May 9, 2014 · 8:19 PM

Shaq subtract

Well, this comes out of nowhere.

The overhaul of Georgia’s secondary continued on Friday night with an announcement that returning starting cornerback Shaq Wiggins is gone from the program.

Wiggins, a promising talent among the defensive backs, has decided to transfer.

“Shaq and I have been talking over the last few days and a fresh start is what he believes is in his best interest,” coach Mark Richt said in a statement. “We respect his decision and certainly wish him nothing but the best.”

This sounds like somebody was told he wasn’t in Jeremy Pruitt’s starting plans. Pruitt’s not screwing around.  But that makes a shaky secondary even thinner. Let’s hope J.J. Green’s progress isn’t a mirage, Reggie Wilkerson gets fully healthy real soon and there’s some real help coming in the next couple of months.

Bets on where Wiggins goes?

55 Comments

Filed under Georgia Football

55 responses to “Shaq subtract”

  1. UFTimmy
    May 9, 2014 at 8:30 PM

    This quote makes it sound more like a discipline related issue:

    @McMurphyESPN: Georgia sophomore starting CB Shaq Wiggins transferring. Mark Richt: “Fresh start is what he believes is in his best interest”

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  2. Ben
    May 9, 2014 at 8:32 PM

    Who needs a QB?

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  3. indemnitor
    May 9, 2014 at 8:33 PM

    I’ll take auburn for $100, alex. If there’s a failed drug test or a theft by taking I’ll raise that to $500

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  4. Doggoned
    May 9, 2014 at 8:46 PM

    Have to admit, I’m not that sorry to see Wiggins go. There was some serious attitude showing there during the freshman year. Plus, he got beat long all season. Hey, if we’re gonna be thin in the defensive backfield, so be it. Pruitt has to have guys who are on the same page. And how could we possibly be worse at that position that we already were?

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  5. Hank
    May 9, 2014 at 8:53 PM

    Is complacency finally on its way out? Yay!
    Before anybody gets defense, I mean the demeanor of the program, not the discipline process.

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  6. HVL Dawg
    May 9, 2014 at 8:58 PM

    This guy started with his entitlement attitude before he even set foot on campus. Coach Richt must have had enough shit from this punk. Louisville.

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    • Debby Balcer
      May 9, 2014 at 9:30 PM

      I bet Louisville too.

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    • Doggoned
      May 9, 2014 at 9:33 PM

      So Grantham and JHC bring in another recruit?

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    • Macallanlover
      May 10, 2014 at 12:26 AM

      As both you and Doggoned have pointed out, Shaq showed up last summer with an attitude and caused problems, I was worried about him then and nothing changed my mind throughout the season. He did seem entitled, then got schooled on the field so you would think he would learn he wasn’t all that. Flashes of potential wasn’t enough for me; had he been willing to work his way to competency I certainly could have supported him but he had a long way to go and I just never got the impression he was the type to fight his way through it.

      Agree with others, probably a good one to let go and focus on the young men willing to earn their way onto the field. I think he blew his opportunity, Pruitt has the reputation of being a good teacher for DBs to study under. Every body isn’t meant to be a Dawg, methinks Shaq was one of those who wasn’t going to make it anyway.

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  7. I Wanna Red Cup
    May 9, 2014 at 9:37 PM

    I thought it strange that Langley started the first 4 games last year and then was not seen. Shaq came in and was aggressive and I thought for a freshman he did pretty good. Remember the int for a td at Vandy. Maybe he thought that what he did last year should have guaranteed a position and he did not buy in to what Pruitt wanted to do. We will never know.
    But if he is not willing to compete, good riddance.

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  8. Mayor
    May 9, 2014 at 9:41 PM

    JC, then Auburn. Louisville, maybe, but JC first.

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  9. I Wanna Red Cup
    May 9, 2014 at 9:43 PM

    shaq, like the Senator must have not liked the fried oreos

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  10. watcher16
    May 9, 2014 at 9:53 PM

    I’m sure Grantham has been in his ear for a while

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  11. indemnitor
    May 9, 2014 at 10:16 PM

    Butler?

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  12. americusdawg
    May 9, 2014 at 10:35 PM

    Per Seth Emerson’s write up … Georgia freshman cornerback Shaq Wiggins ran back an interception against Vanderbilt, in what proved to be the Bulldogs’ only touchdown via defense or special teams in the 2013 regular season. This is sad. For me, the 2014 season can’t get here quick enough … unless there’s more bad seeds to spit out. I’m banking on Pruitt playing the kids that buy into his “system”. Maybe this latest revelation will get Tray Matthews off his proverbial seesaw. Or maybe not. Crazy off-season keeps on truckin’ along!

