Vince Dooley says losing Isaiah Crowell ‘best thing to happen’ for Bulldogs
ATHENS – Isaiah Crowell getting arrested and kicked off the team may have been a blessing in disguise for the Georgia Bulldogs.
So thinks former Georgia coach and athletic director Vince Dooley. I was interviewing Coach Dooley on Monday for another project I’m doing for the AJC when the subject of Crowell came up. Crowell, a rising sophomore and former 5-star recruit who was the Bulldogs’ leading rusher last season, was dismissed by head coach Mark Richt following Crowell’s arrest on felony weapons charges. Crowell has since transferred to Alabama State, an FCS program in Montgomery, Ala., and started classes on Monday.
That chain of events may help the Bulldogs in the long run, Dooley contends.
“I don’t want to put any pressure on them, but losing that guy may have been the best thing to happen to them,” said Dooley, who coached the Bulldogs to six SEC championships and one national title in 25 seasons. “It was a bad-apple type thing, if you ask me.”
“Bad apple” was the second term Dooley used to describe Crowell’s effect on the team. The first was more effective but he asked me not to use it.
Dooley said Crowell undoubtedly is a talented football player and probably was the Bulldogs’ best option at tailback. But the negative effects as far as being a troublemaker and a distraction far out-weighed any skills he brought to the field, Dooley said.
Now that Crowell is gone, “That kind of thing will unite a team many times,” Dooley said. “Historically when things like this have happened in the past, they tend to have a unifying effect on teams. They go on to have an even better season than they were predicted to have.”
Georgia, of course, is generally considered the favorite to repeat as the SEC Eastern Division champions and play in the SEC Championship. That is, if the Bulldogs are still able to field a team. With Crowell out and linebacker Brandon Burrows’ recent decision to transfer in search of more playing time, Georgia has dipped below 70 scholarship players heading into next season. The NCAA allows 85.
At least one person agrees with Dooley. Alabama State coach Reggie Barlow said the last three SEC teams that sent high-profile transfers to play for him — Florida, Auburn and Alabama — went on to win national championships the following season.
Dooley recalled that Georgia had a great player that left after the 1958 season and turned pro as a junior — very unusual in those days — and that rallied the rest of the team, which went on to win the 1959 SEC championship. Dooley could not immediately recall that player’s name, though I deduced it must have been center/linebacker Dave Lloyd, who was drafted in the fourth round that year by the Cleveland Browns. I couldn’t find anyone who knew for sure, but you get the point.
“This guy was a heck of a player, but he was a real problem on the football team,” Dooley said. “When he decided to leave, Coach [Wally] Butts went into a depression; he knew he had lost his best athlete. But as it turned out it unified the team. That often happens.”
Dooley also offered what I thought was one of the more insightful observations I’ve heard about Crowell as a running back last season. As we all know, Crowell’s toughness was questioned as he often pulled himself out of games or found himself sidelined with minor injuries. Dooley thought there might have been a good solution for that.
“Looking back at it, he would have been a great second-half running back,” Dooley said. “I never wanted that guy around in the fourth quarter if he started the game, because it seemed like he’d had enough by then. But I would’ve loved to have him around in the third or fourth quarter if he hadn’t played any to that point. Imagine once the defense gets tired and he comes in. He could’ve been a superstar second-half player. Herschel [Walker] got stronger in the fourth; this guy got weaker. So I would’ve waited until the second half to play him. He was pretty doggone good when he was fresh. That might’ve been a good idea looking back at it.”
Dooley has always had a great football mind.
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395 comments Add your comment
Really?
July 9th, 2012
6:11 pm
Did Allybama State make IC check his gun at the door?
UGA = Yawn
July 9th, 2012
6:12 pm
How ironic. I wrote earlier about the fact that it’s odd they would pick UGA when they have to play South Carolina and Spurrier every year. Then I came home from work and CBSSports Nework was replaying the SC / UGA game from September. The last 4 minutes were outstanding!!! THWG!!! Spurrier will beat you every year.
