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
TrickDawg
July 10th, 2012
3:00 pm
Hate to prove the ole Coach Dooley wrong, but on this 4th quarter thing running back thing, Washaun Ealey averaged 6.6 yards per carry in the 4th quarter in 2010, and the team went 6-7, so Dooley’s theory about having a great 4th quarter running back didn’t work, because Ealey was rested, from rotating with Caleb King and Thomas, but, in fact, it led to Richt’s worst year in over 20 years of coaching.
We already tested Dooley’s theory, and it led to Richt’s worst year in his career.
Let’s try something else, like having a QB who doesn’t turn the ball over 20 times a season and get sacked 30+ times per year.
kingdaddy
July 10th, 2012
3:10 pm
Bitter
Son, if you ain’t nothing else, you’re ADGD! GOD LOVE YA…
Milton County will happen
July 10th, 2012
3:23 pm
Dooley’s comments will be used by other schools to turn kids away from UGA. Appeals to the red-neck fanbase; not so much to the urban athlete.
kingdaddy
July 10th, 2012
3:44 pm
Milton County
That’s really too bad for the uncompromising, isn’t it? If they are that much of a hood-rat, we don’t need them. Coach Dooley isn’t a racist and neither is THE UGA! If you see any colors other than RED & BLACK, PLEASE DON’T COME TO UGA…
kingdaddy
July 10th, 2012
3:59 pm
Milton county
You know any “black” red-necks, I do. I also know several “white” hood-rats. Urban, rural, smalltown, bigtown: the question is, are they football players, not can I get along with the rednecks. If you can’t get along then you dont belong. You worry about B.S…
Milton County will happen
July 10th, 2012
4:09 pm
Settle down kingdaddy. Your Brainiac side is showing.
pcb mike
July 10th, 2012
4:20 pm
UGA gets to reunite quite a bit, don’t they? When it comes to kicking criminals off the team, the Athletic Department gets in more kicking than their place kicker.
PonGT
July 10th, 2012
4:26 pm
Dooley also had a bad apple from the Augusta area that was supposed to be all world, but was eventually dismissed from the team for weapons violations. YES, he did always have a great football mind, and Yes he also knew when to oust the bad apples.
old dog
July 10th, 2012
4:47 pm
@TrickDawg,
If we could get an o-line that was SEC worthy, our QB would look much better……..other teams finally figure out that we can be beat there (the good teams figure it out, anyway) so they stack it up and physically whoop us up front. QB spends 1/2 the time running for his life, and there is NO run game to help….
mambo
July 10th, 2012
6:34 pm
This is why Vince is the man. He knows football players and football. Hope Mark is smart enough to learn from this genius.
Terrible Truth
July 10th, 2012
6:40 pm
When it came out that three of the four passengers with him that night were incoming freshman, I wanted him gone then and there.
Tweety Bird
July 10th, 2012
6:41 pm
We’ve selected this gem as “Crowell’s Tweet of the Day”:
Isaiah Crowell @iSAIAH_RIP_STEV 5h
@LetMe_Csum nig wit a bankroll get da fine h**s
TrickDawg
July 10th, 2012
6:43 pm
The running game feeds off the deep pass in the Pro Style offense. Teams tend to stack that box with 8 or 9 strong when your QB is no long ball threat, like LSU did, turns into a 1 dimensional type of offense, and that just shuts down the run game. I think Murray completed 39% and had no long passes against LSU, missed on every throw. Hopefully Murray can get that number up to 70% like the Elite QB’s instead of 39%, or else Mason or Lemay can see if they can soften the defenses up by completing more deep or mid range passes. Unfortunately, Murray’s habit are established now, so that’s why Murray’s accuracy didn’t improve in 2011, and that’s why he threw 75% more interceptions in 2011 than 2010, habits are tough to change, and Murray has shown no ability to reverse bad habits. Who knows, a miracle could happen and Murray could wake up and forget about the 2 year habits he has created. But I doubt it.
