RBs coach Bryan McClendon likes what he’s been seeing out of Crowell
ATHENS — I’m busy cobbling together some notes from this morning’s rain-soaked practice. But in order to hold you over I figured I’d just go ahead and share some of the observations of running backs coach Bryan McClendon with regard to a certain freshman tailback everybody seems to be expecting something from this season.
In a nutshell, McClendon — who recruited Crowell to UGA– believes that the five-star prospect out of Carver-Columbus High is finally back in his element. That is, working out and practicing football on a daily basis.
Following is a rough transcription of my conversation with Coach Mac that I’m attempting to get to you fast (so pleae take it easy on me, Typo Police):
UGA RUNNING BACKS COACH BRYAN MCCLENDON ON ISAIAH CROWELL:
How’s he doing?
“He’s doing a good job of studying; He’s doing a good job of learning it. That stuff comes pretty quick to him. And that happens when you have a guy that, one, wants to be as good as he wants to be; and, two, football is serious to that kid. He takes it very serious.”
On dealing with expectations and off-field stuff:
“I talk to him about it almost daily. What I tell him is he has to understand that he can’t do anything about that. He can’t do anything about what people write or what people expect of him. The only thing he can do is come here and want to be good and not worry about it and not sit here and say, ‘these people are expecting this and that from me.’ You can’t do anything about people’s expectations. The only thing you can do is focus on doing the best that you can do. I think that’s helped him out a bunch.”
Crowell’s personality:
“He’s just a great humble kid who wants to be good in football. And that’s what he’s doing. He’s doing everything he can to make sure he’s doing that.
What did you see in him that made you want to recruit him so hard?
“The biggest thing that I saw, I went to a practice, it may have been his sophomore year in high school, and I saw then how much he loved just to practice. He’s out there clapping and being excited about playing and having fun going out there and playing football. That’s one of the things that excited me the most, to see a guy that talented that didn’t take practice for granted. He goes out there and he wants to get better. He’s been the same way out here. He’s focusing on getting better, focusing on every rep. He’ll come to me and ask, ‘what can I do to get a little bit better. That was the biggest thing. I thought, this guy has what it takes to be something.”
What advice you giving?
“The one thing I tell him all the time is he can’t help what people outside his circle expect from him, what they want from him. He has to understand that everything he does, one, he’s doing it for the team, and two, he’s doing it for himself. And three, he’s wants to do something that’s going to make his family and God proud of him. I think thatj’s something he has to ask himself about in everything he does.”
What about dealing with notoriety?
“It’s going to be hard for that kid to pump gas without people knowing who he is and asking him something. It comes with the territory, so to speak. Now he’s just got to handle it.
Definitely, going from Columbus to here, it’s a whole new ballgame, as far as media and everything else you have to deal with. I think he’s handled it as well as he could have. And he’s done stuff he’s had to learn from and he has learned from it. There’s always going to be a growing process in that area.”
What have you seen from running back position in general?
“I definitely think we’ve got a chance to be every steady and very effective in the backfield, barring that we do anything to screw it up.”
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86 comments Add your comment
snuton
August 7th, 2011
12:41 pm
FIRST?!
chilidawg
August 7th, 2011
12:41 pm
Let’s go dawgs!
RabidDawgFan
August 7th, 2011
12:43 pm
Good news. Do your think Crowell and make us and Georgia proud.
Frank Lane
August 7th, 2011
12:43 pm
that’s it? Is he showing extraordinary talent? Has he broken one yet?
Dawg Days
August 7th, 2011
12:44 pm
GATA
RJ Voorhees
August 7th, 2011
12:44 pm
first
SECOND
August 7th, 2011
12:45 pm
I’ll second that.
Goldenrod
August 7th, 2011
12:45 pm
Georgie lies and cheats and gets hit with secondary violations.
Gonna be some hell to pay in November in the ATL!
