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
Jimmy Crack
November 2nd, 2011
2:36 pm
ropeadope doesn’t like his soaponarope. Nope. He likes to touch his toes and hope. ropeadope.
It does kind of stick, dope.
AltamahaDawg
November 2nd, 2011
2:36 pm
Bar? your answer is…………?
ropeadope
November 2nd, 2011
2:37 pm
hey jimmy crack…did you earn that name in prison?
DawginLex
November 2nd, 2011
2:37 pm
DON’T MESS WITH PULPWOOD SMIFF
He picked up my garbage for years down in S GA with Keith Montgomery and Tron Jackson
JB
November 2nd, 2011
2:39 pm
Well, If played at Tech for Johnson, he would of been called a dumb Moth** F**ker by the coach about 20 times by now and known better than to mess with the stuff.
Still@theKool-aidBAR
November 2nd, 2011
2:39 pm
GT/UGA Dad………….as I said if the test were done on site then all the samples would not have gone to the lab. Why pay for tests that are not needed if the Dipstick Test shows CLEAN from the start?
I understand the time and chain of custody on a sample if said sample is a Failed form the dipstick. We had heard all of the blogs on Friday that Crowell had Failed a Drug Test. To me that means the Dipsticks were used or the lab had the results already.
Lawyer Dawg
November 2nd, 2011
2:40 pm
From a legal perspective, the University could have been sued if they disclosed the results of the drug tests before going through all the phases of the testing.
That should explain why it was Monday or tuesday before all the review and testing was complete.
Lowcountry Bulldawg
November 2nd, 2011
2:41 pm
@ropeadope
@ 2:12 you posted, Its UGA what more can you say..
Then you proceeded to post about a dozen more times. Thanks for showing just how much you care, moron.
AltamahaDawg
November 2nd, 2011
2:41 pm
Sow what if the dipsticks were positive on Friday? Answer my question.
AltamahaDawg
November 2nd, 2011
2:42 pm
We need more dipstick testing in here!
JB
November 2nd, 2011
2:43 pm
At the bar….true, but I have to in my business, before I take ANY action, have to send it out to that second lab for the absolute positive result to avoid being sued. Now, Mark might have known, but the action is taken after that second lab test.
Lawyer Dawg
November 2nd, 2011
2:43 pm
False positive readings being publicly reported get you sued, especially if you didn’t follow the written policy regarding chain of custody etc.
GT/UGA Dad
November 2nd, 2011
2:43 pm
Still@ – the dipstick is just a screening tool and not 100% infallible. If the stick is positive, the sample will be sent for analysis. I know of no workplace, school or law enforcement agency that would take action on a screening test. You want to be 100% sure that the test is correct before making decisions that will affect someone and that includes football players.
AltamahaDawg
November 2nd, 2011
2:44 pm
I’ll ask you to answer for the rest of the week. You may as well admit right now, that you didn’t have any point worth making there.
DC Dawg
November 2nd, 2011
2:45 pm
Am I missing something here? First offense if no less than 10% of the sport season. Wouldn’t that be 1.2 games? So are they also suspended for 0.2 of the Auburn game?
DawginLex
November 2nd, 2011
2:45 pm
GT/UGA Dad
Father knows best. You are dead on right. So is the lawyer dawg
Technically Correct
November 2nd, 2011
2:46 pm
Sounds like coach “loves” them enough to get some Georgia-Florida PT out of them before taking them to the woodshed.
mushman
November 2nd, 2011
2:46 pm
this will all come to light eventually, uga will continue to be perceived as a joke of a program, richt and garity will be blasted for covering it up and the program will move on. There’s no way they were gonna risk losing those backs right before the FL game – richt knew he’d be on the chopping block and would be better to try and cover it up than lose to FL again. I can just picture the back room meeting between this group going on. frauds and fakes.
ga gator
November 2nd, 2011
2:46 pm
The only drugs that should be tested for are performance inhancers like steroids, speed and stuff like that. As bad as Jarvis Jones beat our LT Xavier Nixon (6 sacks) they should have tested Nixon right after the game for pot in his system; Dude was zoned out most of the game
Lowcountry Bulldawg
November 2nd, 2011
2:47 pm
Whats the take on Malcome? Kid wanted to transfer, Richt welcomes him back then he turns around and fails a drug test? How do we perceive Malcome going forward?
JacketFan
November 2nd, 2011
2:47 pm
Surprise Surprise more good news out of that hell hole called Athens
Still@theKool-aidBAR
November 2nd, 2011
2:47 pm
altDawg…………if they fail the dipstick test you CYA and hold them out 1week starting as soon as you knew the test was positive. The LAB only confirms what the Coaches already knew. It now sounds like Semantics or Politics trying to dance around the facts of when was it KNOWN over Proven with more tests.
Clint Barmes
November 2nd, 2011
2:47 pm
Dawgin lex–he still walks the streets asking for money and—-?
Lowcountry Bulldawg
November 2nd, 2011
2:47 pm
ga gator,
Thats pretty damn funny.
bucket
November 2nd, 2011
2:48 pm
@ Lawyer Dawg – please don’t confuse all of these idiot trolls with facts! They are already confused and stupid enough. It must be nice to be a fan of rival schools in the ATL because when other schools or players screw up we get an AP article with no comments allowed. Because UGA is so relevant to the daily lives of GT fans, AUB fans, FL fans, ALA fans, SC fans, TENN fans, etc.; the ajc has figured there is money to be made in posting negative UGA stories to get all the blithering idiot fans from other schools to respond.
JB
November 2nd, 2011
2:48 pm
Tech folks don’t care about all that. They hate us with every ounce of their soul and just live for something like this. They stay in a lot of trouble themselves, and when in their little nerd mind think those hillbilly’s in Athens have messed up, they pounce. I seem to remember that about half of the UGA posters took up for them on their last little dust up with the NCAA. don’t ever expect that in return.
