Fan talk: UGA doesn’t need Isaiah Crowell to be the next Herschel Walker
Let’s answer some Junkyard Mail …
Like all UGA tailbacks, Isaiah Crowell must operate in someone's shadow. (Jason Getz / AJC)
JerryDawg writes: After all the build-up, I’m getting awfully concerned that Isaiah Crowell is going to be another tailback bust for the Dawgs. I’ve heard and read all kinds of reports that he showed up in Athens with an attitude, skipped some workouts and had to have some of his teammates sit him down and try to get his head on straight. Are you worried, Bill?
I think Mark Richt said it best: “We don’t expect Isaiah to save the program. We don’t expect Isaiah to put the team on his back. We expect Isaiah to learn what to do and to do things the Georgia way and to try to do anything he can to help the team win as a freshman. We’ll see how far that goes.”
As for the rumors, I don’t put that much stock in anonymous reports on the Internet. But more importantly, can we let the kid have his first official practice as a Georgia Bulldog before we start worrying about his attitude or work ethic? That’s one of the downsides of today’s 24/7 media environment: Players are constantly being scrutinized. Can you imagine what it would have been like had the blogosphere and social media existed when Herschel Walker first hit Athens? He didn’t exactly tear it up in preseason practice his freshman year, with Vince Dooley famously fretting that he was concerned No. 34 was going to wind up being just another “big, stiff fullback.” We found out differently once it was for real.
What would the blogosphere have made of worries Herschel Walker would be just a big, stuff fullback? (AJC file)
I’m not saying that Crowell will be the next Herschel Walker. Or even the next Knowshon Moreno. Heck, after the past couple of seasons, I’d settle for him being the next Musa Smith.
(And, by the way, if you haven’t yet watched the trailer for the upcoming ESPNU “Storied” documentary on Herschel, check it out. As a friend said, it’ll give you chill bumps.)
Thomas Vaiden writes: Do you know what number Isaiah Crowell will be wearing this season? Thanks. !GO DAWGS!
After the G-Day game, Richt said Crowell will wear No. 1, the same jersey number worn by cornerback (and occasional offensive player) Branden Smith. “We’ve just got to make sure they’re not in the game at the same time,” Richt said.
Garrett Kee writes: Hey Bill, this is Garrett Kee from Columbus, Ga., hope you’re doing well. I just wanted to get your thoughts on the new Nike Pro-Combat uniforms Georgia will be wearing against Boise in the opener. I have seen these combat unis on Florida, Oregon, LSU, Virginia Tech, etc. and have to admit I’m a little worried. They seem to change the uniforms with “radical” color schemes and crazy helmets (look at LSU and Boise). Are you worried that our good ole traditional red jerseys, red helmets and silver britches are going to be altered much? I know I am tired of these uniform “outfits” we have sported the last couple of years and just want to see hard-nosed football being played without worrying how good we look. Yet, I know that we have a pretty big contract with Nike and are almost obliged to do this sooner or later. Go Dawgs!
Garrett, I haven’t been a big fan of Nike’s special uniforms up to now, but I thought the ones they trotted out during bowl season were a slight improvement. I’ve no idea how drastic a reworking it will be, though again we’ve got lots of supposedly insider reports circulating. Take your pick: I’ve heard the helmets will be red. Or silver. Or white with a red stripe. The one thing we do know is that the Chick-fil-A Kickoff Game folks say Georgia will be wearing red jerseys and Boise State will be wearing blue. There’s a lot of speculation Georgia might wear red britches as well, but that’s all it is — speculation. Still, it’s only for one game and both teams will be wearing the Pro Combats and the players are excited, so I don’t see any real harm in it. If anything, the uniforms contribute to the feeling of this being a special game.
By the way, Patrick Garbin’s always interesting historical blog has a nice overview of Georgia’s football uniforms.
Ron Sweat writes: DOES ANYONE THINK THAT RECRUITING AT UGA IS HANDLED OR DIRECTED LIKE IT SHOULD? Bill, how do we handle recruiting at UGA? Do we call all the recruits for the next 4 years every day or once a week or month and does an assistant make the call or a coach or [recruiting coordinator Rodney] Garner?
