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
whats goin on?
November 2nd, 2011
5:54 am
sad…three “high” scores
questionable…insisting that staff knew only after Fla
hilarious…people laughing at staff for insisting
LogicalUS
November 2nd, 2011
6:10 am
Prediction: Crowell looks like another Derek Watson, the SC RB from a few years ago who all the talent in the world but just couldn’t get out of his own way.
Football Guy
November 2nd, 2011
6:14 am
It takes 3 differnet ‘reporters’ to cover the same story. Nice Rag.
hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha
hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha
hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha
NikkiFree
November 2nd, 2011
6:28 am
So pathetic how some of these kids INSIST on throwing their future away. Now, word on the street is Crowell was smoking weed in high school.
NikkiFree
November 2nd, 2011
6:30 am
I say Crowell is off the team if he gets in trouble again. UGA does not need this crap at all. Crowell had been in trouble prior to this moment. Three strikes and you’re out. Give the opportunity to a kid who actually gives a crap about his future.
Notso Fast
November 2nd, 2011
6:53 am
WOW….Coach R is really tough. New Mexico State? When did he know about the wrong doings by these 3 players? Just makes you wonder. I don’t buy this story for some reason.
barneyfife
November 2nd, 2011
6:59 am
Already looks like Crowell will be another cancer to this team. Cut your dreadlockcs, straighten up, or go back to the Hood!
Lowcountry Bulldawg
November 2nd, 2011
6:59 am
Logical…How about Demetrius Summers? The #1 RB recruit in the nation who Lou Holtz recruited to turn the program around in Columbia? Upon reading all of the articles this is the name that continues to be the best comparison. When Summers was on the field and healthy he was electric. The issue was his all of the “other stuff”.
Old White Haired Man
November 2nd, 2011
7:07 am
wow…IC is front page news in Columbus Ledger Enquirer. following in the footsteps of Jasper Sanks…
B'more Jacket
November 2nd, 2011
7:16 am
It is amazing that no UGA football players ever break the rules before a USC, UF game but only before games such as New Mexico State, Lousiana-Lafayette, Tennessee Tech, etc.
Dawgwalker
November 2nd, 2011
7:17 am
Why not the entire team hold a “Blanket Party”… Worked very well for Private Pile in the movie, “Full Metal Jacket”!!!!! Bring them down to Earth….
DAWG with two bags over head
November 2nd, 2011
7:22 am
I can’t believe Richt avoided dealing with this during the pressor. I guess he thinks it’s much better to give the impression of a cover-up and to let everyone speculate about the worst instead of being upfront and honest. Once again we see that we don’t get much for our $3 million. OK Richt apologists, start spinning this one.
FLA DAWG
November 2nd, 2011
7:28 am
Three suspended at the same time!?
Sounds to me like it could be an alcohol or drug test result but I’m just guessing.
If there is one or more player(s) on this team with a problem who’s been given more than one opportunity to correct it and has not I say unload the kid on the very next serious violation. One kid can easily affect the behavior of others and we’ve been experiencing this at UGA far too long.
GaDawg
November 2nd, 2011
7:33 am
Jacket fans who want to throw stones, remember your ace pitcher on your baseball team who died of a heroine overdose during the season, just saying, where’s your drug tests?
Hurt Kurbstreit
November 2nd, 2011
7:36 am
Don’t know what they did but boys will be boys. Just put Brandon and Branden in the backfield and let them break off some big runs. They won’t be needed as much on defense. Could be interesting.
TiftonSeminole
November 2nd, 2011
7:37 am
Herschel Walker has a year of eligibility left, bring him back for 1 game for a PEFECT homecoming treat…..LOL.
TiftonSeminole
November 2nd, 2011
7:38 am
PERFECT
sheepdawg
November 2nd, 2011
7:39 am
“I knew about the positive drug tests on Friday, yet our coach and AD claim they didn’t. They are liars and frauds. I’m sickened by this holier than thou guy who just wants his $3million. Talk is cheap, but GA is now a bunch of undisciplined, poorly coached talent that plays miles below what they should. Getting excited about barely beating Fla is laughable. They have no players. Pathetic. You apologists have no idea how football played with integrity and discipline can be, because you haven’t seen it in 25 years.”
