Crowell’s story all too familiar for UGA fans (UPDATED)
Isaiah Crowell's time in Athens was troubled from the start. (Associated Press)
Seems like we’ve been here before.
Another Georgia tailback’s career derailed — probably ended — by his own actions. This time it’s Isaiah Crowell, arrested early Friday morning on three weapons charges.
For Crowell, his immediate suspension from the Georgia Bulldogs is the least of his troubles. Two of those charges are felonies.
Update: Crowell has been dismissed from the team according to an announcement Friday afternoon by Bulldogs head coach Mark Richt. “We have a dedicated and committed group of men who are working hard to prepare for the coming season,” Richt said. “Our total focus will be directed toward the team and this effort.” That was the coach’s only comment.
The 19-year-old from Columbus came to Athens as one of the most heralded recruits signed by the Bulldogs since you know who, but almost from the start the vibes were bad.
Word leaked out last summer that Crowell wasn’t in good shape and had skipped some workouts. Members of the team felt the need to pay him a visit and tell him he needed to get it in gear.
Once the season started, we saw that Crowell was every bit as talented as had been billed, but fans couldn’t help but notice that he wasn’t exactly the hardest working kid on the field, frequently taking himself out of the lineup.
He hit his stride midseason, carrying the ball 30 times against Ole Miss for 147 yards, one of four 100-yard rushing games he had for the Bulldogs.
Then Crowell sat out the first quarter of the Vandy game for an unspecified rules violation and was suspended for the entire New Mexico State game along with some other teammates who reportedly failed a drug test.
Struggling with an ankle injury, Crowell was never the same after that, running only 15 times for 31 yards in the Dogs’ last four games, and he wound up being booed by fans at the Georgia Dome when he limped off the field during the SEC championship game.
Still, the 850 yards and five touchdowns he did manage were good enough for him to be named SEC freshman of the year, and the happy talk in the offseason was that he was a rededicated and more mature player He wound up the spring sharing the No. 1 tailback spot with Boo Malcome.
But apparently even the more mature Isaiah Crowell still figured rules didn’t apply to him, and so we get this sorry story of him being arrested for having a 9mm Luger with an altered ID number hidden under the seat of the car he was driving when stopped by a police roadblock in Athens. Sheer stupidity.
So, where does that leave the Dawgs at tailback? Pretty much where they were a year ago, with a relatively unheralded veteran likely to be the starter and a super-talented, highly recruited true freshman — this time Keith Marshall — in the wings.
Actually, Georgia is better off this time around, because Marshall started school early and has already been through spring drills and shown himself to be a hard worker. Plus, there’s another super-talented, highly recruited freshman joining the team in August: Todd Gurley.
Bottom line: Isaiah Crowell had the talent to be one of the best running backs in the nation, but never showed the desire and dedication to make that happen. While fans were hoping that competition from Malcome, Marshall and Gurley would spur him to live up to his potential, chances are the rising sophomore’s obvious strong sense of entitlement would have tripped him up in the end.
The Dawgs likely will be better off without him.
Feel free to share your own views of Georgia’s prospects at tailback, but please keep your comments civil and within the bounds of good taste or they’ll be removed and you’ll be banned from future commenting.
Got something you want to discuss concerning UGA athletics or a question for the Junkyard Blawg? Send it to junkyardblawg@gmail.com.
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391 comments Add your comment
Habanero
June 29th, 2012
11:43 am
Richt and Bobo get all the credit here. They saw ahead of time the possibility of this or something like it happening and recruited heavily on running backs. Good Job Coach Richt!
KJ
June 29th, 2012
11:43 am
“HA HA HA How bout those loser dogs?”
Those “losers” beat up on your team 90% of the time, so what does that make you?
From a legal standpoint, the whole “smelled marijuana smoke” sounds like it might be some cop BS, given that they didn’t find any weed, and how arrest-happy they are in that town. Remains to be seen if the charges will stick.
