UPDATED: Georgia clears CB Branden Smith to play in opening game
Branden Smith's clearance to play this season not only bolsters Georgia's secondary, but also its return game. (AJC photo by Johnny Crawford)
ATHENS — Georgia senior cornerback Branden Smith, who was facing suspension because of a marijuana arrest in back in March, was cleared by the school to play in the Bulldogs’ season opener.
Coach Mark Richt made the announcement shortly after Georgia completed its third practice of preseason football camp on Saturday in Athens.
“Branden Smith will play Game One,” Richt said. “After [reviewing] all the information that we’ve gathered, we’ve decided that he’ll be available to play in the first game and he’ll be available to talk about any details. After determining what happened, we’ve got peace that we’re doing the right thing.”
Smith was expected to miss at least one game as per the UGA athletic association’s conduct code, which calls for an automatic suspension for 10 percent of competition dates for violators of the marijuana-use policy. But central to Georgia’s decision to waive that penalty was the fact that Smith said passed two separate drug tests shortly after he was arrested in a traffic stop on March 14 in south Alabama.
“I came back right away to get tested [by UGA],” Smith said Saturday. “I was clean. I went to court, got tested, I was clean. I don’t do drugs. Now I’m just moving on from this incident. I’d like to apologize for the university and my family as far as being in the wrong place at the wrong time.”
Smith was placed in the Henry County (Ala.) court’s pretrial intervention program and since completed the requirements to have the marijuana charges expunged from his record.
Smith’s reinstatement is the first bit of good news in an offseason that has been rife with bad news for the Bulldogs. Two defensive starters are expected to miss the first two games each due to arrests in cornerback Sanders Commings (domestic battery) and outside linebacker Chase Vasser (DUI). Meanwhile, Georgia has yet to confirm or deny multiple media reports that free safety Bacarri Rambo and inside linebacker Alec Ogletree face multiple-games suspensions for second-offenses of the athletic association’s marijuana-use policy.
“There were some off-field situations that came up that’s going to keep some of our guys out for the first few games or so,” sophomore defensive end Ray Drew said. “But there is strength in numbers and just having [Smith] back boosts us just little bit more knowing that we have our brother playing beside us and helping us go out and get the job done.”
With Smith back in the fold, it appears that he and converted wide receiver Malcolm Mitchell will be the starting cornerbacks for the Bulldogs’ first two games. They open the season against Buffalo at Sanford Stadium on Sept. 1, then face pass-happy Missouri on the road the following week.
“I most definitely think I can help the secondary,” said Smith, who has started 17 games and played in 36 for the Bulldogs. “We have our whole defense coming back. We were out there today practicing hard, strong, fast. Everybody’s having fun out there. We’re just ready for the season to start. We’re out there as a group and we’re going with it.”
ATHENS – In an offseason that seems like it has been filled with bad news, Georgia finally offered some good for its fans on Saturday.
Coach Mark Richt revealed after Saturday’s practice that starting cornerback Branden Smith will be available to play Bulldogs’ season-opening game against Buffalo. Smith was facing a suspension after his arrest in Alabama in March on misdemeanor marijuana possession charges. He was granted pretrial intervention status in court and has since completed the conditions to have those charges dismissed.
“After just gathering all the information, determining what happened, we’ve got peace that we’re doing the right thing on Branden,” Richt said.
Smith told reporters after Saturday’s practice that he immediately returned to Athens after his arrest during a traffic stop in Headland, Ala., and passed a drug test. He said he also passed a court-ordered drug test and that’s why the Bulldogs cleared him to play.
“I don’t do drugs,” Smith insisted. “So right now I’ve just moved on. Like I said, I apologize to the university and my family for being at the wrong place at the wrong time.”
It was generally thought that Smith would miss Georgia’s first game as per the athletic association’s conduct code regarding marijuana offenses. That policy stipulates a 10 percent suspension for competition dates for violations.
