Okay, if we’re past sorting out the legal issues which led to Isaiah Crowell’s dismissal last week, I thought it might be worth taking a look at what might be in store for the program he’s no longer a part of.
If there’s one thing I’m a little surprised about in the aftermath, it’s how blithe a lot of Georgia fans are about Georgia’s offense making up the loss of Crowell’s production. The reality is that Mark Richt now turns to a group composed of one tailback who quit the team for a few days last year (you think Carlton Thomas wishes he could have a mulligan?), two true freshmen (only one of whom enrolled early) and this year’s early leader for the Kiante Tripp Award (not to mention that a good part of the fan base never wants to see him take another snap at tailback).
Put it another way, Dawg fans – your leading returning rusher now is Brandon Harton. Combine that with an offensive line that’s not exactly expected to be a rock when things get underway and it should be hard to escape that nervous feeling.
Now that’s not to say all is lost. After all, Georgia managed to win the SEC East last season with a decidedly mediocre running game. But I think it’s reasonable to assume that Crowell’s departure is going to put more pressure on Aaron Murray and the defense to compensate until someone, or some two or three, steps up to take up the slack.
On field production is one of two things I worry about. The other is team chemistry. Those of you who scoff at that need to be reminded that what you think is reasonable and right about the situation is very likely not identically shared by Crowell’s teammates. Although he may have been a source of frustration for them, Crowell wasn’t a pariah (indeed, don’t forget he had four of his teammates in the car with him at the time of his arrest).
I’m not saying that Richt made a mistake dismissing Crowell from the team. Quite the contrary. I don’t think he had a choice. Letting him stay, even simply on the basis of being suspended while the justice system sorted things out, would have opened Richt and the program to an enormous amount of criticism and second-guessing (hi, Mark Bradley!) that would have posed a serious distraction. To borrow a well-known phrase, Mark Richt doesn’t have time for that shit.
But that doesn’t mean there won’t be other crosses for the head coach to bear, if Cornelius Washington’s angry Facebook outburst is any indication. Maybe it’s something Richt can use to help pull everyone on the team together, but I can also see it working negatively, especially in the face of early season adversity. Fairly or unfairly, that’ll be completely on Richt if it happens.
More and more, this season’s first few games – despite the number of cupcakes among them – look like they’re going to be interesting. In the Chinese sense.
Get The Picture 
I understand Crowell’s dismissal…as you say Richt had little or no choice…four strikes is four strikes no matter the details. Unfortunately, while Crowell may have been a polarizing personality among some of the fans, he had apparently repaired whatever problems he had within the team, or was working hard to do it. He had almost 900 yards last year with all his problems and injuries. The loss of this and the loss of his obvious potential is big. I would love to say one of the freshmen will be just as good, but how likely is that? Really? Winning the east with all this will be a great thing, but a long shot. I will be happy if we can win the biggest Ga Florida game of this decade in November…its big because winning one game does not prove much…winning two or three in a row does.
LikeLike
David Ching suggests athletic department policy is an automatic suspension from “athletic competition”:
http://espn.go.com/blog/colleges/georgia/post/_/id/7487/uga-rbs-in-trouble-is-nothing-new
and says a committee is supposed to convene to discuss the facts of the case and come up with a resolution.
LikeLike
“Winning the East will be a long shot?” Come on dude. Crowell only played in like half the games last season. What were we doing right in all those other wins?
Crowell never lived up to the hype. His loss can’t be that great when he was never that vital a cog to begin with.
LikeLike
I’m with HB on this. Crowell gained about 850 yards last season. UGA can more than make up for that with “RB by committee.”
LikeLike
I’m not that worried. I’ve got a lot of confidence in the freshman backs coming in. RB is a position where you can plug the new guy in and tell him what hole to hit and you can have success. There will definitely be some mistakes on pass coverage but we’ll be fine. Marshall will run for 1,000 yards this year.
LikeLike
Let’s hope that there is a hole there.
LikeLike
I think Marshall will be a very good back. But to say Malcolm will get 1,000 yards this year running behind a very green OL as a true Freshman in the SEC is a bit over-optimistic.
Gurley will be good. And I really like the way Malcome ran the end of last year–Reminds me a little of Danny Ware. I do think Ga will be okay at RB, but I believe we’d be better with Crowell.
LikeLike
I think we’re really overstating the “green-ness” of our OL. They aren’t THAT inexperienced.
LikeLike
And we might even see some good leadership there too…
Chris Burnette@Chrisburnette68
TO ALL UGA FOOTBALL PLAYERS: Let’s let this die down and keep our comments to ourselves. The doors are locked.
Collapse Reply
Retweet
Favorite
10:22 AM – 29 Jun 12via web · Details
LikeLike
David, I agree that the new guys can run. But hitting the hole is only about a third of the job, and it’s the easy part at that. Blitz pickup is just as important and it’s not something true froshs usually know how to do. And I’d imagine most D coordinators will test our new guys’ pass blocking early and often.
LikeLike
What was Washington’s outburst on facebook about?…I’m not worried about the running back situation. I believe someone will step up.
LikeLike
Corn’s rant…
“‘all think you know so much, but in reality you know nothing. You don’t know what we come from, you don’t know our struggles, all you know is the number on our jersies. 99% of you don’t give a crap about us outside of football. When we’re doing well you’re all in our faces, when things get tough and we need encouragement you’re nowhere to be found. You’re fake and I despise you for it. We shall band together guys, we’ve been working hard and we only need each other. NONE of those outsiders will contribute to our survival as a team or as individuals, you can guarantee that.
#stickclosetoeachother ~corn washington”
LikeLike
No one could have predicted that the outsiders were so fake that we didn’t even know the jersey numbers except for the recent solution to the “why are there two number one’s?” problem.
LikeLike
Wow. He’s right that fans are too critical. We are emotionally involved in this stuff, sometimes to our own detriment. I realize a guy like Washington, with his incredible talent, probably hears a lot of wild things about how he has not been as successful on the field as his potential indicates.
But he’s totally wrong that we don’t give a crap about anything the players do outside of football. We root for these guys to do well on the field, in school, and in life. When you’re done playing college football, we hope you get to go pro like Matt Stafford, AJ Green, Moreno, etc. We cheer when you’re the Super Bowl MVP, like Hines Ward. We fret when you get hurt, like David Pollack, and we root for you to do well as the new announcer on Thursday nights on ESPN. We even watch Horrible TV shows (The Apprentice, Dancing with the Stars) to see you on them. If you open a business, we root for you to do well, and we’re more likely to buy something from you than from someone else.
You went to our alma mater, of course we care about you.
LikeLike
While I would like to think you are right there is at a minimum a loud minority who are fair weather fans of the team and of its component parts. It is very frustrating to hear constant whining about every misstep, perceived and real, in the stands and on blogs etc… we can be frustrated and dissappointed and ultimately you may have to part ways, but there is no excuse for booing a Georgia bulldog IMHO. That includes literally during the games and figuratively while sitting at a keyboard. If I were a player and bothered to expose myself to a lot of you I’d view that vocal minority with utter contempt as well.
LikeLike
I’m sorry to disagree with C. Washington but in circumstances where a player gets arrested for a DWI, a downtown brawl, or gun possession on a school campus, it’s really difficult to empathize with that person – regardless of whether that person is an athlete or not. True, many fans take it personally and berate the guy in public – and that should stop.
I also agree with Derek (above) that booing a player is just juvenile. But I’m an adult (as I’m sure the majority of the commenters here are) and I don’t go driving cars without licenses, fail to show up for court dates, get into fights, brandish firearms that I don’t have permits for. Again, I just can’t empathize with that.
LikeLike
There’s a large gulf between empathy and crucifying a 19 yo kid.
