‘Time management’ the toughest part for Georgia’s Isaiah Crowell
ATHENS — Isaiah Crowell is learning lessons right and left these days, sometimes the hard way.
Crowell
Take Tuesday, for instance.
Tuesdays of game weeks are always extremely busy. Georgia holds its weekly press conference, which brings dozens of media members into town, all needing content in advance of that week’s game. The Bulldogs, of course, open the season Saturday against Boise State. Crowell, a freshman phenom who will play a significant role in the game, is the subject of much interest. So everybody wants to talk to him.
Crowell was instructed to be available for interviews after practice on Tuesday. But instead of showing up for 10 minutes as instructed, Crowell blew them off.
This did not sit well with Georgia.
So UGA sports communication personnel tracked down Crowell, reportedly at an academic tutorial appointment, and brought him back to Butts-Mehre Heritage Hall afterward. It was after 10 p.m. when he finally showed up. He was greeted by seven reporters who had waited around to hear from him (another four or five bailed out). I was among the reporters who stayed.
To Crowell’s credit, he was polite and accommodating when he finally arrived. He was also contrite when asked about making the adjustment to big-time college football, which comes with all kinds responsibilities and demands beyond gaining yardage and holding onto the football.
“It has been overwhelming,” said Crowell, who attended classes all morning Tuesday, had meetings and practices in the afternoon, then tutoring in the evening. “In high school, if you didn’t do something, there wasn’t too much going to be said about it. If you didn’t go to treatment, nobody cared. Sometimes I didn’t even go to class. Nobody really said anything about it. But here, any time you’re one minute late, somebody will know about it. Time management has been the toughest thing for me.”
Crowell is still working on that. Saturday we’ll find out how that football part is going. By all accounts, it’s going well.
“He’s every bit as good as advertised,” quarterback Aaron Murray said Tuesday. “The kid has turned people’s heads every day in practice. He’s a tremendously talented running back. He’ll show everyone this year. He’s going to make some plays that people’s jaws are going to hit the ground like, ‘Wow, that kid just made that move.’ ”
Said offensive coordinator Mike Bobo: “I’ve been really happy with him. I think he’s going to be a great player here. Is it going to happen game one? I don’t know, but I think he’s going to be a great player. Just let the guy play football and let’s see how he develops.”
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271 comments Add your comment
The Truth
August 31st, 2011
2:25 pm
Calhoun? Where the heck is that? Do ya’ll even have a traffic light or indoor plumbing up there? Why don’t ya’ll come on down to South Georgia and see what happens to your little football team.
Last time I checked, IC had more offers before his junior year than your no-name linebacker has collected during his entire mediocre career.
SEC Fact Finder
August 31st, 2011
2:26 pm
I am an SEC fan who also works in the SEC in various sports. I am not a UGA fan, but as part of the SEC I want to see all these kids do well in the classroom first and on the field second. These young men and women are on their own for the first time in their lives and time management is the leading indicator whether a kid is going to make it through school and finish with a degree. The same thing applies for our daily lives and how successful we are.
Mr. Crowell was an outstanding High School player and many many UGA fans are hoping he brings that same type of play to the Georgia. He is in good hands with the folks at UGA and they understand the importance of graduating their players.
If we spent more time insuring our players earned their degrees and learned valuable life lesson than how many touchdowns they scored on saturdays the schools themselves would be better off and the players would be better off as well.
Good luck and if the young man does not have that great game that many fans expect from him, please remember that the amount of pressure placed on these young people is a heavy heavy load.
He will make UGA proud if he is given the opportunity on the field and the classroom.
Woodstock Dawg
August 31st, 2011
2:30 pm
They had to go get him out of a academic appointment to meet with the media. I wonder if our pritories are screwed up. I like this kid already. GO Dawgs!
