Isaiah Crowell among 3 tailbacks suspended for failing drug tests (UPDATED)
Updated throughout . . .
ATHENS – Three Georgia tailbacks – including star freshman Isaiah Crowell – have been suspended for Saturday’s New Mexico State game for failing UGA-administered drug tests last week, two sources familiar with the process and the decision confirmed to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
Crowell, junior Carlton Thomas and redshirt freshman Ken Malcome will have to sit out 10 percent of the Bulldogs’ competition dates, as is UGA Athletic Association policy for a first-time violation of the student-athlete drug policy. The tests, which revealed marijuana use, were administered last week and the results were confirmed via private lab on Tuesday, the sources said.
Georgia coach Mark Richt would not confirm the reasons for the suspensions beyond his statement that it was for “violation of team policies.”
“We have certain standards in all that we do and their actions do not reflect the Georgia way,” Richt said in a statement released by UGA Sports Communications on Tuesday afternoon. “They will serve their suspensions, learn a lesson and I’m sure will be better men for it.”
Richt failed to mention the suspensions during his half-hour weekly news conference two hours before the news release was sent. He was asked about both Crowell and Malcome during that session with the media. Richt declined subsequent interview requests through UGA spokesperson Claude Felton. None of the players involved were made available.
Meanwhile, No. 2 tailback Richard Samuel underwent season-ending ankle surgery on Tuesday morning, meaning the Bulldogs (6-2) will be down to their fifth-string ball carrier when they play the Aggies (3-5) this weekend at Sanford Stadium.
Sophomore Brandon Harton, junior Wes Van Dyk and freshman Kyle Karempelis as the only true tailbacks available to play Saturday. Harton (5-foot-6, 174 pounds) and Van Dyk (6-0, 203) are both former walkons who were awarded scholarships this past summer. Karempelis (5-9, 180) is a first-year walkon out of The Wesleyan School in Norcross. Only Harton, with 11 carries for 33 yards, and Van Dyk, with one for one yard, have played in a game this season.
Offensive coordinator Mike Bobo indicated after practice Tuesday night that Harton and Karempelis would be the Bulldogs’ first two options. Georgia could also utilize fullback Zander Ogletree in the running game.
“I think it’s an opportunity for a lot of guys to step up,” Bobo said. “We may have to change some things up and do some things different to move the ball. Other guys have to step up and make plays. I feel confident in those two guys and Ogletree and the backs and tight ends and receivers we have to move the ball.”
The Bulldogs could also give offensive snaps to defensive backs Brandon Boykin and/or Branden Smith, both of whom have played often on offense this season. And Bobo also dropped the names of two freshmen: Safety Nick Marshall and cornerback Damian Swann.
“There’s a lot of guys out there could be possibilities,” Bobo said.
It is the second suspension of the season for Crowell, who missed the first quarter of the Vanderbilt game for an academic-related issue. Thomas also missed the season opener due to a suspension for another undisclosed violation of team rules.
Crowell’s coach at Carver-Columbus High School, Dell McGee, traded text messages with him on Tuesday.
“I just reminded him of where he came from and not to take things for granted because they can be taken away from you,” McGee said.
Crowell was rated the No. 1 running back prospect in country when he signed with Georgia last February. He currently leads the Bulldogs with 689 yards rushing and 4 touchdowns.
Georgia athletic director Greg McGarity insisted that the suspensions were not delayed discipline disciplinary actions from the week of the Florida game.
“Absolutely not,” he said. “We don’t pick when we do certain things. When certain things are found, we act right then.”
According to UGA Athletic Association student-athlete handbook, a one-game suspension can be the result of violations of three different policies: Drugs, alcohol or academics. But a violation of any policy cannot be enforced at a coach’s discretion.
“At the point a violation is discovered, if a suspension is required the penalty is enforced for the next competition,” Georgia senior Felton said. “Whatever the infraction was, it would have occurred this week.”
Georgia athletes are subject to preseason drug tests in every sport, random drug tests by the NCAA and periodic/non-random tests by the athletic association. In most cases it takes five to seven days for a lab to analyze the results.
– Chip Towers
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1,146 comments Add your comment
BullDogMike
November 1st, 2011
7:39 pm
We need to bring in quality athletes that care about their university,as well as their teammates. The ones that will keep their noses clean and try to act like somebody. Maybe our coaches need to re-evaluate where they shop around for these kids. We get a lot of good ones every year, but most of those guys never see the field. They just do what’s expected of them and get the degree. It’s the so called star players we seem to have the most problems with. Pity, we can’t seem to get hold of the Mark Ingrams or the Marcus Lattimores .
