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.)
Tell us what you think about the site
Customer Care »
Vacation stops, manage subscriptions and more
AJC Services
Sections
Other Editions
Visitor Agreement | Privacy Statement
© 2013 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
1,013 comments Add your comment
78dawg
November 2nd, 2011
4:22 pm
Get off the conspiracy theories. Richt has suspended players before for very important games. Having said that I would have McClendon serve the same punishment as his players. Dock his pay.
IMO we need a REAL running back coaching them anyway. I hope Richt is around a long time, but he can be too slow to replace his assistants.
Roget Dinosaurus
November 2nd, 2011
4:23 pm
Mettenberg gets kicked off team for using alcohol while 3 running backs test positive for drugs get a 1 game suspension. Sad.
GT Joe
November 2nd, 2011
4:23 pm
I love Waffle House and WalMart. Both run by GT grads.
AltamahaDawg
November 2nd, 2011
4:24 pm
Oh, I said many times in here, I gave up my season tickets some years ago. Raising 3 kids, very demanding business, and living 5 hours away. I go to which games I can, 2-3 a year. I used to go to more, but I go when I can now. I don’t know, hundred, hundred and a half at this point? Not sure. Always AU game if it’s Athens.
Here is the big difference between you and me. I could say I go to them all, and pretty much anyone would believe me. You say you do, and throw some characature details, and pretty much nobody believes you.
That, and I am an Alumnus of UGA..
Flat Tire on I-95 in Jacksonville
November 2nd, 2011
4:26 pm
Everyone
Please sign up for Altamaha Dawgs;
How to Arm Fish on the Altamaha River Boat Tour;
Better known as Noodling
The guy needs the extra money to buy a ticket to a home game.
He hasnt been able to see a home game since UGA started requiring donations for season tickts
ActuaryDawg
November 2nd, 2011
4:26 pm
Dawglasville. You’re talking nonsense. ALL Georgia Tech grads are immediately given six figure income jobs after they leave campus. ALL Georgia grads are put to work in sweat shops packaging Skoal for 16 hours a day. They are paid solely in company store scrip.
(Let’s just let the Tech grads have this comforting thought, God knows they have nothing else to be happy about.)
What's Important
November 2nd, 2011
4:26 pm
@Roget Dinosaurus – get your facts straight. There was a little matter of a sexual assault by Mettenberg that put the nail in his coffin as far as UGA was concerned. Of course, LSU had no problem with that little issue and picked him up.
Know Nothing
November 2nd, 2011
4:27 pm
“That, and I am an Alumnus of UGA..”
I doubt it. I’ve yet to meet a graduate of any Georgia school that knows the singular from the plural. You’re probably a Virginia grad.
Bill
November 2nd, 2011
4:27 pm
Put in Nick Martshall and forget about Crowell, etc. He only needs a chance to show what he can do. With Marshall in the backfield with Murray you have 2 guys who are dual threats to run or throw.
LHarding Dawg
November 2nd, 2011
4:27 pm
Tampa – I have usually always read your post because they were well thought out and usually right, but after losing to Georgia they have become petty. If you don’t like Coach Richt as a coach, that’s fine, but leave the other crap alone. He is our coach, Muschamp is your coach and there is no comparison between the two. I may be critical of Muschamp as a coach but I’ll never criticize him as a person. Now enjoy your porch, looking at the ocean, and enjoying whatever you drink in the afternoon.
Dawglasville
November 2nd, 2011
4:28 pm
You can keep Walmart. I wouldn’t care if it was run by Herschel Walker and Terry Hoage. If your Tech guy can keep it scattered, smothered, covered, chunked, diced, capped, peppered, and topped he is alright by me.
