Notebook: Isaiah Crowell’s availability remains uncertain
ATHENS – The saga that is Georgia’s tailback situation continued on Wednesday as coach Mark Richt would not concede that either Isaiah Crowell or Carlton Thomas will be available to play against Georgia Tech on Saturday.
Richt met with the media for the final time this week before Wednesday’s late-afternoon practice. He said that Crowell still hasn’t gotten clearance from trainer Ron Courson to return from a sprained ankle the limited him to two carries against Kentucky this past Saturday. Richt said it would come down to how much work Crowell would be able to get in against the scout team Wednesday and Thursday.
“It’s very similar to what we did with Malcolm Mitchell and his hamstring,” Richt said. “We’re just trying to get him as ready to go as we can without putting him in a competitive situation. The most important part is the scout work, the game plan and simulated work. So we’ll see how much work he gets.”
Meanwhile, Richt remained cryptic regarding Thomas, who served his third one-game suspension of the season this past Saturday. “I’m not sure what I’m going to do there,” he said, quickly changing the subject.
For what it’s worth, offensive coordinator Mike Bobo said Tuesday he expects both players to play. In the meantime, Brandon Harton and Ken Malcome are getting a lot of work in practice.
Regardless, not knowing who is going to the primary ball-carrier each week has become an issue for the Bulldogs.
“It’s been a pain in the rear this year, no doubt,” Richt said. “But there has been different reasons for all this. In football, whether it’s injuries or suspensions, guys end up not being there and other guys have to step in to play. So you just play who you’ve got to play.”
Shout out to Marshall?
It’s no secret that Georgia is in hot pursuit of Keith Marshall of Raleigh, N.C., the consensus No. 1 running back prospect in America. Marshall lists the Bulldogs among his favorites and is scheduled to make his college choice on Dec. 6. Richt seemed to be talking to Marshall directly when he spoke of Georgia’s need for more tailbacks on Wednesday.
“There’s a tremendous opportunity at the University of Georgia for running backs in this class to come to Georgia and make a big impact,” Richt said. “I hope that’s not breaking a rule, but there’s tremendous opportunity, I can say that. If I was a running back, if I was a great running back, I would want to come to Georgia. I would be so excited about my opportunity at Georgia.”
The message reached Marshall. He retweeted Richt’s comments after they were circulated on Twitter by reporters.
Geathers close to ready
Noseguard Kwame Geathers is practicing this week and expects to play Saturday against Georgia Tech. He missed last Saturday’s game with a sprained right ankle.
“It still hurts a little bit but they’re going to keep working on it,” said the 6-foot-6, 350-pound Geathers. “It’s the time of the season where everybody’s hurt. You just have to play through it.”
Geathers started three games this season and splits time with John Jenkins at position.
Thanksgiving plans
Georgia’s players will be cut loose for the Thanksgiving holiday at 11 a.m. Thursday after a morning practice. The players that live close enough will head home and those that live far away will either accompany teammates home or attend assistant coach Rodney Garner’s annual Thanksgiving extravaganza at his home in Oconee County.
The Bulldogs’ defensive line coach and recruiting coordinator has been hosting displaced players on Thanksgiving ever since he came to Georgia in 1998 and before that when he was at other schools.
“It’s just a traditional thing now,” Garner said. “I hated eating in the dorm on Thanksgiving when I was at Auburn.”I thought it was the worst thing that ever happened. Being from the country, I didn’t think it was fair that we had to eat cafeteria food. So when I got into coaching I just decided I was going to make sure those guys had home-cooked food.”
They said it
“You could go 11-0 but if you lose to Georgia Tech it’s not going to be a good season. You could see that in 2008. A lot of people would say going 10-3 and winning the Capital One Bowl was a successful season for a program. But that loss to Tech really ruined that season and left a sour note in everybody’s mouth.”
– Senior tight end Aron White
Etc. . . .
Georgia defensive coordinator Todd Grantham was among 29 nominees for the Frank Broyles Award, which goes annually to the nation’s top assistant coach. . . . The Bulldogs were practicing in full pads both Wednesday and Thursday in preparation for the Yellow Jackets’ triple option. . . . Players plan to visit patients at Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta and The Shepherd Center on Friday afternoon.
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204 comments Add your comment
PT
November 24th, 2011
9:54 am
11-3 Are we discussing LSU or UGA’s progress this season? Georgia may play LSU for the SEC. We will see. I think UGA matches up better with LSU than Bama.
Dawg
November 24th, 2011
9:55 am
Would you DIPSHEETS rather the DAWGS lost all the so called cupcake games. What’s your point, they played their schedule which happens to be stronger than an ACC schedule.