Aisle #1
July 10th, 2012
6:46 pm
“When it came out that three of the four passengers with him that night were incoming freshman, I wanted him gone then and there.”
It’s simple enough to understand. He had his homeboys in Columbus, and he needed homeboys in Athens. Where else to get them except on the team.
But yes, I think that scared the daylights out of CMR, thinking that Crowell was forming his gang from incoming freshmen.
TrickDawg
July 10th, 2012
6:49 pm
The o-line blocked great for Hutson Mason, he has never been sacked. Perhaps Murray’s ICE AGE slow deicision making MIGHT be a reason why sacks have doubled vs. Cox/Stafford who both averaged 12-15 sacks per season. Murray’s averaged 29 sacks per season. Mason, with the same o-line, has never been sacked.
Bill T.
July 10th, 2012
6:50 pm
@TrickDawg: Staying with Reggie Ball got Chan Gailey fired. Staying with Aaron Murray for two more years will have the same result for Mark Richt.
TrickDawg
July 10th, 2012
6:50 pm
The NFL drafted 3 o linemen this year, even though UGA gave up 33 sacks, NFL kind of agreed with me, it’s not the o-line, it’s the QB.
TrickDawg
July 10th, 2012
7:18 pm
I charted the 2012 G-Day game.
Here’s how the offenses finished with each UGA QB:
1) Mason, +18 points when he led them (2 td’s, 2 pt conv, field goal)
2) Lemay, +16 (2 td’s, 1 field goal, missed 2 pt conv)
3) Murray, +14 (2 td’s)
Lemay has also shown poise now, leading td drives in the last 2 minutes of the G-Day spring game in 2010 & 2011. That’s impressive.
TrickDawg
July 10th, 2012
7:36 pm
You can’t blame LSU’s pass defense for Murray’s poor performance in that game.
9 different Qb’s in 2012, completed 55% or more against LSU.
Murray hit on 39%.
z-man
July 10th, 2012
8:16 pm
I know one thing for sure all the bad things that go on at Georgia they do it at bama also.The fans and coaches are so insane at this program that you can slap their mother and you will never hear about it.
TrickDawg
July 10th, 2012
9:42 pm
Team chemistry = point spread/scoring margin
Whichever guys can max out the scoring margin, those are your guys.
I can guarantee you, by that standard, Aaron Murray would not be starting.
Murray’s pretty much a scoring margin nightmare.
Team chemistry, it’s not complicated.
TY
July 10th, 2012
10:00 pm
Dooley is correct about the backs and being fresh in the fourth quarter. Bobo has probably not considered that because the backs in the past have been rotated so much in the early parts of the game they never had a rhythm to really get tired or to get stronger in the end as did Herschel. Rotation of backs or anyone is never good for the sake of just doing it. You have to have a plan..The way Richt and Bobo use backs and QB’s is not the best in the world.
DawgNole
July 10th, 2012
10:03 pm
ozzfest
July 9th, 2012
3:09 pm
Imagine how GEORGIA would have dominated the 70’s and 80’s IF “bad apple” and “offensive bozo” Vince Dooley had not been the coach. Take away 1980, 1981, and 1982 and Dooley’s winning % was less than JIM DONNAN’S while at UGA.
______________________
“Take away 1980, 1981, and 1982 . . .”? Say what?
Definitely a candidate for dumbest, most irrelevant comment on this blog.
Hey, ozzfest, take away all his losses and he’d be undefeated.
Duh!
crossdawg
July 10th, 2012
10:11 pm
If Coach Dooley said it, I sho nuff believe it.
