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.
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230 comments Add your comment
bwell
March 30th, 2012
9:23 pm
NOW Derrick Lott is transferring what the heck is going on Bill!!!!!!!!!!! he got caught up in the potgate crap. Searching for more playing time…………Really? Really! what is going on with the team man.
Brainiac(Dawg for life/Richt fan for life)
March 30th, 2012
9:28 pm
@ Chuck:
This is hopefully something the NCAA should handle in order to even the playing field but UGA’s stiffer penalties are self imposed and certainly nobody is going to tell UGA they can’t have stiffer penalties but it will certainy hurt UGA recruiting because other schools will use it when talking to recruits.
Still@theKool-aidBAR
March 30th, 2012
9:42 pm
Brainiac……..WHY?
Recruit you are DUMB as DIRT but we will take you to be a dWag. If you stay Stupid and smoke dope you get in trouble. If you get smarter that your ABSENT DADDY you can get a P.E Degree and maybe a cup of coffee in the NFL.
let the fun begin
March 30th, 2012
9:45 pm
it’s amazing how last year when CMR was on the hot seat, this kind of stuff stopped.
now that he has a new five year extension, it starts to creep back up.
hmmm…….
Gibson Dawg
March 30th, 2012
10:29 pm
I bet we will be 4-0 when the Big Dawgs come back. Bet we beat the snot out of everbody else. Including SEC west and WIN the National Championship, (smoking dope or not).
SC Dog fan
March 30th, 2012
11:16 pm
Gibson: 4-0 even with my sister playing safety. Everyone forgets how all this crap was flying around Tallahasee before and during their championship season down there. Not new.
Gibson Dawg
March 30th, 2012
11:53 pm
NOT WORRIED AT ALL
hunter
March 31st, 2012
12:00 am
This is so true. Richt has taken a lot of unnecessary blame for something he cannot control. Players have to make the right choices!
daddo
March 31st, 2012
12:03 am
Not to throw the idiot a lifeline, but Mark Ingram was the 3 star.
Smartso
March 31st, 2012
12:16 am
Don’t forget that LeMay wasn’t allowed to play his sr yr because he allegedly was caught having sex at school. UGa took him and gave him 3 credits for sex education.
Tom in Atlanta
March 31st, 2012
12:16 am
Cloudodust – here you go:
The minimum required number of games a student-athlete is suspended for each of the 68 automatic-qualifying BCS conference football programs, using next year’s conference affiliations, based on a (1) first-positive test for recreational drugs; (2) second-positive test; (3) third-positive test; (4) fourth-positive test and (5) fifth-positive test. Drug policies are obtained through public records requests or from the school’s official website.
Alabama: (1) none; (2) 15 percent of games; (3) one year; (4) dismissal.
Arkansas: (1) none; (2) 10 percent of games; (3) 50 percent of games; (4) dismissal.
Auburn: (1) none; (2) 50 percent of games; (3) dismissal.
Florida: For marijuana/synthetic marijuana: (1) none; (2) 10 percent of games; (3) 20 percent of games; (4) dismissal. For all other drugs: (1) 50 percent of games; (2) dismissal.
Georgia: (1) 10 percent of games; (2) 50 percent of games; (3) dismissal.
Kentucky: (1) 10 percent of games; (2) 50 percent of games; (3) dismissal.
LSU: (1) none; (2) “up to 15 percent of games;” (3) one year.
Ole Miss: (1) none; (2) none; (3) three games.
Mississippi State: (1) none; (2) 50 percent of games; (3) one year; (4) dismissal.
South Carolina: (1) none; (2) 25 percent of games; (3) dismissal.
Tennessee: (1) none; (2) 10 percent of games; (3) dismissal.
Texas A&M: (1) none; (2) “possible suspension;” (3) possible dismissal.
Note: Private universities not required to respond to public record requests that would not voluntarily provide drug policy: Notre Dame, Northwestern, USC, Stanford, Syracuse, Vanderbilt and Wake Forest. However, Northwestern coach Pat Fitzgerald told CBSSports.com his school has a substance abuse policy but did not disclose the specifics.
