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.
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
391 comments Add your comment
OBAMA
June 29th, 2012
3:34 pm
at least you have free health care, GO JACKETS
Vance
June 29th, 2012
3:34 pm
It’s so sad to see guys blow such an opportunity. It also is a reminder why Mr. Richt needs to keep recruiting. Unfortunately, you can never have too many talented players. It’s a terrible shame and waste of talent.
Foghat
June 29th, 2012
3:37 pm
When i saw Crowell wearing an alabama hat to an auburn game. And he did not understand what he was doing? RED FLAG!! But georgia took him anyway. Thats what you get Georgia fans.
Spellig Teacher
June 29th, 2012
3:38 pm
Hey…RXDawg…What does “retatrted” mean?
Calhoundawg
June 29th, 2012
3:40 pm
The only place this doesn’t happen is Vanderbilt. Hopefully, Keith Marshall’s 4.0 GPA indicates that he is smarter than this. God Bless you Coach Richt. God Bles Georgia. Go Dawgs !!!
Calhoundawg
June 29th, 2012
3:42 pm
Oooops! God “Bless” Georgia.
P.S. Go Dawgs!!!
Jason
June 29th, 2012
3:46 pm
Story does seem familiar. Reminds me of all the other schools who have the same problems yet sweep it under the rug. Think about it in your high school class if you had 100 people in it there were probably at least 15 bad apples. Hate that the whole university is looked down on because of the actions of a few kids. Honey badger anyone? AJC go away and Quit exacerbating the story. Always focusing on the negative. It Does not make it right but these kind of things happen at every school. See bama and ohio state. They seem to love probation
NavyAndOldGold!
June 29th, 2012
3:46 pm
Over under on bulldog arrests before the end of 2012. I’m setting the line at 14. Any takers?
bh
June 29th, 2012
3:47 pm
i wonder how long it will take LSU to begin their recruitment of Crowell? would not surprise me at all if he did not go to a jr. college for a year and end up at LSU or Auburn.
Nele
June 29th, 2012
3:56 pm
You can’t blame the coach when every kid on the team knows right from wrong. This is all on Crowell the coach did not tell him to go out and get a unmark gun. The kid need to grow up, he is not a leader from what I can tell.
dmr
June 29th, 2012
4:00 pm
Bill,
Mark Richt is a good man and he means well, but enough is enough. A felony of ANY kind should be immediate dismissal from the team, whether a weapon is involved or not. Misdemeanor of any kind…two strike rule. Once gets you a trip to the office…second sends you packing.
UGA hasn’t won a National Title in 30 years. The likes of Crowell, a bigger distraction than attraction, will not get UGA there either. He is not a good teammate.
Mark Richt better focus his attention on the other people that were in the car and drop the in-house discipline on them…HARD. Out at 3:45 am and you’re just looking for trouble. I know these other kids were not guilty of anything…except poor judgement. Cut this off at the pass and get rid of Crowell. Off the team and preferably out of Athens for good. I don’t want to see Richt be willing to be made a fool of the way he was in dealing with Ealey!
Wyatt Earp
June 29th, 2012
4:02 pm
Keep putting kids that have no business being in college other than they can play a sport, and the thugs will keep getting arrested. Wanna bet there’s plenty of really decent HS running backs out there that would be excellent students that will never get a look because they don’t fit the size, speed profile that college coaches want? Oh and probably don’t have a rap sheet already which further disqualifies them
lance manion
June 29th, 2012
4:04 pm
Can it get any more embarrassing for Richt and our “Flagship” university? God, what a bunch of thugs. Looks like Miami in the 1980s, without the wins….. LMAO
Snake Plisskin
June 29th, 2012
4:12 pm
I just did a search on this article and comments…wow, nobody is blaming Murray for this…come on goobers you’re slipping
Moe Joe
June 29th, 2012
4:12 pm
Maybe I’m wrong, but Richt certainly does seem to end up with a lot more of these talented losers year after year than other coaches, and he always seems to end up with mediocre teams. Very bad optics for the coach and UGA.
