a given that Georgia has not been successful in beating Florida but that will eventually change.
This year in Recruiting belongs to Georgia and not Florida. Ask me if i care. Yeah they still have to play but that goes for Florida as well.
Florida was losing to Georgia for so many years that they had to hire a coach like Spurrier and rearrange your schedule so that you’d have an extra week to prepare for us. That in itself was the difference not just the coaching. That helps but an extra week of preperations is huge advantage.
Now were gonna do the very same thing to you that youve been doing with us. If Florida loses a big part of that will be because we had an extra week to get ready. Not the just the coaching or the talent but preperation. Alabama played 6 teams that had an extra week to prepare for them and look what happened to them. Tighter games, closer scores and some defeats. Was it coaching or talent or records? No it was the extra preperations.
Alabama was better talented better coaching and still lost to teams like S. Carolina. So Florida Fans have a new coach, new staff but the same crappy fans that boast and brag about something that they dont know what the turnout will be.
To declare and state a victory is beyond childish, its stupid.
They havent even got to August and here comes all the B.S. from the Gatoraide Fans. As a Dawgs Fan i havent even thought about playing Florida.
All i can say is lets just see where were at this year when these teams collide and you can talk all you want until then quit looking like a fool with childish comments on something that hasnt even happened yet.
RMikel58
February 5th, 2011
6:07 am
Florida Gator- Will Muschamp hasnt even coached his 1st game and wow he’s a Hero now. A premature announcement from an inmature person. Guess they should go ahead and call the Bowl Committee and declare Florida National Champions.
What are you gonna do if Florida goes 5-6 this year? I know. Muschamps 1st. year will be your excuse. These are the facts and nothing to with your delusional forecast.
Muschamp has no head coaching experience, Florida will have to get use to a different Offense and Defense Scheme, Injuries, Football Schedule, and players getting kicked off the team for rules violations.
Youre no longer the elite program you use to be, those guys are gone. Urban Meier wasnt gonna go through this and blemish his name or record and so he saw this and left.
You may have leaner years ahead and can you endure this or Florida Fans? When this happens dont come here whining about your team or the program……we could care less.
This happens to every school, there will be bad years for sure. Woody Hayes- Ohio State, Bo Schembeckler- Michigan, Bear Bryant-Alabama, Nebraska, Oklahoma, Tennessee, USC, Texas, Georgia and Auburn.
They will not always win. They have to reload and sometimes they will not have great recruiting years to keep their program in the top 5 nationally.
Georgia has had better ,way better teams than Florida. You know that and we know that. We lost when we should have won and the losing played mentally on our players. Wasnt your coaching or your talent, it was psychological. Yeah you had Tebow and we beat him before.
Florida had some great teams for sure but so did Georgia. But now you not only have to contend with playing Georgia but S. Carolina, Tennessee, Auburn, Alabama, and LSU. Right now all we care about is that Coach Richt recognize talent and play them to their full potential, keep them out of trouble and start winning again.
Not Florida.
Mark Richt is an exceptional coach, with a track record and Wil Muschamp hasnt even started yet. So before anyone comes here announcing him as a great coach, i’d wait and see before running my mouth.
General Ledger
February 5th, 2011
9:00 am
He could just possibly using that as a way to get King and Ealey motivated to work hard and stay out of trouble. I’m sure Crowell will get on the field though.
just a fan
February 5th, 2011
9:39 am
Does anyone know what time Big John Jenkins is going to announce?
Ricardo Cabeza
February 5th, 2011
9:57 am
Amigos! Ya’ll be puttin’ da cart before da horse! He gotta stay outta trouble wid da PO-leece all summer first!
Dawg4life
February 5th, 2011
10:39 am
Hey Bill, can you elaborate on the “nuances” of Bobo’s offense? My 5 year old could call defenses against our pedestrian offense… And anyone that puts any blame on Aaron Murray is downright ignorant. He will go down, statistically anyways, as one of the greatest QB’s that has played at UGA. He out-performed Stafford as a senior, and the kid was a freshman. He was the lone bright spot on the team last season.
Common Sense
February 5th, 2011
10:41 am
Put King on a one way bus out of Athens.
Swampdog
February 5th, 2011
11:13 am
thanks Dawg4life i was tryingto find that
Dawg4life
February 5th, 2011
11:15 am
just a fan- he announces at 1 pm today. Don’t know if it is televised.
J Boscan II
February 5th, 2011
12:40 pm
Reports are that Vasi Papulu will announce his decision on Monday, with UGA and UCLA being the leaders. He will announce by ham radio from Samoa, from what has been said so far. At 6′7 370, and his island’s pancake-eating champion as well as star NT/OT, that would be one gigantic Dawg!
ATLSportsNation!!!
February 5th, 2011
1:14 pm
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