DahlonegaDawg
August 31st, 2011
2:30 pm
Hey Chip,
How bout keeping that to yourself next time instead of being a ‘tattle-tale’ to the entire state of Georgia. I am sure Crowell is getting fussed at enough without you calling him out. Sorry you had to stay late on a Tuesday..must be a rough job getting to cover the sports across the state of Georgia. I bet Lewis Grizzard was a big enough dawg fan to just go grab a snack at Raisin Canes or the Varsity and not to complain about dumb stuff like this.
typical dawg fan
August 31st, 2011
2:31 pm
mr. 1 eye, they’s a buncha folks sellin them flags on ebay. thats where i got mine. you a junior fan to?
KJ
August 31st, 2011
2:33 pm
I’d be willing to bet good money that none of the OMG HE SKIPPED CLASS IN HS trolls would have a prayer of getting accepted into UGA.
That’s awesome that you all got that sweet Perfect Attendance certificate in 10th grade, but I have some bad news for you; that and a quarter will get you a game of Donkey Kong.
JK
August 31st, 2011
2:35 pm
Where in the article does it say that the academic tutorial appointment conflicted with the press conference? Read it again. Nowhere does it say that. In fact, it infers that the tutorial was probably scheduled after the press conference and they had to go get him after the press conference was over.
Wizard
August 31st, 2011
2:36 pm
Crowell is a stud running back, we will all forget that guy from last year’s name latti something.
No Dawg
August 31st, 2011
2:39 pm
I didn’t realize the bulldogs could tell time
1eyedJack
August 31st, 2011
2:41 pm
typical dawg fan, Jr. is a crybaby. Liked his daddy though.
Rest of SEC is green with envy
August 31st, 2011
2:44 pm
Oh why oh why Isaiah didn’t you come star at our school. Now we have to get our brains beat out by you the next 4 years. Oh the humanity!
RevThomas
August 31st, 2011
2:45 pm
Go Dawgs – not to be confused with the O.T. prophet Isaiah http://www.wedgeorgia.com
typical dawg fan
August 31st, 2011
2:46 pm
his daddy was tha man. junior doin the best he can i guess. i’m gonna keep rootin for him cause of his daddy. he don’t never win nothin, he sure does sell a bunch of tshirts don’t he.
Walmartdawg
August 31st, 2011
2:49 pm
Just let him play.
Contractor
August 31st, 2011
2:49 pm
KJ,
You’re an idiot. No one cares that he skipped class, but the fact that he admitted it to news writers with the NCAA on everyone’s butts right now was not smart. Trying actually thinking before you speak, or type.
Nothing Could Be Finer
August 31st, 2011
2:51 pm
Oh why oh why Isaiah didn’t you come star at our school.
————————————————-
SC didn’t even recruit the kid.
The competition he faced in high school was less than mediocre.
Spurrier & Co. went after and got Shon Carson instead. A stud who played against stud competition.
jay
August 31st, 2011
2:53 pm
What a dumb thing to be complaining about.
Wally
August 31st, 2011
2:54 pm
The point of this story is what? That Crowell should have shown up for a media-related lobotomy instead of going to an actual university academic-related meeting?
The NCAA and its hypocrite media parasites are corrupt to the core.
UGADawg16
August 31st, 2011
2:55 pm
Holy crap – some posting on this blog need to get off their high perch. Cut the kid a break. I know my first quarter of College was the toughest – I can’t imagine having to do it under a microscope.
Hey Chip, easy with the headlines, “Punctuality an issue…” Really? So this has happened repeatedly? Kinda made me think “Oh no, another Washaun “Me First” attitude.” I like to see kids do good, especially when they seem to be good kids. ALL of them, not just the headliners…but I guess that’s why they call’em headliners, huh? Those are the ones we read about. I don’t know, seems like the headline might have been a teeny bit misleading.
UGADawg16
August 31st, 2011
3:06 pm
Tim – man I hope you’re right. I hope all the defenses the Dawgs face are “gunning” for IC. It’d be really nice to have that kind of a decoy. Although I doubt too many DCs, DL, LBs, etc. are losing sleep worrying over a guy that’s never been on the field as a player (sidelines included) for a single snap of NCAA football.