Blbbulldawg
July 9th, 2012
6:16 pm
So, we now have 70 or less scholarship players, and people think we can survive a season undefeated? Ha! Mark Richt has fooled us all for too many years. Start demanding we get a real football coach. I wonder, if we could get Jon Gruden right now, how many of you would say that is an immediate upgrade? Honestly, I bet most dawg fans would easily trade. What say you?
Search your soul! Hire Gruden!!! Secretly offer him!
Do it! Please release us from the false hopes of the Richt era…
Dean
July 9th, 2012
6:16 pm
This sure makes you doubt if Mark Richt even gives one thought to character and intelligence with the guys he recruits.
http://www.redandblack.com/sports/running-back-position-a-revolving-door-for-bulldogs-due-to/article_da276c92-c2c7-11e1-ae4d-001a4bcf6878.html
Ghost
July 9th, 2012
6:18 pm
LOL, have to play Spurrier and SC every year, 2011 1st time Spurriers hasn’t lost 5 o6 games in a season since he arrived at South Carolina, SS is 3-4 vs UGa while at Carolina, the most tradition-less program in the SEC.
TampaGator
July 9th, 2012
6:18 pm
Anyone watch THE OPENING 7 on 7 games…….
…..and the future Florida Gators DB commits (Dre Bell, Nick Washington, Keanu Neal) eat up the passes that the future Georgia QB threw? Each one intercepted him….at least once…and knoked numerous passes he three down. Bell and Neal played on the championship team and excelled in every game they played. Florida defensive secondary is going to be really, really good for a lot of years to come…..and it is going to be very, very good this year.
JuniorsFarm
July 9th, 2012
6:19 pm
Carlton Thomas had a 4.95 ypc average, Crowell’s was 4.6.
Yet Thomas got 7 carries a game, to Crowell’s 15. Samuel averaged 2.9 yards per carry yet got more carries than Thomas, who got 4.95 yards per carry. Thomas transferred.
Ealey had 11 td’s, averaged over 5 ypc, but Richt gave him less than 150 carries.
Crowell had 5 td’s, averaged 4.6 ypc, but Richt gave Crowell 180+ carries. Ealey was easily the hardest worker on the team in the best shape, as he averaged 6.6 ypc in the 4th quarter.
Ealey transferred.
Logan Gray & Mettenberger, were both Elite 11 QB’s, who both outperformed Murray over Spring scrimmages and G-Day, but both saw Murray named the starter. Both transferred.
Lemay & Mason both outplayed Murray this Spring & G-Day (Murray only completed 50% of his throws for 2 td’s in the 3 Spring scrimmages). Murray is still named starter.
TampaGator
July 9th, 2012
6:20 pm
Dean….
I think Richt did just fine this year with Marshall and Gurley……both high character guys. About time….right.
Kendell Jones
July 9th, 2012
6:21 pm
After reading a lot of comments above here, I find there are a lot of people who are posting for the sake of posting acomment to get thier psuedens in print. I have always been a Dawg fan, and as I remember Crowell he wasnot worth the salt that kept him going. He was LAZY. He wanted to be the star, but didn’t want to put out the effort to be star. I am glad he is gone. And as far as the small school that picked him up, I hope he won’t show how unworthy he is of playing even for a small school.
dee
July 9th, 2012
6:24 pm
Vince’s season is OVER…………..
Ghost
July 9th, 2012
6:25 pm
Junior, Mett was kicked off the team. Washaun was asked to transfer.Ealy hard working thats the funniest thing you’ve posted.
Troup Co. Dawg
July 9th, 2012
6:28 pm
Reuben Foster is coming and bringing all his friends….there is a bond that can’t be broken…..all you haters can not explain it! He is a genuine and humble person who has all the skills…I think he knows how to stay out of trouble as well ! If you were to put him at Tailback he would be the Next HW !! there, I said it and don’t regret it! Although I know he will be on defense! Go Dawgs !
JuniorsFarm
July 9th, 2012
6:30 pm
That is incorrect, Ealey had a discussion with Richt, and asked to be transferred according to the ESPN journalist.
Are you saying you know more about how Ealey left, or are more credible, as an anonymous blogger, than an ESPN journalist who interviewed him right after it happened?
Cmdawg99
July 9th, 2012
6:31 pm
If you can’t make it through college with out a misdemeanor or worse a felony. You don’t deserve to play college sports. What a wasted opportunity! Sad, but true. There is another scholly going to a well deserved walkon player.
