Team leaders preach accountability as Georgia loses another player to transfer
ATHENS – The hits just keep coming for the Georgia Bulldogs.
For the second time in as many days, a player informed coach Mark Richt he was unhappy with his role on the team and is seeking a transfer.
Deas
Marc Deas, a redshirt sophomore safety from Kissimmee, Fla., has decided to quit the team due to lack of playing time and is seeking a transfer, Richt said Saturday. Deas joins junior defensive lineman Derrick Lott, who made a similar decision less than 24 hours earlier.
“It was really an almost identical situation,” Richt said. “[Deas] felt like he wasn’t going to get the opportunity to get the kind of playing time he was hoping for at Georgia. I think both kids love Georgia, and we love them. They just didn’t feel it was going to happen for them during the time frame that they were here. So they decided to move on and go where they feel like they’re going to have a better chance of playing. That’s their choice to make.”
Their choices came on the heels of news earlier this week that at two of Georgia’s star defensive players – linebacker Alec Ogletree and safety Bacarri Rambo – are facing multiple-game suspension after failing a UGA-administered drug tests. Alan Ingram, Rambo’s coach at Seminole County High School, confirmed that Rambo is expected to miss four games due to marijuana use and said as many as five UGA players, includingOgletree, flunked surprise post-spring-break drug screenings arranged by the athletic association.
Richt and Georgia officials have refused to confirm or deny those and other reports, but have acknowledged they’re in the midst of “a process that has to run its course.”
Richt insisted Saturday the decisions of Lott and Deas have nothing to do with any ongoing disciplinary matters.
“There was no discipline issue, there were no problems, no academic issues,” Richt said. “They were just looking for an opportunity to play. . . . I’m telling you that straight up.”
Georgia has incurred an alarming rate of attrition in 2012. Since the Bulldogs returned from their Outback Bowl loss to Michigan State on Jan. 3, 11 players have either left the Bulldogs, been dismissed from the team or are expected to miss games due to disciplinary suspensions. In addition toOgletree and Rambo, fellow defensive starters Sanders Commings and Branden Smith are also facing suspensions. Tailback Carlton Thomas and cornerback Jordan Love each quit due to a lack of playing time and three other players were dismissed in the wake of a dorm-room theft.
All this negativity is occurring at a time when Georgia is being mentioned as a national championship contender for next season. That’s starting to grate on the Bulldogs’ players that have managed to stay in line.
“We’re going through some stuff and, as a team, we have to work together to solve those issues,” said linebacker Christian Robinson, a senior from Norcross . “We have two weeks left of spring ball and then we’ll have a break. We’ll definitely sit down as a group and lay down what our expectations are as far as holding each other accountable. We have such a great opportunity. We don’t want to throw it away. At this point it’s about grabbing whatwe’ve got left and dealing with it.”
Said senior defensive end Cornelius Washington: “There’s a whole lot of distractions. But, you know, you’ve just got to bring the guys in and tell them, ‘look, you’ve got to eliminate the outside distractions and focus in on what’s most important, which is try to get to Miami next year.’ So you’ve got to keep instilling the idea of what we’re trying to get done around here and just make sure they keep pushing.”
In the cases of Deas and Lott, it doesn’t appear that their losses will profoundly impact Georgia’s ability to compete. Deas (6-foot-1, 197 pounds) had three tackles last season playing mainly special teams. Lott (6-4, 303) appeared in five games in his career and recorded a total of 10 tackles.
But the sum total of the Bulldogs’ attrition is starting to stack up. Including past signees that failed to gain academic admission and players that have had to leave the program for any reason, Georgia is up to 30 players that could have had eligibility for the 2012 season.
“You definitely need as full of a boat as you can have,” Richt said. “You want to make sure you have enough guys out there to do all of your special teams work and everything. But that’s part of the reason we’re making sure that every guy, from the starters on offense and defense down through the scout team, are getting work [on special teams].”
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179 comments Add your comment
Kingdaddy
March 31st, 2012
7:17 pm
Good riddance to bad trash. All we lost was dead-wood. All the Trolls want to CROW because they’re to dumb to realize the quitters have helped our team in the long run. Hey trolls, would you want these quitters on your team? This doesn’t include GT fans, we know you would. It’s just addition by subtraction. The players that remain can handle the pressure and be remembered as DGDs. All this sh*t because of f-ing Brownies. LOL…
bama smells
March 31st, 2012
7:20 pm
Is it true that Saban once stepped over a player who what having a heat stroke?
