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
Thedawg
November 2nd, 2011
3:37 pm
GTJoe you can stick your college education. I have my own Business which has supplied me with a cabin in N. Georgia, a condo on the beach and a very nice yearly income that affords me most anything I might want so give up your smack talk about your teck education. Oh wait a minute I didn’t go to College but for a year
DAWG with two bags over head
November 2nd, 2011
3:37 pm
I liked what Richt said and I believe him. He could have saved a lot of wild speculation if he had addressed this at yesterday’s pressor. Always better to get in front of something than to let if fester without any real facts. Perhaps he didn’t have the official results until after the pressor. I’ll give him the benefit of the doubt on this one. Bobo as an SEC OC is another matter.
Spaceman Spiff
November 2nd, 2011
3:37 pm
@ Dawg1
You seem to forget what paper he writes for…AJC…’nuff said…
Lowcountry Bulldawg
November 2nd, 2011
3:37 pm
Well according to insider Peterson does, he was hired by McGarity in a secret meeting they had over the weekend of the Boise St/UGA matchup Labor Day. Anyone remember that rumor?
mb peachtree city
November 2nd, 2011
3:38 pm
Damn don’t know why I even respond to mostly idiots. It is what it is. To me whatever happened it’s just a big distraction for the goal at hand-win the East. It ticks me of that these players are so self centered that they don’t get the team concept. I think this whole deal comes back to haunt us for the Auburn game big time distraction. I personally believe in the integrity of Richt and Mcgarity.
GT Joe
November 2nd, 2011
3:38 pm
Dawg1: sure, UGA’s policy is the toughest in America (if you all say so). But not so tough when you get to choose games for suspension rather than following the policy to the letter (which says, VERY NEXT GAME).
Dawg48
November 2nd, 2011
3:38 pm
AltamahaDawg
I have seen flat tire at all the home games he does show up! He is the guy with a mullet and wears a Florida gator shirt! It’s hard to miss the blue shirt in a sea of red!
G-Dawg
November 2nd, 2011
3:39 pm
LC Bulldawg…i remember that rumor too!! LOL
GT Joe
November 2nd, 2011
3:40 pm
TheDawg: typical UGA fan. degree-less.
I love how UGA fans come on here with that inferiority complex, spouting about what they own, etc.
Really. Cracks. Me. Up.
richmondDawg
November 2nd, 2011
3:41 pm
The reason it takes as much time as it did is because any positive result must be independently verified by an outside lab, the same way that it is with most employers…You need confirmation before you punish someone, because of issues legal and otherwise. Pretty standard stuff, regardless of the venue; you CYA legally, and then take if from there…
whatever
November 2nd, 2011
3:42 pm
St Mark Richt is a hypocrite – sure – let’s not suspend these guys until we play NMS – who is what – one of the worst teams in D-1?? I have zero confidence in whatever comes out of CMR’s mouth being the truth any longer – I have heard the man literally lye at least 5 times now.
Dawg48
November 2nd, 2011
3:42 pm
Gt Joe
Do you not have any family or friends? You have been on hear for hours! Get a life man!
Spaceman Spiff
November 2nd, 2011
3:42 pm
@ GT Joe
Typical UGA fan – degree-less? Interesting. Guess being in the U.S. Navy is also inferior, eh?
Funny thing that you don’t listen to facts and the you are the first to cast stones when your team is what?
G-Dawg
November 2nd, 2011
3:42 pm
Its just as funny as you doing the exact same on here!!
Still@theKool-aidBAR
November 2nd, 2011
3:42 pm
GT JOE
A GED is just as good as a UGA diploma the football players get. Every person that wears a UGA ballcap is as much a UGA grad as their football players.
dean
November 2nd, 2011
3:43 pm
The Great White Lie: “Yeah. I smoke weed IN COLLEGE.”
Oh. Realllllllly? You picked up your skin and threw away your Jokers? Give me a break.
Go Dawgs!
