Some thoughts on UGA suspensions, funny brownies and connecting the dots
Bacarri Rambo seems to have the worst luck when it comes to snack choices. (Brant Sanderlin / AJC)
Mark Richt’s Bulldogs entered the spring appearing to have many things breaking their way for the coming season, what with a favorable schedule and a bunch of starters returning, especially on defense. And yet some of those veteran players seem determined to take hold of opportunity with both hands … and chuck it out the window.
While Richt declined Thursday to confirm what’s up with Bacarri Rambo and Alec Ogletree, there’ve been widespread reports that the two players will be suspended several games for “violations of team rules,” which is pretty well understood now to be official code for having failed a drug test.
(If there are any other kinds of rules being violated by UGA players, perhaps Richt and company should come up with new terminology since everyone’s going to think “failed drug test” from now on when they hear that phrase.)
Rambo previously was suspended for a game last season for a similar violation, which as a second-timer puts him in line for an extended suspension this time under UGA’s rules, the toughest in the conference. Georgia holds players out for a tenth of a season (at least one game) for one failed drug test and suspends second-time offenders like Rambo for 30 percent of a season (four games). At most SEC schools, a first-time failed drug test draws no suspension at all.
Whether schools should even be testing the use of a substance that isn’t performance-enhancing is a debate for another day; suffice it to say, it’s against the rules and the players know they’re subject to random testing, so it’s difficult to work up much sympathy for them.
Rambo’s high school coach has tried his best to engender some, though, with a sad tale about how the player accidentally got high by unknowingly eating brownies that had been laced with pot while on spring break. Last time, it supposedly was a case of Rambo just being caught with a girl in his car who had a joint in her purse, according to the coach.
OK, maybe Rambo is that unlucky or naive about what sort of folks he chooses to hang out with. Or perhaps the coach and player are being just a bit disingenuous.
I know one thing: That high school coach attempting to shift the blame to UGA for “stupid timing” in testing kids right after they came back from spring break makes me wonder about the mentoring Rambo received before he got to Athens. UGA’s athletes were all gathered together before spring break and warned not to get in trouble; drug tests right after they returned from break shouldn’t have been a surprise to anyone.
Alec Ogletree reportedly is facing multiple game suspensions, too. (Brant Sanderlin / AJC)
Anyway, Rambo’s coach says he’s down to miss four games, though he’s appealing that and if the appeal fails he might consider entering the NFL supplemental draft. And Ogletree reportedly will miss two to four games (we still don’t know for sure). All that on top of two starters in the defensive secondary already being suspended for the first game or two.
Predictably, some folks’ reaction has been to attack Richt for his lack of discipline, which boggles the mind when you consider that, as noted earlier, UGA has the toughest policy on such infractions.
I’m not sure what these folks think the head coach can do to keep his players from knowingly violating rules short of following them around 24 hours a day. Yeah, I know, if only Richt were meaner so the players were scared of him, like Nick Saban, or so the reasoning goes. Of course, Alabama players get suspended for rules violations, too, so the rule of the iron fist appears to have limits in how effective it is.
Then we’ve got the folks who are making lists of all the off-field problems that have cropped up in recent years. I saw one that even included the recent DUI for Orson Charles, who isn’t even in the program any more. Heck, why not throw in UGA alum Hines Ward’s DUI while you’re at it?
Others have gone so far as to count up how many players have left the program for various reasons over the past couple of years, connecting dots that aren’t even on the same page by noting all the Georgia signees who theoretically could have been eligible for the first couple of games this season if they were still at the school.
OK, I’ll concede that, in addition to players missing games because of suspensions, there’ve been several players kicked off the team for various reasons. Some of us consider that a sign that Richt is a good disciplinarian, but I suppose you can argue that one either way.
Still, I fail to see the point of including in the discussion players no longer at UGA because they transferred for lack of playing time or had to take a medical disqualification or failed to qualify academically.
Unless, that is, you’re just looking to pad the numbers so it makes it look worse for Richt.
Then there are the folks who cite the suspensions and departures from the program as an indication Richt just isn’t recruiting the right kind of players to begin with.
Maybe he should forget about all those 5-star and 4-star ratings and sign only Eagle Scouts and winners of DAR good citizen awards. Of course, then fans and sportswriters alike would be howling because he wasn’t drawing top talent to Athens!