LikeLike
All of us who think we REALLY care about these players personally as much as their well-being should ask ourselves some questions. I’ll bet most of us know what positions these guys play, what year their eligibility is, a few stats, a uniform number. What else do you know? Do we know what their hometown is, what their major is, if that major is a legit one or just one many athletes take in order to remain eligible (which is important because obviously if we really care about them beyond the number, we want them taking their education seriously), what high school they went to, whether they are single or married? When you read stories about football players graduating, do you cheer as much or post as often as when they make plays in the games? Do you even notice? I know I don’t always. Let’s be honest about where our real interests lie.
LikeLike
Word.
LikeLike
Gosh, I wish I could have had a spotless teen life that gave me such a perfect view of the world and the ability
to judge so clearly.
But I did not, and most of us did not.
I salute your sainthood, dude.
LikeLike
Agree with DCDawg, and it has nothing to do with sainthood, or even setting unrealistic expectations for these players. IC had several chances to earn the fans and players’ support. He is an adult and should be held accountable for his actions at this point in his life. I know few adulkts who get as many chances as these players are getting. “In the real world” the penalties for drug use, not working as a part of the team, committing felonies, not showing up prepared for the job will usually result in termination much earlier than this…and the stigma for being fired or having this on your record can impact your working career and earnings potential for the remainder of your life. Some among us would forgive people and offer additional chances until they had racked up more notches than Ted Bundy. But others realize there is a point a line must be drawn. I remember about 5 years ago when Foolmer gave a running back another chance after his 4th failed drug test, is that what you want?
For those of you who feel we are judging this too harshly, I wonder at what point you feel people should learn the consequences of bad/reckless behavior? As soon as they take off your team’s uniform I guess. That would be turning your back on them in their time of need and not caring for them as humans. They go to college (supposedly) to get better prepared to succeed in life, this is one of those lessons for IC, and those around him. Listen up young men, this is a far more important lesson than learning how to scratch your way through algebra or geology for 3 months.
LikeLike
I just wish we could, collectively, wish the kid good luck and move on. Nothing wrong with consequences and drawing lines. There is something wrong with attacking a kid, especiallyone who made the choice, albeit briefly and unsuccessfully, to be one of us. When you sign the line to be a bulldog, you’re family. That means acceptingthe good with the bad until death do us part. It does not mean I can’t tell you, because of various transgressions, that you aren’t invited to the house anymore.
LikeLike
Agree with you Derek, and I feel most every fan wishes him well going forward. This close to the incident there will be some bitterness from some because they feel he has behaved badly at their expense. While it may hurt their happiness this fall (warped as I am I still feel we could actually benefit, but understand why most don’t agree), IC didn’t do anything last week to hurt the fans, he didn’t think about them at all. The reason Crowell is no longer a part of this team is he never really got what it took to make it, or else he just thought he was above it. Doesn’t matter which, but it cost him to not get it figured out.
He isn’t the first, or last, talented player to set his career back by acting poorly, but let’s hope he learns the lesson and finds away to still realize his dreams. It is a virtual certainty he will not achieve success unless he make a change in his outlook very soon. He will probably get one more chance somewhere, no doubt it will be his last. The NFL’s new outlook on bad seeds is resulting in fewer teams making a large investment in a high risk player unless they have exceptional talent, IC has a long way to go to earn that type investment because running over HS players isn’t going to be enough. Good luck to him but I am with you, let’s move on; there are several players who can help fill the gap (hopefully with less drama.)
LikeLike
No, Mac and others I am NOT saying you are judging this too harshly, what I AM saying is none of US walk in THEIR shoes, we have no idea, none, what the pressures on some of these kids are…all we see is the result of bowing to pressure we don’t understand.
I am in no position to judge anyone’s behavior as a teenager, I do, however understand there are those among us who lived perfect lives and came through their teen years without stain and want everyone to follow their example.
LikeLike
OK, so I can have no judgement because I am not in their skin? How is that different than when an employee of mine, that I gave several warnings, notices, reprimands, etc. embarrasses me or the company again? I am not the subordinate, I don’t know his family situationinside and out, nor what his personal background was (other than what he revealed to me in conversations, or on his application, but I am the one who has to let him go. It is my responsibility to protect the company, the brand equity, the rest of the team, and set the standards for what will or will not be allowed. I can tell you in those situations, the other team members knew what was going on, and the customers (fans) also knew whether that employee fit what my compnay stood for. I wasn’t “in his shoes” but if that were a requirement, no one would ever get judged/evaluated/promoted/terminated, etc.
I am not saying anyone had to be a perfect teenager, but as one reaches, or is near age 20, you should certainly expect them to learn from mistakes. This is far from ICs first screw up, he is shown no inclination to change. No one called for his head when he crossed the road the first time, but this has been an ongoing series of problems so it isn’t much of a puzzle. I do feel we have enough info to make a decision in this case. When it is a first offense, and a serious one, that is when we have to rely more on those closer to the young man and the staff. As some have said, this one gave CMR little choice. And this one brings out more frustration to fans because they continued to pull for him to turn it around, chance after chance. In the end, he spit in everyone’s face. I will pull for him to have success in his life, but I don’t want to hear any more excuses for him, and I wouldn’t bet on him based on how he has responded to other opportunities. My support now turns to the ones who want to work hard and be a part of this team.
LikeLike
The posters on this blog care but there is a very loud group of fans who tear our players up at the drop of a hat. I can understand how he feels that way when I sit in the stands and hear some of the fans around me. We need to let them know we do care about them off the playing field.
LikeLike
Yes ma’am…and this is the main reason I gave up long, long held season tickets for Section HD…
“Look at him….I coulda caught that ball…what a rotten receiver he is”
I hate it, just hate it.
LikeLike
Whoa. I feel for CW. There’s a lot of truth there. Like the Senator touched on a few weeks ago, it’s hard for a brah from Sandy Springs to relate to these guys. Moreover, the message boards have a bad habit for anonymously ripping on our athletes when they don’t meet expectations (on and off the field). These kids devote their college life to competing in a brutal and complex sport, and the best that we can offer them in return sometimes is “Carlton Thomas is an elf” and “Richard Samuel be trippin’.” Clever. But, fundamentally, petty and dismissive. For Pete’s sake, Richard Samuel is the consummate team player.
I have some close friends/classmates who cover the UGA athletic program. Make no bones about it: the football players read the message boards. They read the blogs. They see the comments on Twitter and Facebook. For the most part, they could give less of a damn what we think of them. After all, we have no idea what the hell we’re talking about. Most of the Internet noise is speculation. We aren’t at practice. We don’t take reps. Having said that, there are indeed times that things are taken personally (the rips on Richt’s competitiveness vis a vis his faith, for example) when we pile on after losses.
This will be news to some of us in the Internet fan base, but the team and coaching staff really, really hate losing. Losses suck. Seeing “fans” flip out on message boards, and calling out certain individuals as worthless in a public manner doesn’t help. But, for some of us, being “passionate” is more important than being “supportive.” I wouldn’t expect many of us to understand, seeing as we’ve never failed at anything. Tell us more about how you exude excellence in every facet of your life. And make sure you use an anonymous message board name/avatar when doing it!
LikeLike
“I wouldn’t expect many of us to understand, seeing as we’ve never failed at anything.”
That’s so true
LikeLike
+ 1, Charles.
LikeLike
Agree wholeheartedly with the above.
