Q&A: Crowell happy with season, wants to be ‘more accountable, responsible’
Isaiah Crowell hasn't done much for Georgia since his 132-yard rushing effort against Auburn. He has had 26 yards on 12 carries in the three games since. (AJC photo by Brant Sanderlin)
Q&A WITH ISAIAH CROWELL
With 29 more yards rushing, Isaiah Crowell will have turned in the best performance by a freshman tailback since Herschel Walker had 1,616 in 1980. Crowell currently has 847 yards, 28 behind Thomas Brown, who had 875 in 2004. Crowell was named SEC Freshman of the Year and a Freshman All-American. Yet he’s vilified on blogs and in fan forums and was actually booed in the SEC Championship Game at the Georgia Dome. The frustration over Crowell is everyone can plainly see his first season at Georgia could have even more glorious. Suspensions, injuries and a general inability to stay on the football field for expended periods of time makes it seem his was only a part-time effort.
On track for a 1,000-yard season, an ankle injury limited Crowell to just 26 yards on 12 carries in the Bulldogs’ final three games. He claims to be healthy now but heads into the Jan. 2 Outback Bowl second team behind redshirt freshman Ken Malcome. By all accounts there is nothing currently that would keep Crowell out of that game. This past weekend, Crowell spent a few minutes talking with reporters about his first season at Georgia and what it felt like from his perspective.
Q: At one point 1,000 yards rushing — one of your stated goals — seemed like a foregone conclusion. But then you didn’t play much from the Kentucky game on. Is that something you still believe is achievable?
A: “I don’t think it’s out of reach. I mean, it it happens, I’ll be happy. If it doesn’t happen, I’ll still be happy because I had a great season, a freshman season. So if it doesn’t happen I’ll just come back and try again next year.”
Q: You also said you wanted to be named a freshman All-American and that happened for you, too. Was that exciting for you?
A: “Yeah, I was excited about it. But I don’t really pay attention to stuff like that.”
Q: If there was any one thing you could change about this past season, what would it be?
A: “I think everything I did, there’s a reason for everything. So, no, I wouldn’t change anything about it.”
Q: Ken Malcome has been working at first-team tailback ahead of you. Have you been motivated by the competition?
A: “Yeah, you’re always going to compete. Even when I was first team I was still competing. So it’s nothing really new to me. At practice you’re going to compete. I don’t look at it like I’m trying to beat him out. I want him to do well, too. It’s going to come down to the coaches anyway, so I don’t really look at it too much.”
Q: I’m sure you saw where Georgia got a commitment from tailback Keith Marshall of Raleigh. He’s the No. 1 running back prospect in the country, like you were last year. Do you feel threatened or frustrated because UGA felt the need to pursue another big-time back?
A: “Really I’m happy to get another guy. I thought we needed more running backs. So I think that’s a good thing.”
Q: Did you meet Marshall during recruiting?
A: “We talked on the phone and texted. But I haven’t really met him face to face.”
Q: Noticed you haven’t been in green for practice. Are you fully recovered from your left-ankle injury.
A: “Yes I am. I’m farther along.”
Q: What are some lessons you learned your first season?
A: “Just follow my teammates and coaches. They’re counting on me to do what I’m supposed to do. . . . I think I need to be more accountable and handle my responsibilities better.”
Q: How glad were you did get fall semester exams behind you?
A: “Really, I’m happy that’s all that’s over. I felt like I needed a break. I’m just ready to chill out some. So, yeah, I was happy about it.”
Q: There probably hasn’t been a more scrutinized and speculated-about athlete at Georgia in a long while. Did you ever hear all the rumors that were circulating about you?
A: “I don’t really look at it. I don’t really pay attention to it. People don’t come to me with those things. I hear about it. I don’t pay no attention to it.”
Q: Which one did you think was the most outlandish?
A: “All of it.”
Q: So then you’ve heard that you want to transfer, right?
A: “Yeah. I’m happy here. I know there’s rumors about me wanting to transfer and all that, but no. I never said that.”
Q: What do you think of Malcome and how he’s playing presently?