Know Nothing
November 2nd, 2011
4:28 pm
It’s true. Mettenberg touched a girl’s booby. Prolly should have gone to Tech instead and avoided the temptation.
typical dawg fan
November 2nd, 2011
4:29 pm
yall was a talkin bout traffic, me an my cousin lamar was ridin wit red hawkins in his 18 weel truck deliverin apples to a food lion in bristle virginny on time an we got cuoght up in some traffic on i81. well me an lamar had a ben drinkin bud lites fer a wile an we need to go an pee. well red said for me to reach back in his sleepin cab an grab that jug that was back in there. he tolt us we cood go in that jug. well lamar said that was fine wit him and he peed strait in that jug. i woodnt do it. i got out the truck an peed betwix the truck an trailer. somethin didn’t feel rite bout peein in a jug that a couple of other fellas has already peed in.
NYDAWG
November 2nd, 2011
4:29 pm
I’d give Marshall a shot at running back. Remember Hines Ward i believe his freshman year rolled up a couple of 100 yard games for the dawgs.
Still@theKool-aidBAR
November 2nd, 2011
4:30 pm
JB……………wrong Scientology is not 1st cousin to Mormons. Your President ADAMS religion is first cousin to the Mormons. Church of Christ are the people that don’t believe in Music and Dancing in Church.
tell me again
November 2nd, 2011
4:30 pm
Here’s what I say – Richt has stated his case – if you’ve got PROOF that what he said is false – put it on the table or STFU! How’s that? Pretty simple – anything else you say is just p!ss and wind. They made a mistake – it was discovered in a timely manner – they have been disciplined – end of story.
TampaGator
November 2nd, 2011
4:30 pm
From Mark Richt……..
You boys have been really bad, bad, bad boys. I have to teach you a big time lesson. You bad boys! I know it is mean of my, but I am ya daddy….and daddy’s sometimes have to be mean to their boys by doing real tough things so that bad boys don’t do bad things any more. Boys…I am going to give you a drug test on the Thursday before the Florida game. I have been hearing some naugty things about you boys and you have to learn a lesson. I know you are really going to be mad at me after the Florida game and before the Auburn and Georgia Tech games……but try to understand….it is for your own good that I do this terrrible, terrible thing to you. So boys, you aren’t going to get to play against New Mexico State. Stop that! Stop your crying! It isn’t the end of the world. You got to play aganist that sorry Florida team, didn’t you? Now stop crying. You will get to play against New Mexico State again some day….especially you Crowell. I know it will be a disappointment to miss that game and playing the following week against that sorry Auburn team will not help much…..and the following week against that sorry Tech team won’t help much either…..but this painful moment….not playing against New Mexico State…..will teach you a very important lesson…..and that lesson….is……always take a drug test the week after….not the week before…..the game you most want to play in. I know NM St. is huge for you guys…..but you will get over it. So will I. Lesson learned, boys. Now….go out and live with integrity….just like me.
ARdawg
November 2nd, 2011
4:31 pm
Bill
Nick Marshall is very likely one of the best athletes I have ever seen in class A football. To give you an reference I did play against Hershel Walker many years ago
GT Joe
November 2nd, 2011
4:31 pm
Question for mutt fans: What is UGA’s biggest win of the season? Is it Vandy?
Dawg48
November 2nd, 2011
4:31 pm
I will start the fix a flat tire foundation for you so can please move on with your ( I know every thing mentality) all you do is come on here and bash the Georgia program, but a bet you were happy and cheered when the dawgs won in Florida!
DawgSTILE
November 2nd, 2011
4:31 pm
The hits just keep on a comin, nothing like seeing a few dawgs like DAWINLEX with their panties in a bunch. Does anyone really think something like this would happen BEFORE the Florida game? And I DO like CMR, no doubt a fine man and a pretty good ball coach.
Richt's Tanning Salon
November 2nd, 2011
4:32 pm
ANOUNCEMENT: Free spray tanning and eyebrow bleaching to the first 100 customers if New Mexico State beats Ugay this weekend!
Dawglasville
November 2nd, 2011
4:32 pm
ActuaryDawg – I understand. I actually like blogging nice with some of these guys. Back when I was 18 – 23 I would have jumped into the redneck vs nerd fest with the rest of them.