And though I’m not sure if this is completely on topic, I’ll add this here anyway – the language used on some of the message boards (not here, thankfully) in the wake of IC’s arrest and subsequent dismissal may be a source of quite a bit of the bitterness that was expressed by Wash and others over the social media. The disappointment over his arrest and dismissal – which is tragic for reasons wholly unrelated to football – quickly spiralled into something else entirely, with IC used as a convenient example of individual frustrations with the program or particular players. Moreover, the latent bigotry used in the words “thug” and “gangster lifestyle” that were so commonly used to describe IC offended me pretty deeply, so I can only imagine how people from similar backgrounds as IC translated those comments.
Having rules and enforcing those rules, even when painful, is a necessary part of the equation. IC should be off the team. But making IC an opportunity to grind axes about the 12 years of CMR’s tenure, the team’s recent lack of success, the entitlement of youth, or personal bigotries is way more than should be piled on a 19-year old’s shoulders.
IC screwed up good and proper and he got what he deserved. But the dogpile from some segments of the fanbase is likely what got our players’ attention, and, to some degree, warranted the response that we have seen.
LikeLike
I agree the language was racist. I nver heard Mettenberger called a thug. I am a white woman and that stood out to me.
LikeLike
I would be careful about biting the hand that feeds you with all that hate for the fans. People that are not passionate about things usually will not pony up the cash it takes to build things like that nice new locker room and player lounge they use everyday. I don’t know where they come from but do know that they get free meals, housing, education, and 90% of the clothes they wear from fans supporting the program. In the real world when much is given, usually, much is expected and when someone falls short they will often have someone “in their face”. We may be “fake” and live “outside the arena” but at the end of the day we pay the bills and greatly contribute to the survival of the team and its members.
LikeLike
That’s pretty much my feeling, too. Yes, many fans just care about you as football players and how you might contribute (in many ways) to making this a successful football team. Surprise! If someone told you that the majority of this fan-base (or ANY fan-base) would care deeply about your personal development outside of the game or take a significant interest in your life outside of football, then you were sold a bill of goods. We root and cheer for individual players as members of a football team and representatives of our university, and, yes, many fans might criticize you in the same way. That’s the deal.
I don’t think that makes most fans “fake” or despicable. Good grief. It kind of works both ways doesn’t it? How many of the players give a crap about the lives of their fans outside of football? Are you interested in me and my life after I cheer for you on Saturday? Most couldn’t care less and I don’t expect them to, even though “outsiders” like me foot the bill for the program that supports the players.
LikeLike
This ^^^^
LikeLike
I don’t think it works quite this way. You have 18-22-year-olds who are being admired and put into positions of celebrity, and learning that in this case a LOT of fans are staking a lot of hopes and dreams on them, effectively living vicariously through them, at least on the field. The players do not live through the fans at all, the fans live through them. And the fans are mostly anonymous, obviously.
The give-and-take is not so even as presented. The fans mostly take, and what they do give can, in fact, be seen just as Washington says–as more for the number and the touchdowns than for anything else at all; as soon as the TDs and plays stop coming, what is left for these guys from the fans? Try to see things from their point-of-view, for once.
LikeLike
Sorry man, seeing it from their point of view is just not possible for most of us…memory is a funny thing, when you put your fingers on the keyboard to opine, your memory of your own teen years just disappears into the ozone.
LikeLike
OK, I can see things from Washington’s point-of-view as you describe it and my response is as before: “Get real.” If you think that most Georgia fans have a deep level of care or devotion to all of the individual players on the football team for all of the years that they have been fans you are either very naive or not in touch with the real world. And this is no different at any major college program. I’m sorry this is a shock to him or anyone else in the program, but this is reality–which, by the way, any 18 year-old is fully capable of understanding.
I guess I don’t know whether Washington or any of the players actually have gotten this dose of reality from family or coaches or friends. But he should, and then maybe he’d have a more realistic version of the fan-player relationship, and how it can and frequently does benefit the players. How, in fact, that ALL of the benefits that he receives as a football player ultimately derive from fans of the Univ. of Georgia and fans of college football more generally. Then, perhaps, he wouldn’t despise Georgia fans as much as he claims.
Sure, some fans go overboard, both with their admiration and their criticism of players–but most fans do not. The cheers, pats on the back, celebrity, and special treatment (that extends beyond the scholarship and financial benefits) are the bonuses of playing football at Georgia or anywhere, while the higher standards and additional scrutiny are the costs that must be born by the coaches and players. If you only expect the former without the latter, then you’re in for an unpleasant surprise–especially if you’re the kind of guy who makes repeated knuckle-headed decisions. Mistakes that not only hurt yourself, but which hurt the reputation of the school, the football team, and that of your head coach.
LikeLike
Once again, I find myself in agreement with you, MD. I’ll let you decide if that is a good thing or not. 😉
LikeLike
Thanks, Gravidy. Always good to have some company!
LikeLike
“If you think that most Georgia fans have a deep level of care or devotion to all of the individual players on the football team for all of the years that they have been fans you are either very naive or not in touch with the real world. And this is no different at any major college program.”
As I said, CW is exactly right. Thanks for the confirmation. “Deep level of care” is not the point, though; it’s what any “caring” is about and extends to, more than depth. Of course they have this dose of reality; and now you think they should be thankful for it? That you don’t care about them beyond the number??
As to the benefits, don’t act like that is some sort of lottery prize–they have to put in a huge of amount of work, much of it unrelated to their personal goals, to get the benefit. It has been well-documented that many of the players do not highly value what the prize is–an education–because it is completely disconnected from why they are football players in the first place. This not easy, these “benefits”–can you think of a “benefit” more fraught with challenges–practice, improvement on the field, a new environment away from home fraught with temptations?–and too many fans act like it is in fact a lottery prize and get all huffed-out when the players fail to make the grade on the field or otherwise (which leads to attitudes like CW’s). They can’t even get royalties for their names and bring all this benefit to the university–which is huge–yet we cannot care about that enough to get things changed.
As for higher standards and the reputation of the school, we’re in agreement on that. It’s the reaction TO those mistakes, and not really recognizing the immense work and sacrifice to get this “benefit,” that is the issue.
But that’s alright. As fans, you know, we have rights. Yes, listen to yourselves: We put in blog posts, a few dollars here or there! We went there too! We have a right to complain, yes, yes, we do! Those coaches, those players are not good enough and must go and be called thugs and treated badly in the press!
Seriously, though, no one has to accept IC’s behavior. Tolerance is not what I am lobbying for; the policy that he be suspended is right and just. He was treated fairly. But in our reactions to IC’s actions and Richt’s reaction, we just need to slow down and stop the immediate knee-jerk vitriol. Not the analysis, mind you…the VITRIOL. That would go a long way to absolving CW’s complaint, IMO. And in the larger picture if we could, in fact, remember that doing these tough jobs representing our school, with high expectations, are human beings.
LikeLike
Poor Corn. Poor student-athelete. From the way you describe the hardships of being a football player, Richt did Crowell a favor by kicking him off the team. Too bad for Corn that he is forced to attend college an play college football at a major university. Wait…what? Alternatively, he could live in the real world. Get a job with a high school education, work his ass off for around minimum wage, but without those lousy benefits that come from playing at Georgia. Then he could let loose on Saturday night and no one would give a shit if he got a DWI–except of course his family and the legal system.
You have well elucidated the mind-set of the privileged, entitled football player. I’m sorry if a player doesn’t value the free college education that he is getting. He should and almost certainly will one day. That’s his problem in thinking, not mine or any fans. I’m sorry if he doesn’t appreciate the free football training he is receiving in order to prepare himself for a professional career. I’m sorry if he or you don’t think the extra tangible and intangible benefits from being a football player at UGA are worth the work, dedication, and internet or media criticism that accompanies this position.