Ron, I gather you aren’t entirely satisfied with the way recruiting is being handled at UGA. Let me say up front, I’m not a recruitnik and don’t follow it that closely until we get closer to signing day. I will admit I was disappointed by some recruiting trends in recent years in Athens (such as the now abandoned reliance on fast but short cornerbacks), but I find it difficult to condemn a recruiting program that could produce this year’s Dream Team.
Anyway, I put your question to our recruiting blogger, Michael Carvell, and here’s what he said: “If they are asking about the quality of UGA’s recruiting efforts, you can only base on it on the finished efforts of last year, which was the ‘Dream Team.’ We’re still a long way from National Signing Day 2012. As far as how recruiting is handled, I’m sure the appropriate UGA coaches call during the NCAA contact periods.”
GET TO KNOW YOUR SEC COACHES
Here’s a fun feature from ESPN in which they put a bunch of questions (not necessarily about football) to the SEC head coaches. Some sound like guys you’d want to hang out with. And then there’s Bobby Petrino.
Got a question for the Junkyard Blawg? Send it to junkyardblawg@gmail.com.
Find me on Facebook.
Follow me on Twitter.
Tell us what you think about the site
Customer Care »
Vacation stops, manage subscriptions and more
AJC Services
Sections
Other Editions
Visitor Agreement | Privacy Statement
© 2013 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
322 comments Add your comment
Thomas Brown
July 30th, 2011
11:13 pm
2009 Richard Samuel, still by this wondrous coaching staff Mark Richt assembles, is installed as the Starter at TB for UGA. 2009 in the loss to Okie State, Richard Samuel is Starter. We lost. South Carolina game, and then Arkansas, still starter – as you recall. Arkansas he puts the ball on the carpet again. He never played again, not really. Against Arizona State the next week, a truly horrid football team, we squeaked out a 20-17 win against this cupcake with Richard Samuel having 11 carries for 28 yards – 2 yards a carry against this cupcake. The most carries Richard Samuel would get after that 4th game were 6 all season long and that against Vandie. 6 carries for 19 yards – 3 yards a carry vs Vandie another cupcake.
Brain trust coaching staff of Mark Richt then rips the Redshirt off the # 13 running back in the nation, Washaun Ealey – this is in the 3rd quarter of the 5th game 2009. We lost that game any way, with AJ Green’s penalty in the end zone – hot dogging in college and pleading he should get away with it. Truth be told, it was a close call. But, let’s be honest here.
Caleb Darnell King was supposed to be the TB not Richard Samuel and not Washaun Ealey.
This is what we are left to discuss now for 2011 that Richard Samuel was not back-up to Knowshon Moreno 2009, but to Washaun Ealey who stole his job when Caleb King was supposed to be the # 1 football player in the state of Georgia, and was a total abject FLOP his entire career here against any team with any semblance of a rush defense.
22 fumbles 2009 by UGA.
A number which will once again pale by comparison to the record number we put up 2011.
Of course of the 22 fumbles by us 2009, Joe Cox led the team with 7. Caleb King had 2. And, again, Richard Samuel in his game 3 against Arkansas, which we won anyway; and, still Richard Samuel never really got on the field after that. Not really. He was cut way way back and phased out altogether. This was Richard Samuel’s Sophomore year.
Then, sent to the defense.
Then, not ready, redshirted in what should have been his Junior year last year. Recall again, Richard Samuel was supposed to be in the NFL after last year. Coming back to you on that ?
Thomas Brown
July 30th, 2011
11:14 pm
Fast forward to 2011, and this is supposed to be his Senior year he was never supposed to be here for. But, he is. And, not checkered career by any mean, by all means, by no means to this point with no expectations of anything different. But, again our Starter at TB. Wonderful.
Redshirt Junior year, 2011 for Richard Samuel, he did not play 1 down all season 2010. Can we blame 2010 on Richard Samuel or the coaching staff who so jerks around Richard Samuel ? I think obviously on both parts. He is already supposed to have gone to the NFL according to every UGA fan I read all 2 million of us in 2007 and 2008 when we recruited him here we thought for 3 years before NFL stardom.