A: “He’s a great teammate and a good person. He works hard. I can see us playing together and doing well. I think we’ll be a good combination. I know he knows how to run the ball well.”
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288 comments Add your comment
LogicalUS
December 19th, 2011
10:08 am
“Lattimore has played 2 half seasons ”
Geez, that is as about as uninformed statement as I have seen by a local beaner who obviously has no clue about college football.
It is almost as bad as the certainity of the local beaners last season that Samuels and King then Ealey were actually bigger, better versions of the Lattimore kid and the Richardson back at Bama. And by joy they had the “stats to prove it”.
Look Crowell isn’t going anywhere because without him, the UGA RB crew is a distant worst in the SEC. And with the losses on the OL UGA has to have Crowell in order to not get Murray killed, but it is going to be an exasperating, tension filled summer\fall camp nursing him to the first game.
Nobody will feel comfortable until he is on the bus to the stadium.
extrapoint
December 19th, 2011
10:10 am
There’s a reason teams like Florida and the Ohio States schedule a couple of cupcakes to start the season. Beside the easy wins, it gives the freshman players a chance to come up to the speed of the game. Crowell played against two of the better defensive teams we play in Boise State and South Carolina to start the season. I have to imagine he was pretty beat up physically after those two games. And then Bobo runs him about 25 in the next game. It probably was out of necessity, but it took a toll on Crowell .
Lattimore in 2012?
December 19th, 2011
10:16 am
Lattimore vs UGA in 2012 will be slowed by his badly blown out knee (s) and will not want to rush it up. No, his future is in the NFL and his family will be telling him to go slowly, take it easy and come Feb 2013 …………………show me ( us ) the money.
In 2012 vs UGA, he will not be a factor and in fact, SC with the now swirling NCAA violations scandal on players receiving “comp” lodging in some swanky digs AND A LIMO with driver …………..and their soon to be announced NFL defections ………………. has had its day in the sun. Over it is. Steve knows it too. He has done nothing for SC and he knows that too. One SEC East title in school history ( since they joined the SEC) and that was long ago in 2010.
Lattimore? He will lay low in 2012 to save his $$ wheels. He will not be able to run on UGA in 2012 with 110% healthy wheels anyway. UGA’s D in 2012 will be even better.
Gooooooooooooo Dogs.
the dude
December 19th, 2011
10:18 am
will someone please teach him how to block instead of shying away like all those TECH players.
ARdawg
December 19th, 2011
10:18 am
extrapoint
Boise and SC’s defense could only be ranked as “okay”. Certainly not of the better defenses in college. Your point is moot. Crowell had/has the normal freshman pangs but his were exacerbated with him being such a high profile. He wasn’t superman, just a talented kid with a lot of hype. That wasn’t his fault. I just hope he grows up some in the off season
“Personal attacks will NOT be tolerated hate-filled harassing posts unacceptable”
December 19th, 2011
10:20 am
DawginLex December 19th, 2011 9:45 am
“Personal attacks will NOT be tolerated hate-filled harassing posts unacceptable”
*************************
“Why don’t you practice what your blog handle says?????????????????”
_________________________________________________________
That comes from YOU ?
After your REPEATED PHYSICAL THREATS TO ME IN PUBLIC IN HERE?
Truly amazing.
Should I post them ALL ?
Nom Nom Nom Chucks Taylor, or Norris if he is avaliable
December 19th, 2011
10:21 am
Q: You also said you wanted to be named a freshman All-American and that happened for you, too. Was that exciting for you?
A: “Yeah, I was excited about it. But I don’t really pay attention to stuff like that.”
Huh? It’s a stated preseason goal, but you don’t pay attention?
Q: If there was any one thing you could change about this past season, what would it be?
A: “I think everything I did, there’s a reason for everything. So, no, I wouldn’t change anything about it.”
FAIL, go back to the maturity department. Make the statement about how you let your team down for all your suspensions. You would already have 1,000 yards if you didn’t screw up.
