Mark Richt blasts accusation that UGA selectively suspended running backs
ATHENS – A couple more things on these running back suspensions and then we’ll move on to the next thing for Georgia football.
Georgia coach Mark Richt addressed the situation for the first time during the SEC Coaches Weekly Teleconference on Wednesday. Here’s what he had to say:
- Richt took umbrage with the accusation that Georgia knew about the positive drug tests for Isaiah Crowell, Ken Malcome and Carlton Thomas before the Florida game and put off their suspensions until this week’s game against New Mexico State:
“My response is that we’ve always had the utmost integrity in everything we do. We have policies in place in our athletic association that we follow to the T. That’s the case here and it’s been the case since I’ve been at Georgia. We all know that we do our business the way it should be done and we do it with integrity. So people who make comments who don’t know probably shouldn’t, quite frankly, because they don’t know and I’d be able to prove 100 percent they’re wrong. But I’m not going to spend the time doing that. The bottom line is we have rules and we follow them to the T and we have the utmost integrity in how we go about our business. That’s how we’ve built this program since the day I got here and we’re not going to change for any reason.”
- Richt was asked about his philosophy regarding discipline and punishment and whether Georgia’s policies and procedures are adequate:
“I’ve always felt like was you have to have an element of punishment, something that will sting, something that will make somebody think twice about doing something or other guys who are watching, make them think twice. But you have to educate them, then you have to love them still. They’re still part of this family and we want them to understand we’re supporting them through it. But, you know, if the attitude is right and they’re ready to learn from it and become better for it, discipline can be a very positive thing in that way. Everything I’ve seen to this point has been pointing to that very thing. So I’m pleased with how they’re handling it. And then the other thing is, you’ve got to challenge the rest of your team to pick up the slack, whether it’s the young guys that are going to get this experience playing running back for the University of Georgia, when they thought that probably wasn’t very likely, all of the sudden they’re getting an opportunity to do something they probably dreamed of, which is a great thing. But the rest of the team, the special teams, the defense, the offensive line, the receiving corps, the quarterbacks, everybody’s got to play a little better to make sure that this situation is not going to cost us.”
- Was he shocked or surprised that three players at one position would run afoul at once:
“Yeah, but I’m not surprised that young men make mistakes. We all know no one is perfect. We know that young guys tend to use bad judgment sometimes. When they do, that’s when we come in and help them out.”
- On concerns about character issues for Crowell, who has already been suspended for one quarter this season:
“I think Isaiah is going to do great, I really do. Because I saw how he has handled this mistake to this point and I really feel confident he’s going to be stronger for it. I really do.”
- Richt indicated sophomore Brandon Harton is the “leading candidate” to start at tailback on Saturday, followed by freshman walkon Kyle Karempelis and they’ll mix in other players:
“I’m not sure I can spell his name right now, but it starts with a K,” Richt said of Karempelis. “I like him. He’s a tough kid. He’s got some good run skills. In camp he did a nice job. Harton did a nice job last spring. . . . We’ll have to use [Brandon] Boykin and little more and [Branden] Smith a little more and maybe go some no-back sets. We’ve got enough tight ends. We have some ways we can still move the football.”
ALSO . . .
>>>Here’s A LINK TO UGA’S DRUG-TESTING POLICIES AND PROCEDURES. Everything you need to know is pretty much spelled out there. But since the accused parties are three players at the same position, it would seem reasonable to assume this week’s actions were the result of the “reasonable suspicion” clause. In other words, a coach or administrator suspected something and ordered a test for these guys, which they subsequently failed.
>>>Sooner or later, you have to question Georgia’s recruitment and coaching of the tailback position. Going back to Dontavius Jackson and continuing through Washaun Ealey and Caleb King, this makes six tailbacks in the last 15 months that have been subjected to some sort of suspension, dismissal or general disciplinary action. Bryan McClendon gets paid $200,000 a year to be the Bulldogs’ running backs coach. Ultimately, it is his responsibility to see that his charges are doing things “the Georgia way.”
>>>Finally, here are the options as we know them for playing tailback on Saturday against the New Mexico State Aggies (3-5), who, by the way, rank 111th in the nation in rushing defense (214.38 ypg):
- TB Brandon Harton (5-6, 174, So.)
- TB Kyle Karempelis (5-9, 180, Fr.)
- TB Wes Van Dyk (6-0, 203, Sr.)
- FB Zander Ogletree (5-10, 224, So.)
- CB Brandon Boykin (5-10, 183, Sr.)
- CB Branden Smith (5-11, 176, Jr.)
- FS Nick Marshall (6-1, 195, Fr.)
- CB Damian Swann (5-11, 177, Fr.)
