Bag Man is Real

Someone get Steven Godfrey on this. Funny, if Mark Richt were still in Athens, there'd be media looking to find some way to connect his failures to this.

T

Tweet

I was gonna coach some ball, but my players got high

'Winning ain't the only thing' part of the Georgia Way has changed, but somethings haven't...

If Georgia’s drug policy for athletes is going to change, it won’t be because of Kirby Smart, who said Wednesday that the decision “is above me” and that he’s “completely understanding of that.”

Here's hoping all those analysts are good at helping players avoid the weed.

Tweet

I was gonna go to the Gala, but I got...

High.

Chauncey Rivers gets rung up for his second pot arrest in five weeks. There are plenty of stories out there on it, so I won't link anything. Another garden variety not being smart some more.

The interesting thing will be how it is approached. The handbook, as we know it, lays out a 30% of the season penalty for this situation, with the possibility of more since he is likely on some sort student judiciary probation for the prior offense. From the athletics side, Kirby Smart isn't Mark Richt. If there is a time to have a change in approach to discipline, and what triggers discipline, it will be during a head coaching change. The reason is simple: the new head coach has the most possible leverage before he is hired, especially since he has an agent Jimmy Sexton doing the talking.

That is especially true when you are The Man who your current employer moved a successful, long term coach out of the way for.

T

Tweet

But they have glaucoma

Natrez Patrick and Chauncey Rivers were gonna play some ball Saturday, but they got high.

Georgia football players Natrez Patrick and Chauncey Rivers were arrested early Wednesday morning on misdemeanor charges of marijuana possession.

Patrick was booked at 2:23 a.m. and released on $1,000 bond at 6:19, according to jail records. Rivers was arrested at 2:44 a.m. and was still incarcerated as of 7 a.m.

As my momma always says, ain't nothing good going on after 2am. Funny how in other seasons this would dominate the news cycle, but will likely get a shrug in the newsrooms before editors go back to their five reasons Mark Richt will be fired by noon this Sunday pitches.
TW

Tweet

Video of Nick Marshall not stealing from teammates

Video here.

(From WRBL)

The video isn't that exciting, since, you know, he only got a citation.
TD

UPDATE: Morning line of the morning from @GeorgiaIceman:

@TylerDawgden The weed was probably stolen from the Barn locker room.
— CJM (@GeorgiaIceman) July 16, 2014

Tweet

Fox dismisses Brandon Morris

Not a surprise after the felony pot arrest.
TD

Tweet

I was gonna play some hoops, but I got high

Brandon Morris goes all in with a felony pot arrest. He's been immediately suspended, per UGA policy. And let the 'why we didn't make the NCAA tourney' excuse mongering begin.
TD

Tweet

Sometimes the pot smokes you

This should surprise no one.

Sheesh.
TD

See also:

• Richt's dismissal message, short clear. -ESPN (Ching)

Tweet

Auburn's next QB

Probably.

Tweet

UGA Drug Policy Changes

They won't, certainly under Richt.

We have this discussion every year. Every year it is the same, and the same arguments are trotted out:

1. UGA's drug policies are too tough. Hard to argue with this, especially with a lack of uniformity of policies around collegiate athletics. If you want me to get on board with the 'NCAA cares about student-athlete's welfare' lie talking point, develop a consistent illegal drug and testing policy, instead of simply testing, and requiring testing, but leaving the policies and testing to the individual schools. 
2. UGA puts itself at a disadvantage because it puts the name of offenders in the public on the first offense. This it a tougher one. On one hand, the policy isn't a surprise to players. They should know that if they smoke the reefer and get caught, they will end up on the AJC and ESPN. On the other, at some point, how much do players who know they can't give up on the weed decide that coming to Athens isn't worth the risk when they can play for at least 12 of the SEC members, or nearly all of the ACC, Big 12, Pac-12, or B1.5G and get a free pass for the first offense.

However, we have three bigger problems:

• We continually shoot our self in the foot by how, when, and who we test. It is simple to me. Schools are responsible who whom they test, with a few exceptions set out by the NCAA. For example, you can be damn sure LSU isn't testing on Ash Wednesday. I know that sounds hypocritical, and I'm willing to own that. However, if you want to help a kid who is having issues with smoking up, may be testing him right before the biggest game of the season or immediately after he gets hurt isn't the best kind of help we can give.
• We hurt our national perception by the announced suspensions. We are a laughing stock and media punch line. Publicity is an important part of the national game. No one is congratulation us for our tough policy. And it keeps giving Steve Spurrier too many opportunities to gig us, which pisses me off.
• Our scheduling isn't helping us. If we continue to have a tough policy, we need to find a way to not open with Clemson ever again. I'm not a fan of this solution, as I think we should play more of these high profile games.

