UGA lifts Ealey’s suspension (updated with comments from Richt)
(Updated 9 p.m. Saturday)
ATHENS — Washaun Ealey’s suspension lasted less than three weeks.
The Georgia tailback, suspended indefinitely from all team activities by coach Mark Richt on Feb. 8, has been “reinstated to full team standing,” UGA said Saturday.
That makes Ealey, Georgia’s leading rusher the past two seasons, eligible to participate in spring practice, which begins March 10.
“He’s done a very nice job of doing what I asked him to do,” Richt said Saturday night, “to take care of his business what I call the Georgia way, staying on top of things and being punctual and being prepared. . . . He’s done it with a very good attitude, and now I think he’s ready to integrate back in the rest of what’s going on at Georgia. I’m happy for him.”
Earlier Saturday, Richt said in a statement that Ealey will rejoin team activities Monday.
Ealey, a rising junior, was suspended after failing to report on time for an early-morning punishment run.
The incident was not Ealey’s first brush with trouble at Georgia. He was suspended from last season’s opening game because of an arrest for hit-and-run of a parked vehicle and driving with a suspended license.
“I didn’t think he was handling his responsibilities as well as he should,” Richt said Saturday night, referring to the Feb. 8 suspension. “When I felt like he was back on track, I was going to have him go back to doing what everybody else was doing.”
Ealey played in 12 games for Georgia last season, starting seven and rushing for 811 yards and 11 touchdowns. He rushed for 717 yards as a freshman in 2009, when he played in nine games.
His role could diminish with the arrival this summer of Carver-Columbus tailback Isaiah Crowell, a prized recruit who signed with Georgia this month. Richt said on signing day that he expects Crowell to play “heavily” as a freshman and possibly to get the first carry in the Sept. 3 opener against Boise State in the Georgia Dome.
– Staff writer Ken Sugiura contributed to this report.
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534 comments Add your comment
Bid dawg fan
February 27th, 2011
7:07 am
Brucerugby 79: Well stated. This also comes from me and the rest of the
true bulldog fans.
tell me again
February 27th, 2011
7:30 am
I just love all of the blogs on here criticizing CMR for suspending Ealey in February – WHAT ABOUT OHIO STATE SUSPENDING THEIR KIDS NEXT YEAR FOR WHAT THEY DID LAST YEAR SO THEY WOULD NOT MISS THEIR BOWL GAME???! You people get real…..you bunch of know it alls don’t know squat about what goes on in Athens – most of you don’t even know where Athens is much less been there or gone to school there. I’ve never seen such a bunch of brain dead people – why don’t we give CMR a little bit of credit for knowing what he is doing SINCE HE IS THE ONE THERE! Oh yeah, I guess he’s really lost his touch since he just whipped up one of the best classes to come to Athens in a decade. If you people want a national championship every year, why don’t you just go to the …………… Oh wait, there aren’t any schools that win the NC every year, or the SEC or any other championship……….grow up people. Come up with some facts or at least admit you’re OPINIONS are not worth typing on a blog……
lagadawg
February 27th, 2011
7:38 am
@Greg,Murray gaining 5 lbs. to LeMay’s 15,Murray was not a stick man like LeMay.
sandman053
February 27th, 2011
7:40 am
@ tim you have to read the entire article. IC’s remarks are near the bottom.
gtfanfrom1951
February 27th, 2011
7:41 am
Same old story. CMR does not have control.
sandman053
February 27th, 2011
7:50 am
if CMR doesn’t have control, then I’m ok with it. I am sorry everyone is bent out of shape for Ealey being suspended for three weeks during February, but it is a huge difference from the previous couple of years. I think CMR knows he has a stable full of backs for 2011 and doesn’t have to bend over backwards for any of them. That could be the message that needed sending to old and new alike.
Personally, and I have stated this before, I don’t think IC is the savior of this program. I do think that he will contribute. But from what I have heard (and I am looking forward to G-Day to see for myself) Boo Malcome is the real deal and will be the surprise of the SEC this year…just so long as Coach Friend can get the “Big Uglies” up front to block someone.
Go Dawgs!
And for everyone else on here that doesn’t bleed red and black, hate on, cause we’re coming for you.
Big Dawg Cobb
February 27th, 2011
7:56 am
He paid his dues. Stand behind him,,,, Hope you have a great year Ealey !!