Smith’s return relieves some of the stress on Georgia’s secondary, which already knows it will be without follow starting cornerback Sanders Commings and possibly others. Commings is suspended for the first two games of the season after pleading guilty to misdemeanor domestic violence charges in February. Starting outside linebacker Chase Vasser is also out the first two games because of a May arrest for DUI and free safety Bacarri Rambo and inside linebacker Alec Ogletree reportedly are facing suspensions for marijuana policy violations.
“I most definitely think I can help the secondary,” said Smith, who has started 17 games and played in 36 for the Bulldogs. “We have our whole defense coming back. We were out there today practicing hard, strong, fast. Everybody’s having fun out there. We’re just ready for the season to start. We’re out there as a group and we’re going with it.”
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249 comments Add your comment
Macon Mike
August 4th, 2012
8:11 pm
Finebaum will have a field day with this. The laugh track that is UGA football never fails to deliver joke after joke. Tune in Monday dawgs.
dawgs01
August 4th, 2012
8:23 pm
if i was finebaum i would make fun of uga too anything to hide the fact that i am one ugly motherf….that is usually what insecure people do and ga tech fans prove that point everyday on these ga blogs that they are infactuated by. they just cant resist the urge to see what uga is doing and i dont even know who the gatech qb or rb is and dont care. i will find out when the season starts until then i just keep up with my team.
Rick James
August 4th, 2012
8:26 pm
@dreds and weed
well, well..the dirtiest program in the SEC and reigning arrest record holder is gonna now excuse illegal activity based on roster numbers…the stench coming out of Athens is more putrid than normal…how’s that high horse riding right now???
—————————————————————————————————————————
The stench will be stronger the last week in November when Tech stinks up the place.Just saw where one of your brilliant players will have to miss a game for selling his tickets to the game last year.Now we all know that players make extra money by selling their tickets to jock sniffing alumni but cant you be bright enough to know how to get away with it.? And that triple option ticket package for $199.00 just shows how little fan support that team has.Next they’ll be 2 for 1 or free with every purchase a Kroger.
The Factor
August 4th, 2012
8:27 pm
@Macon Mike,
Good gosh son, you have to have an IQ below 90 to listen to Finebaum (whoops, sorry…). Here is a guy who went to Tennessee and supports the tide. What a backbone! His opinion really matters ……lol
nash
August 4th, 2012
8:28 pm
it’s about time CMR started acting like a real SEC coach and protecting his players. But seriously good look for Brandon Smith, I hope doesn’t get caught trying to cover TE this season
@micheal
August 4th, 2012
8:30 pm
Did you see pJ s quote today about players being suspended for the 1st game. He doesn’t want to tell VT who’s going to be sitting. More Hypocrisy from Tech fans.
The Factor
August 4th, 2012
8:38 pm
Correct me if I am wrong (I’m not), but if a kid on an ” purely academic” scholarship gets arrested for under age drinking or smoking weed as a first offense, does anything happen to his scholarship……….didn’t think so.
Macon Mike
August 4th, 2012
8:41 pm
Finebaum does have a national radio show…good to see you tards going into damage control, at least amongst yourselves…the rest of the nation smells the crap coming out of Athens…smells like delusion…pathetic really…
Rick James
August 4th, 2012
8:41 pm
@@micheal
Did you see pJ s quote today about players being suspended for the 1st game. He doesn’t want to tell VT who’s going to be sitting. More Hypocrisy from Tech fans
—————————————————————————————-
Tech fans only talk about suspended Georgia players..
FLA DAWG
August 4th, 2012
8:42 pm
GATOR FANS
What’s a matta u?
Fraid of losing to UGA AGAIN !?
Macon Mike
August 4th, 2012
8:42 pm
Factor, what happened to those “high UGA standards”. Unfortunatey, they seem to be as hollow as your head.
The Factor
August 4th, 2012
8:43 pm
@Macon Mike
Did u say “tards”?? You’re the one with the IQ who listens to Finebaum -Whoops!
ringleader
August 4th, 2012
8:51 pm
Tampa Gator……..