AMEN
sheepdawg
November 2nd, 2011
7:46 am
“I knew about the positive drug tests on Friday, yet our coach and AD claim they didn’t. They are liars and frauds. I’m sickened by this holier than thou guy who just wants his $3million. Talk is cheap, but GA is now a bunch of undisciplined, poorly coached talent that plays miles below what they should. Getting excited about barely beating Fla is laughable. They have no players. Pathetic. You apologists have no idea how football played with integrity and discipline can be, because you haven’t seen it in 25 years.”
Hallelujah
sheepdawg
November 2nd, 2011
7:47 am
“I knew about the positive drug tests on Friday, yet our coach and AD claim they didn’t. They are liars and frauds. I’m sickened by this holier than thou guy who just wants his $3million. Talk is cheap, but GA is now a bunch of undisciplined, poorly coached talent that plays miles below what they should. Getting excited about barely beating Fla is laughable. They have no players. Pathetic. You apologists have no idea how football played with integrity and discipline can be, because you haven’t seen it in 25 years.”
Double Amen
pfffft
November 2nd, 2011
7:48 am
fear not, you’ll still beat pathetic new mexico state. and if they are back for the next game you might actually beat 3 loss auburn and 4 (more coming) loss Florida in the same year and still claim that UGA is back in national prominence. who cares what this crew did. its just more of the same for what type of conduct richt has tolerated. off field problems. lack of discipline on defense, special teams, where does it end? get a new staff who will actually unlock all of this potential i keep hearing about every year before the season starts. unless you like settling for mediocrity. and for all those who want to still bash Boise. they have more quality wins in the last 5 years and, less losses in the last 3 yrs then uga has for this season alone. its UGA’s resume that got them dropped in the bcs polls this week. but cant blame crowell, “everything’s better with a bag of weed”.
Carrollton Dawg Fan
November 2nd, 2011
7:51 am
Start looking for another tailback in Jr. College to recruit for next year at UGA. Crowell has the same problems as W Ealey. When will Georgia start recruiting for real character as well as talent? It doesn’t matter if you have all the talent in the world if you are too undisciplined to follow the basic rules of the team. This is the number one issue with the GA team and has been for several years..a lack of discipline in players and coaches.
Thomas Brown
November 2nd, 2011
7:53 am
Just – GONE :
01-TB Isaiah Crowell Freshman could not hide suspension time it tho
02-TB Carlton Thomas – suspension again 2nd this season
03-TB Boo Malcome – recruited here injured, now the real truth out
04-TB Washaun Ealey – Jr. – Transferred to Jacksonville State
05-TB Dontavius Jackson – would be RJr transferred to UAB
06-TB Caleb King – would have been senior 2011
07-TB Richard Samuel – ankle surgery Thursday after Florida
07-OG Kolton Houston – R Fr NCAA eligibility
08-OT Jonathan Owens – Redshirt Junior 2011, medical disqualification
09-OL Brent Benedict – RFr. — Transferred to Virginia Tech
10-OL Tanner Strickland – Sr. — left program not playing senior year injury
11-OL Trinton Sturdivant – Sr. — knee injury
12-OL Chris Little – R Jr Transfer NW C College then Southern U ineligible
13-OL A.J. Harmon – Jr. — Transferred to Alabama State
14-OG Ben Harden – would be Senior 2011
15-WR AJ Green – would have been Senior 2011
16-WR Lonnie Outlaw – Sophomore failed Qualify 2010, Ga Military
17-WR Walter Hill – would be Senior 2011 kicked off team
18-WR Logan Gray- Senior Transfer Colorado
19-WR Malcolm Mitchell hamstring brought back too fast now 2 more games
20-QB Zach Mettenberger – would be R Sophomore 2011, kicked off, LSU
21-DE Jeremy Longo – Jr. — Medically disqualified
22-DE Montez Robinson – would be redshirt sophomore 2011, kicked off
23-DE Jalen Fields, – would be Sophomore failed to Qualify 2010
24-DE Justin Houston – would have been senior 2011
25-NT Chris Mayes – Dream Team 2011 failed Qualify, MS Gulf Coast
26-LB Kent Turene – Dream Team 2011 failed Qualify, Jireh Prep NC
27-LB Demetre Baker – Sophomore – kicked off team
28-LB Marcus Dowtin – Jr. — Transferred to North Alabama
29-ILB Brandon Burrows – RFr wait until Fall for surgery lost for year
30-CB Derek Owens – Sophomore transfer 9/26/11
31-CB Chis Sanders – Tucker RFr shoulder surgery out season 9/28/11
32-FS Jakar Hamilton – Senior, transferred out
33-SS Nick Williams – Senior 2011, transferred North Alabama
chiefdawg
November 2nd, 2011
7:56 am
Why don’t some of you guys report this? Drug suspenision policies for each SEC schools.