Bigdsel
August 7th, 2011
12:46 pm
Hope he helps us win games
Skyler
August 7th, 2011
12:46 pm
Everyone’s hearing Crowell is having a really hard time. Talk radio has had multiple sources
saying “it is not good,” right now. Going from RB to LB was much easier for Samuel to adjust
than moving back from LB to RB. May have to live off the pass until everyone finds footing.
chickenman
August 7th, 2011
12:48 pm
MY GOD A FRESHMAN
Sopwith Camel
August 7th, 2011
12:50 pm
Chip, tell us how he’s doing on the field………..running with the tator!! That’s what we want to know. Has he shown any flash of that talent that makes us think he IS going to be able to live up to his hype and be a great one?
D A DoubleU G
August 7th, 2011
12:50 pm
It is no surprise that every program recruiting him (including their fans) would talk about how much he was needed at their school, and that he would be the second coming of Jesus if he suited up for them.
Now that he is in Athens, all the Bammer Jammers, War Tigers, and Lizards want to deem him too small for SEC play, and critique rumors about his attitude or work ethic.
Isaiah just needs to be Isaiah, and enjoy his time at the wonderful University he has the privileged of being at.
Less than 4 weeks!!!!
Go Dawgs!!!
Sopwith Camel
August 7th, 2011
12:52 pm
Skyler, what else are you hearing?
txdawg
August 7th, 2011
12:53 pm
GOLDENROD – exactly right! Dawgs have that big Auburn game in November. The rest are farm ups to the SEC championship game…
txdawg
August 7th, 2011
12:55 pm
OOPS – warm ups…
RabidDawgFan
August 7th, 2011
12:56 pm
Boise is in for a RUDEEEEE awakening. UGA is now like a ticking time bomb just waiting to explode. Watch and see what I’m talking about. These boys are ready to go. They’re hungry, they’re meaner and being put through all that crap during the off-season will make you mean. I can’t wait until Boise meets up with them.
D A DoubleU G
August 7th, 2011
12:56 pm
well if Skyler said it……
then it just HAS to be true!!!
zzggyy
August 7th, 2011
1:06 pm
Does McClendon really believe that God is going to be proud of him regardless of what he does?
BluTurf
August 7th, 2011
1:06 pm
Our Broncos are going to waltz into Atlanta and shell-shock the big bad SEC Bulldogs. Heck, Central Florida even beat them in a bowl last year!
KellenMoore4Heisman!
Jack
August 7th, 2011
1:14 pm
Now all Richt needs to do is replace the G on the helments with a gator with Uga in it’s mouth and tell the team they will wear it until they earn the right to have it removed! Heck let’s just run the table this year.
CDAWG
August 7th, 2011
1:14 pm
Why doesn’t Richt sit Malcome down and let his groin heal???? How can playing him right now be good for anyone, it’s only going to get worse!
Ed
August 7th, 2011
1:16 pm
@BluTurf: We stunk last year. We know it. I’m not going to recite the obvious could’a would’a, should’a and just leave it at that. Central Florida was probably better than any team Boise played last year, by the way.
The Boise “shock” factor is no longer in play; you’ll be favored. The more the better.
Also, Georgia has had as much time to prepare for this as Boise, so the advantage of playing one real game a year is neutralized.
Georgia has at least as much incentive as Boise. Georgia can’t tolerate another bad loss.
Maybe size and speed don’t matter. You better hope so.
They’re going to play the game so let’s just see what happens. Please check back after the game.
SC Dawg
August 7th, 2011
1:20 pm
Blue is a good color for Boise State- and after the game in ATL; it will be black and blue……..Go Dawgs!! Git’em hounds!
dawgfan
August 7th, 2011
1:20 pm
It’s funny that Skylar says that “everyone’s” saying that he’s having trouble when I can’t find one single article anywhere stating that he’s struggling. Actually, everything I’m reading said he’s doing quite well and will likely be playing in the first game – just needs to work as pass pro, as does any freshman RB.
