UPDATED: Richt mum but suspensions still expected for Rambo, Ogletree
ATHENS — Georgia coach Mark Richt remained tight-lipped about the availability of safety Bacarri Rambo and linebacker Alec Ogletree for Saturday’s season opener against Buffalo.
It has been reported since March that the two all-star defenders are suspended for the first four games following a second violation of the UGA athletic association’s marijuana-use policy. However, neither Richt nor any UGA officials have confirmed those reports to date.
Meanwhile, the Bulldogs listed both players as starters in the depth chart for the first game, which was released before Tuesday’s weekly news conference. However, Richt retreated into evasive mode when asked what he expected to see from those players during Saturday’s game.
“I just think we’ll have to wait and see,” he said coyly. “Time will tell.”
Alan Ingram, Rambo’s head coach at Seminole County High in Donalsonville, said in no uncertain terms back in March that Rambo told him he was going to be suspended for the first four games of the season after he and other UGA players allegedly failed surprise drug tests shortly after spring break. Ingram said Rambo told him it was his second violation of UGA’s marijuana-use policy for student-athletes, which calls for a suspension of 30 percent of competition dates and said that Ogletree was in the same situation. In the case of football players, that means four games.
Reached by telephone on Tuesday at Seminole County High, Ingram said he has no reason to believe anything has changed.
“I’ve seen Bacarri on several occasions since then and we honestly haven’t spoken about it,” said Ingram, a high school coach for 41 years. “I suppose he’s just going on with everything and will see what happens. I’m pretty sure he doesn’t know anything more than I do. Of course, they may have told him not to talk to me about it. I just don’t know.”
Ingram said it’s possible he could be left out of the loop. So far he has been the only person to speak on the record about the situation. He said Georgia offensive coordinator Mike Bobo came down and met with him shortly after Rambo’s news broke in March.
“Mike came down here a few days later and we discussed it,” In gram said. They didn’t have a problem with [Ingram talking]. I certainly didn’t have a problem with it. I did what the kid asked me to do. I’ve been around long enough that there’s not much that can hurt me anyway.”
Neither player has been made available for interviews since that information came to light six months ago. There have been indications that the Bulldogs, at this point, are trying to use the uncertainty as a strategic advantage against their opponents.
Richt admitted that Georgia has modified its disciplinary policies, which previously included an announcement beforehand that a player was being suspended from play.
” I don’t know if there’s anything etched in stone, but we are handing it a little bit different this year,” Richt said. “I don’t know if I can even say why. But we are definitely handling it just a little bit different.”
Regardless of all the rhetoric, it’s clear that Georgia is expecting to have to shuffle its defensive lineup early in the season. The Bulldogs already know they’re going to be without Sanders Commings, who’s two-game suspension for a domestic violence arrest was announced in February. Starting outside linebacker Chase Vasser is also out two games due to a May arrest for DUI. Converted receiver Malcolm Mitchell was listed as the starter at Comming’s boundary cornerback position and Ramik Wilson is listed as the starter at Vasser’s Sam linebacker spot.
It’s anticipated that senior Christian Robinson will get the call at Ogletree’s Mo linebacker position. Former walkon Connor Norman is listed as Rambo’s backup at free safety or the Bulldogs could move strong safety Shawn Williams to free and start Corey Moore at the strong safety. Clearly, the defense is expecting to make adjustments.
“These guys will be out for a while, but it won’t be a problem because whenever they come back we’ll be ready to play and we’ll have more depth,” said Robinson, who is listed as the backup for Ogletree at “Mo” inside linebacker. “They just tell everybody to be ready; you never know where you could be [playing]. I might be playing cornerback. Who knows?”
Ingram certainly isn’t expecting to see Rambo play early this season. But he said he believes the experience will ultimately be good for his former pupil.
“Bacarri’s a grown man now and he’s just going to take it,” Ingram said. “Whatever comes down is what’s going to happen. He wants to do some big things at Georgia, whether it’s seven or eight ballgames or 10 or 12, whatever. That’s the way he’s looking at it and that’s the way he sees it.”
