RB Ken Malcome returns to Bulldogs 24 hours after asking to transfer
Georgia's Ken Malcome takes a handoff in the Coastal Carolina game, his only carry so far this season. (Photo provided by UGA)
ATHENS – Ken Malcome is back on the team.
Just 24 hours after meeting with Georgia coach Mark Richt to ask for a transfer, the big, bruising running back from Decatur was back to ask for a reinstatement on Thursday. It was granted, just as Richt said he would do the previous night.
“If Ken came to me tomorrow and said, ‘Coach, I lost my mind and I’m sorry and I’d love to come back and compete here at Georgia,’ I’d hug his neck and say ‘come on,’” Richt said after Wednesday’s practice.
That’s apparently just what happened. Malcome’s return was announced in a brief release from UGA Sports Communications Thursday afternoon: “Ken Malcome, who indicated to Coach Richt Wednesday he wanted to transfer, has requested and been granted a return to the team.”
Malcome’s reversal was not a major surprise. Richt seemed to be imploring Malcome to return through his comments to the press after announcing his decision to transfer:
“What happens is, most everybody we recruit was probably the best player on the team or the one of the best players on their team. Just by virtue of the fact they were that talented, they showed up wanting to play. Now I’m not saying that’s the case. There’s a lot of guys with tremendous work ethic. But whether they work hard or don’t ‘t work hard, some of these guys are just flat out better and they play. And then [players] get into a situation where they get around other athletes like them and now you have to compete. Learning how to do that is very difficult sometimes. Some guys will see the mountain as too high to climb and then decided to go somewhere else. And that’s fine, if that’s what’s going on. I want all these guys to get an opportunity to play. I want all these guys to get an opportunity to get their education. But I think there’s some value in fighting for you job.”
Richt said he is constantly hearing from players who are considering transferring or quitting football. Three-time All-American David Pollack was one.
“A lot of guys will feel that way. You hear it a lot, ‘I’m thinking about going.’ And then they stay; and then they compete; and then they get bigger, stronger; and then they get more seniority and there’s freshmen behind them going through the same thing. Other guys might transfer or graduate and then, all the sudden, there they are, they’re playing. And they’re so thankful they stayed around and saw it through.
“I’ll never forget David Pollack coming into my office as a freshman during camp. He was down. He said, ‘I can’t do anything right. Coach Garner’s all over me. I think I might have made a mistake. I don’t know if I can play here.’ Pollack’s the most decorated player in the history of Georgia football and he had those doubts, too. So it’s hard to all of the sudden compete at a level you just never had to.
“I’m not saying these guys are bad kids at all. It’s just that sometimes it comes as a shock to them and instead of fighting they choose to move on. There’s a bunch of good kids that decide to do that.”
Coaches said Malcome missed practices Tuesday and Wednesday because of a “stomach bug.” He has had one carry for zero yards to this point and did not make the travel roster for Ole Miss last weekend.
An all-state player at Southwest DeKalb High, Malcome (6-0, 221) was expected to step to the forefront this season with Georgia’s attrition at tailback. But after Washaun Ealey and Caleb King exited the program, Malcome fell behind true freshman Isaiah Crowell, junior Carlton Thomas, linebacker convert Richard Samuel and former walkon Brandon Harton on the depth chart in preseason camp.
There was no such reversal of fortune for cornerback Derek Owens. Richt also announced Wednesday that the sophomore from Jacksonville was seeking a transfer.
That means 14 players have left Georgia since the end of last season with eligibility remaining. That includes NFL early draftees A.J. Green and Justin Houston and medical retirees Jeremy Longo and Tanner Strickland.
Richt acknowledged that the rate of attrition is greater than usual. Asked if that was due to more demands within the program or fewer opportunties due to a lot of freshmen earning playing time, he said: “Probably a little of both.”
But the turnover does not seem to have Richt overly concerned. “All it’s going to do is allow us to sign a full boat of recruits again, which will be a positive thing if we bring in the right guys,” he said.
Richt was asked if having to deal with player transfers this week was distracting as the Bulldogs prepare for a major SEC showdown with Mississippi State.
“No,” he said. “It comes with the territory. It hasn’t hurt my preparation. All my film study, all the decisions help the staff make, that’s already been done. It has not kept me from doing my job this week.”
|– Chip Towers
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139 comments Add your comment
Ron Burgundy
September 29th, 2011
4:45 pm
Stay classy, Boo-boo bear.
meh
September 29th, 2011
4:45 pm
yeah c’mon! glad to have to back Mr. Malcome.
Joey
September 29th, 2011
4:48 pm
Ataboy, Boo!
That’s the spirit. Work your up the ladder. We need you in the games.
Go Dawgs!
hornblowermg
September 29th, 2011
4:49 pm
good. glad the boy is back. now he needs to become the man that everyone has been looking for.
ga gator
September 29th, 2011
4:56 pm
I thought Malcome looked the best of the RB’s at this years G Day game.