DawginLex
November 2nd, 2011
4:34 pm
To those bashing Christianity and not wanting to believe in Jesus and believing this life is all there is and that there is no Heaven or He!!.
Just remember, when you die, you better be right!!!!!!!!!
SmokeDawg
November 2nd, 2011
4:34 pm
Where’s Herb?
TampaGator
November 2nd, 2011
4:34 pm
No…..scientology is the first cousin to PURE EVIL. Their HQ is not far from me…..scientology robots walk in straight lines all over downtown Clearwater………religion = mind control…..and scientology is all about mind control…..EVIL in the purest sense in that it takes away what is most important to mankind……the ability to think clearly for one’s self.
The Monger
November 2nd, 2011
4:34 pm
I dont understand what the big deal is and why these young running backs were suspended. For smoking pot on there own time?? Really? This just shows the lack of knowledge and cultural riffs there are on the part of some of the older generation on these blogs. They think it is somehow “immoral” i am assuming? I understand that it is technically illegal, outside of a few places such as California and inside Denver, where users can purchase small amounts with a cannibas card. However, policy and laws are about shifting to public demand, and right now the public is demanding that marijuana should be fully legalized, as the newest Washington Post Poll states that for the first time, a majority of Americans favor legalization (58 percent) as opposed to 39 percent against legalization. I have seen other polls even higher in the 80-90 percent range for legalization. The greater shame in this matter, is not that three young men will miss one game of a football season for a petty, victimless non-crime. Its that we imprison millions of young men every year for simple marijauna possession and other victimless “crimes”, only sending them to become more hardened prisoners once they come out, and the viscous cycle remains…just sad and terrible that these young men’s lives are ruined over a plant, a simple weed, that grows naturally all over the word and was used by Moses, Jesus, and was planted on Jesus’ grave 2000 years ago. It is used as a sacred herb for spiritual rituals in many shaman ceremonies, and medically all over the world to treat a number of ailments from cancer, glaucoma, AIDS, arthritis, and many others. Please contact your local congressman and voice your concern over these young men and women whose lives are ruined everyday for enjoying a great, medicinally benificial herb in their spare time. Thank you.
-The Monger
Dawglasville
November 2nd, 2011
4:35 pm
GT Joe – Now we got off track. We haven’t beaten anyone. We haven’t lost to, “no one’s” either. Maybe we can figure out a way to beat the “somebodies” later. We actually beat the ACC champs with a pretty suckie team a couple of years ago.
DawginLex
November 2nd, 2011
4:35 pm
Good to see you too Dawgstile.
You really need to learn to spell.
It’s DAWGINLEX
It’s also STYLE
Have a good day.
I’ll leave now and try to untwist my knickers
Roget Dinosaurus
November 2nd, 2011
4:36 pm
Ben Roethlisberger raped 2 women and is still a hero in Pittsburgh… But having known druggies on your team and doing nothing about it shows that you are okay with it. They should be kicked off the team.
GT Joe
November 2nd, 2011
4:36 pm
Congrats to UGA for beating the worst Florida team in 30 years. Barely.
TampaGator
November 2nd, 2011
4:37 pm
DawginLex…..
And what happens if you aren’t right? What happens to you then? The #1 weapon of religion —– is fear. So well spoken by you……..
P.S…….how is that mind control thing going for you…..obviously well. Praise Jesus.
John Galt
November 2nd, 2011
4:38 pm
Beauvighn -
You are due an a$$ whipping.
TampaGator
November 2nd, 2011
4:38 pm
And Ray Lewis had people killed in Atlanta…..and he is a hero in Baltimore. Nothing right about that.
Roget Dinosaurus
November 2nd, 2011
4:39 pm
Well since marijuana is totally (not techically) illegal then they should be searched daily for possession.
DawginLex
November 2nd, 2011
4:41 pm
If I’m not right(which I am BTW), I’m dead just like you and we don’t exist anymore.
If I am right, I live in Heaven for eternity with Jesus.