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1,013 comments Add your comment
Hairy Grandma
November 2nd, 2011
1:53 pm
j
November 2nd, 2011
1:48 pm
He knew within 5 minutes of that test on Thursday that they failed. If you aren’t going to do anything about it, just quit testing them period. Man, this program is near rock bottom. When was the last win over a ranked team???
I do agree with you j sir. Our football program at UGA is heading for the dumpsters. Everyone says its ok if they smoke weed, all college kids do it doesn’t make it right. These football players should be better examples of what a student athlete should be, not a dope smoking punk t h u g. These days college football at Univ. Of GA have become distorted to me.
Go Dawgs, woof woof!
1970 Dawg
November 2nd, 2011
1:53 pm
It’s kind of funny to read the GT comments. I don’t think UGA has had to give back any championship trophies under CMR. Can GT say the same? Say what you will about CMR’s coaching skills but don’t question his integrity. I think he matches up pretty well.
Booby Bowden
November 2nd, 2011
1:53 pm
Hey Tobias!
For starters, the end-zone dance. I taught him that.
There was also the middle finger salute at thenext UF game after Meyer called the TO’s. I didn’t teach him that.
Russ, the Temporary Mascot
November 2nd, 2011
1:53 pm
In fact, I can’t remember the “Georgia Way” being any different. That was a long time ago. The new “Georgia Way” is pretty embarrassing and that means players and coaches that have no character. Of course, I am just a temporary mascot. I understand things can change quickly for me. I know what it means if Coach Grantham gives me the choke sign.
Richard
November 2nd, 2011
1:53 pm
Rampdawg:
Thanks man! It would really be professional if the sports writers at the AJC would give their readers the facst. Georgia Tech, Clemson. Alabama, Auburn, LSU just to name a few don’t even suspend their players for a first offense. It’s tough for Richt to have to compete with teams that look the other way on 1st time drug offense. In reality, this is one of the things that makes Richt’s accomplishmenst even more astonshing.
Thanks again. Let’s see if the AJC “reporters” even mention how much tougher UGA is on 1st time drug offenders compared to almost every school they paly.
I doubt it.
rok
Tobias Funke
November 2nd, 2011
1:55 pm
Bobby
Do you know what the word “lies” means?
gdawginkalamazoo
November 2nd, 2011
1:55 pm
Well at least the O line will have smaller backs running into the back of them this week so that should help with keeping the injuries down. I am assuming that Bobo will still call the same up the middle/off tackle plays that he usually does for the RB’s. Seriously I do hope that Karempelis and Harton have a stellar game. I hope both of them breaks off a run longer than 29 yards.
Don4654
November 2nd, 2011
1:56 pm
Bama fan here,I would like to see the SEC and NCAA go to a uniform policy on this,like the one Georgia has.3 strikes and your out.
Richt Tanning Salon
November 2nd, 2011
1:56 pm
DawginLex
November 2nd, 2011
1:43 pm
tanning salon idiot
It is not an NCAA violation to smoke weed you moron.
If there were steroids involved, different story but there are not.
Why am i even wasting my time typing this in response to a moron?
Lex, having to question why you are wasting your time typing a response just shows what a total moronic fool you are. It may not be against NCAA policy, but it sure as heck is against the law. Someone give Lex a cookie and tell him to go sit in the corner for time out.
Eisendawg
November 2nd, 2011
1:57 pm
Well, based on your reasoning, Steve Spurrier should be questioned for recruiting Garcia. Reality is nobody really knows for sure how a young man will turn out. I think UGA has done a pretty good job trying to shy away from kids that they feel are going to be a problem. Likewise, they have gotton rid of some that, even though they had talent, failed to behave or make the grades. It’s so easy to pass judgement on what you would do, but coaching this many young kids has got to be a challenge. Perhaps, those that just love to criticize, were indeed saints, and made dean’s list, and never did anything wrong as a teen. Truth be known, most of the ones that are so critical, have never accomplished anything and probably never will.
gdawginkalamazoo
November 2nd, 2011
1:57 pm
Hey Russ, rumor has it that you were hanging out at the doobie brothers apartment. Did you get tested yet?
ADMan
November 2nd, 2011
1:57 pm
Hey all you Ga.Tech fans…you know where I get get some heroin?….Is that all ACC baseball player you guys had on your team still around?….just asking….you know what they say about glass houses don’t you…or do you just have selective memory?
Tobias Funke
November 2nd, 2011
1:58 pm
These blogs suck. Way too many trolls on here. Get a life people.
AltamahaDawg
November 2nd, 2011
1:59 pm
“So people who make comments who don’t know probably shouldn’t, quite frankly, because they don’t know and I’d be able to prove 100 percent they’re wrong.”
So now, in case you trolls can’t really grasp what he is saying, I’ll break it down.
