Richt: King’s 2-game suspension reflects tougher penalties for arrests
(Updated 4 p.m.)
ATHENS — Caleb King, Georgia’s starting tailback in both of its victories this season, won’t play in the next two games because of his arrest for failure to appear in court to address a speeding ticket.
Coach Mark Richt on Tuesday suspended King for the two games, saying he hopes the punishment teaches a lesson to the tailback and other players.
In years past, a case such as King’s might have drawn a shorter suspension, if any at all. But with King the 11th UGA football player arrested this year, Richt acknowledged the two-game ban reflects a tougher approach to punishing players for off-field incidents.
“Oh yeah, no doubt about it,” Richt said. “But they knew that.”
King won’t play in Saturday’s home game against Vanderbilt or the Oct. 23 game at Kentucky. He’ll return for the Oct. 30 game against Florida in Jacksonville.
The 11 Georgia players arrested this year, on charges ranging from battery to public intoxication, have drawn varying penalties from Richt. Four of the players were dismissed from the team. Another decided to transfer after being suspended for six games. Three others got one-game suspensions.
The latest suspension came one day after King was arrested by Athens-Clarke County Police on a bench warrant issued by a judge in nearby Walton County. The warrant was for failing to appear at an August court date regarding a June speeding ticket, which cited King for traveling 76 miles per hour in a 55-mph zone on Highway 78.
“I expect all our players to take care of their responsibilities on and off the field,” Richt said. “When players don’t do that, it damages the reputation of the player, our team and our university. My goal is for Caleb to learn a lesson and for other players to learn from his experience.”
King’s penalty was double that drawn by fellow tailback Washaun Ealey, who was suspended for one game –- the season-opening victory over Louisiana-Lafayette –- after his late-August arrest for hit-and-run of a parked vehicle and driving with a suspended license. At the time of Ealey’s arrest, there also was a bench warrant against him for failure to appear in court on speeding and vehicle registration charges.
Asked if King’s stiffer penalty reflects a tougher standard, Richt said: “Yes sir.” Asked if it reflects a need to send a message, Richt said: “Obviously.”
Although Richt emphasized that each player “has a responsibility to do the right thing,” the coach said he and athletic director Greg McGarity are having “an ongoing conversation” about ways to reduce the off-field problems. “I really have a lot of confidence that [McGarity] has some good ideas in that regard,” Richt said.
Already, Richt said, his staff is periodically checking to make sure players’ driver’s licenses are in good standing. “We’ve been doing that monthly,” he said, “but now we are going to do it weekly.”
Richt said, however, that it would be almost impossible for the staff to know when a bench warrant is issued for a player’s failure to handle a traffic ticket, as in the King case. “You basically would have to get in contact with every single county in the state of Georgia on a daily basis to find out if something like that popped up,” Richt said.
Several players said the team is well aware that off-field problems will have serious consequences.
“Enough has happened that I think the team is tired of it, the coaching staff is tired of it and the athletic director and everyone associated with the University of Georgia is [too],” quarterback Aaron Murray said. “We definitely have seen a little too much of everything that is going on. We’ve just got to be smart as a team … on and off the field.”
Said wide receiver Tavarres King: “Everybody knows at this point in time, if you get in trouble, you’re going to get a pretty good lashing.”
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842 comments Add your comment
catlady
October 12th, 2010
12:03 pm
Predictable, but wrong. 3 crimes: wreckless driving (over 20 mph over speed limit), failure to appear, driving with a suspended license. How on earth can Richt justify any of that? Remember, he has been in trouble before, folks.
Inexcusable.
Let the Big Dawg Eat
October 12th, 2010
12:03 pm
Caleb suspended? Say it ain’t so!
athenian
October 12th, 2010
12:03 pm
Actually, the real problem for King is not the two game suspension against the sec bottom feeders. The problem is he can get 30 days jail time for failing to appear…it is not “just a speeding ticket”. 30 days would pretty much take care of the season.
red&black
October 12th, 2010
12:04 pm
I’m so stupid
ConantheLibrarian
October 12th, 2010
12:04 pm
AJC’s next headline:
Several UGA football players have torn off the tags of pillows in their dorm rooms. What will Richt do?
PMC
October 12th, 2010
12:04 pm
Maybe he’ll go pro like Danny Ware.
gdawginkalamazoo
October 12th, 2010
12:05 pm
Fair enough punishment. Maybe this Malcome kid comes in and sets the field on fire (literally speaking) nothing like arson or anything.
Mel
October 12th, 2010
12:06 pm
Getting arrested is getting arrested. These young men ought to know by now they are responsible for their actions and actions have consequences. You get arrested, you should be kicked off the team. Maybe then they would stop getting arrested.
johnny fontane
October 12th, 2010
12:07 pm
76 in a 55 zone, that’s the most speed that he has shown all year.
