UGA’s ‘bus’ less crowded as Bulldogs report for preseason camp
Linebacker/defensive back Nick Williams would have been a significant contributor for Georgia had he remained with the Bulldogs. (AJC photo by Brant Sanderlin)
Athens — Georgia coaches and players have spent a lot of time this summer talking about mass transportation. Specifically, buses.
As in, “You’re either on the bus or you’re not,” as coach Mark Richt has said more than once this offseason.
As the Bulldogs get set to open preseason camp this week, one thing is evident: Their bus is less crowded now.
The Bulldogs will open the 2011 season well below the NCAA maximum of 85 scholarship players. Seventy-eight scholarship players are expected to check in when players report for tonight’s mandatory team meeting. That includes 54 returnees and 24 newcomers. Another 27 walkons will join them.
Not included in that number are 10 former players that are no longer with the team but had eligibility remaining (see chart below). Some of those are not in Athens by choice, others were shown the door. There’s a lot of gray area in between.
“Some guys have chosen to move on and a couple got a little help,” Richt said.
You’ll never get a straight answer from the head coach on this subject. In almost every case he announces a departure as a “mutually agreed” upon decision to leave. It’s his way of saving the players from embarrassment.
But comments from the Bulldogs that are still around indicate in only a few cases did the departures have an actual say in the matter.
“The guys on this team, the guys that stayed, are the guys that really want to be a part of this team,” junior linebacker Christian Robinson said last week. “Some guys didn’t always fit in or didn’t always do what they were supposed to do or didn’t behave. Nothing against them, but they just didn’t fit into what we need right now.”
It was a well known fact that some of the players that have left were having trouble doing things “the Georgia way.” For instance, tailback Washaun Ealey had been the subject of multiple disciplinary suspensions and offensive tackle A.J. Harmon had been sidelined because of academic struggles.
And in the case of guard Brent Benedict, there was a well-publicized weightroom confrontation with new strength and conditioning coordinator Joe Tereshinski that resulted in a “mutual” decision for him to leave.
“Since we got back from after the bowl game, Coach Richt has made it very clear that we’re going to work and we’re going to make everybody understand that you got to pay a price and it’s something special to wear the ‘G’ and be part of the University of Georgia,” Georgia offensive coordinator Mike Bobo said last week. “It’s not going to be easy. We’ve made it extremely tough around here. When you turn up the heat, sometimes you’re going to have guys that don’t want to be a part of it. That’s their choice.”
In total, 13 players that would otherwise have eligibility to play football for Georgia in 2011 aren’t going to be with the team this fall. Add the one-game suspension of junior running back Carlton Thomas and the eligibility issues facing linebacker Jarvis Jones, that number jumps to 15.
The Bulldogs didn’t always want the players gone. A.J. Green, who was selected fourth in the NFL draft, really had no choice. Starting left tackle Trinton Sturdivant suffered a third ACL tear. And rising senior Caleb King desperately wanted to lead the team in 2011 but simply could not make the grades to maintain his eligibility.
“I hate it for Caleb because nobody wanted to be here more than him,” said Robinson, who attended Greater Atlanta Christian with King. “If he hadn’t been recruited, nobody would have seen me.”
Georgia will suffer some adverse effects. Depth on the offensive line, at running back and within the linebacking corps is perilously low. But sometimes, as they say, it’s addition by subtraction.
“We have enough guys here at Georgia to get it done,” Robinson said.
- OL Brent Benedict, RFr. — Transferred to Virginia Tech
- LB Brandon Burrows RFr. — Shoulder injury, out for season
- LB Marcus Dowtin, Jr. — Transferred to North Alabama
- TB Washaun Ealey, Jr. – Transferred to Jacksonville State
- TB Caleb King, Jr. — Academically ineligible, will enter NFL supplemental draft
- WR Logan Gray, Jr. — Graduated with eligibility, transferred to Colorado
- WR A.J. Green, Jr. — Early entry into NFL draft
- OL A.J. Harmon, Jr. — Transferred to Alabama State
- LB Justin Houston, Jr. — Early entry into NFL draft
- DE Jeremy Longo, Jr. — Medically disqualified
- OL Tanner Strickland, Sr. — graduated with eligibility remaining
- OL Trinton Sturdivant, Sr. — knee injury, career over
- DB Nick Williams, Jr. — Transferred to North Alabama
*Carlton Thomas, junior tailback and third-leading rusher, is suspended for first game.