BCS
August 7th, 2011
1:23 pm
Here’s your crystal football, mutts. Bwa, bwa, bwa, bwa. Not so fast flea bags.
slydog
August 7th, 2011
1:24 pm
You know what: None of this matters until Sept. 3rd. I’m pretty sure IC is very, very talented and will be very productive at UGA for at least three years (barring injury). As long as he goes to class, follows team rules, takes ownership of the position, he will be just fine. I’m not predicting any SEC Offensive POY awards, All SEC 1st teams, but I believe he will be highly productive for the Dawgs over the long haul. CMR and BoBo will have to be very creative this season. The Oline is being patched back together, so we should not expect the exact same breakout season that Dyer and Latimore enjoyed. But I think he will have his moments and he will have games he will takeover. Let’s not forget, Samuel ran for over 200 yards in an SEC game before. If UGA uses him in a power set instead of their usual cut back scheme (ala Denver), he can be dangerous. Then use cut back lanes for IC.
Lowcountry Bulldawg
August 7th, 2011
1:32 pm
McClendon was a Wide Receiver correct? So I do have a hard time with him coaching our Running Backs. IC comes up to him and asks him what little things can he do to get better? How can McClendon really answer that, because he was never taught those as he never played the position.
BIDDAWG
August 7th, 2011
1:37 pm
Was skyler talking about samuel or IC
Evil Genius and Urbanator
August 7th, 2011
1:41 pm
Evil: Hey Coach, what do you think about playing freshmen?
Urbanator: You know, I play some in spot postions, spot occasions.
Evil: Yeah, I know we used Latts a great deal, but it is so much easier using skill players in prominent roles, as they tend to get it better, but the big boys have a harder time because of the size, strength and speed difference from High School to SEC.
Urbanator: We know we can never depend on freshmen DE, DT, LB, for significant contributions, but for spot duty.
Evil Genius: What do you think of all of those mutt fans over in Athens thinking all those puppies are going to make that bunch better?
Urbanator: Laughter….Ah ha Ah ha Ah ha….they are clueless..
Lowcountry Bulldawg
August 7th, 2011
1:43 pm
You do realize you just typed a imaginary conversation don’t you.
BirdDog
August 7th, 2011
1:43 pm
Just stay healthy and focused. Hate to hear about Malcome limping noticeably, groins can take forever to heal. That means IC may be needed week 1. Keep the O-line healthy and UGA should be pretty good with Figgins and Samuel bringing over 500 lbs of muscle up the middle!
Evil Genius and Urbanator
August 7th, 2011
1:44 pm
3 to 1 odds, Crowell does not live up to the hype.
2 to 1 odds, Crowell has academic trouble
100 to 1 odds Crowell wins the Heiman
8 to 1 odds Crowell leaves after 3 years and has an average college career.
Pitbull
August 7th, 2011
1:44 pm
Figgens at FB reminds me of when Dooley was coaching and would take his third best Offensive Tackle and line him up as the FB to block for his tailback on the toss sweep. It was a wonderful thing to watch.
Hopefully all of the Tech posters are at their Sunday afternoon SAA meeting (Self Abusers Anonymous) today and will stay off of our blog.
I want an SEC title and to beat Tech by 50 points this year. Go Dogs!!!
Evil Genius and Urbanator
August 7th, 2011
1:45 pm
Heisman..
Evil Genius and Urbanator
August 7th, 2011
1:48 pm
Got to love all this preseaon enthusiasm by Uneducated sidewalk, non alumni, UGA fans. 99 percent of these guys will not be heard from after the first two losses UGA suffers in the first two weeks and the wheels fall off after their annual loss to Florida and a freshman and sophomore class of players from Auburn beats them in the brush field call Samford stadium.
SUFFOLKDAWG
August 7th, 2011
1:49 pm
2 to 1 odds you are an idiot and still live in your mom’s basement.
Evil Genius and Urbanator
August 7th, 2011
1:49 pm
Bringing up Dooley from the 70’s is hilarious. Bring up Dooley after Tennessee spanks UGA.
Randall "Pink" Floyd
August 7th, 2011
1:52 pm
Good stuff. Jealousy breeds contempt, Isaiah. Let ‘em hate.
Evil Genius and Urbanator
August 7th, 2011
1:52 pm
Actually me and the Evil Genius are at my Beach house overlooking the beach in S.C. Sitting on the deck with the Nascar race on the television and cleaning our gear for some Marlin fishing this evening. Life is good.