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    • Mayor
      May 10, 2014 at 9:49 AM

      The “crazy off-season” has been going on for about 5 years now, AD. Remember all that “energy vampires” business in 2010? And all the guys who have left the program one way or another in the last few years who when we recruited them were so highly touted? Nick Marshall, Zach Mettenberger, Caleb King, Washaun Ealey, Isiah Crowell, Josh Harvey-Clemmons–and those just scratch the surface.

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  13. AthensHomerDawg
    May 9, 2014 at 11:17 PM

    Kid is working out at Morris Brown College. He’s looking to land somewhere…

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  14. Gatriguy
    May 10, 2014 at 6:29 AM

    “Trigga” is next. The secondary was rotten and we’re starting to see how bad it really was.

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  15. eethomaswfnc
    May 10, 2014 at 7:24 AM

    I know people don’t usually talk recruiting at GTP. I’m interested to know what’s the likely impact on this “mutual decision” on the relationship with the staff at Sandy Creek.

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    • Macallanlover
      May 10, 2014 at 7:37 AM

      Depends on whether they are professionals and adults to me. If it is a requirement that we coddle and tolerate every single problem they send our way, I can do without them. I am sure they deal with lack of maturity all the time given the age they work with so it shouldn’t be surprising that some just don’t progress. College is a tough adjustment for many young people, adding public success or ridicule can stress that even further. It would be different if the UGA staff called out the Sandy Creek staff for not preparing Shaq adequately as a player or a man. Nothing to see here, just move along.

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      • eethomaswfnc
        May 10, 2014 at 8:00 AM

        Macallan, I hope you’re right about this. Sandy Creek is a powerhouse program and we can’t afford to alienate them. I assume the staff is doing what’s necessary to minimize the impact on the HS relationship.

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        • Macallanlover
          May 10, 2014 at 9:15 AM

          I am not suggesting we alienate, just stating we have to run our program for what is best for us and not be hostage to their egos. I am sure if they run a successful program they have had to part ways with players before. I want it to work out for everyone that wants to be a Dawg, and want happiness to flow from every nook and cranny in Athens but sometimes things just aren’t a good fit. This particular young man came in and began expressing concerns from almost the first week, maybe he just made a bad decision. That isn’t UGA’s fault, and likely isn’t Sandy Creek’s fault; Williams for old enough to evaluate the situations at several schools and make a decision. This seems to be on him. Over the years UGA seems to have had fewer of these departures than other programs. We may dismiss more players for disciplinary reasons because we actually have standards but not that many players voluntarily walk.

          I know UGA changed their defensive staff after he committed but his problems were long before that. I spoke with his mother last year at a game for a little while. She also seemed to be concerned about his impatience and public comments before he saw the field the first time. I got the impression he was not listening to her advice then but at least she was in the dialogue.

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  16. TennesseeDawg
    May 10, 2014 at 8:22 AM

    Wiggins had more attitude than talent and spent a lot of time last year back slapping Nick Marshall when he wasn’t getting toasted on the field. Good luck in the future.

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  17. Skeeter
    May 10, 2014 at 8:32 AM

    L’ville or Da Barn.

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  18. AthensHomerDawg
    May 10, 2014 at 8:33 AM

    Beyond Closed Doors
    Will we ever know what happened here? I doubt it. Mac I’m not convinced there is nothing to see. Newton steals a laptop wins a Heisman and a NC at Auburn. Auburn came within in a down of winning another with that same business plan. Do kids tend notice that and aren’t risk adverse? Metenberger lost his chance at Georgia but seemed to land on his feet. Watered down urine test notwithstanding. Johnny Football anyone? Within a generation that grew up on the lottery there are some willing to roll the dice and believe they won’t get caught, or it doesn’t hurt them if they do. Or if they want to do things their own way they can move on and do “their thang” some where else. My bet is Louisville.

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    • Scorpio Jones,III
      May 10, 2014 at 9:11 AM

      Homey was Jimi playing lead with them then?

