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
David Pollack
October 12th, 2010
2:29 pm
Yo Odell why cant you love Jesus like me?
Travis Leslie
October 12th, 2010
2:30 pm
Hey coach richt, I got the boot off my leg. I can run the football for you
Da'blue Kwame Mfume
October 12th, 2010
2:30 pm
patrick -
In summary, college football is a mess everywhere you look. Half of North Carolina’s team is on probabtion. The dirty laundry can be sniffed out across the land. So what’s the root cause? M O N E Y!
MURPHY
October 12th, 2010
2:30 pm
TrishaDishaWarEagle,
Be carefull casting stones at our players. You only need to look at your Q.B to find a player just has bad as ours concerning issues with the law
Conspiracy Theory
October 12th, 2010
2:30 pm
Dey jus tryin to diss King. He know he did wrong but he nutted up and dat jus da way he handle it. Ya’ll stops fronttin’and playa hatin’ on King Caleb.
Just saying!
October 12th, 2010
2:31 pm
finally disgusted – I stopped reading your post at “I have never posted before but feel compelled to express my frustration” I recommend you never post on here again. Just saying!
Randy Moss
October 12th, 2010
2:31 pm
straight cash homey
Still@theBAR
October 12th, 2010
2:31 pm
I hear UGA is petitioning the NCAA for a football players dorm. It will be an exact replica of the Athens-Clarke County Jail. The players need to feel the privilege of playing for UGA. It should be a great recruiting tool in the future. Well, the parents will always know where their kids are.
Herschel Walker
October 12th, 2010
2:31 pm
He can get naked photos of me from S.I.
MURPHY
October 12th, 2010
2:32 pm
Cam(Dell lap top)Newton
Randy Moss
October 12th, 2010
2:32 pm
A lotta people dont wanna see me do good
shane
October 12th, 2010
2:33 pm
Murphy
Bama schedule is strong enough, if we win them. Have to hope a couple of teams ahead of us lose now though.
r
October 12th, 2010
2:34 pm
de dink all de football playas is dumb
5150 P.O.A.D
October 12th, 2010
2:34 pm
Patrick and against what teams is that scoring D playing against and beating? USC and Arkansas are the only non high school teams you have played and you lost to Colorado. Yes a top 30 D for sure.
TrishaDishaWarEagle
October 12th, 2010
2:35 pm
MURPHY, no…he USED to be …I suspect he has been humbled by the JC experience, and realizes JC doesn’t lead to the NFL..I mean, the NFL cash…
A.J Green probably lost several million dollars in signing bonus by missing 4 games this year and dropping down the draft order by the subsequent lack of relevance or tv time for the UGA program this year, all for a few bucks of gas ( or weed) money.
finally disgusted
October 12th, 2010
2:35 pm
Just saying! What on earth does never posting have to do expressing an opinion? I care about the issue. I read news, watch the games, and read this blog. I’m entitled to post and I’m as qualified to post as any that do.
Bishop Eddie
October 12th, 2010
2:35 pm
Why ya’ll be hate’n on my boy.
justice
October 12th, 2010
2:35 pm
cause yo boy broke the law
shane
October 12th, 2010
2:36 pm
Don’t have to worry about Cam stealing a laptop in Auburn. They don’t have the internet yet and believe Dell is a pepper.
MURPHY
October 12th, 2010
2:36 pm
shane,
I think Saban will have this team focused like they were durings last years run. I dont see yall losing again although I think Auburn will give yall fits.That is if that D-coordinator for Au(Roof) can find is way out of the wet paper bag! He stinks!
Bishop Eddie
October 12th, 2010
2:37 pm
He just needs some “one on one” consuling.
Conspiracy Theory
October 12th, 2010
2:37 pm
True dat. Don’ts be tossin rocks when you lives in glass houses. Cuz I come and break out all yo winders.
Paul in RDU
October 12th, 2010
2:37 pm
Suspension for the next 2 games seems like a good call by Richt to me
auburn
October 12th, 2010
2:37 pm
bell is a pepper
munsondawg
October 12th, 2010
2:38 pm
finally disgusted,
dont blame you one bit. I’m tired of it too…..
Dawg Rule
October 12th, 2010
2:38 pm
The Dawg offense is back! Ga will beat Vandy and kentucky like a rented mule to get ready for a big upset against florida. Murray will light up the weak uf D for some big points.
MURPHY
October 12th, 2010
2:38 pm
Trisha Disha,
Used to be? I though a criminal record never goes away. How much time has to lapse before you consider a criminal-used to be?
dawghater
October 12th, 2010
2:39 pm
Due they have a special Jail cell in the Clarke County jail with red painted walls with a Big “G” and red panties for all players!
Just saying!