JM
August 31st, 2011
3:06 pm
The next Jasper Sanks.
UGAmutt
August 31st, 2011
3:09 pm
Skipping classes doesn’t mean Jack. I skipped plenty of BS classes in High School and the only thing that it affected were the teachers perceptions of me. Not SAT scores or my overall GPA. The fact that he is going to tutorials in college and working on his time management now is what matters. You can get away with that BS in pretty much every HS in the country if you have the academic accumen to back yourself up. College will be different, as evidenced by his CURRENT approach (and the fact that there are more people to hold him accountable). Who cares that he skipped Keyboard Typing and German II as long as he is dedicating himself to his studies where it counts? I’d say most of the haters are hypocrites. The rest of you need to lighten up.
Mark (another one)
August 31st, 2011
3:10 pm
Those first few weeks of their freshman year, many are overwhelmed with normal student responsibilities. These kids have an awful lot to deal with and Crowell has more than most. Its a learning curve, and I haven’t heard anything to be upset with. He will make mistakes, and the coaches will help him when he does.
I also remember my senior year of high school. I didnt attend class much either and as long as I was still getting A’s no one seemed to care.
Chip, thanks for the article and waiting around to speak with him. I believe the sports coverage in the ajc os great.
akitadawg
August 31st, 2011
3:13 pm
Much to ado about nothing. Dawg Nation, let’s not get bogged down in the minutia. Focus on the victory at hand Saturday night. Go Dawgs 24-14!
DawginLex
August 31st, 2011
3:13 pm
Good lord NCBF
Spurrier got a 2nd rate RB compared to Crowell and we already have the best player in florida committed and a great shot at Keith Marshall.
We are set. To say Crowell is no good and doesn’t compare to your recruit makes you look like an idiot.
typical dawg fan
August 31st, 2011
3:20 pm
missin some classes ain’t that big a deal. i quit school went back an got my ged. couldn’t tell no difference in tha way i ran a bobcat or a ditch witch after i got the ged. i just know i was prouder after i got it. can’t imagine what it would feel like to get a georgia diploma. go dawgs!
UGAKev
August 31st, 2011
3:23 pm
I keep hearing Boise States defense is so great????
Let’s take the scores from the 3 best teams they played
Virginia Tech W 33-30
Oregon State W 37-24
Nevada L 31-34
It looks to me that Boise State’s Defense pads their stats against the garbage teams and gives the illusion that they have a Alabama type defense.
Win P
August 31st, 2011
3:23 pm
Time management…why did it take 5 years for UGA and Caleb King to determine that Caleb was academically challenged? I’m sure they have some kind of monitoring program or does the NCAA prohibit that level of supervision as a negative in their student development?
tony
August 31st, 2011
3:23 pm
Leave Crowell along before the pressure causes him to quit the team. We need that young man!
UGAmutt
August 31st, 2011
3:24 pm
Man, I love hacking up NCBF on these AJC blogs. SC homer. Carver-Columbus is a div AA school in Columbus, GA. They are well known throughout the state as a POWERHOUSE. They routinely travel to places like Gwinnett County(where I played at Brookwood against D. Pollack at Shiloh and D. Greene at South Gwinnett) or Buford (like this year) or LaGrange or anyone that’s willing to schedule them. Hell, in 08-09 (with IC) they Played Woodward (College Park), Northside (Warner Robbins), Gainesville, and Troup. All great HS Football programs.
AltamahaDawg
August 31st, 2011
3:25 pm
You guys just didn’t know how to do it apearantly. I could skip classes in high school, and the teachers still thought I was their golden boy.
Win P
August 31st, 2011
3:37 pm
@ATL Sport Fan….it’s covered under freedom of speech. Fortunately, for most of us you don’t have to know what you are talking about to express an opinion.