It’s apparent that you and perhaps Washington don’t view a full-ride scholarship and the opportunity to play college football at Georgia as a prize. But many, many do and would if given that opportunity–and they WOULD be damn grateful to have it. My college roommate, for instance, was a walk-on our last two years in school–putting in the work without a substantial benefit that scholarship players get. He and all walk-ons before and since clearly value and are grateful for such an opportunity even without the big prize.
I agree with your last paragraph. I view the ranters and name-calling fans in pretty much the same way I view the jock-sniffing, celebrity obsessed fan–as fools. But they are a small minority of Georgia fans. The majority of fans aren’t “fake” and don’t deserve the disrespect and hatred that Washington spewed on Facebook regardless of his age or his warped perception of things.
LikeLike
Maybe so. But it’s always the squeaky wheel that gets greased. The loudmouths are always going to get more attention.
And I think those of you focusing on whether Washington is justified in his feelings are missing the bigger point here. Right or wrong, it’s how he feels, he’s probably not alone in that and Richt’s got to pay attention to it to make sure it doesn’t impact team chemistry in an unproductive way.
LikeLike
True enough, Senator. Hopefully Richt has a handle on this. But it’s hard to tell how these emotional issues will play out–will it bring the team closer or tear it apart? Regardless, we certainly can’t afford to lose many more players. Ironically (or perhaps not), Washington’s reference to “outsiders” was suggestive of a certain “arena” speech. Maybe he can focus that anger into dominant play on the field. If that was his F-You to the fans, I’d accept it with a smile. Not that I don’t care about his true feelings or anything…..
LikeLike
“I view the ranters and name-calling fans in pretty much the same way I view the jock-sniffing, celebrity obsessed fan–as fools. But they are a small minority of Georgia fans.” I disagree. I think we’re the minority, MD.
LikeLike
Senator, my interpretation, based on statements I’ve heard from the coaches themselves and from other non-UGA athletes, is that they are at least to a degree promoting this attitude in the players. I’d guess it is a way of helping them cope with being so scrutinized…they have to learn to not care what the fans think. This is not some kind of new doctrine among athletes.
LikeLike
Perhaps we should only recruit kids who have spectacular stories of overcoming adversity and “deserve” to have a free everything and not worry so much about silly things like touchdowns and committing felonies. UGA takes care of its own when they need it (see Michael Lemon, Chance Veazey, and Johnathon Taylor).
LikeLike
I’m not a season ticket holder, so I guess I’m one of those fans who takes more than he gives. For that reason, I have to tread lightly on this subject. For that reason and a lot of others, you won’t see me going off on a diatribe about how how ungrateful Washington is, etc. Having said that, I still agree with MinnesotaDawg’s post – particularly the first paragraph. I realize Washington is still a kid, and he wrote what he did at an emotional time. But that doesn’t mean “biting the hand that feeds him” is ever a good idea. Even though my hand isn’t the one doing most of the feeding, that doesn’t mean my position (or, more correctly, Minnesota Dawg’s) is incorrect or excessive.
LikeLike
My point is that that hand doesn’t feed him as much as fans think it does. I think he would agree.
LikeLike
IMO…I think quite a few UGA fans had the mindset of not “if” but “when” was something like this was gonna happen to ‘ol #socrow after some of his past antics & message board rumors. I’m almost relieved that it happened in early June as opposed to say… August, 24th…
LikeLike
I agree. It’s not so much that we’re blithe as that we aren’t surprised. Not even a little bit. Which is sad.
LikeLike
in addition to the reasons stated above making booting IC a no-brainer, let me add that it would be especially damaging to discipline if the 3 freshmen in the car see a previously suspended player get off for completely rubbing the coach’s nose in prohibited activity. still sad.
and speaking of sad, these two paragraphs show the attention to detail that the AJC folks paid to yesterday’s article about potential cast members to replace IC.
“Ken Malcome: Malcome, a redshirt sophomore from Southwest DeKalb High, is the biggest back on the team at **6-0, 226.** In 2011 he appeared in six games, starting twice against Georgia Tech and Michigan State in the Outback Bowl. He had 42 carries for 174 yards.
Richard Samuel: The fifth-year senior has the most experience by far of all the returning backs. He has started nine games as a running back — Bulldogs fans will remember he has switched between offense and playing linebacker on defense — totaling 768 yards on 196 carries (a 3.7 yards-per-carry average). During spring practice, the **6-2, 243-pound back** reminded the media not to overlook him behind the more ballyhooed Crowell and Marshall.”
LikeLike
I believe some time b/t Crowell and the present will be very benefitial. I would imagine that most of us were on teams where players quit or were booted, good players at that, but things calmed down when you returned to practice and started hustling and working again. The ghost of Crowell may turn out to be a fart in the wind.
LikeLike
It’s impressive how C.W. knows that we know nothing about “them”, but somehow he seems to know everything about “us”. How wrong to paint everyone with the same brush. There are a lot of lessons to be taught and hopefully learned from this whole situation.
LikeLike
Agreed.
LikeLike
Realize that he was reacting to fans when he wrote that. This personally hurts them. Hopefully we have enough perspective not to take it personally.
LikeLike
Senator, if you’re going to go Chinese on us, remember this quote from the Little Red Book of Chairman Mao: “There is great disorder under the heavens, and the situation is excellent.” Dont worry so much about the freshman, or the returnees. Someone will step up and handle the pressure. Quoting Mao again, “In a suitable temperature, an egg becomes a chicken, and there are no chickens born of stones.”
Dont let the current situation disturb your inner harmony.
LikeLike
The consummate leader cultivates the moral law, and strictly adheres to method and discipline; thus it is in his power to control success.
Sun Tzu
LikeLike
F*ck it. Tennessee Williams
LikeLike
81 … deep trenchant thinking feels good when applied to football. I think I’ll dust off the ol’ Analects of Confucius for what may be a soul-stirring season, if this off-season is any guide. Incidentally, I abide.
LikeLike
It is possible that with an inexperienced O-line and unproven RB’s, we may see an ultra conservative offense this year. Or, Richt and Bobo may be forced to let Murray air it out this year. Either way, it could be an ugly offense to watch early on. Missing USC in September looks better and better every day.
LikeLike
Mizzou will be a scary game… seems that all the intangibles are on their side (1st SEC game, at home, prolly at night, crowd will be insane, new turf, new uniforms, new league etc…) plus the UGA suspensions etc…
That said I’m glad it’s Mizzou instead of uscjr…
LikeLike
I got on a roll…. not to worry CTG will handle it!
Invincibility lies in the defense; the possibility of victory in the attack. One defends when his strength is inadequate; he attacks when it is abundant.
Sun Tzu
LikeLike
“I attacked because I had too few to0 defend”- R.E.Lee
LikeLike
It looks a lot like the Colorado game situation of 2010. Biggest game in history for the Mizzou people. If they win the crowd will storm the field and tear down the goal posts.
LikeLike
I’ve never really understood how Coach Richt can throw guys off the team or announce suspensions that will occur 6 months down the road when the legal process hasn’t even sorted itself out yet. Isn’t that basically saying that the kid is guilty before he’s even had a chance to defend himself in the court of law?
This question is independent of it being Isaiah’s 3rd or 4th strike or whatever it is. I’ve seen this happen with numerous suspensions over the years and never quite understood it.
LikeLike
Most suspensions have nothing to do with any legal processes. I think Crowell was on a very short leash, and his recent actions were enough for Richt to kick him off the team. The outcome of future legal proceedings don’t really matter to Richt. It doesn’t matter if he broke any laws. He apparently broke Richt’s rules for the last time, and that’s enough to get him booted off the team.
LikeLike
If he did indeed break one or some of Richt’s “rules”, then I have no problem with going ahead and kicking him off the team. However, I’d be interested to know what rule or rules were broken b/c aside from the official charges, he was simply driving around with his buddies late at night.