AltamahaDawg
November 2nd, 2011
3:43 pm
You know what I like to do when I do get back to campus. I like to walk around and point out where I had this class or that. Caldwell, South PJ, even had ot truck it over to Alderhold a couple of time. Good thing for that ol’ East-West huh?
I’m sure you know how that is?
GT Joe
November 2nd, 2011
3:43 pm
richmondDawg: how do you know the “confirmation” came after the Florida game? Trustin Richt on that, huh?
typical dawg fan
November 2nd, 2011
3:43 pm
it don’t matter if them boys was a smokin dope. they wear the big g on they heads. they like rock stars, like molly hatchet an ricky steemboat.me an my cousin lamar was a talkin bout that last nite. he said uga was like ric flare and was always gonna be the best. i no golberk was a dawg, but what if ric flare was a dawg at the same time and hershell was there to. shoot we would neva loose a game.
What's Important
November 2nd, 2011
3:43 pm
To the people who say you can get a drug test result in five minutes, that is only if your Mama called you up from the basement and handed you the cup. The universities do not do any of the actual testing procedure, other than collecting the urine. Those samples are then placed in a sealed container to be picked up the testing laboratory. The samples are delivered to the laboratory and placed in line for testing. The testing is then done on the samples and if any positives show up, that sample is retested to ensure it is not a false positive. At that point the results go to the transcriptionist to be typed and delivered to the university. That is not done in five minutes, it is not done in two days, it takes as long as it takes, usually 7 to 10 business, not weekend, business days. If the test was done last Thursday I am surprised they got the results back as quickly as they did. As to the rumors circulating around, probably one of the mental midgets that indulged told somebody he thought was his friend that he probably just failed a drug test, from there to Twitter or Facebook in a matter of minutes, and the urine has even left the university yet. Our talking head bobblehead 790 the Zone Mayhem in the a.m. hosts, all bald, transplanted Yankees by the way, then pick up the hue and cry because they “heard rumors” of a failed drug test and will not be satisfied with anything less than a lie detector test and Congressional committee to determine whether or not McGarrity and Richt are telling them the truth. Other universities do not have the problem with out-of-town, no-skin-in-the-game idiots covering their universities and are given the benefit of the doubt. Our group of know-it-all jerks salivate at the thought of something being wrong at the University of Georgia. Quite frankly, I hope they take Dimino off both the Georgia postgame show and off the Falcons beat. Not only is he a jerk, his monotone voice is enough to put you to sleep. Anyone who watched their Georgia postgame show after the Florida game will understand. He spent all his time telling Will Muschamp what an idiot he was to lose the game, with little time left to address Georgia winning the game. Georgia is not perfect, but it does not have to prove anything to the bunch of losers on the radio and the idiots that post on these blogs.
Spaceman Spiff
November 2nd, 2011
3:43 pm
@ Whatever
Then why, as a tech fan, are you listening to UGA’s coach? Envy?
Thedawg
November 2nd, 2011
3:44 pm
GT Joe Just crack up fool. I have a few GT grads on my payroll as well as UGA grads. Yep I’m degree less but not clueless
Realist
November 2nd, 2011
3:44 pm
Richt ought to be 6-2; so far UGA’s played the six dwarfs and New Mex State makes the seventh. So much for 6-2.
typical dawg fan
November 2nd, 2011
3:44 pm
hey mister spiff you in tha navy?
Spaceman Spiff
November 2nd, 2011
3:45 pm
@ Still
Oh you got us there…
AltamahaDawg
November 2nd, 2011
3:45 pm
I know Zeb. Waiting on a email here, got bored. I’ll try to straighten it up.
GT Joe
November 2nd, 2011
3:45 pm
Thedawg: I was waitin for that post. “I have Tech grads on the payroll”… LOL. so predictable.
Spaceman Spiff
November 2nd, 2011
3:45 pm
@ Typical
Yep. 17 years now.
whats goin on?
November 2nd, 2011
3:45 pm
Did the official results go directly to the coach? Doubtful. Probably went to his boss. Coach may not have “known” officially until later…so he would not have to ….whatever.
