On a rival’s troubles and a Dawg being jerked around
Richard Samuel's move back to tailback isn't likely to be in his best interest. (Special)
The NCAA/Georgia Tech story was being discussed Thursday afternoon at the afternoon news meeting in our newsroom when one of the senior editors cracked, “Bill, what’s that big smile on your face?”
OK, I’ll admit it, as was probably true with any other UGA die-hard, I couldn’t help taking some pleasure in the “Institute” being caught once again with its frequently trumpeted integrity not quite in place.
But considering the fragile nature of “good standing” in the world of the NCAA, it’s not a good idea to spend too much time crowing about a rival getting slapped, as you never know when your own school is going to have to deal with another eligibility issue.
I will say note, though, that last year Georgia’s coaches determined that they would sit A.J. Green rather than risk using an ineligible player, and that kept Jerseygate from turning into something much bigger and nastier, like what has come down on the Flats.
I’ve no idea what, if anything, will transpire in the Jarvis Jones case. But I’m betting until Mark Richt and his staff know, Jones won’t take the field.
Meanwhile, before it was official yesterday that Richard Samuel would be returning to the tailback position, I wrote that I thought it was a bad idea, and I still do.
Oh, I fully understand why Richt is doing it, and you can make a good case that from the team’s perspective it’s the right move. Georgia has a startling lack of experience at the tailback position right now, and Samuel has experience, albeit in the somewhat distant past.
But for Samuel’s development as a player it’s not the right move. Having already gone from starter to benchwarmer in the backfield once, the young man stood a better chance of getting sustained playing time as a backup linebacker. At tailback, he may start out the season getting a decent number of carries spelling true freshman Isaiah Crowell, but as Crowell gets acclimated to college ball, Samuel’s likely to find himself back on the bench again.
I’d love to be wrong about that and for Samuel and Crowell to develop into a one-two punch in the backfield, but what we’ve seen of Samuel in the past indicates that his best use would be as a linebacker.
The back-and-forth with Samuel brings to mind the UGA career of Kiante Tripp, who the Georgia coaches moved from defensive end to offensive tackle to tight end back to offensive tackle back to defensive end. And he ended up excelling at none of those positions.
I hate to see the same thing happen to Samuel’s career.
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207 comments Add your comment
Flat Tire on I-95 in Jacksonville
July 15th, 2011
11:30 am
I agree with people on here that Samuel is a team player
But this kid is no running back as shown in the past
Richt and Booboo are selfish, they put themselves in the situation they are in and now they want another player to ruin his draft stock chances by making him move to a position that is not suited to his talent
We have Malcolm and we have Crowell if they cant do it I can tell you Samuel will not as proven in the past. He’s better off honing his skills at linebacker and not trying to save two coaches jobs
I rather see Brandon Smith play scat back on several plays than this stupidity
Wake up kool-aid drinkers
BMDPD
July 15th, 2011
11:33 am
B. Smith fumbles too much. He is great in the open, but likes to drop the ball upon contact.
ATL Sports Fan
July 15th, 2011
11:40 am
I’m waiting for Tide Roll to figure out that Arthur Lynch is WHITE. He always comes on here spewing his racist hate, I guess once he figures out Lynch is white he will switch Lynch with Jay Rome or someone else.
ATL Sports Fan
July 15th, 2011
11:42 am
Flat Tire your an idiot. This move was done to sure up the TB situation. Your not a UGA fan at all. Please do us all (UGA alums and fans) a favor and pull for someon else. Your one of the classic fair wweather fans. Nothing is every good enough for you.
George Stein
July 15th, 2011
11:43 am
Fair enough. But if following NCAA rules means you’re acting with integrity, then none of us should ever have an issue with Houston Nutt signing 38 players or Saban trimming his roster after oversigning the hell out of his class.
Joey
July 15th, 2011
11:53 am
What’s a little disconcerting for me is that Samuel still knows all of the offensive plays.
What happened to all of that “studying cutting-edge football?”
UGA Insider
July 15th, 2011
11:59 am
I have sympathy for Tech. All of the players and recruiting coordinator in this saga are all gone from Atlanta and not coming back. This penalty is much too harsh.