SEC
Alabama: (1) none; (2) 15 percent of games; (3) one year; (4) dismissal.
Arkansas: (1) none; (2) 10 percent of games; (3) 50 percent of games; (4) dismissal.
Auburn: (1) none; (2) 50 percent of games; (3) dismissal.
Florida: For marijuana/synthetic marijuana: (1) none; (2) 10 percent of games; (3) 20 percent of games; (4) dismissal. For all other drugs: (1) 50 percent of games; (2) dismissal.
Georgia: (1) 10 percent of games; (2) 50 percent of games; (3) dismissal.
Kentucky: (1) 10 percent of games; (2) 50 percent of games; (3) dismissal.
LSU: (1) none; (2) “up to 15 percent of games;” (3) one year.
Ole Miss: (1) none; (2) none; (3) three games.
Mississippi State: (1) none; (2) 50 percent of games; (3) one year; (4) dismissal.
South Carolina: (1) none; (2) 25 percent of games; (3) dismissal.
Tennessee: (1) none; (2) 10 percent of games; (3) dismissal.
Texas A&M: (1) none; (2) “possible suspension;” (3) possible dismissal
jerry
November 2nd, 2011
7:57 am
You have just enough money to (a) get into the UGA/New Mexico State game, or (b), watch a monkey f–k a football. What do you do?
Kramer
November 2nd, 2011
7:58 am
To all the tech fans coming on here a word of advice, worry about your team. It amazes me how you wanna be champions come out of the wood work when we have a problem with our players. Here is the bad news for you, you are about to be brought back to earth this Saturday against Va Tech and then get beat once again your last game by the team you are always making dumba** statements about on sites like this. Oh, and you are not even better then UGA when it comes to athlete graduation. You take a back seat to UGA in almost every facet of athletics that exisits. You do look forward to baseball season, I am sure.
Niceville Dawg
November 2nd, 2011
8:03 am
The sky is falling! The sky is falling!Please…..This will all be forgotten in 2 weeks when they are all back and we beat AU,at home,under the GA sky.Remember LSU a couple weeks ago?Heard anything about that lately?Nope.Lets just get through these last few games,ditch IC the cancer next time he screws up,and he will,and try our luck in the SEGCG.GO DAWGS!!
Charles
November 2nd, 2011
8:08 am
Once again we see these young men have no regard for the team or themselves. Wonder if this would have been exposed if the game this weekend was Auburn, Georgia Tech or some other ranked school. If you want to send a real message with crap like this then kick them off the team. Instead the AD and Coach understand to do so they would put integrity of their won loss record at risk. No wonder we see this every year and it will continue until schools, SEC and NCAA take steps to send a message there is no place for the use of drugs…
SanDiegoJackets
November 2nd, 2011
8:08 am
I know you Ugagers love statistics…..here’s one I’ll be you would like to see. Over Richt’s tenure (look it up) take his player suspensions and the the won/loss records of the teams that they were suspended for…..guess what it would show??
TO HELL WITH GEORGIA, EVERY DAY IN EVERY WAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
JAWJeRDAWG
November 2nd, 2011
8:11 am
sheepdawg (and others)
“I knew about the positive drug tests on Friday, yet our coach and AD claim they didn’t.
I’m just curious:
How did you know the RESULTS of any drug tests on Friday?
You might have known that drug tests were taken, but I seriously doubt your statement’s validity that the results were known Friday, if that’s even the cause of these suspensions.