Sam
June 29th, 2012
11:43 am
I am going to step in here and remind folks to let the investigation go its way. First, while he was driving, was it HIS car? Was the owner in the car? (I assume not since no others were arrested). Remember the story a couple of years ago where the UGA players were accused of a crime and then later it was learned that they were not involved?
Buckeye
June 29th, 2012
11:44 am
The good news………
At least The Annointed One assured the Annointed One II will be able to access health insurance once he’s out the legal/prison system.
duronimo
June 29th, 2012
11:45 am
The constitution gives Americans the right to travel freely. Random roadblocks that stop citizens without probable cause is the problem here. Did the officers have shiney boots? Did the occupants of the car have to show their papers? So he had guns? That is constitutional. It’s also legal to carry a gun in one’s car. With the recent history of black atheletes being shot …. carrying a gun seems prudent.
Buckeye
June 29th, 2012
11:46 am
At least you dogs have the memory and photo of signing day – the pinnacle of Isaiah, The Annointed One II’s, career as a dog.
Brewmaster
June 29th, 2012
11:46 am
Yellow JACKETS has been saying the same thing, but has been wrong 9 out of 10 times. He majored in AL-GORE-RHYTHMS, a formula that you do something over and over and over and over again until you get the answer you are looking for. Go count some dimpled and dangling chads and crawl back into your nerd cave.
Heckuva Dawg
June 29th, 2012
11:47 am
Mark in ATL, Clowney won the freshman of the year award from the coaches and Crowell got it from the AP.
Sam
June 29th, 2012
11:47 am
Follow up: just saw a tweet from Seth Emerson that the car was his, but he said others drive his car. (Heck I regularly had 4 other folks who drove my car when I was in college).
George
June 29th, 2012
11:47 am
Fathers. That is what is missing in the lives of these kids who don’t know how to behave. We will never hear of Crowell’s father disciplining him for this or anything else. That is what is wrong with that culture. These kids come from a culture where being an involved father is optional. I really do think its that simple.
Blake
June 29th, 2012
11:47 am
@claytondawg
I completely agree he should be gone. I was just giving the only scenario that “should” be given to him if he beats the charges AND passes a drug test. Two the things that I think are beyond his capability.
Buckeye
June 29th, 2012
11:47 am
Hey dogs,
I’d retire #1
TexDawg
June 29th, 2012
11:48 am
The smartest thing CMR can do is to cut this kid immediately, clearing the way for others to compete for the position. Otherwise, it seems pretty obviuos based on past behavior, that this will NOT be the last issue with this player. He repeated has shown a lack of maturity, and a lack of personal accountability. Both of those things apply to All college students, not just jocks. Maybe he will get things turned around for himself….I hope so, but think he has worn out his welcome as a Dawg.
Jeff Striker
June 29th, 2012
11:48 am
I believe we have us another Maurice Clarett on our hands.
GTT
June 29th, 2012
11:49 am
Bye bye Crowell, we hardly knew ye.
admiral
June 29th, 2012
11:50 am
I’m sick to my stomach over this. What a waste.
I don’t want to hear his apology, explanation, whatever. Not interested.
Good riddance, you moron.
Buckeye
June 29th, 2012
11:50 am
The “Missing Man” formation lives!
Joey
June 29th, 2012
11:52 am
Boy, is this upcoming season becoming deja vu all over again? (08)
AugustaDawg (11:31), it is a Crowell thing. But it needs to be said that he is yet another player who have spent at least a year under this coaching staff, who apparently didn’t see the need to make changes to their bad behaviors.
The list is long, and neverending . . .
What a Difference a Year Makes
June 29th, 2012
11:52 am
WIN WITH RICHT
February 2nd, 2011
1:45 pm
Ealey and Crowell will make a great duo at RB.
duronimo
June 29th, 2012
11:53 am
Why bring up the weed smoke since no weed was found? Its a CYA stategey to establish probable cause for the stop and subsequent weapons arrest …. all after the fact. So bet on the fact that the weed talk is totally bogus. Crowell likely didn’t know he was doing anything illegal. Many police don’t really know our gun laws. We need a coaching staff that will cover stuff like this with the athletes before it comes to this. These charges may not stick.