Goldenrod
August 7th, 2011
1:53 pm
Welcome to GT’s world of Probation!
We cheat we steal, we the real deal.
Whatcha mean we have to give the trophy back????
I think UGA’s BIG DAWG ate it!
Evil Genius and Urbanator
August 7th, 2011
1:55 pm
Do my post seem stupid to anybody else??????
I love this time of year
August 7th, 2011
1:57 pm
Nothing like dawg nation in august gonna hate to see football season end in 4 weeks
GeoffDawg
August 7th, 2011
1:59 pm
I listen to a fair amount of sports talk radio – 1.5 to 2 hours a day commuting for work, and I have yet to hear any major concerns about Crowell’s work ethic or attitude. Please be more specific in your sources because if it’s only coming from internet blog comments, it’s hard to give those reports much credibility.
I’m wondering if these are just rampant unfounded rumors based off the fact that Murray and Jones have taken him under their wing. I think a few chicken littles have misinterpreted that and run with it.
murray county mystic
August 7th, 2011
2:00 pm
the Evil Genius is bringin’ da pain today!!…i like ya game Genius…this UG-ly crowd is absolutely clueless…when I first read the title of this column I thought someone got arrested…my bad…
GeoffDawg
August 7th, 2011
2:01 pm
Evil Genius, it’s Sanford Stadium. Samford is a small college in Alabama. “Genius” may be used ironically in this case.
Pitbull
August 7th, 2011
2:03 pm
“Evil Genius and Urbanator” sounds like he still has his cherry.
Florida folks need to realize that their head coach is coaching Mississippi State and that when Misschump strikes out with the Lounge Lizards that they will need to make another change.
It should take about 3 years in Zook time. By then FSU and Miami will have the top Florida HS talent.
GeoffDawg
August 7th, 2011
2:05 pm
Lowcountry Bulldawg, McClendon was a WR in college but if you’re going to recruit and hire people that you think have a lot of coaching potential, I think you have to give them the chance to coach lots of different positions. That’s probably the only way they’ll have the opportunity to move up the coaching ranks from position coach to coordinator to head coach. If Coach Richt didn’t give him this opportunity, he’d likely go somewhere else that did.
Evil Genius and Urbanator
August 7th, 2011
2:05 pm
That is how we regard the stadium in Athens, a small stadium that sits beside some old railroad tracks in an area that sits in the cess pool of Georgia and is ranked so low in so many stadium ammenities that is should be a Division II stadium or maybe an FCS stadium.
Down South Dawg
August 7th, 2011
2:05 pm
I remember the night we played HAWAII ! in the Dome.
murray county mystic
August 7th, 2011
2:06 pm
thats right Evil, it’s Sanford Stadium…the way I keep the title straight is by recalling the tv series “Sanford and Son”…both funny…one a sitcom…the other a joke…
GeoffDawg
August 7th, 2011
2:07 pm
BluTurf, nobody really cares what you have to say. Mostly because your team plays on blue turf in no man’s land of college football.
Evil Genius and Urbanator
August 7th, 2011
2:08 pm
Pitbull…we still own UGA and you know it, and my friend here Evil Genius’s team is beating UGA in recruiting, facilities and will make their streak two in a row.
Get used to saying “Former UGA Head Coach Mark Richt”…but the rest of the league is loving it, we love seeing Mark ruin a program and take NFL talent players and win 6 or 7 or 8 games a year, it makes it easier for us to win titles with the insane clown posse running the show in Athens.
GeoffDawg
August 7th, 2011
2:09 pm
Another irony, considering that Murray County probably leads the state in junk yards.
murray county mystic
August 7th, 2011
2:09 pm
@ Down South Dawg…i remember that game too…i remember the night you played West Virginia in the Superdome…good times…
Down South Dawg
August 7th, 2011
2:10 pm
Evil-DumbA$$—Pull your head out of your A$$—You are feeding on your own moronic waste!
Evil Genius and Urbanator
August 7th, 2011
2:11 pm
Down South Dawg
August 7th, 2011
2:05 pm
I remember the night we played HAWAII ! in the Dome.
