UPDATE: UGA TB Isaiah Crowell ‘day-to-day’ with groin injury
Georgia freshman tailback Isaiah Crowell stands next to coach Bryan McClendon as he sits out "The Chute" drill due to a gimpy left leg. (Photo provided by Guy Prokay/dawgtime.com)
***UPDATED***
ATHENS — Georgia freshman tailback Isaiah Crowell is battling a groin injury that severely limited his participation in Friday’s practice, the Bulldogs’ 10th of preseason camp.
However, both Crowell and UGA head coach Mark Richt insist that the injury is not serious and should not significantly hamper Crowell’s preparation for the No. 22-ranked Bulldogs’ season opener against No. 7 Boise State in the Chick-fil-A Kickoff Game at the Georgia Dome in three weeks.
“It’s not really that serious,” said Crowell, speaking to reporters Friday for the first time since arriving at UGA. “It was just weak or whatever, but it’s not serious.”
Crowell was not dressed in a green jersey, which signifies an injured player. However, he moved slowly and gingerly through the Bulldogs’ drill work early in practice and actually stood to the side for several of them. Occasionally he would limp noticeably and his left thigh was heavily wrapped in an ace bandage underneath his pants. See THIS VIDEO posted by our friends at DawgTime.com,
“It’s a groin that’s bothering him,” Richt said. “We don’t think there was a pull. But if you get enough practices in a row and going live and all that stuff, sometimes you wake up in the morning and you just can’t go full speed. So that’s what happened with him. We shut him down today. It’ll be day-by-day. We’ll see how he feels.”
Given the Bulldogs’ precarious situation at tailback, any injury at that position could be perceived as cause for alarm. Redshirt freshman Ken “Boo” Malcome, who was already hampered with a groin injury, did not attend Friday’s practice because “he’s not feeling too good,” Richt said. Richt was not specific other than to say it was “not a concussion.”
Meanwhile, former walkon tailback Brandon Harton — he was just awarded a scholarship Thursday night — just returned from a real concussion and remained in green on Friday. That left the Bulldogs with recently-converted tailback Richard Samuel and Carlton Thomas, who is suspended for the opening game.
For what it’s worth, Thomas had “a really nice day of competition” and Samuel had the run of the day in Friday’s full-contact workout.
“It was the first play of [teamwork] and he ran over a cornerback and kept on trucking for about another 30 yards or so,” Richt said. “That was a big run for him.”
Later it was learned that Samuel suffered a strained quad during the practice and he, too, is listed as “day-to-day.”
Meanwhile, the buzz of the day Friday was it was the first opportunity for reporters to interview Crowell since he’s been on UGA’s campus. As was consistent of his personality throughout recruiting, Crowell was a man of few words but also of quiet confidence. He actually addressed the fact that he’s not one ramble on with his answers.
“I don’t like speaking but I know I have to,” he said while sitting on a stool in a scrum of reporters and TV cameras.
Some of the “highlights” from Crowell’s 15-minutes session with the media:
- On the thrust of attention: “I think I’ve handled it well. I don’t let it get to me. I try to keep a level head. That’s what I do.”
- On his goals for the season: “I just want to get out on the field and help my team win. That’s the main thing for me.”
- His favorite moment so far: “Being out there practicing and the scrimmage at Sanford Stadium.”
- Not really. I just want to do whatever God wants me to do. I don’t really look at it like that (referencing question about Latt and Dyer).
- Biggest adjustment: “Really the hardest thing for me has been like time management and waking up early. I’m not a morning person and that has been the hardest thing for me. Physically it hasn’t been that hard for me. I feel like I fit right in.”
- Does he feel weight of expections: “No sir. I don’t really think about it a lot. My coach is always telling me I’m not the savior. I’m just coming out here and working hard and trying to help my team.”
- On influence of strength coach Thomas Brown: “He’s helped me work out and has kept me motivated with the different things we’re doing and he’s helped me learn the ins and out of Athens.”
- On advice he got from Herschel Walker: “He was telling me to keep a level head and work hard and help my team work hard and do whatever I could to help my team.”