But putting the Crowell situation aside for a moment, let’s examine the Sanders Commings saga. He was arrested on January 21 and charged with domestic violence/simple battery. In mid-February, over a month before the matter would be resolved in court, it was announced that Richt had suspended him for the first 2 games of the season – games that were still 6 1/2 months away. He then pled guilty in late March and was sentenced to probation and counseling.
Now, it makes sense to me to suspend Commings from the team indefinitely immediately following the arrest, let the legal process play out, and, pending the outcome, either reinstate him on the team (with any necessary additional suspensions) or kick him off the team. Obviously, things didn’t happen that way. Instead, he remained on the team and before the legal process concluded, his coach had suspended him for games that were half a year away.
LikeLike
I don’t know what to say, other than this: Richt runs his team and disciplines his players based on a set of rules which are independent of local laws, and he makes his decisions based on knowledge which he has but we don’t have. That’s fine with me.
I will say that I don’t agree that suspending a player indefinitely pending the resilution of legal charges is a good thing. Those legal charges could stretch out for many months. Why suspend a guy from the team for an indefinite period when you can issue a very definite punishment? When you do it the way Richt did, it allows the team to prepare for Commings’ absence, allows him to continue with team activities in the interim, and makes the whole thing a much smaller distraction that it would otherwise be.
LikeLike
Suspending him indefinitely allows all the facts to come out before making a final decision on the kid’s long-term future. It also keeps you and the program clean in case more charges come out against the kid.
I guess I just don’t buy that Richt is able to make a determination on what happened before the legal system is finished with the case.
LikeLike
I understand that you’re on the kids’ side here. I get that, and it’s admirable. But your stance of suspending them indefinitely would, in the majoritiy of cases, be a harsher punishment than what Richt does.
Here’s an example. Suppose Player X gets arrested on August 1st. If I understand you correctly, you would suspend that player indefinitely until the legal matter is resolved. Well, what if the case isn’t resolved until November? Or February? Under your suggestion, the player wouldn’t even be able to practice while the case winds through the court system – which could/would be week or months. He could miss much of (or all of) the season. Under Richt’s system, the player probably gets suspended for some number of games to start the year, and he can practice in the interim. Personally, I think Richt’s way is less damaging to the kid. Your mileage may vary, of course.
LikeLike
Actually, that is exactly the way I think he should handle it.
– If a player is charged with a felony, suspend the player indefinitely until the issue is resolved and make a decision what to do at that point (obviously, if he’s guilty of a felony, officially throw him off the team).
– If a player is charged with a misdemeanor, allow the player to continue to be a full member of the team until the issue is resolved and make a decision what to do at that point.
Cut and dry with no room for argument. And I would have no problem if he wanted to have stricter rules for players that have already been convicted of a misdemeanor.
Just my 2 cents.
LikeLike
As hard as I try, I can’t understand why you think players should be competely separated from all team activities for months at a time, potentially punishing him for an entire season – an especially harsh reality if the legal case gets resolved in his favor. But, hey, at least you owned it. Fair enough.
LikeLike
How do Nick and Les handle it? Why put ourselves at a competitive disadvantage?
LikeLike
I’m not sure where you are coming from, so I apologize if my answer isn’t on point. Having said that, I think Nick and Les sweep it under the rug when they can. Their unversities don’t mandate the sort of punishments UGA does. And even in cases where the punishment is at the sole discretion of the coach, I believe Richt is more apt to issue a harsher punishment than Nick or Les would. That is a very different discussion than the one I’m currently having with Cube. But still, I’m inclined to go with Richt’s way over Nick’s or Les’.
LikeLike
We just kicked a kid off the team permanently for being charged with a felony. You don’t think that’s harsher than suspending him indefinitely?
LikeLike
I thought we had argued this to an amicable stalemate, but I see that I was wrong. OK…I’ll bite. You are incorrect, sir. Crowell was not kicked off the team for being charged with a felony. He was kicked off the team for being a severe pain in Richt’s ass one too many times. Richt’s punishment was largely unrelated to the legal system, and you need to understand that before I can discuss this with you any further. You may not like that fact, but it is a fact. Ignoring it doesn’t advance your argument.
If we can finally dispense with the comparisons between the standards of the UGA football team and the legal system, I’ll bite on your argument even further. If you’ll look back at what I wrote, you’ll notice that I said your recommendation would lead to harsher punishment for the players than Richt’s in the majority of cases. I was not talking about this case in a vacuum. I’ll admit that kicking him off the team is a harsh punishment under any circumstances. But your question of whether I consider it harsher than an indefinite suspension is a false choice. It’s false because I don’t know what the alternative is. I don’t know what his punishment would be under your system. How long would the case drag through the court system? What punishment would you recommend once the case is settled? It is quite possible that the case would obliterate this season, and then (if he’s found guilty), you would have some further unknown punishment beyond that.
LikeLike
Well, there you go kid. Gravidy has been the definition of patience with you. I wish I had his gift. I don’t and that might be perceived as “CrankY”. Hah. You’re a waste of time. Just like I pointed out to you in an earlier post. Don’t just hang on to your point for the sake of being the winner of an argument. When someone takes that much effort with you shut up and listen. Learn something from it. You know ….. it’s ironic you and IC can’t get out of your own way.
LikeLike
Gravidy, I appreciate the debate – I really do. But I don’t think it’s a false choice at all. The indefinite suspension is exactly what it is at this point, an indefinite suspension. If he’s found guilty, obviously he’s off the team (you can’t have a convicted felon on the team). The indefinite suspension is more beneficial to IC b/c he still has the possibility of being reinstated to the team later on if he is found not guilty. It also doesn’t harm his legal case. What does it say about your guilt when your football coach decided he thinks you’re guilty?
And if Richt didn’t throw him off the team b/c he thinks he’s guilty, then what is all of this about? That he was in a situation where he was arrested and charged with a crime? Innocent people are in those situations all the time.
And we keep going back to IC but I really wanted to look at the Commings case. Using my suggestions, Commings would never have been suspended indefinitely from the team b/c the charges were misdemeanors. After his case was resolved in March, Richt could have handed down whatever suspension he thought was appropriate (or if AD rules mandated a specific punishment or punishments, then enforce those rules).
LikeLike
It’s about Crowell becoming too much of a distraction. In Richt’s mind, IC is more trouble than he’s worth. Considering what Georgia went through to land him and then get him back on the field after the suspension, that’s saying a lot.
LikeLike
Is it really a distraction if the kid is suspended and not really even on the team?
And if he’s later found not guilty, that means you threw an innocent kid off your team permanently.
LikeLike
I’m not sure if you wrote this above or not, but have you considered the possibility that one of the other kids on the team told Richt they’d seen Isaiah with the gun, or Isaiah came clean with him about the gun himself? What if Isaiah said the gun was his, and Richt asked him if he’d fail a drug test, and Isaiah said “yes”. What if, unreported by the media, Crowell had done something else that Richt was already considering getting rid of him for?
LikeLike
Crowell had a 9mm pistol under his car seat with the serial numbers filed off. I doubt Coach Richt had a rule that covered that specifically, but it’s a pretty serious mistake.
LikeLike
It’s nice that you know he’s guilty.
LikeLike
HE IS FUCKING GUILTY. This has been explained REPEATEDLY:
A. having an untraceable weapon is automatically a felony. You HOLD an untraceable (contraband) weapon, it belongs to you and you are a felon if caught while having it.
