UGA QB Mettenberger arrested in South Georgia (UPDATED)
Zach Mettenberger, a candidate to be the University of Georgia’s starting quarterback in the fall, was arrested on five misdemeanor charges over the weekend in the South Georgia town of Remerton.
Mettenberger, 18, was charged with underage consumption/possession of alcohol, disorderly conduct, obstruction and two counts of possessing fake identification, Remerton Police Chief Mike Terrell told the AJC.
The police report, obtained by the AJC, does not provide details about the circumstances surrounding Mettenberger’s arrest at 1:39 a.m. Sunday at the Flip Flops bar in Remerton, which is near Valdosta.
“I don’t have much available right now,” Terrell said in an e-mail. “We are still investigating the circumstances that led to his arrest.”
Mettenberger was transported to the Lowndes County Jail, according to the police report. He later was released on bond. He has a court date scheduled for April 27.
Under UGA Athletic Association policy, a conviction on an alcohol-related charge would mean a mandatory suspension of at least one game. Georgia’s season opener is Sept. 4 against Louisiana-Lafayette.
Mettenberger, from Oconee County, is one of three contenders for Georgia’s starting quarterback job. Rated the No. 11 quarterback prospect in the nation by Rivals.com in 2008, Mettenberger was redshirted as a UGA freshman last season and began spring practice last week in competition with Aaron Murray and Logan Gray to succeed the graduated Joe Cox as the starter.
The arrest came early in UGA’s spring break, which runs through this week. The football team is not scheduled to resume practice until March 16.
A UGA spokesman said coach Mark Richt was aware of Mettenberger’s situation and will be getting more information on the matter. Richt is out of town and would have no immediate comment, the spokesman said.
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617 comments Add your comment
Tom
March 8th, 2010
7:06 pm
It would have been more understandable if he got arrested in Athens. But he’s from Oconee County, what was he doing in Valdosta? I guess he figured he could get away with it.
Yes, how shocking a college kid was picked up for underage drinking. How many times have college kids done that? They might as well change the legal age to 18. Everyone does it before 21.
What were u thinking dude
Borodawg
March 8th, 2010
7:21 pm
Not a cool move on Mett’s part. But, it has nothing to do with CMR’s attitude toward or enforcement of discipline. Yall know good and well he’s preached to the players and they’ve even had ‘classes’ on how to act, etc. Unfortunate as this episode is, it doesn’t tarnish the team, CMR, nor UGA. There’ll be hundreds of students arrested during the next couple weeks…from all colleges; cept maybe BYU.
But, as has been suggested, Mett will probably be suspended for the first game; which will take him out of starter contention for at least half the season.
underdog
March 8th, 2010
7:41 pm
if u can go 2 war at 18 and die then u should be able 2 drink at 18
chazzo
March 8th, 2010
7:45 pm
Personally, anything outside of IV drug use or smoking crack is completely expected. It is spring break for crying out loud.
Chronos
March 8th, 2010
7:46 pm
Well, at least if things don’t work out in football he can fall back on that UGA degree………
FL Dawg
March 8th, 2010
7:53 pm
The kid knowingly broke the rules and should be punished for it. The police and the court system will handle much of the work. Richt and UGA will handle the rest of it. He will have to pay the price. There is an Athletic Department rule concerning underage drinking and he will be suspended for the first game. In addition, I am sure he will have to run and perform several community service acts in addition to any punishment handed out by the courts. From my vantage point, he will suffer more severely than most, and that should be enough. If Richt and UGA think he should be kicked off the team, then I am sure that is what will happen. In any event, he will not be the starting QB for the season and therefore, Murray and Gray will have a huge advantage over Mettenberger.
Lord of the Lizards
March 8th, 2010
8:10 pm
Oh, and one more question, totally unrelated…. Is there a bigger dickweed than Paul Finebaum??? He’s got to be the Lane Kiffin of sports radio.
Lowcountry Dawg
March 8th, 2010
8:16 pm
I used to be stationed at Moody AFB in Valdosta. They told everyone if you go to Remerton, BEWARE! It’s only about as big as your living room, but the cops there are ALWAYS out at the bars getting folks for underage drinking.