Aaron
February 27th, 2011
8:12 am
Haha go figure UGA would pull this. How pathetic, this douchebag does not but embarassing the team time after time, but for some reason they are right there to kiss his a**. Pathetic that these top notch colleges treat those players like this. Cant you stick to your guns, is one semi-decent player really worth it?
ga sucks
February 27th, 2011
8:20 am
its time for richt to step down.. this latest incident only proves one thing… he no longer has control over football operations for uga…. as a coach you have a responsability to the kids… not the school…. they need to kick this jacknut off the team… its pretty obivous the kid has no respect for uga… so send him packing….. cut his schlorship and give it to someone thats willing to work…. richt has to aleast make it to a respectable bowl this season to keep his job…
i fore see ga sucking the next 5-10 years if richt stays….
» SEC: Vandy and Georgia hold ground; Tennessee falls John Clay’s Sidelines
February 27th, 2011
8:27 am
[...] Georgia lifts Ealey’s suspension, reports Tim Tucker of the AJC. [...]
JE
February 27th, 2011
8:31 am
What wrong did Durham do????
JE
February 27th, 2011
8:46 am
Murray’s fourth quarter stats were bad for several reasons. The defense could not stop the opponents and he had to pass to try to win. He had to play against better defenses. He had to pass because of Bobo’s lack of understanding a running game. All his running for his life would be a good workout program at a gym. No help from the running game. They had to pad A.J.’s stats to make up for his four game suspension. But he was the darling that some wanted to start as a first year injured freshman instead of Cox. You have to blame Richt for not giving back up qbs some experience to off set one of them having a bad game and no one else to turn to.
Richts a Softee
February 27th, 2011
8:47 am
Richt should have demoted this thug throughout spring practice and the spring game. This is just another reason UGA will not a win a MNC under CMR.
Vandy Dawg
February 27th, 2011
8:47 am
All we can hope is whatever CMR is pulling works. Something has to change on the team from the past couple of seasons. Personally I think Earley is a good runner but lacks something that could make him great. Some of the things that were said of him in high school have proven to be true at UGA. Not surprised these issues have followed him. Maybe CMR is trying a new way to inspire players. We need it after a 6 win season with a bunch of seniors playing.
HKJ
February 27th, 2011
8:49 am
I’s time for those arrests to start coming in. let’s retain the fulmer cup mutts!
Stetson Dawg
February 27th, 2011
8:52 am
Fire Dave Perno !
chad
February 27th, 2011
8:53 am
haha tim. what a dumbass. typical ga fan. that article is also about the story. maybe if you could read more than 5 words, you would see that.
Kendawg
February 27th, 2011
8:54 am
I can’t remember who recruited Jonathan Dwyer for Tech, but he certainly was a very good back for Tech.
Pago Pago Dawg
February 27th, 2011
8:56 am
Don’t feel bad, Jim Tressell just signed a thug 2 days ago. Besides the ones already on the team.
Eat and Tweet
February 27th, 2011
8:59 am
Lemay likes aunt Jemimah’s pancake house. Thomas Brown has them photos too.
SickandTired
February 27th, 2011
9:05 am
What does Georgia need Ealey for. They have Crowell……..just ask him, he’s gonna be an All American and rush for over 1000 yards. Woo Hoo……He’s been promised the first carry it’s all good. Georgia: The Purdue of the SEC.
Fulmer Cup
February 27th, 2011
9:10 am
Spring Break is near and The Thugs at UGA are ready to defend their glory as reigning champs!
Boys Town
February 27th, 2011
9:11 am
Father Flanagan is just trying to reform one of his poor misguided wards.
Slim Shady
February 27th, 2011
9:12 am
Richt is a joke when it comes to discipline and everyone knows it. How many times has Ealey been in trouble?!?! Then he skips a discipline run, CMR suspends him for three weeks in February. Come one man…
P T Barnum Dawg
February 27th, 2011
9:15 am
I luv Athens…. cuz its full of Clowns.
Please Child
February 27th, 2011
9:16 am
The Georgia way is a slap on the wrist and a wink for starting players who break the law and pulling the scholarship of scrubs for lesser offenses.
Mrs. Bobo
February 27th, 2011
9:20 am
My husband is not a clown ! He knows what he is doing, just ask my O B GYN.
woebegong
February 27th, 2011
9:21 am
These blogs in the AJC accomplish exactly what the management wants. They increase the web hits and allow the AJC to say it has a great readership, to justify over charging for the printed paper.
It also allows a bunch of folks that would otherwise have no avenue to express their hate for UGA to spout off with unsubstaniated claims and think they actually know what goes on at UGA.
FACT: None of us are privy to know what CMR does completely, what Ealey had done or is doing. All we know is what we, for the most part,read on here. In the opinion of most of these folks that post negatively on here, CMR is damned if he does, Damned if he doesn’t. Truth be told, 99.9% of the negative people that post on here, never played organized football, never participated in any type of team organization, and in their minds, they are the greatest thing since beer was invented. Unfortunately, some partake of the spirits too much, before sitting down in front of their computers.