KJ
July 9th, 2012
6:35 pm
“Spurrier will beat you every year.”
Oh look, someone else who’s only been watching football for 2 years.
Pitbull
July 9th, 2012
6:43 pm
What is it about either attending Tech or being a Tech fan than brings out the hatred and animosity in people? I am so glad I passed up on going there.
I know we have beat Tech in 10 of the last 11 games and that has to get to you, but does it really justify the crudeness and ugly character exhibited by Tech posters to these blogs?
It must feel terrible walking around with all of that hate built up inside and in the end it will hurt you the most as your life progresses. Wait and see.
As for IC. I am glad he is gone because his attitude was a detriment to the team. Somebody else will stand up and carry the ball and score touchdowns for us.
That said, this is still America and we are all innocent until proven guilty in a court of law by a jury of our peers. There are a lot of legal questions yet to be asked and answered by attornies before a verdict can be rendered.
Anyone can be arrested and charged with just about anything especially nowadays. But providing the evidence to support a guilty verdict in a court of law is another thing.
I personally do not care for IC, but when questions are asked about who else had access to the car, who else recently drove the car, what is the history of the handgun, etc. there may be a lot of people who owe that young man an apology, not that any of you will be big enough to give him one.
And at least he didn’t facilitate the sale of 100 pounds of pot.
Cmdawg99
July 9th, 2012
6:46 pm
When I was in college our coach informed us in the beginning if we had a “run-in ” with the law. We could kiss our scholarship good-bye. We didn’t have guys hitting girls or hit-n-runs or shaving the sn off a gun. I wonder what message “if any” is relayed to these kids? Regarding this issue? Just sayin and asking? Go Dawgs
Ghost
July 9th, 2012
6:46 pm
Junior, Wake up Richt gave him an unconditional release , he could’ve transferred anywhere.Why no takers? Ga Southern didn’t want him. Coaches don’t give players they want to stay unconditional releases. He was lazy and didn’t want to compete.Washaun was talented , but thought much more of himself than the Georgia or for that matter any SEC or ACC staff did.
JB
July 9th, 2012
6:48 pm
I hope Crowell’s new coach knows he’s only good for about 8-10 carries a game.
Dawg Haus
July 9th, 2012
6:50 pm
KJ, that was good!
Sid
July 9th, 2012
6:53 pm
corkylovesbeer
July 9th, 2012
2:54 pm
if dooley didn’t have 34….he would have been fired
***************************************************
yeah right
25 seasons, averaged over eight wins a year, won six Southeastern Conference championships and one National Championship in 1980. Georgia record 201–77–10, SEC record 104–42–4.
Get back to your beer and think about your next brilliant comment submission.
PS I sure would have liked to have had Hershel for that 1983 season.
TampaGator
July 9th, 2012
6:54 pm
Swamp Thing…..
Since you are all into conspiracy theories concerning why Georgia “had” Bama dropped and not Ole Miss. Well….here is another one for you…..maybe it was not Georgia who “had” them dropped….but Bama….since Georgia has “owned” them in recent years. Maybe you should approach Saban with your conspiracy theory on Georgia’s changed SEC schedule. Personally, I think Missouri paid Bama to tell the SEC to put Georgia on their schedule….and Florida, too, since the Gators are “going to lose to Vandy” this year. Dude….if you are a real Gator…..consider not being one.
Ga Grad '90
July 9th, 2012
6:55 pm
Crowell was not talented, Dooley. He was a gimpy, week, average runner with minimal future potential. Glad to see him go.
Ga Grad '90
July 9th, 2012
6:57 pm
Oh yeah, one more thing @ Sid et al. The best player in college football history is the only reason Dooley is still lingering around UGA. Without #34, Dooley would have been just like his son.
TampaGator
July 9th, 2012
7:00 pm
Beast from the East….
