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
AltamahaDawg
December 19th, 2011
3:32 pm
Not to mention, get a new line once in while, will ya. What’s it’s been….. 3 years now that you can’t come up with anything besides Deliverance was filmed in N.Georgia?
WDE
December 19th, 2011
3:33 pm
@Fire CMR! Do us all a favor Nancy and just stay gone..
AltamahaDawg
December 19th, 2011
3:40 pm
Except that the “story” about Georgia folks was fiction. The actor was a real person from TN. I believe that was his point. Although I think that is way to nuanced for dogsmells.
Seriously
December 19th, 2011
3:47 pm
SO you smoked weed for a purpose? What to find another college program to play for?
Florida is a Basketball School Now
December 19th, 2011
3:55 pm
They should’ve scored a touchdown. Instead, they wound up with nothing. Freshman Malcolm Mitchell dropped a pass right in his hands at the LSU 5 with no one around, and Walsh missed a 45-yard try.
SI.com 12/3/11
&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&
So according to the resident expert of the blog, Mr No Hateful posts, this was ALL AARON MURRAY’S FAULT??????????????
NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
A person SMART enough to know......
December 19th, 2011
3:57 pm
AltamahaDawg James Lafayette Dickey (February 2, 1923 – January 19, 1997) was an American poet and novelist. He was appointed the eighteenth Poet Laureate Consultant in Poetry to the Library of Congress in 1966. Dickey was born to lawyer Eugene Dickey and Maibelle Swift in Atlanta, Georgia where he attended North Fulton High School in Atlanta’s Buckhead neighborhood. The Author was FROM GEORGIA writing about Life in the NORTH GEORGIA Mountains. It looks BAD about GEORGIA not some actor from Tennessee. The story portrays real life Ga Hillbillies and yes there are plenty just like that in Tennessee and all up the Appalachian Trail.
robodawg
December 19th, 2011
4:00 pm
Well spoken Isaiah. Looking forward to seeing you on the field in Tampa and next season. Hopefully all the rumor-mongering will end soon enough.
Florida is a Basketball School Now
December 19th, 2011
4:13 pm
Yeah but the toothbrush was invented in Tennessee
Otherwise it would be a teethbrush.
I’ll be here all night. 2 for 1 drinks until 8
North Georgia Dawg
December 19th, 2011
4:14 pm
As a college junior, I can tell you I was pretty immature my first semester of college too, but the next couple of semesters I grew up a lot. Hopefully he will learn from his mistakes.
dawgdip
December 19th, 2011
4:14 pm
Oh my gosh!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Having played college ball several decades ago, I am certainly glad these blogs did not exist back then. Myself and many of my teammates would have given all of you so called “experts” plenty to talk about. A few of you sound like like you do know a little something about playing college ball but the vast majority of you do not have a clue about what it is really like. IT DOES TAKE TIME TO MAKE THE ADJUSTMENT FROM HIGH SCHOOL TO COLLEGE. SOME MAKE THAT ADJUSTMENT FASTER THAN OTHERS. GIVE THE KIDS A FIGHTING CHANCE. MOST OF THEM WILL MAKE IT. Anyone who has been in their shoes knows that what I have said is very true. The rest of you “experts” calm down and be patient.
Dawg48
December 19th, 2011
4:18 pm
I can see this blog went downhill fast!
How did it go from crowell to deliverance?
Hmmmmmmm
North Georgia Dawg
December 19th, 2011
4:20 pm
I hope Crowell grows up and I think he will. If not, I hope Marshall and Malcome deliver for us next year.
A person SMART enough to know......
December 19th, 2011
4:21 pm
dawgdip then shouldn’t we re-institute the no freshmen play policy? That would give the kids a year to Adjust to college work, being away from home, and a time in the weight room.Wait the poor black kids already proved they need to get out of school fast to make money for their family. That lawsuit has already screwed the illusion of the STUDENT athlete.
A person SMART enough to know......
December 19th, 2011
4:22 pm
48Dawg it is because you talked about possum dumplings.
Jason in Gainesville
December 19th, 2011
4:24 pm
One thing is for sure, no matter what Crowell has shown for his first season and first semester, he is probably a little more level-headed and wise than some of the detractors on this comment forum. Go Crowell and we look forward to 2012!
Dawg48
December 19th, 2011
4:31 pm
I guess I should change the hmmmmmmmmmmm too yummmmmmmmmmmm.
bitter QB
December 19th, 2011
4:50 pm
you political correct panssies are the problem—he hates working hard—he hates his head coach—-his team mates cant stand him
whats left butt for you fools to defend the pun-k——–marshall—4.3 gpa—-team player—ect
—-lets hope he out shines crow-face in spring and he will run home to ALL-BURN—–HAHAHAHAHA
bitter QB
December 19th, 2011
4:53 pm
CROWELL=MOMMA’S BOY—–spoiled rott-in pun-k———no respect for author–tie
bitter QB
December 19th, 2011
4:56 pm
just finished watching H.WALKER run for 150 yards against the #1 ranked “D” notra dame in the 1981 sugar bowl
——–our QB had 1—i mean 1 pass completion in the entire game———-yet walker seperated shoulder and sure gut
——————proved that a highly motivated—————-TEAM——-WINS—–CHAMPIONSHIP’S————–FACT
Beno Dawg
December 19th, 2011
5:01 pm
I don`t know how this went from being an interview with Isiah Crowell to talking about deliverance, But It is Hilarious.
