Fan talk: Richt vs. Crowell, wayward tailbacks, armed Dawgs and Grantham’s future!
Was there more to the Isaiah Crowell story than we knew? (Associated Press)
Let’s get right to some timely Junkyard Mail …
Bobby Dupree writes: Bill, I have to say I was shocked by the speed with which Mark Richt dismissed Isaiah Crowell from the team after his arrest. And I’m a little bit baffled. Why would the coach move so quickly to kick the kid off the team without even waiting to see if the charges stick or get reduced?
I’ve had that question from several fans, and unless Richt fills us in on why he acted so quickly, whatever we say is sheer speculation. I had expected Richt to wait to see what happened with the charges and then, if they were dismissed or reduced to misdemeanors, suspend Crowell for half a season. Depending on how the player reacted to that, I figured the coach would then either reinstate Crowell or dismiss him. But with Richt moving so quickly to get rid of Crowell on the same day he was arrested, I’ve got to figure that Isaiah was already on thinner ice with his head coach than any of us imagined. Perhaps there was more to last season’s troubles than was made public. The fact that Crowell also had three freshmen in the car with him and his buddy probably didn’t help matters. Richt may have seen him as a bad influence who needed to be removed. Also, I think that Richt, in acting so quickly and decisively with Crowell, was sending a message to the rest of the team. Frankly, I think if Richt had waited, he would have been only postponing the inevitable. Yes, it’s likely that if Crowell gets the felony charges reduced or dropped he’ll wind up playing for some other major school, possibly within the SEC. And, who knows, this time he might actually come to his senses and apply himself, stay out of trouble and become a star player. But I’d say there’s an equally good chance that the same deficiencies that hampered Crowell in Athens will show up wherever he plays.
Jerry Doster writes: Bill, what is it with Georgia’s tailbacks? OK, I know college kids are known for getting in trouble and our athletes aren’t the only ones crossing the line, but the string of incidents in recent years involving the Dogs’ tailback corps is really ridiculous. Dontavius Jackson, Washaun Ealey, Caleb King, Carlton Thomas, and now Isaiah Crowell — all in trouble in one way or another and all gone from the program before their eligibility expired. What’s going on here? No other position on the team has had such consistent problems. Is it time to look at the position coach and maybe ask what he’s doing wrong?
Ken Malcome and the other UGA tailbacks don't need to worry about being the next Herschel Walker. (Brant Sanderlin / AJC)
You’re not the first to ask whether any of this continuing turmoil with the running backs can be laid at the feet of their coach, Bryan McClendon, who got a hefty pay raise last year, up to $200,000, in large part because of his considerable prowess as a recruiter. There’s no denying his value to UGA in that regard. His two latest successes: Keith Marshall and Todd Gurley. Only those intimately familiar with the workings of the team can say for sure whether there’s anything McClendon could do differently that might make a difference, but it’s tough to pin the stupid things that college students do on their coaches. Still, I’d be surprised if McClendon isn’t part of some rather urgent discussions of what can be done to put an end to this. Perhaps Georgia needs to look at how it evaluates the non-football aspects of its recruits. As for Ken Malcome, Marshall, Gurley and the others stepping up to take on the seemingly cursed tailback spot at UGA, I like this piece of advice from Chris White of the Athens Banner-Herald: “You no longer have to be the next Herschel Walker. You just have to make it through college.”
Jim Parry writes: Bill, Has gun possession become another topic our athletic department staff and coaches need to address? We do not want to become the U. of Oklahoma and their Switzer-coached wild west teams. Last I heard, Americans have the right to possess firearms, with certain legal restrictions, of course. Maybe our coaches need to dig deeper as to which players own or possess firearms and just make sure 1) They are not obviously [illegal], i.e. scratched off serial numbers like Crowell’s Luger. 2) They are a legal type to possess. 3) Registered, if need be. 4) Proper permits are carried to own and/or conceal such weapons. 5) Mandate proper use education for firearms (maybe at a local firing range). 5) Find out WHY these athletes feel the need to carry around weapons in the first place (especially ones that aren’t of the weekend deer hunting variety). Do they need to pretend they’re “gangsta” in a college environment? Get ’em out of here, if that’s the case. Are they being threatened by others and feel they need it to defend themselves? Coaches, parents and maybe even police might need to know if that’s the case. Coaches, like it or not, are the closest guardians these athletes have on campus and they need to know personal information about their “kids” to help protect them. Even if it means protecting them from themselves.