11-3
November 24th, 2011
9:56 am
Name 1 single team we beat this entire season ?
rascaldawg
November 24th, 2011
9:57 am
Hey “IL-logical jacket”…it’s Thanksgiving, stop the BS and trying to start rumors. Get a life and get on your on jacket blog!!
SatchelBuzz
November 24th, 2011
9:59 am
To the ugag fan who seems to think the comments on this blog about IC will “let a fire”,…..I’d think that’s the last thing you folks would want to have happen. Burn one down baby,…..just sayin.
THWG!
Contractor
November 24th, 2011
9:59 am
Excellent job Coach Gardner. You’re a stand up gentlemen for allowing so many players to come into your home with your family and enjoy a day that is made for family. Those athletes giving up their family lives for the University of Georgia definitely deserve it, and thanks for treating them well coach.
PT
November 24th, 2011
10:07 am
11-3 What your telling me is that if Georgia had won all their games they would have beaten only two teams, Boise and South Carolina. Alabama has beaten one, maybe two if we count Penn State, but I’m still not sure how good they are.
Paul in NH (formerly RDU)
November 24th, 2011
10:20 am
If Marshall has good grades at Millbrook HS (one of the better high schools in Wake County, which is one of the better school districts in NC) he’ll do fine at UGA.
Brick
November 24th, 2011
10:24 am
All this hype about how we had to sign Crowell is looking laughable. The guy was babied too much at Carver
South GA Dawg
November 24th, 2011
10:26 am
Looks like a bunch of Tech fans posting under Dawg names to bash IC. IC will be fine. UGA is proud of IC and everything he has done this year. he will get better in time and more mature. GO DAWGS
THE Dixie Redcoat Band
November 24th, 2011
10:47 am
Have they ever identified the coach who recruited the great ic?
duronimo
November 24th, 2011
10:56 am
What about giving that white boy with the odd name a shot? His numbers were just as good as Harton’s when IC and the midget were missing. He’s big and can take an SEC “hit” without fumbling.
Samuel being a “great dog”? He showed in the Fla game that he knows how use his size & speed. OK where has that been? How does 100% effort in one game in 4 years make him a great dog?
1969 Graduate
November 24th, 2011
11:10 am
Interesting to read what the Tech fan wrote about Crowell. If it’s true – and it certainly could be, for the most part – my notions about his potential for off-season improvement are mistaken.
As much as I’m excited about the Tech game, and the upcoming SEC game against LSU/Alabama, it is certainly true that we haven’t “beaten anyone” yet. Until Mark Richt and his assembled assistants prove they can beat some top competition, I’m 100% in agreement that his job status should remain insecure.
I know there are those who love the Kool-Aid. The fact is Georgia will always be the University, and I will always cheer for the team. However, it’s also a fact that Mr. Richt hasn’t done much yet to show competitiveness beyond the mediocre level.
Key word: Yet.
I’m given him the benefit of the doubt, and I’m assuming he will demonstrate over the next three games how much he’s learned. But…If he and Bobo mismanage their jobs so that our team loses all three games – a real possibility – he and Bobo should leave Athens forever.
In other words, he’s still on the hotseat!
Actually, I think Coach Richt has potential, but he will be hampered as long as he keeps Bobo around, and let’s him call plays. Keeping Mike Bobo on his staff is his decision, so he’s responsible for Bobo’s work. Bobo may have some skills, and abilities, and I’m sure he is a great father, husband, and family member, but a D1 offensive coordinator seems beyond his capacity.
Let’s hope those of the faithful who drink the Kool-Aid are right, and I’m wrong.
I’d sure love to win the next three games, but only if means CMR and CMB have actually improved, and fixed the problems within our football program. Otherwise, we’ll have good seasons only when the rest of the SEC is weak.
Go, Hairy Bulldogs. Destroy Georgia Tech.
Dawg
November 24th, 2011
11:18 am
The last two years I was afraid GT would score 50 on our pathetic Defense and now I feel we can hold them to 10 points but now I’m afraid our pathetic offense can score 10 points or more to win
liberalefty
November 24th, 2011
11:26 am
it amazes me that so many of you men know that CROWELL “has no heart”. how long have ya’ll been able to read minds? ya’ll have built him up as the greatest thing since sex before he got on campus, and when he didnt live up to the hype, you fools turned against him like a fickle child. u even know if hes hurt or not. obviously u knows his pain threshold better than he does! i love sports but u jock sniffers go too far
Terry
November 24th, 2011
11:32 am
Dawg, Tell me one Team GT has held to 10 points? Our Offense, even without our RB, have not scored under 19 points all year.
mike addington
November 24th, 2011
11:46 am
Definitely a need for running back. Crowell is a girl and will never be a FOOTBALL PLAYER. U run with your heart, not your legs.