Judy Power
November 1st, 2011
7:39 pm
I hope those young men grow up some. Imagine having all that talent and taking the chance at ruining your future. Geez! Well, they are young and I do hope they will learn from this and correct their behaviors!
ChristianDawg
November 1st, 2011
7:40 pm
Not really, no Dawg is a Christian.
James
November 1st, 2011
7:40 pm
I amazed at how much UGA football Tech fans watch..
Dawg4Life!!
November 1st, 2011
7:42 pm
These r all the haters alabama lsu lovers making comments…..Hopefully he does get kicked off the team so we can pick him up….Go CHear for your overrated LSU BAM BAM teams, hang on I got some poms here somewhere
Lakedawg
November 1st, 2011
7:43 pm
Anyone who saw the G=Day game Brandon Harton was best RB on field that day, bet that he gets 100 yards Saturday.
Carlton Thomas 2nd full game suspension, if for the same offense he has probably played his last game as a Dawg. Malcome hasn’t practiced well enough to earn any playing time , maybe he should have stayed gone when he left. Crowell?????? all that talent but nothing between the ears, very doubtful if he lasts 2 years.
Dawgs really need to get Gurley and Marshall in this recruiting class, both would get playing time next year as this current bunch don’t look like they want to be Dawgs.
Pensacola dawg
November 1st, 2011
7:50 pm
IC is weak, self centered. This needs to be his last year!
Still@theKool-aidBAR
November 1st, 2011
7:50 pm
Dawg4Life!!
Overrated LSU and BAMA? Dude you been in Crowell’s stash? I guess the WHOLE COUNTRY is stoned too cause everybody thinks LSU and BAMA are 1 and 1a.
Go have a brain bubblebath and keep making excuses for LAW BREAKING saying they are just “Kids”. I think I remember you wanting to PAY players too. Can you imagine UGA players with some Folding Money in their pockets? They would have strippers in their dorm rooms and drunk or stoned all the time.
BullDogMike
November 1st, 2011
7:53 pm
Lake dog, I agree with you. Crowell has the talent but no discipline. I don’t know if I can even give him two years.. I sure hate it, but they always learn too late, if they learn at all……..
dawgfan2003
November 1st, 2011
7:56 pm
Brandon Harton or Van Who?….Nope. Finally, Brandon Boykin at running back. Maybe the other #1 Brandon Smith. How about the Wild Dawg formation all game. This is going to force Bobo to actually show some creativity which could be a good thing. Maybe see if Nick Marshall wants to play some tailback? On a side note….IC needs to keep it together for the rest of the year. I hope Richt is recruiting more than 1 tailback this year. All I am seeing is Keith Marshall. Maybe we can flip one of the two tailbacks Alabama is steeling from Georgia.
Truth
November 1st, 2011
7:56 pm
Only UGA and Kentucky in the SEC suspend for first drug offense. At other schools this would not even surface.
Isaiah Crowell Among 3 Georgia RB’s Suspended For This Week’s Game | Los That Sports Blog
November 1st, 2011
7:57 pm
[...] (689 yards, 4 TD’s), Carlton Thomas (200 yards, 2 TD’s), and Ken Malcome have all been suspended for one game. It was curious why Georgia coach Mark Richt didn’t expound more on Isaiah Crowell and the [...]
dawgfan2003
November 1st, 2011
7:57 pm
Sorry “stealing”- before a Tech fan shows up.
Billy
November 1st, 2011
8:03 pm
Isaiah Crowell number ONE problem is, he is, not wearing Crimson………
Ryan M.
November 1st, 2011
8:04 pm
Yeah sure. It just HAPPENED to conveniently occur right AFTER the florida game and right BEFORE the game against a weak opponent. Right.
Old Dawg Fan
November 1st, 2011
8:05 pm
The majority of the team CMR has are undisciplined. Thus the “poor playing” and these continual issues with players. This primarily comes from recruiting undisciplined players-even though they are “great athletes” they will only execute to a certain level.
Remember the days when we recrutied “good athletes” but they were coachable??? I can reel off 20 names in 1 minute.
CMR has decided to try to find that one “great combination” of great athlete/disciplined/coachable that will win him a National Title. Hard to find and we have to continue to put up with the football he is producing in Athens! It is embarassing and shame.
Dawg4Life!!