As I stated earlier, we aren't changing our policies under Coach Richt. We can give up on that. However, there are some things we can do to help ameliorate the issues we have while keeping our policy. 

By the way, this isn't a JHC shouldn't be on suspension post. I'm ok with the second test policy, which is a bit stronger than the other SEC schools, but close enough to be consistent. He should be suspended. And I hope his grandfather wore him out for lying to him and then letting him made a fool of himself in the press. 

TD

Tweet

It's 4:20 somewhere

Usually in Athens.

Georgia starting safety Josh Harvey-Clemons was suspended for the Gator Bowl for a violation of team rules, and now the Atlanta Journal-Constitution is reporting that the suspension will carry over and keep Harvey-Clemons off the field for the first three games of the 2014 season.

I'm going to need someone to find his weed man and give him a good talking to.
TD

Tweet

Don't expect UGA's drug policy to change

UGA Pres. Morehead quashes that pretty quickly:

“I think every president and every chancellor in the Southeastern Conference should have the same sort of standards that we have,” Morehead said. “But I would not be in favor of the university lowering our standards. As Coach Richt put it, I would be in favor of other schools coming up to where our standards are on this subject.”

While I don't like being the toughest school in the conference, I do like the President and athletics being of one mind in getting the conference to move towards UGA's policy.
TD

Tweet

"I quit counting at 10."

Does it surprise you that Tyrann Mathieu uttered that about the number of drug tests he failed?

I think the bigger question is raised about what was going on at LSU.

But 10 failed drugs tests? Should we be looking at what the heck was going on at LSU? 

"If he flunked 10 tests before they suspended him, it shows that he got no kind of help," the anonymous coach told USA Today.

Say what you will about the randomness of Georgia's testing policies and how tough the actual disciplinary approach is, at least the policies are applied consistently and with the idea of helping the players. If he failed ten tests, he probably should have been in counseling after the third, at a minimum. LSU's polices indicate a "15% of games" penalty for the second failed test and one year dismissal for the third.

Hey, we can bash Richt for losing control after a couple of failed tests. Does Miles get a pass for keeping a star eligible outside of the polcies? I realize the timing could be an issue, but I can't think he suddenly failed ten test the summer before his senior season.
TD

Tweet

It is Spring Break. Do you know where your football team is?

After the past couple of years, you have to wonder, who is going to unknowingly eat pot brownies is rolling dirty through Alabama goes to Key West isn't in a glass box under lock and key. Spring break happens.

We know Murray is in Oklahoma doing Oklahoma drills or whatnot. Based on tweeters, several players are headed home or to less Spring Breaky destinations. We know some are doing Spring Breaky things in Spring Breaky places.

So, will there be another string of suspensions related to Spring Break? I'd be willing to bet on that.

There are those that just don't think it will happen to them, yet it does every year. You could have the coaching staff hold up cups with every player's name on them, but someone is going to Spring Break and is going to do Spring Breaky stuff.

And that comes from the football coaching staff. Not Greg McGarity. Not Mike Adams. Mark Richt and company. That goes double if you have a history.

The real trick is not getting arrested. Coach Richt has shown a willingness to handle business quietly, when it is warranted. Not that he gives many free passes. This ain't Tallahassee Columbia no, the other Columbia Gainesville Tuscaloosa Knoxville. But if someone isn't arrested, a failed drug test might not be known until someone runs their mouth or the season opener in Clemson in August, whichever comes first.

Which, to my great joy, drives some of the beat reporters crazy.
TD

Tweet

Donte's punishment

It hasn't been said, but Donte Williams is serving some sort of suspension for his trip to Colorado arrest this summer. That it hasn't been said leads me to believe that the lack of word on suspensions isn't a coach specific thing, but an Athletic Director thing.

I know it is a favorite parlor game of the media and fans to play, especially with the football team. However, if the media would perhaps ask the right people, instead of waxing sarcastically about not getting information they so rightly deserve to have philosophical about the status of players...oh, hell...just whatever. Donte will be back in action on Monday, at least that is my prediction based on the Athletic Department's policy.

God knows we'll need him against Indiana.

TD

Tweet

SEC Drug Policies

Mr. SEC updates the SEC drug policy penalties to include Missouri and Texas A&M. DBG's pot bust in Missouri leads me to believe this is his second time.