I find myself disagreeing with a Gator fan a lot lately. Georgia losing Crowell cannot be anything but a good thing. He was a locker room and practice field cancer…..and such cancers can wreck a football “team.” And I think Marshall and Gurley will more than replace Crowell on offense for the Dawgs….and improve both the locker room and the practice field with their character and effort…..and after 2pm as well….when they are asleep in their respective dorm rooms….showing what true dedicated players do. ONE BIG LESS THING FOR GEORGIA TO WORRY ABOUT THIS YEAR. A bigger problem is their depleted roster….something Florida fans found out about last year. Georgia cannot take any major injuries to key players…other than maybe Murray. Georgia does have….unlike Florida last year….seasoned backups at QB.
TampaGator
July 9th, 2012
7:02 pm
Ga Grad….
Crowell was gimpy for a “week?” No, he was gimpy for much longer than a week….I would say….several weeks….maybe a month or two…or a year even….but certainly not gimpy just for a “week.”
Glad to see someone has nearly as bad of typing skills as me.
squat
July 9th, 2012
7:03 pm
Goldie ..Lick my mutts golden rod..
TampaGator
July 9th, 2012
7:04 pm
Anyone able to read the article talking about Wiggins trying to get a bunch of recruits at THE OPENING to come to a meeting to discuss all committing to one team…..Ruben Foster came….and left very early. I wonder what that was all about? Sounds like the kid is seriously out trying to twist arms to get people to come to Georgia….as another dream team….but maybe Foster burst his dream out in Oregon.
Nub
July 9th, 2012
7:08 pm
Thoughts on why UGA has 70 football players when the limit is 85?
TampaGator
July 9th, 2012
7:10 pm
Ga Grad…..
Herschel Walker was “the greatest player in college football history”????? Based on what???? He is not even the greatest player in SEC history. He was a great college player however….as was Tebow. But neither is the best in college football history. But I would say Tebow would rank slightly higher on that list than Walker……slightly…….but Bo Jackson was better than both….and many in NCAA history….including the murderer from USC……were better than both Walker and Tebow in NCAA football history. Come on, man.
Dog recruiting
July 9th, 2012
7:11 pm
Anyone hearing about good recruiting news that will become public tomorrow? Reliable poster on Dawg Post mentioned it.
TampaGator
July 9th, 2012
7:13 pm
@Dog recruiting…..
None of the current Georgia commits will be hanging out with Crowell at South Alabama tommorrow….even though he has invited them their for a “bang of a good time.”
TampaGator
July 9th, 2012
7:14 pm
…sorry for the multiple typos in the last post. Typical of me, unfortunately.
gbal
July 9th, 2012
7:15 pm
This COULD worki our favor as VD says….. IF some team leaders will step it up and rally th troops. My concer is that there are not really leaders this day in time who will step up and rally the guys around this setback…. They generally feel that IC was done wrong…… In VD’s days there were more kids with character that recognized right from wron and the consequences…. Not today…. Ive raised 2 kids and know. Hope im wrong but my thougts/ And its not a UGA thin. Unfortunantly we have a mullet wrapper that can not sell papers supporting our team and rather allows the platform for bashing the only ting to write about that will draw a crowd….. Again. A change in character from the Dooley/Furman days to current day bloggersss…i mean sports journalist…. Good day GATA Dawgs
TampaGator
July 9th, 2012
7:17 pm
@Nub……
That is what happens when people ignore rules, disobey laws, don’t go to class….or complain because they don’t work hard enough to get above 3rd string and blame the coaches for it. Of course…..Georgia could go get 15 walk ons and give the all schollys to immediately solve the program. But I think they are focusing instead on recruiting players with higher character….which they should have been doing already….and maybe even teaching character and responsibility more to them when they get on campus….instead of thinking kis with poor economic and social backgrounds will just always do the right thing because the coach believes in Jesus.
Is logic out of vogue on here?
July 9th, 2012
7:20 pm
Let’s see. Coaches in the SEC are fired if they don’t win big enough. So Richt will deliberately play an inferior QB while leaving a better one on the bench? That makes a lot of sense. I guess Saban, Spurrier, Miles, etc. are all dummies for selecting Murray as one of the two best QBs in the SEC (as chosen by the coaches).