November 1st, 2011
8:07 pm
LSU/BAMA OVERATed!! Absolutely and I’m not drinking the Koolaid.. ESPN LOVER…Most analyst were USC and PENN State LOvers…NOW BAMA LSU lovers until they LOSE THIS WEEKeNd!! You still have to play the game on Saturday!! ANd obviously U have never spent any time in a dorm room or FRAT…It is what it is… DRUGs ALKIhol…Naked ladies running around the Dorms…Naked Dudes TOO!! ALL PART OF THE EXPERIENCE!! LSU and BAMA OVERRATTTTEEED!!!
Hit A Single
November 1st, 2011
8:08 pm
To all the student athletes that do it the right way, thank you and I hope you can save college athletics because they are going downhill. It is kind of a reflection of our society with all the drugs, shootings, robberies and no respect for authority or their teammates. It is sickening and it is not just at UGA. It is at schools all over the country. Yea give them $2,000 more dollars so they can continue to buy dope.
hind tit
November 1st, 2011
8:13 pm
Drag out the run and shoot.
Dawg4Life!!
November 1st, 2011
8:13 pm
and food…maybe catch a movie…take girlfriend out to eat…??
Dawg4Life!!
November 1st, 2011
8:15 pm
Thank u Billy for being honest
Hit A Single
November 1st, 2011
8:17 pm
Dawg4Life – Believe me if you have been around a D1 program they are getting food, going to movies and taking a girlfriend out. Maybe we need to force parents to step up instead of expecting everything free.
Saw it Coming
November 1st, 2011
8:18 pm
@Dawg4Life— You are an idiot . On the suspensions, These young adults failed a drug test. I heard about it last night before it hit public today. I also heard this was known last week and they held off on the suspensions until this week. That is really teaching them something. Their team mates should kick their tails.
Lie Cheat Steal
November 1st, 2011
8:19 pm
mark richt knew.everybody from Adams on down knew. mark richt will get 3 more years at georgia. THAT’S THE GEORGIA WAY!
DAWG
November 1st, 2011
8:20 pm
GT Joe, how many times are you going to post the same stupid sh*t over and over? We understand you’re still bitter about the worst UGA team since 1996 beating you last year and the fact that Tech has won 1 game out of the last 10 but come on man, get over it. No amount of mudslinging, trash talking, or trying to invent rumors is going to change the fact that Tech students belong in the library, not on the football field.
Still@theKool-aidBAR
November 1st, 2011
8:21 pm
Dawg4Life!!
Yes that is really what the players will spend their money on.
That is the WISHFUL thinking to make MORONS agree to play more than just an EDUCATION.
Nobody makes the dumb jocks take the easy courses thus getting little to no value from/for their college education.
Dawg4Life!!
November 1st, 2011
8:22 pm
Ummmm…Do You think travel expenses r paid for….maybe a car…moped…usually has to be insured..unless bike…not leaving Athens….GAS….to transport oneself, maybe girlfriend..IF family isn’t from this State..And want to see the Mom and Dad..Christmas…Thanksgiving…Is all those expenses distributed to the players?? I know when I went to Athens…It was not
Hit A Single
November 1st, 2011
8:23 pm
If anybody knew this before the Florida game, we need to clean house. And I am as big a Coach Richt fan as anybody but this is sickening.
Dawg4Life!!
November 1st, 2011
8:24 pm
“Dumb Jocks”, I am definitely not drinking the Koolaid!!
Dawg4Life!!
November 1st, 2011
8:25 pm
Hit a Single, U must B a GAtoR Fan!!
Dawg4Life!!
November 1st, 2011
8:26 pm
There is nothing shady in athletics anywhere!! FIRE EM ALL!!
Dawg4Life!!
November 1st, 2011
8:27 pm
Tell the Truth..koolaid is a LSU/BAMA LOVR
Hit A Single
November 1st, 2011
8:28 pm
Dawg4Life – You are going to make me cry. You need to get your head out of the sand. It is a choice and privilege to be a student athlete. If you want to live the night life maybe you need to give up sports and get a job. Nobody is making these kids do what they are doing. None of them would change places with the regular student. Maybe they need stop spending their movie money on tattoos, blackberries which nearly all of them have, and all the jordan shoes.
UndertheGrandstandbySeymoreButts
November 1st, 2011
8:28 pm
Boys will be Boys! Know what I mean Vern? You can always judge a book by it’s cover.
Hit A Single
November 1st, 2011
8:29 pm
Dawg4Life – I am as big a UGA fan as anybody. Believe me the UGA athletes are fine and getting the education and college life they need. It is up to them and seems like we had 3 more choose not to follow rules.
