Published November 1, 2011 - 5:25pm
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Three Georgia running backs – Isaiah Crowell, Carlton Thomas and Ken Malcome – have all been suspended for violating team policy. Radi Nabulsi of DawgNation is reporting all three suspensions are the result of positive drug tests given last week. As we all know, Georgia defeated Florida 24-20, and both Crowell and Thomas played in the football game.
There were some rumors that Crowell failed a drug test last week, and he would not make it to Jacksonville because of it. However, he did make the trip, and he played. It has not been confirmed when the results were known.
All three players are suspended for this weekend’s game against New Mexico State, and as it stands right now, sophomore Brandon Harton would be next on the depth chart at running back. But I fully expect Branden Smith and Brandon Boykin to get some carries.
The main focus here is, of course, Isaiah Crowell. He seems soft because of his recent comments:
“There’s a lot of hits and pounding I get,” he said. “I didn’t want to get too banged up while I’m here. It’s just … I don’t know. It’s a lot of banging I have to get used to.”
He has been called a prima donna by many, and those comments certainly point in that direction. And he plays like it sometimes as well, because he gets injured quite frequently and takes himself out of the ball game. And now this – a report of a failed drug test.
Crowell certainly has a bright future ahead of him if he can get mentally tougher. However, the question remains – is he physically and mentally durable enough to become the great running back we all expected coming out of high school?
Very interesting. Richt’s image of integrity might be just that… an image. We all know he played his boys to beat Florida, which I’m glad about, but let’s be honest about the situation.
The test were adinistered Thursday night, fficial results were not in prioer to the U?f game. New Mexico State is the first game they coukld have been suspended for. Just like A.J. Green last year, Richt would not have played them if there was a chance we’d have to forfeit the game. Richt may notr be the best coach but you should never question his integrity.
The test were administered Thursday night, official results were not in prior to the UF game. New Mexico State is the first game they could have been suspended for. Just like A.J. Green last year, Richt would not have played them if there was a chance we’d have to forfeit the game. Richt may not be the best coach but you should never question his integrity.
Sorry for the typos in prior post
I wouldn’t put it past him to play them against Florida. If so that’s just ridiculous.
Hahaha…Youre joking…right?
Well, isn’t this weird timing for failed drug test? Richt is all about the outside, and he’s all about the ‘image’ of him and his program. And he played these players knowing they had failed a drug test against the Gators, and the Bulldogs ended up winning.
Wasn’t Israel Troupe with these three when they got in trouble? Funny that Troupe was suspended for the Florida game but Crowell wasn’t. Weird huh?
Richt knows his job is on the line, and he’s feeling the heat, but he’s all about the image of his program and himself. His ‘zero tolerance’ policy he pitches to recruits and their parents just became ‘limited tolerance’.
The point is Richt knew about this last week, and he played him anyway.
All the UGA recruits point to Richt’s values and principles as to why they commit to Georgia, and that’s fine. But when do you start to question those? I would right now.
I’m not a bitter Florida fan because we’ve beaten Georgia like a drum over the past decade, and I kind of like having the thought of Richt hanging around for a few more years…so he can get really good recruits and they go to Georgia and disappear.
I am pretty sure you are being a bitter Florida fan.
yes, you are being bitter. the drug tests were Thursday night, no official result until after UF game. Troupe and Mtchell were out due to injuries. I know you can’t help but think the worse after having coaches S.S. and U.M. who have zero integrity.
Anyone with Spurrier as a Head Coach shouldn’t be throwing stones….
Sure it comes down to “What did he know and when did he know it” but if the “official” results weren’t available until AFTER the game so be it.
It does look like he turned a blind eye but at least they weren’t out kicxking someone on the ground LSU) , they weren’t uriniating in public (USC), keying their teachers cars (USC), beating an undercover cop (UT), Armed Robbery (UT).
They got busted smoking some weed, if that’s UGA’s worst problems I know I feel better.
Fulmer Cup anyone??