B. having any weapon on campus is a felony.
C. The UGA AD, per David Ching (article linked upthread), has a policy of immediate suspension of felony arrests.
“Pay attention, I say, pay attention here, son”–Foghorn Leghorn
LikeLike
Points “A” and “B” are referring to felony CHARGES. They don’t mean that he’s automatically “FUCKING GUILTY”. Way to strut your stuff there Foghorn.
LikeLike
What am I missing here, cube? Please explain how he is not guilty as charged in the police report. If not guilty per the police report…what kind of guilt are you talking about?
LikeLike
Since when are you immediately found guilty after a police report is filed following an arrest?
LikeLike
This is why I yelled at you earlier: his guilt was in having the thing at all and that he had it is admitted and documented. Oh, sure, he is “charged” until he pleads, but come off it: that’s a formality and everyone knows it. He had contraband in a vehicle he owned and the police found it, which means “guilty” (it’s the same as for getting caught with bag of pot). You can follow due process regarding “when” he is officially guilty according to the law and his criminal records, but come on…don’t use that as a legitimate point of argument.
He will undoubtedly plead no contest.
LikeLike
Gastri, you are wrong on the law about this. Unless the weapon can be tied to Crowell directly he walks. The prosecution has to prove by competent evidence that the gun was his. That means either he admits it, another person testifies that they saw him with the weapon or the cops get his fingerprints off the gun or, possibly, the bullets in the gun from when he loaded it. We don’t know enough presently to be able to predict the outcome. If what Crowell said is true, that it is not his gun and he didn’t know it was there, no such evidence will exist and he walks.
LikeLike
I’m glad you have such trust in the police force. I do not. I’m not saying he’s innocent. I just don’t trust everything cops do or say. The majority of cops are good people who do a tough job. However, some are as power happy and/or corrupt as any scumbag you’ll ever meet. And I insist on not immediately jumping to the “GUILTY! BURN HIM!” verdict.
Chances are that he’s guilty. But that’s the point at all.
LikeLike
You’re not really that naive. And your high-minded detachment can’t last long.
LikeLike
Mayor, I’m no expert on the law, I admit. But having served on a jury of a similar case–a person charged with felony drug possession–this point was driven home: there is no legal possession of contraband, which means that the person in possession at any given time is the owner–no matter how it came to their possession.
Correct me if I am misunderstanding this.
LikeLike
…because if the person possessing it is the owner in the eyes of the law, then IC has no case. Regardless, the fact that he had a weapon in his possession on campus–no matter who owns it–means he is guilty of the that (felony) charge.
LikeLike
So, now that there’s crickets after my most recent explanation, for the umpteenth time, of why Crowell is guilty without any real doubt…
I am not on any “GUILTY! BURN HIM!” trip here. The fact is he is in deep shit and Richt’s hands were tied on the matter according to AD and university policy. Yes, it is a steep price to pay for what may have been a simple naive/stupid act and nothing of real malice, but hopefully IC will learn to be more careful.
So, fanbase: We’d all love to believe Crowell’s story, and maybe it IS true, but it matters not if it is at this point. Just get off Richt’s ass about acting so quickly already. That is all.
LikeLike
Gastr1, as you so correctly pointed out, possession is the issue. Crowell was in a car with 4 other people. The gun was under the seat. Who actually possessed the gun? That is what has to be demonstrated by the prosecution beyond a reasonable doubt. At present there does not appear to be any evidence that Crowell, and not one of the others, “possessed” the gun. That can be shown by direct testimony (someone testifies he saw Crowell with the gun) or forensic evidence (fingerprints) or, possibly, an admission by Crowell. Police and prosecutors usually hold what evidence they have pretty close to the vest. I’m really curious to learn what evidence the prosecution has.
LikeLike
Mayor, Crowell owns the car, therefore he owns the gun unless one of the other riders claims it. But Crowell told the police the riders didn’t own it, so that leaves him holding the bag.
Crowell’s only chance to get off is if he can present evidence that the gun was planted….fat chance of that.
LikeLike
Furthermore…
the prosecution right now has all the evidence they need to convict himit’s in the police report (evidence). “In one’s possession” includes holding places one could own or occupy–a house, an apartment, a car, a suitcase, etc. So if the cops find drugs in your house, you have the burden of proving that someone else put them there AND that you could not possibly have known about it–otherwise, you’re fucked.
That’s why it’s hard to get a search warrant.
LikeLike
He is not guilty in the eyes of the law. I simply stated a widely reported fact that has not been refuted. Mark Richt doesn’t need to have a player convicted of a felony to kick him off the team. He simply needs to decide that the player’s actions do not warrant him staying on the team.
LikeLike
I think the rule that applied in this specific case was something along the lines of “Mr. Crowell, if you embarrass this school and this program one more time, you will be kicked off the team. Period.”
LikeLike
By the way, you responded to my post that said to put the Crowell affair aside for a moment and look at the series of events in the Commings case. Way to go.
LikeLike
What I really don’t understand is feeling we need the courts of this land to tell us who is fit to be a member of this team. Who cares if the charge gets thrown out? This young man’s problems over the past 12 months, and being out at 3:00 AM with a gun under his seat is proof enough. He should have been walking the straight and narrow at this point to prove himself to his teammates, the staff, UGA fans, and his future employers. The fact he didn’t view this as important enough is all we/you should need to know. There are millions of people who haven’t been found guilty of anything in their life but that does not qualify them for a scholly. Let’s continue to look at the athletic scholarship as a privilege that calls for you to be held to a higher standard. God forbid we should have to wait on our judicial system to get around to hearing the case and all the endless appeals. CMR is capable of making that determination, and few think he has erred in this case, but you are right, it has not been given time to work its way through the process; where you are wrong is thinking that should be the criteria we run our football program on.
Crowell knew what was expected of him, he fell short….again. Sorry to say he has a habit of that. I wish he had been the greatest to wear the Red and Black, and 99.9% of the fans wished that as well, for CW to act like it is the fans who are failing is way off the mark. Like many men his age he simply lacks perspective and doesn’t yet know how to interpret things in life. UGA has some really terrible fans who may deserve his comments but he couldn’t be more wrong in thinking the fans don’t have their backs and care for them as people. Crowell may use this as an incentive to turn his life around but if CW doesn’t realize IC’s actions over the past 12 months has his headed for the crapper he is very naive. Don’t judge the Dawg fans off the small percentage of fools who act like children on the message boards.
LikeLike
How many of our players do you think carry a gun in their vehicles? How many do you think have been out at 3am recently?
LikeLike
?? “What we have here is a failure to communicate.”
LikeLike
“being out at 3:00 AM with a gun under his seat is proof enough”
LikeLike
Ahhh… so that was your point. Clear as mud initially. Nice recover. But you had help.
LikeLike
Mac is Strother Martin as “Captain.” cube is Newman as “Newman!” Together again for the first time but still separate and apart, they win the Internets today
LikeLike
“Win the internets”? That is possible? I thought you just threw some poop against the wall and let everyone take shots at you for evah. There is a way to win, now I will have to modify/moderate my positions and attempt to sway voters to achieve a prize. Coming soon, the all new, sensitive version of the single malt dude.
LikeLike
That’s exactly why I’m becoming so much more moderate. Although I haven’t brought it to him yet, I’m thinking the grand prize should be a tour of the Tech campus with a stop at the Varsity with Mayor of Dawgtown serving as guide.
LikeLike
What? That doesn’t make sense.
LikeLike
Hello Newman.
LikeLike
“What the hell is your point”? lol
LikeLike
I understand the point you are making with this particular post, I don’t know why you are getting so much grief over not being clear.
But you have misdiagnosed the problem. The problem is not a good kid being out at 3am with a legal handgun. The problem is a problem kid being out at 3am with an illegal one. And possibly being somewhere pot was being smoked.
That is why it is “proof enough”.