PCDawg
October 12th, 2010
12:07 pm
Is it true that CK’s jersey will be changed from #4 to a jail/prison #?
Over the PA System….Now starting at TB, #6357468 CK !!!
Dawg Gone
October 12th, 2010
12:07 pm
Caleb was not suspended for the ticket. He was suspended becuase he blew off court and paying the fine. If CMR really wanted to clean things up, he would have suspended King for three games…through Florida. That would send a clear message that irresponsible behavior will not be tolerated. A suspension for KY and Vandy just shows that Richt is only willing to punish him to the extent he can do so without harming the team’s record.
G8tr h8tr
October 12th, 2010
12:07 pm
RxDawg, You are correct. These AJC writers will sensationalize anything UGA just to get blog hits and thus sell advertising. This offense is not even close to the alcohol-related arrests or Fla’s Rainey, UT’s bar brawl, etc
Jeff
October 12th, 2010
12:07 pm
Thanks Coach!!! Great message you have sent. You can get arresed TWICE and still be on the team. My money is done suppoorting this CRAP
gators eat little dawgies
October 12th, 2010
12:08 pm
It speaks about the character issues UGA has. UGA players think they are above the rules and better than having to comply. i guess the quality athletes with character go elsewhere and the self centered, low character athletes go to UGA. It shows on the field.
Dead MIke
October 12th, 2010
12:09 pm
Bring back Donnan!
trey
October 12th, 2010
12:09 pm
This was appropriate punishment for King.
How many games did Robert Hall get suspended for beating his girlfriend to near death? One wasn’t it? Looks like the standard is one game for assault and two games for a speeding ticket.
Scott
October 12th, 2010
12:10 pm
All King had to do is go to my website and avoid the speeding ticket all together!! Check it out. (Stealthcountermeasures.com) Go Dawgs!!
Tom
October 12th, 2010
12:10 pm
Wait a minute, all this gal needed to do to get her $500 back is go to CMR and tell HIM what was going on……assuming she goes to ballgames, she’s a booster.
CMR would HAVE to make CK pay her back, and report the loan to the SEC and NCAA and apply to have CK’s eligibility reinstated.
Oh, you say she did go to CMR and did get paid back?
But that all that other stuff (reporting to the conference, NCAA, etc….) didn’t happen?
Interesting.
Kickoff Zone College Football Blog » Breaking NCAA College Football News: UGA RB Caleb King Suspended 2 Games
October 12th, 2010
12:10 pm
[...] Coach Mark Richt has suspended RB for two games following his arrest this last weekend. From the AJC’s Tim Tucker: ATHENS — Tailback Caleb King won’t play in Georgia’s next two games as a result of his arrest [...]
Blackberry Cobbler
October 12th, 2010
12:12 pm
UK is not a “creampuff”.
UGA’s chances of winning that game are 50/50 at best.
dogfan
October 12th, 2010
12:12 pm
why 2 games? this is not his first arrest since he has been at UGA.
no change from Coach and the Adm.
Barack Obama
October 12th, 2010
12:12 pm
Yes we can change the UGA football program
Mike
October 12th, 2010
12:12 pm
Hey coach Richt, Braves need you.
Coach Meyer
October 12th, 2010
12:12 pm
2 games? Are you kidding me? I would have at least made him run 2 laps around the field and than made him team captain!
Arrested Development
October 12th, 2010
12:12 pm
Georgia’s new athletic director concurred with Mark Richt’s decision to dismiss Demetre Baker from the football team after the freshman linebacker’s arrest early Sunday. “When Mark talked to me about it, I was fully supportive of his recommendation,” McGarity said. Asked if this reflects a new zero-tolerance approach to arrests on the football team, McGarity said: “It’s up to the coaches, but yeah, I think Mark has had enough. And he’s made it very clear to the players what is expected.”
Scott
October 12th, 2010
12:12 pm
For any Dawgs fans who need a break, of avoiding those crazy speeding tickets, just check us out. ( http://www.stealthcountermeasures.com/apps/videos/videos/show/10362094-no-more-speeding-tickets-
Go Dawgs
do-dah do-dah
October 12th, 2010
12:13 pm
RxDawg The outside pressure you refer to is most definitely coming from the President and the AD- not the trolls. Wise up.
gdawginkalamazoo
October 12th, 2010
12:13 pm
G8tr h8tr, thanks not ripping the kid and for keeping this in perspective.
Dawg Gone, in case you haven’t watched UGA football lately the suspension for the Kentucky game is pretty hefty. We haven’t played KY all that well and need everything we can throw at them.
Anybody got the news on this Malcome kid?
Vick=Dog killing thug
October 12th, 2010
12:14 pm
So he will miss the Vanderbilt and Kentucky games and be back for the Florida game when UGA actually needs him. Wow, that is some really stern discipline Mark.
GTBob you are truly an idiot.