As for the practical considerations of the latest development, at linebacker Todd Grantham no doubt will rely on the same players who filled in last year when Ogletree missed half the season with an injured foot, with Christian Robinson and Amarlo Herrera both having plenty of game experience. At free safety, next in line after Rambo is Corey Moore, who saw limited playing time last year as a freshman.
All are adequate replacements, though they’re certainly not the sort of impact players Ogletree and Rambo have been in the past and were expected to be again.
More than that, though, what’s disturbing about this trend is what it says about the UGA players’ dedication to their teammates. Blaming the coaches is bunk; it’s the players who are letting down the side. Sure, they’re just college kids, but they’re also scholarship athletes at a marquee program and they willingly signed up for this time in the spotlight. They all know what the rules are. They also know what’s within their grasp this season if they perform up to expectations.
And yet they’re acting as if championships can be won while still playing the fool. Rarely is that the case.
When he was preparing to return from his one-game suspension last year, Rambo declared, “I’m going to do whatever it takes to help my team win, and I know I’ve got it in me.”
It hasn’t quite turned out that way.
Got something on your mind concerning UGA athletics or a question for the Junkyard Blawg? Send it to junkyardblawg@gmail.com.
Find me on Facebook.
Follow me on Twitter.
— Bill King, Junkyard Blawg
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
230 comments Add your comment
Old Dawg
March 30th, 2012
12:10 pm
Too bad is wasn’t Aaron Murray who got suspended for four games. By the time he got back, they might have found out he is not the best QB at Georgia!
Still@theKool-aidBAR
March 30th, 2012
12:12 pm
On Barnhart & Durham talking with the Clemson People LIVE said the UGa v Clemson H-n-H will be played. The games might need to be moved around in the year but IT WILL HAPPEN and UGa’s Adams agrees.
Terds-lov-ich
March 30th, 2012
12:14 pm
Bill, why is Richt dodging admission to these reports ? That’s a red flag right there. Chip Towers knows but Richt doesn’t ? I’m just tired of this happening to our players. Who will put a stop to it ? I arrived at work this morning and a Tech fans says “Yeah, I heard ya’ll lost 2 more players on defense ? What’s that 6 players now ?”
Jump off a cliff Dawg
March 30th, 2012
12:15 pm
Getting real old quick. Am I to understand we may hear more incriminating news in the coming days? I’m a season ticket holder and the enthusiasm for this season is quickly waning. It will take a big change in Athens to get it back for me. Sorry, just speaking the truth and no one is a bigger Bulldog than me! This was suppose to be the year, with a three year starting qb, defense, everything was pointing to 2012 for several years now, and we are going to battle with a half loaded gun. Something is missing, and I hope our head honcho’s can figure it out an infuse some positive energy back into the program.
Still@theKool-aidBAR
March 30th, 2012
12:17 pm
Evil Empire are you saying I am not as RICH as I was in February? I better invest some money in Straight Jackets & Rubber rooms I guess.
UGA fan
March 30th, 2012
12:17 pm
Georgia holds players out for a tenth of a season (at least one game) for one failed drug test and suspends second-time offenders like Rambo for 30 percent of a season (four games). At most SEC schools, a first-time failed drug test draws no suspension at all.
In the statement above, it says that there is a suspension of one tenth of the season for a failed drug test and suspends second time offenders LIKE RAMBO for 30 percent of the season. Again, I ask, how does UGA consider him a second time offender when he never failed a drug test to begin with?
maybe my beef is not with you Bill King but rather UGA for considering him a second time offender.
However, I do know Alan Ingram personally and know he is as much a father to so many kids in south Georgia as their own fathers, sometimes moreso. He has been coaching football in south Geogia for 42 years and is a pillar to the Seminole County and Miller County communities.
Defend your child til the end. I can’t fault Alan for that.
Valdostadawg
March 30th, 2012
12:18 pm
Well said, Bill!! Couldn’t have said it any better myself.
Haha
March 30th, 2012
12:18 pm
Da’rick absent at UT. He would have fit int at Uga so well! He and Rambo can go play at ga state together and be losers!
Wet Willie...keep on smiling
March 30th, 2012
12:23 pm
6-8 more years of college football and then it’s over. Keep craping 10 #’s of sheet into a 5# bag.
SHANKSBAIT
March 30th, 2012
12:24 pm
Shanks, Bill King must have been listening to your pathetic show yesterday! Why don’t you shutup and accept the fact that Mark Richt can’t do anymore about stupid players than we can do about your lame show being on the air!!!!
maharajiean shorts
March 30th, 2012
12:24 pm
Very nice article Bill.
