Update: After arrest, Crowell is dismissed from UGA squad
Feb. 2, 2011: Isaiah Crowell brings delight to Bulldog Nation. Alas, that was then. (AP photo)
At 5 p.m. Friday, Georgia coach Mark Richt announced that Isaiah Crowell has been dismissed from the squad. More to come.
Here they go again. Four summers after a team that would be ranked No. 1 in preseason saw its summer so roiled by player arrests that 16 of the first 20 questions asked of Mark Richt on Media Day involved discipline (or the lack thereof), the Georgia Bulldogs are about to embark on another season of great expectations, and again we’re talking less about football than foolishness.
Four defensive starters have managed to get themselves suspended for the start of the 2012 season, forcing the Bulldogs to move Malcolm Mitchell, their best wide receiver, to defensive back. That was bad. This is worse: Isaiah Crowell, the 2011 SEC freshman of the year, was arrested in Athens early Friday on three weapons charges, two of them felonies.
According to Athens-Clarke County Police, a Luger was found under the seat of the car Crowell was driving, a car from which an officer reported the smell of marijuana emanating. Crowell denied knowledge of the gun. Also in the car: Four other Georgia football players, three of whom are incoming freshmen. None of the four was charged.
This comes after a freshman season in which Crowell finished sixth among SEC backs in yards rushing but was suspended from the New Mexico State game after a failed drug test. He also limped off so often with a bad ankle that, by the SEC championship game and the Capital One Bowl, discontent among Georgia fans in the stands was aurally apparent.
On the one hand, Crowell is a superb player. On the other, he became a major distraction in no time flat. At halftime of the Vanderbilt game, Richt was asked by an interviewer why Crowell hadn’t played in the first quarter. “Because we love him,” was the coach’s answer. (Actually, the first-quarter holdout had been another suspension, this for “undisclosed disciplinary reasons.”)
And now he has been arrested, and not just for dinging a car in a parking garage or effecting an improper exit of an alley on a motor scooter. Crowell has been charged with felonies involving a firearm, and according to the UGA Student-Athlete handbook — perhaps the most-thumbed reference tome on campus — any felony arrest carries “immediate suspension from athletic competition.”
(Footnote: Crowell’s arrest came one day shy of the two-year anniversary of Damon Evans’ midnight ride through Buckhead, a misadventure that cost the Georgia athletic director his job.)
On Signing Day 2011, Crowell’s announcement for Georgia set off wild celebration. He was the capper atop the famous Dream Team, the latest in a long line of New Herschel Walkers. Only nine months later, Richt was quoted as saying, “There’s a tremendous opportunity for running backs in [the 2012] class to come to Georgia and make an impact.”
Sure enough, the Bulldogs landed the highly regarded Keith Marshall and Todd Gurley, though neither was quite so highly ranked as Crowell. Ordinarily you’d expect big-name recruits to avoid a program that had landed a big-name tailback the year before, but it had already become apparent that a team with Crowell as Plan A had better have workable Plans B and C.
There was a time when Georgia felt it needed this tailback so badly that it had 10 jersey-wearing incumbents array themselves in an offensive set and beckoned Crowell to dot the “I.” This became known as the “Missing Man” formation. It also became a self-reported secondary NCAA violation.
After Crowell’s second suspension, we posed the question: Was the famous recruit more trouble than he was worth? After this felony arrest, we have our answer. He has been the most-discussed Bulldog from the moment he unveiled that puppy at his signing ceremony, and in the swelter of summer we’re discussing him still, and not in a way that confers honor on the player or the school.
Yes, he’s a talent. Yes, he would have helped the Bulldogs win. (Heck, he already did.) In the grand scheme, however, the University of Georgia has no further need for Isaiah Crowell. He’s not worth this much aggravation. Nobody is.
By Mark Bradley
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384 comments Add your comment
THE RICHT CUP
June 29th, 2012
4:51 pm
IT’S OURS, BABY!!!!
59bulldawg
June 29th, 2012
4:52 pm
I’m really torn on this! Marshall and Gurley are going to be really good! But we need Crowell too! Before this happened I was envisioning one hell of a rushing attack. It’s still going to be good . . . just not as deep. Really hope the other four in the car are not headed down the same path toward trouble!
Joey
June 29th, 2012
4:53 pm
JB (1:25), I hope you are right. I know I’ll get called a “hater” but I’m so sick of the embarrassments – and this guy had been under the staff’s management for a year, and they still don’t know he’s hauling our prized freshmen out at 2:30 AM?
I am so tired of writing, “I really like Richt as a man, but he’s just not a great coach.”
Why not cut ties with this guy, who can’t control his players, and who can, not only win big games, but gets blown out or gets embarrassings comebacks put on his teams, because of his cautious, FG-loving style. Since about ‘08, UGA’s football program has been in the news 20-times more for arrests, suspensions, arrests, suspensions, etc, than for our prowness on the field (which has sucked too, in big games).
I’m not a Richt-hater – just sick of this never-ending mess.
With all of these players suspended and kicked off the past 12 months – destractions galore, get ready for another ‘08 disapointment.