Everybody is entitled to their own opinions but it would be nice if they acted like an adult, instead of resorting to such childish and stupid remarks as you see, mostly on these blogs. There are a bunch of people and for sure, some people on these blogs that use the required name block, as a way of hiding behind their own stupidity with thier childsih remarks, playing out their own little fantasy to make them feel important.
People should feel honored that the UGA staff even makes half of what goes on in the athletic dept. public so some lame people can have some negative fuel to make childish comments about. I am sure that CMR,the players and most of the UGA fans and alumni get a real laugh after reading such childish stuff.
When the games are played, then you have a legitimate reason to voice your negative opinions if UGA does bad, in 2011. Even if your remarks will still be just as childish as they are now. Until then, your opinions hold about as much water as a bucket with 1000 holes in it. Since I know you will still act like the back end of a mule for the most part, at least have the intestinal fortitude to substaniate your claims with facts. In other words, if you have no facts, don’t invent them just to have some negative blog remarks to make.
GOOOOOOO DAWGSSSSSSSSSS
gt
February 27th, 2011
9:22 am
The Georgia way? Georgia needs to find a new way and these little catch phases are not going to get it. A three week suspension is not even worth the paper it is written on, but this is the Georgia way and it doesn’t have to be put on a poster. Georgia designs everything to meet the imagination of a PR driven product while the transparency they don’t want is always getting though the spin. The AD with the underwear, arrest and reaction from a space cadet coach who is covered with makeup ,talking points and advertising jungles is not going to get the program back. Watch an old interview with Vince Dooley and think if you were one of his players if you wanted some of that. No perfume just straight talk, and everything was not always perfect. Learn from that Georgia before it is too late.
dawgfan
February 27th, 2011
9:23 am
YAWN. I see the Techies ran like cowards from the Jimmie Kitchen blog and came over here to run their mouths. So so typical. At least Ealey probably could have gotten in to Auburn Techies. Ouch.
Cant Beat Gatauh
February 27th, 2011
9:27 am
Womens softball is going down too.
CMR and global warming complaints
February 27th, 2011
9:29 am
It snows all over the nation. Global Warming is THE cause. It never snows anymore here in Georgia … Global Warming IS the cause. It never rains here in Ga and it is due to global warming or it floods like in 08 and is is caused by global warming.
Richt benches a kid and therefore he is evil. Richt does not bench a kid and he is declared to be evil.
You know what? These are the standard complaints of simpletons or morons who only have a basic level of intellect. They can only shape an argument around the negatives.
Hey UGA haters ………………. we spent mega millions upgrading our facilities. Jealous? You betcha!!!
The GT way
February 27th, 2011
9:39 am
Lockheed to Navy Hornet, pull up, pull up. You are too low, pull up !!!
Two hours later at Navy base in Marietta …………”whaddaya mean we are grounded”
Navy Hornets buzz Grant Field and The Varsity and they are now BUSTED and pumping jet fuel in Bahrain.
Former GT and now NBA player Crittenton arrested for brandishing a gun in his team’s locker room. Nuclear Physics major??? Try PE and REC Management. We all know that GT has these courses for their jocks.
GT QB Reggie Ball asking what down it was??? when he hummed the 4th down pass out of bounds as UGA AA Pollack chased him in Grant Field.
Any GT kid living on Ethel St asking what happended?
The faces on the gathered alumni as CPJ announced his 2009 and 2010 and 2011 Frosh recruits. Like WHO??
CPJ face after the LSU and Iowa bowl games. CPJ face after the AIr Force game.
The faces on GT fans streaming away for the 9th time in 10 after a UGA game. Last year and 09 were so laughable.
The faces on the GT fans when they read that UGA is dropping mega millions on our facilties. The MARKET has spoken ………………… they love UGA and that money proves it.
dawgfan
February 27th, 2011
9:42 am
What did this “thug” Ealey do that I am not aware of haters? Armed robbery? Assault? Murder? I thought he just hit a parked car in parking lot, drove on a suspended license, and was late for practice one day. What am I missing here haters? Please fill me in.
Thug? You know, you haters might have a little more credibility if you weren’t trying to make the guy out to be Charles freaking Manson or something. Good grief. I’m no Ealey superfan at the moment. Personally I think he doesn’t have what it takes to be anything more than an average back, but geez. The guy made some immature mistakes. He’s not coming after your children okay. Relax.
The Techies just signed a guy who couldn’t hack it academically at Auburn and Tennessee State and they come over here to run their mouths about UGA “thugs” that hit unoccupied park cars and drive with suspended licenses. Like I said, just typical.