Ted
July 10th, 2012
10:39 pm
Funny how anything that happens in Athens is the “best thing” that could have happened.
bubba4dawgs
July 10th, 2012
10:44 pm
Hi LaGrange 1975! I happen to be La Grange 1955 and my upbringing over these last 75+ years begs to disagree with you! Naturally, you and I came up during a completely different time zone and I didn’t face the likes of marijuana nor alcohol abuse. The kids today are challenged with the temptations of things that can destroy their lives as well as the lives of others. Those who receive the discipline they need at home have a better chance of overcoming the temptations. It appears that Crowell’s errant behavior may have been affected by a lack of discipline. But let’s remember, life is made of choices and he is given a free will to make the right choice. If he continues to make wrong choices, then he simply doesn’t mix very well with those who are making right choices.
No one wanted to see Crowell’s departure become necessary, especially Coach Richt. He has a team to coach and must maintain discipline in order to be successful. Crowell was given every chance!!!! He didn’t deserve any more chances and Coach Richt couldn’t give him anymore chances even if he wanted to. I assure you that Coach Richt wishes him well as we all do but. The University of Georgia and the UGA team will be better off as a result of Crowell’s departure!
I learned my lesson from the La Grange Class of 1955 and pass this on to the LaGrange Class of 1975.
Mobile Dawg
July 10th, 2012
10:55 pm
Have to agree with you 55. I’m a little later in the game, but, I had choices. The company which I was employed by for 27 years gave “random” drug and alcohol tests, mandated by the Federal Government. I never once smoked, or drank excessively, because I cared about my job, future, career, and later down the road my family. The only thing I feel bad for is that more than likely my tax dollars will go to support IC and his likes because they don’t have the same values, or work ethic that I do.
bubba4dawgs
July 10th, 2012
11:03 pm
Tis sad, Mobile Dawg!j I agree with you! The country is in a mess greatly because of this. I wonder how many billions (perhaps trillions) is wasted on it!! Fortunately, this country wasn’t built on the mindset of this cancer! If it was, I shudder to think about where we would be!
Mobile Dawg
July 10th, 2012
11:08 pm
Yeah, unfortunately I don’t have a lot of compassion in my heart for people who don’t want to help themselves. The golden goose is getting really thin. I’m thinking it’s time to start thinking about seceding from the Union again, the people paying the bills are quickly becoming the minority, the minority can’t support the majority much longer.
TrickDawd
July 10th, 2012
11:23 pm
I agree with Dooley, that 2 bad apple can spoil the whole bunch.
Let’s look at Aaron Murray closely. Is he a positive effect, team chemistry wise, or a negative effect?
Look at his record:
0-9 against teams that finish in the top 25 ap poll
It’s GLARINGLY OBVIOUS, to anyone that’s HONEST, that the team, for whatever reason, PLAYS WORSE in BIG GAMES when Murray is the QB.
He has a super negative effect on the team. why? I can only guess at reasons teams don’t rally behind Qb’s: don’t respect him because of the way Richt entitled/entitles/coddles/favors him, like other Qb’s on the team better, feel other Qb’s on the team are better, self defeating habits: turnovers–sacks–missed throws, losing his poise in big games all 9 times, blaming teammates when mistakes happen (his body language is terrible–I’ve NEVER seen Aaron Murray grab his OWN jersey on a missed pass or an interception to say “my fault”–he always looks disgusted and throws his hands on his helmet or up in the air in disbelef like it’s always his teammate’s fault), too preachy/tebow esque, not spending enough time with the guys off the field, narcissitic, could be all or none of those, all I know is, GUYS DON’T MAKE PLAYS for Murray in BIG GAMES.
Could Aaron Murray be the team chemistry bad apple?
Team is 0-9 under Murray against teams that finish top 25 in the AP Poll.
It’s time for a new leader, the chemistry is not there.
TrickDawg
July 10th, 2012
11:27 pm
missed the G. fixed it.
I know others want to have that blind faith in Coach Richt that Murray is the guy, but I’m sorry, in my opinion, and believe, it’s based on a watching every game video many times, and dozens of hours studying the stats, I am sure he is not creating even “good” team chemistry, especially in the bigger games.