Hey, remember the whole flap about the need for Georgia’s coaches to insure the kids all have valid driver’s licenses and all the effort that went into that? If they also have to take on weapons inventory, I’m not sure they’ll have any time left for coaching.
Travis Hill writes: Hey Bill, I hope and pray that we are able to keep Coach [Todd] Grantham around a long time, but truthfully in the back of my mind I am afraid he is going to be such a hot commodity that he will have a lot of options after this season. Do you think UGA would ever put the “Coach in waiting” tab on Grantham?
That whole coach-in-waiting tactic didn’t work out very well for West Virginia and Texas, so we may not see many more schools going that route. And I’m not sure Georgia would consider Grantham to be head coach material yet, based on much-publicized incidents the past couple of seasons. From Grantham’s point of view, I think it would depend on what sort of job offer he got. I don’t see him leaving Georgia simply to return to the NFL. As for a head coaching job, it would depend on where the offer came from. If it was from a mid-major or below, he’d have to ask himself if being a head coach there was really better than being a defensive coordinator in the SEC.
I’ll answer more Junkyard Mail next week, so if you have 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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334 comments Add your comment
PerroGrande
July 1st, 2012
9:36 pm
Dawgman, If kicking 4-5 star players off the team isn’t pretty stern discipline, what do you think will work?
PerroGrande
July 1st, 2012
9:53 pm
Crowell could join the Army. That way he could be paid to carry a gun.
Xenophon
July 1st, 2012
10:14 pm
Yessireebob! College football today is just brimmed with dedicated scholars. Makes you feel good about all that money you send in to your alumni association, doesn’t it?
norcrossdawg
July 1st, 2012
10:33 pm
Hey CMR koolaide drinkers,,do ya’ll still want this 25%HC/75%Missionary still running the asylum that he on his own has created at UGA????? If his 6-18 losing record vs teams in the top 20 since 2005,,then the thugs he recruits,then tells the dawg nation how IC has turned the corner and going to be a team leader,,just 100% BS..GM,,please get rid of CMT asap…UGA will be in better hands with any other coach, and I mean any coach…Clock mismanagement,play calling(cant be blamed on Bobo), the fact that 3 DC turned him down b4 he got totalk with Grantham, and did I mention his record versus teams that finished in the top20? Gesus..I knew the program was in trouble when CMR gets outcoached time after time..It isnt hard to see,,,I have had adult women ask me why CMR did this or why CMR did that..Its past time, get rid of CMR and save the UGA program from further embarrassement both on and off the field…Selah
AltamahaDawg
July 1st, 2012
10:53 pm
Lordy mercy. we got grown men in here suggessting we fire our coach in July. Too funny. I guess when you ask a 19 yr old to carry your nutsack and it doesn’t work out, this is the type of emotional rants we can expect.
Mobile Dawg
July 1st, 2012
10:58 pm
Random thoughts:
Embarassing.
Anyone else out there think that maybe McGarity has had enough, this was his call.
Total lack of respect, i.e., turn your back on you coach and walk away from him during the championship game, anyone with a backbone would have sent him packing then, especially after all the other issues.
How would he have behaved in the Alabama program under Nick Saban?
Frustrating
Having a HC that hugs recruits that commit, and tells players he loves them when they screw up.
Mobile Dawg
July 1st, 2012
11:01 pm
Not suggesting he should be fired in July, but by mid December he should be out with anything less than an SEC Championship, or hard fought game to the finish that UGA could hang their hat on. Enough is enough.
AltamahaDawg
July 1st, 2012
11:05 pm
Has Had enough to do what?
AltamahaDawg
July 1st, 2012
11:07 pm
What does one have to do with the other? So THIS is so bad, BUT if he wins a SEC, it’s all good?
AltamahaDawg
July 1st, 2012
11:08 pm
So, no credit whatsoever for dismissing Crowell from the team?
kingdaddy
July 1st, 2012
11:09 pm
Intellectual runts…Alt. Dawg, they think turning the program inside out right before will be good for the Dawgs. They are either mental midgets or trolls…
RTRTide
July 1st, 2012
11:11 pm
Richt needs to call Nick for advice on how to recruit players with character who stay out of trouble. Alabama never has these kinds of problems. Nick’s going for title #15 this fall–RTR!!