Buckeye
June 29th, 2012
11:53 am
Clarett won a NC fwith Ohio State and was off the team when he went off on his crazy tyraids.
Blake
June 29th, 2012
11:54 am
Another thing, there is absolutely no scenario where a twenty year old college student should have a gun in their car, registered or not. If you are going places where you think you need a gun, you shouldn’t be going to those places. I used to hangout in Athens and party a lot in my early twenties and never once felt so afraid for my life that I needed a gun. If you are carrying an unlicensed concealed weapon then either you are hanging out with the wrong people or either you are the wrong people.
Holy Guacamole
June 29th, 2012
11:55 am
While I don’t condone what IC did, what’s up with the Athens PD? The officer requested a search after “smelling an odor or marijuana” from the car. None was found. Trumped up? Seems like the APD likes to harass students. Probably a good bet that if you are a student and out and about at 3AM, I can find something you are doing wrong if you let me search you and everyone in the car.
The facts, ma'am, just the facts
June 29th, 2012
11:55 am
I want to know who puts up the cash for a bail bond every time a UGA football player is arrested. Why doesn’t the AJC ever report that? If it’s Richt or anyone else associated with UGA, it’s a clear violation of NCAA rules.
What a Difference a Year Makes
June 29th, 2012
11:56 am
Bulldog Ben
February 2nd, 2011
1:39 pm
The next Herschell !!!!
SSIgator
June 29th, 2012
11:56 am
Bill King -
I think you summed it all up rather neatly back in December:
“The injury-prone Crowell rubbed many the wrong way to start with this season by frequently taking himself out of games after a couple of runs. Then there was the immaturity that manifested itself in a couple of suspensions.”
“And there definitely seems to be a bit of an attitude problem, evident when we saw Crowell turn his back on his head coach in the middle of a dressing down for drawing a penalty with his mouthing off during the SEC championship game”
All of the signs have been there. Problem is that UGA has Helen Keller trying to read them.
GaPnt
June 29th, 2012
11:56 am
Too bad Georgia only recruits guys with athletic talent but no character.
iTiSi
June 29th, 2012
11:56 am
Is this not the same coach, that signs these lowlifes, that just got a nice new contract? Seems like he needs to go along with Crowell. The “Buck” stops at the top!
DrDawg
June 29th, 2012
11:57 am
The NFL is highly responsible for hurting NCAA football. Here are two things that could help immediately but will never happen: 1) all football players must complete a full year of college successfully before they can play. NO true freshmen on the field; and 2) the NFL refuses to draft any player who has not used up his eligibility. Like I said, will never ever happen.
DP
June 29th, 2012
11:57 am
Sadly, the guys with character and work ethic issues rarely see the light. At some point Richt is going to have to figure out that dealing with the first 2 or 3 arrests and/or suspensions of the Caleb Kings, Washaun Ealeys and Isaah Crowells by saying that he loves them isn’t working.
ryan
June 29th, 2012
11:57 am
Time for Boo Malcome to show he can be a feathured back
Joey
June 29th, 2012
11:57 am
Ah, the weight of the world has been lifted from buckeye’s shoulders. Finally, bad news from a city not named Columbus, OH.
Good news here is we didn’t have to fire our head coach for lying to the NCAA over and over, as well as hire another, who let the thugs run wild at UF, then leave to let a new guy clean up the mess.
But go ahead and shake your little pom-poms.
What a Difference a Year Makes
June 29th, 2012
11:59 am
CHARLOTTE DAWG
February 2nd, 2011
1:47 pm
AHAHAHAHAHAAHAHA…..HATE ON HATERS…HATE ON!
great package deal move to offer his friend. It is a business and that was a great business move!
No Da’rick this year boys……WE DONE GOOD!
Holy Guacamole
June 29th, 2012
11:59 am
@duronimo 11:53
Right on.