Troupe was an injury, not a suspension. Same as UGA’s leading WR Malcolm Mitchell. The Gators lost for the 4th time in 22 years…get over it.
http://blogs.ajc.com/uga-sports-blog/2011/10/29/wr-israel-troupe-doesnt-make-trip-dogs-down-to-4-scholarship-wrs/?cxntfid=blogs_uga_sports_blog
Troupe did not make the trip – no official reason was given. Hmmmm…
Troupe is still recovering from “concussion-like symptoms” he hasnt played in a while
Crowell is either made of glass, or just plain lazy the way he takes himself out of games. And now he’s a druggie, too? Boy, we sure can pick them. He wouldn’t have been any less or more a factor in this game than any other he’s appeared in this year. Never gonna be a pro at the rate he’s going. The other two must just be stupid stupid…the real loss here, Samuel…
The test could have been given last week and the results gotten back Monday. I assume they use an outside resource for the testing just so they don’t have any bias on the results. I don’t know and I don’t pretend to, but this situation does seem a little fishy. I have only seen one decent game all year from Crowell, so I really don’t think him missing the game would have had that big of an impact. That kid needs to get his act together.
Richt needs to get the nonchalant attitude out the door and bring in some passion. That has been my only beef with him during his tenure. The games where he shows some emotion, the players feel it and respond. There can be all kinds of finger pointing about coaches turning a blind eye for an important game, which it does happen…everywhere.
I’m UGA through and through…but I’m just a little confused with where UGA is now. Since Bobo took over OC, it has been like watching someone headbutt a brick wall over and over. But still…GO DAWGS!!!
A study of the nation’s substance abuse policies at the automatic qualifying BCS conference schools indicates how the schools’ different philosophies in dealing with and suspending multiple-time drug users.
Six schools — Auburn, Duke, Georgia, Kentucky, Mississippi State and North Carolina — suspend a football student-athlete for six games after a second positive test, while four schools — Clemson, Ole Miss, Purdue and UCLA — don’t suspend a student-athlete until a third-positive test.
As much as those policies vary, at least, they specify the punishments.
The length of suspension for a student-athlete with multiple positive tests at LSU, Louisville, Nebraska, Texas and Virginia are determined by the head coach and/or athletic director.
The substance abuse policies at Florida State, LSU, Oregon, Oregon State and Texas A&M also are subjective — and in some instances just flat out vague — in defining the penalties for student-athletes that have multiple positive drug tests.
With no definitive length of suspension determined, the coaches and/or athletic directors leave open the very real impression that their decisions could be influenced by that week’s opponent.
For instance, LSU’s policy indicates a second positive test results in “up to 15 percent” suspension of games. Based on LSU’s policies a multiple drug user could either be not suspended or suspended for one or two games.
LSU’s Tyrann Mathieu, Tharold Simon and Spencer Ware were suspended one game for “testing positive for synthetic marijuana,” the Times-Picayune reported.
LSU chancellor Michael Martin told USA Today the players’ reinstatement would be determined by athletic director Joe Alleva.
“The athletic director will ultimately make the decision [and] he’ll consult with me,” Martin told USA Today. “Fortunately for them and the team, they have two weeks to get their act together because we have a bye week. They have been directed to some counseling, and they will now be subject to greater scrutiny for the remainder of their time at LSU.”
After missing one game, LSU’s players were reinstated and will play Saturday against No. 2-ranked Alabama in a game with huge national title implications.
Other schools, however, have opted for stricter substance abuse policies.
In the past year, Florida not only strengthened its substance abuse policy, but it now has different punishments for student-athletes that test positive for different drugs. Previously, it took five positive tests for a recreational drug for a student-athlete to be dismissed from Florida. That policy was changed to dismissal after a fourth positive test for marijuana or synthetic marijuana.
However, a student-athlete who tests positive for any recreational drug (other than marijuana) is suspended for six games (50 percent of regular-season contests) after a first positive and is dismissed after a second positive.
The NCAA does not conduct tests for recreational drugs (such as marijuana, heroin, cocaine and ecstasy) but only for performance-enhancing drugs/steroids. The penalties are the same for each NCAA member institution: a first positive test for steroids is a one-year suspension; a second positive test ends a student-athlete’s NCAA eligibility for rest of his career.