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214 comments Add your comment
LOYAL DAWG
August 28th, 2012
3:31 pm
huh? lemme show you how counter productive your argument is…If you the 5th best team in the country, but you lose to the 1,2,3 and 4th best, you are fortunate to even be ranked when theoretically you should be ranked 5th.
Huh?
August 28th, 2012
3:31 pm
CHDawg…if it makes you feel better to think I’m a GT fan, then by all means go ahead. Why would any GT fan hide his identity?
kingdaddy said I was an SC fan (he couldn’t back it up, but said I was).
Huh?
August 28th, 2012
3:33 pm
loyal…so anybody who loses to the #1 team is automatically #2? Wow.
You said Oregon had been good for 5+ years. I proved you wrong. I asked you when UGA scheduled Oregon, and you couldn’t answer. The fact is this…When UGA scheduled Oregon, they were NOT the caliber team that they are now. Period. Please, I am asking you to stop your aguement for your own sake.
kingdaddy
August 28th, 2012
3:34 pm
Huh?
S.C., UT, GT, UK(most unbelieveable), it doesn’t matter who you pull for, you don’t want anyone to know because you’re ashamed. Also this years Ark. Team is a huge?????? ,just like you…
CHDawg
August 28th, 2012
3:43 pm
Huh, because they want to talk smack? I agree it is weird, but they do it. What team do you root for, Huh? I’m confused. Or, are you just a disinterested observer?
CHDawg
August 28th, 2012
3:45 pm
Huh, let me be the first to say that 99% of my Tech friends and relatives wouldn’t do that. There are a lot of productive, intelligent and normal people from the school.
Huh?
August 28th, 2012
4:08 pm
CHDawg…I am a UK fan….but several here think I’m not….not sure why. I have been accused of being an SC fan, an Auburn fan, and a UT fan.
CHDawg
August 28th, 2012
4:21 pm
Huh, I understand now. You can’t find anybody who wants to talk about sports with oblong balls in the Lexington area, so you have to come south to discuss it. Joker going to Strong arm the folks from 64W, or get Strong armed?
Huh?
August 28th, 2012
4:22 pm
Strong armed I’m afraid. It would take a very special year, and I don’t see it happening.
A look at Buffalo, UGA’s opening opponent | UGA sports blog
August 28th, 2012
4:24 pm
[...] Bacarri Rambo’s high school coach stands by story, still expects suspension [...]
TallaDawg
August 28th, 2012
4:47 pm
@Huh? – The loss allegedly left Tenn. with less than $2 mil. in reserves. That means that a larger chunk was taken out of reserves this year than is left in reserves. In any business that is, or is a symptom of, a problem.
Keith Marshall dazzles teammate: ‘He shook two people … both fell down’ | UGA sports blog
August 28th, 2012
4:52 pm
[...] Bacarri Rambo’s high school coach stands by story, still expects suspension [...]
SOUTHGADAWGG88
August 28th, 2012
5:36 pm
All I know is that if we lose any one of the first 4 games we suck,we shouldn’t need Rambo or Olgetree to win any of those first 4 games.
Huh?
August 28th, 2012
5:38 pm
talladawg….whew…i’ve already been through this, so I’ll abbreviate.
Universities live on the pledges that donors make to the school. UT just spent 300 million on renevations. So if they hadn’t spent that money, they would have 300 mill in the bank. They are planning on spending 200 million more. And they have 400 million in pledges. A 3 million dollar “paper loss” is a drop in the bucket. Everybody knows why…it’s because of the buyouts from Mike Hamilton’s mess…and those will go off the books in a couple of years. But to act like UT is almost out of money is a joke.