2010, his Junior year, Richard Samuel should have been so deployed by this mis-managing coaching staff of Mark Richt that he would have assisted us in winning games – instead we have the luxury of having him on the sidelines spending the year and a half learning how to play Linebacker in this 3-4. Now, with 21 practices if it doesn’t rain us without an indoor practice facility we install him back at Starter # 1 at TB.
Oh, I almost left out 2010 without Richard Samuel, we fumbled the football 20 times with 9 of the 20 fumbles last season by Aaron Murray. Again, these numbers for 2010 will pale by comparison with the record number of fumbles 2011 by us. A number I expect to reach closer to 30 fumbles, putting the ball on the carpet and up for grabs – something this offense does not do well at all, recovering their own fumbles.
youareallidiots
July 30th, 2011
11:33 pm
All of you are idiots – you have to respond to the trolls there fore you keep them here, you say IC is a bust and the rumors are true – so they have already put the pads on???- I did not know that – thanks for the info – All you losers on here need to get a life – why do you have to put down these kids and put the remarks you do on these stupid blogs – why don’t you try to find happiness in your own life instead of trying to do it through a football team – please give me your phone # and I will come fuc your wife b/c you are so wrapped up in some football season that hasn’t even started – you all are losers – just enjoy the game – win or lose – no team wins the NC ever year – why do you expect that – see what Auburn does this year – you losers are so ready to fire CMR – do you know what that will do to the program – most of you can’t even get ahead in your own life – you all make me sick – it is just a football game – nothing more nothing less -
youareallidiots
July 30th, 2011
11:38 pm
also all you people that blame 1 player for a win or a loss – get real – there are 11 men on the field – 11 not 1 – so for you losers that say AM did not win against a team with a winning record – guess what – he was 1 out of 11 – so AM was not to blame the offense/defense/coaches were to blame –
you all succccccccc azzzzzzzzzz
uga nothing
July 30th, 2011
11:41 pm
@heel just like you guys to start bashing because you know what the truth is. UGA is a joke nothing to show for 30 years and you you blame it on someone or something else. We will see what the nightmare team does this year, oh I mean the dream team.
Old Blind Dawg
July 30th, 2011
11:45 pm
IGNORE the trolls. Responding only swells their tiny little wiener as they hold it between their finger and thumb while pulling furiously.
RedandBlackDAWG
July 30th, 2011
11:46 pm
I can’t wait for the season to start. We will most likely see a lot of new handles on these blogs, because a lot of people will change their names, as they will have made such clowns of themselves, they would never want to sign in under their former handle. UGA is going to ruin a lot of you negative bloggers reps. you think you have established for yourself. For some of you that make insane, stupid comments, perhaps some day you will grow up, but I doubt it. Others that use these pathetic insults, indicate that you really haven’t matured and most likely, are somewhere between the first and 6th grade in your level of education. It is a shame that the AJC doesn’t restrict comments to people over 18 only, and that might cut down some, but even then, I suspect that a lot of folks with all this negative crap, are just immature people.
GO DAWGS
uga nothing
July 30th, 2011
11:49 pm
Again bashing on us and not wanting to face the truth UGA is nothing.
Subtle difference
July 30th, 2011
11:52 pm
The difference is that HW said he wanted to BE an FBI agent.
Crowell is far more likely to MEET an FBI agent when they book him into jail.
Thomas Brown
July 30th, 2011
11:52 pm
Top 19 Boise State
Top 19 South Carolina
# 121 Coastal Carolina
# 54 Ole Miss
# 31 Missy State
# 49 vols
# 100 Vandie
# 21 Florida
# 120 New Mexico State
# 30 Auburn
# 63 Kentucky
# 65 Georgia tek
According to Rivals rankings as of tonight, our beloved Georgia Bulldogs football schedule Mark Richt brags he is going to tear up in 2011 includes 12 regular season games – and not including Boise State and South Carolina since it has not been revealed yet what their ranking will be according to Rivals – and our average opponent every week all regular season long have an average ranking in Rivals tonight of # 65.
