Isaiah Crowell: Once again, he’s the ‘missing man’ for UGA
Isaiah Crowell is about to be hugged after scoring against Tennessee. (AP photo)
Georgia wanted Isaiah Crowell so much it committed a secondary violation to get him. It had 10 incumbent Bulldogs array themselves, in uniform, in an offensive set, and it had Crowell, who was on a recruiting visit, take his place in the backfield. This, Georgia was saying, is where you can be next season. (It was also a breach of byzantine NCAA rules.)
And, at least for part of the time, that’s where Crowell has been this season — ensconced as Georgia’s No. 1 tailback. He leads the team in rushing and has had three 100-yard games. He has also gone missing during games so often we’ve all taken to wondering what’s really going on. Is he taking himself out of the game because he’s tired? Does he get injured that often? Are the coaches holding him back? If so, why?
After Crowell didn’t play in the first quarter against Vanderbilt, Mark Richt told a halftime interviewer the freshman had been withheld “because we love him.” (”Undisclosed disciplinary reasons” were the real explanation, apparently.) On Tuesday, after Richt’s regular media briefing had concluded, Georgia announced that Crowell was one of three tailbacks — third-stringer Carlton Thomas and Ken Malcome are the other two — who have been suspended for Saturday’s game against New Mexico State. No specific reason was given.
Thus will the Bulldogs be minus four tailbacks Saturday: Richard Samuel was hurt against Florida and has undergone ankle surgery that will sideline him for the rest of the regular season. But the greater issue is Crowell, of whom so much was expected. To be fair, he has come close to justifying the massive hype that preceded him, but the stop-and-start nature of his season — now you see him; now you don’t — has led some to wonder if he’ll be a Bulldog long.
Some cast Isaiah Crowell as the recruit who was going to save Richt’s job, and clearly the freshman has done his part to lift the Bulldogs to 6-2 and second place in the SEC East. But there have been warning signs over those eight games that make us ask: Will the “missing man” turn out to be more trouble than he’s worth?
By Mark Bradley
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479 comments Add your comment
JuJu Beans
November 2nd, 2011
9:45 am
Jim Tressel is a Great American Hero©.
Or at least he was… Until he got caught.
rcb
November 2nd, 2011
9:49 am
Let me get this straight. The question is whether to take Crowell or not. And how much do you get paid to ask these questions? Let’s go back to when the decision was made. Take Crowell who will probably be (and is) a real good running back on the field but is a typical teenager who might have some discipline problems, or the other guy who frankly may sit on the bench for four years but will be nominated for sainthood. Oh wait, there are no “other guys” being nominated for sainthood. We will just have to pick between two typical teenagers who do typical teenage things and do our best to keep him straight. Either way, we will just have to try our best to keep them straight.
Now I will say I like the Alabama running back model. It is more of a blue collar approach and one senses Saben has less forgiveness built into the system. He also has two starters most of the time. And in fairness to Richt, he thought he had two starters at the start of the season but life is full of surprises. So instead of jousting at windmills (ie should Crowell have been offered a scholarship-only you believe a NCAA coach would consider not offering a scholarship), why don’t you do the more intellectually honest (and far more difficult) job of telling us precisely what Richt could have done (or even better- should do) to correct Crowell’s behavior for the good of Mr. Crowell and UGA fans alike.
Unethical!?
November 2nd, 2011
9:50 am
To the imbecile on Page 1 who suggests that Richt is unethical, please please go back to the Tech blog.
If the coaches are required to drug test the players twice a season, why wouldn’t you time the tests 10 days before your 2 easiest games!? You can’t trust the players to do the right thing but you can decide when you find out that they aren’t.
You get the results back in a week and the idiots that don’t pass only miss the patsies on the schedule. Every coach does this–I mean, did any of the LSU kids miss the big game this weekend?
Unethical? That is ridiculous.
Stupid stupid stupid
November 2nd, 2011
9:51 am
UGA has a bunch of Dumb azzes on this team and it shows.
2010 BCS CHAMPS
November 2nd, 2011
9:52 am
Good luck in two weeks, dawg fans!
schmeckdawg
November 2nd, 2011
9:53 am
B’dawg
November 2nd, 2011
9:10 am
Bring on KEITH MARSHALL. Enough said.