**Jarvis Jones, sophomore linebacker, has an NCAA eligibility issue under review.
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155 comments Add your comment
Terry
August 2nd, 2011
10:43 pm
The Techie’s like to run the dawg fans down, but what about Chris Jackson Techie’s? After summer-term exams Wednesday and Thursday, he should have the 2.0 GPA mandated by the NCAA to compete.
Loyal Dawg
August 2nd, 2011
10:59 pm
I sounds like Coach Richt has gone back to what made the team a success those first five years. That’s good news. With football, as it is with most sports, you have to put the time and effort in to be a champion. No way around it.
Natalie P.
August 2nd, 2011
11:02 pm
Zero confidence that Richt can turn things around. Brace yourselves for another debacle of a season and more humiliating losses.
Then, please fire Richt and stop the bleeding.
Loyal Dawg
August 2nd, 2011
11:03 pm
RedandBlackDawg, from what I can tell. it is the same one or two trolls that spout all the dribble using different names. I just think they are board and need something to kill some time!!
Loyal Dawg
August 2nd, 2011
11:05 pm
I see the blistering heat has arrived just in time for football training camps. Brings back some not so fond memories.
Topp Dogg
August 2nd, 2011
11:40 pm
The only way you can get a female naked at GT is to strip search her for a sandwich OMG-LOL.
Columbus
August 3rd, 2011
12:09 am
We are behind you coach. It is a great time to be a Dawg fan. Last year has only made you and the team stronger. You did not collapse under the pressure of adversity, you persevered and everyone is stronger for it. Great job coach. It is going to be a GREAT season and the BEST 5 years in UGA history are in front of us! Thank you.
Hairy Dawg
August 3rd, 2011
12:20 am
This is exactly what we be needing to keep the real mems and cut loose the stinkys boys. Now we get the rifht attitudes that playing for Dawgs is honor with running campus and nice ladies but got to win to get it. We got rid of bad disesae that fumbling like Ealy. Now we reload the talents and Crowell’s Dream Team. We put Adams in place to can stinkys instead of stucking us with them.
Hairy Dawg
August 3rd, 2011
1:09 am
Real fans better jumping on the bus cause Coach Richt finally has the attitude to go with the skills and talents of SEC speed. That goning to let us unload the whooping can on traitor Muschamps and Flabby Weiss. Then we rampages on Dooley Boy and the Orange Pumpkin Patch boys. We owes Aubie and Visor Boy some beating down to as we gets revenge this year for keeping Dawgs down last year through cheating.
Thomas Brown
August 3rd, 2011
3:59 am
Incomplete List, way incomplete. We play 10 regular season games against teams Rivals say average a ranking of # 65 team every week. Clearly, we win those 10 – or is that too optimistic for the “we will be fine” contingent ? Just as plainly, we will play in a bowl game against another team who will not be in the Top 10 AP Poll when the bowl game is done. That is 11 wins. While it is true in 10 years, we have Lost to 1 a year who did not even finish in the Top 25 with 10 such losses the 1st ten years, we also have won only 3 games out of 12 the 1st ten years against teams who did finish in the AP Poll Top 10. So, my question is if we go 11-3, who is that we beat ? Answer : No one, and if we lose one of the 11 games including the bowl game against # 65 average team, are we going to beat Florida, Boise State and South Carolina – or, even bigger question what of Missy State or Auburn ? 11-3 really shows that the 13-12 record vs Down SEC East the last 5 years with 21 Overall Losses, is really just more of the same – only with a softer easier cupcake-filled schedule in this Down SEC East this 2011 season.
Now, for the names left off the list of 15 above :
Kris Durham, you list AJ Green and Justin Houston why not list Kris ?
Kiante Tripp – Kris was 5th round NFL draft pick, Tripp in NFL now too
Darryl Gamble – also in the NFL now
Demarcus Dobbs – ditto NFL now as well
Josh Davis – NFL, why list 2 in NFL and leave off all these Chip Towers?
5+15=20.
21-Brandon Burrows waited until yesterday for surgery lost for year
22-Dontavius Jackson RB great RB just up and quit
23-Lonnie Outlaw – said to be great recruit also not on team.
24-Chris Little – Chip Towers how do you leave all these guys off ?
25-Ben Harden
26-Jonathan Owens
27-Logan Gray, are we to forget he left program – transferred
28-Jalen Fields
29-Montez Robinson are we to forget he was in Jail – off team
30-Zach Mettenberger – why make a list 8/2 and leave off Zach ?