GT
June 29th, 2012
4:53 pm
The thugs in Atlanta aren’t enrolled at Tech.
TNDAWG
June 29th, 2012
4:53 pm
I am thinking Smellmydawg may have the best line of the day: “Everytime Crowell opens his car door, the theme from Shaft starts to play”. Awesome dude!!!
mad_russian
June 29th, 2012
4:55 pm
A waste of talent that obviously never learned that you can’t rely solely upon your gifts to get you through life. Most likely it stems from the lack of parenting he’s received because he just can’t stay out of trouble. There goes your potential NFL career you dolt. A professional team is going to balk at the potential media disasters you’ll create. What a complete failure.
Mel from SW Atlanta
June 29th, 2012
4:55 pm
LOSERS, man. We don’t need no stinkin’ LOSERS, we need some WINNERS! Fire em’ all.
Always over-rated...
June 29th, 2012
4:55 pm
always over-hyped. But never a disappointment to Clarke County Jail.
Bogey
June 29th, 2012
4:57 pm
Goodbye, good luck and good riddance.
Jerry
June 29th, 2012
4:57 pm
This should end the Mark Richt era. He is a phony who would sell his soul to win a football game. Isiah is his kind of player. UGA deserves better representation than this.
SSIgator
June 29th, 2012
4:57 pm
50 arrests in four years -
Well, you know the Mark “I can win games – just not the big games” Richt motto:
It is the Georgia Way
UA Grad
June 29th, 2012
4:57 pm
So sorry to hear of this bad news for Georgia. These kids are out of control….and it’s everywhere not just in Athens, GA.
What is this world coming to? Please forgive me mentioning my faith, but as a devout Catholic, I believe we need to pray for our world, and somebody……A father, uncle, grandfather, or coach needs to whip somebody’s a** in shape. I think that is the root cause of all this crap……the lack of a strong, positive man in the home. That and the Army worked for me.
Sorry to preach.
Joey
June 29th, 2012
4:58 pm
Maybe it is the time for Mark Richt to dispense with the hugs of his signees, and maybe give them a firm handshake.
I haven’t seen so many hugs between men since Urban and Tim . . .
heeldawg
June 29th, 2012
4:59 pm
Richt just announced that Crowell was dismissed from the team. He’s gone. Time to move on.
twilightmike
June 29th, 2012
5:00 pm
Agreed.
Bob
June 29th, 2012
5:01 pm
The Longest Yard will be remade soon in the Ga. State Pen. GOOOO DOGGIES!
Easy Breezey
June 29th, 2012
5:03 pm
Someone needs to tell Richt is 2012 and he AINT in Tallahassee.
The Truth
June 29th, 2012
5:03 pm
Crowell is the definition of a turd. Lazy, overrated, and dumber than a bag of yellow hammers. Next stop – Reidsville State Prision.
HardTruth Here
June 29th, 2012
5:03 pm
First lets get this straight, Isn’t a man suppose to be given a trial before he’s thrown to the wolves? This is a young kid people, who if found innocent of this will probably get the biggest scare of his life.He better hope these two freshmen along with Boo Malcome don’t look to good( Lets pray that doesn’t happen) or he may find himself looking at a Red shirt year. On this final note, I will saythe next Big thang coming outta Columbus needs to be thoroughly checked, not only in attitude, but with weed. Anybody remember Jasper Sanks? Same H.S. same weed problems. and that’s a huge problem!!!
SSIgator
June 29th, 2012
5:05 pm
Joey -
No one is going to call you a hater. What it sounds more like is that you are coming around to being a realist. Nothing at all wrong with that. I know it will probably take a little while to start coming down off of the Kool-Aid, but it is kind of like AA – you will feel better and have less stress in your life. Doesn’t mean that you are not being loyal in your fandom of UGA, but at least now you can do it in a more honest fashion without all of the self-deception. Good for you and good luck.
BravesFan79
June 29th, 2012
5:05 pm
What did he need the gun for?? Hes in Athens… not in Atlanta! I personally carry a .357 while working in atlanta, because in my life experience, you need a gun when working in a majority black area because they tend to be violent. Question is, what kind of black people does he surround himself with? The quality church going ones, or the dead-end wanna be thugs? There really is 2 black cultures out there, its a shame the bad gets alot more attention than the good.
The rut
June 29th, 2012
5:06 pm
My company is based in Mn. I refuse to answer my phone because of all the laughing they do at the UGA football (and Damon Evans) program. They don’t win much up there but have never had a player suspended.
Joey
June 29th, 2012
5:07 pm
It’s the UF way to not tell the public how many arrests occurred in their football program. ‘08 and ‘09 saw 23 arrests. How many in the 3 years since?
David Granger
June 29th, 2012
5:09 pm
Yep. Time to show him the door. Talented player, but doesn’t have the sense God gave biscuit dough.
UGADawg12
June 29th, 2012
5:09 pm
Has anyone even realized that the pistol is a German Luger from WORLD WAR II?!?