Troup Co. Dawg
August 31st, 2011
3:44 pm
Uga will make a merchandising machine out of this kid…I hope he can keep it all together on Saturdays…and I would also like to see him do well M-F if possible..i’m not a UGA grad, but I love The Red And Black more than anything. I’ve seen this kid play locally at Callaway Stadium…ya’ll better get ready for a Superstar running back. He is the real deal..yet he is human like the rest of us! Keep the fire-breathing media dragons away from this cat and he’ll be one of the Greatest! Sic Em’ Dawgs !
1eyedJack
August 31st, 2011
3:49 pm
Those poor nerds over on the Tech blog really believe they are going to beat Georgia this year…..really, I’m not kidding.
typical tide fan
August 31st, 2011
3:54 pm
My septic tank company is running a special this month. My grand momma comes and does the work in a bikini. Usually a $26.50 value, but free this month with ever deep suck cleaning.
Flat Tire on I-95 in Jacksonville
August 31st, 2011
3:55 pm
Said Mike Bobo I think he will be another player we underutilize like always. We expect Crowell to run maybe 7 or 8 times a game straight up the middle. Other than that we need to make sure our other 10 running backs get some playing time. This is rec ball we have to play everyone because that is the rule
See no evil
August 31st, 2011
3:56 pm
People get real here! This dude is living up to the rap he had this summer – bad attitude and came in not ready to play. Do you really think that he will last for 3 years on the UGA campus? Next year it will be back to the drawing board after Bulldog fans start roasting this guy for underachieving because he didn’t live up to their lofty expectations (i.e. King, Ealy,…) The bulldog fans have set him up for failure rather than success, and it sounds as though he is more than willing to help himself to a faceplant.
kerryb
August 31st, 2011
4:01 pm
I like that he was worried more about his grades and tutoring than answering the questions of a bunch of lame reporters looking for a sound byte.
kerryb
August 31st, 2011
4:02 pm
Energy Vampire, you sure got your name right.
UGAmutt
August 31st, 2011
4:03 pm
@ Chip-
Did anyone ever talk to this kids teachers at Columbus to see if there was any evidence to believe he wouldn’t be able to handle the courseload? All I saw was that he finished his ACT early in order to be eligible to enroll. Thanks.
kerryb
August 31st, 2011
4:04 pm
See no evil is obviously a complete moron who does not know what he is talking about at all. Probably just a jealous Tech troller.
AltamahaDawg
August 31st, 2011
4:05 pm
I think Chip wishes he could have blown it off when deciding if to write this particular story at this point.
kerryb
August 31st, 2011
4:06 pm
UGAmutt, I guarantee you he is not the only one going to tutoring. EVERY college athlete has tutors to make sure they maintain their grades when they have to spend a lot of time practicing for their sport.
kerryb
August 31st, 2011
4:06 pm
Agreed, this is a pretty stupid story. Sounds like Chip was one of those that was mad because he had to wait on him.
UGAmutt
August 31st, 2011
4:08 pm
Are you kidding AltamahaDawg? The editors there are salivating at the fact that this article already has four pages of posts. They are the spin-doctors who thrive on our preseason turmoil, and two days before kickoff is the perfect time to throw a well-spun academic/PR wolf-cry in here.
dan
August 31st, 2011
4:09 pm
Pshhh… I’m so tired of hearing this ” Time management” garbage. THERE IS NO SUCH THING AS TIME MANAGEMENT. It doesn’t exist! And even if it did, “managing time” defeats the purpose. Its not important to “manage time” its important to prioritize it. What you place priority on is what will come to fruition. If you goof off, screw around downtown after games, slack off in workouts, and don’t watch enough game film: then football isn’t a priority to you. If you put in the work in the classroom, gym, practice field, all the while mixing in a little fun after a WIN: then being a good UGA football player is a priority. If you only care about going to college to get your draft status up, then your priority is to make yourself look good at the expense of others. If your priority is to win championships, then your priority is to work within the context of the team to insure that team success happens..