- On notoriety around campus: “I get recognized a little. I try to not stay out too much because I know people might know who I am. That’s the main thing. I try to stay [cordoned] off.”
- On who has delivered the biggest hit on him. “No one has really hit me that hard. Not yet I don’t think.”
- Whether he can have similar impact as Marcus Lattimore last year: “I think I can. I think Lattimore had a great season last year. He helped his team a lot. I think I can do the same.”
- On being heavily counted on: “I expected to play and everybody to look up to me. I knew I had to be a leader and work hard for everybody to follow me. I expected that.”
- On the grind of preseason camp: “It’s a lot of work and it’s tiring and it’s hard. But I love football and I’ve been doing this all my life, so it’s fun to me.”
- How much of playbook he’s mastered: “Like 90 percent. I know most of what I’m doing. I’ve just got to learn a few more things in there and I’ll be set.”
- On rumors he showed up out of shape with bad attitude: “I heard all that but there’s wasn’t nothing to it. People are going to say what they want to say.”
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359 comments Add your comment
DawginLex
August 12th, 2011
12:35 pm
Hey Grohbo
Aren’t you due back at the Nursing home?
Spike 80DF
August 12th, 2011
12:37 pm
i wish my wife would pull my groin…
It's just football
August 12th, 2011
12:43 pm
************* FIRE CMR NOW !!!!!!!!!! ***************
No other coach would allow a player to wake up with a sore leg! This is pitiful
Dr. Jekyl
August 12th, 2011
12:43 pm
Makes me wonder about his offseason running/conditioning with that type of injury.
Lowcountry Bulldawg
August 12th, 2011
12:43 pm
I certainly would like for you to say that to my face. Awfully brave behind a keyboard, but you bring my daughter into it and I promise you I will mop the floor with you.
NDawgC87
August 12th, 2011
12:44 pm
DID he just join Jasper the friendly ghost club?
the kansas of the sec
August 12th, 2011
12:44 pm
what about us, the mighty jayhawks. we won the orange bowl about the same time uga beat hawaii in the sugar bowl. we haven’t done much lately, but…hey, they haven’t either. birds of a feather.hahahahahaha
aarh
August 12th, 2011
12:45 pm
1eyedjack & others- It wasn’t Nevada State.it was Nevada, but I get your point.
UGA Alumnus
August 12th, 2011
12:47 pm
@Shaun
August 12th, 2011
10:30 am
I mean, don’t get me wrong, it was an embarrassing loss to UCF. But they only scored 10 on our D when they were used to scoring 30 and 40 on their opponents. It was our offense that couldn’t get motivated.
DawginLex
August 12th, 2011
12:47 pm
thank not than
Make comments about my kid hiding behind a computer screen?
Lowlife
duece coupe
August 12th, 2011
12:50 pm
go jackets
ugakev
August 12th, 2011
12:51 pm
dawginlex, I agree …I am sure Indiana fans would of gave a kidney for our last 10 years. I can’t even believe the moron that had the brain to post that garbage. But you and I know they just want to get a rise out of us. We could win 3 national championships the next 4 years and they will talk about the year we didnt win it and how the program is beginning its downfall again. Pathetic..people get a life and let us Dawg fans enjoy how great is to be a Georgia Bulldawg. I don’t mind some of the opposing comments that makes some sense. But when you say Georgia and Indianas programs are the same you are making yourself look dumb. Atleast say Georgia had an Indiana type season last year.
TampaGator
August 12th, 2011
12:51 pm
If you guys lose Crowell during the year…..the running game….if it isn’t already…..is in some serious trouble. I watched Samuel run before…..a straight ahead runner with no lateral movement skills….and not much quickness….and fumbles a lot. And I think Figgins is playing FB because you don’t have an SEC type ready FB ready to play….and that is not a good thing for your offense. Also….not proven talent at WR. Charles’ play will determine a lot of your success on offense. I know the freshmen WR was fast in 7 on 7 playing with his buds this summer….but he has not proved anyting on a football field in the SEC. Time will tell…..but Georgia has a lot of questions to be answered on the offensive side of the ball….and those answers will greatly determine what type of season you have. You look good on paper….but the SEC is not made of paper.