Also, I have had some coaches tell me the Cam Newton saga is about to get going again. The NCAA wants to find out what really happened.
GT Hulk 1
July 15th, 2011
12:02 pm
I will give Richt credit, he sat A.J., which GT should have done with Thomas. It is an embarrasment at Tech and especially for our alumni. Techs integrity is higher than that but Peterson and if Rad knew about it, should be gone.
1999Dawg
July 15th, 2011
12:03 pm
Samuel is going to be the key to the season. I predict he will run like Lattimore at SC and be the surprise of the year. He is going to crush those blue panzies in the Dome and then the chickens back in A-town!
gomdawg
July 15th, 2011
12:06 pm
Don’t put Carlton Thomas on the back burner,you can beat you will see some good thing sfrom him this year. you wait and see. CARLTON THOMAS
Dawg Tired
July 15th, 2011
12:07 pm
Another 4 or 5 star recruit being misused as to what is best for both his and the team’s future. Just does not make sense.
As to the NCAA’s punishment of The Wreck: Another example of just how incompetent the NCAA is. IF the facts are as ALLEGED, the kid received $312 in improper benefits and the punishment is this severe? The NCAA is an absolute joke. I actually agree with the Tech President making the decision to play the guy. You sit around waiting for the incompetents to make a decision forever not even knowing if he will actually be punished. The AJ fiasco (4 games for selling his own jersey equalling $1.000 in improper benefits which he donates to charity) took forever to even get a decision from the bozos. Auburn correctly declares Newton ineligible on Tuesday (?) and on Wednesday (?) the NCAA says he’s eligible. Alabama defensive tackle receives $4,000 (?) in improper benefits and gets a two game suspension (against teams Bama could have won with me playing defensive tackle – i.e., basically meaningless punishment) with a very quick decision by the NCAA.
It’s a joke.
TheItalianDawg
July 15th, 2011
12:07 pm
this is a crappy move! Samuel will lose a lot
Dawg Tired
July 15th, 2011
12:10 pm
UGA Insider – Why does the NCAA want to know what really happened when they clearly did not care when it really mattered? They are totally incompetent. Flawed = less than perfect. That’s true of everybody. The NCAA is way beyond flawed.
Dawg Tired
July 15th, 2011
12:13 pm
Excellent point Joey. One might think that cutting edge would result in at least one new play. Sad to say but I don’t think any real “studying” has been going on.
tide roll
July 15th, 2011
12:15 pm
Bill, I don’t know what it takes! Crowell’s own high school coach, Dell McGhee at Carver, said the kid had a maturity problem. He was quoted in YOUR PAPER! What do you do, just ignore it? Your paper reported he was yelling at teammates and fans during their loss to Calhoun. What, do you just choose to ignore these red flags as well?. Uga fans are tiresome with their continuous attitude of :”Don’t confuse us with facts, this is what we WANT it to be.” Have you or Georgia fans ever looked at anything OBJECTIVELY ?! You think I’m making this stuff up. I got the information from your paper! Lattimore shows up at Carolina “CUT”.Crowell shows up at Georgia “PUKING” You don’t think the upperclassmen see this and make a note of it?. Georgia has to hire Thomas Brown as his personal escort. You think they have to do that with Richard Samuel? It’s about maturity and TEAM CHEMISTRY as much as size and 40 times. Samuel brings this and more. Start him and play him. A LOT. Hell, if I were a Georgia player, I’d have problems with that Michael Jackson Glove Wearing hot dog Quarterback too. Didn’t he lose to Central Fla. AND Colorado, or are we choosing to pretend that didn’t happen as well?
heyberto
July 15th, 2011
12:22 pm
I really take no pleasure in seeing this happen to Tech, quite honestly. I just read Sean Bedford’s letter, and don’t blame him one bit. While this is not a simple infraction and the institution really is to blame for bungling the situation at best… it is very, very unfortunate that players like Sean are punished for those actions.
