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
savdawg
November 1st, 2011
5:06 pm
So far, all Crowell has shown is he is 1) Not dependable 2) Has a bad haircut 3) Is pretty much a woosy. I’m a big UGA fan, by the way. This “cry baby” better grow up quick. This is the SEC, and unless you go the distance, you get hammered on every play. He looks very soft, must be out of shape, and really, really dumb. He just doesn’t get it.
db
November 1st, 2011
5:06 pm
Isn’t this like his third offense already this year?
LawDawg
November 1st, 2011
5:07 pm
Everyone piling on teenagers for drinking or failing a drug test must have been a real blast to hang out with in college.
Reality
November 1st, 2011
5:07 pm
Mark Richt withheld AJ Green from games before he knew if there were any violations committed, “just in case.’
So you retards that are saying he didn’t withold these guys after he DID know evidence are completely off base. But it’s ok. You’re also the same guys who say that he can’t coach, even though all the evidence in the world says he’s one of the top coaches in America. Good day, losers.
springpatch
November 1st, 2011
5:08 pm
Richt didn’t have the guts to suspend these guys when he was playing a really team. War Eagle!!!!!
The light you see at the end of the tunnel is an oncoming train
November 1st, 2011
5:08 pm
You could see this trainwreck coming a year ago. Richt knew that Crowell was a low class thug when he signed him. Why does he keep believing that these bozos will straighten out under his influence?
David
November 1st, 2011
5:09 pm
Who will be the RB’s this week because we lose Samuels for the rest of the season. I guess we going to play walk ons and defensive players at that position. It might be OK against New Mexico State; however, I do not like to read about players getting in trouble essecially after a great win over someone we had not beat in four years.
db
November 1st, 2011
5:11 pm
Are they suspended for one game only?
GTBob
November 1st, 2011
5:12 pm
You don’t know what MR knew before the Gator game.
True. I don’t. I do know that ESPN is reporting that these three fine student athletes failed a drug test that was administered last week. There were other rumors floating around early last week that this might be coming. Then it conveniently comes after the Florida week, during the New Mexico St week. Sorry, but i’m not buying that they found out today.
LawDawg
November 1st, 2011
5:12 pm
Brandon Hartson and probably another walk on unless they let Zander or Figgins get some carries (which they should).
Hal
November 1st, 2011
5:13 pm
Looks like UGA is warming up to make another run at the Fulmer/Richt Cup!
btgt69
November 1st, 2011
5:13 pm
and the beat goes on and on and on
sandiego dawg
November 1st, 2011
5:13 pm
why does everyone act like these kids are thugs because they smoke weed. More than half the student body smokes it- I don’t condone (eventhough I did when I went to GA) but lets not act like it’s murder.
sheepdawg
November 1st, 2011
5:14 pm
yet another typical uga thug
GTBob
November 1st, 2011
5:15 pm
Mark Richt withheld AJ Green from games before he knew if there were any violations committed, “just in case.’
There were NCAA implications involved with that decision. If he would have played AJ Green he would have had to vacate any wins that AJ played in. That is not the case here. If the NCAA could vacate wins because of failed drug tests then there is no way Crowell would have played against Florida.
george
November 1st, 2011
5:15 pm
Reality do you really want to go there. Lets just go over a few facts since I know you do not like to look at the facts.
1. AD getting a dui with a hooker in the driver seat
2. DC who has twice acted like a 10 year old kid threatning and or fighting opponents players and coaches. somehow has yet to see any penalty.
3. Multiple suspensions for multiple games incuding for cheap shots and dirty hits.
4. Charging the field/fighting in 3 out of the last 10 games including sending 32 players onto the field to fight against auburn.
5. 30 plus arrests in a 3 year span.
6.
Do you need me to continue because I can if you would like.
Just sayin'
November 1st, 2011
5:16 pm
If it turns out Richt and the staff did know before the Fl game and held the info until the NMS game, that will be very bad for the dawgs.
FOIA Request?