Holy Guacamole
June 29th, 2012
4:18 pm
All of you condesending judgmental bloggers are going to look really silly if for some reason, charges against IC get dropped. If that happens I hope that you will learn a lesson, but, based on daily reading of this rag, probably not.
This stuff goes way beyond pulling for your own team. Let’s face it, the only reason the AJC prints this as a headline on the front page is because in the new digital media revenue stream which is created by getting paid per click. Most of you seem like happy accomplaces.
Snake Plisskin
June 29th, 2012
4:18 pm
Richt is responsible, or irresponsible for each and every one of these players…who didn’t know IC was trouble from the git-go…CMR needs to pull scholarships the first time and then let them work to get them back, or send them packing if they can’t afford to pay for college…I guarantee problem players WILL NOT be coming to Athens…come on CMR grow a backbone
Snake Plisskin
June 29th, 2012
4:21 pm
@Holy Guacamole…how many guns do you have at home with the serial numbers scratched off????
T-Man
June 29th, 2012
4:36 pm
Just says enough about college football in general……if you can pass,run,catch we’ll take ya.forget about grades ,character,or hard work….well you guys wanted a football factory,gotta take the bad with the good…just sayin
Return to Glory
June 29th, 2012
4:53 pm
Good luck Mr Crowell..somewhere else. He has to go, a bad apple from day one. Lack of respect, work ethic and team concept, better off without his type on the team.
Jordan
June 29th, 2012
4:56 pm
Tell me, yall, I want to know: Should he stay or should he go?
http://pickens.fetchyournews.com/archives/1876-The-Final-Straw-Is-Isaiah-Crowell-Done-as-a-Dawg.html
Dbalcer
June 29th, 2012
4:57 pm
Praying for Isaiah.
Alex
June 29th, 2012
4:57 pm
This kid has all the tools, all he needed was direction. I know the coaches can’t and won’t be parental, but this kid has had issues since coming to Athens.
Since my team is not the bull dogs, it doesn’t hurt me, but on a human level, someone needs to help this kid, or he will end up in the wrong place. I hope whereever he lands, he gets help.
jake
June 29th, 2012
5:01 pm
Needs to go to Paris Island for 6 weeks~~~~That will straighted’em all out. Should be mandatory for EVERYBODY.
Nate the Great
June 29th, 2012
5:05 pm
I havent heard what happened…what happened to Crowell?
dagnabit
June 29th, 2012
5:07 pm
Ga. running backs haven’t been involved in a Max Reinhart felony yet. Course, time will tell.
Just in...
June 29th, 2012
5:12 pm
UGA tailback Crowell dismissed from team
Dawg Bite
June 29th, 2012
5:22 pm
Thank you Alex for you thoughtful post. I agree with you, he has been trouble from the start, but needs help or might end up someday in a place he might not want to spend for the rest of his life. Seems as though the problem with a lot of these kids is the fact that there is no guidance from their parents. I would guess that many come from broken homes and have never had a “father influence” in their lives. Just a hard working mother who is trying to scratch out a living and keeping the “ship afloat” at home. That is not, however, an excuse for bad behavior. Somehow these kids have to be accountable for their own actions. I truly hope that he gets some help from somewhere, just think UGA should cut ties with him at this juncture.
wreckmaniac
June 29th, 2012
5:26 pm
Another UGA drama queen bites the dust. You must be a momma’s boy before you get a shot at this squad. The rules don’t apply to these guys.
UGA Grad'71
June 29th, 2012
5:27 pm
You cannot fix stupid. I am glad UGA officials moved quickly. IC’s next uniform may have stripes and a number across his back.
wreckmaniac
June 29th, 2012
5:29 pm
Who is the new Queen ?
wreckmaniac
June 29th, 2012
5:30 pm
After being on the police force in Athens, you’re probably ready for Delta Force.
chs
June 29th, 2012
5:30 pm
Thanks Isaiah for putting team needs over your thug life. Buh-bye.
wreckmaniac
June 29th, 2012
5:31 pm
Instead of being concerned about this bozo, everyone needs to be grateful that no one was shot
wreckmaniac
June 29th, 2012
5:32 pm
The new Queen will be coronated tonight in some bar in Athens.
wreckmaniac
June 29th, 2012
5:34 pm
So Marshall is the new Queen.
dawg fan
June 29th, 2012
5:39 pm
Anyone ever consider Richt may take on the very talented trouble makers to try to give them a chance at life. Remember our coach is a missionary and likely does not hesitate to try to give certain kids a leg up in life. Can’t blame him for that, for every ten bad eggs (Ealey, Crowell) if there is one good one than it is worth it. Richt has said many times that he is not only there to be a football coach. Want him there or not, he is doing good things. I am glad he is at UGA.