RJ Voorhees
July 15th, 2011
12:24 pm
@Toilet Paper Roll aka Tide Roll, Your team recruited Crowell as hard as UGA! We are happy to have him and he will dominate this season. Why are you so obsessed with UGA? Stick to the Alabama Circus Elephants!!!
truedawg
July 15th, 2011
12:26 pm
Bill,
How can you say what is best for Richard? Richard said he still wanted to be a running back. Even on Defense, which you are right, he was better suited. But it was his choice, and he made it. Follow his dream. Also time changes a player. He was very young when he was playing RB last time. He is a hard worker, and a hard runner. If he has learned some vision and to let the play come to him, he has a good chance of being great. Heart and desire trumps skill 90% of the time. I see this kid sitting at 50-50. Also if he ends up warming the bench by lat Oct it was his choice. But with his hard work and loyal team values he deserves the CHOICE. …and with the current RB depth chart, who is CMR to argue with his CHOICE. GO DAWGS!!!
Flat Tire on I-95 in Jacksonville
July 15th, 2011
12:30 pm
ATL Sports Fan
Your classic Mark and Kathryn Richt kool-aid drinker
If Samuel was such a sure thing at running back then tell me why was he moved to LB you moron
Did you watch any of his runs no because your the fair weather DREAM TEAM KOOL AID DRINKER
What has been good to talk about in the last 4 yrs, please tell me
Go pull for Vandy they need more mediocrity loving fans like you, you red pants wearing whiskey breath old fart.
powerhouse?
July 15th, 2011
12:30 pm
Perhaps Rickt can get the schedule changed…swap the Boise date with the directional school. That should give you time to get a RB going.
sogadog
July 15th, 2011
12:35 pm
GeoffDawg, that was a joke, please dont take anything I say seriously. Tech beat us fair and square and I think it is wrong that they had their win and championship vacated because a player received some t shirts. The punishment just doesnt fit the crime.
gomdawg
July 15th, 2011
12:38 pm
Look Flat Tire ,at the time he was at the right place at the wrong time . I hope he will prove you and all these others ya’ll are wrong. GOOD LUCK RICHARD AND THINK YOU.
Macclenny_dawg
July 15th, 2011
12:38 pm
Bill,
I am with u on this 1!!! Our blocking scheme and play calls verbage hasn’t changed a little in 2 years??? If it has then he still has 2 learn just like Crowell. Then by next season he will be back on the pine!!! If it hasn’t then maybe that’s why we r getting worse. Bobo better shake sum things up or him and Richt both will be unemployed come December!!! The more snaps given to Crowell the faster he learn!! Murray get ready 2 run when o line misses!!! I was hoping the rb situation might force Bobo 2 install more of a spread!!! So much 4 thinking Bobo could draw up plays!!! How could we call anything but a draw on 3rd down!!! Here’s hopeing I am wrong!!! Go Dawgs!!!
Tech
July 15th, 2011
12:39 pm
I am a retired federal agent and I think what might have happened is that someone ticked the NCAA investigator off and then he or she had it in for Tech from that point on. For you DAWG fans. Don’t laugh too hard because you never know when the (Inept) NCAA might come looking for something to get you on. For crying out load, why don’t they just let the kids play ball. Of course if something is done to get a recruit to come to a school,then the school should be punished. All this other stuff is just justifying jobs for the NCAA.
juvenal
July 15th, 2011
12:39 pm
got my yellow coveralls ordered(dickies has ‘em), easy to see me at games……
'94 UGA Grad
July 15th, 2011
12:48 pm
I think it’s a good move and will benefit the team and the players involved. It wouldn’t suprise me if Samuel was the starter for the entire season and Crowell the backup.
Joey
July 15th, 2011
12:50 pm
Richard Samuel: “I still remember most of it (offense). Yesterday was my first day in pass skel and I was still remembered most of the plays and most of the blocking schemes. Everything is mostly the same.”
***************************************************
Macclenny_dawg that quote is from the other Samuel item on the front page.
Unfortunately, it seems there is no new, cutting-edge stuff.
Flat Tire on I-95 in Jacksonville
July 15th, 2011
12:50 pm
gomdawg
No you look, the kid needs to be working on LB, he’s not going to the next level as a running back. Your not going to get anything better from what you have seen from him. You are your not in this world and he’s not a running back at this level of ball.