The genuis who schedules the drug tests needs to be suspended……forever, idiot.
And while we are at it, loosen up the drug policy…I mean, really, who brags about that? I would rather brag about crystal, which sadly…aint gonna happen with Richt.
evillurks
March 30th, 2012
12:27 pm
This writer (blogger) for the mutt nation is nothing more than an excuse-making talking head for THUGA. He regurgitates all of the major “talking points” the media has been given by THUGA to use everytime their players are caught breaking the law or breaking basic rules of being on athletic scholarship at ANY university. THUGA isn’t any harder or stringent on its players than others in the SEC. That’s totally BUNK! If anything, THUGA has a huge, recurring issue with players in trouble because there’s no real fear of serious reprisal there! Schools like Auburn EXPEL (not suspend) players who fail to meet requirements (see Michael Dyer, its best player and potential Heisman hopeful for 2012) of its program and yanked the scholarships for all 4 players who were arrested for a criminal act last year THE DAY AFTER IT HAPPENED!!!!!!!
At THUGA, Richt and company dance around every issue. You mutt fans keep screaming that you have a the “toughest drug testing policy”. You wanna know why???
BECAUSE YOUR PLAYERS HAVE THE WORST DRUG PROBLEM IN THE SEC!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
No matter how bad it get, no matter how many times it happens, the THUGA beat writers and bloggers like this guy here (bill?) will keep singing excuses instead of manning up and admitting your program does and HAS HAD major problems with all-around thuggery since Saint Mark arrived. You mutts NEVER take any responsibility for ANYTHING!!!
Your program is out of control and always WILL BE out of control because you fans, you MUTT FANS, excuse and equivacate EVERYTHING!!!
Losers!!
Radly Dawg
March 30th, 2012
12:27 pm
Given this police state of a society we live in today…..one can only imagine what things at UGA might have beeen like back in the late 60’s and 70’s when Jake Scott, Buzzy Rosenberg, Craig “Sky” Hertwig, etc. were roaming the Classic City. “Things” were going on big time back then!
Go Dawgs!
evil empire
March 30th, 2012
12:27 pm
you’ll be fine still@…the ohio staters are sucking up the urban meyer “rebel on a mission” storyline in more than enough volume to offset issues down here…
SSIgator
March 30th, 2012
12:28 pm
They just found the iPod that Barcardi lost at the beach. The only song on it was from the group Boston called Smokin’ and the chorus goes:
Smokin’ Smokin’
We’re cookin’ tonight, just keep on tokin’
Smokin’ Smokin’
I feel alright mama, I’m not jokin’
We’re gettin’ down today
We’ll pick you up and take you away
Get down tonight, well alright
That was pretty catchy back in its day. Maybe UGA could use that when the team runs on the field before the game. Welcome to the Jungle and the like are getting kind of boring.
mcg dawg
March 30th, 2012
12:34 pm
Rambo….if your playmates are “at fault” for getting YOU in trouble…time to find some new playmates!
hotdawg
March 30th, 2012
12:39 pm
Cmr please give me a scholarship to play football with a free ride through college along with spending money and free food. Promise i wont let you down by being a stupid idiot since i know that my decisions and hard work will pay me back millions one day in the NFL.
wyatt earp
March 30th, 2012
12:40 pm
Apparently the number one requirement to be recruited by UGA athletics, is to have been arrested at least once
duh
March 30th, 2012
12:43 pm
Look at a photo of the 1980 team, then look at a photo of the 2010 team. Is it just me, or …..
roughrider
March 30th, 2012
12:46 pm
i don’t buy the ” brownie “excuse.
georgedawg
March 30th, 2012
12:46 pm
I think we should adjust our rules to be more in line with other SEC teams. There is too much scrutiny and expectations for these 20 years olds. We are ham stringing ourselves.