———————
Everyone else remembers UGA playing West Virginia and UCF, and Colorado…err I mean losing to those schools..
Evil Genius and Urbanator
August 7th, 2011
2:13 pm
Forgot to mention that Richt scheduled Boise St because he thought their QB had graduated, oops…he said he made a mistake in scheduling Boise without doing some research.
That speaks alot for his confidence level in his puppies.
Evil Genius and Urbanator
August 7th, 2011
2:14 pm
Samford, Sanford, okay lets just settle for Stinkford….yeah thats the ticket…
murray county mystic
August 7th, 2011
2:14 pm
@ Down South Dawg…no need for language like that…what would CMR say?…
Evil Genius and Urbanator
August 7th, 2011
2:16 pm
He would cancel practice and hold a prayer meeting and a missionary trip.
Evil Genius and Urbanator
August 7th, 2011
2:19 pm
The entire nation is selling their UGA stock. Early in the summer it was UGA can win the east with a strong start, now people are seeing just how deep or lack thereof UGA is and are saying if UGA gets 7 wins they should be happy, but with the easiest SEC schedule in the conference if they do not win this year they never will.
murray county mystic
August 7th, 2011
2:24 pm
excellent analysis Evil…no depth on the o-line, a LB playing RB…somewhere between 5-7 and 7-5…at best…
Evil Genius and Urbanator
August 7th, 2011
2:39 pm
Final Analysis before we end our beatings on The UGA fan nation:
HC. Lacks Drive and passion to run a program. Once he lost some great assistants he lost control of the porgram.
OC- no other SEC program would hire him as an OC.
DC- strong coach, but does not have the support he needs to run ‘his system”, he will leave after the season.
Facilities: UGA made some improvements, but still ranks in the middle to lower half in the conference.
Players: school is located in a state with the 4th best High school talent in the US but has a tendancy to bring in players who need “special” guidance and “baby sitting” to keep them in school and out of jail.
Academics: good school
Party. Former No.1 Party school, now No 2 ..says alot about what your students are thinking of while in class ( if they go)
Stadium- a stadium that is hard to get to, no tailgating areas or limited taligating areas, and is full of trash days after a game.
Pitbull
August 7th, 2011
2:42 pm
Yea, Ben Epps Field is the best. All of that ugly metal that has to be repainted orange every year to keep it from rusting in the Florida humidity. It is appropriately named the swamp or perhaps the rusting hulk would be better.
It is an embarrassment to the SEC but what are you going to do with that bunch of losers wearing jean short cut offs with mullett haircuts.
murray county mystic
August 7th, 2011
2:45 pm
it’s over Pitbull…move along…
Pitbull
August 7th, 2011
2:48 pm
Looks like Evil Genius and Urbanator needs to get out of his mother’s basement.
And get your hands out of your pants and quit playing with yourself. Have some pride.
Meet a real girl to take care of you. For instance, I’ve been doing your mom for years.
I may even be your real dad.
Pitbull
August 7th, 2011
2:51 pm
Hey murray county mystic, too bad your brain isn’t as smart as your mouth.
murray county mystic
August 7th, 2011
2:58 pm
wow…let me soak that in for a minute Pitbull…you think about what you just posted, too…that’s just too funny!…what year did you graduate from UGA?…post of the day my friend…
Evil Genius and Urbanator
August 7th, 2011
3:38 pm
Pitbull,
Please Please Please, stop watching old Martin Lawrence comedy videos.
To all others, look at Pitbull and his post. This is what happens to someone who gets a GED from the State of Georgia. His hopes and dreams all died when his pregnant girlfriend in the 10th grade dumped him for another guy whose daddy owned a body shop and had a better chance of keeping her out of a trailer park.
Just Pitiful. Pitiful.
Terry
August 7th, 2011
3:45 pm
Evil Genius and Urbanator, I wouldn’t be talking about trailers, when your state is one of the biggest trailer parks in the country.
