Georgia coach Mark Richt sidesteps questions on player suspensions
ATHENS — Georgia coach Mark Richt didn’t shed much light on the Bulldogs’ suspension situation when he addressed an unusually large media contingent at the end of Thursday’s practice. In fact, he didn’t as much as flick on a flashlight.
Richt would not even confirm that there are new suspensions despite numerous report Thursday that at least two of Georgia’s defensive stars have run afoul of the athletic association’s drug policy.
“I can’t confirm anything,” Richt told more than a dozen reporters and two Atlanta television news crews. “I’m just going to be waiting for us to go through our process. When there’s something to report, I’ll report it to everybody.”
Earlier Thursday, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution was able to confirm that All-America safety Bacarri Rambo is facing a four-game suspension for failing a UGA-administered drug test this week. Rambo’s high school coach, Alan Ingram of Seminole County, said it was Rambo’s second violation of Georgia’s drug policy regarding marijuana, which according to the student-athlete handbook calls for a 30 percent suspension from the total number of competition dates. Rambo plans to appeal the suspension through UGA’s appeals process.
Ingram said he understands from his conversations with Rambo that junior linebacker Alec Ogletree also failed a similar drug test and is facing a similar length of suspension. In fact, Ingram said he believes as many as five UGA players failed drug screenings that were administered shortly after spring break.
But Richt refused to confirm or deny any of it. Before he entered the interview room on the second floor of Butts-Mehre Heritage Hall, UGA sports communication personnel passed out a brief written statement from him.
It read: “There is a process we follow regarding team guidelines and policies. I cannot make many comment until that process has run its course.”
Afterward, when Richt was asked questions regarding suspensions or player behavior in general, he referred to the statement.
“Don’t know if you’ve seen our handout but you might want to read it because you’ll hear it repeated again,” he said, smiling.
Asked exactly what process to which he was referring, Richt said: “Just, we’ve got our guidelines, we’ve got our policies. There are certain things we’ve got to do when we’re taking care of business and that’s what we’re talking about.”
Asked how he felt about handling player behavior issues, he said, “I don’t like distractions, that’s for sure.”
More details to come. . . .
Chip Towers, The UGA Blog
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417 comments Add your comment
UGA Insider
March 30th, 2012
10:43 am
Also, email your governor and ask him to fire Mike Adams immediately. I just did because I’m tired of our school constantly embarrassing alumni.
1001001
March 30th, 2012
10:43 am
If you are questioning why they tested after spring break, you must ask why do the rules only apply 51 weeks of the year? Is that how the rest of the world works?
evil empire
March 30th, 2012
10:46 am
c’mon pensacola…Lsu suspended honey badger, starting running back (ware), starting db for weed…jefferson and backup lb for 4 games for fighting…miles suspended perriloux, which probably cost him another nat championship…ware never really got his job back…someone said yesterday that at bama you don’t see these problems because of saban and the TALENT behind you…might not see the field as much…doesn’t happen at uga under cmr…players don’t fear staff or losing spot on field…face it, uga has issues that are rooted in the head coaches office…
Rooty Tooty
March 30th, 2012
10:46 am
Enter your comments here
Thats what happens when you let them out of jail during the week. They can’t stay away from the brownies.
RDUdawg
March 30th, 2012
10:48 am
As any fellow alum can tell you about time spent in Athens (or Panama City for SB)…a significant percentage of students get down with the green. For any of us who HAVE done this in the past or continue to do it today are being hypocrital to call out our football team for chiefing on their personal time. You think Saban or Miles would allow a “random” drug test for any of their key players the first day back from Spring Break??? Heck no! Dawg fans that blog away about Top 10 recruiting classes and expect these stud athletes not to have some baggage need to wake up and smell the coffee…or blunt!
59bulldawg
March 30th, 2012
10:51 am
I don’t believe this crap is happening at every school. Some schools maybe. But to believe it’s happening everywhere is just another way of sidestepping the problem. The rules we have ARE NOT the problem. The problem is self-discipline and commitment.
AltamahaDawg
March 30th, 2012
10:51 am
Thats fine, dawg fan, but then you don’t sit arouind ask ask “why OH why, can’t we be more like Alabama”. This is part of it the why. Would Alabama have suspended it’s starting DB against Vatech 2 years ago, for the same thing?