bulldawg
August 28th, 2012
5:45 pm
Weakest schedule…? Nobody wasn’t saying anything when we was playing all the big boys every year…I didn’t see Georgia crying about florida, alabama, nor South Carloina weak schedule during that time…So shut up let the boys line up and play ball! Seems like to me Huh, doing all the whinning…
Dawgs 32
August 28th, 2012
5:46 pm
I understand what it’s like to hate another team! I despise Florida! But the day I see myself posting on their forum or trolling UF posts, will be the day I reflect on my horrible life…and end it! Seriously I’m sure there has to be something somewhat interesting going on in the COCKS nation(lol cocks) Find a cocky forum and talk about your “elite” program. I think someone is jelly……you know them cocks can’t beat them DAWGS 3 years n a row! Never happen. Go Dawgs
Jim
August 28th, 2012
5:52 pm
If they are going to miss 4 games why would you even want them to play in the Buffalo game, that’s a no brainer.
WDE
August 28th, 2012
6:20 pm
@For shame! how bad did the Dogs beat your bunch last year?
The Tide is Rolling and Nothing can stop it
August 28th, 2012
6:26 pm
Mark Richt: man of integrity.
They will all play against Missouri while you idiots whine about oversigning.
I’m glad you losers can’t win a title.
aladawg
August 28th, 2012
6:41 pm
Carolina on your mind, NOT, carolina up you ass.
Huh?
August 28th, 2012
6:41 pm
WDE…what does beating somebody else have to do with anything? So someone makes a point…but if the might Dawgs beat that team the year before, then that person is automatically wrong? Grow up
mike
August 28th, 2012
6:45 pm
what a joke… bunch of thugs. i’m so sick of it
Gumps
August 28th, 2012
6:51 pm
Why so many bitter fans? Get a life
Huh?
August 28th, 2012
7:44 pm
Gumps…we dont’ have to be drinking Kool-aid to have a life.
Dr. Kenneth Noisewater
August 28th, 2012
7:48 pm
rambo for 3, alec for 1 game respectively. alec’s first offense was theft of a motorcycle helmet.
NCAA FAN
August 28th, 2012
7:51 pm
Can you imagine the lawsuits if UGA plays those players while penalizing the other UGA students with the student handbook. Regardless of football…consistency and itegrity is key.
Huh?
August 28th, 2012
7:56 pm
According to the below AJC artilce, this would be Rambo’s 2nd drug offense, which would dictate an automatic 4 game suspension…
http://blogs.ajc.com/uga-sports-blog/2012/03/29/baccari-rambo-will-be-suspended-4-games-after-positive-test-for-marijuana/
Huh?
August 28th, 2012
7:58 pm
Alex Ogletree was suspended last year for theft. So technically it’s his first drug related offense, but his second offense overall. If Richt wants to send a message, he should sit Alec for 4 games as well.
Mobile Dawg
August 28th, 2012
9:12 pm
I say just let us know, why play coy? The only game I want to play is football.
Huh?
August 28th, 2012
9:19 pm
Mobile…agreed. I don’t know why Richt won’t just say. He did with Brandon Smith and the other linebacker that got the dui. I don’t know why he won’t now.
DawgNole
August 28th, 2012
9:27 pm
Huh?
August 28th, 2012
12:50 pm
tbia…if UGA had played Arkansas and SC played Ole Miss, then UGA would have been watching the SEC CG from home.
_____________________
Yeah, Mr. Irrelevant, and if the Falcons had gone undefeated, they would’ve won the Super Bowl.
You play the conference (SEC) games that are on your schedule each year, and no individual school has any control of which games those will be. UGA beat Ole Miss and SC lost to Arkansas last season. So what? UGA also beat Auburn and SC also lost to Auburn.
Just play the damn games.
Notebook: Merritt Hall No. 1 at fullback but not assured of start | UGA sports blog
August 28th, 2012
9:29 pm
[...] Richt evasive on status of Bacarri Rambo, Alec Ogletree [...]
Huh?
August 28th, 2012
9:35 pm
DawgNole…go back and read the whole post and you will see the point I was making and why.