Evil Genius and Urbanator
August 7th, 2011
3:51 pm
At least in our state, the majority trailer dwellers are visitors and snowbirds from other states and they go home every spring. In Georgia it is a way to move without packing a truck or Uhaul. Just hook it up to your cousins truck and tow it to the next vacant lot.
Terry
August 7th, 2011
4:07 pm
Evil Genius and Urbanator, Keep telling yourself that, look it up, South Carolina per capita has more mobile homes than any other state in the country, can you say trailer trash heaven.
Lowcountry Bulldawg
August 7th, 2011
4:41 pm
Lose McClendon? Surely you jest…
GeoffDawg
August 7th, 2011
4:48 pm
Evil Genius and Murray County – you two need some alone time.
Lowcountry – I just mean that Richt wouldn’t have hired McClendon if he didn’t see some potential in him and that coaching away from your natural position is simply the conventional approach to working your way up the coaching ladder. For us, it’s a game, for the coaches, it’s their career.
Evil Genius and Urbanator
August 7th, 2011
4:58 pm
Just to inform you..I live in Florida, just have a beach house in South Carolina, and a beach house in St. Pete Beach. But the trailer thing does apply for Florida, see my response above. ^
GeoffDawg
August 7th, 2011
5:04 pm
Evil Genius, if you live in Florida, then surely you can’t be that informed as to the living conditions in Georgia. With the exception of Murray County, your description is a profound exaggeration.
Laughing@UGA
August 7th, 2011
5:09 pm
Is this the same coach that coached Easly and King? You have got to be kidding me you believe what he is saying.
Evil Genius and Urbanator
August 7th, 2011
5:18 pm
GeoffDawg
August 7th, 2011
5:04 pm
Evil Genius, if you live in Florida, then surely you can’t be that informed as to the living conditions in Georgia. With the exception of Murray County, your description is a profound exaggeration
________________________________________________
Wrong…
I was born and raised in Georgia, still have family in Georgia, still work quite a bit in Georgia, and still own property in Georgia. You must not get out much, travel the state a little and you will see the abundance of Meth infested trailer parks scattered throughout the state with quick hook ups on the trailers and trucks. Some for repo options.
Talk about living in a basement.
Well the storm has passed and we are headed out to find some Blue Marlin and anything else worth catching… I had fun rubbing you losers the wrong way. It is all in fun. Just please give your dog his chain back, it does not look good attached to your belt loop and your walmart wallet…..sorry Big Lots Wallet..
GeoffDawg
August 7th, 2011
6:33 pm
Evil Genius, I do happen to travel quite a bit around the state, the country and internationally. I have a lot of family in Florida as well. If your impression of Georgia is how you describe it, then you’re actively looking for the meth heads and the trailer parks. Given your temperment and obvious lack of itegrity and intelligence, I’d say that your knowledge of meth infested trailer parks is from first hand experience you POS moron. Enjoy your day loser.
Floridaalltheway
August 7th, 2011
7:02 pm
Keep Dreaming with this Deam Team Georgia fans. You will not be any good this year like always, CMR will be replaced by Jim Tressel.
GeoffDawg
August 7th, 2011
7:35 pm
Floridaalltheway=Evil Genius. Nice try coward.
AltamahaDawg
August 7th, 2011
10:45 pm
Lowcountry, I have questioned the promotion of McClendon to any major staff position, but being a WR and coaching RB is not the reason. Plenty of coaches in big time CFB are teaching something they didn’t play in college.
jbdawg
August 7th, 2011
10:50 pm
I don’t normally play with idiots like evil genious, but he is so wrong. As an alum, I was always shocked at how clean the campus was on Monday mornings. He obviously knows crap about the University of Georgia.
@sportsguru95
August 8th, 2011
8:00 am
Hey Goldenrod – Texting of accidentally calling some1 is not cheating, but giving some1 180 thousand is! Make sure ur windows r shatter proof before u throw stones!
Rdawg
August 9th, 2011
6:15 pm
I believe evil genius has swamp ass from being down in the swamp so long. Why are you commenting on a Uga story anyway? Nevermind there is no story going on in swampland nothing really to hype about Muschamp will be gone after this embarrassing season that is all