So why hurt the kids future by wasting practice and playing time at RB. Its nothing but selfishness from Richt and Booboo. Plain and simple
Joey
July 15th, 2011
12:55 pm
Tech, the NCAA has been after UGA for over 25 years because of the landmark lawsuit UGA and Oklahoma brought on, and won, over the NCAA over TV rights.
HotReceiver
July 15th, 2011
12:57 pm
Samuel averaged 4.8 ypc, same as Lattimore. Never should have moved him anyways. Man, you have to be stout to hang with Lattimore, all the sudden feeling a WHOLE lot better about the season. Surprised I didn’t think about this move sooner. It’s a brilliant move by the coaches. LOVE IT!
10 out of 10
July 15th, 2011
12:58 pm
Hey St. Simons,
I just realized that I’ve got to change my handle now. From now on my handle will be “10 out of 10″ in lieu of “9 out of 10″ since Tech has had to forfeit their one measely win in the last 10 years.
10 out of 10!!!!! HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!!!!!!
UGA_2001
July 15th, 2011
1:01 pm
Tech has gotten away with this sort of thing for a while. They deserve these sanctions and more.
That Bedford kid is a complete idiot. Typical techie- no idea how to control emotions.
innocent bystander
July 15th, 2011
1:01 pm
If Tech were beating us I’d relish what’s happening there now.We’re nine out of the last ten and I hate it that they’re facing something like this.I don’t like the Samuel move but I’m hopeful. So many athletes are held back along the way in grade scool and enter D-1 at 19. For him to be 18 and starting in the SEC after playing Special Teams at 17 was unheard of.If Jarvis sits for awhile and RS does not make an impact it will look bad. But the Coaches have a better idea of what he would have done at LB and what he can do at TB than we do. Go Dawgs!
Joey
July 15th, 2011
1:01 pm
You’re right, Flat Tire, unless Samuel somehow morphs into a productive ball carrier, his 5 years at UGA will have been a dead-end for a 5-Star talent.
Hopefully he can put his size and speed to better use this time. At the very least, maybe he can protect Murray with some pass blocking.
Someone can't read a calendar...
July 15th, 2011
1:02 pm
10 out of 10
July 15th, 2011
12:58 pm
Hey St. Simons,
I just realized that I’ve got to change my handle now. From now on my handle will be “10 out of 10″ in lieu of “9 out of 10″ since Tech has had to forfeit their one measely win in the last 10 years.
10 out of 10!!!!!
—————
The forfeit is for the GT-UGA game in 2009 not 2008.
Joey
July 15th, 2011
1:03 pm
Wrong season, 10 out of 10.
The games Tech had to forfeit were at the end of the ‘09 season.
UGA Alumnus
July 15th, 2011
1:04 pm
I understand Tech is being punished for hindering the investigation. But $300 worth of clothing given to one player, from another? Give me break.
However, it does gives me a little pleasure to see Tech hit with this, just to shut the mouths of the rude Tech fans who get on our blogs to talk trash.
But the NCAA is out of control. Ohio State was allowed to play 5 players in a bowl game who were ineligible. They never should have stepped foot on that field and the NCAA approved it.
Mr. SEC
July 15th, 2011
1:04 pm
Bill, maybe the kid is a team player and will go to any cost to help the team. The kid has got to have a good head about him in making this decision along with the coaches, he knows that he is not pro material and might not ever be; so what is wrong in trying to help his team anyway he is asked? At least he hasn’t ucked his head and hauled ass because he is not a starter, give the kid some credit. But, you suceeded in trying to get comments on YOUR thoughts. I just wihed you could write articles that were interesting and not continue with the same old “The World According To Bill” articles.
Flat Tire on I-95 in Jacksonville
July 15th, 2011
1:05 pm
Joey
Thats all I been saying; another 5 star recruit under this staff gone to nowhere land.
UGA Alumnus
July 15th, 2011
1:07 pm
As for the Samuel move… I was looking forward to seeing him at linebacker. But I think this move is the best thing for the team, and I applaud Samuel for being an unselfish player and doing what will help the team the most.
Congrats to Samuel for being a true Dawg!
Here’s hoping we’ll see him on both sides of the ball this season!
Best of luck to him at UGA and in the pros.