I think I don’t want our future starting QB making these kind of decisions. I mean if he’s going to do this off the field, what the heck will happen on the field?
UGASlobberknocker
March 8th, 2010
8:24 pm
If drinking a beer at age 20 is a crime, then most reading this were criminals in their youth.
Forget about it .
If 18 is old enough to go to war and maybe die, then it should be old enough to drink a beer.
Señora Weeb
March 8th, 2010
8:45 pm
Mettenberger obviously doesn’t learn very well. Send him back home to cry to his mama about how unfair life is.
What a jerk. And to think he could have been the QB this year. Not any more. Better to learn about the guy now than six months from now.
Buckhead Bulldog
March 8th, 2010
8:48 pm
I bet that was on loooooong drive from Valdosta to Athens after his Dad bailed him out. Ouch! Poor guy, but hopefully the knucklehead learned his lesson.
Buckhead Bulldog
March 8th, 2010
8:50 pm
Señora Weeb: STFU you fricking moron L O S E R!
Chronos
March 8th, 2010
8:57 pm
Buckhead Bulldog, based on your comment we know who is a loser.
CatsFly
March 8th, 2010
9:00 pm
If you think that’s naughty, you shudda seen what Becky and I did at her aunt’s house when she (her aunt) was out of town one summer while we were in Jr. High. Believe me, it was more fun than drinking beer, which I have done of plenty of as well. Heck the kid is lucky, Becky’s daddy would have killled me if he caught us.
Since Vince
March 8th, 2010
9:13 pm
What the hell is wrong with these clowns in Athens? Last year we had a player inappropriately touching a woman’s pregnant belly and also players with driving license issues. Just no respect for the law you clowns.
Festus
March 8th, 2010
9:20 pm
AWWWW Shucks youins jist need a coach lykes Sabeen to jerk a knot in them thare tails. Them thare boys ort not a be a dranking in them thare one horse towns. Stupid Stupid Stupid…..
A College Guy Drinks Beer- Shocking??
March 8th, 2010
9:35 pm
Geez, UGA starting to sound like Florida with the off-the-field problems–ha ha.
Big L
March 8th, 2010
10:02 pm
This would’nt be a big deal if the university did’nt take a hit too. Kids drink on spring break, ain’t gonna change. But media blame the coaches and the university for kids stupidity. He just needs a small suspension and a few PR classes.
Anonymous 'Cos
March 8th, 2010
10:13 pm
To all Dawg fans…
Tired of “fans” of other colleges on our website with all their trash talk? None of which is neither enlightening nor on topic. Me too. That’s why i found the following link to be of such interesting and laughable reading. Visit and enjoy yourself, and next time you are on this website reading some Alabama/Florida/LSU/etc. fan’s crap, you may just laugh too. Go Dawgs…
Anonymous 'Cos
March 8th, 2010
10:15 pm
Sorry…the link :
http://bleacherreport.com/articles/356523-top-ten-college-football-programs-with-the-most-rude-and-arrogant-fans#page/12
UGASUXS:
March 8th, 2010
10:17 pm
UGA QB hopeful Zach Mettenberger was busted for underage drinking. Welcome to the spotlight. The same ole crappy UGA stuff. Way to go! I still say that next year, UGAG wins it all……………………..in gymnastics. LMFAO! LOSERVILLE
Anonymous 'Cos
March 8th, 2010
10:21 pm
For a perfect example of what i am talking about, see posting above by some poor fellow thinking we care he actually had a thought and decided to share it with us for some reason. bless his little heart…
Mike P
March 8th, 2010
10:25 pm
I didn’t read all of the comments because they bore me. An 18 year old hot-shot drinking? My goodness, what is next? Sex? Lord! They just said he was drinking, not drunk. I have a gut feeling more than half of all of you “Dawg” fans never attended college for a single day…but hey! That is cool. The world needs fork-lift drivers too. Nothing wrong with that. I am from Birmingham and went to school at U of A when Bear Bryant coached. Even met him a few times. Alabama is back, so get used to it. They cheat no more than any other major college, and I assure you they all pretty much cheat. Even the ones with records such as Michigan. See you “Dawg” fans this fall!