You are a fool and do not know what you are talking about.
He was not charged as a minor or juvinile.
He did not use a youthful offender status.
The charges were dropped by the prosecutor because he could not prove the case.
The search which found the weed was conducted without probable cause and the weed was not admisable.
He used the pretrial diversion to allow time for the hair folicle test to prove he had not had weed in his system for over six months.
The charges were expunged from his record as if the charges never existed.
I know this for a fact and you cannot do anything but speculate and lie.
UGA68 JD
Key Largo
August 4th, 2012
8:55 pm
Might as well bring back all the rb’s you kicked off the team in the last two seasons. This decision is an embarrassment to all Georgia fans. We talk about being above the fray. We just stepped into the slop with everyone else. A truly sad day for Georgia football.
The Factor
August 4th, 2012
8:57 pm
If you don’t UGA is more strict on drug policies that 99.5% of schools in Div I, read this independent article by Sports Illustrated:
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2012/writers/andy_staples/06/12/georgia-drug-policy/index.html
FLA DAWG
August 4th, 2012
9:08 pm
Ga Tech Fans are a funny bunch…………..they get a lucky one game a decade against UGA and think they are a top 5 team.
Come back online when you know something about college football.
moleman
August 4th, 2012
9:22 pm
that is so funny…anyone who criticizes uga is automatically a tech fan…its like a defense mechanism to you d/a’s…reality is, your program is garbage, your fanbase is garbage, your history is garbage…not a tech fan, but know garbage when i see and smell it…own it beeotches!
joshinsonnn
August 4th, 2012
9:33 pm
“It is about time that UGA finally got the message that you cannot keep suspending our players and have a nationally competitive football team. Now don’t get me wrong, I don’t support the drug and alcohol abusers on our football team but we cannot win without them. Maybe they could be punished during the non football season.
You can either have a team full of good boys that cannot play at the level it takes to win a national championship or you can have a team with a few straight arrows and a whole lot of top level athletes. It looks like UGA is moving toward the latter.”
This is a comment from somebody. Like my GOD, this guy is the epitome of a stupid, typical Georgia Bulldog fan. Disregard the LAWS in order to win 1 more football game that means nothing because UGA will never make it to any big bowl game. Jesus dude, no wonder the rest of the country thinks GA is full of inbred redneck hicks.
joshinsonnn
August 4th, 2012
9:38 pm
OH, and I am NOT a Tech fan before I get the typical ignorant responses of being a Tech fan.
UGA’s program is a joke, their coach is a bigger joke, and they will NEVER compete for a national championship. Here’s to the 7 loss season upcoming, because your star running back thought driving around with guns was a cool thing to do.
51 arrests in 4 years? HAHAHA what a bunch of LOSERS.
The AD returneth
August 4th, 2012
9:45 pm
Hee-larious. Just admit that in the original article on the story, Smith was supposed to be suspended for just being arrested with the grass, for putting himself in a bad situation. Not did he pass a pee test. Not did he pass a second pee test. Not did the grass belong to someone else.
The entire team was told to stay out of trouble; Smith went to spring break with a guy who had been arrested for drugs A WEEK EARLIER; was pulled over; pot was found in the car; ARREST WAS MADE (at this point the suspension was supposed to be automatic). Pot in car; arrest made; no suspension. All for Buffalo; not Missouri. That’s it. It’s not complicated. Stop making excuses.
Tampa Gator
August 4th, 2012
9:50 pm
Moleman….
Anyone who makes any comment about Georgia….other than to support continued summer dreams since 1980……is a FOOL….see above for an example…..a MORON…..an IDIOT……attach any HOMOPHOBIC comment here________________…..also a TROLL….(something Georgia fans never are)…….also a socialist liberal out to destroy America………Never question anything GEORGIA. Follow blindly and keep the dream alive….or else.