Delbert D.
March 30th, 2012
10:52 am
@8:34 p.m. “Give them a choice: leave the team or be worked like a rented mule for two months.”
College football players *are* rented mules.
AltamahaDawg
March 30th, 2012
10:54 am
Insider you need to be embarrased all right, not be wearing a dress with that post. Geez.
Big Crimson 75
March 30th, 2012
10:54 am
Lex… I like the Cats all the way. S E C !!
I’ll be watching on the Recliner with some milk & brownies!!
RDUdawg
March 30th, 2012
10:55 am
Note to Rambo: Eating pot is worse than smoking it when it comes to passing drug screens. It takes much longer to leave the system. Nice try though.
If I were BR and I read all these posts from whiny Dawg fans I would definitley enter the NFL Supp draft…then he could eat brownies and get PAID
Jim
March 30th, 2012
10:56 am
This stuff happens, sad but true. If Hines Ward wants to help he could call up Herchel and they could take these nit-wits to the wood shed and kick their butts. I would read about whats happening in spring training than going on and on about something we can’t change.
schmeckdawg
March 30th, 2012
10:56 am
Now all we need is for Malcome and Crowell to get popped and suspended for 4 games and we’ll be in great shape!!!!!
What a bunch of freaking idiots!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Stephen A.Dogg: LSU would've been a better/stronger team last year without the suspensions.
March 30th, 2012
10:57 am
If Bobo is “in over his head”, then why has’t Richt as a head coach done something about it ? Don’t give me that crap about he is so loyal to a fault to his assistants. Richt should the loyal to UGA, his employers by doing his job to hire the best assistants he can. But Bobo is NOT the real OC at Georgia, Richt is still in total control of the offense. Bobo is the fall guy and Aaron Murray will start not because he’s the best QB, but because Richt wants him to start. Richt said Malcom Mitchell would practice at DB this spring no matter what Bobo (who opposed the move) has to say. Richt is the offensive shot caller at UGA. Grantham has more control over the defense because Richt knows very little on that side of the ball. The suspensions are hurting Georgia in many ways. This mediocre team already had offensive problems and now the suspensions are weakening the team even more.
AltamahaDawg
March 30th, 2012
10:58 am
No, 1001001, I am questioning the mathematical probability that the OF the other 51 weeks, that particular one hit on the random dialer.
Big Crimson 75
March 30th, 2012
10:59 am
Altamaha — slow down dude — Saban has no problem suspending knuckle-heads. Including starters. Robbie Green – Brandon Fanney – Jimmy Johns – Duron Carter // all projected starters — all suspended before various Seasons.
DawginLex
March 30th, 2012
11:01 am
big crimson
Be careful who made those brownies……………
Georgia | MrSEC
March 30th, 2012
11:08 am
[...] draft. Such a move would further devastate a UGA secondary that is becoming perilously thin.Mark Richt refused to answer questions or “confirm anything” about the reported suspensions of Rambo and linebacker Alec Ogletree, who is believed to have also [...]
Brainiac(Dawg for life/Richt fan for life)
March 30th, 2012
11:09 am
@ 7576 Dawg: (1:25 am post)
You said it about as well as it can be said!!
DG post = DGD
Dawg Obedience Trainer
March 30th, 2012
11:11 am
Truly study the game of football, the trends,
and what’s going on.
Brainiac(Dawg for life/Richt fan for life)
March 30th, 2012
11:15 am
@ RDU Dawg: (10:48 am post)
You are exactly correct!!!
DG post = DGD
Brainiac(Dawg for life/Richt fan for life)
March 30th, 2012
11:17 am
@ Delbert:
Rented mules!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I believe rented JACKASSES is more applicable in a lot of cases!!!
Big Crimson 75
March 30th, 2012
11:18 am
I’m always amazed by the youth of America that think older people have no idea about Life.
“I didn’t know they were pot brownies”!!!
I know someone said it earlier, pot brownies taste like sh!t — nothing like a good ole batch of normal brownies.
Rambo obviously smoked the stuff & is using the brownies as an out, hoping people would actually buy his BS!!
DawginLex
March 30th, 2012
11:19 am
stephen a dogg
Mitchell is taking reps with the offense now
All the QB’s are taking reps with the 1st team
Riddle me this:
Murray gets hurt and can’t play against Mizzou. Do you really think Mason/Lemay/Welch/Bauta lead us to a victory on the road? If Murray plays, do you believe we will win?