32 Scholarships given to guys by Mark Richt to play vs Missouri, now will not play, 32
March 31st, 2012
1:32 am
BAD NEWS for UGA BULLDOGS’ FOOTBALL PROGRAM:
Mark Richt given GREAT CREDIT by Bill King for Signing :
1.Brent Benedict SO # 10 OT 4-Star, transfer over S & Cond
2.AJ Harmon SR # 10 OT nation 5-Star, academic failure transfer
3.Dontavius Jackson SR # 23 TB 4-Star, DUI transfer
4. Carlton Thomas SR TB suspended 3 times 2011 alone, transfer
5.Nick Williams SR Safety, transfer could’ve redshirt 2011
6.Marcus Dowtin R SR # 7 LB nation 4-Star, transfer could’ve redshirt 2011
7.Bryce Ros JR # 22 TE listed med disq like Jeremy Longo
8.Johnathan Owens SR # 39 OT listed med disq like Jeremy Longo
9.DE Jeremy Longo SR with Commings when beat up girl transfer
10.Xavier Tyrone Avery SR RB, signed 2009 UGA instead baseball
11.Toby Jackson SR # 9 DE 4-Star failed qualify transfer
12.Makiri Pugh SR Safety CB, transfer Suspended Colorado 11/10/11
13.Montez Robinson SR # 10 DE 4-* beat up girl transfer
14.Washaun Ealey SR # 15 RB nation 4-Star, suspended, transfer
15.Lonnie Outlaw JR WR failed qualify, transfer
16.Jakar Hamilton SR Safety 4-Star, allowed Ealey drive suspended lic transfer
17.Derek Owens JR CB, Academic Failure suspended bowl transfer
18.Demetre Baker JR # 23 LB 4-Star, kicked off DUI transfer
19.Jalen Fields JR DE 4-Star, failed qualify, transfer
20.Kent Turene FR LB failed qualify Dream Team # 1
21.Chris Mayes SO DT failed qualify Dream Team # 2
22.Chris Little SR # 12 OT 4-Star transfer, ruled ineligible
23. Derrick Lott, JR DE, fine looking young man, transfer
24.Zach Mettenberger JR # 14 QB 4-* sexual battery, transfer
25.Jordan Lawrence Love JR 12/31/90 arrest # 21 CB 4-* arrested didn’t know middle name or birthday, transfer
26.Sanford Seay RFR SE theft transfer Dream Team 3
27.Chris Sanders SO DB theft transfer Dream Team 4
28.Nick Marshall SO CB theft transfer Dream Team 5
29. Sanders Commings SR CB Suspended simple battery girl
30. Branden Smith SR CB Suspended Buffalo only ?
31.Alec Ogletree JR LB Should be Safety failed drug test
32.Bacarri Rambo SR Safety 2nd of 5 failed drug test, other 3 ?
Yeah, I list all 32 because all 32 were given scholarships by Mark Richt who should’ve been playing vs Missouri and now will not.
BAD NEWS
Oh, I see it is supposed to be GOOD NEWS that all these guys Mark Richt signed are NONE OF THEM GOING TO PLAY VS MIZZOU ?
Of course, not.
Not to miss any options, you listed EVERY EXCUSE under the Sun Bill King.
Don’t test for drugs when you admit yourself that it’s hard to drum up any sympathy for them.
Don’t blame the coach for Heaven’s Sake, when of course you lauded Mark Richt for signing each of the 32, now not playing vs Mizzou.
A guy is forced to transfer because he is ACADEMICALLY INELIGIBLE as several of the 32 are, and that is not BAD NEWS ? Right. Keep telling yourself that.
Jeremy Longo last month, medically disqualified, cannot be listed EITHER ? Last month, he was with Sanders Commings BAR-HOPPING where they drank 6 drinks they admit to, and then of course Sanders Commings pleads Guilty beating up a girl, with Jeremy Longo there with Sanders Commings the entire evening. They really take care of each other, don’t they ? Cannot list Jeremy Longo.
In your dreams.
NOTHING BUT BAD PRESS when we are supposed to be readying for the G-Day Game 2 weeks from today, and for a team who hasn’t beat a team who made any top 25 in 9 consecutive games and for a team who hasn’t beat a team who made any top 10 in 7 consecutive games all the way back to 2006.
BAD NEWS
Sorry to be the one to tell you group of DISNEYdawgs.com that the list isn’t 32 this Sat morning. Sure it is.
32 Scholarships given to guys by Mark Richt to play vs Missouri, now will not play, 32
March 31st, 2012
1:38 am
Gibson Dawg March 30th, 2012 10:29 pm
“Bet we beat the snot out of everbody”
_______________________________________
12 regular seasons’ games against 1 team who made any top 25.
CUPCAKES
Buzz2011
March 31st, 2012
2:35 am
This can’t be happening.. Not again and again to the Dawgs. This is a farce and the program is a high school farce…
Mark Richt will just up and Quit
March 31st, 2012
6:22 am
kingdaddy March 31st, 2012 3:41 am
“Every time you check in to the AJC, someone else is suspended or transfering. Spin it any way you want to, the UGA football team is the worst group of kids I’ve ever known. Who’s next? I don’t even care.”
