UGA linebacker will transfer
Georgia inside linebacker Marcus Dowtin has played his final game for the Bulldogs.
Dowtin, a junior from Upper Marlboro, Md., has been granted an unconditional release from his scholarship to transfer to another school, UGA said Tuesday without further comment.
Reports surfaced last week that Dowtin had faced a second-degree assault charge stemming from a Maryland bar fight last May. The case was resolved in December, but Georgia coach Mark Richt did not learn of the incident until last week. (See this AJC story for more details on the case.)
Dowtin, who appeared in 11 games and started two this past season, didn’t play in the Liberty Bowl on Dec. 31 because of what was described a coach’s decision unrelated to the Maryland matter. He was fourth on the Georgia team in tackles for the season with 57.
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279 comments Add your comment
Jborodawg
January 12th, 2011
10:19 am
“…That was a 2 yr coach that one the NC…”
Helps to have a Heisman winner on your team. See what happens next year without Cam and Fairly. It’s like Mussberger the other night saying “…Pete Carroll brought the Seahawks to the playoffs…” Heck no he didn’t; the SYSTEM allowed a losing team into the playoffs.
“…BostonDawg…Yes, they are setting examples…How many examples will it take before the team is made entirely of walk-ons?…”
However many it takes to get the point across.
“…Vance Duuley…Dowtin should have been dismissed when Richt first heard about the barroom brawl…”
What do you think just happened? Dowtin didn’t play in the Liberty bowl. CMR investigated further and now Dowtin’s off the team. CMR showed compassion letting him transfer.
“….Richt needs to tighten up his ship! Goodbye to Dawgs top 3 tacklers this season…”
That’s a little contradictory.
“…This young man was arrested last summer and Coach Richt claims he knew nothing about it…”
Maybe you can come up with a way to baby-sit 85 people 24/7, 365. And, what’s the process in checking police records in every town every player visits?
Contrary to what some of you commenters think and say, CMR HAS dismissed and HAS suspended several players. Some he has allowed to transfer; nothing wrong with that. Coaches are not baby-sitters. Nor are other faculty members. It’s quite myopic to think UGA has a “problem” vis-a-vis other schools. Players getting in trouble is a national phenomena. Sit down for one day and read newspapers from college towns (or college newspapers) all across the county. At the “Auburn Wins NC” articles, I’ve never seen so much vitriol aimed at another school (Auburn, Cam, and Cecil Newton). Most of it is misplaced, since Cecil Newton was dealing with a booster from Ms State; had nothing to do with Auburn. More might come out, but “that’s the facts” for right now. Sure looks like sour grapes from Bulldog fans; and it’s embarrassing we can’t be gracious in defeat and congratulate someone else’s success.
The use of the term “thug” is getting old. It’s just young people getting in trouble. Happens everywhere and with non-athletes alike. Not paying a traffic ticket does not a “thug” make. You’d think they were selling dope and running prostitution rings the way some of y’all react. Yes, there are too many arrests of UGA football players. Most of these young men seem upright/upstanding when the coaches visit their schools and their homes. Most seem to have fine parents. Most get glowing reviews and accolades from their HS coaches. Have you ever seen a comment at rivals.com or scout.com about character issues? I think the UGA admin and CMR are doing all they can. And, I think they are as perplexed as we are.
“How many examples..” indeed.
ugab
January 12th, 2011
10:19 am
Now MR is kicking player off the team for any reason. The dawgs can’t afford to lose anyone.
ugab
January 12th, 2011
10:24 am
This team is falling apart! The next head coach for ga is going to catch hell putting this program back together. MR get one more year to embarrass the dawg nation. If you look at MRs winning seasons, alot of his wins were sloppy. The only time MR had good players is when he had another coaches players
ugab
January 12th, 2011
10:25 am
Why be a Dawg fan? Watch the University pay a loser.
ugab
January 12th, 2011
10:26 am
We have to hope for a losing season to get a new coaching staff. That is so sad.
junkyarddawg
January 12th, 2011
10:26 am
DON’T let the door hit you in the @ss, Dowtin. If you kept your arrest a secret you don’t deserve to be a DAWG. I am sick of thugs wearing the Red & Black. Caleb pack your bags too.