November 1st, 2011
5:17 pm
Reality, are you seriously suggesting that this is an isolated event? Weren’t Thomas and Rambo suspended for Game 1? Wasn’t IC suspended the first half of Vandy? Weren’t Geathers and Williams suspended for the first half of Florida? Wasn’t Washington suspended ONE GAME for a DUI ARREST? I seriously ask, is this acceptible to Georgia fans? Seems like an awful lot of justification going on for a Coach that has failed to show he can consistently win at a top level…
Hal
November 1st, 2011
5:17 pm
“Sorry, but i’m not buying that they found out today.”
Neither is anyone else. Richt’s “discipline” is a big joke.
LawDawg
November 1st, 2011
5:17 pm
@sandiego dawg: The average IQ of people who post on here is double digits. They have no idea what the word thug means, they just repeat it like talking parrots.
Delbert D.
November 1st, 2011
5:17 pm
All I can add to this is that Chuck Oliver of 680thefan spoke of the rumor on Friday. I heard him say that on the radio today’s Chuck and Chernoff show.
Skitty Fritty
November 1st, 2011
5:17 pm
Where is the outrage when 3 LSU players were suspended one game? What a bunch of hypocrites.
Skitty Fritty
November 1st, 2011
5:19 pm
Where are the Auburn fans telling us this is how the “Rumors” got started about $cam and they are only “Rumors”
Hal
November 1st, 2011
5:20 pm
“5. 30 plus arrests in a 3 year span.”
George, you’re wrong. It was 45 arrests over that three-year span.
what outrage?
November 1st, 2011
5:20 pm
Enter your comments here
BG
November 1st, 2011
5:25 pm
Mark, Really? Crowell is an 18 year old freshman. UGA suspends players for things 90% of SEC teams do nothing for.
Dawglasville
November 1st, 2011
5:26 pm
Damn. I’m so tired of this crap. Make college football a minor league system, pay them, and when they get out of line, fine them or fire them. No one, and I mean no one cares about these kids. Why should the coaches and university be burdened with it either. “Because they are making millions…” Some schools are, most aren’t. Make them employees and treat them as such.
Weak competition again?
November 1st, 2011
5:26 pm
New Mexico State? Please could some one tell me who Georgia bought off to get this cream puff schedule? will they ever play a top 20 team again?
Scott
November 1st, 2011
5:27 pm
Did’nt Crowell come from Carver-Columbus where he had trouble finding the classroom. I think that Jasper Sanks was from there as well. Maybe we need to strike that school off the recruiting list trail.
South Carolina Dog
November 1st, 2011
5:30 pm
Why not consider a guy’s character before giving a scholarship?? Marcus Lattimore follows rules. Our recruiting staff seems to look for the showboating thugs. I miss the days when players were actually scared of the coaches.
jim
November 1st, 2011
5:31 pm
scott…jarvis jones was there, too.
Dawg48
November 1st, 2011
5:32 pm
I hope they learn they did not just get their self in trouble, they let their team their school ,fan base down! Now some one has to pick up the slack! Someone is going to have to step up and take their place!
Steveo
November 1st, 2011
5:36 pm
Once again I say….CMR has a knack for recruiting the most atheletic MORONS in the country…..PLEASE recruit some SMART players!!!!!!
SuperB
November 1st, 2011
5:37 pm
Mark: You might as well work for the National Enquirer or Fox News. Did you go to journalism school?
dcp
November 1st, 2011
5:37 pm
Following in the footsteps of Caleb King anf Washaun Ealey
Dawg48
November 1st, 2011
5:37 pm
Boykin and smith may see a lot of playing time in the backfield! But I’m more worried about who will pick up blocking schemes.
I'm Just Saying
November 1st, 2011
5:38 pm
The handwriting was on the wall or in IC’s case on his facebook page…He will lead ugag back to its championship ways…the Fulmer Cup Championship. You reep what you sow CMR.
