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
B Town
February 28th, 2011
12:42 pm
Right on guys. AJ broke NCAA rules, got 4 week suspension, Richt tried to get it REDUCED!! Can you believe it?
On the other hand, Ealey’s video is reviewed and Ealey is said to not work out as hard as Joe Terishinski wanted, so Ealey gets 3 week suspension, no NCAA laws broken, and Richt goes along with it?
Obviously, Richt has a double standard.
@404
February 28th, 2011
12:43 pm
King is still in school and with good academic standing, why would you post such drivel, News flash
Richt held King out of the bowl game, not the school nor the NCAA, and Ealey isn’t transferring, more rumors which have been proven wrong.
Jim
February 28th, 2011
12:44 pm
DawginLex didn’t predict Newton would be great after Newton won the JUCOP Natl Championship. Mettenberger wn it too.
kb
February 28th, 2011
12:45 pm
Sorry, Buckeye you are it, now run along to one of the Big 10 boards where you are relevant.
Mobile Dawg
February 28th, 2011
12:45 pm
We call’em “Ling” down here how2fish. Wish you luck on getting out soon. Buddy of mine over in Florida says they’re looking at scaling back the “recreational” grouper and snapper fishing more. We’re heading off to do some snow skiing next week…Hardest decision I’ve had to make lately is whether to golf, or fish….Semi retirement is a terrible thing….
Jim
February 28th, 2011
12:45 pm
Mettenberger’s record last year, 12-0 Natl Champs
Murray? Not so much. 6-7, couldn’t beat Colorado, couldn’t beat a single winning team.
B Town
February 28th, 2011
12:48 pm
How does AJ not get disciplined with a punishment run for nto working out hard when he looks like a beanpole? Yet Ealey gets suspended?
gdawginkalamazoo
February 28th, 2011
12:52 pm
Jim, that’s what a very good lawyer can do for you.
Dawg Gone
February 28th, 2011
12:55 pm
Jim I think it only fair to wait till Mett plays against SEC defenses don’t you? B Town that beanpole was a state champion wrestler looking just like that. It ’s not appearances it’s drive and effort that count in a weight room.
DawginLex
February 28th, 2011
12:58 pm
How is Mett going to win sitting the bench watching Jordan Jefferson?
That is what he is facing in 2011.
Jim
February 28th, 2011
1:00 pm
Newton and Mettenberger’s journey to the top look the same so far. And Mettenberger just destroyed Murray in the head to head competition last Spring. Of course that’s not saying much, so did Logan Gray.
Jim
February 28th, 2011
1:01 pm
Poor ole’ Georgia fans left wondering:
1- “Why can’t Murray beat a winning team?”
2- “Why does Richt lose more games than the year before 90% of the last 8 seasons?”
Dawg Gone
February 28th, 2011
1:03 pm
Jim and yet Murray was the 2nd ranked freshman in the nation in FSB.Troll on…
Jim
February 28th, 2011
1:03 pm
Look, when Murray gets away with unlimited turnovers without bench time, and Ealey doesn’t, Richt’s standards are not the same for all players.
Jim
February 28th, 2011
1:05 pm
Murray had a 6-7 record, was winless against any team with a winning record, 0-6 record, Murray was 0-6 when the other team scored first and never had led his team to a single come from behind victory. 17 of Murray’s td’s were against losing teams.
how2fish
February 28th, 2011
1:05 pm
Mobile Dawg good luck on the slopes…it sounds like your hurting for certain !
wildbill
February 28th, 2011
1:07 pm
I would like to see Wally Butts’ ghost come to CMR in a dream and teach CMR a thing or two about discipline. CMR evidently needs some instruction.
Todd
February 28th, 2011
1:08 pm
Some good points Jim but I would like for you to answer this question:
Who would have played if Murray was pulled?
Mason wasn’t ready and Gray was not SEC QB material.
Lemay will get to beat out Murray this fall but what if he doesn’t or is not ready? Looks to me like Richt will be playing Murray again this fall.
Jim
February 28th, 2011
1:09 pm
Against winning teams, Murray was
#6 in SEC in td’s
#6 in pass effic in SEC
#11 in pass accuracy in SEC
Murray is an average to below average QB against winning teams.
Does great against the Idaho States, not even average against SC & UCF’s.
George
February 28th, 2011
1:09 pm
Murray threw 24 TD’s, better than Greene, Shockley or Stafford did their freshman years.
Jim is a moron and any idiot can see he is having a conversation with himself.
I bet he does other things just with himself too
Jim
February 28th, 2011
1:10 pm
I’m not the coach. I spent last year trying to give soluitions on these blogs. No more. Now I’ll just point out the problems until Richt doesn’t somethign about it.
