UGA blog finds new home
Morning all. As I’ve said a couple of times this week, we’re converting this blog over to a WordPress platform and it will be a permanent move the first of next week.
Those of you who are regulars probably know that I’m not what you’d call techno-wizard when it comes to these things. But from what I understand the technology offered in this new format should make the blogging and commenting experience better for all. Of course, I’ll be learning as we go along, too. But I’m hoping to provide more pictures and video and things like that which should bring the blog more to life.
Of course, this blog is nothing without all you guys so I want to heartily invite (read: beg) you to come over to the new site by CLICKING HERE ON THE NEW ADDRESS and save it in your browsers. As of Monday, Feb. 23rd, this will be the permanent home of the UGA blog you so love or, in the case of some of you, love to loathe. If you’d prefer to copy and paste or just memorize, the new address is: http://blogs.ajc.com/uga-sports-blog/.
See at the new place!
AJC > Sports > UGA > Blog > Archives > 2007 > June > 11
Monday, June 11, 2007
Suspensions piling up for Dogs
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
All right, you guys are already talking about it so let’s just throw it out there.
As everybody is well aware at this point, two more Georgia football players were arrested for alcohol-related offenses in the wee hours of Sunday morning. This makes five such arrests since last December: Offensive lineman Ian Smith (second), linebacker Akeem Hebron (February AND March) and now quarterback Blake Barnes and tight end Tripp Chandler. The athletics department policy on alcohol-related arrests, as written by AD Damon Evans in response to the last rash of indiscretions, is an automatic suspension for 10 percent of the season. With 12 games, that’s a suspension of 1.2 games and, for whatever reason, the Bulldogs round it up. So Barnes and Chandler are expected to miss the first two games of this season. That’s Oklahoma State and South Carolina, two doosies.
For those keeping count, that means Georgia football players that would otherwise be eligible and contributing will miss a total of 22 games this coming season. Hebron, who was dismissed from school, accounts for 12, Smith for six and two each for the latest violators.
Now I’ve been reading our blogs and the fan forums on the Internet and the general response I’m seeing from the Bulldog Nation is “this hurts recruiting” and “the police have it in for football players.” I’m not sure that’s realistic thinking.
Hey, I don’t necessarily agree that the drinking age is 21. It was 18 when I went to college and I kind of fall into that category of, if you’re old enough to die for your country and vote, then you’re old enough to drink. But the law is the law and 21 is the law. Athens also has an open-container ordinance. It’s against the law to walk down the street with a beer bottle in your hand.
Believe me, these guys know all this. Can you imagine how many times and to what degree coach Mark Richt and his assistants have gone over this with Georgia’s players? The obvious downside is that Chandler’s loss clearly will impact the team. Not only was he pretty much the only tight end getting snaps this past spring, but he was showing signs of getting ready for a breakout year. He’s the Bulldogs best player at that position. Coleman Watson is experienced but not as polished. Redshirt freshman standout NaDerris Ward is coming off shoulder surgery but I’m told he’ll be ready for preseason practices and is an impressive talent, just not as knowledgeable at this point.
So let’s hear what your thoughts are on the subject. Are football players being picked on? Is UGA going overboard in its punishment of underage drinkers and alcohol violators? Are they getting what they deserve? And what about the laws regarding drinking age?
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