UGA not only football program dealing with domestic violence issues
ATHENS – I was traveling yesterday when UGA announced it had decided on a two-game suspension for starting cornerback Sanders Commings at the start of next season.
Even though Georgia coach Mark Richt has avoided commenting on the subject so far, a spokesman told me Richt decided on the two games Wednesday after a series of meetings with Commings and conducting his own investigation into the matter. Commings, 21, was arrested by UGA police on Jan. 21 and charged with domestic violence/simple battery for allegedly hitting his former girlfriend.
Commings is scheduled for a March 22 arraignment before an Athens-Clarke County judge, so his legal case remains unresolved. Meanwhile, the incident is also being investigated by UGA as a possible violation of student conduct code. That review is ongoing, though I’ve reported on some of the interviews that were already available through the Freedom of Information Act. Those documents lead one to believe it the case might not be as cut-and-dried a case as the original police reports indicated.
Meanwhile, Georgia is not the only SEC team having to deal with a domestic violence issue. According to a report in the Orlando Sentinel today, Gators freshman tight end A.C. Leonard was arrested Wednesday night on domestic violence charges. Leonard was due to be released on his own recognizance Thursday and Florida coach Willi Muschamp has yet to comment on the situation.
Said spokesman Steve McClain: “Coach Muschamp is currently traveling and unavailable, but he will address the matter later today.”
There have been some other recent precedents as well:
On Feb. 3, Clemson dismissed wide receiver Joe Craig due to a domestic violence incident. However, apparently that was Craig’s second such charge. He was indefinitely suspended and ultimately missed three games last season due to the previous incident.
Conversely, Alabama’s Courtney Upshaw did not miss any playing time after he and his girlfriend were both arrested on domestic violence charges in 2009.
Which brings us to where we are today. Commings has already been issued a two-game suspension while his legal issues remain unresolved. So how do you guys feel about that? Should the Bulldogs have waited until his matter had run its course through the university and local legal systems? Do you trust Coach Richt’s judgment and/or did he get it about right? Is Georgia going too easy on Commings?
Intelligent, thoughtful comments only, please.
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547 comments Add your comment
TDF
February 17th, 2012
1:27 pm
Jborodawg
February 17th, 2012
1:26 pm
Suspension was for being in that position in the first place. Which I dont agree with
Tarlie Chrippi
February 17th, 2012
1:28 pm
Chris
February 17th, 2012
1:22 pm
Make sure you have all the facts before you sentence the young man. Coming from a source who has already briefed the ACCPD, UGA and all other involved parties of said sources first-hand account of the incident, there was in fact, no abuse delivered by Commings other than a simple shove after the female began striking him with blows to the face. This “shove” didn’t knock the young woman to the ground, nor did it cause physical harm of any kind.
Everyone is quick to pounce and spread negativity, but in the end nobody knows the facts yet. Once all the details are released and this issue is resolved I can see the recently levied supsension being revoked.
G-Dawg
February 17th, 2012
1:28 pm
Bumper Car Ealey!!
TDF
February 17th, 2012
1:28 pm
QuiantlyQ
February 17th, 2012
1:27 pm
do you even have a brain.
You are also in the running for dumbest post of the day
G-Dawg
February 17th, 2012
1:29 pm
Tarlie…you think maybe the suspension is because its an alcohol related incident possibly?
Tarlie Chrippi
February 17th, 2012
1:32 pm
Quite possibly, but, as Sanders is of legal drinking age I don’t see where that would really fit either. I think the suspension was levied as a PR move moreso than anything else. According to the same source who allegedly saw this incident unfold, SC was being escorted away from the incident by a few friends and didn’t appear to be inebriated at the time. I think clarity will come before the end of next week.
Tarlie Chrippi
February 17th, 2012
1:33 pm
***escorted away from the female
Hollywould
February 17th, 2012
1:34 pm
Can’t believe all you leg humper lawyers have the time to blog on this. Perhaps Richt knows more than you though I doubt it.
Tech '10
February 17th, 2012
1:35 pm
Knowing some women and their definitions of abuse (often times after a full-on assualt on their part), I would like to wait for the whole story. Richt did what he had to, to keep the situation from getting out of control. The first 2 games don’t look to be all that tough anyway for you guys. Heck you could sit him out for the first 4 games of the season and it wouldn’t hurt the team that much.
Tarlie Chrippi
February 17th, 2012
1:36 pm
Hollywould
February 17th, 2012
1:34 pm
That’s due in part to the fact that our quality education allows us to be in directoral positions, many of which require only a four day work-week.
You should try it!
Old dawg
February 17th, 2012
1:39 pm
Why is this Chip Towers business. Who is he to question what action is taken by UGA? The trouble is with the liberal media who wants to govern but not held accountable…. Let UGA Atetic Dept run their own business…
Hollywould
February 17th, 2012
1:40 pm
Tarlie, You are right/ I forgot how many genius’s I have met from leg humper u.