I may be wrong, but I believe that if AD McGarity and CMR stated that the suspensions were inacted after the FL game was played and after facts were gathered and assessed, I believe them, and not your postulation.
And, at this time, we don’t even know the basis of these suspensions; it may be because of failed drug tests, but might it just be something else?
Right now, it’s all speculation, and as they say, the suspensions were imposed because of a breach of ‘team rules’.
Just MHO.
Why don’t we just see how this plays out before emphatically stating unknown facts. .. Go Dawgs!
mark PRICHT
November 2nd, 2011
8:14 am
this is absolutely the funniest crap I have ever read…..I still say the mutts fell apart the moment Richt sent them on the field against UF, its been downhill ever since for them morally….what will be even worse is if Murray goes down and you have no QB and get beat by New mexico…they better play him in a blackout suit of armor
The Banker
November 2nd, 2011
8:14 am
Just another excuse for UGA fans to whine about how they don’t have anyone to run the ball this week and then when they win it will be a HUGE win! Georgia can pass the ball with their 2nd string QB and win without even having anyone in the backfield. When UGA suspends during a “real” game then everyone will notice…even the players suspended…until then it doesn’t carry alot of weight! Quit whining about Garcia, Spurrier grew a pair and now will have more respect than he’s had in the past. Richt and friends need to do the same!
mark PRICHT
November 2nd, 2011
8:15 am
somebody is growing too much weed in the agriculture department
Niceville Dawg
November 2nd, 2011
8:20 am
Hey SanDiego,you trolls are the ones that love stats,not us.Dont you ever include T.Brown the stat lover with the rest of us.
Kramer
November 2nd, 2011
8:21 am
mark Pricht, we have a back up qb that is better then the starter tech has. If you were not such a moron, I would think you were special needs (that means retarded to morons) with your comments.
LHarding Dawg
November 2nd, 2011
8:23 am
This is one Bulldog that wishes Harton the best. I hope he has a 100 yards rushing and 40 or 50 receiving this weekend.
This is one Bulldog that thinks its time to start recruiting another top quality running back with the message that playing time is available next year.
JAWJeRDAWG
November 2nd, 2011
8:23 am
And, whatever these three did that warranted a suspension, they let their team down, and that’s the bottom line.
Wherever CMR and UGA goes forward from here, I’ll support them.
I just hate to see our coach and program blamed for the individual action of ‘team players’. If you’re a team player, you DON’T do anything to bring disgrace to your university, coaches and teammates, and fans!
They obviously did, and I support whatever happens to them regardless of the effect it has on our win / loss record.
Just trying to post a fan’s voice of reason and show support for my Dawgs.
We will move forward with this, and the outcome will be in the best of UGA football. .. Go Dawgs!
Kramer
November 2nd, 2011
8:24 am
LHarding, I am sure that is going to start today. The kid from NC is ours for the taking.
mark PRICHT
November 2nd, 2011
8:27 am
hey Kramer…then play him cause the one you got aint worth a crap
Preston
November 2nd, 2011
8:30 am
Damn guys! We don’t even know what happened yet. Put the stakes and torches down until we know what’s up. Geez!
fredfred1
November 2nd, 2011
8:30 am
We need students who know how to behave the Georgia way! They are not thinking about the team, only about self. I hope it does not involve drugs. Drugs are called DOPE for a reason, people who use them are DOPES!
CHDawg
November 2nd, 2011
8:31 am
Haters, you guys have crossed the line here. Why don’t you get some sleep and consider the wisdom of your words, anonymous or not. The question has been raised about whether UGA is lying, or whether the haters are lying, because either the UGA athletic department knew or they didn’t. If they didn’t, as I believe, then you guys are slanderous liars, period. Is that what you want to be? So, there were some rumors that people knew as early as Thursday and Friday; how could that be? Well, we know there were people who *did know* beyond the shadow of a doubt that the drug tests were failures as early as Thursday (if that is when they occurred); there were three people who knew, to be exact. The *players knew* they were caught the minute they filled the bottle, and they are likely the source of the rumors. Like saying, uh-oh to your buddy and the buddy then starts the gossip game. The fact that Crowell was named tells you the likely source of the rumors–IC himself. It also explains why Crowell seemed distracted during the game.