The other side of that equation is not a pretty picture.
There are studies and eye-witness accounts of folks who have died and were brought back to life that were destined for He!!. The table they were on had torn sheets and they were screaming as they were brought back to life. Interviews with them indicated a place of torment they were destined for.
I believe that place exists for people who reject Christ.
Everyone can believe what they want to though.
Ringleader
November 2nd, 2011
4:41 pm
Now back to the Mettenburger thing………..
He was in a bar in lovely Valdosta, when a braless female bar-back sat next to him on a bar stool……..he immediately noticed she did not have any panties on. He looked around to see if Damon was there, when his Russian fingers on his Roman hands began to explore. An off duty police officer made the arrest, the female chose not to bring any charges, and LSU signed him.
Where was the Reverend Coach?
7576DAWG
November 2nd, 2011
4:41 pm
Roget Dinosaurus
From what I read Mettenberger also exposed her breast. If it had been one of my daughters nothing short of jail time would have been enough punishment. Mettenberger should be a convicted sex offender. He was very lucky the girls father was not me. As many daughters as CMR has there was mo way he was going to be able to stay at Georgia . His mother working in the Athletic administration building couldn’t even help. That’s how you know how bad it really was.
Still@theKool-aidBAR
November 2nd, 2011
4:41 pm
The Monger………….. victim-less crime? Tell that to the family members of all the people killed in the Mexican boarder towns by the Drug Cartels. POT is not a victim-less crime just like Alcoholism is not a victim-less crime but drinking is Legal.
The Monger
November 2nd, 2011
4:43 pm
unite, legalize this herb! Please call your local congressman today and end this senseless drug war that has cost millions of lives and wasted millions in tax dollars on the senseless prohibition of one of god’s most sacred herbs…
thank you, the monger
Dawg48
November 2nd, 2011
4:44 pm
@Dawginlex
Don’t throw your pearls to the pigs brother!
Any way I love making the trip up to Kentucky every other year! It’s a fun road trip for an away game.
ActuaryDawg
November 2nd, 2011
4:44 pm
“one of God’s most sacred herbs…”
Whoa! Cilantro is illegal?!?!
Roget Dinosaurus
November 2nd, 2011
4:45 pm
I’ve heard it all now. Monger says marijuana was planted on Jesus grave. Boy, I’ve never read that in the Bible. Don’t go outside during thunderstorms Monger. You might pay for your blashphemy with a bolt of lightning…
Dawglasville
November 2nd, 2011
4:45 pm
TampaGator – “P.S…….how is that mind control thing going for you…..obviously well.” It’s actually called humility. You may not have it now. Life is going to make you humble regardless of what you believe. Why don’t we just stick with football and leave religion out of it.
hairy Grandma
November 2nd, 2011
4:45 pm
Alright…. Which one of you numbnuts were talking shiznnat about ole grannie here??!!
What's Important
November 2nd, 2011
4:45 pm
@Roget Dinosaurus – What the hell has Ben Rothlisberger got to do with UGA? Stay on point man.
Flat Tire on I-95 in Jacksonville
November 2nd, 2011
4:46 pm
Dawg48
Please Tell me when have I bashed the program
What because I believe that UGA; with talent they are able to get, and the money and resources they have should not be accepting such mediocrity for the past 20 years
That is bashing the program?
WOW
No its fans like you who think beating GT every year is good enough and that 10 win seasons is the pinnacle of success. Thats the problem.
Please do this program a favor and pull for Kentucky they could use another fan
wsewell
November 2nd, 2011
4:46 pm
They can go ahead and put my name up as the possbilities. I’ll get you 20 yards for the game
ActuaryDawg
November 2nd, 2011
4:47 pm
If Mark Richt has a hair piece, then it is worst one in the world.
AltamahaDawg
November 2nd, 2011
4:47 pm
Nice catch there. Now, if Flat Tire had gone to Georgia, we would be Alumni. But as it stands, it is the singular masculine version, Alumnus.