TDF
February 17th, 2012
1:41 pm
Hollywould
February 17th, 2012
1:40 pm
whats your team little troll???
Hollywould
February 17th, 2012
1:45 pm
Uh Oh i have been spoken to by TDF, the leg humper chief blogger who said a couple of days ago that everybody else who disagrees with him is stupid if they think anything will happen to Commings. How does that taste?
WDE
February 17th, 2012
1:47 pm
@Hollywould so what is your team?
Buck Strickland
February 17th, 2012
1:48 pm
Looks like Sanders probably committed no crime here but did something that CMR wasn’t happy with. If he was guilty, I guarantee you that he would be kicked off the team.
STILL, I’m mad at the AJC for reporting that this “probably” was not the first report of domestic abuse against him since a police report showed the accuser checked “1-5″ times she’d been abused on the report. That’s RECKLESS reporting and another example of the digital media gone wild. Just be sure to sell more ad space AJC, no matter who it hurts.
TDF
February 17th, 2012
1:48 pm
Hollywould
February 17th, 2012
1:45 pm
hahhahahaha awwwww did you forget how to read little troll??? It was clearly stated that I was talking about legally not from UGA retard.
Try again loser.
Too afraid to say your team??
TDF
February 17th, 2012
1:49 pm
Buck Strickland
February 17th, 2012
1:48 pm
Amen, they need to issue a public apology when the case gets thrown out.
WtfWruthnkn
February 17th, 2012
1:51 pm
So according to some of you these kids were rough hooligans and St. Rich is their savior? Stop acting as if black parents didn’t know how to raise their kids and it takes richt to do it right. I am sure that every college kid of every race would put their parents in an early grave if they really knew what they were doing….
Hollywould
February 17th, 2012
1:51 pm
tdf, go back and look at what you typed. By the way, BOISE ST.
Patrick Romano WAR DAMN EAGLE
February 17th, 2012
1:55 pm
LHarding Dawg, You’er wrong!!! Wet Willie and Jimmy Hall are from Mobile, AL, used to see them in Judge Roy Bean’s in Malbis, on the bay a friend Jack West owned it and saw them multiple times, Mardi Gras Balls for years in Mobile, AL not Macon, GA!
Back to the blog & thoughtful comments, domestic abuse is NO joke and should be investigated, glad Richt is taking the high road again, UGA could do worse than him and maybe someday soon they’ll win a bowl game!!! They have owned my AU Tigers the last 5/6 seasons and we will right that ship as I look forward to us being more competitive moving forward, but I like what I saw against UVA in Peach Bowl, New Year’s Eve!
WAR DAMN EAGLE,
UGA 92
February 17th, 2012
1:57 pm
Good grief….Bama fans are really full of themselves lately. I could give a rat’s a$$ about Bama. Do us a favor and carry that chest-thumping, we are better than everyone attitude back to your boring a$$ state.
TDF
February 17th, 2012
2:00 pm
WtfWruthnkn
February 17th, 2012
1:51 pm
wow you arent racist are you??
TDF
February 17th, 2012
2:01 pm
Hollywould
February 17th, 2012
1:51 pm
ahahahha I know what I said moron, and it was talking about legal trouble which he wont have any as this case most likely gets thrown out.
Boise???? hahahaha no you arent try again
rastus brown
February 17th, 2012
2:03 pm
He jest be a bully. Picking on his gurl friend
Don't hit Women
February 17th, 2012
2:12 pm
“Where are the Tech nerds and their comments?”
Steve, they’re probably in class
VL
February 17th, 2012
2:14 pm
The suspension is very favorable for Sanders” The Hitwomen” Commings.
TDF
February 17th, 2012
2:17 pm
VL
February 17th, 2012
2:14 pm
Actually it isnt since he never hit her
phil
February 17th, 2012
2:17 pm
Let’s go ahead and get this on out there and learn to accept it….
Missouri is going to kill us when we go out there in September. I know it, you know it, even if you don’t want to admit it. Why delude ourselves, why kid ourselves.
I’m glad Commings won’t be making the trip, assuming his guilt. He should be booted off the team, though.
And fire FG!!
BGH
February 17th, 2012
2:17 pm
It’s more than his first offense. What it comes down to is if the coach needs the player to win. If they do, it’s a slap on the wrist. If they don’t, in clemsons case, it’s adios. Sad but true.
TDF
February 17th, 2012
2:17 pm
Don’t hit Women
February 17th, 2012
2:12 pm
ahahahah like that has ever stopped those trolls
Bammer
February 17th, 2012
2:19 pm
But…but…but…Bama this and Bama that and Bama Bama Bama arrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrghhhhhhhh!!!!!!!!!!!!
phil
February 17th, 2012
2:20 pm
“Intelligent, thoughtful comments only, please.” CHIP
LOL….boy, that request was honored!