Dawg48
November 1st, 2011
5:39 pm
Jbhjb
Earl
November 1st, 2011
5:45 pm
Richt didn’t suspend Ealey for the Florida game.
Interesting.
Had it been Ealey, after 2 suspensions, Ealey would have been kicked off.
Richt just didn’t like Ealey.
Certainly pays to be one of Richt’s favorites.
Guess ealey wasn’t the porblem after all.
3 more suspensions.
WOW!
Will Richt never learn you can't make silk purses out of thugs' ears
November 1st, 2011
5:45 pm
From ESPN:
Richt would not discuss the reason behind the suspensions, only that a violation of team rules occurred. “They didn’t do things the Georgia way,” he said.
But a source told DawgNation that the three players were disciplined for failing a drug test that was administered last week before Georgia’s 24-20 victory over Southeastern Conference archrival Florida in Jacksonville.
wheelhouse
November 1st, 2011
5:51 pm
New tailback. Same story. Truly unbelievable.
And the players at Georgia watch their coach. And understand that there are no severe consequences to their actions.
How many times does this need to happen before a university president says “Enough.”?
Are there any influential Georgia alumni out there that have had enough?
Or are they waiting to see what happens in Fayetteville on Saturday night?
Chris
November 1st, 2011
5:51 pm
Being pretty tough on an 18 year old this year. Even before this news, the whining about his playing time was getting out of control. It doesnt matter when the news came down either. UGA had to win this game and had they lost due to a 1-game suspension of 3 of their RB’s, those 3 are basically out of UGA because noone is going to be on their side for costing the team the UF game, and the Coach is out. Stop pretending that big time college football is not about winning and money. Get off the high horses and remind yourselves this is really about your ego as a ‘fan’ so you can rub it in your neighbors face for a year.
Hal
November 1st, 2011
5:52 pm
You can take the thug out of Carver-Columbus, but you can’t take Carver-Columbus out of the thug.
Run Richt and his thug buddies out of Athens now.
OkieDawg
November 1st, 2011
5:53 pm
Get Keith Marshall and let this troublemaker go somewhere else. Heck, don’t get Keith Marshall and let him go. I, for one, am tired of this crap! I feel sorry for Samuel IV. He has been a DGD and now he gets another set back. We need more Samuels and fewer Crowells.
Beachdawg
November 1st, 2011
5:54 pm
Good Gawd…Go read the LSU site and see if they’re saying the same thing..I don’t condone it, but how you gonna watch these guys ALL the time. And as far as being convenient, name the last time ANY Div 1 coach has suspended any “stars” during a big game week. Sure it smells, but that’s the business aspect as well. Pressure to win…pressure to stay in line so all these blogger fans don’t jump ship or fire somebody. NCAA isn’t winning any fans lately and all the teams fall in line with them and their rulings.
Vince Lombardi
November 1st, 2011
5:54 pm
He is a cancer. Get rid of it before it spreads. Also, I’m sure whatever violations these RB’s committed didn’t happen between today and leaving Jacksonville. Mark Richt is wormy; should’ve suspended them for the Florida game.
How bout them BEES!
November 1st, 2011
5:54 pm
Just another day in the Trailer Park.
Wet Willie...keep on smiling
November 1st, 2011
5:55 pm
The President and AD at UGA have embarrassed themselves with this stunt but then again greyshirting players is more of a sin! UGA is pitiful at best. You’re losing even when you win.
HUH
November 1st, 2011
5:58 pm
GtBob knows more than me about UGA… and im an alum
Uga2002
November 1st, 2011
5:59 pm
And CMR hid this in a press conference and waits 30 minutes and it goes out on a press release.
So we know CMR will win at all costs, has flexible suspension program and can’t face the music of when did they fail this test?
Well, we look desperate and petty. We were at risk of losing to UF who lost 3 in a row, so we played druggies? Just glad this isn’t NCAA suspension, I’m patiently waiting to find out we paid for the dream team because we’re the only legit national contender in the SEC that still doesn’t have a BCS title. And I use legit lightly.