Dawgboy
November 24th, 2011
11:59 am
I can guarantee you that Richt and company will be going after Keith Marshall with everything they have. This is what we need next year; then we can let Crowell sit on the bench in the background, read his high school press clippings, and daydream while looking at the manicure job on his fingernails.
bitter dawgs fan
November 24th, 2011
12:13 pm
collage football world happy thanks given—————-ill be nice and respectfull today not because i’m told to be —-but life can be tuff and we all need a day to come together and love one another
—————–going to war seemed easy butt loking back evan the guys shooting desirve one day
——————————————–of piece—————that means you spell police
————————god bless us all——take care of our brother —LARRY MUNSON—-GO DAWGS
liberalefty
November 24th, 2011
12:17 pm
@mike addington 11:46
do u know how ignorant you sound? only CROWELL knows if hes hurt enough, not some jock sniffer who played JV football.
liberalefty
November 24th, 2011
12:19 pm
@dawgboy 11:59
or u might be moaning n groaning about how MARSHALL is lazy,big headed blah blah blah like youre doing to CROWELL right now
Niceville Dawg
November 24th, 2011
12:47 pm
Never been on a Tech website of any kind until this morning.Heard they were going to do a pre-game tribute to Mr.Munson and figured I’d see what the fans thought about it.I am absolutely apalled by the things those idiots are posting.All are claiming to boo loudly or the band play over it ,etc.Some saying “F” Munson,calling him a POS.I hope any SO-CALLED Tech fan that does ANYTHING negative during the tribute isn’t sitting close to me because I’ll more than likely get thrown out before the game starts.It is supposed to be @ the 14 minute mark on the game countdown clock.
rascaldawg
November 24th, 2011
12:47 pm
Fact is there is enough room for IC and Marshall (and more). This big time college football; not hi school where 1 man rules. GT fans and others just trying to stir up the pot cause this is their one week to try and shine. Forgive them, they are just not used to being in the limelight of bigtime college football….
BobDog
November 24th, 2011
12:54 pm
We need a tailback rotation. Fifteen carries in a game equates to a lot of hits a back has to endure. When you spread that out over a season, that is tough, especially on a freshman. That we didn’t have King or Ealey to rotate with Crowell is unfortunate. I think Crowell has done as much or more than I hoped for.
I hope the kid from NC sees the chance to play and rotate with IC. Would be good to get another back, maybe a big JUCO kid who is more mature and able to handle the battering a little better.
DougsMugsCoffeeDOTcom
November 24th, 2011
12:57 pm
rascaldawg,
I agree, a lot of the Crowell bashers are just Tech fans being deceitful. I bet they all vote Democrat. That is the party of liars where they fit in.
One report on the radio was that the coaching staff took Isaiah’s helmet away because he did want to go back in last week. When the injury happened, they worked hard on the sideline to try to get him ready but why risk a longer term injury on a good kid with a bright future? The coaches gambled a little and made the right call in not rushing him back in.
He will be needed against LSU/Arkansas. As for Tech, I hope IC plays and puts 200 on them.
BobDog
November 24th, 2011
12:59 pm
@liberalefty
I agree. You mention that people are complaining that Crowell didn’t live up to the hype. That’s the problem, many of these people would be satisfied with nothing less than Herschel. There will NEVER be another Herschel.
Poor Crowell.
BiggdawgK
November 24th, 2011
1:01 pm
Happy Thanksgiving Chip and Dawg Nation!
liberalefty
November 24th, 2011
1:39 pm
@bobdog
you’re right, people look at these kids and try to project how talented they are. but thats impossible to predict. theirs plenty of high school superstars who turn out to be mediocre college players. that may be because the kids arent mature enough, work ethic or talent or some other reason.
liberalefty
November 24th, 2011
1:42 pm
and remember when HERSCHEL came to UGA he weighed 230 solid pounds at a time when college DE’S weighed about the same. LB’S were also smaller.and slower than todays lb’s are. if HERSHEL played today he probaly wouldnt be as great,just good
by the way,
November 24th, 2011
5:59 pm
if the dogs want to have a chance in the sec dome game, better rest crowell this week.