George
March 30th, 2012
12:50 pm
Amazing. Can you make any more excuses for the thugs up there? “it’s more than anyone else does” ha ha ha ha ha are you serious with this garbage. Not only is that 100% false it is absurd. Grow a pair and stop making excuses for the pathetic from top to bottom uga program.
suspend Betty Crocker NOW
March 30th, 2012
12:50 pm
4 games at least, and make her wear a scarlett “w” * on her apron from now on
*(for weed)
Crimedog
March 30th, 2012
12:53 pm
Over the years, Richt has been a master at covering up player misbehavior. When the drunken players destroyed the potted plants at the Athens hospital, Richt had a lawyer there before the police arrived. The players who stole money from their teammates were not charged with a crime, because that goes to the NCAA. Richt ignored Mettenburger’s assault charge and named him starting QB until he couldn’t make the charge go away and Adams got involved. If you consider Richt a disciplinarian, just have another brownie.
hornblowermg
March 30th, 2012
12:56 pm
it doesn’t bother me that Rambo will be absent. although he may look good in other areas, it seems that i have seen him dodge significant “hits” more than three or four times in games that resulted in touchdowns or firstdowns for the other team. he hasn’t shown up to make the hard tackle since he was knocked out in that Auburn game.
SSIgator
March 30th, 2012
1:01 pm
Crimedog -
What did you expect? He played at U of Miami and learned from the master of coverup at FSU – Saint Bobby. But he is a nice guy.
Terry
March 30th, 2012
1:07 pm
Try Harder, Saban has not even suspended Courtney Upshaw for even one quarter, or even one practice, for assaulting his girlfriend, how would you get the attrition numbers, if Coaches like Saban don’t discipline for Violent infractions, much less minor? And if a player were suspended at another College, wouldn’t that be his second offense? So you would have to double other college’s suspensions, because Georgia suspends for a first offense. Really there is no way to get an accurate number of other Colleges attritions, because some sweep the dirt under the carpet. Next time, try Harder!
Troup Co. Dawg
March 30th, 2012
1:11 pm
I have known a lot of people who went to Athens to attend the University of Georgia, come back home as alcoholic drug addict’s and some even have lost their mind. If this is the environment you put your kids in, then they are going to mess up!
SSIgator
March 30th, 2012
1:18 pm
evil empire -
This is the one year chart for Kraft Foods (who also owns KoolAid) on the NYSE
http://www.nyse.com/about/listed/lcddata.html?ticker=KFT&fq=D&ezd=1Y&index=5
Notice the huge uptick in the stock value in August of last year, just before UGA started their football season. As the footnote in their annual report states – “A special thanks to all of the UGA fans for making this a banner year for our KoolAid brand”. At least UGA gets recognition for something.
Still@theKool-aidBAR
March 30th, 2012
1:24 pm
2 Live Stews ripping on a Bro? How can the Stews rip on Rambo? LOL
Paddy
March 30th, 2012
1:38 pm
Duncan Hines Ward…….which games will they be suspended for. Welllllll, it is always the first games on the schedule. What did you have in mind, games 4, 7 and 9? lol
Wet Willie...keep on smiling
March 30th, 2012
1:38 pm
Lets have some more blame Nick Saban for greyshirts. Yep…that is what we need. The fact is your embarrass yourself attempting to blame others for the failure of your admin to manage your football program! Then again denial is apart of the Richt Tradition.
Border dweller
March 30th, 2012
2:12 pm
Rambo will declare for the supplimental draft now, I bet .Maybe he can get a contract pitching Betty Crocker Brownie Mix. I hope I’m overreacting, but he seems to me like he’s heading down the Odell Thurman path.
Brewer & Shipley...
March 30th, 2012
2:30 pm
Hey, back in our day (the ’70’s) we wrote a song just for this occasion – anybody remember “One Toke Over the Line”?
Now, THOSE were the good ol days…I bet even Bill remembers those days (OK, maybe not, heh, heh, heh…)
7576DAWG
March 30th, 2012
2:33 pm
Looking on the positive side of this, Rambo if still on the team and Ogletree will have a month of built up aggression that they can take out on Tennessee and South Carolina. I certainly wouldn’t look forward to playing Georgia knowing who was coming off suspension.