_____________________________________________
There are nearly two and a half good guys living up to their side of the bargain on their Scholarship, for every one of the 32 who did not for Mark Richt. He over-signed 109 for his 85-man limit of Scholarships and yet has only 77 left on Scholarship – including 3 walk-ons who never play offense or defense – because of all these Scholarships he gave out to guys who spent their days here providing us nothing but BAD PRESS both off the field and on the field. Mark Richt is a weary man over all this, contemplating quitting any day because he knows he can’t beat the top teams, because he knows he hasn’t, and because he knows he won’t. Not now; not ever.
ole yeller
March 31st, 2012
7:46 am
There are somethings you just don’t do, they are too expensive. Bad behavior is one. If you can’t do the time then don’t do the crime.
D. Biggs
March 31st, 2012
8:19 am
If you don’t recruit guys with character, you shouldn’t be surprised when all this stuff happens.
D. Biggs
March 31st, 2012
8:21 am
If you don’t recruit guys with character, you shouldn’t be surprised when this stuff happens!
Still@theKool-aidBAR
March 31st, 2012
8:23 am
Maybe MAX GARCIA better think hard about another team over UGa. He has to be asking WHY all the troubles with the Dawgs?
Tim
March 31st, 2012
8:52 am
I never fail to be amused at the fervor that grown men with real responsibilities display in these posts. Kids will be kids, end
of story. These kids are supposed to be students first and athletes second. No where in their scholarship papers is a statement outlining the requirement to sooth the egos of an obsessed fan base. Ga. has won one national title in the last 30plus seasons and fortunately I was there to see it. Ga. is a nice little program but they are not and never will be on par with Alabama and for good reason. Alabama does not care what steps it must take to achieve greatness and Coach Richt and the leadership of UGA at least attempt to keep things in perspective. Do you think Saban and company look and test to the extent UGA does. I doubt it because doing so would put their next national title in danger. While it would be nice to actually reach greatness again I would prefer to do it with integrity.
Big Crimson 75
March 31st, 2012
9:01 am
Tim — Looks like UGA has a shot at reaching greatness(cough cough) before they do it with integrity.
Chuck
March 31st, 2012
9:04 am
So big Crimson, how does this demonstrate a lack of integrity at UGA?
We test our guys at the first hint of use, and suspend on the first positive test.
I’d imagine a program that doesn’t suspend on the first test is demonstrating less integrity than one that does.
collegeballfan
March 31st, 2012
9:14 am
Every player that has signed with Georgia knew in advance what the standards of conduct were.
If one does not believe they can meet those standards, then sign someplace else.
Lakedawg
March 31st, 2012
9:52 am
Think the smart thing for coaches to have done was announce
“WE ARE TESTING EVERY TEAM MEMBER FOR DRUGS WHEN YOU RETURN FROM SPRING BREAK”
Dennis
March 31st, 2012
10:37 am
Jan Kemp would be proud of you Bill.
JB
March 31st, 2012
11:48 am
good thing the sec front office decided to roll out the red carpet for the dawgs agains this year
no bama, lsu, arky 2x in a row
uga got beat by every good team they played last year
that team is all bark no bite
WorkinDawg
March 31st, 2012
12:58 pm
Telling your kids “don’t get in trouble” and drug testing while they unpack their car after spring break are two VERY different deals. This is stupid on every level and UGA is to blame. Think the major programs we compete against both on the field and for high school talent are doing such nonsense to their 19 & 20 year old all-Americans? Recruiting in the SEC is cut-throat and what we (UGA) just did will hurt us worse than 7 loss seasons and Bobo play calling combined.
bama dawg
March 31st, 2012
8:34 pm
shouldnt we expect that young men given the opportunity to play D 1 athletics of any kind to be held accountable for there own actions? Isnt it reasonable to expect them to know right from wrong? my son plays D 1 baseball and i have been very surprised by how much the coaches depend on them to the right thing but they are young men and thus should be treated that way . There is no way possible to blame coaches for what these young men choose to do on there free time . You would think having to face your team mates after youve just let them all down by your selfish childish act would be enough but as ive always said you can take the player out of the hood but you cant take the hood out of the player .
Old Dawg
March 31st, 2012
9:09 pm
“I can not think of a punishment for a punch of potheads than stoning them in the public Square!”4
They have been stoned!
Scott Young
April 2nd, 2012
4:41 pm
How stupid can the UGA Administration be? Drug testing after spring break? Our competition doesn’t even drug test – or if they do they give warning to their athletes – because they want to win, not run players off. Why don’t they follow the athletes around w/ secret cameras and see what else they can uncover and get rid of the rest of the players.
All UGA students are on scolarship (HOPE) – why not randomly test them and let’s get enrollment down to 15-20,000 and become a more elite university? That would help Dr Michael “Control Freak” Adams resume even more.