I feel like there might be more to this story and that this is not necessarily all on him.
urban redneck
June 29th, 2012
5:10 pm
i’m sure they’ll take him at UT. they love felons.
California Crimes Committed with Guns Bought in Georgia « The Red Clay Report
June 29th, 2012
5:10 pm
[...] head football coach Mark Richt has had enough of the talented but pain-in-the-ass Crowell and booted him off the team. Rate this:Like this:LikeBe the first to like [...]
Festus
June 29th, 2012
5:14 pm
It’s easier to gain yardage when you can pull a gun on would be tacklers. The means Super Coach Mark Richt will suspend him from the first quarter in the game with DeFry Tech. Seriously, why does a big strong jock have to defend himself with a firearm?
just sayin
June 29th, 2012
5:14 pm
I just know one of those new recruits planted that weapon in his car. Or may CMR planted it!?!?
Hamad Meander
June 29th, 2012
5:14 pm
Obviously, Mark Richt was preparing for Crowell to implode as he recruited and signed two highly touted RBs. Now, he will let Crowell walk “Because he loves him” and get these problems out of Athens.
You would think that with all that talent and Richt’s reputation on the line, he would have someone shadowing Crowell 24/7.
Baby Ruth
June 29th, 2012
5:17 pm
This kid will eventually commit a major crime and do hard time. Armed robbery or worse.
Joey
June 29th, 2012
5:17 pm
UGADawg12, who cares where the pistol came from? Just 60-70 (?) days from the start of a very promising season, he has some of the freshmen players out and about with him for who knows what at 2 or 3 in the morning.
He cares not one iota for UGA, and like a whole bunch of his former teammates, who got the boot before him, doesn’t respect his head coach.
I guess UGA isn’t gonna do anything about the head of the football program, but just kicking off the players.
Hey, another walk-on just got lucky . . .
Mark Bradley
June 29th, 2012
5:18 pm
As you may have heard, Mark Richt has dismissed Isaiah Crowell from the Georgia football team. More to come.
Baby Ruth
June 29th, 2012
5:19 pm
UGADAWG12…what an insane comment! why don’t you just go recruit down at the state pen!
Gone Fishin'
June 29th, 2012
5:21 pm
UA Grad hit nail on head….UGA has some dumb a**es but they don’t have market cornered on them. Many football players at many schools are just plain dumb and think the rules do not apply to them (probably were taught this in their high school careers).
done
June 29th, 2012
5:21 pm
He will be starting at tailback for LSU or Auburn next year
Joey
June 29th, 2012
5:22 pm
Hamad, I was scared to death of my high school football coach, a former UGA nose guard, and wouldn’t have crossed him for anything. If anybody was late for practice, you ran the stadium steps for the whole practice. If you were late twice, he kicked you off the team. If you got in trouble with grades or off campus fights or drinking, you got kicked off the team.
Why is Richt not getting through to his players?
Roll Money
June 29th, 2012
5:23 pm
A highly touted recruit who knows both M Richt and N Saban was recently quoted regarding the difference in these coaches personalities. He was quoted as saying how nice M Richt is and how N Saban is “strictly buisness and maybe a little intimidating”.
Now, which one works best in the recriuting process?
Gone Fishin'
June 29th, 2012
5:23 pm
I don’t think the ‘Barn wants any more trouble out of their football team after what went on this summer……..
01HAWK
June 29th, 2012
5:25 pm
At 5 p.m. Friday, Georgia coach Mark Richt announced that Isaiah Crowell has been dismissed from the squad. More to come.
I would assume this means he is no longer a part of the team and the University.
His best bet is to go to JUCO and then start the recruiting process all over again.
It would be better than transferring and having to sit out a year.
Pat
June 29th, 2012
5:25 pm
and I am a life long (I’m 65) DAWG!!!!!
Gone Fishin'
June 29th, 2012
5:25 pm
Tell it like it is, Pat!
Tman
June 29th, 2012
5:25 pm
@ FLOUDER, come on man particularly in the South?
kerryb
June 29th, 2012
5:26 pm
Pack your bags dumba**. Don’t let the door hit you where the lord split you. Let’s send Harrow back with him. He apparently was in the car too leading our you Freshman astray that just walked on campus 2 weeks ago.
hashbrown dawg
June 29th, 2012
5:28 pm
Ted M
June 29th, 2012
1:08 pm
The real question…what did Crowell need the stolen gun for?
******************************************
now that is a silly question. they were on their way to the gt campus to have some ‘fun’ with the gt students.
most of the crime on campus is more likely than not committed by uga thugs visiting the big city.
Janitor Man
June 29th, 2012
5:28 pm
Dot dat eye Isaiha
Glory Between the Hedges
June 29th, 2012
5:30 pm
Enter your comments here
its 08 all over again....and
June 29th, 2012
5:30 pm
WE’RE GONNA WIN THE NC!!!!
yeah, right. so sick of this broken record.
GTBob
June 29th, 2012
5:30 pm
Well, he had a pretty good career.
kerryb
June 29th, 2012
5:30 pm
He and Harrow can ride together in his 2005 Grand Marquis with the big 22 wheels on it back to Columbus.