Danyel ( Carver Tiger for life)
November 1st, 2011
8:30 pm
Punish him if he has done wrong but for all of you people that have all the negative things to say go straight to HELL. As long as he making yall some damn money on the side and winning games you love him. Yes I agree where are the senior leaders and mentors. Trust and believe once his family ( All of Columbus Ga) get down with him, he will be FINE. Like I said for all you haters kick rocks with no shoes on with a running start………
UndertheGrandstandbySeymoreButts
November 1st, 2011
8:31 pm
Enter your comments here
TampaGator
November 1st, 2011
8:31 pm
But they weren’t “conveniently” suspended for the Florida game……and won’t be for Auburn or Tech either. But will be for New Mexico State. Yep…..law down the law, Mr. Richt. Send them to church on Sunday instead….and get their sins prayed for….just in time for Auburn…….all will be good then. Yep….that’s the ticket…..I get to keep my job too. Thank you, Jesus.
TampaGator
November 1st, 2011
8:33 pm
Hit a single…..
Are you serious? This conveniently happened just in time for New Mexico State. Kidding me, right?
TampaGator
November 1st, 2011
8:36 pm
And for the record…..
Muschamp had two drug use issues this year…….and both times….when players tested positive for drug use…..they were gone. Jenkins was found with a half smoke joint the first time….but did not test positive for drug use. Then he did shortly after. Gone. Chris Martin test positive the first time….and was gone immediately. Just so you know. These three will be playing against Auburn and Tech…..but not against New Mexico State….and did play against Florida. HOW CONVENIENT…..
Say what you want about Muschamp…..he has laid down the law about drug use by players at Florida. Use….get caught….you are gone.
Dawg4Life!!
November 1st, 2011
8:37 pm
I am Sorry, I dont want to make u cry, it sounds that we all want our student athletes to make sound decisions in their academics, and personal lives; however, we also need to understand that some of these kids have been brought from…uummm…how should we say…Not so PERFECT HOUSEHOLDS…no church every weekend..and on Wedsdays…, so we should all work on providing proper guidance to allow these kids to become a more positive person in society, BUT I mean…U got to give them more than a few Months to make these LIFE LONG CHANGES!!
TexasDawg
November 1st, 2011
8:38 pm
Very easy to see that despite all the acclaim and celebration in signing Crowell, the best result will be when he goes away. He complians about the playb calling in his third game, gets suspended twice, and is obviously a doucebag regardless of the talent level. Go somewhere that noone cares if you have not real character. He is destined for a big, short term contract in the NFL, then a huge crash to earth when he and the posse are dismisseed as “never have beens”.
TampaGator
November 1st, 2011
8:38 pm
Now…ha ve a nice evening….and keep up with your stones and your excuses. We have come to expect nothing less from a lot of you Dawg fans.
Dawg4Life!!
November 1st, 2011
8:40 pm
TampaGATOR, U r Past Tense, Need to GOOGLE, HOW DO WE GET A W
Still@theKool-aidBAR
November 1st, 2011
8:46 pm
Dawg4Life!!
that is easy do what UGA does and play teams with losing records and you will get a W, but more L’s when you play a good team.
Is Ben Jones going to practice his gut punches in the pile against NMSU to ready for Auburn?
Hit A Single
November 1st, 2011
8:46 pm
Dawg4Life – If you think I am going to feel sorry for these kids you are crazy. They should appreciate the opportunity they have. If they were in that bad a shape as far as discipline we shouldn’t have recruited them. We can keep making excuses for them all we want and this is why college athletics is going downhill. Especially football and basketball.
Flying Tigers
November 1st, 2011
8:47 pm
Richt and ugag are hypocrites. This info was known before the gator game, but rev richt played then anyway and now suspends them for what new mexico. What a effing hypocrite. Guess that is what happens when you recruit the most classless bunch of punks and then call them a dream team. Remember all you ugag excuse makers, you still haven’t beat a team with a winning record this year. You lucked out with the sorriest SEC schedule since Vince keep um in remedial studies was your coach. You have always been classless and always will be as long as you can’t discipline the punks you recruit. Mr. christian Richt is exposed for what he truly is…a hypocrite.
AltamahaDawg
November 1st, 2011
8:48 pm
FINALLY! BuLLdawg and Flat Tire got some good news. Been a tough week for them. All giggly now.
Dawgie Poo
November 1st, 2011
8:53 pm
time to start licking your ball$ in the corner…DREAM TEAM…DREAM TEAM…….my A$$!!!
GregKennesaw
November 1st, 2011
8:54 pm
Look, it’s simple, except for the fact that they have certain skills at football, these student/athletes would never set foot on a college campus exceptt maybe to break into car.