Whatever, get some other bodies in there…if the kids head is still huge, bury him in the depth chart and let him transfer to North Alabama and play for the doughy Bowden.
ESPN rumor mill
December 19th, 2011
10:21 am
Coach Paul Johnson is on the HOT SEAT for having won nothing so far in his era and no bowl wins or anything signifcant and his one “signature win” over UGA has been dimmed for three years in a row of being drubbed by Coach Mark Richt and the Bulldogs in their worst two year run in many, many years and still CPJ could not handle Georgia, losing TWICE TO UGA at home!
He seeks to get OUT of the ACC and GT. No school would have him sadly. With ALL of the schools seeking coaching talent, Paul Johnson’s name has not come up ………………. another humiliation for him.
No, the Tech Fund boys are not happy.
Coach Paul Johnson IS on the HOT SEAT.
ARdawg
December 19th, 2011
10:23 am
Personal attacks will not:
REPEATED PHYSICAL THREATS? Jesus guy, this is a blog. How can you feel threatened physically from a blog?
AltamahaDawg
December 19th, 2011
10:23 am
Well Gene, his life certainly would have been easier. Could have worked intoSEC rigors behind a stable of running backs, and nobody would have ever heard a word about being late to tutoring, or publically taught a lesson about smoking gas station novelties.
I’m betting he would still be the golden child at Bama right now.
Nom Nom Nom Chucks Taylor, or Norris if he is avaliable
December 19th, 2011
10:23 am
Another issue is the beginning of this artile….29 more yards and he has the 2nd best Freshman season behind Herschell?
STOP BRING UP HERSHCELL WHEN TALKING ABOUT THIS KID, OR ANY KID until they actually get close to breaking his records. The media inflation of the kid’s head is part of the problem.
Big Earl
December 19th, 2011
10:24 am
Can you imagine….IC flips the switch, becomes a Thomas Brown workout freak in the weightroom, keeps his grades up, and decides he wants to be the best….WOW! No telling how far we could go next year… sometimes I enjoy living in an imaginary world, it’s Christmas, a time to dream.
“Personal attacks will NOT be tolerated hate-filled harassing posts unacceptable”
December 19th, 2011
10:24 am
Paul Johnson PUT Georgia tek on NCAA PROBATION IN FOOTBALL
when he purposely KNEW that the high-ranking Georgia tek officials could NOT tell him and that he COULD NOT DISCUSS IT WITH THE SAID PLAYERS.
He did ANYWAY.
ARdawg
December 19th, 2011
10:27 am
Big Earl
It could happen. There’s a lot of mettle in that kid. He just needs to realize it
Let's move on to the next story
December 19th, 2011
10:28 am
Please give this story a break. Talk about a human interest story. Quintavious Harrow is taking full advantage of his UGA opportunity.
“Personal attacks will NOT be tolerated hate-filled harassing posts unacceptable”
December 19th, 2011
10:29 am
ARdawg December 19th, 2011 10:23 am
“REPEATED PHYSICAL THREATS? Jesus guy, this is a blog. How can you feel threatened physically from a blog?”
__________________________________________________________
This answer your question, sir ? You want some more of them ? There are about 50 of them all alike ARdawg.
__________________________________________________________
DawginLex November 14th, 2011 2:08 pm
“I’m gonna find him and whip his A$$ Game over”
___________________________________________________________
St Simons - we're on Island time
December 19th, 2011
10:30 am
an immature kid away from home is growing up.
sounds like he has a good coach, a builder of men
I’ll take that over a bought trophy any day
DIT
December 19th, 2011
10:30 am
CPJ is not going anywhere. He is still doing much better than the past coach before. Tech likes him and he is winning 8 games a year. That’s all they expect over there and that’s fine.
DIT
December 19th, 2011
10:32 am
@ Personal attacks will NOT be…..
Please shut up already. The way you’re whinning made me check to see if my 7 year old daughter was on the internet. Good grief!
duluthdawg
December 19th, 2011
10:36 am
In a word: disingenuous
I don’t think he’s contrite at all about his shortcomings and violations. Basically he’s just upset that he got caught. I hope he “chills out” without the drugs so that we can get some usefulness out of him. Frankly, he’s simply not as advertised originally. He could be, but that will be up to him. I think he still believes he’s special and above his team mates.