DRUG POLICY SUSPENSION LENGHTS
The minimum required number of games a student-athlete is suspended for each of the 68 automatic-qualifying BCS conference football programs, using next year’s conference affiliations, based on a (1) first-positive test for recreational drugs; (2) second-positive test; (3) third-positive test; (4) fourth-positive test and (5) fifth-positive test. Drug policies are obtained through public records requests or from the school’s official website.
ACC
Boston College: (1) none; (2) two weeks; (3) one year.
Clemson: (1) none; (2) none; (3) dismissal. Note: Clemson policy indicates athlete must perform 15-30 hours of community service for a first positive and a minimum of 30 hours for a second positive.
Duke: (1) none; (2) 50 percent of games; (3) dismissal.
Florida State: (1) none; (2) unspecified suspension; (3) dismissal. Note: length of suspension for second positive determined by the school’s substance abuse committee and “influenced by the length of the season.”
Georgia Tech: (1) none; (2) 10 percent of games; (3) one year; (4) dismissal.
Maryland: (1) none; (2) two weeks; (3) one year.
Miami: (1) one game; (2) two games; (3) dismissal.
North Carolina: (1) none; (2) 50 percent of games; (3) dismissal.
N.C. State: (1) none; (2) 20 percent of games; (3) dismissal.
Virginia: (1) none; (2) suspension determined by head coach; (3) indefinite suspension.
Virginia Tech: (1) 10 percent of games; (2) 33 percent of games; (3) one year; (4) dismissal.
Big East
Cincinnati: (1) 10 percent of games; (2) 20 percent of games; (3) dismissal
UConn: (1) none; (2) 30-to-60 days; (3) one year; (4) dismissal
Louisville: (1) none; (2) suspension, (3) suspension, (4) one year. Note: length of suspension for second positive determined by coach or athletic director; third suspension must be longer than second suspension.
Pittsburgh: Although a public university, Pittsburgh is not required to respond to public record requests and refused to provide policy.
Rutgers: (1) none: (2) two weeks; (3) one year; (4) dismissal. Note: athlete with a first positive may be suspended up to two weeks at athletic director’s discretion.
South Florida: (1) none; (2) 20 percent of games; (3) dismissal.
West Virginia: (1) none; (2) 10 percent of season; (3) dismissal. Note: athlete with a first positive is suspended an indefinite amount of times until they produce a negative test result.
Big Ten
Illinois: (1) none; (2) 1/12th of regular-season games; (3) 1/4th of regular season games; (4) one year.
Indiana: (1) none; (2) one game; (3) dismissal.
Iowa: (1) none; (2) 10 percent of games; (3) dismissal.
Michigan: (1) none; (2) 10 percent of games; (3) one year.
Michigan State: (1) none; (2) 30 days; (3) one year.
Minnesota: (1) none; (2) 20 percent of games; (3) one year.
Nebraska: (1) none; (2) suspension determined by head coach; (3) dismissal.
Ohio State: (1) none; (2) two weeks; (3) one year.
Penn State: (1) none; (2) seven days; (3) one year; (4) dismissal.
Purdue: (1) none; (2) none; (3) 10 percent of games; (4) “may be dismissed” with athletic director making decision.
Wisconsin: (1) none; (2) 30 days; (3) dismissal.
Big 12
Baylor: (1) one game; (2) 10 percent of games plus one game; (3) dismissal.
Iowa State: (1) none; (2) 10 percent of games: (3) dismissal.
Kansas: (1) none; (2) whichever is less: two games or 10 percent of games; (3) dismissal.
Kansas State: (1) none; (2) 10 percent of games; (3) dismissal.
Missouri: (1) none; (2) seven days; (3) dismissal.
Oklahoma: (1) none; (2) one game; (3) “expulsion from athletic program.” Note: Athlete with three positives may be reinstated “upon completion of a qualified drug rehabilitation program.”
Oklahoma State: (1) none; (2) 10 percent of games; (3) 50 percent of games; (4) dismissal.
Texas: (1) none; (2) “if suspended, length of suspension determined by athletic director;” (3) dismissal.