So what should CMR do? Pick the hardest games of the year for the suspension. He suspended for the next two games regardless of whom we play. Pretty hefty price tag for a non paid speeding ticket.
Please don’t post anymore on this blog. Thanks
5150 P.O.A.D
October 12th, 2010
12:14 pm
RxDawg I hope you are not my or my family members RX because you are stupid. Caleb would have to drive one of the cars back to campus; therefore, the cop has every right to see if the driver has a valid driver license.
Coach Meyer
October 12th, 2010
12:15 pm
PCDawg – no that is not true and not funny at all. Now leave this Blog for 30 minutes for being a moron.
Mark Richt
October 12th, 2010
12:15 pm
What do you people want me to do? Discipline these kids everytime one get aressted? I think you are asking a little to much.
jtdawg
October 12th, 2010
12:16 pm
ATL BUZZ -
giving it up, packing it in and going home is unique to the North Avenue Trade Schoolers in this state….
… especially the packing it in part…
11 Arrests 2 Wins
October 12th, 2010
12:16 pm
BS!! It just depends on if you are a starter on this band of thugs!! Won’t be long before #12!!!
Tom
October 12th, 2010
12:16 pm
Anybody know who paid CK’s loan back to this gal?
yo in Ath town
October 12th, 2010
12:16 pm
A man was murdered in athens while the police were busy arresting a football player for not paying a speeding ticket??? Sounds like the police in Athens should be fired. I think its time for an investagation in the police in athens.UGA and ACPD
Coach Meyer
October 12th, 2010
12:17 pm
Tom – your mom
McDawg
October 12th, 2010
12:17 pm
so much for the 1000 yd season
jtdawg
October 12th, 2010
12:18 pm
Fair punishment.
Should be on probation now. Another screwup will get him dismissed, and rightfully so. It was a speeding ticket, not tresspassing and theft…
Arrested Development
October 12th, 2010
12:18 pm
From the A.D., Georgia’s new athletic director concurred with Mark Richt’s decision to dismiss Demetre Baker from the football team after the freshman linebacker’s arrest early Sunday. “When Mark talked to me about it, I was fully supportive of his recommendation,” McGarity said. Asked if this reflects a new zero-tolerance approach to arrests on the football team, McGarity said: “It’s up to the coaches, but yeah, I think Mark has had enough. And he’s made it very clear to the players what is expected.”
McDawg
October 12th, 2010
12:19 pm
BOOOOOOOOOOOOO-take off the redshirt
Arrested Development
October 12th, 2010
12:19 pm
And getting arrested for DUI and not paying a speeding ticket is equal! He should have been kicked off the team.
Dawgless
October 12th, 2010
12:19 pm
[quote]
MIke,
USC only has to lose 2 more with one being to the Gators. UGA could run the table and UF only lose to UGA leaving a three way tie for the East. The tie-breaker would go to the highest ranked team in the BCS. There’s a pretty good chance UGA would have surpassed both UF and USC by that time. As crazy as it sounds, UGA still has a chance to win the East. [/quote}
OMG, this is the funniest thing I’ve read to date. Are you serious? You really think after what you’ve seen so far that UGA can run the table? LOL They beat a terrible UT team and people have them possibly winning the East. This is great stuff.
Bob
October 12th, 2010
12:19 pm
If I remember correctly he was riding a scooter in 2007. He may not have known that some counties still issue warrants for not showing up for a ticket, most just turn them in to the state to suspend the license. Either way I am going to make sure my tag light is working before I go back to Athens.
Mark Richt
October 12th, 2010
12:19 pm
yo in Ath town
Over 1600 people die in car accidents on GEORGIA ROADS every year because of of things like SPEEDING. How many do you think are murdered every year? Its a lot less than 1600
GTBob
October 12th, 2010
12:19 pm
Vick, he should kick him off the team like he did the last player who got arrested. If he really wants to clean up the program then he needs to stop with the slap on the wrist punishments. He has supposedly addressed this with the team several times, and there was supposedly a new zero tolerance policy in place. None of that mattered to King, and apparently none of that ever existed.
NORRIS
October 12th, 2010
12:19 pm
He shouldnt have been suspended at all. If he thought that he was in trouble with the law then why would he show up to pick up the vehicle from the police in the first place. He was apparently told that this was taken care of and he didnt know that it was outstanding. Apparently he is being punished for all the misbehavior of everyone else. Be that as it may, he should have checked up on his ticket himself.
WE EMBARRASS
October 12th, 2010
12:19 pm
THIS STATE
JDW
October 12th, 2010
12:20 pm
The punishment should fit the offense. In this case CMR has more than met that standard. Some of you people need to get a bit of perspective on life. The kid got two traffic tickets.
Question?
October 12th, 2010
12:20 pm
Aren’t the players that are staying out of trouble getting tired of this? I would think they are about fed up.