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      • AthensHomerDawg
        May 10, 2014 at 12:24 PM

        Damn! Nice catch. Bluto finally has some competition. Hendrix/Isley was early 60’s. Soul Train didn’t come along until later. The guy in the band playing rhythm guitar in the It’s Your Thang video isn’t playing a Strat left handed either. Soooo…. guessing not. I saw Jimi at the Atlanta International Pop Festival in Byron Georgia. I saw so many things I ain’t never seen before. I saw Three Dog Night at the Macon Coliseum. I took my future bride to only one of the two aforementioned concerts. 😉

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        • ScoutDawg
          May 10, 2014 at 4:42 PM

          You saw Jimi at the Atlanta International Pop Festival? I am sorry you said “you saw Jimi”? Bows down and whispers reverently.

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          • AthensHomerDawg
            May 10, 2014 at 5:37 PM

            Oh “for fucks sake”. I like that line. I wanted to share it with you.
            FIFY- I seen so many things I ain’t never seen before… does this help? Goodness did I hurt your feelings somewhere on GTP. “Many business leaders stress about writing anything at all, for fear of having incorrect grammar that will be made fun of across the web.”I
            I’m not done helping you. ScoutDawg.
            *All Hail the Grammar Police!

            **Affect vs. effect.** The easiest way to remember the difference between the two is affect means “to influence.” So if you’re going to influence something, you will have an affect. If it’s the result of something, it’s an effect.
**The Oxford comma.** In a series of three or more terms, you should use what’s referred to as the Oxford comma. This means you should have a comma before the word “and” in a list. For instance: The American flag is red, white, and blue. Many people debate this, but I’m a believer in it because there are times when you don’t have the extra comma and the sentence doesn’t make sense. I prefer to err on the side of having the Oxford in there.
**Commas, in general.** And speaking of commas, slow down when you’re writing and read your copy out loud. You don’t want to make this mistake: Let’s eat grandma vs. let’s eat, grandma. Poor grandma will be eaten if you forget the comma.
**Their, they’re, and there.** You’d think everyone learned this rule in fourth grade, but it’s a very common mistake. Use “there” when referring to a location, “their” to indication possession, and “they’re” when you mean to say “they are.”
**Care less. The dismissive “I could care less” you hear all the time is incorrect.** If you could care less, that means there is more you could care less about the topic. Most people omit the “not” in that phrase. It should be, “I couldn’t care less.”
**Irregardless.** This word doesn’t exist. It should be regardless.
**Nauseous.** How many times have you said you felt nauseous? This is incorrect. You feel nauseated. Nauseous means something is sickening to contemplate.
**Your and you’re.** Another mistake you see in people’s social media profiles and in the content they create is not correctly using “your” and “you’re.” If you’re meaning to say “you are,” the correct word is “you’re” (like at the beginning of this sentence). Otherwise the word is “your.”
**Fewer vs. less.** Another common mistake, “less” refers to quantity and “fewer” to a number. For instance, Facebook has fewer than 5,000 employees.
**Quotation marks.** Among great debate, people ask all the time whether or not punctuation belongs inside or outside quotation marks. It belongs inside.
More than vs. over. I’m pretty sure the advertising agency created this grammatical error. Instead of saying, “We had more than 50 percent growth” in ad copy, “over” allows for more space. So they say, “We had over 50 percent growth.” Drives. Me. Crazy.
Me vs. I. I was reading something by a big muckety muck the other day and the copy read, “This year has brought a big personal development for my wife and I…” No, no, no! If you were going to say that without the mention of your wife, you wouldn’t say, “This year has brought a big personal development for I.” You would say “me.” So this year has brought a big personal development for my wife and me.

            There are so many grammar mistakes made today, The Elements of Style is on its fourth edition. Also check out the AP Stylebook. While most business writers don’t abide by those rules, most PR professionals do.*

            …now piss off!

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    • Macallanlover
      May 10, 2014 at 9:23 AM

      But that has been happening at an increasing rate over the last decade, and at many schools. The amount of TV exposure with broadcasts of dozens of more games each week has caused many athletes to decide to play at smaller schools rather than sit on the bench and wait their turn at major programs. Call it the ESPN effect but players today want to strut their stuff and get immediate adulation regardless of what their coach tells them they need to do.

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  19. Scorpio Jones,III
    May 10, 2014 at 9:16 AM

    I don’t much like change, so I hate to see the kid leave, but Georgia is not an easy school to play football for. Hard rules, compared to the rest of the landscape, cops who take themselves tres serieux, you actually have to go to class…on campus, too.

    What seems to be a great fit as a high school senior may not look so hot as a rising college sophomore.

    Good luck to the kid.

    We sho do seem to have trouble finding keepers in the secondary.