Vorizon
March 31st, 2012
7:23 pm
Players leaving because not enough playing time, even when others don’t deserve to be in front? Lott, getting bumped by Drew, who did nothing last season. Ealey getting benched when Caleb couldn’t score. Mettenberger not getting reps even when he crushed Murray over Spring scrimmages. Deas not getting reps, even though the guy in front of him gets suspended? Don’t blame thse guys for quitting/transferring. Richt runs a favoritism program, instead of a merit based program like Spurrier.
Hugo
March 31st, 2012
7:23 pm
Those that think these recent transfers are going to hurt this team are blinded by their ignorance. Gee, that is a shock, ignorant UGA haters. Who would have thought?
Vorizon
March 31st, 2012
7:24 pm
Where’s Aaron Murray’s leadership? Why is this team falling apart?
Vorizon
March 31st, 2012
7:25 pm
Carlton Thomas left because he was getting the reps he eanred, by averaging more yards per carry than injury prone entitled Crowell.
Hugo
March 31st, 2012
7:26 pm
Vorizon, you just proved my point, you are a moron. Spurrier does not run a favoritism program? How many chances did Garcia get dumbsh*t? Damn son, ignorance must be your hobby. And you are good at it, be proud.
icedawg
March 31st, 2012
7:32 pm
Don’t blame the young men. If they want to play they need to find the place in which that can happen. It is great that UGA allows students to go anywhere. If these players were not going to get much playing time what loss is there to us?
Bam a mike
March 31st, 2012
7:35 pm
How sweet. Coach Richt still loves them. Tanning bed is ready for you Coach.
Just so I get this straight; we lose another player for the 2012 season down to 76 on Scholarship now, and that is good news ?
March 31st, 2012
7:37 pm
Just so I get this straight; we lose another player for the 2012 season down to 76 on Scholarship now – including 3 Walk-Ons who never play Offense or Defense, and that is good news ?
Were that in fact, true, then :
(1) Why is it the players are saying : “There’s a whole lot of distractions” ?
and
(2) Why is the Coach is saying : “You definitely need as full of a boat as you can have,” Mark Richt is saying. “You want to make sure you have enough guys out there ”
Well, yeah coach and team : The SEC is a long season. And, after our 12 cupcakes, only 1 of whom made any top 25, there is Arkansas, or LSU or Alabama to play in The SEC Championship Game and you don’t want to go 10-42 against them. Then, there is the bowl game and you don’t want to go to 7-5 in bowl games.
This is getting so old.
And, it has been so long since we beat a team who made it to either the top 10 or even made it to the top 25 of any poll anywhere.
76 on Scholarship – really only 73. Self-Imposed Double PROBATION for us 2012, and to think as Chip Towers says we are Starting Out # 6 in all the polls 2012.
73 of 109 left standing.
Signed 109 Scholarships Mark Richt has toward his 85-man limit.
73 of 109 remaining.
Nah, attrition is not an issue around here.
FLA DAWG
March 31st, 2012
7:51 pm
I don’t know. Maybe in the end this will pull the team together – that is if we have enough players left to field a team.
Eleven…………..I mean ELEVEN Players and we are still FIVE MONTHS AWAY from kickoff.
How many more?
Sickening.
sapelodawg
March 31st, 2012
7:56 pm
The “key” word in your headline was preach. I am sick and tired of preaching. How ’bout a little “coaching for a change. Maybe even a dash of “leadership”. Get rid of the damned preacher and get a coach ! ! ! ! ! !
Beast from the East
March 31st, 2012
7:59 pm
Looks alot like what we endured last year at UF with all the players leaving for various reasons. If your team can stay relatively healthy, then it won’t be that big of a deal. If not, then it could be a tough season. Truth be told, if they don’t want to be there, then you’re better off without them. Look how well Jarvis Jones has performed since he transferred to a place he really wanted to be at.