WDE
December 19th, 2011
10:37 am
DIT that comment about your 7 year old cracked me up ! I’m not sure he is whining I think he has gone into full bore shivelling !
North Alabama Dawg
December 19th, 2011
10:37 am
people babying these “young men” is what causes most of the issues in college athletics. My son is a first year D1 student athlete and the expectations of how he is to behave on and off the field were made crystal clear before he signed on the dotted line . I truly believe if the athlete has been allowed to get away with things others couldnt get away with because of his athletic ability growing up its going to be very difficult to change that when they move away to college . I have no doubt that CMR laid out the expectations of behavior for crowell and the rest of the dawgs but again these are “young men” at this point and should be expected to conduct themselves in the correct manner. It is a lot at first with classes workouts practice tutoring sessions team meetings and public relations off campus my son goes from 6 am to 9 pm every night just to meet these obligations but it is still a priviledge to do so that very few get to enjoy and i wish they would all appreciate the opportunity they have .
Chris
December 19th, 2011
10:40 am
i’m very happy that all the “insiders” with their sources were a bunch of crap. I’m rooting for isaiah and i think he is going to be great back. That first fall semester is probably tough on almost every freshman, we need to cut isaiah some slack. GOOO DAWGS!!
Chris
December 19th, 2011
10:44 am
nom nom nom
i think nobody is comparing isaiah to hershel but just noting that he could be the best back since herschel. Sadly there will never be another player like him
AltamahaDawg
December 19th, 2011
10:46 am
I don’t think Lex has enough time to search every last cubical in Atlanta.
jerry stover
December 19th, 2011
10:46 am
I am afraid Crowell will go the way of king and ealy……..very talented, but unwilling to meet the standard. He couldnt play for Saban or Miles.
flo-ri-duh
December 19th, 2011
10:49 am
Like I said before, Crowell got most of his stats in high school before half time and sat on the bench the rest of the game because his team was so far ahead. In an ideal situation he would have been red shirted or brought along slowly but due to the RB situation they had to play him. He is not Herschel. There will never be another Herschel. The only thing I have seen CLOSE to Herschel in the last 30 years is Bo Jackson. Crowell is more like Garrison Hearst – speed and elusiveness. If he can get 1/3rd of the carries next year that will be good. The 0-line will be very young unfortunately.
DawginLex
December 19th, 2011
10:49 am
“Personal attacks will NOT be tolerated hate-filled harassing posts unacceptable”
**********************
When you repeatedly attack me, my family and everything about me, you bet I’m going to respond in a not so nice way.
You change your blog handle name 125 times yet everyone knows who you are and that you constantly attack anyone and everyone all the time.
You bet I threatened you. Count your lucky stars we will probably never meet.
You attack my family and expect me to not respond?
WRONG
barneyfife
December 19th, 2011
10:50 am
Deluded, arrogant. He’s another tailback cancer to this team.
SteveW
December 19th, 2011
10:51 am
I know Fox doesn’t have much this year in hoops, but I could never find a story on AJC about us beating USC away on the AJC.
About IC, I think if he stays, we will have a great corp of backs next season. Crowell, Malcome, who looks really really good to me, Marshall, Thomas, and Samuel could really do some damage next season. Hope we get that JUCO WR, that would just be icing on the cake. And some quality OL also.
Samuel is an NFL calibre athlete. Maybe he could move to safety, or back to LB if we have enough back’s. I’d like to see him succeed.
DawginLex
December 19th, 2011
10:51 am
Do we need to nip it in the bud?
DIT
December 19th, 2011
10:52 am
@WDE – You probably right. Either way he/she sounds like a child.
DawginLex
December 19th, 2011
10:54 am
I’m outta here.
I refuse to let that low life loser get me into another urination contest.
He ruins every single blog yet NOTHING GETS DONE ABOUT IT.