The last few years, the priority for most of these players has been to worry about their draft status and then goof off downtown. There has been little or no buy in to being a Bulldog. For them to get back into championship form, Richt needs players who place the priority on doing things the right way on and off the field, like he had early on in his career. And its up to him AS THE HEAD COACH, to set that expectation. Things have been too “Loosey Goosey” the last few years. Time to get it done.
kerryb
August 31st, 2011
4:12 pm
UGAmutt, what makes you think this is an academic/wolf cry? So he’s getting tutoring. Like I said most student athletes do. I like the fact that he is getting it to stay on top of his grades and he took that more seriously than talking to reporters. The problem is that the reporters got their panties in a wad from having to wait so they try to make something negative out of it.
Dog fanatic
August 31st, 2011
4:14 pm
UGA alumnus, and all other UGA graduates on this blog. Most Everyone in my family went to UGA…except for me. I graduated from VSU. I am the black sheep. I do, however, love and follow the dogs. Now, my question is this…
Seeing as how I never attended the University, am I allowed to be a fan, wear hats and shirts with a G on them? Or should I just hide all of that stuff and pretend that I don’t really love the dogs? Let me know what I should do with all this stuff.
Maybe there should be a blog that can only be accessed by actual UGA alumni by way of student ID or ss#..?
Win P
August 31st, 2011
4:16 pm
Earlier, there was a good post about a HS football coach who was also a good teacher and took personal interest in his player’s classroom responsibilities. IMO that maybe be the exception, and more often they compete for the student’s time and interest. I base my opinion on two experiences. First, in the early 1960s, if you were in the Business School at UGA, then you took a class, under Dr. Alto Charles, called Business Law. Dr. Charles like Dean Tate was a legend. One of the many stories about Dr. Charles involved a football coach who requested that Dr. Charles consider changing his course grade to benefit a football player. Dr. Charles agreed to change the player’s grade and gave the player a “F”. The other experience involved my son who attended a small Christian School and played football for another legend, Bill Thorn. The teachers were jealous of Thorn’s success and the demands he placed on his football team. The teachers forced Thorn to resign.
Go Dawgs!
August 31st, 2011
4:28 pm
Crowell was instructed to be available for interviews after practice on Tuesday. But instead of showing up for 10 minutes as instructed, Crowell blew them off.
This did not sit well with Georgia.
So UGA sports communication personnel tracked down Crowell, reportedly at an academic tutorial appointment, and brought him back to Butts-Mehre Heritage Hall afterward.
This is why we should go ahead and pay players and put everything above board.
He was pulled away from an ACADEMIC TUTORIAL session to do a freaking INTERVIEW?!?!
THIS is what’s wrong with college athletics today. College football is a BUSINESS, and a big one at that. Everyone gets paid except the athletes- and please spare me the “they get a free education” line, it’s old and tired. Maybe back in the 50s, 60s, 70s and even into the 80s you could make that case, but not today. The schools make millions, the merchandise distributors/manufactuers make millions, the “Logo” companies make millions off these kids pimpin their gear, and surprise, surprise, the NCAA gets a cut from everyone. Not the players though.
The NCAA gives Marvin Austin(UNC) and the others a 2 game suspension last season for taking a free plane ticket to Miami, thousands of dollars in bar tabs, hotel expenses and meals, and who knows what else.
Meanwhile AJ Green sells ONE jersey litterally off his back for $1200 and gets hit with 4 games.
Terrell Pryor and company simply TRADED signed merchandise for tattoos and bar tabs and they got hit with 5 games each.
What’s the difference? One group took money from an agent/booster
The other group made money off MERCHANDISE and the NCAA is NOT going to stand for that and not get a cut.
The NCAA is just as crooked and guilty for this mess as the street agents rouge boosters are, but because they make the rules they can do whatever they want.