ChopblockU
January 12th, 2011
10:31 am
JoeFan, you are too funny. To even mention thuga in the same sentence as UVA and Stanford is just too much! I guarantee there are no exams at those institutions with questions like, “how many pts for a three pt shot”? Thuga is a large state school with some strong majors and others that are a joke. Just look at the degrees offered. Thanks for the laugh joefan!
DawginLex
January 12th, 2011
10:32 am
Yeah Joey,
My parents always said, watch what you are doing and saying and don’t end up an idiot like Joey.
Ted M
January 12th, 2011
10:37 am
I find it equally as preposterous as Fran said. Come on, Richt actually said now that he doesn’t have to fuss with admin duties he finally has the time “truly” study the game of football. Richt thought admin duties were more important then coaching…WTF. Fans are supposed to ignore this out of blind loyalty, that’s crazy.
That whole scenario preposterous!
I guess it all started when Richt turned over the play calling and running the offense to Bobo. What was that 3 years ago? Anyway Richt’s quote then was “now I have time to focus on the big picture”. Little did we know “the big picture” was admin. That’s moment in time when Richt took winning for granted at UGA. Let’s hope he learned his lessen.
Richt dropped the ball…on purpose, holy crap.
Oconee Dawg
January 12th, 2011
10:38 am
North Georgia Dawg get a life!!!!! You do not understand how to deal with and make responsible young men. It’s not by sweeping all “that stuff” under the rug! You are a “low life individual” who only considers the game of football and not helping young men! Sweep yourself under the “rug” please!!!
Gatormeat
January 12th, 2011
10:41 am
What a mockery of an SEC team the dogs are. If the SEC had any sense they would kick georgia out and replace them with a team with more character. Florida St, Miami, Va Tech are just a few of the schools that would be a better representative for the conference. We are sick of the antics of the classless dogs, who can’t even beat a mid-tier football team to boot. The dogs are truly a disgusting example of what SEC football is about
knowitall
January 12th, 2011
10:42 am
TW – It tells me all about you that you did not know that Stafford was here only 3 years. Dowtin only has one year left. He has to sit out a year or go small school. I dont think we see him in the SEC.
Atl_Dawg
January 12th, 2011
10:50 am
Wish you well, Dowtin. Don’t listen to the inbreds on this blog. The snow and ice has made them all go insane. As many fans have said on this blog – CMR can’t watch over players who are out of state. We also don’t know the whole story, and for those that are bashing CMR for letting this guy go are probably the same who squeal like a pig to kick him off the team if he had been allowed to stay. Lay off the meth and think before you start writing.
blazer
January 12th, 2011
10:50 am
wait until the problem child Lemay gets there
DawginLex
January 12th, 2011
10:57 am
gatormeathead,
Your school should be banned from every conference in America and from ever appearing on national TV just for having to look at all the mullet heads and the transplanted yankee snow birds now living in Flo-ri-duh doing the retarded gator chomp.
LCDawg
January 12th, 2011
10:57 am
Apparently Dowtin was a complete malcontent. He would pout and had a general bad attitude. read dawgpost etc… a lot of players and coaches coming out saying this is a great move for the team. Good riddance, we need team players.
Conspiracy Theory BS
January 12th, 2011
10:57 am
Wow ! Kick one of your best players off the team ? 5-8 looking UGA in the face next year…
TD
January 12th, 2011
11:09 am
I can’t believe coach Richt did not know about Dowkin until after the Liberty bowl. What was the real reason he did not play. If this event happened to Dowkin in May, why did the coaching staff just fine out about it. This shows just how out of touch they are with keeping up with their players. It shows up with the arrest of 12 players and King not being able to go and play the last game of the year. This is a direct responsibility of Coach Richt, who has to be in charge and the leader. This has not been the case. Fran is right on his assessment.