*****************************************************************************
I’m with you! We need to put the full court press on this kid ASAP!!!!! I don’t know how much longer IC will be here!
Bulldawg Bennie
November 2nd, 2011
9:58 am
I love how all of you are saying “lets get a coach that can recruit class guys” well who would that be? every coach in america wanted crowell. yeah lets just go out and get a class guy. when you find a class guy better than coach richt thats available let us know
St Simons - we're on Island time
November 2nd, 2011
9:58 am
Crowell would be man of the year at Auburn
we don’t roll like that, and he’ll be a better man for it later, in a career
that’s why, to this day, I cull the Auburn resumes first.
Jacket1985
November 2nd, 2011
9:59 am
I have been a Tech fan all of my life and I disdain the Georgia Bulldogs. But with that said I have to admit that I have always liked Mark Richt the man. I have always thought that he brought some class to the program and sincerely wanted to do what’s right.
That is, until lately. I could care less about the suspensions -it’s only for one cupcake game – but I am really disappointed in Richt. With the pressure to compete in the SEC and keep his job he signed guys whom he knew at the outset would be discipline problems. Everyone knew Crowell would be trouble. He was even taking himself out of games in high school when things didn’t go exactly his way. But you sign him anyway. Why? Because if you don’t Alabama or LSU (or some other major college) will. That’s what Christian’s call “compromise” and in the end it typically gets you into trouble.
Say what you want but Mark Richt is a great coach. His record proves it. I just believe that he could win with 3 and 4 star players who had great character, could succeed in the classroom and not be a discipline problem. It may be too late. He may have already lost the respect of his players and control of the program.
Just my thoughts.
BRS
November 2nd, 2011
10:03 am
I don’t care how good any player is…..he either follows the rules or we send him packing! How stupid does someone have to be to throw away such opportunities? But then, I guess they’re not at UGA for an education anyhow. If they can’t wear the red and black and be proud, I don’t want them!
Dawg in AL
November 2nd, 2011
10:03 am
GTBob, maybe you should syick to the GT blog. Moron!
Bulldawg Bennie
November 2nd, 2011
10:04 am
Lets be logical about this.arent we all glad about beating florida. if the test was admistired on thursday and got the results back on friday you think they would have suspended him for the game the next day? you think uga is the only program like this and no one else is this bad? look around people and get out of your fish bowl. coach richt is damned if he does and damned if he dont
Dawg in AL
November 2nd, 2011
10:04 am
sorry about my typing this AM GTBob, however a combination of stick and sick may be just the ticket for you!
crossdawg
November 2nd, 2011
10:05 am
mop head crowell would be a good roomate for Washaun. I’m sure they’d have a great time partying together. I hope this rotten apple doesn’t spoil some good ones.
GT
November 2nd, 2011
10:21 am
What tickles me about the NCAA probation is Tech was a loser last year. You can’t punish losers they don’t get it. The only time punishment works is when you have a winner, losers don’t care. I think the probation motivated Tech, I bet you it will not motivate Crowell. It would Murray are 3 fourth of the Georgia team. I bet ya Georgia plays the best games as far as not having penalties and mental errors Saturday. You took your other back not Crowell and you crammed the ball down Florida’s throat last Saturday. You could do that about any Saturday you wanted to with any back on your roster. Trust yourselves.
Dan the Man
November 2nd, 2011
10:28 am
Mark, You said EXACTLY what all DawgNation is thinking
jtdawgfan
November 2nd, 2011
11:02 am
I’m sick of the nonsense.
But what’s funny is how much the losers on this board want Georgia to fail sooooo miserably – how much hate and contempt they have for UGA and Mark Richt. It is so hilarious to watch them contradict even their own vitriol as they attempt to take shot after shot at belittling the program.
Wow.
I don’t see how they have the time – I spend my time focusing on my team, not others. Well, I guess I CAN see now. Their programs must just horribly suck soooooo bad……
The GA way
November 2nd, 2011
11:12 am
“…they attempt to take shot after shot at belittling the program….”
Wrong. The GA program does just fine, belittling the GA program.
jtdawgfan
November 2nd, 2011
11:15 am
I’m done with the tomfoolery
If Richt would just step up and kick Crowell’s A$$ to the curb if he screws up again, hopefully that would send a big enough message.