AltamahaDawg
August 12th, 2011
12:51 pm
Look at it this way, if we had won that bowl game, do you think the “shock” would have been as great, and the changes as urgent?
Straight Jacket
August 12th, 2011
12:52 pm
Did Moma let you out of the basement Shaun? Springer will be on soon and we can stop looking at the Tech annuals!
Get Real
August 12th, 2011
12:52 pm
Calhoun High School shut down Crowell. Don’t you think SEC defensive coordinators will figure out how? Typical UGA. Always thinking they are better than they really are.
Bill Lewis
August 12th, 2011
12:54 pm
Tampa Gator..you have enough to worry about than the Dawgs!
Tech '10
August 12th, 2011
12:54 pm
Uga did have a down year last year to be sure, but it isn’t common by any means. Tech had our first losing season in 14 years. For both our sakes, lets put last year when it belongs.. the past.
DawginLex
August 12th, 2011
12:54 pm
So Crowell blocks for himself?
Get real you are an idiot.
go crawl back behind the counter at mcdonalds
TampaGator
August 12th, 2011
12:54 pm
“We could win 3 (make that 2) national championships the next 4 years and they will talk about the year we didnt win it and how the program is beginning its downfall again.”
ukagev…….
This could be a direct quote from a Georgia fan talking about the Florida program today. Funny.
dawgfacedboy
August 12th, 2011
12:59 pm
Injuries are part of it and groins nor hamstrings are things to take lightly. IMO we don’t have an adequate backup so this will never be a good thing when Crowell is hurt (that is assuming he lives up to the hype in the first place).
Hollywould
August 12th, 2011
12:59 pm
DawginLex, Destin Dawg, Paul in destin, low coumtry, and all the rest. What is that sound I hear? Ah, SILENCE as your fortune telling on the bingo trial in Alabama produced absolutely nothing. When is the next downfall for AU? Come on, don’t quit now/ I need the laughs. War Eagle!!
DawginLex
August 12th, 2011
1:00 pm
JAWJeRDAWG
I wish I knew where he lived.
Chip wouldn’t have to bother banning him
@football insider
August 12th, 2011
1:01 pm
Your comment about 240 lb backs, well there are quite a few tailbacks in nfl at 230 + , smauelkls is a legit sub 4.5 forty, by the way lattimore at sc is playing at 230 lbs this year but is only 6′ ,Richarson at bama 5′11 230, kniles davis Arky weighs 230 , all big backs what football are you inside soccer?
DawginLex
August 12th, 2011
1:02 pm
Hollywould
Show me a post where I said anything about the trial. all I have said and read is what sheridan said about the bag man-if he cam forward -trouble-if not, it goes away.
Pretty sad though to always wonder if the other shoe will drop one day???
AltamahaDawg
August 12th, 2011
1:03 pm
I don’t think there is any chance that the medical staff at Georgia is taking anything lightly. That’s not up to Crowell or Richt. If he was still out there running around, it’s just what they say it is.
I-DOG
August 12th, 2011
1:04 pm
Moleman,
All Indiana has to do to catch up is win the Big 10 twice in the next 10 years and finish in the top 10 5 times including #3 in the final poll and they can be considered the Georgia of the Big 10.
georgiagirl
August 12th, 2011
1:09 pm
Football insider,
Just keep blowing that HOT AIR, nobody really cares what you, go hide back in your little hole.
GO DAWGS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
AltamahaDawg
August 12th, 2011
1:10 pm
I’m pretty glad I don’t have to go on a Auburn site and rejoice “ah another day went by and my school’s football program didn’t get the death penalty”. That cannot be a fun way to enjoy the year.
Guess what, our program didn’t get shut down in court yesterday either, beasue that was never an issue.
I know. The trophy makes it all good. But the players won the trophy. I’m sure that’s something they wouldnt trade anything for. BUT as fans, that is history now, are are the ones left waiting for the other shoe to fall. I’m not saying it will, but you know, and we know, that you wonder IF.