I-DOG
January 12th, 2011
11:11 am
Well that is one player already that won’t be playing in the Boise State game (or any other games for that matter) due to another UGA brain injury.
What is the over under on prominant players not being able to play in the opener due to these mental injuries at UGA. I think the line should be around 6 or 7.
I was ridiculed on these blogs after worrying what the storm would be like for Richt if we lost this opener. Many put me down saying “UGA will never lose to Boise State, there is just too much difference in talent.”
I think Central Florida showed us that this simply is not the case. Add in that the first game of the year is the most dangerous (less talented team has the best chance to win that game than they do any other since there is no pre-season to work out the kinks). Also add in that we will be without 6-8 significant contributers due to UGA brain injuries (suspensions) PLUS any real physical injuries that take place and Richt is literally coaching for his job in a single game playoff against a well coached team with UGA undermanned.
Does anyone believe that this staff INCLUDING RICHT could survive a loss to Boise State in the opener. I think he would be fired within 2 weeks if we lose that game as everything would come apart at the seams.
Cuzzo
January 12th, 2011
11:18 am
Goon up!!! thats why you guys are getting slapped all over the SEC!!!!
Defensive player of the year in the BIG EAST and soon to first round draft pick Jabbal Shread,…
GOON UP, you need a coach that can manage the goons plain and simple!!!
J Moore
January 12th, 2011
11:19 am
Does anyone screen these guys before they are shown a map to their classes? I know–how about looking them up on Ancestry.com?
Rabun Dawg
January 12th, 2011
11:20 am
Very well said jborodawg. Now, Caleb king. Probably a pretty nice young man, but not a “team” player. Need to give him his walking papers before he lets the team down again this coming season. As a comparison, look at Duke basketball. Coach K recruits mostly guys without all of the stars and they coach them up, and they stay the course. CMR and company need to get after those without all of the 4 or 5 stars, and coach them up. I know, easier said than done, and do we have the staff in place to do that? I would think that there are plenty of 1,2 or 3, star guys out there that are not the prima-donnas and just want a chance to play. The kid from Lee County is probably one of these type, and says he has always wanted to be a Dawg. Get after these types, and coach em up!! JMHO
playing time
January 12th, 2011
11:21 am
Who do you think made this decision, Richt or McGarity? Concidering Richt track record…..
William C Smith
January 12th, 2011
11:23 am
This is what I love about SEC football. Georgia player makes mistake and is allowed to transfer. Everyone starts telling about how sorry the other programs are. If it was discovered Jack The Ripper went to Georgia
they would claim Stalin’s brother attended another SEC school. HEADLINE
Lindsay Lohan says Charlie Sheen out of control. This is one player one school period.
McDawg
January 12th, 2011
11:24 am
both Dowtin and Christian are good LBs but instead of shedding blocks they look like they would rather be in a boxing match w/ whoever is blocking them which usually resulted in tackles being made from behind and thus the runner was always falling forward rather thean backwards-it was a huge deal on 3rd downs when we should have been getting off the field instead of having drives extended
UGA losing starter at LB to transfer | ChuckOliver.Net
January 12th, 2011
11:47 am
[...] http://blogs.ajc.com/uga-sports-blog/2011/01/11/uga-linebacker-will-transfer/?cxntfid=blogs_uga_spor... [...]
aprilglaspie
January 12th, 2011
11:48 am
Please you self-appointed pundits, retire the word “thug” at least until you can check a dictionary. A college student imbibing beer on a weekend night is not a thug, she’s normal. I’d imagine some of Coach Baurle’s and Coach Landers’ charges probably do the same, but they aren’t big black guys.