LikeLike
Wouldn’t it be wonderful if RS IV had a 5 star year at tailback? The happy story of the year! I don’t really think it will happen but I’m pulling for him. I want him to get some monster UGA love in his final year.
But really, Marshall and Gurley will be getting a lot of 1st team practice reps in August. I can’t wait to see which TB separates himself from the pack.
LikeLike
I think Malcome and Samuels will be the main backs the start of the season. As the year rolls on the Freshmen backs will take it over since they will get a feel for the offense/blocking schemes. I hate it that Crowell screwed up again and got kicked off but its much better to happen before summer camp starts than during the season.
LikeLike
I hate election years. The last one that was not a disappointment either then or in retrospect was 1980. Since then:
1984 – beginning of the downhill slide of the latter 80s from the eminence of 1980-1983. First losses to Florida and Tech since 1977.
1988 – Dolley’s last team misses a piece of the SEC title by losing to Kentucky.
1992 – The best team of the Goff era can’t get it done against our two main divisional rivals in the newly expanded SEC.
1996 – First losing season in 19 years
2000 – “I’ve waited 55 years to coach a team like this!” No more need be said.
2004 – Ranked pre-season #3 Slow start for the Dawgs, mediocre wins over mediocre teams, BUT they kick in on all cylinders when LSU comes to town. HOWEVER, the disembowelment of the Tigers on national TV is followed one week later by a monumental crap on the field against the visiting Vols (a team which later loses at home to Neuter freaking Dame!). Georgia chases UT in the East for the rest of the season but never catches them.
2008 – Ranked pre-season #1: still one of my biggest disappointments as a Dawg fan for the last 50 years, both the off-season and the on. And with so much talent and so much to play for. I sure hope we are not ranked top 10 when the season starts.
LikeLike
We had losing seasons in 1990 and 1993, prior to the ’96 campaign.
LikeLike
It’s up to the defense this year. Simple as that. But right now, you have to say 6 losses are distinctly possible. I’m predicting 3, but the wheels could come off with a key injury on the D up the middle, which would mean, “Can’t run, can’t stop the run.”
LikeLike
There you have it. ASEF is on record with three losses for UGa. If I might be allowed, I’d like to add my prediction. Georgia will field a team clad mostly in Red and Black. We will win some games and lose some. I will get angry at times and elated at others. The season will end with a bowl game, or not. January will return, as it does every year, and MY life will go on irrespective of what transpired from August through December. The activities of nineteen years old, regular or extracurriculer, no longer occupy much of my time, but, gosh , I love to read what everyone else thinks about them.
LikeLike
Wasn’t calling you out personally, ASEF.
LikeLike
“The activities of nineteen years old, regular or extracurriculer, no longer occupy much of my time, but, gosh , I love to read what everyone else thinks about them.”
I sense sarcasm so I will ask you a non-sarcastic question in response: If you don’t want to read what other people have to say about a certain 19 year old, why in the world would you read the comments section of a blog post that has said 19 year old in its title?
LikeLike
I’m with you, Bubs. The point was this. We (fans, bloggers, etc.) digest the news of the day, opine and then rush to judgement about wins-losses, national standings, polls, recruiting and any number of other subjects related to our beloved Dawgs. These are kids, our kids, really. Georgia will line up and play at least twelve games this fall, losing some and winning some. Each Sunday morning, none of our lives will be any better or worse because of what happened on Saturday. What does it matter today what we think will happen in October?
LikeLike
The silver lining here is that Richt has been through this before — terrifyingly good defense balancing a Kermit-green offensive line with no established feature back behind it. That was the case in 2003, and that season didn’t turn out too badly, as I recall. If you told me right now “You can have an 11-win season, an SEC East title, another drubbing in the SEC title game and a top-10 final ranking . . . or what’s behind Door #2,” you’d find it hard to convince me to go for the door.
LikeLike
It’s written in cosmic law somewhere that UGA simply cannot enter a season with all the pieces in place. There must be at least one question mark and significant hurdle to overcome in order to claim victory.
LikeLike
Yes, it’s the cosmic law principle of people-helping as contained in Mao’s LRB Chapter V:
“But when it moves to the peaceful years I hate it. Not because I love chaos but because a time of peace is not good for the development of the people. It is unbearable.”
See also, 81 Dog, above @ 9:42 AM
LikeLike
+1… I had to give it up to you. I will not make it a habit……
LikeLike
Stop the hand-wringing. Mike Bobo’s offenses score 30+ ppg. We abandoned the power running game years ago. Even Brandon Harton can grind-out a yard and a half when we are sitting on a 10 point lead early in the 2nd half.
I think I even read somewhere that fewer turnovers from Murray and a D that can shut down the opponents in the 4th quarter are all the improvement we needed.
No worries, Man!
LikeLike
Pingback: Georgia Bulldogs: So, Now It's Back to the Team Having "Leadership" Issues | The Lady Sportswriter
In the grand scheme, I am glad to see Gurley and Marshall get their shot early. I maybe wrong, but they seem like the kind of guys you want to have on the team. Crowell was a thug from the get go. We all heard the stories of the attitude problems displayed in the playoffs.
As far as CW is concerned, his football presence has never equaled his ability. Didn’t he place in the state 100m? The guy is an absolute stud when it comes to the “measurables”. Right now, the only thing CW is remembered for is a bigtime hit on the Miss. St. qb.
What ever team you support or whatever, a 19 y.o. kid was given the keys to the castle. He had talent and was catered to by the coaches to get a LOI. He made it out of whatever problems he may have had in Colombus. Is it really that hard to stay out of trouble? I mean, not to smoke dope or have a gun under the seat
I long for the days of kids wanting to prove themselves. Crowell almost seemed like he was already saving himself for the NFL. On the sidelines smiling with teammates after a game ending injury. Lattimore seems to stay out of trouble and is said to be working his ass off to be ready. I don’t know if it is the Georgia trainers, type of athlete, or combination that is creating the “softness” that other teams talk about.
For the record, Jarvis Jones has been the best thing that has happened to Georgia in awhile. Stays out of trouble and gets it done.
The bigger concern I have is the 4 passengers. Crowell’s worst enemy was himself, but guys like JHC need to know the consequences of being at the wrong place at the wrong time. At the least, Crowell will be an example to the younger guys of what can happen even if you are the “next best thing”.
LikeLike
1) Returning Production- 2 td’s
Harton has 4.6 yard per carry, 1 td.
Samuel has a 2.93 yard per carry, 1 td.
Malcome has a 4.14 yard per carry, 0 td.
Gurley, 0 ypc, 0 td’s
Marshall, 0 ypc, o td’s
2) Pass blocking
The line and backs have sturggled to passblock for 2 years now, yielding @29 sacks per season.
3) Game Experience/SEC Tested on Offesnive Line–Bottom 12 in NCAA
The offensive line lost 3 guys in the NFL draft, and have 31 games of combined experience. They lost 4 blockers if you count the tight end. This is one of 12 least experienced offensive lines in the country.
LikeLike
is that you 39??
LikeLike
Are we forgetting what a class act we are getting in Marshall and Gurley. Marshall entered early and learns quick. We should forget what we lost in Crowell and thank the football gods for what we have now. Character will win out over talent every time, but now we have both. I wish Crowell the best but i am proud to have Malcome , Marshall,Gurley and Branden in our backfield.Arent you?
LikeLike
AYE! dawg gone +
LikeLike
Last year we had question marks going into the season and we ended with an SEC Freshman of the year. This was while he sat most of the second half of the season. I think we can do well with the players we have in place.
I dont read the vent or dawgrun so my optimism has yet to be tarnished.