# 65 vs 10 teams regular season 2011 for Mark Richt
I presume Mark Richt thinks he can beat 10 teams with an average ranking of # 65.
Mark Richt, sir, that is not tearing it up in 2011 to win 10 games against an average opponent ranked # 65 every week, sir.
DawginCenterville
July 30th, 2011
11:57 pm
Old Blind Dawg sounds like he’s very familiar with little weiners.
Justafan
July 31st, 2011
12:03 am
Really I mean really.
macrotech
July 31st, 2011
12:06 am
“IGNORE the trolls. Responding only swells their tiny little wiener as they hold it between their finger and thumb while pulling furiously.”-Old Blind Dawg. TOO FUNNY!!!
Thomas Brown
July 31st, 2011
12:07 am
30 fumbles 2011 by us, putting the ball on the carpet and up for grabs.
30
sports
July 31st, 2011
12:15 am
Walker was the best college running back I’ve ever seen…speed, power, and determination. If he would’ve played his senior year, he would’ve set records almost unbreakable. He was the only college football player I’ve ever seen that should have won the Heisman as a freshman. When they gave it to Hugh Green out of Pitt., it was an injustice.
Thomas Brown
July 31st, 2011
12:19 am
2011 – after losing 21 Games these last 5 years now here – this is what we are left with discussing
Herschel Walker
RED DOG 77
July 31st, 2011
1:04 am
@Bill King……..Great article!……I knew you could do it. And yes you are absolutely right about what things would have been like through the years with the 24/7 coverage these kids get fresh out of high school. I.C. IMO will be just fine. about all we know so far is Aaron Murray Ben Jones and afew others aparently “welcomed ” him to Athens, and with leaders like Murray/Jones I just don’t see a problem. I hear all the speculatiion swirling about IC, but that’s all it is, speculation!……When I talk to folks in the know about high school prospects, all I have heard from tell me one thing: the kid is a beast with a football in his hands……..I take a look at You Tube, and yup, alot of his carries to the “house” come “untouched”………but there are quite a few in there that shows his grit and determination………Bill, you don’t know, I don’t know, and certainly all of the “experts” on this blog certainly don’t know what kind of back IC will be………but there would be a fairly good chance that he will be better than anyone we’ve had in some time totin’ the rock………..Again, great story Bill, but please, in the future, don’t block me just because I often disagree with you. Personally, I think some healthy debate [with respect] is what we all want, don’t you?………..Regards, RED
Thomas Brown
July 31st, 2011
3:34 am
RED DOG 77
August 29th, 2010 1:22 am
“I will assure you if we can get to Jacksonville undefeated”
Uh, no RED DOG 77, unfortunately we went 6-7; but, hey, you run right back in here again and tell us like you do every year, how absolutely fabulous we are.
Then, are GONE unwilling to face the reality of your B.S. posts beforehand, and poor years, after.
Hmmmm.....
July 31st, 2011
5:41 am
HW had over 5,200 yards WITHOUT counting bowl games in just 3 seasons with 49 TDs. Had he come back his senior year, he still would be college footballs all time leading rusher with 7,000 plus yards. OSU fans, please shut up. Griffin was great, but not in the same league as HW. I don’t care how many Heismans he has.
The Protestant Noodle
July 31st, 2011
5:49 am
WERE GONNA BE NASHONILL CHAMPEEONS!!!!!!
reality
July 31st, 2011
6:09 am
yawn
reality
July 31st, 2011
6:11 am
Wait till Georgia gets beat by Florida again and then talk about who is who. Same ol deal. Blah Blah Blah.
Buzz 2011
July 31st, 2011
6:33 am
IS it Jim Donnan or Jim Harrick leading that UGA program now?
Are the Dawgs still in the Mountain West Conference?
legionaire
July 31st, 2011
7:24 am
Crowell will be a moot point if line play does not improve on both sides of the ball. It is my feeling that Crowell will be ok on the field, off the field is a different question. When you have buddies who come to Athens and steal other players stuff during photo day activities, it says trouble.