AltamahaDawg
July 1st, 2012
11:11 pm
Total BS to say that any coach would have kicked Crowell off the team after that SEC game. Nobody would have. Not one.
Mobile Dawg
July 1st, 2012
11:22 pm
Has had enough of “entitled” punks that possibly think they’re bigger than the program, and Richt seeming loving them thinking he can change them, at the expense of the University of Georgia.
One really has nothing to do with the other Altamaha, but, the program has been a disappointment the last few years. Results not parallel with recruiting. Character issues with players, lack of discipline on and off the field. So this is bad? That’s not a very intelligent question, it’s a huge black eye for Mark Richt and UGA.
AltamahaDawg
July 1st, 2012
11:23 pm
You are right RTR, Alabama doesn’t have these problems. You would never have heard a word of trouble about Crowell if he had gone there.
riverdawg
July 1st, 2012
11:25 pm
Anybody got a link to footage of IC turning his back on CMR? I have heard of the incident but have never actually seen it.
Mobile Dawg
July 1st, 2012
11:27 pm
A random thought, about McGarity, Richt hasn’t demonstrated the stomach to make tough decisions to this point, he’s just to nice a guy.
Why not kick the kid off the team after he turns his back on his coach, on national television, after being suspended twice, with a poor work ethic, and on, and on, and on. Coach Richt enables the attitudes by not dealing with them.
AltamahaDawg
July 1st, 2012
11:30 pm
OH no you don’t. Don’t try to flip this one me. I never said this was not bad. you know full well what I was asking you. You are the one saying this wasn’t so bad that winning can’t fix it.
And we just dismissed our star RB from the team, so not sure what more you want us to do about it.
Mobile Dawg
July 1st, 2012
11:30 pm
You see what his inability to handle a situation led to, we now have three or four additional players running around with Isiah. God forbid, if I found out I had cancer I wouldn’t want a Dr. to hug me, tell me he loves me. Cut me open and get it out, quick.
AltamahaDawg
July 1st, 2012
11:34 pm
First of all you have not idea what was said in that exchange, you are completely relying on interenet rumors.
Kick him off the team for that. Right. In what world? Nobody would have.
But you were saying all summer that you wish Crowell had been kicked off that night, right?
Mobile Dawg
July 1st, 2012
11:34 pm
Just like all of Richts decisions, to late. In case you didn’t know the role of the CEO, it’s his job to look into the future and anticipate problems and correct them before they create more problems. Richt hasn’t excelled here.
If you reread my post I said one didn’t have anything to do with the other.
AltamahaDawg
July 1st, 2012
11:38 pm
he suspended the kid for be late to a class. is that nice? What other coach does that. none I know of.
he suspected him of smoking pot, and made him take a drug test. Who does that? none i know of. he suspended him for failing a test, he didnt have to give him, to prove a point to the kid. How nice. No other coach i know does that.
he kicked him off the team on his next offense, without hesitation.
Good lordy mobile, you are too smart to fall into that ‘too nice” BS. He ws tougher on crowell, than any coach out there.
Mobile Dawg
July 1st, 2012
11:39 pm
Most of the time you don’t change behaviors, spots on the dog. And I don’t sit around all summer contemplating what should have been done. The fact that this has happened though, pretty much justifies my position. As far as knowing what went on in that conversation nobody will probably ever know, IC turned his back and walked off while his coach was talking to him. In my world that said all I need to hear, without ever hearing a word. With his all of the aboves, that justifies a suspension at minimum, if not the boot.
AltamahaDawg
July 1st, 2012
11:42 pm
Yes, owning and running one, I can do without the business school cliche’s.
UGA89
July 1st, 2012
11:42 pm
How ’bout them GT dorms?!
Mobile Dawg
July 1st, 2012
11:43 pm
Regardless of how we got here, the deed is done, just random thoughts from me. Maybe Richt has learned from his past mistakes and over a couple of years things will change. He will sign higher character atheletes like Marshal, and Drew, Mitchell and they will provide the Leadership.
Or maybe you just talk about changing the spots on a Dawg, and it probably won’t happen. I’m just tired, more ways than one tonight. Enjoyed the exchange of thoughts.
kingdaddy
July 1st, 2012
11:47 pm
It’s not our first blackeye and it won’t be our last. We will survive and make it to the football season where if we have a really good year, CMR will remain HC at UGA. If we fall flat, look for CMR to retire or move on. Many programs would love to have him. I think we will be fine, but we may need a curfew or something to reign-in the athletes bad choices. Every problem has a solution. Maybe McGarrity can help, maybe not. Time will tell…
AltamahaDawg
July 1st, 2012
11:48 pm
And you said at the time “kick Crowell off”, right?