THAT is why he is the starter.
1001001
March 30th, 2012
11:19 am
AltamahaDawg,
That is actually a pretty easy one. If only 1 test occurs in a year, the probablity is 1.9% of it occuring within one week of an event. If they drug test say once a month, which is more likely, it jumps to ~22%. It is true, it could be a targeted test on known offenders, but if you are playing by the rules you should be able to pass a drug test 100% of the time. Its a gamble to try and cheat the system, this time he lost. Personally, I think it should be legal and taxed like other vices putting the money to good use, but the players are aware of the rules when they sign to play. If they are not aware of the rules and consequences it falls on the administration and some personal responsibility.
TOO TOUGH44
March 30th, 2012
11:19 am
just curious…how does Ala. and Auburn, lsu handle these situations? I am SURE they exist at those schools.
AltamahaDawg
March 30th, 2012
11:25 am
I never said he woud not suspend a player. But you cannot tell me he would have suspended them because thier passenger got charges with misdemaner possesion of a joint, when Would he? Moreover , why would he? And I should have clarified…….I did not mean that as a dig at Saban in the first place. I have no doubt he is not a guy you want to wiss off. I am simply stating that Alabama has a completely different set of stated penalties for the same offense. As I recall, the firt time in zero, (and I would doubt you ever hear a word about it, rightfully so) and the second time is coaches decision to suspend, if at all. That’s all automatic at UGA for all sports.
SHOCKED & ALARMED
March 30th, 2012
11:35 am
AltamahaDawg March 30th, 2012 10:25 am
“This has nothing to do with discipline or respect.”
_______________________________________________
That makes one of you.
_______________________________________________
Tallydawg March 30th, 2012 9:12 am
Columbus Dawg March 29th, 2012 6:42 am
A Father March 18th, 2012 9:51 am
Flat Tire on I-95 in Jacksonville March 29th, 2012 5:55 pm
Joey March 14th, 2012 4:44 pm
Ty March 20th, 2012 8:28 am
Joe March 20th, 2012 7:11 am
TennesseeDawg March 20th, 2012 7:01 am
drsoul March 29th, 2012 5:26 pm
I’ve never really March 14th, 2012 10:29 am
mike addington March 14th, 2012 10:42 am
SEC Fans for Richt March 14th, 2012 11:04 am
Santos March 14th, 2012 11:09 am
richt will never win March 14th, 2012 11:11 am
slydog March 14th, 2012 11:11 am
Football Bat March 29th, 2012 5:46 pm
UGAgrad’71 March 29th, 2012 6:06 pm
Ingleside March 14th, 2012 11:13 am
what of it? March 14th, 2012 11:28 am
UGA Insider March 14th, 2012 11:33 am
Frank March 14th, 2012 11:55 am
CreekWolf March 14th, 2012 12:07 pm
Reality March 14th, 2012 12:42 pm
Breaking News Mediocrity March 14th, 2012 1:27 pm
Pago Pago DAWG March 14th, 2012 2:22 pm
Albert March 14th, 2012 2:53 pm
6-18 vs Ranked since ‘05 March 14th, 2012 4:17 pm
sprouse27 March 14th, 2012 4:20 pm
Atldawg March 14th, 2012 4:57 pm
01HAWK March 14th, 2012 5:39 pm
SugarHillDawg March 14th, 2012 7:11 pm
Snoop Dawg March 14th, 2012 7:41 pm
DAWGMAN March 14th, 2012 7:57 pm
Preston March 14th, 2012 7:59 pm
The Bear March 14th, 2012 8:05 pm
bane of our existence March 14th, 2012 8:28 pm
WUZZADAWG March 14th, 2012 9:13 pm
JB March 14th, 2012 9:42 pm
jeff March 15th, 2012 4:38 am
Dear Greg March 15th, 2012 8:28 am
VADAWG March 15th, 2012 8:59 am
fire MR March 15th, 2012 9:25 am
Todd G March 15th, 2012 9:32 am
Bobo isn’t Problem Mar15th, 2012 10:42 am
globeflyer March 15th, 2012 11:26 am