    Maybe Pruitt can help with that problem.

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    • Mayor
      May 10, 2014 at 10:00 AM

      “…Georgia is not an easy school to play football for.” Yep. And maybe the “why” about that statement needs to be re-examined. I’m not saying that it isn’t good for Wiggins to leave–he seems like a bad apple to me and the team is likely better off without him. But the number of these departures and the fact that often it is the very best players is what is troubling.

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      • AthensHomerDawg
        May 10, 2014 at 11:54 AM

        Yep…. I think Urban Cryer would have done some damage after Tim left IF he could have hung on to Newton. I bet he thinks of that. Urban: Note to self- make sure all players have current model Apple laptops.

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  20. cube
    May 10, 2014 at 9:47 AM

    Not feeling too good about this year. Not sure I can take yet another poor season.

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    • Mayor
      May 10, 2014 at 10:06 AM

      The real problem is that it seems Georgia never fields a complete team. There is always a shortage somewhere. Remember in 2010 when, by season’s end, the Dawgs were down to playing walk-ons at RB? Then it was a shortage of players on the O-line. The last year or two it is limited numbers at DB and the ones remaining on the team aren’t very good.

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  21. Doggoned
    May 10, 2014 at 10:12 AM

    I’m worried about having to start over at QB two years in a row. Could partially negate whatever rebuilding we accomplish this year.

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  22. WarD Eagle
    May 10, 2014 at 10:15 AM

    I’m hoping for a pickup truck ride with his HS coach to a JC out west.

    That seems to me the beginnings of the road to the MNC.

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  23. JAX
    May 10, 2014 at 2:54 PM

    Wiggins’ defining moment was when he danced, shucked, and jived up to the LOS when we had Nebraska pinned at their own one on 3rd and forever. They snapped the ball, the receiver blew past this stupid kid and they had themselves the longest TD reception in the history of bowl games.

    Adios “Shaq”.

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    • AthensHomerDawg
      May 10, 2014 at 4:28 PM

      Georgia’s Murray to T.King against M. State has to be in the books somewhere. when he danced, shucked, and jived up to the LOS I looked at the youtube and can’t find him guilty of showboating per your description. Receiver did blow by him and safety got there late and couldn’t bring him down. Let’s don’t go all Ivy League here and make stuff up. K?

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      • AthensHomerDawg
        May 10, 2014 at 5:58 PM

        I was there on the sidelines… in the rain… ignoring the other players on the field with my attention focused solely on Wiggins and his more than obvious strut actions that everyone, news people, coaches, commentators, but me failed to note… it was also obvious to me, when he threw his hands up that the defensive secondary was confused. But that is just my opinion … results may vary.

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      • IveyLeaguer
        May 11, 2014 at 1:08 AM

        That’s totally unfair and uncalled for, nothing more than character assassination. And you can KMA.
        ~~~

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    • @gatriguy
      May 10, 2014 at 5:03 PM

      Said and thought the same thing. I was there, in the rain, and pointed his ridiculous act out to my wife and said “He has no clue what he’s supposed to be doing” about 5 seconds before he got toasted. That one play was the tipping point for me on Grantham and the entire secondary. Good call.

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  24. W Cobb Dawg
    May 10, 2014 at 3:57 PM

    Just one more reason we should always, ALWAYS, go the limit on signing day. As much as we all like CMR, he needs to wake up and smell the attrition coffee. If we had signed the limit in February, we’d have 4 or 5 more recruits coming in August, and wouldn’t have so many roster spots with no recruits to fill them.

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    • Macallanlover
      May 10, 2014 at 4:12 PM

      So with planned attrition, how far over do you go? We could just not care knowing we could go “all Saban” on them and kick off the dead wood as needed with no regard for our commitment or their dreams. This is exactly why I feel the NCAA should allow you to oversign by 2-3 over the 85 scholly limit, but no more. This would legitimize “reasonable” oversigning to insure all teams have an equal chance to start the season with 85 players, and not just a few teams that stretch the ethical boundaries. I don’t want CMR to act like others and sign with no regard for the consequences a few months down the road, but I agree there should be some accommodation for natural attrition.

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    • Senator Blutarsky
      May 10, 2014 at 4:21 PM

      Actually, they were over the 85-scholly limit after this past signing day.

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  25. ScoutDawg
    May 10, 2014 at 4:48 PM

    I don’t give a shak if we are 0-12 this year. I will watch every game, piss my wife off with foul language, and maybe break a random window. This team is finally on the right track.

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