Fat Matt Wilson
February 27th, 2011
9:44 am
UGA have best team in world best everything we win championship this year. I eat cheese alot.
Buckeye
February 27th, 2011
9:49 am
Pago,
You referring to the OLfrom Cleveland that was not charged? And who are the others? Unless uga is tatt-free, STFU. Can’t wait to see what adorns the arms if the newly “annointed” one.
As far as Ealey, still a spitter in my book. Witnessed the spit on a high school competitor in the State Championship which, he lost, by the way. Classy, real classy.
Get back to me when you’re above .500.
Paul N Destin
February 27th, 2011
9:49 am
Mark better have more than one back (crowell) ready for play this year. You must have three RB’s to survive the SEC. Bama had Trent and Mark and both were hurt the entire year. You need injury luck in order to make a run at anything but hitching your wagon to a true freshman from day one is a huge gamble. Tommy Bowden made this same mistake as you recall in 2008. He gave his bigtime freshman the ball on his 1st carry and the kid fumbled in the Dome. Crowell will be a good one but he isn’t the type of runner that can standup to all the hits of 18-22 times per game. JMO.
Buckeye
February 27th, 2011
9:56 am
Freshman Isaiah best keep his mouth shut unless he is discussing his humility and work ethic. He’s not yet earned “icon” status as others out of the SEC already have.
I “want”………Please. Sounds like an entitlement attitude already. At least Ealey will be in camp to teach him the finer points of fumbling and spitting on opponents.
Slim Shady
February 27th, 2011
9:57 am
@ dawgfan, I agree that Ealey hasn’t killed or assaulted anyone, but is that what it takes for CMR to throw someone off the team? Don’t gloss over the fact that he crashed someone else’s car while on a suspended license and left the scene. That’s not the same thing as jaywalking. If I remember correctly, he got in trouble again and then skipped his punishment run… which is why he was suspended “indefinitely”. The main question is does Ealey or the other 12ish Dawgs that got in trouble even respect CMR? If you look at the last 3 or 4 years I think the answer is no. Add a 6-7 season on top of that and it’s just bad all around.
Buckeye
February 27th, 2011
10:01 am
uga is one game closer to the NCAA and y’all want to talk about some phoney three week football suspension in February?
Come on, Man. Show some love for Howard ( before I was Trey) and Co.
and you dawgs wonder why
February 27th, 2011
10:13 am
you have discipline problems.
the inmates run the asylum at uga.
tooooo funny.
Tallcarl
February 27th, 2011
10:15 am
Greg,David; you are a silly man(men). You posted the weight gain thing several times. Did you not think we understood it the first time. We ignored the comment because you do not know your mouth from your rear. Did you ever play any sport past the time you quit little league. Maybe the weight gain by some players was muscle not fat. Don’t you realise that there is always a coach and cameras in the weight room. CMR knows who is putting in a good effort into all phrases of the program. Get a job, get off your Mama’s computer and Shut up.
DOG
February 27th, 2011
10:18 am
He is a college kid.They make mistakes.Im sure every one on here acted stupid at that age.I know i did.Get a life!!!!!
harold
February 27th, 2011
10:30 am
GEORGIA IS 13-12 THE LAST TWO YEARS UNDER AN AVERAGE COACH AT BEST. WHILE FLORIDA, AUBURN,LSU, TENNESSEE, AND ALABAMA HAVE ALL WON BCS CHAMPIONSHIPS UGA “DREAMS ABOUT IT”!
Bug Zapper
February 27th, 2011
10:34 am
So what got Ealey to purportedly straighten up and fly right? Richt or Crowell’s arrival?
kb
February 27th, 2011
10:40 am
The idiot haters , Ealy was suspended from the team because he missed a punishment run.Obviously he did what it took to get back on the team. As for those who thinks Richt shows partiality to name.players, ask Mettenberger about being kicked off the team, several players have served one or two game suspensions. CMR has done a fine job at UGA. As for any GT fan offering advice go give it to Kung Fu Panda and remember when your on a UGA blog who has owned you since the late 50’s.
Now run along a go count your 15 wins since 1957.
suwanee dawg
February 27th, 2011
11:05 am
So many experts on this blog. Ealey’s current situation did not involve the law or bad PR. Does it really matter how Richt handles? These comments about Richt’s approach to this are a joke. Do you really know what is going on? Further, should you really care?
SEC Observer
February 27th, 2011
11:29 am
How many chances is Ealey going to get?
He Hate Gator
February 27th, 2011
11:33 am
Apparently CMR still doesn’t get it….and just when I thought I saw some signs that he did…
JDAWG
February 27th, 2011
12:03 pm
http://isportsweb.com/2011/02/27/georgia-reinstates-washaun-ealey/