Anonymous 'Cos
March 8th, 2010
10:28 pm
And yet another anti dawg fan posting here above. See what i mean. He should read the article since its about him and his family. More examples to come, this is for sure.
Mike P
March 8th, 2010
10:36 pm
‘Cos…I read the article, just not all the comments. Perhaps a literacy class would be a good investment for you.
JerryBamaStudent
March 8th, 2010
10:44 pm
ha its so funny how all these people act like it is such an atrocity and that this kid is a horrible person and leader. Yeah, he definitely F’ed up BIG TIME, but if are one of those people who are giving this college kid a really hard time about it, then you obviously did not attend college or maybe you didn’t go out enough.
Because a nice portion of college kids and especially athletes like to have a great time, it is just matter of getting caught and unfortunately he got caught in the worst place on earth (remerton). I have been pulled over there TWICE and checked for DUIs..fortunately i was not drinking both times. All my friends say that place is a trap, I’m guessing someone didn’t warn him properly warn this guy.
Anonymous 'Cos
March 8th, 2010
10:44 pm
Mike,
You don’t need to read the comments, you need only to ask yourself the following question in order to get my point : “If i’m NOT a Georgia Bulldog fan, then for the love of God why am i not only on a Georgia Bulldog fan website, but also taking the time to blog with total garbage and negativity? How’s my grammar? Or should i talk “redneck” to you so you may understand my point?
JerryBamaStudent
March 8th, 2010
10:45 pm
ha its so funny how all these people act like it is such an atrocity and that this kid is a horrible person and leader. Yeah, he definitely F’ed up BIG TIME, but if are one of those people who are giving this college kid a really hard time about it, then you obviously did not attend college or maybe you didn’t go out enough.
Because a nice portion of college kids and especially athletes like to have a great time, it is just matter of getting caught and unfortunately he got caught in the worst place on earth (remerton). I have been pulled over there TWICE and checked for DUIs..fortunately i was not drinking both times. All my friends say that place is a trap, I’m guessing someone didn’t warn him.
Anonymous 'Cos
March 8th, 2010
10:48 pm
Better yet Mike, i’ll take a “literacy class”(????) if you go to your fan’s website and leave us Bulldog fans to ours. Deal?
JeffBNYC
March 8th, 2010
10:50 pm
I’m sorry but how stupid can you be… you are in line to possibly become the starting QB for one of the nation’s top programs and you do this? Hope that night out was worth it for him, cause his career at UGA as far as I’m concerned is over.
Alabama... Really????
March 8th, 2010
10:51 pm
Why don’t you Alabama folks worry about a functional economy, paving your roads, and removing the 40+ year stigma of George Wallace. Reflect on that the next time you drive to Atlanta for a flight because the world doesn’t know or care where Birminham is located. You’re reading the Atlanta paper from your home in Georgia I presume because their is no industry to speak of in Alabama. Get a clue.
As far as that crown of the state of Alabama…..the Bama football program. In the last 10 years………Mike Dubose, Mike Price, Denis Franchione, Mike Shula……….just stop. Assault Weapons, Larceny, Theft, Assault………you know glass houses and stuff.
Give me a break
Marie
March 8th, 2010
10:51 pm
Zach was in Valdosta for the VSU spring game – hanging out with some high school teammates.
Will Dawg
March 8th, 2010
10:58 pm
Mike P Alabama is back alright back to the rest of the pack once probation and a NFL team scoops up Saban. Enjoy the year on top.
BREAKING NEWS…..Auburn turns in Saban for recruiting violations…film at 11
Go Dawgs!!!
Will Dawg
March 8th, 2010
11:00 pm
Great post Alabama Really?
Joe Namath and Ken Stabler
March 8th, 2010
11:00 pm
Most of your bloggers on this site are too young to know much of anything. I supect most are urban punks that stay with in screaming range of mommy’s purse and have never, ever attended a major university and graduated. Period. If you did not go away to college, then you have nothing that is applicable to say in this matter.
Anyway, Joe Namath and Ken Stabler, both Alabama QBs AND NFL GREATS …………..GREATS AT BAMA AND NFL, were drunks. BOTH were benched at one time or other by Bear Bryant and if correct, Namath MISSED the Cootn Bowl vs Texas for the NC.