THE Dixie Redcoat Band
June 29th, 2012
5:40 pm
Do you suppose somebody from CMR staff will “talk” to the other 4 idiots in the car!
GTBob
June 29th, 2012
5:50 pm
Anyone ever consider Richt may take on the very talented trouble makers to try to give them a chance at life.
If so then he needs a new plan. It aint working.
Brad
June 29th, 2012
5:52 pm
Another “problem” athlete as the SEC and NCAA just get richer and richer. He’s not even been tried yet and he’s off the team! Richt, where’s the compassion? Smells a little too convenient to me. He ain’t even proved guilty yet, and he’s only 19!
Is there anything more we can do to let our student athletes know how much is at stake for them? If I was a recruit I’d be thinking “Well, they sure cut Crowell loose in a hurry.”
UGA Grad'71
June 29th, 2012
6:07 pm
Under Title IX, was the beginning of some of what we see now. If these young men had been in an a dorm room for football players only with supervision, they might have been in bed and not out at 3:30 am
wreckmaniac
June 29th, 2012
6:35 pm
Brad: Its easy when you have 4 other 5 stars to plug into the position. CMR’s recruiting success is what creates this problem. High school kids are reading this blog right now thinking ” Wow, if I can only get a scholly to UGA”. “UGA sounds like my kind of place” Why is that ?
Mandingo
June 29th, 2012
6:50 pm
Tomorrow this will be old news and the blog will be complaining about someone else. If Cowell gets a chance to play college ball again and try to earn a degree he will have learned some hard lessons he may cherish in the long run. His life, his choices, his consequences.
Canton Dawg
June 29th, 2012
6:56 pm
Good call Richt kick them all off if they can’t go by the rules . Find someone who will. I don’t care if we win a game. Im so sic of these gangster thugs. Let the white boys play like Boise State.
Brad
June 29th, 2012
7:18 pm
Canton: you don’t kick your family out when they make mistakes. Again, not guilty yet. If he’s proved innocent will he be back on the squad? I’d bet so. He’s a bulldog. Let’s be there for him. Even if he’s guilty! He’s gonna need some friendly advice for the future at some point and looks like he may not have got enough yet.
wreck: What exactly about this story make kids cross themselves at night and wish for that call from CMR? We have a great graduation rate. Think I just saw 2 or 3 in the SEC. I like RIcht a lot. Just feel like he pulled the trigger mighty fast on this one. Maybe there’s something we don’t know. But, for now it smells rotten.
Delbert D.
June 29th, 2012
7:18 pm
Georgia is indeed much better off without him. McGarity needs to yell in Richt’s ear about recruiting. Who was responsible for Crowell, Ealey and King? Would that be Garner?
Duval
June 29th, 2012
7:41 pm
Good riddance to a worthless punk. Someone please remind Mark Richt of this day the next time he’s thinking of recruiting someone from Carver-Columbus. The place is a breeding ground for thugs and felons.
Redneck Dawggie
June 29th, 2012
7:46 pm
What a way to start the 4th of July holiday.
Mary J is rampant in theUGA football program
Lakedawg
June 29th, 2012
7:50 pm
Reminder to those obviously not remembering that IC had 35-40 offers from every important school in country, and they all would have taken him.
He has been disciplined, mcounseled, warned and still at 3:30 with handgun in car.
Great taalent , but nothing between the ears. Hopefully one day he will man up and land on his feet rather than in a gulley on his back.
Steamer Lane Bulldog
June 29th, 2012
8:01 pm
The Georgia program needs a little healing right now. Maybe it will come, in the form of Marshall, and Gurley.