11-3
November 24th, 2011
6:36 pm
Alabama beat Arkansas who ends the season in the Top 10, and yes they beat Penn State who is 9-2 and # 19 in the Coaches’ Poll, # 20 in the AP Poll and Alabama was the better football team against LSU the # 1 team in the nation – in addition, Alabama will play a GREAT TEAM on the NATIONAL STAGE as a direct result of these facts and that will be win # 2 over a team who ends the season in the top 10. Alabama is # 2 in the nation in every poll as a direct result thereof.
LSU beat Oregon who is # 9 in the AP Poll and # 9 in the Coaches’ Poll, and LSU beat Alabama also in the Top 10 of every poll – both of those wins away from home; LSU also beat # 23 in the Coaches’ Poll West Virginia who is 7-3. LSU is # 1 in the nation in every poll, as a direct result thereof.
UGA under Mark Richt in his 11th season has done this year what he has done for 11 years – kept us in the bad press all season long first with all the 2 dozen players shown the door or just quit the team and transferred then with all the favoritism and Suspensions he has tried to HIDE ALL SEASON LONG because he is wary of the huge bad press he has endured for 11 consecutive seasons – and keep losing games he should have WON such as notably South Carolina, our Major Rival whom he LOST TO but should not have, and he LOST to a team who ends the season in the top 10 which he has done 10 Losses in 13 games over all 11 years against teams who end the season in the top 10, and he has BEAT NO TEAM WHO ENDS THE SEASON in the top 25 at all, whatsoever.
11-3
November 24th, 2011
7:13 pm
“Bobby Dodd did not complete his degree at the University of Tennessee, and he never quite forgave himself for that fact.”
___________________________________________
http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/columns/story?columnist=curry_bill&page=sec/passion
___________________________________________
carolinajacket November 24th, 2011 6:34 pm
“Oh Thomas, why do you feel a need to lie so much. Dodd not only graduated from UT, he also played basketball, baseball, and ran track while there. Its fine to support your team, but it’s pretty sorry when you have to do it by telling big, fat lies. Rather cowardly.”
____________________________________________
LIAR
11-3
November 24th, 2011
7:50 pm
NCAA PROBATION back-to-back REPEAT OFFENDERS
Georgia tek
who does NOT graduate their football players but who most assuredly does LOSE to UGA in football at 1-9 vs our current coach.
Homepage | MrSEC.com
November 24th, 2011
8:32 pm
[...] There’s no official word on whether or not Isaiah Crowell will play [...]
Jordan
November 24th, 2011
9:58 pm
http://isportsweb.com/2011/11/24/clean-old-fashioned-hate/
Smoking Jacket
November 24th, 2011
10:02 pm
Me, SatchelBuzz, and friends are down here at Grant Field running the triple wearing nothing but our yellow wigs! Boy, this night air is chilly….we have some significant shrinkage! OH YEAH, Ramone just broke a long run! Yeah Baby, I love football……..YEEEEEEEEEEEEEHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAW!
Smoking Jacket
November 24th, 2011
10:13 pm
CPJ has agreed to join in a post game goober bumping festival with all the fans after we beat UGA. Sting ‘em in the arse Jackets! YEEEEEEEEEEEEHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAW!
TXDAWG3
November 24th, 2011
10:23 pm
FLA DAWG
I concur that anyone testing positive for drugs should be dealt with appropriately…swiftly…completely consistent with the law. However, I still haven’t read anything but conjecture on the part of blowhard critics.
Once an official legal accusation is made, then it would make sense to call for official action and dismissal from the team. What appears to be generated in these pages of opinions is not consistent with anything projected as truth. The critics appear to be guilty of gossip and nothing more. If there is any truth to the allegation of drug use, then logically the university would be guilty of not reporting a criminal action and someone would be held accountable for their lack of actions.
My comments above are directed at all the nonsense directed toward an 18 yr old boy that is in the process of growing up and is under the authority of a great man that believes it is his responsibility to help these young boys grow up to be responsible men that will reflect their growth as good husbands, fathers and community citizens.
Smoking Jacket
November 24th, 2011
10:28 pm
Injury Update: Roddy Jones just tweaked an ankle while running the butt naked triple option down here at Grant Field….the grass is dewey. All the players still piled on and seem to be having a great time celebrating though….jumping up and down! I hope we don’t peak too soon.
WestOfAthens
November 24th, 2011
10:33 pm
Maybe CMR’s shout out makes it official…
This unit UGA possesses is not reliable, physically and mentally, or is it simply day to day behavior?
Get it right is all i and most have to say. I know my days on the field were few and far between, but i gave it my ALL and i appreciated every second.