This is only ONE example young people, about college jocks.
Young people ……………….this has nothing to do with anything beyond being, selfish, young and dumb.
Namath and Stabler were both as guilty at Zack. They both did allright in the end.
Get a life. Get a life …………the more your bad mouth CMR and UGA, the more we know that you too are young ands dumb and without a college experience.
Go Dogs.
Dawgs-r-peterlickers
March 8th, 2010
11:08 pm
Why Zack You just proved that your a true Dawg. Too bad You got caught, but by the time your a soph, you’ll be good enough at this law-breaking that you won’t get caught.
Of A Superior Bloodline = UGA Alumni
March 8th, 2010
11:57 pm
Zech got caught, just like thousands of college kids do every night. I’m sure he will deal with the consequences and move on. I just hope his lack of judgment is used as a teaching point and example to the rest of the team. It’s funny how these fans from various teams come in here and criticise or players for getting arrested for parking tickets, jay-walking and drinking yet their players are getting arrested for armed robbery, cocaine dealing, or suspended for selling the books they received on scholarship. Keep up the smack talking because UGA is going to dominate for the next 3 years! See you in December BAMA!
HIGHTIDE
March 8th, 2010
11:58 pm
hey bama watch out these GA. folks will spell-check you in a hurry,its all they are good at, besides drinking under age and dancing on the sidelines
Of A Superior Bloodline = UGA Alumni
March 9th, 2010
12:08 am
HIGHTIDE: Were also preety good and G-stomping BAMA during the Mark Richt era!
Of A Superior Bloodline = UGA Alumni
March 9th, 2010
12:09 am
Sorry, that’s at stomping Bama!
BuLLdawg
March 9th, 2010
3:18 am
I watched Alabama. They lined up and I thought to myself in such a pressure situation, will they jump ? Sure can’t have a penalty here. And, they did not. And, they won.
I have watched my beloved Georgia Bulldogs Football Program NOT LAST YEAR, but the last 4 years in a row AVERAGE # 96 in the nation in penalties.
I have also in the last 4 years watched us go 1-3 vs Florida, 1-3 vs the vols, 2-2 vs Kentucky and 10-10 vs just The SEC East.
We’ve lost 14 games the last 4 years.
Other than just only last year, we also led the nation in arrests/suspensions.
We once again don’t have a QB ready and in fact have 3 freshmen QBs and 1 guy been here now 4 years who the coaches want to move to WR but he doesn’t want to go to WR and he also just last Friday criticized the Offensive Coaching Staff at UGA for not having competition for the QB job last year, not this year.
We have stayed in the press for arrests/suspensions, and not just all little junk, either. We have had 100 arrests/suspensions in the Coach Richt Era already. Except for last year, it has been every year.
We have stayed in the press for penalties, ones detailed above that cost us in the loss to LSU, the loss to Oklahoma State to name games lost where we gave them touchdowns, just gave them to them.
And, we stop ourselves on Offense, and put ourselves in silly holes for drives.
We have lost 8 games to teams not ranked in the Top 25 Final AP Poll the year we lost to them. Oklahoma State is 1 of those 8.
We have not coached the offense well. Any player analysis of who starts and who is behind them or redshirted instead, just jumps out at you.
Spring Break and a guy everyone figures is the back-up to the other guy who has had injuries both of the last 2 years already, has 5 charges against him.
I have no idea how a blog can be written about discipline, leave out the losses to Oklahoma State to begin the season and to LSU to ruin the season, and not correlate the penalties to the arrests/suspensions (other than just only the 1 year last year), and not say we have a problem. In fact, say we don’t.
You do allude to the fact that when we are not in the press for penalties at the alarming rate of # 96 Average NCAA Rank the last 4 years with 14 losses and only 10-10 vs SEC East teams and arrests/suspensions which other than last year have been an average over 10 a year, that we are in the press for fumbles 21 per year the last 4 years in a row, and in the press for 14 interceptions per year every year for the last 4 years as well.
Maybe you can say, let’s not talk about last year, but we have 3 freshmen quarterbacks with all their mistakes coming as we have once again not prepared our quarterbacks.