Well, one tech guy, this George Stein guy is open minded and normal. They are really pitiful
Ath
November 2nd, 2011
2:49 pm
Kill yourself Jacket fan
Spaceman Spiff
November 2nd, 2011
2:49 pm
@ C King
Your “true” doesn’t mean sh!t. Proof, please. Or, STFU.
Ath
November 2nd, 2011
2:49 pm
Please…
jake
November 2nd, 2011
2:51 pm
what dirtbag ordered these drug testa??? Test again in Jan. 2012.
Flat Tire on I-95 in Jacksonville
November 2nd, 2011
2:51 pm
McClendon needs another $100,000 raise
cliff from waleska
November 2nd, 2011
2:51 pm
forget the test results, dip sticks, etc, whatever. the staff knew or had strong evidence this behavior was taking place. should have suspended anyways, screw the test. if they didn’t like it, hit the bricks. stop the madness in athens. what are they gonna do, sue you?
AltamahaDawg
November 2nd, 2011
2:52 pm
I meant a real answer to my actual question, and don’t pretend to not understand it. You just repeated your earlier post. (which already prompted the question, we don;t need ot retrace those steps) And whose A would they be covering? THEY wrote the rule, THEY did the test. THEY administrered the penalty as THEY previously dictated it to be.
To CYA, you don’t even do the damn thing.
And as has been pointed out countless times to CYA, you do it by the book, not make it up each time.
Answer my question.
ga gator
November 2nd, 2011
2:52 pm
Lowcountry Bulldawg I am a diehard Gator but I always speak the truth. I remember one time when Mike Tyson tested postitive for pot after a fight and had his license suspended for 6 months in Nevada and Jim Rome stated, “Suspend him! hell they should prescribe pot for Tyson”.
DawginLex
November 2nd, 2011
2:52 pm
cliff
The coaches could have lost their jobs for not following university policy.
cliff from waleska
November 2nd, 2011
2:53 pm
and thats a bad thing?
David Granger
November 2nd, 2011
2:54 pm
I haven’t read all the articles on this, so if I have missed something, cut me some slack.
I don’t see anything in Coach Richt’s statement above that says clearly: “We did NOT know the results of the test before the Florida game.” He states that we’ve always had the utmost integrity, etc. I can certainly see that a drug test taken on Thursday might not have the results back until Tuesday…but I haven’t read anything stating that to be the case.
I have read statements by AD McGarity stating very clearly that these suspensions are NOT delayed punishment from the week before. If that turns out to be a lie, then he should be fired.
ga gator
November 2nd, 2011
2:54 pm
Lex, Tech fans are out in force today. Please beat the hell out of them the last game; please!
GT Fan
November 2nd, 2011
2:54 pm
I always pull for UGA when not playing us. Coach Richt is first class !
I don’t cut UGA down but I do get tired of the BS DAWG fans give GT on their blog. It works both ways I guess.
Best of luck to both Teams.
AltamahaDawg
November 2nd, 2011
2:55 pm
If we KNOW about somebody this week, can we rush up and suspend them now, and not wait till Auburn when it was proven…despite the written policy? Thats what you are saying we should do???
ga gator
November 2nd, 2011
2:55 pm
Richt has his faults but one of them is not a lack of integrity.
GT/UGA Dad
November 2nd, 2011
2:55 pm
Still@ – tell me anyone who would make a preliminary decision to hold out a player on the results of a screening test that is known NOT to be 100% accurate. It is not even for certain that a screening test was done initially.
No AD or coach is going to punish a player immediately for something that may be proven wrong.
Flat Tire on I-95 in Jacksonville
November 2nd, 2011
2:56 pm
AltamahaDawg
Didnt you hear your name called?
The nurse is calling your name for the dipstick test; hurry up the nurse is waiting
Spaceman Spiff
November 2nd, 2011
2:56 pm
@ Lawyer, DawginLex, etc.
It doesn’t matter what the facts are – the technerds are going to keep saying the same stuff to get us riled up, and it seems to be working. Take a look at Still@attheBar, jacketFan, or any of the others – they don’t have a leg to stand on, so they keep spewing the same crap over and over. They are so bitter at being a lower class team in GA that they figure they must resort to trolling because they can’t beat us on the field.
Lowcountry Bulldawg
November 2nd, 2011
2:57 pm
I remember that one also. I hate to say it but really Pot has no business being illegal, but with that being said, it is and the law is the law. These young men have embarrassed themselves, again, along with the University and theere families. That is the trajedy of it all. It should be as simple as the Spike Lee “joint”, Do the Right Thing. Some how the guys have to understand that clean living pays off.
JB
November 2nd, 2011
2:58 pm
Getting cracked on by a school on probation is pretty ironic.
Tobias Funke
November 2nd, 2011
2:58 pm
We still talking about weed?
AltamahaDawg
November 2nd, 2011
2:59 pm
What time will you be leaving for the game this Friday Flat Tire? That’s what, 7 hours one way? 8 with some gas and a cheeseburger.
FuzzyBee
November 2nd, 2011
3:00 pm
I am shocked, SHOCKED, to learn that star football players are taking drugs. I am even more SHOCKED to learn that coaches are shocked when their motives are questioned.
By itself, this is a snoozer story. Combined with UGA recent history, it is SHOCKING.
BigTimeTechFan
November 2nd, 2011
3:00 pm
integrity?
Knowing rule was 1 game suspension
Knowing the timing of drug test results
funny how they decided to test knowing the results would fall before the weakest game on their schedule. No disputing Richt on when he received results but I thinked they timed the test for results to come in for NM ST.