HE just called YOUR manhood into question.
Hollywould
November 2nd, 2011
1:59 pm
Although I am a Auburn man I believe Richt when he says if they would have known last week they would have suspended them for the florida game. Like him or hate him as a football coach I believe he is a good person who would not risk the university or himself in a scam. Just get them back for the Auburn game. I want everybody at full strength. War Eagle!!
Loyal Fan
November 2nd, 2011
1:59 pm
Wow, can we move on from this. I get it GT fans are proud and puffing out their chests now that they beat Clemson, but let’s wait 3 weeks when Thanksgiving comes around. You guys are finally relevant and the AJC is finally giving you love, great. Lets wait till the end of the month and see how many Nerds wanna jump in on our blogs. Go Dawgs!
Spaceman Spiff
November 2nd, 2011
2:00 pm
@ yeah right
Really, do you just say stupid sh!t?
Is
November 2nd, 2011
2:00 pm
GA going to drug test these players before the Auburn game to be sure they are following the rules?
Actuallly...
November 2nd, 2011
2:01 pm
…I fail to understand how any of these “holier than thou” AD’s and head coaches can confront these kids with a straight face on any drug use since I ber 95% of them “smoked” when they were in college yet did not get caught. Stuff happens in all areas of life, yet in the athletic realm there is way to much “do as I say, not as I did”…
Jeffdawgfan
November 2nd, 2011
2:02 pm
The story is believeable. I happen to work in the medical field (Emergency Room). You can get a stat drug test back within an hour. However this is very expensive to do this way. Normal drug testing is sent to a outside lab and results are back in 2-3 days. The article says it was repeated by another lab to verify results and this could also take a couple of days. So if test was actually performed on Thursday the timeline is very believable. All the doubters need to get a life. I personally am for the 3 strike rule though and if Crowell screws up again, do not care how good he is, pack his bags for him. My donations and tax dollars are giving him a chance for a free education. All he has to do is keep his head straight and play a game. I would have given certain parts of my body for the same opportunity that these young men are being given.
Spaceman Spiff
November 2nd, 2011
2:03 pm
@ Big character guy
Whatever name you are hiding under, listen up: the tests were done Thursday. Results do not come back immediately. Positive results come back for second and third verifications, which means at least 72 – 96 hour time frame. Were you dropped on your head as a baby?
JB
November 2nd, 2011
2:03 pm
Let’s see, who do i believe…………..McGarity and Richt, with million dollars careers on the line…….Or booger eating haters on this blog………..hum……….Let me get back to you.
Ace
November 2nd, 2011
2:05 pm
The confirmation positive is what the coach is talking about, not the initial positive. He may run for congress.
bucket
November 2nd, 2011
2:06 pm
@ Rampdawg – thanks for doing some digging! I guess we shouldn’t be surprised at the hypocrisy of the fans of schools mocking UGA when their schools don’t even suspend for 1st offense.
Spaceman Spiff
November 2nd, 2011
2:07 pm
@ JB
You tend to forget that the “haters” on here are nothing more than technerd trolls…and that the AJC is nothing more than a technerd paper that likes to stir the pot
NoGaGator
November 2nd, 2011
2:07 pm
Richt is becoming more and more like Clinton. Nowhere in his comments did he deny that he knew about the test results in advance of last week’s game.
JB
November 2nd, 2011
2:08 pm
AUBURN…………..Proudly serving as the back up plan for Georgia kids for over 100 years……….Yes, we take out of state money for dumb ass**
ropeadope
November 2nd, 2011
2:10 pm
jim donnan went 27-7 his last 3 seasons and he got fired…
Abnerish
November 2nd, 2011
2:10 pm
If this was Tressel, I would not believe him because he has lied before (and been caught). But Richt has not lied (to my knowledge) in this area and has run a very up front program for 11 years (perhaps too transparent). He has earned the benefit of the doubt.
JAWJeRDAWG
November 2nd, 2011
2:10 pm
Despite the truth of his comments, nothing that Coach Richt did and said will stop the accusations of those who try and demean him personally, our University, and the UGA football program.
Haters within the UGA fan base and from without, will continue to be haters.
Spew your vitriol; to true UGA fans and CMR supporters it doesn’t matter to us.
If it makes you feel more a man for doing so, hate away.
To IC, KM, and CT, I hope you grow up.
UGA will be fine and our team will grow stronger as we move forward and put this behind us.
Good luck to Brandon Harton and Kyle Karempelis and all the young players that now have the opportunity to fill in as our feature running backs against New Mexico State! .. Go Dawgs!
AltamahaDawg
November 2nd, 2011
2:11 pm
I’m all for the 3 strikes in “trouble” rule, with the understanding that we really don’t know what the first deal was about. I would think a coaching decision to hold a guy out for a quarter could be to get his attention for almost anything. But this one is a definite strike in anybodies book.