Gen Neyland
July 31st, 2011
7:26 am
#39 is in the house…
East Repeat
July 31st, 2011
7:30 am
George Rogers of South Carolina won the Heisman in Herschel’s freshman year. Hugh Green never won the Heisman. As i said before, Herschel Walker was the best college football player ever. One of a kind, genetic freak, never again will a player have that combination of power and pure SPEED. With so many Trolls’ and UGA haters on here (I am not an UGA fan, but i follow UGA closely and respect program) it has gotten out of hand. We need a seperate blog for serious discussion and the numb nuts can have therw rants on a seperate blog. It does appear the UGA program is down, but with college kids you can turn it around quickly and one never knows what will happen in any given year. But we can be sure that come the end of the season, the NC will come from SEC. Who gives a crap about OSU, Penn State, Michigan, etc… Football is a Southern thing. I would rather watch Vandy play Kentucky than watch the OSU/Michigan game or any game with Notre Dame! I am sure Beano Cook disagree’s with me, but TV rating indicate most folks feel like I do. Go SEC!
Elmer Dawg
July 31st, 2011
7:50 am
I thawt we was gonna be Perseeson Nachonal Chapps thiz yeer. Darn…
Joey
July 31st, 2011
8:16 am
“Weapons are there, how’s he going to use them?”
******************************************
I assume that was a rhetorical question, Augustadawg, but if it wasn’t, I’ll give it a shot.
Bobo “uses a weapon,” like Brandon Smith, by bringing him in the game during a series, for one play, usually some type of reverse, that everybody in the stadium knows is coming.
Then he takes “the weapon” out until a couple of quarters later, when he tries the exact same play again.
I guarantee you if Urban Myer would have had Smith, one of the fastest players in the country, on his team the last two seasons, he would have made him another Percy Harvin, putting the ball in his hands in a variety of ways, in open space.
Not Bobo.
Remedial what?
July 31st, 2011
8:35 am
Does anyone have a list of the remedial studies courses that Crowell will be taking this fall?
BIG AL
July 31st, 2011
9:03 am
It will be real surprising if IC is even a Bulldog this time next year….Glad he’s not expected to be a Heschel Walker…..he wouldn’t make a good bump on Herschel’s butt…..He couldn’t even find his way to hear Herschel speak to the team recently…
PaPa Dawg
July 31st, 2011
9:31 am
Checked stats on Georgiadogs,com and Richard Samuel has only had 3 fumbles his whole career. Some of you make it sound like he fumbles all the time, not true.
Don't Matter
July 31st, 2011
10:22 am
IT’s a good thing, because he isn’t going to be another Herschel.
@joey
July 31st, 2011
10:41 am
Percy Harvin wasn’t a defensive back nor was he asked to play both ways, recruited to solely play offense. Smith has issues holding onto the ball and wants to play in CB. Bobo only plays the players he is given to play with, when the offense breaks down its usually due to lack of execution and not play calling. Now that Searles the “running game coordinator” is finally gone perhaps we will see better execution and line play.
AltamahaDawg
July 31st, 2011
10:56 am
Why would meyers have Smith, a DB, in at RB, when the majority of his actualy running backs were track stars?
AltamahaDawg
July 31st, 2011
11:05 am
I’d be willing to bet that during Meyer’s career, he had DB that were just as fast as Smith and he did not play them on offense. For reasons. And how is it that Bobo’s problem is that he didn’t do what you are guessing one other coach out of hundreds might do. Surely you can criticize him for something he actually did do, not invent hypothetical stuff. (which is just as easy to hypothisize is incorrect)
Thomas Brown
July 31st, 2011
11:08 am
PaPa Dawg,
Richard Samuel has only been the featured back in 3 games.
3 fumbles.
Again, I guarantee that Georgia fumbles the football
30 times this season, putting the ball up for grabs – and we do a poor job of teaching our offensive players not to fumble (how to hold the football) and we do a poor job of teaching our offensive players how to recover fumbles.