Beast from the East
September 29th, 2011
4:57 pm
Glad to hear the young man decided to stick it out. Best of luck in the future, Boo.
I suspect he will work his tail off for Coach Richt after this second chance.
dawg from a distance
September 29th, 2011
4:59 pm
If BOO comes on maybe we can put Samuel back at LB where he is really needed.
Welcome home Boo
Go DAWGS!
Class of 77
September 29th, 2011
5:01 pm
Glad you’re back, Boo.
Now get after it, young man!
Bigdsel
September 29th, 2011
5:03 pm
Glad to hear Boo has some fight left in him. Coach richt won’t give up on you so practice hard, play hard and make coach and the bulldog nation proud!!! Gooo dawgs
JAWJeRDAWG
September 29th, 2011
5:04 pm
Last night at 10:52 pm on Chip’s blog, I stated this about Ken Malcome:
“If I were Boo, and was hurt but knew that I really wanted to play for UGA, I might just look within and believe that with a medical red-shirt, I could sit out this year and get both my mental and physical issues resolved, and come back next year with a vengence to practice hard and earn a fair chance for playing time.
He seems to be a good, hard running back, and I hope he might give this some thought. .. ”
Looks like you did just that, Boo. Welcome back!
Now go out and make it happen for you and UGA! Best wishes.
Go Dawgs!
GTBob
September 29th, 2011
5:05 pm
Great decision. Enjoy being 5th string. That is, until next year when you fall even lower on the chart.
Augie Doggie
September 29th, 2011
5:05 pm
Soft. That’s Malcome,Richt and you, Towers with your censored blog. Yesterday it was “hit the road”. Today we are all huggy kissy. Excuse me, I’m getting nauseous.
P_The_Ricker
September 29th, 2011
5:09 pm
unreal…..you’ve blocked me?
I was counting on him all summer and ...
September 29th, 2011
5:10 pm
Glad that he came back. His groin was/is an issue and eventually he may want ot just get in the game and pound it up the middle. I sure like his bruising size.
Good luck Ken ………………..Hang Tough! You can do it.
Go Dogs.
boots
September 29th, 2011
5:21 pm
Welcome back. Let’s GATA, Dawgs. This can still be a great year.
KB
September 29th, 2011
5:26 pm
Boo would be the starting B back at tech maybe PJ should call him.
South GA Dawg
September 29th, 2011
5:34 pm
Boo, Damn good to have you back son now lets get after that a–. You got something to show these people the bulldog nation is behind you 100%
Delbert D.
September 29th, 2011
5:36 pm
There are a lot more decorations these days. I would have thought it would be Trippi or Sinkwich.
Mountain Dawg
September 29th, 2011
5:38 pm
Crap or get off the pot.
Delbert D.
September 29th, 2011
5:39 pm
@”Guaranteed Miss. State out coaches, out hustles, out conditions and out hustles Georgia this weekend. GUARANTEED! History does not lie”
The thing about history is that it is all in the past. The future, however, is uncertain.
ole riche
September 29th, 2011
5:40 pm
Call me crazy but i have a feeling that someone lit a fire under Boos ass and thats why he decided to return. I hope he works his ass off and gets into the rotation. If he steps up we may be able to add some depth back to the linebackers with Samuel
interesting
September 29th, 2011
5:46 pm
should i stay or should I go– he will leave at the end of the year when they recruit another back. Need more OL and LB
patrick
September 29th, 2011
5:50 pm
Who’s “Malone”? Nice editing in the title AJC…
Panther Pride
September 29th, 2011
5:50 pm
Son keep your head up the Bulldog Nation needs you, IC-1 needs you.. There goes Boo, there goes Boo!
Im so over Richard Samuel
September 29th, 2011
5:55 pm
He has ZERO vision.
He has “trucked” exactly zero tacklers.
He HAS made a few catches…..sure
But give Boo a chance
And I could care less about Samuels pass blocking.
It not like Murray has been upright anyway this year. Eleven sacks ?
Booooooo
doog food
September 29th, 2011
5:55 pm
glad he decided to come back…maybe “boo-boo” will let him play
Augie Doggie
September 29th, 2011
5:58 pm
Can’t you just see CPJ putting up with this BS. In the middle of the season, no less! What kind of coach has time to fool with this with his “career ending game” coming. He’ll lose to MSU but he will be coaching at GA until the cows come home.
Paddy
September 29th, 2011
5:59 pm
Boo….get out of the tub and make the club!!!!!!!!!!! Not original, quoting from Juan Pizzaro, the toughest baseball player I ever met.
dawg food
September 29th, 2011
6:01 pm
well…I never……….looks like he wants to play somewhere other than
the “splinter bench”..give him a chance….Please
Big Mike Dawg
September 29th, 2011
6:01 pm
Hmmmm… just quessing that Bobo let him ride on the short bus
Signature Victory
September 29th, 2011
6:04 pm
Is this a soap opera or a football team?