Todd
February 28th, 2011
1:10 pm
Yeah, Jim is defintely a moron.
Jim
February 28th, 2011
1:11 pm
Actually George, Murray threw 16 td’s against losing teams, 8 against winning teams.
George
February 28th, 2011
1:11 pm
Agreed. Jim is probably the one who advised Richt to redshirt Moreno
Todd
February 28th, 2011
1:12 pm
Yeah, Jim wants Richt fired and Ray Goff to come back and coach.
Thomas the 3rd
February 28th, 2011
1:12 pm
Jim-
Very insightful. Thank you very much.
Jim
February 28th, 2011
1:13 pm
I don’t waste my time offering advice to Richt, he’s too prideful to listen and refuses to change.
George
February 28th, 2011
1:14 pm
Hey jim and all your aliases,
Tech has plenty of room for fans. Go to their blogs. They will love you and your virgin/douchebag/nevergotlaid self
Todd
February 28th, 2011
1:15 pm
Thomas the 3rd, your new alias?
Still playing with, er talking to yourself??????????????????????
Jim???
Jim
February 28th, 2011
1:16 pm
The question of the year, that no one, even Richt, can answer is:
Why does Richt lose more games than the year before 90% of the last 8 seasons?
DawginLex
February 28th, 2011
1:16 pm
this blog reeks of nerdiness
schmeckdawg
February 28th, 2011
1:16 pm
@ Jim, A little fyi, during the G-Day game last year, Murray went against the #1 defense, Mettenberger while he did have a nice game, played against the 2’s & 3’s. For what it is worth!
Dawg Gone
February 28th, 2011
1:17 pm
Jim my God Jimmy boy I hope CMR doesn’t listen to you…you and your trophy case of BS world championship trophies. Your last SEC title was when exactly ?
Jim
February 28th, 2011
1:19 pm
Georgia had 3 big games in 2010:
South Carolina- Division rival
Florida- Division rival
UCF- Bowl game to try and finish with a winning record
Murray played terrible in all 3 games. When the pressure goes up, Murray’s performance goes down.
Jim
February 28th, 2011
1:21 pm
Richt continues to lose more games, went from 11 wins in 2007, down to 10 in 2008, down to 8 in 2009, down to 6 wins in 2010. The team is currently losing 2 more games than the previous year, 2 years in a row.
If Richt could have fixed it, why didn’t he?
Jim
February 28th, 2011
1:22 pm
Richt won’t listen to anybody don’t worry, he’s too smart.
Dawg Gone
February 28th, 2011
1:28 pm
Jim your last three comments BS,BS and yes more BS.
WIN WITH RICHT
February 28th, 2011
1:29 pm
Jim
Why don’t you go on the Yellow Nerds Blog where you belong. Murray will be a great QB for the next 3 years.
Earl
February 28th, 2011
1:31 pm
Jim: last 3 comment, best I’ve seen on a blog in 10 years. You should have your own sports show.
Lilly
February 28th, 2011
1:34 pm
Jim- Really enjoy your posts. Why is no one else noticing these things? You’re a true original.
Lilly
February 28th, 2011
1:35 pm
Jim: 1:16 post nailed it.
CPJ
February 28th, 2011
1:38 pm
Jim please leave this Bulldog blog and come over the the Tech blog, we need your insight and riveting commentary. Jim we need wisdom and guidance…and I promise I’ll listen to your suggestions. Please join us Jim please!
todd
February 28th, 2011
1:38 pm
Lilly,
i bet you have never been nailed. Of course, neither has Jim
schmeckdawg
February 28th, 2011
1:40 pm
Jim and all of the other names that you use is getting old. And now Lilly…REALLY!!!!!!!!!
WIN WITH RICHT
February 28th, 2011
1:40 pm
Jim
I think you need help.
WIN WITH RICHT
February 28th, 2011
1:42 pm
I think the only thing Jim has been intimate with is Lilly. And Lilly is the nickname he gave his right hand.
schmeckdawg
February 28th, 2011
1:42 pm
@todd, I am guessing it would be hard to nail yourself when you are the same person i.e. Jim/Lilly and the 30 other names that he uses!
schmeckdawg
February 28th, 2011
1:43 pm
@ WIN WITH RICHT, If that is the case as it probably is with Jim/Lilly shouldn’t he have used Rosie instead of Lilly?
DawginLex
February 28th, 2011
1:44 pm
And schmeckdawg posts the only logical comment on this blog today.
Jim
February 28th, 2011
1:49 pm
Thanks for the invitation to add to the Georgia Tech blog, but I’ll choose to remain here for the rest of pre-season and during the season. I’ll be pointing out the problems Richt has been unable to solve, until the porblems are corrected by Richt or the next coach.