Still, 2011, PaPaw Dawg, we will sir fumble the ball, putting it up for grabs, 30 times. Record pace. You make it sound like we will not PaPa Dawg. Coming back January 2012 to check on that ?
Thomas Brown
July 31st, 2011
11:13 am
AltamahaDawg
August 30th, 2010 7:18 am
“If UGA does win the East, you will still be that same miserable SOB you were before. ‘Misses out on SEC Championship Game for the 5th yr row’. Lets all count now..hmm that would seem to be this year too according to you now. What a surprise.”
AltamahaDawg
July 31st, 2011
11:33 am
And your point is? I believe that was me asking how you were simultaneously predicting that we wouldn’t win the east again, AND how we would win the east, be 12-2, and have our “best defense In 30 years”?
Do you REALLY want to start a war with me , posting each others past comments? BuLLdawg. See I don’t have to cut and edit yours to make you look silly as you try to do to everybody else.
AltamahaDawg
July 31st, 2011
11:34 am
And why are you awake in the daylight?
Still@theBAR
July 31st, 2011
12:06 pm
The doors are open and the TVs are on come on down to the Bar and you UGA fans can have a drink. It is called the “UGA Koolaide”. It is Sprite, Jack Daniel’s, Grenadine, and a twist of Lime. Strong with a hint of Sweet and Sour flavor. Dawg Fans will love it.
We are getting Brunch ready and Plenty of Baseball on the TVs. NASCAR too if you like that. There is Soccer if you what to see that too.
Still@theBAR
July 31st, 2011
12:08 pm
We do have some UGA National Championships on DVD. I hope you guys like the GYM DAWGS if you want to see the Real UGA Champions. BRUNCH and girls in Leotards!! What more can you ask for?
C-Town
July 31st, 2011
12:14 pm
This Crowell Hater Club, is just as crazy as The Tea Party. TMZ of Football. You crazy people have called this Kid everything but a Man of God. Its funny back Jan,Feb 2011, all of you so-call UGA fans what have sold your house to get Crowell to come to UGA. You all were praying to get this KID, Now you got the kid, and this how you treat the Kid? Dam The first hasn’t even started, and his a bust……I wish this kid went someone else…..because UGA fans are Crazy.
SSIgator
July 31st, 2011
12:20 pm
Still@theBAR -
I guess you didn’t hear. DawginLex doesn’t like people using the word “KoolAid” so I am switching the phrase to LSD sugar cubes. Makes no difference to me. They are both mind-altering drugs which keep UGA fans from seeing reality.
Judge Dawg
July 31st, 2011
12:21 pm
Most of the idiots on this blog who are writing Crowell off as a bust are the same ones who had him going to Alabama and blaming Mark Richt for it.
AltamahaDawg
July 31st, 2011
12:29 pm
I don’t think it’s that he doesn’t like the term, as much as he was just giving you a heads up how repetitive and simple minded it makes you look when you can’t come up with anything original for your 19 post per day on another man’s sports blog.
DAWG
July 31st, 2011
12:30 pm
As I read all these blogs, I don’t know where Georgia is headed. I wish I had a crystal ball like most of you and then I could make a true and honest opinion of what Georgia football might be like. This is to the guy from Ohio State, the last five or six national championships have come out of the SEC. The players from Georgia are doing the best job possible to have a good season. If you can’t say anything good don’t say anything at all. There will never be another player like number thirty four, he was a special player.
Still@theBAR
July 31st, 2011
12:35 pm
The “UGA Koolaide” is a real drink we now make at the BAR. I guess we could change the name to the “Drink of Champions(preseason)”.
C-Town
July 31st, 2011
12:50 pm
Will the Crowell Hater Club meet at this bar and watch ” TMZ of Football” show?
SSIgator
July 31st, 2011
12:51 pm
AltamahaDawg -
Ok, the ball is in your court. You come up with a descriptive phrase that that one would apply to the UGA fans that cannot see the forest for the trees. This should be good.
C-Town
July 31st, 2011
12:53 pm
Enter your comments here