Did CMR give him a hug?
Did CMR give him a kiss?
Was it a wet kiss?
Stay tuned!
Big Dawg
September 29th, 2011
6:05 pm
Fellow Dawgs, having been down this road myself as a sophmore in High School and basically being a tackling and blocking dummy for the upper classmen. It is no fun, I tried to quit when I wasn’t getting to play in the games but my father made me go back and stood there when I asked the head coach if he would let me back on the team. Coach Richt is a class act as he knew this kid was down more on himself than anything and by putting it out that he would welcome him got him back. I am not a betting man but I think this just might be the turning point in this young man’s life and we will start seeing him to get to play now. As Coach Richt showed him that he believes in him. I know what I am talking about as one of the assistants came up to me after I returned and told me how glad he was I came back and it made a world of difference in my attitude and the effort I then started putting out not only in practice but working harder to get better. It paid off because I made all state both on the offensive line and defensive tackle both my junior and senior years and got me that scholarship to plays for the Dawgs.
Thanks Coach Richt and Go Dawgs
Delbert D.
September 29th, 2011
6:06 pm
Paddy – Was Pizarro the pitcher that hit John Roseboro on the head with the bat?
Delbert D.
September 29th, 2011
6:06 pm
Paddy – Sorry, that was Juan Marichal of the Giants.
GATA
September 29th, 2011
6:11 pm
Glad #24 came back. Hopefully he sees the opportunity he has to compete in the SEC, which is a springboard to the NFL.
As for “Bobby Dodd” and “GTBob”, get your punk-a$$es off this board. UGA will deal harshly with you at the end of November.
Blast from the past
September 29th, 2011
6:18 pm
Ken Malcome facebook post: working hard everyday to get where I belong shut blood sweat and tears to get dere just let me rush fa 2,000yds and make 50 mill den I’ll call it quits until dat day come I’m here…….
D-MAN
September 29th, 2011
6:19 pm
He’s a 20yr.old,these are some of the toughest times to figure out!
Good luck Boo,glad to have you back,lets smack MSU in the mouth!
jawga boy
September 29th, 2011
6:19 pm
Great one Big Dawg. Real life story. those of us from the old school, had our dad’s “grinding on us to get back on the team”…..and many of us had no choice other than to live up to our dad’s expectations. Today, the general sentiment is “You do what you think is right, and I’ll support your decision”. You know, we live and die by our decisions… and we must be allowed to pass and fail. I watched my youngest son give up football, due to size ( not competitiveness)…. and you guys know what….HE’S STILL MY SON! And a great one. Better man than I.
01HAWK
September 29th, 2011
6:19 pm
He will eventually leave again. When you quit a job most of the time they ask you to come back. Eventually you realize that you should have stayed gone instead of coming back.
He will leave again.
Bob
September 29th, 2011
6:20 pm
What does Boo Malcome and Mark Richt have in common? They both quit on this team. Birds of a feather……
Dumb Move
September 29th, 2011
6:20 pm
The sky is falling over in Athens and you should have gotten out while the gettin’ was good. You WILL have a new coach next year and never see a down at RB.
Agusta Dawg
September 29th, 2011
6:25 pm
GO DAWGS. There are plenty of us that still support UGA and CMR we want forget all you have done for UGA..
Paddy
September 29th, 2011
6:25 pm
Delbert D…if the circumstances every presented themselves, Juan would have kicked “old man” Wrigley in the nuts if he thought it would helped the team win!! He had the strangest rule. If you talked to him more than 1 minute ( teammate, coaches, fans or media etc ) you had to give him $5.00. Nobody ever refused.He always had a ton of “Murphy Money” Most coversations were very short. Wish the teams I rooted for had a few players like that.
GATA
September 29th, 2011
6:27 pm
DUMB MOVE change your name to DUMB A$$
Augie Doggie
September 29th, 2011
6:29 pm
Boo should be a starter for the MSU game. It would be great therapy for his hurt feelings. Think of all the poor souls he would “truck”.
Spanky
September 29th, 2011
6:30 pm
Anybody notice the original heading read “MALONE returns day after quitting”? 1) Who is Malone? 2) MALCOME wanted to transfer, not quit…there is a difference.
Bob
September 29th, 2011
6:31 pm
@Augie…since he had one carry for zero yards against Coastal’s third team defense, I say he deserves to start.
BS Patrol
September 29th, 2011
6:35 pm
Even Chan & Curry couldn’t make a mess like you guys have. And that’s saying something.
Delbert D.
September 29th, 2011
6:35 pm
Paddy – That’s great stuff. The only things I knew about him were from maybe a game or two on TV, Street & Smith’s annual magazine and my baseball cards.
Signature Victory
September 29th, 2011
6:35 pm
Will Samuels be moved back to linebacker?
Will Boo stay with the team?
If not then will Samuels move back to RB?
Can the fans cheer at the right time?
Stay tuned!