31-Deion Bonner that was this year stealing in locker room
32-Chris Mayes – you left him off your list of 15 too Chip Towers
33-Kent Turene – one blogger already pointed out you left him off
THE GREAT EXODUS
ADDITION by ATTRITION
Give the coaching staff great credit for their recruiting, and hey we are all so glad all 33 are gone, off the team, unable to play vs Boise State 1 month from today September 3. There are 11 others hobbling, injured, surgery who are also in consideration not to play vs Boise State. Soft Schedule of built-in 11 wins (which 1 do we lose to anyway like always) and 3 games including Alabama, LSU or Arkansas we get clocked by. 11-3, accomplish nothing. Wag the tail how great we are beating those 11 averaging # 65 in the Rankings. We are not 1 of the top football programs and have not been – us at # 23 in won/lost record over these last 5 years now. Oh, we are young 2011. Whose fault is that ? Excuses. All these players you list and the 18 you left off ? Is it their fault ? Or, is this coaching staff responsible for mis-management of our talent, I ask you ?
Hairy Dawg
August 3rd, 2011
4:37 am
The fault is on Adams for not letting us recruit without restrictoins like the Bammers. Your so good at numbers try adding up the Hargraves in the last 5 years with the previous 5 years. We got less Hargraves now and that cause Adams choking the recruiting and not letting us stockpile talents at Hargraves. Then we could cut loose the stinky players that not panning out to free up schollies and bring up hungry real mens from Hargraves. But noooo! Adams making Coach Richt compete with one arm behind back. It not fair when we got to play teams like Bammer that not choked back by Adams.
Coach Richt casting out the stinky players that likes to fumbling with bad attitude like Ealy. But then he not allowed to replace from Hargraves cause Adams. And that why we less than 85 scholly players and still stuck with some that turned out to be stinkys.
Thomas Brown
August 3rd, 2011
4:42 am
Yes, I am so good at the numbers.
33
Try looking at the list of 33
Tell me that is not mis-managment of the talent
Talent you give this coaching staff great credit for bringing here
Talent the coaching staff is responsible for of mis-management
flo-ri-duh
August 3rd, 2011
5:25 am
ZZ Gator – don’t you have something better to do – we don’t need your ignorance to show up on the UGA site. Go to the site for the Florida Lizards and read about all the players Urbane Meyer had to suspend (or put up with) that are now in the Big House.
flo-ri-duh
August 3rd, 2011
5:34 am
Thomas – your dumbness is showing again. Please let me correct you on one small thing from your list. Green and Houston were listed because they left early for the draft (juniors). Kris Durham was not listed because he was a graduating senior. You really need to seek help through an anger management professional my friend.
Thomas Brown
August 3rd, 2011
6:35 am
AJ Green, Justin Houston, Kris Durham, Kiante Tripp, Darryl Gamble, Demarcus Dobbs, Josh Davis 7 players now in the NFL today – on the team who we have to go back all the way to 1953 to find an UGA Bulldogs’ Football Team who Lost more than the 7 games they Lost their last year here. 58 years ago to find a worse team for us.
My point is that this “coaching staff” is responsible for their mis-managment here – only 7 of the 33 – mind you who I state are Prima Facie
MIS-MANAGMENT
of the Talent here at UGA.
And, you reply that I am dumb ? What was your GPA here at UGA while I sat on the RR Tracks at 3.88
RS GATA
August 3rd, 2011
7:13 am
Dude, you would never make a 3.88 now. Totally different University. You probably wouldn’t even get in. Let’s see how it pans out, very soon now….but you have to be a blind homer Columbus to not have some concerns. Some great talent and heart on this team plus easy schedule by SEC standards….should be some great football!
Dr Phil
August 3rd, 2011
7:19 am
BuLLdawg (aka Thomas Brown),
I really hope that Mrs BuLLdawg(if such a person exists) suffers from the same malady as you; otherwise, I don’t see you getting any sack time with a sane female…..which you are in dire need of my friend.
Thomas Brown
August 3rd, 2011
7:20 am
Never do that now, but Top 5 % then. Interesting you say that, and in the same paragraph even, completely and totally agree with me – right down the line.
Thomas Brown
August 3rd, 2011
7:25 am
RS GATA
“you have to be a blind homer Columbus to not have some concerns. Some great talent and heart on this team plus easy schedule by SEC standards”
17 of 20
August 3rd, 2011
7:27 am
Georgia always has the best players going into the season, and then just like Coach Spurrier said something happens to them. Could it be the coaching?
Hairy Dawg
August 3rd, 2011
7:34 am
Every body keeps trying to blame Coach Richt and I tell you it’s is Adams and the choking of recruiting. Think of all the SEC talent and speed that Adams denies us that at Hargraves. And Coach Richt more Christian and that helps with recruiting snd winning. We gots to stop the blaming on Coach Richt when Adams is problems for trying to choke recruiting and stopping partying at tailgate on game day.