Duncan Hines has the best Brownie Mix
March 30th, 2012
2:36 pm
After the end of two a days this summer camp;let’s have a Brownie Day.Put away the watermelons and serve Duncan Hines with a hint of you know what to celebrate the end of summer practice.By the way,the Piggly Wiggley store at PCB has sold out of Brownie Mix and has requested a double shipment this weekend for Spring Break (High School).It all starts in the Home Economics course.
dawgSTILE
March 30th, 2012
2:36 pm
Bill, Usually I come here to harass your fellow dawgs (well it IS fun). Sir you are RIGHT ON THE MONEY on this one. Excellent insight. Now, what can I say to get under doginLEX’s skin, oh I know – have you guys heard the latest on the “internet dirt sheets” – -
evil empire
March 30th, 2012
2:42 pm
7576dawg…no one is intimidated by uga regardless of their eligibility issues…uga is clemson without the more recent title…uga is the sec equalevent of arizona state…or illinois…or rutgers…you are a member of the conference, but, you’re not the first, second, third, or fourth name that comes to mind when talking about that conference…revel in mediocrity…
Wet Willie...keep on smiling
March 30th, 2012
2:45 pm
One thing you have learned from this past year is that the new AD is a Big Hat with No Cattle. Then again Foley at Florida leads the pack for arrest in addtion to a lot of trophies!!! Big difference.
1980…..
Brainiac(Dawg for life/Richt fan for life)
March 30th, 2012
2:47 pm
@ Ssgtdawg:
Very well put but the worst part is that our opposition uses all their BS to help win recruits to them. It happened in the 2012 signing class. Fortunately the powers that be gave CMR a very nice extension and J. Jenkins decommitted from Bama to the dawgs. Jenkins verified this story. One way to get rid of the trolls and DFINO retards would be to start charging a fee.
Thanks again guys for your positive stuff.
********************************************************************************************************************
BILL: Good math lesson you gave to Kool Aid and especially the info that UGA is by far the most strict disciplinarian in college football!!!!!!!!
Still A Fan
March 30th, 2012
2:50 pm
The thing that really gets me is that Rambo has a pic on his twitter page of him and another guy (Zander?) and the caption reads “my lil hommmie stoned” Now why In the world would you put something out there like that? I know Rambo did not say he was stoned but still why would you put something out tere like that? You know if I can find it than other people can too. A little weed is one thin but come on lets use our heads.
Brainiac(Dawg for life/Richt fan for life)
March 30th, 2012
2:50 pm
@ Evil Empire:
UGA has won a Title since your rag tag team of wannabes have.
Just sayin!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Ginger
March 30th, 2012
2:50 pm
Honestly—don’t think that our (UGA) discipline policy is effective enough to stop players from using pot. And what rate of stoppage is considered effective—vs number of players using vs number of players being caught
But I don’t know of any policy at different colleges that is effective enough to stop players from using pot….Pot is just so widespread.
I am against players using Pot for the record…..But why penalize the team by having a tougher policy at UGA that is not any better at stopping this use….I say our policy should be in line with other schools in the conference–or the conference should just have a blanket policy that everyone abides by.
Still@theKool-aidBAR
March 30th, 2012
2:52 pm
HAHAHAH………I am at times called a troll but no worse than the UGa trolls on the GT blogs. Here is a tribute to the trolls. LMAO.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FMEe7JqBgvg
Still A Fan
March 30th, 2012
2:52 pm
The thing that really gets me is that Rambo has a pic on his twitter page of him and another guy (Zander?) and the caption reads “my lil hommmie stoned” Now why in the world would you put something out there like that? I know Rambo did not say he was stoned but still why would you put something out there like that? You know if I can find it than other people can too. A little weed is one thing but come on lets use our heads.
Still@theKool-aidBAR
March 30th, 2012
2:53 pm
Brainaic……..WOW a Title of the SEC Least!
Try a BCS TITLE.
Newman
March 30th, 2012
2:58 pm
Just keep lovin’ em.
Brainiac(Dawg for life/Richt fan for life)
March 30th, 2012
3:01 pm
@ George:
Bill is 100% right on the “does more than”. If you know anything why not share it. Oh, that’s right. You are all hot air with a single digit IQ and I apologize for harassing the handicapped.
You could find you rear end with both hands in your hip pockets………………………..but I still love you!!!!!!!!!!!
Brainiac(Dawg for life/Richt fan for life)
March 30th, 2012
3:06 pm
@ Kool Aid:
You prove my points every time you post.
If you can’t spell my handle correctly with it spelled out in front of you, you may be WORSE than a single digit IQ. ……………………………Just sayin.
WDE
March 30th, 2012
3:08 pm
Lets see we drank huge amounts of Kool-Aid in August..hmmm well how did that turn out of us as UGA fans…lets see we won 10 games beat UT,Auburn, Bug U and kicked gator tail all over Jax oh and won the SEC East…waiter can I have another and make it a double please.