TDF
February 17th, 2012
2:22 pm
phil
February 17th, 2012
2:17 pm
ahahahah how stupid are you??? They have no one left thats any good bside the QB and the WR coming in.
Mizzou will be a challenge for a half then we take over and win by 14 easy.
Seeing as he never hit her the punishment is actually too harsh and sends a message.
NOT HARSH ENOUGH!!!
February 17th, 2012
2:22 pm
Not Harsh Enough! Should be at least 6 games to get his attention……..what a great school to have a punk like this representing them.
G-Dawg
February 17th, 2012
2:22 pm
Dang…theres another one…just when you get rid of one of them…another one shows up!!! We have an infestation here Dawg fans!!
TDF
February 17th, 2012
2:23 pm
BGH
February 17th, 2012
2:17 pm
Not even close to true, you have no clue what you are talking about.
Please show me some proof that he has done this before??? If you come back with the checked box theory then we all know you are a retard
TDF
February 17th, 2012
2:24 pm
NOT HARSH ENOUGH!!!
February 17th, 2012
2:22 pm
too bad your a DA and have no idea whats going on.
G-Dawg
February 17th, 2012
2:28 pm
How about ole Coach Swinney pulling a CMR move with his assistants? Class Act!!
Hollywould
February 17th, 2012
2:28 pm
TDF, What are you 12 years old? You have to call everybody names. Get bullied last year in the fifth grade?
TDF
February 17th, 2012
2:30 pm
Hollywould
February 17th, 2012
2:28 pm
ahahahaha awww the little troll offended by being called names??? you poor thing.
Dont post stupid things and I wont tell you that you are a moron.
Hollywould
February 17th, 2012
2:31 pm
Patrick, you are right on Wet Willie, I am from Macon and when they signed with Capricorn records they moved to Macon. They are actually playing a tribute concert in 2 weeks at the Big House( where the Allman Bros lived for many years) The big house is now a cool museum. Check it out if you are in the neighborhood.
Hollywould
February 17th, 2012
2:33 pm
TDF, you did not answer my question. Bullied?
Buck Strickland
February 17th, 2012
2:34 pm
Appreciate you trying to fight the good fight TDF. Unfortunately in todays world, the media paints the picture that sells more ad space and the mindless mouth breathing key bangers vilify the accused before due process. It’s particularly disheartening watching this transpire since I’m from Augusta, know people close to the young man and his family and say that he’s a solid individual. After the charges are dropped, and they will be, he’s going to fight an uphill battle to get his name back. Would love to see the AJC help him with that, but heck, that don’t sell ad space now does it…
TDF
February 17th, 2012
2:36 pm
Hollywould
February 17th, 2012
2:33 pm
I didnt answer it bc it was stupid.
But no never been bullied if you really must know. Kids that grow up playing 4 sports dont usually get bullied.
Think you are thinking of the pocket protectors down on N Ave.
TDF
February 17th, 2012
2:39 pm
Buck Strickland
February 17th, 2012
2:34 pm
couldnt agree more. They will never do whats right, bc liek yo usaid that doesnt sell anything and doesnt rack up comments like trashing the young man did.
So sad that a bunch of uniformed retard “journalists” are ruining this kids name.
Wonder how dumb chip felt when the 4th article came out with all the witnesses saying he did nothing.
Hollywould
February 17th, 2012
2:44 pm
TDF, Don’t know if Commings is guilty or not/ Believe it or not I hope he is innocent but U would never see me calling people names because they disagree with me unless I was 100% sure which you are not. All you do is copy and paste the same thing over and over. By the way, you are way wrong on BOISE St. but I’m not calling you an idiot.
BIGDAWG38
February 17th, 2012
2:45 pm
Let’s try and write one article that doesn’t place a negative spin on Georgia! Good grief! The AJC needs to understand the difference between good news and Leave It Alone!!! Everytime I read the AJC it has something negative to say about the Dawgs!
TDF
February 17th, 2012
2:50 pm
Hollywould
February 17th, 2012
2:44 pm
good for you, that makes you a small notch better than most trolls.
I call out the DAs on here, thats what I do. If you dotn like it dont post something stupid and it wont get called out. Its that easy
FYI its pretty easy to put 2 and 2 together on this one.
Every witness in the group that was there said she went after him and he pushed her off of him so that he could remove himself from a bad situation. (Not hit her in the face like every troll claims)
Ppl saying he did hit her were only saying what SHE told them when she called them to pick her up. AKA they werent even there.
So based on that its pretty easy to say with confidence he is innocent and charges will be dropped.
Also police said she had no marks on her. If a 200LB D1 player punches you in the mouth you are going to feel it.
No you arent a BSU fan, clearly a techie nerd
WDE
February 17th, 2012
2:53 pm
@WtfWruthnkn I will tell you this my brother was a local HS coach for 30 years and has know most fo the SEC coachs during that time . He always said if his kids had a chance to play D-1 football he would want them to play for CMR because of the type of man he was first.