Hollywould
August 12th, 2011
1:11 pm
DawginLex, you are always the one who says ” I have a source, I heard a reliable rumor, etc…”
Seems like u are the one who is wondering what is going on all the time. You are the National Enquirer of these pages. War Eagle!!
Blue
August 12th, 2011
1:11 pm
Hey, JB…and Boise ain’t Central Florida.
DawginLex
August 12th, 2011
1:12 pm
Nah afraid not einstein
I told you what I said. I quoted sheridan. That’s it.
I don’t give 2 craps about auburn.
Enjoy your title.
Hollywould
August 12th, 2011
1:14 pm
Altamaha, The rejoicing is in the fact that my fellow bloggers who bash AU were wrong AGAIN. I have said it since all this talk started and everytime u fortune tellers are wrong I will be there to laugh again. Wae Eagle!!
kb
August 12th, 2011
1:17 pm
Tampa gator, I think Tavares King is a proven SEC receiver and Charles will see some time flanked too will , the question is what receiver does Florida that is SEC caliber and if there is on who will be QB? Big choice there Brantley or a freshman. Ogletree will be just fine at FB , Figgins was moved for depth reasons , + UGA stacked at tight end.
Dawghater
August 12th, 2011
1:17 pm
Darn
DawginLex
August 12th, 2011
1:17 pm
Hollywould
Here is the difference in you and me.
You get on a UGA blog and bash UGA after beating us for the 1st time in 5 years.
In 2002,2003,2004,2007,2008 and 2009, not 1 time did I ever think of getting on an Auburn blog and bashing auburn.
So you enjoy yourself OK?
papadawg
August 12th, 2011
1:17 pm
Injury already. There goes your comparison to Herschal Walker. aka Superman
Dawgs Least
August 12th, 2011
1:17 pm
JB, just after panicking at seeing Samuels in the hole, the Boise State linebackers smile after he fumbles the ball…
TampaGator
August 12th, 2011
1:18 pm
Bill Lewis…..
No worries coming from me, my man. The Gators are in very good hands with Muschamp and company.
DawginLex
August 12th, 2011
1:19 pm
2006, not 2004. Another big difference. i actually thought AU got hosed in 2004 and history has shown i was right.
you would never defend Georgia regardless of how we did
aeronathan
August 12th, 2011
1:19 pm
SEC RBs are dropping like flies lately…
Dawgs Least
August 12th, 2011
1:19 pm
Tavarres King “We just didn’t play with energy today”. Damn dude, if you can’t dominate in practice against your 2nd string defense then you have no chance at beating Boise State,SC,UF,Tenn,etc.
I’d have benched you right then and put in a WR that can give me all their energy.
DawginLex
August 12th, 2011
1:20 pm
Tampa
Reality is you don’t know whether you are in good hands or not.
Beth Savage
August 12th, 2011
1:21 pm
Football Insider is Chris McConnell IMO
Blue
August 12th, 2011
1:21 pm
TTOUGH44: I asked Central Florida in addition to Hawaii…they didn’t think it was that bad.
Hollywould
August 12th, 2011
1:22 pm
Dawg, Wrong again, I have never bashed Georgia, only the bloggers. I will agree to disagree/have a good day. Since we are going on history what is the alltime records?
Dawgs Least
August 12th, 2011
1:23 pm
Chip, you got to admit that its risky at best to play Samuels at RB with his history of fumbling and not playing the position for a year ?
Its just ignoring the fact that UGA misses Ealey & C.King.
Dawgs Least
August 12th, 2011
1:26 pm
New just gets worse every day. Turene lost to prep school,Crowell groin injury,King playing with no energy,2nd defense dominates 1st offense,Murray no tds in a scrimmage… Damn.
GaDawg
August 12th, 2011
1:27 pm
Heard it was a groin pull from team member.
Sept is nearly here
August 12th, 2011
1:28 pm
As I said before – it’s pretty sad when a school that used to be one of the great football schools (Tailback U) has to rely so heavily on a true freshman. That shows what a low depth UGA football has dropped with CMR. But with UGA’s so soft schedule this year – there should be no excuse for finishing at least 10-2. Then the great high and mighty fans will sing the praises of CMR. Barffff.