DP
June 29th, 2012
11:59 am
I wonder where 4 guys were headed at 3:37 in the morning with a gun in the car. The police who stopped the car might have done them a favor. Auburn had 4 in a car who committed armed robbery, the first one just got convicted and a 15 year prison sentence, the other 3 are on deck to be tried.
Old Dog
June 29th, 2012
12:00 pm
Sorry, this is too much. He should be kicked off the team, his scholarship revoked, thrown out of college, and hopefully will serve some real time in jail for the offenses. He does NOT need another chance at UGA. This is not smoking a little pot or getting drunk.
What a Difference a Year Makes
June 29th, 2012
12:00 pm
Oconee Dawg
February 2nd, 2011
1:49 pm
GO DAWGS!!! Coach Richt you and your staff have done an outstanding job of recuiting this year. Move over Auburn here come the “dawgs”. Mr. Crowell you made the right decision. Bama is nothing without the “Bear Bryant”. GO DAWGSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS
chris
June 29th, 2012
12:00 pm
Good Riddance…..We have a Championship that is attainable and don’t need anymore distractions. We have the talent in the backfield to still be fine. Let’s move on and get ready for September without a Crowell in the backfield.
Joey
June 29th, 2012
12:01 pm
SSI, I’m pretty sure Crowell didn’t threaten the life of his girlfriend by text. Don’t have such a short memory.
And unlike UF’s “boyfriend of the year”, Crowell won’t see the field for UGA again . . .
C Town Dawg
June 29th, 2012
12:01 pm
Carver High isn’t one of the better schools in Columbus and the location leaves a lot to be desired. Besides, Columbus is full of punks and dumb asses running around doing stupid stuff. It’s what this city is known for! I’d say probably 80% of anyone under 30 yrs of age smokes weed or something here.
ty
June 29th, 2012
12:03 pm
Wow, Brother Dave Gardner once asked, “What would the preachers do if the devil got saved?”.. What would you sports writers do if all the players never got in trouble? Geesh!!! Seems like Marshall and Henry have the right idea. Hope and pray he makes it somehow. Everyone is not raised the same way. I am not making excuses for him but, quit beating a kid when he is down. What else will they know especially when the football team is what it is a team. If they are excluded except for negative media, then they seek recognition as they always have ….negative media.. It might be in his eyes a positive thing to get back in the media….even though it is negative. This is not to blame the media…..Just quit beating a dead horse….
NOT A FAN
June 29th, 2012
12:04 pm
SO WHAT ELSE IS NEW
C Town Dawg
June 29th, 2012
12:04 pm
* make that between the ages of 15 to 30.
Old dog
June 29th, 2012
12:04 pm
“From a legal standpoint, the whole “smelled marijuana smoke” sounds like it might be some cop BS, given that they didn’t find any weed, and how arrest-happy they are in that town.”
Actually, they were pulled over for DWB.
Professor Max Roland Reinhart
June 29th, 2012
12:04 pm
DawgPost.com, the Georgia Scout affiliate, reported that per the arrest report four fellow Bulldogs were passengers in the car at the time: freshman signees Josh Harvey-Clemons, Blake Tibbs and Sheldon Dawson, and rising sophomore Quintavius Harrow.
Wasn’t Harvey-Clemons the one who switched to UGA at the last minute???
dawg in another state
June 29th, 2012
12:05 pm
Great, now we will get to hear about his awesome year at a JC, and then face him again when he ends up at LSU. Fantastic.
SSIgator
June 29th, 2012
12:06 pm
Joey -
I believe that the article is about a UGA player, is it not? Or did you skip that part?
Frank Lane
June 29th, 2012
12:06 pm
What a shame for everyone involved.
zgoldatl
June 29th, 2012
12:08 pm
What a waste
What a Difference a Year Makes
June 29th, 2012
12:09 pm
Vick=Dog killing thug
February 2nd, 2011
2:38 pm
Cracks me up that everyone ALWAYS has to bring up Jasper Sanks. OK OK The dawgs signed a 5 star guy and he didn’t work out…. Sheesh