Kingdaddy
March 31st, 2012
8:11 pm
I believe the new strength and conditioning coaches are finding out who’s a man and who’s a boy. The slackers can’t handle this new system. IT’S TOO HARRRRDDDD!!! WHAAAAAAA!!! It’s OK, the REAL MEN will stick it out…
slawdawg
March 31st, 2012
8:17 pm
It’s real simple……..You don’t want to be here…….LEAVE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Kingdaddy
March 31st, 2012
8:19 pm
I will be p*ssed if Richt allows any of these losers to go to a team we play on a regular basis. It’s time for him to show he’s got a set and liberate these jerks to an NON-SEC TEAM…
Kingdaddy
March 31st, 2012
8:24 pm
I guess it didn’t bother LSU that Mett was a Sexual Predator. That’s serious sh*t…
Dawg gone it
March 31st, 2012
8:26 pm
Funny how all the haters are obsessed with everything Uga! Go Dawgs!
jaxdawgfan
March 31st, 2012
8:32 pm
It has been my experience that, when unhappy people leave an organization, the organization is the better for it. People who put themselves first will never really contribute to any team.
diggs
March 31st, 2012
8:33 pm
Smart move Deas leaving Richt in the dust. Word on da street, Deas wern’t happy he didn’t get more reps after Rambo got busted. Richt betta figur out what goin on, and start being mor fair, or he ain’t gonna have nobodies left.
diggs
March 31st, 2012
8:35 pm
wonda how long Hutspn mason stik around, he do better than Murray, and don’t get no playin time….
Gator
March 31st, 2012
8:35 pm
Just so I get this straight; we lose another player for the 2012 season down to 76 on Scholarship now, and that is good news ? Thomas Brown with a new name. Biggest joke on any blog.
diggs
March 31st, 2012
8:36 pm
don’t foget about when logan gray transferred because richt announed murray as starter before spring started….
diggs
March 31st, 2012
8:37 pm
favoritism is a sin.
the book of james.
diggs
March 31st, 2012
8:41 pm
da word is clear, jsmes 2:9
play favorited, you sin, you reap what you sew.
playa’s not stayin for Richt, Richt ain’t got no cred, Richt lost da locker room now.
"The Georgia Way"
March 31st, 2012
8:43 pm
The energy-vampire bus is filling up, and guess who is driving it.
diggs
March 31st, 2012
8:43 pm
ain’t gonna be nobodies left cept richt’s favorites, a bunch of guys who never earn it on da feild.
diggs
March 31st, 2012
8:45 pm
when you a cam newton, if ya coach won’t play ya, you gotta leave, and go to a coach who will be fair….
worked out good for cam leaving florida….
just sayin’…
Bam a mike
March 31st, 2012
8:51 pm
Nick Saban after today’s scrimmage. “I was pleased with the physical play of our defense” The
“Process” continues.
Lakedawg
March 31st, 2012
8:51 pm
@diggs–Man were yo learn to talk an spel like dat? gotta be fom la, dont no nutting bout ga football.
Lakedawg
March 31st, 2012
8:52 pm
Thanks Bama Mike, we were breathlessly awaiting that update. Dipstick
diggs
March 31st, 2012
9:02 pm
can’t wait to see hutson mason on g-day gonna throw some bombs, not that it will matta, neva do
my boy mettenberger threw 2 bombs td’s today for over 270 yards….just like myt bo did qwhen he was at uga, miss ole mett, boy can play
Some good news for UGA fans
March 31st, 2012
9:03 pm
Jay Rome, Ray Drew, and Corey Moore all looking good in spring drills. Moore’s performance may have been the deciding factor in Deas transferring in hopes of playing time (also think Connor Norman has passed him on the depth chart).
I think we have enough talent to survive Missouri, and then get to full strength for the stretch run and head to Atlanta (much to the consternation of many posters on this board).
In spite of a couple of rough years, Mark Richt still has the highest winning percentage of any SEC coach against D-1 teams with winning records. Note to critics- this does not count cupcakes.
Looks like the Dogs will get Brendan Langley and JJ Green for our secondary, and the main problem with our offensive line haul will be which player who wants to be a Dog does not get an offer. This is shaping up as a monster year and we have the scholarship numbers to really load up and rebuild our depth.
Ex-Contributor
March 31st, 2012
9:29 pm
No sense flushing good money down the toilet. Wonder if Richt knows the words to the Missouri Waltz? Now how many years was Richt’s contract extended? Three? Keep up the good work McGarity.
Doug
March 31st, 2012
9:33 pm
Jason…………Really? Forest Gump was a novel (not real) about a person who lived in Alabama. IT WAS FILMED IN GEORGIA…………Jackass. I’ve lived in Atlanta for 15 years BUT NEVER have I been embarrased about growing up in Alabama. You sir…….live in a state that if it WEREN’T FOR ATLANTA………..IT WOULD BE JUST ONE BIG MISSISSIPPI…..IDIOT
phil
March 31st, 2012
9:37 pm
Fire CMR!!