HotReceiver
July 15th, 2011
1:11 pm
Samuel’s experience on defense can be a real plus, a big advantage, he knows what linebackers are trying to do to read him and tackle him. If he uses this to his advantage, and can hit a 5+ ypc, he’ll be the #1 guy at Georgia for the next 2 years, playing on defense is a big advantage for him if he realizes those wern’t wasted years and uses what he learned. I bet this guy will light it up with what he know about defense now.
7576DAWG
July 15th, 2011
1:14 pm
First, let me say that I like Tech and I think that the state of Georgia is lucky to have such an prestigious intellectual college. They handle a lot of research that only the best colleges would be allowed to tackle.Having said that allows me to say why Tech got hit with such hard penalties.
Haven’t you ever been around super smart people. I mean really smart people not just your average A student.. They are all business and really don’t care to to discuss anything that isn’t way out there. If you disagree with them they look at you like you are crazy and really don’t have time or care to convince you that they are 100% sound in their thinking and that you are the one that is wrong. I think that’s what happened at Tech. Johnson and everyone else in charge wouldn’t give the NCAA investigators any cooperation and ignored their request as being a waste of their time and how dare the NCAA question their ways. The penalty was that severe because Tech was so arrogant and uncooperative.
Dawg Tired
July 15th, 2011
1:14 pm
UGA Alumnus = Dead on on that Ohio State being permitted to play even after the improper benefits (worth more than $312 BTW) were know about. SO OSU gets to play admittedly ineligible players with the NCAA’s blessing. Tech plays a kid not knowing whether he has or has not received anything rather than waiting for the NCAA to reach a decision, which, as we UGA fans are so painfully aware of, can take forever, and they forfeit a whole season and a conference championship? This is insanity.
UGA Alumnus
July 15th, 2011
1:15 pm
@Joey
July 15th, 2011
12:55 pm
I think you might be right about that.
They did decide to make selling rings illegal after UGA players did it. And the A.J. Green suspension was way too much.
7576DAWG
July 15th, 2011
1:16 pm
Also, because Tech was still on probation when the new major violation occurred.
JB
July 15th, 2011
1:19 pm
Crowell has not proven he can play SEC ball. He has not proven he can get to class. He has not proven he can stay out of trouble. He has not proven he can block, learn the play book, become a TEAM player. Richt doesn’t know WHAT he has in him. If I’m Richt, heading into a SEC season with Boo Malcome ( never had a snap) and Carlton ” down at the line ” Thomas, It’s a VERY smart move!
Dawg Tired
July 15th, 2011
1:20 pm
7576 Dawg – I believe you are right as to why the NCAA punished Tech so harshly. However, it is still wrong. Has there ever been anyone more arrogant than Gordon Gee and Jim Tressel? Nevertheless, the NCAA said “Do ahead and play 5 ineligible payers in the SUgar Bowl.”
The bottom line is that it is not possible to really give a rational explanation for the decision making process conducted by the irrational people who work for the NCAA. It is completely nonsensical.
GDawgdaddy
July 15th, 2011
1:22 pm
Bill
I was of the same opinion as you, but after reading the comments from Richard Samuel, after the switch back became official, it really sounds like an oportunity that he secretly had dreamed of, and views it as his chance for a “Mulligan”. When he talks about watching the offense during practice and thinking what he might have done differently, and how much more mature he is now than when he was a rising star at 17, I am excited for him, and deep inside hope this turns out to be the feel good story of the year. It could happen! I also think his attitude and work ethic will add inspiration and maybe even some competition to those young guys. After all, he was a young 5 star recruit once himself.
Bitter "ROUGE BOOSTER"
July 15th, 2011
1:22 pm
the NCAA have spoken—————-ALL-BURN your goose is cooked———–hahahahah
—————————————-DEATH PENALTY———————————–
——————————-SCAM NEWTON————you folks have more than dead oaks to worry about
HotReceiver
July 15th, 2011
1:23 pm
Toby Gerhart had some knee issues early on at Stanford, and it hurt him early on, didn’t do much hist 1st 2 seasons. Once his knee was 100%, the guy averaged 5.4 and 5.5 ypc for the next 2 seasons. Samuel has a chance to do the same.