Still@theKool-aidBAR
November 2nd, 2011
3:46 pm
It is clear why our Government can’t get ANYTHING accomplished. It is just like these blogs. better to argue over the lil truth than admit the Huge Wrong.
JB
November 2nd, 2011
3:46 pm
GT Joe…responding to a UGA guy about what they have and calling it envy….He must be joking…All we hear from that cess pool on North Ave is if you didn’t go to Tech, life ain’t worth living……LMAO
Edward John Smith (aka Titanic Captain)
November 2nd, 2011
3:46 pm
“It depends upon what the meaning of the word ‘is’ is. If the—if he—if ‘is’ means is and never has been, that is not—that is one thing. If it means there is none, that was a completely true statement”.
CEO of Wal-Mart
November 2nd, 2011
3:47 pm
I’m a Tech grad and have THOUSANDS of UGA grads on the payroll. Literally.
hotdawg
November 2nd, 2011
3:48 pm
The facts surrounding the latest UGA suspensions reinforce what I have long thought: UGA holds its players to a higher standard of compliance than Tech or most other programs.
Thedawg
November 2nd, 2011
3:48 pm
gtjoe that’s why nobody likes Tech fans like you who think the only perfection comes from a college in mid town. Now that’s sad
GT Joe
November 2nd, 2011
3:48 pm
Any other UGA fans that have multiple homes and GT grads on the payroll? Tell us how successful you are! Please!
Us GT grads are so jealous…
typical dawg fan
November 2nd, 2011
3:49 pm
mr spiff me an lamar thank you for surevin our country. lamar said we need the army fitin for us so’s we can keep ridin 4 weelers up here in union county.
JB
November 2nd, 2011
3:49 pm
For $500, What Engineering School produces the most nerds and Virgins….
Alex, What is Georgia Tech……… ding ding ding……………correct.
Dawg48
November 2nd, 2011
3:49 pm
@GTJoe or still@thegrill
When your shift starts at the waffle house hurry up and engineer me a pecan waffle! And make the hash browns crispy!
GT Joe
November 2nd, 2011
3:50 pm
hotdawg: yes, UGA holds them to a higher standard. Unless of course the Florida game is coming up.
Spaceman Spiff
November 2nd, 2011
3:50 pm
@ Typical
Funny stuff there…
JB
November 2nd, 2011
3:50 pm
Tell us what year Joe and what your Degree is in
Spaceman Spiff
November 2nd, 2011
3:51 pm
@ GT
And yet we OWN GT…just like we own the little crybaby GT Joe
lieing is the Georgia Way
November 2nd, 2011
3:52 pm
lieing is the Georgia Way
GT Joe
November 2nd, 2011
3:52 pm
Good one JB! was waitin on the nerd/virgin post! Thanks!
Should I write the trailer park post, or is that too predictable?
Liar Liar Pants on Fire!
November 2nd, 2011
3:52 pm
Liar Liar Pants on Fire!
Big Dawg
November 2nd, 2011
3:52 pm
Coach Richt thinks Crowell has learned from his first mistake. Really? Is that why he’s suspended again already? Bottom line: Mark Richt is too soft and will always coddle his players. He should have stood up yesterday and announced all this at his luncheon. Instead, he hid behind the Sports Information Dept. to release the suspensions. Now he is having to play defense. This very slack attitude is why Georgia will never win one NC under this coach. Good OC, great person, good example, but far too lenient and unable to take the really tough stance. In the long run, he is his own worst enemy. All the Kool-Aid drinkers can keep him.
UGA Insider
November 2nd, 2011
3:53 pm
Chris Peterson is going to be the next head coach at UGA sometime in the near future. I predict this is CMR’s last season. It’s time to move on. I just hope Peterson will keep CTG.
whats goin on?
November 2nd, 2011
3:54 pm
Dog48, you eat at the Waf House often?
Lowcountry Bulldawg
November 2nd, 2011
3:54 pm
@Whats Important,
Good point, unfortunately it contains to much factual information for the trolls of this blog to actual try and take ou to task on the relevance of it, hince no response from them.