Russ the flawed bulldog
August 3rd, 2011
7:45 am
Rumor is, Richt will appear as a drag queen for his spectacular high dive this year. You go girl!
Thomas Brown
August 3rd, 2011
7:47 am
Hairy Dawg,
You’re a good dog. Now, why keep up with this – in light of the 33 names I just posted, sir ? You look at that list. You tell me if we have not mis-managed the talent here, or not ? Quit with your excuses that Michael F. Adam$ is responsible for the 33 names on that list of Scholarships Mark Richt and his “coaching staff” mis-managed themselves. Not Michael F. Adam$. I hate Michael F. Adam$ a lot worse than you, but he is in no way responsible for the 33 Scholarships
MIS-MANAGED
what of it?
August 3rd, 2011
8:07 am
What is this “bulldog way” you speak of? Is it leading the country in team arrests? Is it running a painfully predictable offense? Is not being able to manage timeouts? Wait… I’ve got it it must be the characteristics of a bulldog: horribly unintelligent, thick, in-bred, unnecessarily aggressive, not capable of cleaning its own ass, and a bad temperament
Nothing Could Be Finer
August 3rd, 2011
8:25 am
September 10, 2011
4:30 P.M.
Yall better be ready for the Lattimore show, Part Deux
AltamahaDawg
August 3rd, 2011
8:47 am
I just decided that I love Michael Adams.
St. Richt
August 3rd, 2011
9:14 am
The bus may be less crowded, but I’d be willing to bet whoever is driving it has a suspended license.
DawginLex
August 3rd, 2011
9:24 am
st richt
You are dam right I’m going to call people douchebags and other things if their comments warrant it. I am sick and tired of having to read it.
So sue me
You get on here and talk college football, then there is no problem. you take personal shots at UGA, the players, coaches etc, then you’re dam right I’m going to call you out.
These ignoroant drive by shooting comments are the things that are immature, not me.
I call it like I see it.
So sue me if you don’t like it.
gdawginkalamazoo
August 3rd, 2011
9:26 am
Mark Richt’s “Attrition through Addition” tour. Can’t wait to see this one. I think the Coach is moving in the right direction.
Glad to see Tommy Davis coming back for his degree. Just thought that I would look up some of his youtube hits. Man those guys could put the hurt on people. Him and Greg Blue. The days of fear in our secondary. You could see those defenses playing with fire. I hope that Richt let’s Grantham put that fire back into the defense. Make the opposition fear moving past the line of scrimmage.
St. Richt
August 3rd, 2011
9:29 am
Okay tough guy. I will let you rant and rave all you want from the safety of your keyboard. My original comment on this blog was that it was classless of Richt to continue to throw the recently departed players under the bus. And I stand by that 100%. If you don’t like it, then tell me to “STFU douche boy” like you did with the others… That is the epitome of class right there, as is your last post. “Sue me” Really?
Gator Mike
August 3rd, 2011
9:29 am
DAWGINLEX, you are totally correct in your assesment of the antics and run ins with the law of Gator players ove r the past few years. All of us long time Gators are not proud of it. UGA has also had a spike in the number of problem children, but it does not reflect negatively on the long term reputation of UGA. Knuckleheads are everywhere, and we all get out share.
Alos, I like the post of the UGA fans on here who do not care who is on Richts bus if they are not bought in to his program. Hopefully, Muschamp will have the same philosophy.
Good luck to all.
DawginLex
August 3rd, 2011
9:46 am
st richt
You can stop wasting your time trying to defend your posts from the past. We have all read them. I’m not proud of some of the stuff I’ve written either.
You hate UGA. We get it. You make fun of Coach Richt by calling yourself St richt. We get your agenda.
I’ll just be glad when the season starts and we can stop analyzing how many times I Crowell farted at weight lifting yesterday
David Pole-axe
August 3rd, 2011
9:52 am
Thms Brwn ?
Am I missing something here ?
You realize…..your list included:
*a HS player, *@ least one recruit, *several graduates,
and *Lgn Gry was on the list, correct…?.
…..or…..
are you just some sort of barking moonbat ?
St. Richt
August 3rd, 2011
9:54 am
I hear ya man. I think we are similar in a lot of ways in that we both get a little bit bipolar at times on these blogs in trying to defend our teams. And no, I don’t like Georgia. In fact, as a former GT player, I hate the Dawgs. But I still respect them and recognize the fact that they’ve absolutely owned us of late. I’m not one of those “head in the sand” Tech fans that doesn’t recognize that.