You will feel, I dare say, slightly embarrassed. I have said REPEATEDLY that UGA has no control over the non-conference schedule. Before you sling insults, know what you are talking about.
Keep it classy UGA fan.
DawgNole
August 28th, 2012
9:45 pm
Huh?
August 28th, 2012
2:16 pm
kingdaddy…and UGA didn’t want to play Bama. Shameful….UGA should be proud and want to play the best.
____________________
Once again, irrelevant. UGA had NOTHING to do with not playing Bama this year.
DawgNole
August 28th, 2012
9:53 pm
Huh?
August 28th, 2012
2:21 pm
What does it matter what teams have done in the past? SC has beaten UGA two years in a row. That’s the here and now.
_____________________
Actually, it’s not the here and now at all; it’s last year and the year before–the past, in other words.
Geez, the more of your posts I read, the dumber you come across.
Huh?–a pretty appropriate handle.
DawgNole
August 28th, 2012
10:02 pm
kingdaddy
August 28th, 2012
2:37 pm
I don’t mind an easy first game to iron-out the wrinkles, but many Doggies including myself, would rather play a little more nonconference challenge.
_____________________
I’m with you 100% on that one, kingdad. Our OOC schedule is shameful.
Huh?
August 28th, 2012
10:03 pm
Dawgnole…the fact that UGA doesn’t set their own SEC schedule has nothing to do with the fact that UGA fans desperately wanted Bama off their schedule. You conviently left off the rest of my post. Even Bill King said he was hoping that the Bama game would be removed.
Trying to change what I said after the fact is pretty pathetic.
Huh?
August 28th, 2012
10:05 pm
DawgNole…I have no interest in repeating myself. You seem to want to pick out little pieces of what I said, and try to change it around. Nice try, but you come off sounding like a 15 year old.
DawgNole
August 28th, 2012
10:13 pm
LOYAL DAWG
August 28th, 2012
2:50 pm
Ok so if we kept Oregon and Ohio St on schedule and they ain’t no good by the time we play them, I guess we’ll be talked about for scheduling weak again huh?
___________________
Absolutely not! You earn respect by having the guts to SCHEDULE decent OOC competition, and UGA has fallen far short of that lately.
DawgNole
August 28th, 2012
10:16 pm
Huh?
August 28th, 2012
2:39 pm
Alabama is playing Michigan…TN has been the leader in the SEC in scheduling non-conference heavy weights (Notre Dame, UCLA, CAL, Miami) and you want to talk about Colorado and Arizona State? please.
____________________
A relevant post from you that actually makes some sense. Finally!
Huh?
August 28th, 2012
10:22 pm
LOYAL DAWG
August 28th, 2012
2:50 pm
Ok so if we kept Oregon and Ohio St on schedule and they ain’t no good by the time we play them, I guess we’ll be talked about for scheduling weak again huh?
___________________
Absolutely not! You earn respect by having the guts to SCHEDULE decent OOC competition, and UGA has fallen far short of that lately.
Wrong DawgNole…you earn respect by having the guts to SCHEDULE decent OOC competition, and then sticking to it…which is not what UGA did with Oregon.
Huh?
August 28th, 2012
10:24 pm
DawgNole…they all made sense…if you are honest with yourself. Cutting/splicing and choosing what you speak to is what journalists do…you are better than that I believe.
Craig
August 29th, 2012
7:20 am
From what I am hearing Rambo and Ogletree are the two problem children left on this team- either they get on the same page as the rest of this team NOW or get rid of them…….We need people that are going to help this team…Rambo has been a train wreck…..
d1reality
August 29th, 2012
9:22 am
The fact that this article even had to be written shows what a farce the “university” of Georgia football program is. CMR is the enabler and ringleader of the game. Shame on UGA, shame, shame
aprilglaspie
August 29th, 2012
9:34 am
laughing cow: Nope, that’s the Popeye version. If Tuscaloosa cops had it in for Bama players the way Athens PD has for a long time against UGA, they’d be canned. The charge against Sanders Commings is trumped up. The young woman went looking for him and assaulted him on the street, by eyewitness accounts.