If selling a shirt that actually belongs to you or dinging a beat up pickup in a parking garage make one a thug, apparently, the word has become entirely meaningless. Pleas consign Mark Bradley to writing about UK losing to UGA in hoops. His comments on Mark Richt all come across as wishful thinking, when a reader can wade through the cutesy garbage.
SECfan34
January 12th, 2011
11:49 am
UGA is no different than any other SEC school. Many of the best athletes come from homes where disciple and obeying the law are not taught. It does appear that CMR gets more than his share of undisciplined football players. Character does not seem to be a consideration to CMR when making scholarship offers to certain players.
rebeldawg
January 12th, 2011
11:56 am
This is my last statement on preacher man.The fisrt time I had a comment goes back to us hireing a ast coach from fla state.IF ALA ,LSU FLA and others can hire a proven coach so can we.I AM SITTING HEAR LOOKING AT MY 2011 DONATION AMT.I dont know how long I can keep making out checks.35 plus years and I am feed up.BUT ALLWAYS A BULLDOG>
McDawg
January 12th, 2011
12:02 pm
King will have to earn it to get back in the rotation-obviously not reliable but picks up the blitz fairly well
aprilglaspie
January 12th, 2011
12:10 pm
Jborodawg. Guilty until proven innocent, right? Matter was adjudicated. Judge says Dowtin did nothing illegal. People like you deserve to get arrested and put in jail on trumped up charges, like being a big black college football player in a bar. Guilty. No due process required.And playing Time, “Concidering”? You thug.
UGAX
January 12th, 2011
12:19 pm
Just opens the door for the JARVIS JONES show in 2011. No loss with Dowtin. Jones, along with Richard Samuel, will rule the middle of the field next year. Of course, we have no Defensive Linemen to stop the run but we’ll have great linebackers and secondary!!!
big root
January 12th, 2011
12:22 pm
Coach Richt is quick to to release good players that is hurting the program but he won’t get rid of bad coaches that is hurting the program MIKE BOBO RODNEY GARDNER STACY SEARELS
aprilglaspie
January 12th, 2011
12:23 pm
When people that clearly don’t know diddley about a sport use the term “coach them up” I get the creeps. When I ran track in HS, no coach was capable of getting me to run faster than I could run. “Coach ‘em up” is really popular jargon, and, as such, it’s basically meaningless drivel. Awbuhn Tigers/Plainsmen/War Eagles proved this year, you just buy the best player from his dad, and make sure of plausible deniability. NCAA, wake up. Time to vacate. AJ Green dealt with an “individual determined by the NCAA to be an agent”. Anyone heard from that guy lately? And Cam Newton had no idea his dad was shopping him around. And Cecil was content with no cash from Auburn when MSU was entertaining demands of $180grand? Sure thing.
McDawg
January 12th, 2011
12:26 pm
i think the word “thug” has many racist connotations and the way it is often used on the AJC blogs is explicitly racist we could start calling white players big stupid rednecks
Bravedawg
January 12th, 2011
12:45 pm
“McDawg” – Don’t start the racist crap. Tired of hearing “Oh, woe is me.” This is about getting rid of players that don’t honor or respect the privilege of competing (under scholarship) for a top-level school. You certainly didn’t hear of this kind of crap, at least no where near as much, 5, 10, 15 years ago. Let’s set high standards, reward the achievers, and cut the ones that don’t measure up. Tired of hearing of the off-the-field issues. Dooley NEVER had this problem. We need to get back to the old days when kids actually appreciated their scholarship. Nowadays, it’s all about “Watch me make my decision on TV” or “I’ll just flip a coin” or some sort of self-indulgent crap like that. These kids need to show some signs of maturity, make their decision, honor their commitment, keep their nose clean, and prove the scholarship was not wasted on some “punk”.
Personally, I think Caleb should be the next to go. He was over-rated going from Parkview to GAC and has spent more time on the sidelines than between them. And his off-the-field issues don’t enhance his position.