RTR22
December 19th, 2011
10:54 am
Thanks for choosing Ga.
Sincerely,
Alabama Fans Everywhere
ARdawg
December 19th, 2011
10:59 am
Bama, Saban, the Bama nation and their collective 51 teef would have whizzed in their croaker sack skivvies if they could have gotten IC. Don’t fool yourselves
AltamahaDawg
December 19th, 2011
11:03 am
Why? Alabama does need a 1000 yr freshman RB?
ARdawg
December 19th, 2011
11:05 am
DawginLex
Ignore him dude. It’s really not that difficult, you know?
ARdawg
December 19th, 2011
11:12 am
I’ve always contended there is something inherently wrong with anyone who saves posts from the ajc blogs *just saying*
A person SMART enough to know......
December 19th, 2011
11:21 am
Looking for something for your sports minded friends or family? Any Team or whatever you would like to see. Have a look at these.
http://www.atlantahaulitallinc.com/Bird_Houses.php
Go Dawgs...
December 19th, 2011
11:21 am
@ Hit A Single, please tell me how Harton saved UGA’s season!!???
Georgia | MrSEC.com
December 19th, 2011
11:24 am
[...] more growing up. Asked what lessons he might have learned during his first year of college ball, Crowell said just what coaches and fans wanted to hear:“Just follow my teammates and coaches. They’re counting on me to do what I’m [...]
Georgia | MrSEC.com
December 19th, 2011
11:24 am
[...] more growing up. Asked what lessons he might have learned during his first year of college ball, Crowell said just what coaches and fans wanted to hear:“Just follow my teammates and coaches. They’re counting on me to do what I’m [...]
Go Dawgs...
December 19th, 2011
11:32 am
@ SteveW, move Samuel to safety??? what are you drinking cause that wont happen in 1000000000000000 years??
crusherdawg
December 19th, 2011
11:34 am
Don’t say it. Do it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
bruce mac
December 19th, 2011
11:35 am
Unlike all of these grown men jock sniffers with nothing to do with your lives but crack on 19 year old kids, 90% of the Dawg nation is behind you Isaiah. You are a Dawg and that is all I need to know. GATA and beat the Spartans.
OldFan
December 19th, 2011
11:35 am
I came, I saw, I conquered. IC? We’ll see.
Mark (another one)
December 19th, 2011
11:37 am
I sometimes wonder what people want. IC was a question mark with all the blog comments, so Chip got an interview with him. IC said the right things and is getting ready for the bowl. He’s trying to learn from his first semester and follow the team leadership. You can read anything you want into this but its your input, not his.
IC was suspended for a game for drugs, and one quarter for some other team rules infraction. Those could have been avoided but they happened and he needs to learn and move on. It sounds like that is his intentions.
The injury is something different. A lineman falls on his leg and gives him a high ankle sprain, leaving little room for a lesson. IC tried to play on it against Tech and couldn’t go, and then he played against LSU while still injured. He pushed himself and his body wasn’t ready. Isn’t that what we want from a player? The willingness to sacrifice for the team?
I have no idea how IC is with academics. I hope he does well, and has a great college experience off the field. Attending UGA should be a combination of learning, growing and having fun. He just needs to remember that as a top recruit and star, he will be under intense scrutiny, and that is the price he pays.
Mark (another one)
December 19th, 2011
11:39 am
A commitment was made to Samuel to keep him at tailback when he made the switch last year. He could ask Richt for a change but I doubt that will happen. He had some success this year as the power back, and I think he will return to do the same next season.
DIT
December 19th, 2011
11:45 am
For what it’s worth. Samuel will run for over 100 yards in Tampa. Just a gut feeling because he has to be tired of not getting any recognition. In addition to wanting to improve on the Florida game.
A person SMART enough to know......
December 19th, 2011
11:47 am
“Yeah, I was excited about it. But I don’t really pay attention to stuff like that.”
The Kid is ALL ABOUT ME. He wanted #1. He is all eat up with EGO, but he doesn’t pay attention to the Freshman All American? Crowell must think we are all smoking his stash if he thinks we believe that?