October 12th, 2010
2:39 pm
TrishaDishaWarEagle – Might want to do some research before posting on here. Mel Kiper currently has AJ Green #1 on his Big Board. So he actually has moved up since the suspension not down. I hope that facts don’t intefer with any more of your post.
all dawgs remember
October 12th, 2010
2:39 pm
God, Family, Bulldogs. Never forget this motto people.
come on
October 12th, 2010
2:39 pm
hey thuga fans read your own Red and Black, and tell me if you think King is not a thug. they should kick this thug off the team. make sure to read the part where he tells a girl that loaned him money to pay his bills, “King told [the] victim that he was not going to repay the money, and if she continued bothering him about it, then he would post nude pictures and video of [the] victim on the [I]nternet,” according to the report.
The woman told police she contacted King again on April 27 and informed him that she planned to take legal action if she was not paid. According to the report, King responded by again threatening to post nude pictures and video of her on the Internet.
http://www.redandblack.com/2010/10/12/accusations-piling-up-for-running-back-king-tally-of-arrests-increasing/
Tom
October 12th, 2010
2:40 pm
Wow, suspended against Vanderbilt and Kentucky. It looks to me like Richt and other coaches should consider recruiting good citizens who might not be extraordinarily talented and leave the outstanding athlete who is morally questionable alone. A good coach will be able to work with a smart, hard working conscientious person.
To the venters, how do you “forget” a court date?
shane
October 12th, 2010
2:41 pm
Murphy
I wouldn’t want to be a Bama player this week. He’ll get them focused or get rid of some of them. (medical hardship) lol. Iron bowl could always go either way, but we got them at home. More worried about road @ LSU. Miles doing some serious Voodoo to still be undefeated.
dawghater
October 12th, 2010
2:41 pm
He Dawg Rule – met reality. UAB put up 40+ on TN in Knoxville! Your really going to set TN as the team that sets the bar for the rest of your season. Now go sit on your couch on the porch and take you six pack of Bud with you!
TrishaDishaWarEagle
October 12th, 2010
2:42 pm
Wow, i manages to get my Mechanical Engineering degree at AU without the internet? cool
One day AU will be cool like UGA, and have majors like “How to raise bail” and “Find Herschel walker in this Photo for an A”
shane
October 12th, 2010
2:43 pm
Trisha
MOOOOOOOOOOO!
go dawgs
October 12th, 2010
2:43 pm
uga wins out. sc also wins out and beats tcu in the sugar bowl finishes 3rd in the country behind boise state and oregon. ohio state loses national champ to Boise, finishes 4th behind sc
The Temporary Mascot formerly known as Russ
October 12th, 2010
2:43 pm
Well, nobody will say the a$$ painting was wrong and Coach Richt has today passed on the opportunity to make a resounding statement to these players that getting arrested won’t cut it. He may get another chance (and I am betting he will) but this opportunity will have passed. So, for right now . . . getting arrested won’t get you kicked off the team. Who’s up for number 12? Who will it be? It can’t be me because I just got fired. I am merely a little dog but I am not tainted by arrest.
Bud Weiser
October 12th, 2010
2:44 pm
Zero tolerance only applies if you are on the scout team or way down on the depth chart. This has become an every week occurrence, that someone on the team gets arrested. Exactly what part of don’t get into trouble do these fools not understand? Looks like they have no fear of Mark Richt or any consequence they might incur for breaking the law. UGA is in a pathetic state of turmoil.
go dawgs
October 12th, 2010
2:44 pm
go georgia bball
Jiggy Smaha
October 12th, 2010
2:44 pm
It amazed me that Auburn fans post about Georgia’s players while cheering their quarterback thief. Just sayin’.
KimZ'sPackage
October 12th, 2010
2:44 pm
I never threatened to show the pictures of me and Caleb on the net. He paid me $300 to do him like the Jail House BDawg he wants to be. Caleb King pays dat girlz herz mooney! You really don’t want people to see you with Kim Z’s Package tea bagging you now do you?
Dexter King
October 12th, 2010
2:45 pm
Caleb is giving us a bad name.
TrishaDishaWarEagle
October 12th, 2010
2:45 pm
Jusr saying!..I did not know that!..Wait, I am getting a tweet from Tim Tebow..
Seems Mel kiper said Tebow was in no way a first round pick…
Just saying!
October 12th, 2010
2:47 pm
TrishaDishaWarEagle – Do you happen to remember the last time Auburn beat UGA? You can use the internet and if you don’t remember.
mr. obvious
October 12th, 2010
2:47 pm
this is dumb
I built it
October 12th, 2010
2:47 pm
Not at UGa.
They just got shot down in their pursuit of an engineering school by the Gov. Keep on farming boys.
just right
October 12th, 2010
2:47 pm
tough but appropriate
Florida Dawg
October 12th, 2010
2:48 pm
The FBI should hire Caleb if he can’t go pro…I mean if the county sheriff can’t find him in Athens playing football, he could certainly be a good secret agent. No?
MURPHY
October 12th, 2010
2:48 pm
shane,
dont worry! Saban just like Les sold his soul to the devil too. I think the devil likes Saban better-Yall will be fine lol