TCU: (1) none; (2) “may include at least” one-year suspension; (3) dismissal.
Texas Tech: (1) none; (2) one game; (3) dismissal.
PAC-12
Arizona: (1) none; (2) 10 percent of games; (3) one year; (4) dismissal.
Arizona State: (1) none; (2) 25 percent of games; (3) dismissal.
Cal: (1) none; (2) two weeks; (3) one year.
Colorado: (1) none; (2) 20 percent of games; (3) one year.
Oregon: (1) none; (2) length of suspension, if any, not indicated; (3) dismissal.
Oregon State: (1) none; (2) length of suspension, if any, not indicated; (3) dismissal. Note: Policy says student “may be expelled” for second positive, but doesn’t indicate a specific length if suspended.
Utah: (1) none; (2) 25 percent of games; (3) dismissal.
UCLA: (1) none; (2) none; (3) one game; (4) dismissal.
Washington: (1) none; (2) 15 percent of games; (3) one year; (4) dismissal.
Washington State: (1) none; (2) 30 days; (3) one year.
SEC
Alabama: (1) none; (2) 15 percent of games; (3) one year; (4) dismissal.
Arkansas: (1) none; (2) 10 percent of games; (3) 50 percent of games; (4) dismissal.
Auburn: (1) none; (2) 50 percent of games; (3) dismissal.
Florida: For marijuana/synthetic marijuana: (1) none; (2) 10 percent of games; (3) 20 percent of games; (4) dismissal. For all other drugs: (1) 50 percent of games; (2) dismissal.
Georgia: (1) 10 percent of games; (2) 50 percent of games; (3) dismissal.
Kentucky: (1) 10 percent of games; (2) 50 percent of games; (3) dismissal.
LSU: (1) none; (2) “up to 15 percent of games;” (3) one year.
Ole Miss: (1) none; (2) none; (3) three games.
Mississippi State: (1) none; (2) 50 percent of games; (3) one year; (4) dismissal.
South Carolina: (1) none; (2) 25 percent of games; (3) dismissal.
Tennessee: (1) none; (2) 10 percent of games; (3) dismissal.
Texas A&M: (1) none; (2) “possible suspension;” (3) possible dismissal
Dude this really puts our disciplinary policy in perspective..Awesome info…where can I find this stuff?
cbs sports page
This just makes me sick. After such a crappy year last year now this! Just when I thought we were getting a little better and had a chance at a good year. When are the players going to be as proud to be a DAWG as the fans are.
So are any of them in any of these pictures?
http://bustedcoverage.com/2011/10/27/geogia-vs-florida-2011-worlds-largest-cocktail-party-in-photos/
I had heard the same rumors about Crowell failing a drug test the week before the Florida game…but that was just a rumor, and I don’t know for sure.
If Crowell DID fail a drug test before the Florida game and Coach Richt knew it, then yes…it’s a sorry thing to do.
I like Coach Richt, but I would like to see him leave. I think he has let the team discipline get away from him, and once a head coach does that he can never really get it back. It doesn’t help…for example…that after the post-game interview this past Saturday, he ran down to the end zone and boogied and danced around with the team…then in the locker room led them in a couple of choruses of “Rocky Top”, since Tennessee was playing SC later. A head coach shouldn’t let himself become just another “one of the guys”.
We need a strict disciplinarian, and a lot of our troubles…especially our off the field legal problems…would be taken care of.
Look people lets be honest here…this happens at every school…somewhere right now at Notre Dame..and yes Alabama…there are football players doing something stupid….as for you Gator and Cock fans: really?…you cant be seriously callin us out on discipline. What sets CMR apart is that he upholds the code which has been listed above by JaxDawg. And as you can see we are one of the few schools that suspend on the first offense. As for Crowell…yes I am very concerned about his statements above and hope that he matures quickly and realizes that we are recruiting his replacement as we speak.
The problem is that it’s something every darn week for the past two years, as a fan I feel big changes need to be made we are the one’s paying for the program. There is no way UGA will even be in the game against Auburn & Tech if they Play like they did against Florida. Crowell is just a little boy wannabe.