Has there any word with Richt regarding ... - VolNation
August 29th, 2012
10:28 am
[...] UPDATED: Richt mum but suspensions still expected for Rambo, Ogletree | UGA sports blog [...]
Charlie Hayes
August 29th, 2012
11:00 am
Why are both Rambo and Tree listed on the depth chart while Vasser and Commings are not? We know that Vasser and Commings are suspended, CMR has confirmed it. Thus, this means Rambo and Tree are not being suspended! Go Dawgs!
Dawg-Nation
August 29th, 2012
12:28 pm
Just for factual clarification, neither Rambo nor Ogletree previously failed a drug test, although Rambo’s suspension for violation of team rules was due to association with an individual arrested for drugs (he was in the car). Rambo was given, and passed, a drug test following the incident last year.
The high school coach who “reported” the pending suspensions and started all of this fervor is not a spokesperson for UGA, he is a individual who saw (and took) his opportunity for 15 minutes of fame. His “announcement” was in his best interest only, no one else’s, and was very likely a result of a player who he was trusted by and the mentor of voicing his worst fears in what he thought was confidence.
No one is quite sure, under the circumstances, how long of a suspension might be levied, as it is entirely a University and athletic program decision. This puts both Missouri and Vanderbilt at a disadvantage in preparing for their game against UGA, very similar to the strategy certain other SEC coaches have employed in recent seasons regarding injury status to key players. Georgia certainly would have preferred this not be an issue at all, but it was wise to decide to make the best of a bad situation.
As for “huh?”, twinkie, and others who are this years flavor of trolls…keep making yourself feel proud by trolling the UGA boards on a public news forum; it happens every year, and rarely involves the same individuals. Just know that the few individuals that you bait into a heated argument with you here represent only the tiniest fraction of even those who read the articles, much less the fan base. Also realize, no matter what you state, that there are plenty of us intelligent enough to recognize someone that is insecure in the state of his/her own favorite program, and who feels the need to compensate. I live in Jacksonville, Florida, and am surrounded by plenty of “fans” of the Gators who were some of the rudest, most obnoxious people you would ever hope to (not) meet just a couple of years ago, but who suddenly and inexplicably “Really don’t care that much one way or the other.”
So your attitude is not new, and not original, but will most certainly be repeated again next year; if not by you, then by one of the other countless “smart trolls” who just can’t seem to stay away from the boards of a team that they state, ironically, doesn’t matter to anyone else to begin with.
gdawginkalamazoo
August 29th, 2012
1:55 pm
“There have been indications that the Bulldogs, at this point, are trying to use the uncertainty as a strategic advantage against their opponents”
We need to use that against Buffalo? Plus I think Missouri is smart enough to figure out that if Olgetree and Rambo are not on the field against Buffalo warming up then they probably won’t start cold turkey in the SEC opener.
Mark (another one)
August 29th, 2012
1:56 pm
Dawg-Nation: Thanks for the information. I didn’t think Rambo had a previous suspension for drugs or under age alchohol. The only place I could find postings calling this a second offense where from his high school coach, which I don’t count as a reliable source.
I suspect this may be an issue of was the violation intentional. Here’s a guy with a clean record, who has passed every drug test, and he claims that this offense was unintentional because he didn’t know the brownies contained dope. There was no law enforcement involvement but he did fail a school administered drug test. The question becomes was the act intentional, and can he convince school leadership it wasn’t?
Rambo is in college. He is not responsible for the behavior of his friends, but it is a lesson to him that their behaviour can get him in trouble. I leanred this at a similar age and decided I needed to stay away from my friends with drug habits but that is sometimes easier said than done. My security clearance required drug testing so being around my college buddies would always put me at risk. So would a party if it got raided.
I’m sure there have been some discussions and a lot of off season thought given to this situation. You can’t unring a bell. It’s time for Rambo to grow up and protect his future.