Preston
November 2nd, 2011
8:35 am
I guess we know what happened now.
http://espn.go.com/college-football/story/_/id/7178202/georgia-bulldogs-suspend-three-running-backs-one-game
Football Guy
November 2nd, 2011
8:36 am
To the GA TECH fools bashing our team: ONE QUESTION TECH FANS. DIDN’T TECH HAVE A BASEBALL PLAYER DIE FROM A HEROIN OVERDOSE? GOTTA LUV TECHS DRUG TESTING POLICY…..LMAO
flo-ri-duh
November 2nd, 2011
8:38 am
They went out drinking and celebrating after the Florida game. They got caught. They didn’t kill anybody, rape anybody or beat anybody up. They were stupid. They are young. They better grow up fast if they want to stick around. It’s not the end of the world…. the sun will come up tomorrow.
JuJu Beans
November 2nd, 2011
8:39 am
These three may or may not have failed drug tests. I don’t know or care. If this were still a free country, then we wouldn’t allow our citizens to be forced to submit to urinalysis on demand – but that’s another issue altogether. Coaches and employers understood when a player or employee had substance abuse problems before these tests were even invented. Behavior should trigger disciplinary action – not drug test results.
What is relevant in this situation is that these three didn’t likely fall prey to random tests last Thursday. Something happened to trigger this action. While a positive drug test result may provide the University with cover for suspending the players, the behavior that triggered the tests is the actual reason for the suspensions – and the coaching staff didn’t need to wait for a chemical analysis to know that. True or not, it now appears that the coaching staff took advantage of the delay in receiving the test results to allow these players to compete in the Florida game.
One bit of “good” news: Georgia is not the only SEC football program that recruits athletes of poor character. Arkansas wide receiver Marquel Wade (a recruit from Florida) has been suspended one game by the Southeastern Conference for an illegal hit during Saturday’s game against Vanderbilt. Wade was suspended for violating NCAA rules governing hitting an opponent trying to field a kick and targeting a player with the crown of his helmet. The freshman was thrown out of the game, a 31-28 Arkansas win, after drilling Vanderbilt punt returner Jonathan Krause, who had called for a fair catch.
Kudos to the SEC administration and the officiating crew. They had the right reaction this time. The offending player was ejected immediately, and the administration didn’t feel the need to appear politically correct by also suspending the victim, as they did in the Geathers incident that occurred in the Vandy vs, Georgia game.
d-dog
November 2nd, 2011
8:39 am
There seems to be a lot of S— slinging about these (3) running backs. Juat face it guy’s. Coach “R” can’t hold everyone hand (24-7). There are times when WE all have to cowboy up, pull our heads out of out A– and be what we are supose to be. I agree that some may never grow in to manhood. REMEMBER Jasper Sanks, he was from columbus also. REMEMBER he threw it a way and never made it. My hope is that the other Columbus player ( Jarvis Jones) who has Cowboy up and is a full grown MAN will take the UNDERSTUDY (IC) to the side and explain in a military style what he need to do or what will happen if he does’t pull his head out of his A– and stop embarresing the UGA foodball program…….. go dawgs…………
wreckbone
November 2nd, 2011
8:40 am
frickin bs. they fail the test BEFORE the Florida game and get suspended after. i thought when you fail a dog test you are ineligible so it must have been uga administered and Richt decided to administer punishment after the game. what a sorry excuse for a program. even Miami coach suspended player for the next game. not the game after next. well you know the priorities of a desperate coach. win first rules later. what a joke. I’m sure they will be there for the tech game. that’s ok we’ll take care of business gobble day weekend anyway.
Bring back Jim Donnan
November 2nd, 2011
8:41 am
This IS CMR’s fault – remember he brought Crowell and his parents into the practice facility, drew back the curtains, and there were 10 members of the team on the field in offensive formation. And CMR told him that the 11th spot was for him. Then he ran off Ealy to make sure that Crowell knew the job was his. CMR put him on this pedestal and now he is paying for it.
MountainDawg
November 2nd, 2011
8:46 am
Give Karempelis the starting nod. He’s a heckuva athlete with alotta potential. He’s not some over-lauded, over-hyped, __ star recruit (ala Jasper Sanks), but has talent.