Blake
July 2nd, 2012
2:25 am
Some of you people are just moronic. Saying UGA is THUG like Miami with a record of Vandy? Really? Vandy has had like one barely winning season (7-6) in the last 30 years. UGA has won 10+ in seven out of the eleven seasons Richt has coached. Look how many teams can say that and then get back to me. There are truly only about 3 or 4 coaches that you could legitimately say are worthy of running your program over Richt in the country. Some of you so called “Dawg fans” can’t see that. You guys all have “the grass is greener” syndrome. Why can’t you appreciate that this team IS relevant. I don’t care what any knucklehead on this board says. Ask any real college football analyst and every one of them will tell you UGA is a great program. If you want to fire Richt and start over, going back to the 20 years of mediocrity after Dooley and before him then go right ahead. I’m glad he’s our coach. Our time will come, and it will be twice a sweet when it does.
Golden White
July 2nd, 2012
4:09 am
When IC was being recruited someone posted up his Facebook account. It was full of the same content as seen on the ” Pearls Before Swine ” postings.
I rarely post but after reading the Facebook postings on IC’s account, I came on and posted that IC would never see the field as a Georgia Bulldog.
Well, I was wrong. The kid got over 800 yards and a few SEC Player of the Week awards.
But damn if your coach didn’t have to bend over double backwards for that to happen.
Blake
July 2nd, 2012
6:07 am
hey norcrossdawg,
Where did you get that 6-18 stat against the top 20? 12-16 is more accurate. If you’re going to disgrace and nay say your own team, at least get the facts right. Could we be better? Yes, but we’ve had a lot of turnover the last three seasons personel wise and in the coaching staff. I say 17 starters coming back on a team that won the East last year should have people optomistic. Stop being a bandwagon fan and hunker down. I don’t want to see you celebrating at mid season when we’re undefeated and ranked in the top 5.
gomdawg
July 2nd, 2012
6:56 am
I would have kick him off team for being out at 02:25 in the morning .
WonderDawg
July 2nd, 2012
7:17 am
I can pretty much guarantee that the vast majority of the CMR haters never took one class at UGA. They don’t care much of anything about UGA…just UGA football.
another day, another arrest...
July 2nd, 2012
7:20 am
Where my weed?
WE ARE..
July 2nd, 2012
7:20 am
THUG-U!
truth be
July 2nd, 2012
7:23 am
UGA89
July 1st, 2012
11:42 pm
How ’bout them GT dorms?!
Probably a ga playuh…most likely a tailback.
Tom
July 2nd, 2012
7:44 am
So, how’s that “Requeim For A Dream” Team thingy working out?
Hobnail Boots
July 2nd, 2012
7:49 am
Roses are red
Crowell is blue
Richt coddles thugs
You know it’s true
Paddy
July 2nd, 2012
8:06 am
Rossvlle Bulldog…….after reading your latest, you are misinformed and would commit 2felonies yourself. 1. It does not bother you to have a gun w/ an altered serial. 2. You would put your gun under your seat.without a concealed weaons permit. It may not concen you but it would mean something to your peers on the Grand Jury! Have at it pal, see you in the county lock-up. Just like in the military, 10% never get the memo!
wins-by-a-link
July 2nd, 2012
8:10 am
Being charged with a felony is probably enough to be dimissed from most teams, But with Crowell’s past history and the fact that he had several freshmen players with him was what caused Coach Richt’s decision to dismiss Crowell so quickly, You know the old saying about a rotten apple spoiling the rest of the apples.
Packing9
July 2nd, 2012
8:14 am
Mark need to get his players to upgrade their piece–packing a luger if something go down not gonna get it done.
Whiskey Breath
July 2nd, 2012
8:26 am
You guys are trying to blame the RB’s coach instead of Richt? Are you kidding me?
Just like any loss, it is never his fault it has to be a position coach. When you guys hire a assistant
coach don’t you think you owe it to him to let him know he might be the Richt’s next whipping boy?
Except for Gardner, the rest have been run off. Teflon Richt! Please don’t do that to Will Friend.