Tdawg
November 2nd, 2011
2:11 pm
Hairy Grandmother so Richt tested his running backs before what was probably the biggest game of his life and when they failed said test he covered it up until after the game. Wow, you really are a loon aren’t you. First off, what kind of idiot would have his players tested randomly or not, two days before such a big game? There’s not a single coach out there from high school to the pro’s that stupid. On the other hand, if the testing was done by someone from outside the school and the player’s tested posivitive for some drugs, wouldn’t you think that it would be up to them to report the results to the school?
Just take your meds Hairy Granny. You’re getting delusional again.
DawginLex
November 2nd, 2011
2:11 pm
tanning salon moron/idiot
Why don’t you go sit in the corner and suck your thumb like you always do gerbil boy?
What’s that?
Can’t find a corner in your double wide that doesn’t have trash in it?
Ask your boyfriend to clean it up
GTBob
November 2nd, 2011
2:11 pm
you cut and paste a statement and then put it italics. This action is then followed by some pointless opinionated drivel. Frankly, it drives me crazy.
Do you really get that worked up reading the internet? Oops. I did it again.
DawgJohn
November 2nd, 2011
2:11 pm
Get over it folks! You are Pi____g in the wind! Move on now…….just gotta move on. Give truth and the system to work. It will happen in (it’s) time not your time! Keep the faith brothers and sisters. We need to focus on who is going to lead our nation. I am cheering for a new face….don’t know bout you. The dawgs are going to be alright and this huge sin that everybody is blogging aout will take care of itself. By the way, please keep all those donations coming in!
JB
November 2nd, 2011
2:11 pm
NoGaGator…………………..lick your wounds and get back in the swamp, you boys are gonna be bad for a while. Trying to install a Pro Offense without a PROVEN QB,FB,RB,WR or TE……good luck.
Spaceman Spiff
November 2nd, 2011
2:11 pm
@ NoGaGator
Apparantly you didn’t read mine and JeffDawg’s posts… go back to your technerd blog…
DawgJohn
November 2nd, 2011
2:11 pm
a chance
reebok
November 2nd, 2011
2:11 pm
seriously, 3 players get busted for drugs, and richt’s response is “nobody’s perfect”??? are you (editiing myself) kidding me???
ropeadope
November 2nd, 2011
2:12 pm
georgia football…what more can you say…
Eisendawg
November 2nd, 2011
2:12 pm
Good one JB. lol
Abnerish
November 2nd, 2011
2:12 pm
Jim Donnan also hid drug offensives with curious “sprained ankles”. Which is better?
Still@theKool-aidBAR
November 2nd, 2011
2:12 pm
Jeffdawgfan…………….not true as well. Probation Officers do a drug test and know the results 5 minutes after you zip up. There are different Dipsticks that test for illegal drugs. If the samples is positive it is then sent to a lab to check the LEVEL of drugs. UGA and RICHT could have known the players were using before the UF game and then sent the failed tests to the lab for detailed confirmation.
The players could have been held put of the game because they did FAIL the test before the game. The only thing in question was how much of the drugs were in their system.
ropeadope
November 2nd, 2011
2:14 pm
i’m taking donnan…even richt won with his recruits…lately, not so much…
DawginLex
November 2nd, 2011
2:14 pm
ropeadope needs a math lesson regarding Donnan’s record…………
BreakingNews
November 2nd, 2011
2:14 pm
Dawg fan here, and I can honestly say that I don’t expect Crowell to make it through next year at UGA…the kid seems to have WAY too many issues already, not just the drug thing. Looks like another Washuan waiting to happen…
RawDawg
November 2nd, 2011
2:15 pm
Georgia: (1) 10 percent of games; (2) 50 percent of games; (3) dismissal.
Georgia Tech: (1) none; (2) 10 percent of games; (3) one year; (4) dismissal.
Rampdawg +1
old dog
November 2nd, 2011
2:15 pm
Kids are getting crucified for what easily got by in the ’70’s when the legal age was eighteen! (Any bulldogs out there remember seagraves?) That being said, besides mistakes that young men make, Crowell seems to have other issues as well. Doesn’t seem to have a whole lot of regard for anyone except himself. This is just a temporary launching pad to the NFL in his mind. However, if he doesn’t quit layin’ down everytime he gets hit he will never make it! If he cannot take SEC hits, how the hell does he think he can make a roster in the NFL??????
DawginLex
November 2nd, 2011
2:15 pm
Donnan recruited Stafford in the 4th grade?
He was smart
GIVE ME A BREAK
November 2nd, 2011
2:15 pm
If it wasn’t a NCAA violation then they wouldn’t be testing for it.