87dawg
December 19th, 2011
5:01 pm
I get so sick of everyone excusing stupidty by saying “he’s a kid”. Yeah, and so is 90% of the team and I’ll be darned, a lot of them are freshmen. Malcom Mitchell is a true freshman that didn’t screw up. Chris Conley is a freshman. Heck, there’s a whole roster of freshmen that didn’t screw up or get suspended. There’s a whole bunch of former freshmen that didn’t get suspended.
Crowell did it more than once, too so don’t give me that bull. How dare he say there’s nothing he wouldn’t change. If it was me, maybe I wished I could have run harder, scored more, blocked better, not smoked whatever he smoked…..Every player in the world worth anything wants to get better. Saying there’s nothing he’d change says a lot about his character. Or lack of.
I think the kid has talent and wish he could be a world beater but until he gets his head screwed on and realizes that he is part of a team and has flaws and, more importantly wants to make himself better, he’ll be nothing but a number. Lots of talent, just not the good sense to realize how to use it properly.
Jimmy Crack
December 19th, 2011
5:09 pm
Well I am glad to see that the NCAA doesn’t quibble over pesky little distractions like failed drug tests and suspensions to interfere with their rating system for All Americans.
I guess the line in the NCAA athletic sand has been kicked up to:
“Convicted of a Felony? Yes__ No__” or “Still in school? Yes__ No__”
Sammy
December 19th, 2011
5:11 pm
Ealey ran for 1000+ this year, Crowell was ok, but he was no Ealey.
Ealey got 11 td’s and averaged over 5 yards a carry as a dawg last year.
Glad we got some other backs coming in, Crowell seems too injury and suspension prone.
Snoop Dawg
December 19th, 2011
5:23 pm
Isiah Crowell certainly isn’t majoring in English. They need to start him off in English 100, then when he masters that they need to try English 101.
All those yeahs to the reporter were disrespectful. He sounds like he wants to be a playah, not a football player.
Crowell is just another loser with an attitude like King and Ealey. Richt could save everyone a lot of pain and torture by pulling his scholarship, then resigning himself.
He should take bobo and McClendon with him to Penn State or Texas A&M…
The UGA alumni should pay Richt to leave.
Sammy
December 19th, 2011
5:30 pm
When Ealey showed “attitude”, Richt kicked him off the team. When Crowell does it, Richt puts his arm around him. Gotta love Mark Richt. So inconsistent and partial.
Accountable?
December 19th, 2011
5:35 pm
Crowell has no class. Did anyone see how he turned his back on CMR during the LSU game after he caused a 15 yard penalty without even being in the game? No respect. Plus he might as well go as we have a *REAL* running back coming to Athens now.
Fair and Balanced
December 19th, 2011
6:01 pm
This guy has made some progress. He is still more concerned about his stats than anything else and went brain dead on the question about what he would change about the season. But let’s hope the kid grows. He has some talent and will provide help and Ga could have a serious double threat rushing. Go Dogs!
@sportsguru95
December 19th, 2011
6:06 pm
Does RD have coaching experience? Gaget plays don’t work all the time! I don’t think having more WRs that RBs is a bad thing! That’s the make up of most teams! Yes UGA needs OL, but a offense that avg. 30pts a game need healthy players, not more plays!
Chris
December 19th, 2011
6:07 pm
acoountable?
with marshall and hopefully gurley and mike davis coming it will be an lsu styled running attack with each guy gettting about 5 carries. Isaiah will be the best back out of all of them i think so we do need him. I see him being the 15 carry guy while everyone else get 5 to 10 carries
Chris
December 19th, 2011
6:09 pm
Snoop dawg
seriously?? come on thats the way he talks. Jarvis jones says yeahs in his interviews and he seems like a great guy. You’re just trying to find another reason to hate on isaiah.
Chris
December 19th, 2011
6:13 pm
87 dawg
isaiah has run hard the whole year! he has been injured but the injuries he has had have been tough nagging injuries that plague every back. Sure he had a lot of them but i remember usc fans were complaining about lattimore his freshman season cuz he got hurt so much. It is just tough for running backs to adjust as a freshman to the sec level. Isaiah will be fine. I do agree with you i wish he would have said I regret that I made the mistake to smoke weed. But i understand why he didn’t. I bet the coaches and his family have told him to let it go and just move on.
Fair and Balanced
December 19th, 2011
6:13 pm
Ga ranked #7 in recruiting. Bama just moved to #1 with a 5 star commitment today. It’s going to be a tough task to compete with the West for a while.