He is a Bama boy and doesn’t deserve it.
@Blake, WonderDawg
July 2nd, 2012
8:49 am
You guys nailed it. Great comments!
@Whiskey Breath
July 2nd, 2012
8:52 am
Check out Saban’s career record on assistants leaving. Much higher than normal turnover.
If anything Richt is too loyal to his assistants. Most every replacement last few years has been an upgrade.
Mobile Dawg
July 2nd, 2012
8:53 am
A resounding yes. I’m pretty much a no nonsense guy, most things are black and white, cut and dry, with some occasional grey areas that require an expendature of thought and compassion. IC wouldn’t qualify under my roof.
dawgincarolina
July 2nd, 2012
9:02 am
Blake, I agree somewhat with many dawgs are looking for greener grass, when our grass is pretty green as it is. We do need to be appreciative of the success we have had. Yet, we can not ignore our record vs top 20 teams the last several years, including our record vs UF since CMR arrived.
I like CMR and always have, but we have to improve our performance when the pressure is on. Our recent performance is bowl games has been especially disheartening.
norcrossdawg
July 2nd, 2012
9:19 am
HEY BLAKE,,,check our part time HC/ part time mmissionary record versus teams that FINISHED RANKED in the top 20 since 2005 and u will see how terrible is it=EMBARRASSING…CMR heart is in the missionary,,not in the UGA program,,,GM missed his window to fire CMR LAST SEASON OR AFTERWARDS..July ‘12 is to late,,Band wagon fan,, I wish I could tell u my UGA story..I cant here..CMR is a great man,,,He needs to go and do his godly duties,,not coach a TOP 10 NATIONAL TEAM part time..Hell,,he just made a commitment to pay more attention to the program just a year or so ago, SAID BY HIS OWN WORDS HIMSELF,,I would of fired his tail that day when he said he was going to be more involved in the program=REALLY, LIke now,wow thanks CMR..CMR SAID THIS WINTER HOW ic has turned the corner and wil;l be a team leader,,really CMR,are you that bad of a judge of attitude, or more BS from a part time HC? CMR HAS BEEN OUT COACHED BY 8 CUPCAKE TEAMS over the last 8 yrs or so, and UGA always come back to win in the 4th quarter,,still was OUTCOACHED by div2 HC constantly! I will take any of the HC from all those cupcake teams as the next HC at UGA..YES,,THE GRASS IS GREENER ON THE OTHER SIDE..BLAKE, I WILL BE CHEERING THIS TEAM ON, IF we are not undefeated the whole season, CMR should be fired,,what a easy schedule..SELAH
Randy Marsh
July 2nd, 2012
9:21 am
There’s a lot of hyprocrisy on this blog. I’m sure most of the people calling him a thug are hardcore gun nuts that always keep one in the car and believe in the 2nd amendment.
norcrossdawg
July 2nd, 2012
9:25 am
dawgincarolina,,QUIT DRINKING CMR KOOLAID! TERRIBLE RECORD VS FL,,embarrassing bowl record and effort..ALL CMR fault,,HE is the part time HC/part time MISSIONARY..Lets let him go do his GODLY calling,that is wonderful for a person, but NOT FOR A HC IN THE TOP 10 TEAMS PROGRAM! I WILL TAKE THE COACH OF THE REDCOAT BAND,,He has that band perfect and ready each game! I konw he could do better than CMR versus teams ranked in the top 20 at years end for dang sure(6-18)..dawgincarolina, u may even do a better job versus those teams than CMR has..He has been outcoached by many div2 schools and win in the 4th quarter only because of team depth and better talent!
norcrossdawg
July 2nd, 2012
9:41 am
WONDERDOG,,you are an idiot…I guess u are proud of our 6-18 record vs teams finishing ranked in the top 20 since’05,,and proud of uga bowl record and how they played vs c.florida,,and how they gave Mich St the game last year,,and proud of how CMR gets outcoached 75% of the time, and proud of how UGA comes back to beat the d-2 teams in the 4th quarter after they have out played and out coached CMR’s team..I took classes there, graduated from UGA..I know more about football and how players act/react with their coaches than u will ever know..I am not trying to brag,,its just that UGA fans are enjoying these above mentioned facts..UGA has had some of the best recruiting classes over the last 8 years, and look at the outcome..Who is in charge=CMR..Great person, part time HC..it just does not pan out..SELAH