Top Dawg March 15th, 2012 12:19 pm
Five more loong years! Mar 15th, 12 6:15 pm
Kamloops Phil March 15th, 2012 6:17 pm
modicum March 15th, 2012 6:25 pm
Richt more money? March 15th, 2012 8:04 pm
Merry Marr March 16th, 2012 9:13 am
ugab March 16th, 2012 9:24 am
DublDawg March 16th, 2012 2:30 pm
Spike 80DF March 16th, 2012 2:36 pm
TN Dawg March 16th, 2012 2:47 pm
BonkersDog March 16th, 2012 2:55 pm
vadawg March 16th, 2012 2:58 pm
SC Fan March 16th, 2012 3:06 pm
mdr March 16th, 2012 3:55 pm
PT March 16th, 2012 4:28 pm
harold March 16th, 2012 4:34 pm
FLA DAWG March 16th, 2012 5:57 pm
Dawg Bite March 16th, 2012 6:05 pm
LagDawg March 16th, 2012 6:10 pm
dawgfan2003 March 16th, 2012 8:14 pm
guy March 16th, 2012 9:06 pm
realist March 16th, 2012 11:33 pm
RHall55 March 18th, 2012 8:54 am
Dap01 March 18th, 2012 9:09 am
3d March 18th, 2012 7:19 pm
FL dawg March 20th, 2012 8:57 am
G-Dawg March 20th, 2012 9:04 am
zbulldawg March 20th, 2012 9:51 am
Doggie March 20th, 2012 10:10 am
Stephen A.Dogg: March 26th, 2012 1:37 am
Rationale March 26th, 2012 3:35 am
GeorgiaDawg93 March 27th, 2012 11:59 pm
kgibson1911 March 28th, 2012 10:40 pm
Bryan G. March 28th, 2012 10:32 pm
TXBaller March 28th, 2012 10:53 pm
bwell March 28th, 2012 10:45 pm
Bad Dawg March 28th, 2012 10:09 pm
vesaversa March 29th, 2012 4:30 pm
mcdavidastro March 29th, 2012 4:27 pm
Kingdaddy March 29th, 2012 1:57 am
JB March 29th, 2012 7:16 am
Bob March 29th, 2012 5:15 pm
ChrisATL March 29th, 2012 8:53 pm
Reality Dawg March 30th, 2012 9:28 am
The Commissioner March 30th, 2012 10:02 am
DawginLex March 30th, 2012 9:57 am
danny March 30th, 2012 10:04 am
Dawgs run wild Sports Spot March 29th, 2012 8:27 pm
Buck Belue posted at 3/29/2012 7:25 AM
Brainiac(Dawg for life/Richt fan for life)
March 30th, 2012
11:36 am
@ Dawg in Lex: (11:19 am post)
Excellent post.
AltamahaDawg
March 30th, 2012
11:37 am
1001001, you can look back and see my position on it repeatedly is that the player KNOW the rules, and should not come as a surprise to them. Maybe they need to consider signing someplace else. I don’t defend them. My point is this. We as a football program need to decide when to get past this over-reaction (ala, Dooley hurting our recruting for year over his embarrassment over the way Davidson bumbled the Kemp deal). Or maybe they (UGAA)completely understand the concequences, and thats just a decision that have made. If so, we as a fan base need to stop talking out of both side of our mouths, when this stuff inevitably happens.
Snoop Dawg
March 30th, 2012
11:38 am
Now that the heat is off, Mr Preacha Man Markt Wrecked is sidestepping, huh? How predictable is that?
All you idiots out there who supported an extension for the Tan Man for achieving mediocrity with an all star talent team need to be tried in the Peoples’ Court for stupidity. Maybe you are all Communist moles. At any rate, the Bulldog Nation must now sleep in the bed (of dung) that it has made with Richt.
Enjoy another disastrous season as you fall from “this year we might go all the way” to an also-ran bowl of insignificance.
Richt is a joke as a coach and as a leader.
Hey Hey Hey We're the Monkees
March 30th, 2012
11:39 am
Do you think that the Dawgs could be facing a cataracts epidemic?
Brainiac(Dawg for life/Richt fan for life)
March 30th, 2012
11:39 am
@ Shocked and Alarmed: (11:35 am post)
And your point is???????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????/
AltamahaDawg
March 30th, 2012
11:41 am
You just convinced me even more of my position, BuLLdawg. You are known for the company you keep.