Richt has done a good job of being tougher with wayward players, but kick a top recruit off and send a message to everybody in the program and all future recruits – screw-ups will not be tolerated….
All of us want a clean program – this hurts our team entirely too much…
jtdawgfan
November 2nd, 2011
11:18 am
The GA way
November 2nd, 2011
11:12 am
again, so sad you don’t have a better program to root for yourself… If your program is so much better, then it’s probably because your program sucks. If you have nothing better to do then to try and belittle another program, again it’s most likely that your program sucks…and the fact you still live in your mom’s basement and have nothing better to do …..
The GA way
November 2nd, 2011
12:33 pm
jtdawgfan
November 2nd, 2011
11:18 am
Hurry—get to Walmart..get your #1 jersey. Again, GA “belittles” it’s OWN pathetic little program. No help is needed. An embarrassement to the State.
DawgByte
November 2nd, 2011
12:42 pm
GT Fans -
You’re like hypocritical liberals who act sanctimonious, but in fact have more skeletons in the closet than a cemetery.
Crowell is a typical freshman that came to college with tons of hype. It’s WAY TOO early to tell whether Crowell will be another Jasper Sanks. I think Richt is staying on top of the situation and doing what he needs to discipline Crowell and impress upon the consequences of violating rules. My hopes is that Crowell grows up fast and doesn’t blow his God given talents. This kid has an opportunity to play in the NFL if he can keep his head on top of his shoulders.
If I was Richt I’d tell Crowell to shave his dreads!
lifeDawg
November 2nd, 2011
3:23 pm
I remember when almosts all, if not all, of Georgia’s football players would’ve been welcomed into my living room and dining room; in fact they would’ve been invited and as Bulldogs, they would’ve been had a lifetime invitaiton. I even have a huge print of Herschel in my great room, and was hoping Crowell would follow in his footsteps, in more ways than one. Looks like none of this is going to happen with this young men, and many of these young men. Many would not be welcome in my living room today.
BIG MIKE DAWG
November 2nd, 2011
6:58 pm
HERSHEL NEEDS TO COME KICK HIS OVER RATED A$$ FOR WASTING HIS TIME THIS SUMMER…HE HAS NO HEART, NEVER WILL BE THE PREMIER ATHLETE. NEVER WILL FINISH COLLEGE, NEVER WILL PLAY IN NFL, NEVER WILL PLAY A WHOLE GAME, NEVER WILL GROW UP, NEVER WILL BREAK A RECORD, NEVER WILL BE A ROLE MODEL, NEVER WILL MAKE A DIFFERENCEIN SOCIETY, NEVER WILL GRADUATE, AND NEVER WILL PROUDLY REPRESENT MY ALMA MATER….. LOSER…..
BIG MIKE DAWG
November 2nd, 2011
7:18 pm
I GUESS THESE 3 IDIOTS WILL BE RIDING MIKE BOBO’S SHORTBUS ALONG WITH WALSH, MURRAY, AND MR BOBO HIMSELF… SEEMS LIKE THE SHORTBUS MAYBE CROWDED AT THE END OF THE SEASON… OH YEA.. ALMOST FORGOT.. BOBO U STINK… WERE TOTALLY SCREWED IF MURRAY HAS TO PASS 90% SAT….
BIG MIKE DAWG
November 2nd, 2011
7:22 pm
WALSH CANT BEAT A ONE LEGGED MAN IN A A$$ KICKIN CONTEST.. LOLOL NOW THATS FUNNY.. AND THE TRUTH.. HE KNOWS IT.. HAHAHAHAA GET ON THE SHORTBUS….
LambertDawg
November 2nd, 2011
10:22 pm
Can you say Jasper Sanks?
Derrick
November 2nd, 2011
11:38 pm
Mark,
You were WAY TOO KIND to Crowell in this puff piece.
Crowell has scored 4 rush td’s.
Ealey had 11.
Crowell is under 5 ypc.
Ealey was over.
Crowell is @3 ypc in the 4th quarter/crunch time.
Ealey was over 6 ypc there.
Yes, Crowell has been the missing man, got into worse trouble than Ealey did.
You were close, but WAY TOO SOFT.
Zina Elvington
November 4th, 2011
1:33 pm
I was wrong. A parent helping with the dance had been walking behind me. I can still hear him state, “Man, you sure learn how to make good clothes appear cheap. “