This may be a difficult choice for some, but I will take Richt’s judgement when it comes to QBs, over some computer jockey, unless said jockey has tutored two Heisman winners, an NFL #1 draft choice, and one of the winningest QBs in college history.
tony
July 9th, 2012
7:23 pm
I think Mr Richt need to win a national championship this season in order to build creditability due to the mistakes he has made @uga. I think his mistakes have contribute to players leaving the program and players having a nonchalant attitude.
I think favortism was his biggest mistake. Everything within a team must be merit-based. Rewards and even punishments must be commensurate to output and performance. If a leader plays favorites, then he is compromising the long-term health of his team.
snellville jacket
July 9th, 2012
7:25 pm
The Big Dawg has spoken and the best thing that could happen is no matter what team any player who was dismissed not accepted to any other school.
red and black
July 9th, 2012
7:33 pm
I agree totally with dooley on it being best for the team. IC was in Athens for the sole purpose of making it to the NFL asap. he never has any real loyalty to UGA; he wimped out at the first sign of a little injury and let his team donw both on and off the field he then claimed “I have learned from my mistakes and will be better for it.” Instead of being true to his word, he then turned around and screwed up again. I think the older guys took him under their wing and tried to bring him around, but at some point the other guys get sick of busting their buuts for a prima donna who cares nothing for the team. The old saying goes, Fool me once shame on you; fool me twice shame on me….I am sure that is exactly how the coaches and team feel…
Double Zero Eight
July 9th, 2012
7:34 pm
If this does not wake Crowell up, nothing will.
He will spend a year at Alabama State, and transfer
to Alabama the following year.
gbal
July 9th, 2012
7:41 pm
yea red and black., only the young guys hanging with IC…. Who look to his character issues as being OK…. Just the times folks and unfortunantly accepted bu socioty today… Look what we have in our top office of the United States of America…. A rock star.
Hair E Dawg
July 9th, 2012
7:41 pm
Musa Smith also would get stronger as the game went on…
gbal
July 9th, 2012
7:52 pm
High character coaches just cant seem to get the performance out of the high % of low character atheletes these days. Not saying its wrong for CMR to run a staff, but they just don jeehaw….
BehindEnemyLines
July 9th, 2012
7:53 pm
re: “That’s what college kids do” … Let’s try not to throw all of them under the bus with the poorly raised criminal element, m’kay? Various & sundry criminal acts are indeed common, but they aren’t quite universal just yet either.
Fulmer cup
July 9th, 2012
7:53 pm
Dooley doesn’t have sense enough to know that the Dwag teams are full of nothing but bad apples.
Look at the Fulmer Cup standings and see who’s on top most years! Who saw the Dwag baseball parent get arrested for fighting at his son’s baseball game? All over the national news! Lots of bad apples associated with the Cesspool! But heck, who cares. Winning is the most important thing…too bad they’re not good at that either! Bwahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha!
gbal
July 9th, 2012
7:56 pm
D. Dooley another CMR type…. and on the other extreme, L K seems to be able to relate with his low character persona… Checik fits…..
gbal
July 9th, 2012
8:00 pm
BEtL… not throwingng them all under the bus, but unfortunantly kids seem to follow the lower character kids as role models now days… Its hhow they have come up and what they see every day. … Just very low percentage of high character leaders now days. Lot different that the Dooley daysssss.
Valdosta Cat...
July 9th, 2012
8:02 pm
IC was a Dawg…. We loved him when he choose the Bulldawgs over Bama. We should respect the young man and pray he get’s his life together beyond football. These recruits see these post about them and their friends or old teammates. They post things about fairwether fans…see J. Jenkins and C Washington facebook and Tramel Terry interview regarding fans on espn.com. If a player decides to move on or get kicked off the team pray for the best for that one time DAWG and let it be. Move on to Dawgs and new business. Either way, I wish him well and hope he get his life together and breaks records at A state. UGA Dawgs will be alright with or without him!!!
gbal
July 9th, 2012
8:03 pm
A whole lot more universal than the Dooley days… I mean a whole lot!!!! Ben listening to Boortz lately whith the problems with socilty and crime…. He is dead on and this is the same problem with college atheletes now days. The problem does not discriminate and group of people, including college atheletes.
BG
July 9th, 2012
8:06 pm
Crowell would still be on the team at most of the SEC schools.