Coach M. Richt
January 12th, 2011
1:01 pm
Why in the heck haven’t I kicked that troublemaker Caleb King off of the team yet ? I gotta go , man this new AD’s a pain in my tail. He’s got me watching like 2 hours of game film a day. Can yall believe that mess ?
FYI
January 12th, 2011
1:31 pm
Jborodawg
January 12th, 2011
10:19 am
“The use of the term “thug” is getting old. It’s just young people getting in trouble. ”
FYI…THUG is the new code word for N**ger, so anytime you see “thug” you know what the poster truly meant.
FYI
January 12th, 2011
1:43 pm
Bravedawg
January 12th, 2011
12:45 pm
“McDawg” – Don’t start the racist crap. Tired of hearing “Oh, woe is me.”
It’s not about anyone starting “racist” crap, it is what it is. “thug” is a code word period.
Funny I don’t recall anyone calling Metenberger a “thug”. Just sayin…
monty
January 12th, 2011
1:43 pm
Underlying message here is, don’t let the coach be the last to know.
Southy706
January 12th, 2011
1:46 pm
The move was clearly on dowtin not on the coaching staff he wanted to transfer and so he is going to.
Southy706
January 12th, 2011
1:49 pm
We did not kick Marcus Dowtin off the team, he wished to transfer because he felt like he wasnt getting enough playing time on the field. Please ppl do not jump to conclusions you have no info on..Notice the story says he was GRANTED a release he requested it people.
The Old Ball Coach
January 12th, 2011
1:53 pm
“and the beat goes on”……..
LOL
January 12th, 2011
1:54 pm
Nobody cares about the character of a recruit unless they get in trouble. You want character? See army, navy and AF football. Other than that, as far as the big schools are concerned, forget it. Maybe these young players will get some when they SEE some. It’s ALL ABOUT THE DOLLAR BILL folks. Anyone who looks at this industry….that’s right I said INDUSTRY AS IN BUSINESS can see that what is important to the college presidents and AD’s (men of character…lol) is $$$$$$$$$$. Oh yeah. if you want to get rid of non-winners, start with CMR>…LOLOLOL
DawginLex
January 12th, 2011
2:10 pm
I just heard a rumor that we just lost another player.
Anybody know?
Al
January 12th, 2011
2:17 pm
Richt, don’t become Felton.
NORRIS
January 12th, 2011
2:28 pm
he would have been suspended anyways for most of the year. The best thing that could have happened was for him to transfer and let us use the scholarship on another recruit.
Paul N Destin
January 12th, 2011
2:41 pm
The Rev Chette at Auburn is much a much larger problem than Cam for pay. You will see in the coming weeks just why a lot of GA kids attend the plains and it’s not because Gene Cheezstraw is the reason. Using the Lord to recruit and funnel money to these kids is terrible but Auburn has no standards. Never have and never will and don’t wish to have any standards. When Alabama hired Saban that sent the banker,the woodman and the old coach into high gear. It’s coming and all the blowhard AU fans on this blog will never been heard from again.
One Hairy Dawg
January 12th, 2011
2:49 pm
I am blown away by the ignorance. Anybody that knows a thing about college football knows how cyclical it is. Look at the years Texas and Florida had. Urban could certainly still be there if he wanted to, and Mack Brown isn’t going anywhere. Stanford and Auburn are perfect examples of one player ( Andrew Luck, Cam Newton) making an average team with average coaches look very, very good. Mark Richt is the 5th winningest active coach in college football. A few key recruits and a very good young quarterback will turn this program back in the right direction immediately.
Also, Tarkenton is a moron. Even if were qulified to do so, you don,t take shots at your head coach or your program at the height of the recruiting season. Get your head out of your a$$ Sir Francis.
King Gator
January 12th, 2011
4:11 pm
Is he being transferred to a Min or Max security facility? Go Gators!