HBTD
Rainbow Jacket
November 24th, 2011
10:45 pm
CPJ is holding a pep rally at the Purple Cucumber on North Ave at 10am before the game. He will bump goobers with all the Tech. faithful. This is the same strategy employed before the Clemson game….you see how well that worked! YEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAW!
Who needs girls?
November 24th, 2011
10:49 pm
GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO Jackets!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
THWG! Yeah Baby!
TampaDawg
November 24th, 2011
10:57 pm
All Saints, you already did your weekly rambling garbage. Sandy, you a disgraceful person who spouts out crap that you can’t prove, that doesn’t make sense, and honestly is easily disproven showing you to be nothing of credibility. Have fun with that, because the facts will always prove that I am right, whether it’s in graduation rates, university rankings or otherwise, facts are on my side, not yours.
HogMountain Dog
November 24th, 2011
11:11 pm
Face it, Techies. We’uns is better’n you’uns. Notice I called you “Techies.” I added “ies” to Tech, so how’s that for an insult? Pretty clever, huh? I got lots of those. Sometimes I call them “nerds,” tee-hee. Once I said “pencil-neck.” I’m a funny dawg. Techies are geeks. How’s that for a zinger? Oh, and we have more fans than Techies do. Of course China has more people than America does, so I’m thinkin’ about becoming a Chinaman.
HogMountain Dog
November 24th, 2011
11:24 pm
C’mon, dawg fans!! We can still win a national championship this year. We control our own destiny. I’m tired of having just one lousy national championship in 130 years of playing football. It’s embarrassing, So let’s hope we do it THIS YEAR!!! Go dawgs. Woof Woof. After we beat those Techies and LSU, We’ll show the world. Beating the #1 team in the nation should vault us right into the BCS Championship game. Then we can beat Bama. Then we’ll take on the Packers.
TampaDawg
November 24th, 2011
11:30 pm
@11-3
“UGA under Mark Richt in his 11th season has done this year what he has done for 11 years – kept us in the bad press all season long first with all the 2 dozen players shown the door or just quit the team and transferred then with all the favoritism and Suspensions he has tried to HIDE ALL SEASON LONG because he is wary of the huge bad press he has endured for 11 consecutive seasons – and keep losing games he should have WON such as notably South Carolina, our Major Rival whom he LOST TO but should not have, and he LOST to a team who ends the season in the top 10 which he has done 10 Losses in 13 games over all 11 years against teams who end the season in the top 10, and he has BEAT NO TEAM WHO ENDS THE SEASON in the top 25 at all, whatsoever.”
First off, if CMR gets let go at the end of the season, he has another job IMMEDIATELY if he wants it. Why? Because ALL teams have bad apples. Ours is no different and any time you hear of another coach or AD talk about CMR, they have tremendous respect for the guy. No probations in 11 years is huge. We had one really bad year of bad apples, but otherwise, no more than most other teams.
As for the last line in there, I guess you are just talking about this year but that’s hardly his fault. All he can do is end the season with the best record he can and he did that. He has, over 11 years, beaten MANY top 25 teams, had several good upset wins, many of those on the road, has 2 SEC Championships and will be making his 4th trip to the Championship Game. Other than 2009-2010 he “brought” no more bad press to this team than any other coach. In fact, most who have a working brain cell will tell you that HE didn’t bring any bad press. The bad apples he recruited that caused the trouble were recruited by most of the other major schools in the SEC and many schools from other conferences. Bottom line is this, there are so many holes in your post that it just doesn’t make sense other than to say that you don’t like Mark Richt. Fine, we get it .. you don’t like Mark Richt. Doesn’t change the facts. He is among the most respected coaches in the game. Fact!
TampaDawg
November 24th, 2011
11:33 pm
@HogMountain Dog .. it’s so becoming to use a handle with the word “dog” in it and spout of stupidity. Nice work, but it points out the loser you are. In fact, if you actually knew anything about it we have TWO national championships .. the consensus kind that is. When was the last GT CONSENSUS national championship? Get your calculator out, that was a long time ago.
Super QueerDawg
November 25th, 2011
1:07 am
Alright y’all it is almost that time. We are having a special celebration in the lower level north side restrooms pregame. Message me if you want to join us in our special man activities.
Crowell
November 25th, 2011
1:09 am
Ma ankle be fine yo. I got heart an it makes me realla mad when you hillbilly yokels suggest othawise. I’s gon run all over deez yellajackets satday. I blaze befo the game an take da pain off my body. We gon run dis state at lees one mo year. GO DAWGS!
TampaDawg
November 25th, 2011
1:12 am
Crowell you suck. Get a heart and grow up.