LaGrange1975
July 11th, 2012
12:11 am
Greetings to you as well bubba4dawgs . In my life I have seen a lot of things. I stay true to what I said no matter who disagrees. I know that it is human nature for people to say, “well this is the last straw.” If this is the case then Crowell should have been dismissed for what he had already done in the past, etc. I am still one of the few that truly believe in the terms “innocent until proven guilty.” I don’t know if the weapon was Crowell’s or not. But I am arguing that in this case he should be given his “proper” day in court.
When I was younger and in the military, I had a roomate who broke the law. I won’t tell what he did, however, if he had not told the truth about what had happened I would have been accused right alone with him. The part that bothered me the most out of that whole ordeal was when my superiors felt I was involved in the incident. Again, I don’t know if he is guilty or not, but I refuse to convict him until things play out in the courts. Also, I will not talk about the number of chances he had or didn’t have, as all any of us can do is specualte. Lastly, thank you for your well crafted argument. It is always good to debate with someone who knows how to construct a proper argument.
bubba4dawgs
July 11th, 2012
6:44 am
LaGrange1975, well said and I can see your point and will not try to vilify my point any further. You definitely make a valid point about innocence until proven guilty. What we don’t know is what agreement Coach Richt and Crowell had as a condition of his previous violations regarding his conduct off the field. He had a lot of trouble from the very beginning adjusting to campus life, i.e., he couldn’t get to meetings on time, if at all and missed the morning runs, et. Coach Richt couldn’t and wouldn’t detail all that went on with this young man but it appears that he had simply run out of chances and excuses with him. Coach Richt probably realizes that he made a huge mistake by anointing him the ‘prima dona’ of the team with the missing man formation and #1 jersey when he visited the campus when he signed on. this was a huge burden on Crowell, one that probably was too much for him to handle.
I am a fan of Crowell! I hold no ill feelings toward him due to this regrettable outcome of his short career at UGA! I wish him well at Alabama State and will be following is career there! I wish he will be very successful and return to the SEC with another team and even face the DAWGS again. He will then be thankful that his unfortunate experience helped set him on the right path for a successful career. My, what talent!!! I’m glad we had him for the time we did!
Thank You for your comments!! Well said and a most respected point of view!!
LaGrange 1975
July 11th, 2012
6:46 am
You are sooooooooooooo RIGHT. IC’s MOTHER did the best she could in rasiing him to his present level. Whatever he has been targeted on an off the field. I watched the game between Carolina & UGA Tuesday on ESPN and the drunks really cheered him on and they lost the game. Yes ! they are going to miss the hell out of this kid and Vince Dooley needs to shut the hell up!!! He has children ,too and their butts are not perfec! University of Alabama (MR. SABAN)needs to recruit the hell out GEORGIA and the elite should follow him straight to another championship!!!!!!!!!!!!! I feel sorry for CMR and his players you fans have taken the game call COLLEGE FOOTBALL to another level !!! VINCE DOOLEY how in the hell can this football program be on the same page with the CAMPUS POLICE and DWAG FANS CONTROLLING everything!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Aaron
July 11th, 2012
11:04 am
But he was framed! You don’t know where he came from!
Barry
July 11th, 2012
5:29 pm
Crowell’s toughness was no doubt a real questionmark. It did not appear that he had much of it. However, my bigger problem with “Crow-Unwell” was when he did take himself out of a game, he just sat on his butt on the bench, or stood somewhere off the sideline showing absolutely no interest in even watching the game much less cheering for whomever took his place – or God forbid – actually trying to “coach up” the substitute when he came out of the game at the end of a series. As the starter he should be able to help the 2nd teamer in some way. He showed more interest in chewing on his fingernails than seeing the game. Perhaps it was a “hangnail” that caused him to leave the game.
Coach Dooley is right – the Dogs are better off without him! He now may become a star in the minor leagues, but we (Dogs) don’t need him.