His list:

School	Strike One	Strike Two	Strike Three	Strike Four
Alabama	No Suspension	15% of Season	One Year	Dismissal
Arkansas	No Suspension	10% of Season	50% of Season	Dismissal
Auburn	No Suspension	50% of Season	Dismissal
Florida	No Supension	10% of Season	20% of Season	Dismissal
Georgia	10% of Season	50% of Season	Dismissal
Kentucky	10% of Season	50% of Season	Dismissal
LSU	No Suspension	“up to” 15% of Season	Dismissal (One Year)
Miss. State	No Suspension	50% of Season	One Year	Dismissal
Missouri	No Suspension	“Seven Days”	Dismissal
Ole Miss	No Suspension	“up to” 25% of Season	Dismissal
S. Carolina	No Suspension	25% of Season	Dismissal
Tennessee	No Suspension	10% of Season	Dismissal
Texas A&M	No Suspension	“Possible Suspension”	“Possible Dismissal”
Vanderbilt	Not Revealed	Not Revealed	Not Revealed

Vandy, as a private school, doesn't have to respond to FOIA requests or release their policies. One would assume their is something strict about drinking rail liquor and non-craft beer.

TD

Tweet

Dazed and Confused 2: Headed to McNeese

If you aren't following @cuppycup, you are missing out.

TD

Tweet

Richt is Right on Not Announcing Suspensions

With the recent whispers now rising from chatter to full blown OHMYGODRICHTISCHEATINGTHEYARESOSCARREDTOPLAYMIZZUTHATHEYDLOSETHATINTEGRITYTHINY, I do want to point out something that should be fairly obvious: There has only been one announced suspension.

I know, I know, 'facts' should never keep fans, bloggers or reporters from acting irrationally, but only Sanders Commings has been definitely, for real announced, suspended. The rest has been speculation, built upon supposition and fortified with the ever present Twitter/blog/Facebook/AJC validation, myself included.

That leads me to this, that the policy of silence about suspensions that seemed to start last season with Bacarri Rambo against Boise State and included Coach Richt sitting Crowell because 'he loves him' against Vandy is looking more and more sound. As Paul has been telling me for months (and pointed out on the Dawg Run and comments on Get the Picture), if you spot test those guys and they are clean through 10-15 tests, there is no reason to suspend them considering the circumstances. There is nothing beneficial, with the exception of giving fans, bloggers and reporters something to write/bitch about, that comes from making those announcements. As it, not announcing it only merely annoys fans and reporters.

As for the possible suspensions, I think it remains to be seen what happens with Branden Smith due to his late night dirty roll through Henry County. I agree with PWD that if the Ogletrees and Rambo come through the summer clean, they'll play. 

Finally, before Missouri fans go all Stingtalk on us...actually, never mind. Go Stingtalk on us. You've got the colors. It'll make holding Missouri fans in disdain easier this way.

TD

Tweet

Athens Didn't Cause Crowell's Dismissal

I'm not going to link the articles, but you can follow my Twitter time line and see that a couple of papers would have you believe choosing to play in Athens caused Isaiah Crowell to drive around with a gun in his car and hit a night club with enough pot smoke in it to stink up his car. Actually, they would have you believe that due to his deciding to play for Georgia, he'd have had less stress on him, would have had fewer expectations foisted upon him, and that a red shirt season would have made him a better decision maker.

Nevermore. (Image: Hipple)

Let me say this: I honestly feel bad for Isaiah Crowell. I sincerely hoped he would be the answer at tailback for two more years, culminating in a Heisman worthy Junior campaign that would have put him in the top five draft picks. I so wanted to believe that the good vibes we've been hearing out of Spring and the positive light of last year's oh so close to special season were harbingers of him having a renewed focus on football and living up to the reasonable expectations of his Head Coach, which I speculate now know involves not clubbing in a place that has enough reefer smoke in it to get the police suspicious at least 15 minutes later and not driving around with a filed down nina under your seat.

Even if he weren't the answer at tailback, I'd want him to be successful as a Georgia athlete and student. Now, he'll be neither. I'm sure there is room out there for the Mark Richt only recruits thugs/UGA football is out of control/had he only gone to Alabama memes. If you think he'd not gotten booted from school if he'd gone to Auburn or Tuscaloosa, then the story rightfully should be how those programs are too weak on gun crime (for the record, I think he'd have gotten the boot at either place).  If the story is that Athens caused Crowell to continue start to make unsound life decisions, then you are merely pandering for click throughs.

Crowell forced Mark Richt's hand on Friday morning. Coach Richt had no option other than dismissal. Based on what we've seen out of the past year from Isiah, I'd say this is as close to a come to Jesus moment as he'll get. He is a tremendous talent. I honestly hope we are hearing a feel good story out of him a few years down the road. Clearly, he has more decision making stuff to work on than if Athens or Tuscaloosa was the right decision for him.

It is too bad some of the real journalist don't care about or get that.

TD

Tweet

It's Friday

You can't play ball and you ain't got shit to do.

TD

Tweet