Most likely the only real thing Brandon Smith was quilty of was not maintaining his car for proper driving and letting a “friend” get in his car with weed and smoke it….in Alabama of all places. Now….you would think that Brandon was exhibiting FOOLISH…..IDIOTIC…..and MORONIC behaviors…..and….since he was having a good time in a car with another male….well….I will not go there.,
DodgerDawg
August 4th, 2012
9:51 pm
@Tampa Gator…Any message Mark Richt sends has a tougher ring to it than any of the crap coming from the swamp. Clean your own house before issuing your opinions about UGA. Florida’s current (and recently updated drug policy) still allows for no punishment for the first offense and only 10 percent of the season for the second offense.
Tampa Gator
August 4th, 2012
10:01 pm
Post at 9:45……
Well said.
@Ringleader…..
A broken taillight at night is just cause for pulling a car over. And the smell of weed from a car is just cause for a car search. And I assumed he was under 21 at the time. And I assumed he had never been arrested before. If that makes me a fool….I guess I am (NOT).
Dawg Haus
August 4th, 2012
10:01 pm
Finally some good news. GATA, Branden!
meeeeeeks32
August 4th, 2012
10:01 pm
like tech doesnt have issues hell cpj defense couldnt stop jacksonville states offense brandon harton could run for atleast 100 plus against that defense tech folks need to realize they will never have anything under cpj suck it up dorks and stop being jealous of cmr
Tampa Gator
August 4th, 2012
10:01 pm
…..or broken taillight during the day…for that matter.
Tampa Gator
August 4th, 2012
10:08 pm
DodgerDawg
August 4th, 2012
9:51 pm
@Tampa Gator…Any message Mark Richt sends has a tougher ring to it than any of the crap coming from the swamp. Clean your own house before issuing your opinions about UGA
@Dodger Dawg…..
No arrest this spring or summer under Muschamp…thank goodness. Janoris Jenkins….preseason All-SEC (and a ton better player than Brandon Smith) was kicked off the Florida team by Muschamp. So was Chris Martin. A.C. Leonard was asked politely to take his excellent TE skills elsewhere.
I like the “crap” coming from Muschamp and THE SWAMP concerning discipline of his players and what is expected when you represent the University of Florida. The real crap is up in Athens right now….not Gainesville. And I believe you will see it realized in late October when Florida “upsets” your Dawgs.
Really?
August 4th, 2012
10:09 pm
@Kerryb. CPJ is to busy being a football genius to worry about discipline. You can read all about it in the AJC.
moleman
August 4th, 2012
10:16 pm
@meeeeeeks32
nobody said anything about tech…own your trash…
Game Changer
August 4th, 2012
10:19 pm
Brandon Smith broke the law regarding illegal drug possession and use. Anyone who tries to justify that he is innocent is just stupid.
Enough about Smith: We need a QB to step up and replace Murray
Chuck
August 4th, 2012
10:23 pm
What a joke ! What did he not inhale ! A car of 4 guys just riding around looking for the library !
Dawg Haus
August 4th, 2012
10:28 pm
Chuck, it worked for Bubba Clinton.
Wild Dog`
August 4th, 2012
10:29 pm
HEY DA (AD) Give yourself a untelligent test, see how smart you are. March into your bosses office and tell him why you call him a DA and see how important you are to his company. I feel sure you can be replaced by a wind up toy.
Wild Dog`
August 4th, 2012
10:34 pm
Tampa Gator, yes you are stupid..
moleman
August 4th, 2012
10:45 pm
since you have no rules now, you can bring back Crowell, Ealey, Mett, King, etc…the Miami of the SEC = UGA…
The Factor
August 4th, 2012
11:30 pm
@moleman,
you are truly a pinhead….