Dawg Whisperer
March 31st, 2012
9:42 pm
Thank you, Beast of the East, for lending occasional sane comments from a non-UGA supporter. This board is loaded with immature comments from Bammers. They are drunk with their recent success and think they will live in Candyland for ever and ever.
Dawg Whisperer
March 31st, 2012
9:47 pm
Doug, and where would the state of New York be without NYC? Would it be Maine? The difference is that if you take Birmingham out of Alabama, it would still be Alabama. No change.
fat alligator
March 31st, 2012
9:50 pm
Ha Ha
1953dawg
March 31st, 2012
9:52 pm
Why are people crying about 2 guys that would never contribute, deciding to leave the program? Deas was never an SEC safety prospect, and why UGA offered him is the real problem. Richt and his boy Garner were so desperate to sign players that they offered marginal talent. Same can be said about Lott. The only thing this guy could do was fall off of a scooter. He was demoted to 3rd team after Drew and Washington moved to D.E. behind Smith and Abry Jones. Then Thornton has been moved to D.E. and he had 3 sacks in scrimmage. Add Sterling Bailey when he returns, and Lott would be lucky to play a single down this year. That makes 6 quality D.E’s ahead of Lott, so the kid made a good decision. However, if he can’t compete at UGA for playing time, and he quits, where does he think he will earn playing time? Probably a division 2 school like Ga.Southern. Bottomline is Deas will never play at a division 1 program and Lott will be a backup his whole career. If anything this shows how GOD awful UGA’s coaches are at evaluating high school talent. They have missed on some many prospects, and it is showing now on the field. They lack of talent on the O.L. is a total joke. Yet, Richt and his terrible coaching staff all get raises. The problem at UGA is McGarity and the athletic board for giving Richt an extention and these average coaches raises. My GOD, how do you get a raise when you have proven over and over again that you can’t evaluate high school talent, you can’t recruit, and when you do get kids on campus, you can’t coach them up. That is the problem at UGA, and it will never change as long as Richt is the coach. He never, ever, holds players or coaches accountable for their performance, and that is a total lack of leadership. That sums up Richt’s whole career. No ability to evaluate players or coaches. Sorry UGA fans,but the truth hurts, and this guy has shown his total lack of ability to manage a program
Kingdaddy
March 31st, 2012
9:57 pm
Candyland, La-La Land, Disneyland. Nothing’s stopping them from moving except maybe probation. If they don’t like GA. why do they talk about us so much? Go home losers…,
Dawg Whisperer
March 31st, 2012
9:58 pm
‘53…. you’re welcome to express your opinion but I trust McGarity’s opinion more. He has much more to lose than you and BTW, more expertise has a sports athletic administrator.
S.E. Dawg
March 31st, 2012
10:07 pm
Chip, it’s also grating on the Bulldawg Nation too.
Huh?
March 31st, 2012
10:17 pm
So two players have left due to playing time? Really? Don’t they know that half the team is suspended? Sounds like there is more to the story.
Kingdaddy
March 31st, 2012
10:19 pm
Its only the Trolls making a big deal about Deas just so they can bash Richt some more. You can only play 11 at a time, so what’s the problem. If we lose game because of the lack of a couple part timers, then we should worry, but I don’t see this impacting us much. There may be a few more that needs to hit the road too as in also…
Kingdaddy
March 31st, 2012
10:30 pm
I believe there’s some kind of connection to this rash of suspensions and these sissies leaving…
E
March 31st, 2012
10:39 pm
Richt’s still cleaning house after taking all the criticism in 2010. The preacher finally understands how the real world works. Instead of sending up another prayer petition for things to go well, he’s now actually taking action on his own to make it happen. Took him a long time to figure out that’s how you get things done , but better late than never.
OkieDawg
March 31st, 2012
10:40 pm
Wow, all signs point to a very deep and talented team. When former 4 and 5 star recruits are leaving the team because they can’t crack the lineup, you know things in Athens are headed in the right direction. This is all very positive news and when our starting D gets back on the field…look out. I can’t remember an offseason when all the stars are starting to align so early. Go Dawgs!!!! Just a tribute to what CMR has been able to do for our Dawgs. Go Coach!!!!
Bama=home of the T-bag special
March 31st, 2012
10:43 pm
Something I’m having a little trouble understanding…..how in the world do all these Bama trolls get the idea any of us give a rats ass what they think about any damn thing??
dustbucket
March 31st, 2012
10:45 pm
out of a potential 85 scholarships, right now, at spring, we are down to 57, has to be lowest in the sec?