Snoop Dawg
March 30th, 2012
11:44 am
Brainiac, perhaps you should think up a more accurate blog name.
SHOCKED & ALARMED
March 30th, 2012
11:45 am
Altamahawdawg,
Funny, you got the point and Brainiac did not.
Can you share with Brainiac how many of you and he there are ?
Can you say minority ?
WDE
March 30th, 2012
11:48 am
@Hey Hey Hey We’re the Monkees …that was funny I don’t care who your team is..
Brainiac(Dawg for life/Richt fan for life)
March 30th, 2012
11:49 am
@ Snoop Dawg:
Where/How did you get all your expertise???
You and your ilk with the single digit IQs are REALLY helping the UGA program so that tells everybody where you stand as a REAL DAWG FAN. Y’all are no more true dag fans than you are Superman.
Delta is ready when y’all are. Loosers!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
You and your ilk couldn’t find your derieres with BOTH hands in your hip pockets..
dawgfan
March 30th, 2012
11:50 am
Wawawawawawa Altamaha. I go back to my original point. The rules are what they are and I’m sure every effort is made to educate our players on them. Knowing the rules and then breaking them is by definition undisciplined. I do not think it is too much to ask our players to abstain from drug use. You’re just making excuses for them. To sit here and suggest that we’d be competing with Bama on the field with a more lax drug policy is simply absurd. You sound like a Tech fan.
The fact is we’ve got a bunch of primmadonnas on this team. You can see it when they celebrate like a bunch of idiots in games when they do something that is simply their job to do. There’s too much flash and not enough substance if you ask me.
They are more than welcome to prove me wrong.
Brainiac(Dawg for life/Richt fan for life)
March 30th, 2012
11:53 am
dog fans
AltamahaDawg
March 30th, 2012
11:54 am
Well, since that was just your typical dishonest misrepresentation of my point, I don’t think I will play along today.
But so much better to brag about being alligned with “snoop dawg”. He certainly has the best interest of UGA at heart. BTW, he just called you an idiot.
Fats OKelly
March 30th, 2012
11:55 am
I know the GA Tech Mens basketball coach didnt want to kick Rice off the team, BUT he did it to maintain who is in charge. Richt DOESNT get it
AltamahaDawg
March 30th, 2012
11:57 am
dawgfan, you spend too much time around BuLLdawg. You grossly ignored my point . “waa waa” ???? really? geez.
SHOCKED & ALARMED
March 30th, 2012
12:01 pm
No different from your off-topic replies about a football team whose games you do not even go to.
AltamahaDawg
March 30th, 2012
12:05 pm
Not counting the many games that I go to, huh. Liar.
Monkey
March 30th, 2012
12:07 pm
A fire was reported at Sanford stadium last night. Football players herd they had planted a “stronger, longer lasting grass” and the football players tried smoking it.
Monkey
March 30th, 2012
12:08 pm
heard
Iliketacos
March 30th, 2012
12:13 pm
thats a good one monkey!!
PMC
March 30th, 2012
12:14 pm
When they are 2-2 with losses to Mizzouri and Vanderbilt I wonder if the players in the locker room will start to realize what they have lost due to the selfish actions of other team members.
Brainiac(Dawg for life/Richt fan for life)
March 30th, 2012
12:15 pm
Snoop Dawg:
We are ALL full of it and I am mostly just having fun but on the serious side y’all ranting and raving primarily about CMR and some wanting to know why CMR tested players right after spring break is bigtime BS.
CMR does as his contract requires. He didn’t make the rules or the punishment but he administers such and that is already spelled out for him to go by. Anyone who knows CMR knows he is NOT going to fudge an any requirement, rule or law. Thats why UGA hasn’t had any major penalties by the NCAA
CMR has a new 5 year contract and there is nothing you and I can do about it so you and your ilk are simply providing crap for opposing schools to use against UGA in recruiting. It is hard enough with recruits knowing UGA’s punishments are far more strenious than other schools.
Still all of you have a right to your opinion no matter what MOST of DAWGNATION thinks how dumb/stupid it is. That list posted on here is not even a blip on a gnat’s butt as to any significant percentage of UGA supporters and I can’t believe y’all can’t understand what you are doing to hurt UGA Football
Have a nice day and I love y’all