Indeed, not prepared anybody for anything.
And, this has been a problem at least for 4 years in a row now. And, in arrests/suspensions all 10 years of the Coach Richt Era except for last year.
And, we are losing to teams we should beat 8 losses to unranked teams not in the Top 25 Final AP Poll the year we lost to them in the Coach Richt Era.
And, we are not beating the good teams, losing 8 of 11 vs teams ranked in the Top 10 of the Final AP Poll the year we played them winning only 3 of 11 in the Coach Richt Era.
And, we have a losing record to the Top 25 teams in the Final AP Poll the year we played them too at 17-19 in the Coach Richt Era.
We are NOT Florida State of the 1990’s.
We are an undisciplined group of players, have been, continue to be, and pardon me, we are in Decline. You cannot ignore all the bad press.
Our problem is not that Zach Mettenberger has 2 fake ids, gets into it with the police in South Georgia on the Florida line, and at 18 is drinking at a bar with friends. Our problem is that it is heaped upon us when he is getting most press he could ever imagine, as our back-up QB to a guy who has had several injuries the previous 2 years, for a team who really cannot afford any more bad press.
We’ve got problems.
And, Coach Richt should have already said he’s suspended for the first 6 games.
If you think this does not affect our football program, think again.
2 felonies 2 fake ids.
Rocky Topper
March 9th, 2010
5:51 am
an embarrassment to the entire SEC! glad you guys have this thug!
Rocky Topper
March 9th, 2010
5:57 am
CatsFly
March 8th, 2010
9:00 pm
“If you think that’s naughty, you shudda seen what Becky and I did at her aunt’s house when she (her aunt) was out of town one summer while we were in Jr. High. Believe me, it was more fun than drinking beer, which I have done of plenty of as well. Heck the kid is lucky, Becky’s daddy would have killled me if he caught us.”
Actually, that wasn’t Becky; it was Becky’s brother!
Hip Hop Thuga
March 9th, 2010
6:32 am
Dont fret all is not lost. I understand this kid has been improving his foot work and this should carry over to show off his skills by dancing on the sidelines !!! But still this guy is STUPID.
Gator Nation
March 9th, 2010
6:35 am
First of all, I don’t think this kid is a thug or even a bad kid. He was being young, irresponsible and foolish. And above all, selfish. Alot of us have been there, haven’t we?? But what I find most interesting is the hypocrisy of the Georgia fans. While they want to make a thousand excuses for the kid’s behaivor, I gaurantee that if this had been a Vol or a Gator that they would be jumping all over this kid AND his coach and calling them all kinds of names. Heck, he wouldn’t even had to have done something wrong…he could have just had a concussion or something. And yes, I read that little Bleacher Report article link from a few posts ago. And how a fanbase that barks in your face, uses foul language that would make a sailor blush with a 68 year old lady present and tries to pick fights in parking lots is not in the top 2 or 3…I’ll never know.
David
March 9th, 2010
6:42 am
Rockytopper,
how soon your pea brain forgets about your thugs that tried to commit armed robbery…
Festus
March 9th, 2010
6:43 am
What we haive hears is jist a total lacks of respecs for the Law. This kid was bumpin his gums baick at the offercer. Seems to mee this kid is a spoiled brait.
bamaguy
March 9th, 2010
6:43 am
I have never understood why a college student on an athletic scholarship is expected to act any differently than one on a academic scholarship or, for that matter, any other student. What percentage of the student body at UGA (or Alabama, or GT, or UT, etc.) have a fake ID so they can get into a bar?
What these guys have to understand is that they are, for better or for worse, watched more closely than other students. I wonder how many college students get arrested for DUI in Georgia per week. And if that behavior makes you a “thug”, then Fraternity Row is Thug Central.
David
March 9th, 2010
6:51 am
Gator Nation,
I’m certain I have run into the same situation you are referring to with gator fans, heck all other SEC schools for that matter. Yeah, we bark….we are bulldawgs, what do you expect. Unfortunately, a few bad apples make everyone else look bad.
Beardawg
March 9th, 2010
7:02 am
Hey Alabama, Georgia called and they want their players back. They must be thugs so you should send them back immediately and never recruit in this state again.