And I would have to applaud you as well for being a voice of reason compared to many of the other Dawg fans on these blogs that call for an SEC championship every year. Its those Georgia fans that make your fanbase look delusional at times.. Just like the loser GT fans that come in here and spout off about the “red panty” fiasco.
DawginLex
August 3rd, 2011
10:04 am
You played at Tech?
Dam, no wonder you hate UGA……..
Rheemus Says
August 3rd, 2011
10:08 am
NCAA needs to change the rule and only allow seniors to enter NFL draft. Colleges go out of their way to sign top high school players and cater to them. For example, Stafford & Moreno left as juniors. If both had stayed UGA possibly would have played for the National Championship their senior years. Its a dumb rule that hurts a college teams continuity and depth.
St. Richt
August 3rd, 2011
10:15 am
Rheemus, not gonna happen. Just be thankful that football players are required to be in school 3 years before becoming eligible for the draft.(as opposed to 1 year in basketball) But I understand where you’re coming from. As a Tech fan, it sure would have been nice to see Dwyer, Thomas, Burnett, and Morgan play last year.
Nothing Could Be Finer
August 3rd, 2011
10:22 am
Date Opponent Result
Sep. 3 Boise State…………………..W
Sep. 10 South Carolina………………..L
Sep. 17 Coastal Carolina…………….W
Sep. 24 at Ole Miss…………………..W
Oct. 1 Miss. State……………………L
Oct. 8 at Tennessee………………….L
Oct. 15 at Vanderbilt………………….W
Oct. 29 Florida…………………………L
Nov. 5 New Mexico St……………….W
Nov. 12 Auburn…………………………W
Nov. 19 Kentucky………………………W
Nov. 26 at Georgia Tech……………..W
DAWGMAN
August 3rd, 2011
10:23 am
Good luck Dawgs!
Vespa of Athens
August 3rd, 2011
10:34 am
Dang! There’s 33 scooters we won’t sell this fall.
gdawginkalamazoo
August 3rd, 2011
10:41 am
St Richt, Yes, if you are not “on the bus, you will be under the bus”. That’s slogan replaces “finish the drill” for this season.
T-shirts for everybody.
I-DOG
August 3rd, 2011
11:03 am
Wow, when you look at this llist all together like this… it really hits home how many 4 and 5 star type guys are not going to suit it up for the Dawgs. It is actually much worse than this list indicates because of all the guys we lost the year before that were young players that would have been upperclassman now that could have helped the team.
How about Robinson at OLB. We wouldn’t be worried about a 1 or 2 game suspension to Jarvis Jones nearly as much if that guy were still on the team with a good attitude. How about Dontavious Jackson at RB. J. Owens at OL if he were healthy, X Avery at RB or safety. M. Pugh probably doesn’t hurt as much because of our depth at CB, but he was highly recruited and now playing at Colorado. I think Chris Little would have been a redshirt Senior. How about having another 4 star offensive lineman in the system for four years available? Also Neyland Ball would be a senior OLB if I am not mistaken and Z. Mett has to be included, though like CB, we are OK at QB.
You have to assume you are going to lose a couple each year to injury and some attrition from things just not working out, but this year and last year are awfully long lists at some key positions.
BigTimeTechFan
August 3rd, 2011
12:19 pm
What size and color is UGA’s bus?
AltamahaDawg
August 3rd, 2011
12:56 pm
St. Richt, would you bet “any amount of money” it was Donnan driving the bus too?
John Galt
August 3rd, 2011
1:06 pm
Donnan could sell you an interest in an investment company that was planning to buy busses………
RedandBlackDAWG
August 3rd, 2011
1:06 pm
I think if I were a former player of an opposing team, I would want a better handle than the name of the opposing coach. At least something to indicate that you were a proud tech. team member.
FLA DAWG
August 3rd, 2011
1:11 pm
Columbus,
I’d say losing to CFU in a bowl is pretty much a collapse wouldn’t you?
The Grinch
August 3rd, 2011
1:16 pm
BigTimeTechFan
August 3rd, 2011
12:19 pm
The size of UGA’s bus is 9 x 1. Oops, my bad. 9-1 is our record against Tech the past ten years.
BWAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!
Atlanta87
August 3rd, 2011
1:43 pm
Are you sure its not 3 X 18 @ The Grinch. Ooopppppsss, my bad. 3-18 is your record against the Gators the past 21 years.
BWAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!
BigTimeTechFan
August 3rd, 2011
2:31 pm
@The Grinch – Nice, pretty good comeback