Vesaversa
July 12th, 2012
9:47 am
BS disciplined start with the Head coach something Mark Reich have lack for years now .You want see much of this on a Nick Saban team or a Steve Spurrier .Come on peoples can’t you see where the problems have really been all these years now ? Mark Reich should get fired if Ga doesn’t win 10 games this year .
Westicles
July 12th, 2012
10:10 am
Crowell was/is a ZERO and an embarassment to the University of Georgia. I’m glad he’s gone. He has already played on the biggest stage of his life, and he blew it with his own stupidity. Alabama State is just another step down towards rock bottom for this loser. You people who want to blame everyone other than Crowell for Crowell’s failure are a huge part of the problem. Stop making excuses for losers like Crowell and start holding them accountable for their own actions.
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July 12th, 2012
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[...] Dooley: Losing Crowell could help UGA [...]
Aaron
July 12th, 2012
2:40 pm
“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.”
Wow, oversigning doesn’t seem like such a bad thing now, does it?
Your Best 11 Mailbag: Is Losing Isaiah Crowell Addition by Subtraction and More! | Sandy
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4:16 pm
[...] about the loss of Isaiah Crowell being a blessing in disguise for the Bulldogs, as reported by the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Honestly, I’m not sure. Up until the arrest, I was expecting Crowell to have a big season in [...]
Von Trapp
July 12th, 2012
7:45 pm
TEAM was NEVER in IC’s mind. Let some other school baby sit the dude
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July 14th, 2012
11:57 am
[...] anyone who might have missed it, Beach is referring to Vince Dooley’s comments to the AJC’s Chip Towers that the 2012 Dogs losing Isaiah Crowell “may have been the [...]
Bulldawg Bob
July 15th, 2012
11:19 am
LaGrange and to other OPs that have posted that Crowell is innocent till proven guilty. The only problem with that is that may work in the legal system and the court of law, but not in life. No offense, but I have to disagree with you. What do you not understand? He was in a car, that smelled of weed, with an unlicensed, unregistered, altered serial number handgun stuck under the seat. I’m all for gun rights, but a handgun with an altered serial number!!! Do you not understand that handguns with altered serial numbers are most often or have been used in some sort of illegal activity. He couldn’t go down to Franklin Gun Shop and buy a gun? Yes. Kids will be kids, but we are not talking about some guys knocking back a few beers or toking on some rolled ones. We are talking about a guy carrying around an illegal, altered, unregistered handgun on school property. Have you not been paying attention to what has happened recently with handguns, football players, and college campuses and towns? Just look across the state border to our west and Auburn.
I own guns, and I enjoy shooting and hunting; however, if I get stopped at work or school by security or police, and they find even an registered gun, I can get fired, dismissed, and even charged with carrying a concealed weapon. Even if I can legally carry said firearm, it doesn’t mean that I am not bound by rules and regulations at school or work.
What about personal responsibility? You are telling me that because he is a college kid and UGA needs to win that it is CMR’s and UGA’s fault that they didn’t give this young man another chance? Do you know how many chances Crowell was given before this last incident? Do your realize how much CMR, the coaching staff, teammates, and UGA bent over for this young man, giving second, third, fourth, and fifth chances? This wasn’t Crowell’s third infractrion. It was a pattern of behavior.
Winning at all cost should not be accepted or even taught. That is part of the problem. Yes. Winning is important, but what is more important is doing things the right way. Look at what has happened at Penn State. I suppose you are going to tell me it was more important of Joe Pa and Penn State to win no matter the cost to moral obligation and humanit?.
I wish Crowell all the luck in the world and hope he turns things around, but he was given plenty of chances. It wasn’t like this was this young man’s first or even second brush with trouble. FYI, and before you disrespect a DGD like Vince Dooley for calling a pre-madonna collegiate athlete a bad apple because he was getting in trouble in highschool and continued to get in trouble when he got to college, you should remember what he did and continues to still do for UGA.
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[...] pressure on them, but losing that guy may have been the best thing to happen to them,” Dooley told the newspaper. “It was a bad-apple type thing, if you ask [...]