Chris
December 19th, 2011
6:17 pm
the people who keep talkking about how marshall is going to save the day next season i disagree. I think he will turn into a great back. But he doesn’t have the size to lead us in rushing next year. I think he will add a great element to our offense catching passes out of the backfield and add some explosive plays. It will be a team effort running the ball and it will be successful. I say isaiah richard sameul and ken malcome are our 3 main backs with marshall as a third down back. I bet gurley is redshirted and maybe mike davis i dont know
BillDog
December 19th, 2011
6:32 pm
It’s a LONG WAY from Columbus, GA to UGA and the SEC. I.C. has started that journey and he didn’t do too badly on his first season. It is not fair to compare I.C. or anyone to Herschel Walker and what his journey was llike. I am satisfied he did the best he could do under the circumstances and am happy he is a Bulldog. You have to remember that Herschel had guidance from Vince Dooley as well as being a special person.
I.Crowell will get better with time and the team will benefit from the good competition at tail back.
RedandBlackDAWG
December 19th, 2011
6:36 pm
Sammy,
Ealey did a lot more than just show attitude. As for him transferring or being kicked off if that is what you are referring to, he left on his own. He thought he was so good, and he wanted to be the only back UGA used. CMR let him go, because he tries very hard to keep these kids happy and with the proper guidance. If a kid isn’t happy at UGA, he will do all he can to see that kid get’s whatever he needs to make him happy. He wasn’t even close to a team player. I don’t think Ealey did all that great at the FCS school he transferred to this year. He was, I am sure hoping to shine very bright and get noticed by the pro scouts and drafted a lot higher than he will, if he goes pro. Even the NFL looks at such things as coaching of a player and whether or not he will fit in with the team and be a team player.
Crowell is a young kid, who is still growing up but he will be a good RB. I would bet, his team mates have let him know, that he needs to get his act together, so he can become a better team mate. The ball is in his court and my feeling is that he will come back next year, in better shape and more mature.
Mobile Dawg
December 19th, 2011
6:44 pm
I think IC is a “head case”. He will most likely be a “flip flopper” throughout his career.
globeflyer
December 19th, 2011
6:52 pm
I’ve watched a few of the UGA games and, having no “Dawg in the fight”, I think Samuels looks like he wants to play as badly as anybody on the team.
JDawg1785
December 19th, 2011
7:19 pm
Go get ‘em, Isaiah! Real Dawg fans are behind you 100%!
Pago Pago DAWG
December 19th, 2011
7:21 pm
Would some of you guys PLZ learn what a “paragraph” is….in other words….PLZ hit the “enter” button every 10,000 lines….
Lowcountry Bulldawg
December 19th, 2011
7:42 pm
Mathew Ciafaro and your other 125 names,
You are a loser. Your attempt to spin the posts I made is very humerous. I applaud you for your effort. Again the orignal post for your consumption…
If AM had the OL of a LSU/Bama and the talent that each team has at RB AM might have been a Heisman Candidate. Especially with the defense each plays.
Those teams are 3-4 deep of 4-5 star RB and OL. UGA at one point played two Walk-On RB. They played a maligned formed RB who before the season started was a LB. Each back gave there all but what LSU/BAMA have 2-4 deep is without question head and shoulders better than UGA. You give AM that type of weapon out of the backfield and you never know….
Hate all ya like but you only make yourself look like a fool.
TampaGator
December 19th, 2011
7:46 pm
Some small school in Alabama will always open its roster to you, Mr. Crowell.
But…..hope you do finally get your mind and heart straight and commit to becoming a good player at Georgia. Good luck with that. Nothing like a 5-star coming in to motivate you, right?
TampaGator
December 19th, 2011
7:49 pm
Anyone taking note of what Meyer is already doing recruiting wise at Ohio State…..the man is a recruiting machine. A bunch of 5-stars committed to OSU this week…..including the best DE recruit in the country today. Ohio State will win a national title soon under Meyer, unfortunately. Great recruiter. Great coach. But will he get heartburn again…????
Bigdawg
December 19th, 2011
7:55 pm
Did any of you Einsteins stop to think…wait…I should stop there!
Maybe what Crowell meant is he wouldn’t change anything because he learned a valuable life lesson, which may lessen the possiblilty for future, more grievious incidents.
Happy Holidays to all you Grinches out there…Sheesh!
Idiot Dawg
December 19th, 2011
7:59 pm
Hello TampaGator,
Yea I did see what the Corch did at Buckeye U. Got some big 5 star recruit. I have to type this quickly before I throw up but I hope Flarduh kills em in the Reptile Bowl. See you in the Outback Bowl. I’ll be the one in red.
Sharkman
December 19th, 2011
8:04 pm
TRANSFER!
A person SMART enough to know......
December 19th, 2011
8:13 pm
BigDawg we have seen the stuff he has posted on Facebook and Twitter. You are giving the kid way more intelligence then he will probably have by time he is 40 years old.
Should Earn It
December 19th, 2011
8:45 pm
He should get rid of that nappy, nasty hair!!!
Yeah dog
December 19th, 2011
9:00 pm
“I don’t pay no attention to it.” The typical student at UGay.
Wow..
December 19th, 2011
9:02 pm
What a story Chip… LOL…I think I have heard all I need to hear abou this young man. .. .LOL
Jack Sparrow Captain of the SS Kool-aid
December 19th, 2011
9:28 pm
Energy Vampires are a great stocking stuffer for the avid book reader