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2012/writers/andy_staples/06/12/georgia-drug-policy/index.html
The Factor
August 4th, 2012
11:34 pm
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2012/writers/andy_staples/06/12/georgia-drug-policy/index.html
The Factor
August 4th, 2012
11:37 pm
Just in case u missed it, read it one more time…
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2012/writers/andy_staples/06/12/georgia-drug-policy/index.html
Cdpridg
August 4th, 2012
11:37 pm
This is awesome news! Sic’em….Brandon!
The Factor
August 4th, 2012
11:38 pm
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2012/writers/andy_staples/06/12/georgia-drug-policy/index.htmland again……..
The Factor
August 4th, 2012
11:42 pm
Did it finally sink in……? http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2012/writers/andy_staples/06/12/georgia-drug-policy/index.html
macrotech
August 5th, 2012
12:50 am
Truly, glad this has played out this way! Hate to see ANY player blow a chance to play…congrats!
AHDawg
August 5th, 2012
1:10 am
GTBob, maybe you should put more effort in keeping your school out of trouble. After all, Tech has become a habitual violator of NCAA rules. Two years probation in 2005 for using 17 academically ineligible athletes in four sports of which 11 of these players were football players – and you complain that Crowell “maybe should have been ineligible” to play against Florida? Give me a break! Tech paid a fine, vacated games, and lost scholarships. The NCAA investigating committee, said Tech’s registrars and academic advisers were inadequately trained in NCAA regulations. Then, last year, Tech was caught cheating again and was stripped of it’s ACC Championship, fined $100,000.00, 4 years probation, reduction of recruiting days, public reprimand, and censure. And you mouth off about UGA players? Problems with student/athletics pale in comparison to Tech’s multiple violations, especially when the guilty are the Ga. Tech leaders – Athletic Directors (Dave Braine & Dan Radakovich), head coaches, academic advisers, etc. You should be ashamed.
Left Coast Dawg
August 5th, 2012
1:13 am
Haters are in full effect on this blog
Tman
August 5th, 2012
1:29 am
I’m a Georgia fan and love Georgia Football but not at any price. I don’t think the AD said you had to be caught smoking pot, but charged with a Marijuana infraction, and that’s exactly what happened. I assume the pot just appeared under the car seat out of the blue. He should be suspended for one game and then move on. As for Rambo and Ogletree–If it was their second infraction I would suspend them for at least 4 games and if caught again they would be off the team
.
Swarles Barkley
August 5th, 2012
2:25 am
For clarification: Those of you claiming he should be suspended for a game still (under the mandatory one game suspension for marijuana related arrests), please stop and think about what that means. Legally, once your charges are dismissed, there was no arrest. Just as in the court of law, once you’re found “not guilty”, it’s as if it never happened. There is no place, in our judicial system or in an athletic program, to punish those who are never found guilty of rule-breaking.
Terry
August 5th, 2012
2:43 am
Tman, Do you really think anyone believe’s your a UGA Fan? Let me give you some advice, next time, don’t start you crap with, (”I’m a Georgia fan and love Georgia Football, But”). Me and my brother, we mite have fought in the back yard, but when it came down to it, if you run your mouth about one of us, you would have both of use kicking your butt. That’s Family, and with a Fan like you, who needs you, why don’t you just find another Team to claim.
Blake
August 5th, 2012
4:13 am
How this article should be titled is…”AJC Apologizes For Slandering Branden Smith’s Name For An Entire Off Season Because We Didn’t Have All The Facts”. AJC equals National Enquirer.
WDE
August 5th, 2012
4:54 am
@Swarles Barkley and Blake both great posts…..Go Dogs!
ringleader
August 5th, 2012
7:01 am
Enter your comments here
Tampa Gator…………….
You do not pay attention! Go sit in the corner until the end of class.
No tail light was involved.
The stop was over a tag light “which was out”, changed to “which was too dim” In fact, the tag light passed all DOT requirements and was OK. There was no smell from the vehicle.
There was no second male in the vehicle, they were female.
A yothful offender status may be claimed to age 26. It may be claimed numrous times, you are not limited to one strike.