LikeLike
Insert moniker here
LikeLike
I don’t think any of our running backs will rush for more than 400 yards in SEC + Tech play. I’m leaving out the 3 cupcakes for obvious reasons as they are usually stat-padding games.
I expect Malcome and Marshall to end up with equal carries/touches by the end of the year. Gurley, Harton, and Samuel will get some looks as well.
That said, this season offensively now more than ever rests on the shoulders of Aaron Murray. I never like to put the pressure all on one guy, but he will make or break us this year. I fully expect him to eclipse 3,000 total passing yards again this regular season because he is quite frankly going to have to if we are going to win games. The most encouraging part is: I think he can, and will, do it. We probably won’t go undefeated, but we’re going to win 9-10 games this regular season and hopefully have a few more to play once it’s done. The receivers better warm up their hands because they are going to be catching a lot of passes this season.
LikeLike
I share your concern… the Crowell lose is HUUUUUGE! I’m sorry, but Malcome is not a stand out SEC RB – period. “Boo” is serviceable at best, but hopefully he can pave the way for Marshall and Gurley to leverage their considerable skills.
The person who is probably freaking out about this dismissal the most is Aaron Murray, because the pressure on him just become exponentially higher. He’s clearly not going to have the ground attack early in the season, because it’s going to take time for Marshall & Gurley to get up to speed. That means Murray is going to have to significantly increase his accuracy and decision making.
LikeLike
And we all know how Murray reacts to pressure. He has got to calm the heck down. David Green had according to his Pro coach the slowest release of the ball on a pass he had ever seen, so what made him great in college he never ever panicked. He would stand and deliver and usually get killed but he would deliver. Arron gets happy feet and that’s the worst thing that can happen to a QB. I hope they can give him some Valium this year and calm him down.
LikeLike
I think we can forget about a championship run – new kickers, new RBs, new TEs, Mitchell moving to DB, etc. You can only handicap an offense so much. We still have some interesting talent developing on O – Marshall, Gurley, Malcome, Rome, Lynch, Conley, Scott-Wesley, Theus, etc. Our D will be very good, but the O and STs have too many holes. With a 72 man roster (before injuries), we’re very short on depth. If we ever needed a season with an easy schedule, this is it.
LikeLike
Yeah…easy schedule. UT and FU are both being picked by some mags to be top 25 teams. Same for Auburn. USCe is being picked as a top 10. Mizzou another team that some think is Top 25 caliber, gets us at their place for their first ever SEC game with about 1/3 our starters suspended or (in the case of Crowell) gone permanently. Do you think Mizzou won’t be up for that game? Vandy is coming off one of its best seasons in the last 30 years and is having its best recruiting class in history. In spite of the BS to the contrary we see on this blog, Tech is one of the favorites to win its division in the ACC. Yeah…easy schedule.
LikeLike
I think there is a lot of sanctimonious posting on this thread about the fans. The fans piss me off regularly for their bad behavior, but the football players like the cheers of ignorant fans as much as the cheers of fans who know their favorite color.
I root hard and take a personal interest in one or two kids a year, generally, who I see excited to play, behaving themselves, and representing the school well. Boykin comes to mind immediately – what a positive force, not just for his talent but for leaping ten feet in the air on the sidelines like some kind of crazy frog for no reason than he was happy to be playing football for UGA on a beautiful fall day. I always liked Aron White’s sense of humor.
I don’t have to know a player’s hometown or even jersey number to have expectations of their behavior – because they’re wearing our school colors. At the same time, many of us root for all the kids on the team to do well academically, professionally, etc – in a *collective* sense. I know I’m rooting for Carlton Thomas to do well, for a hopefully repentant Mettz to do well at LSU, etc. Sorry, but it’s impossible for 1 million fans to become intimately friendly with 72 football players. But if you’re going to lap up the cheers and take the scholarship, you’d better be ready to hear it when you screw up time and time again, because it reflects on our coach, team, and school.
LikeLike
And shoot, I don’t think anybody on this thread has STOPPED rooting for IC – we’re just disgusted with his decisions at the moment.
LikeLike
Expectation for behavior is a different concept from caring about them beyond the football field. It is not impossible for fans, 1 million or whatever, to recognize that these are people who are trying to get a degree, grow into young men, and succeed at football all at the same time and that for most of them football is the third-most important component of that equation.
LikeLike
Cosmic, you and I are developing a beautiful friendship here. 🙂
LikeLike
All I know is that the Mizzou game was always a potential trap (given the epochal, first-SEC-home-game significance of the tilt) in the midst of a breezy early Dawg schedule. Now, as my Mizzou friends are reminding me, we’re probably down five starters for that game, with more than two months left. At some point this has to be recognized as a real problem. I just hope it doesn’t get worse.
And in terms of the program, I’ll say the same thing I said the day IC was booted: exactly how many 4/5-star RBs does Georgia have to recruit to get one on the roster for an entire year? This cuts both ways: you wonder if the North Cackalacky frosh somehow saw this coming. Odds are good if you can stay healthy and avoid reefer and shooting irons, you get to play.
LikeLike
Dear cornelious- How about a nice warm glass of shut the fuck up. Are you in poverty NOW? Are you struggling NOW? How many white, middle class kids with a 3.0 [that did not make it into UGA because they are not 6’5 240 lb football players] would trade spots with you in a heartbeat? How about spending this year realizing that what you have is rare. Use it, get a degree and get a job ! Above all, be a good person.
Love,
– the white people that care about other good people, black or white.
LikeLike
Lots of good posts on here — some not so good. In my opinion, the long and short of it is this: Isaiah Crowell valued neither the incredible opportunity of receiving a free college education, nor the unspeakable privilege of wearing the Red & Black on the University of Georgia football team — period. This has absolutely nothing to do with “crucifying” supposed adults who are old enough to vote for our country’s next president and to serve in our nation’s military. This is not even about giving an immature kid a second chance. This WAS his second chance. There are evidently more important things in Isaiah Crowell’s life than either a college diploma or a free ticket to the NFL. As the saying goes, “Football is not religion in the South — it’s bigger than that!”, and this incident is tantamount to your pastor going out and patronizing a prostitute and then preaching on sexual sin the following Sunday. Frankly, it pisses me off that these guys abuse and take advantage of Mark Richt in this manner, and whether some of y’all want to admit it or not, they are doing the same thing to us fans. We love our state, our university, and our football team and we deserve better than this. What in God’s name ANY Georgia football player was doing out at 2:30 am — smoking marijuana (2nd time) — carrying an illegal weapon in the car — with three other players who have never played a down is absolutely mind-boggling!! You didn’t see Aaron Murray, Jarvis Jones, or Michael Bennet in the car, did you? ‘Nuff said. Besides, Isaiah Crowell was injury-prone and couldn’t block. Maybe Keith Marshall’s 4.0 GPA indicates he is smart enough to avoid these temptations that so easily ensnared Isaiah Crowell. Whatever.
LikeLike
This situation is in the past I am going to let it go and look to the future. I wish IC well where ever he goes. In the future we could all avoid words like thug or loser when we talk about college athletes, and for God’s sake don’t boo your own players, or any players for that matter.
LikeLike
The real point here is that UGA has turmoil off the field every Spring/Summer in recent memory. I know the coaches can’t (and aren’t allowed) to be there in certain aspects, but my real question is this:
Where on earth are the TEAM LEADERS? That is the one element that seems to be lacking every year. WHO has got ahold of this team? Who is mentoring the younger players? IC was obviously mentoring, but not in the right way. I can’t believe some veteran — any veteran — isn’t circling the wagons and taking players into the fold. I hope I’m wrong, but this season and team feels like it’s unraveling before our very eyes. And still a month to go until camp, where much can still happen.
LikeLike