UGA

By Michael G

July 1, 2008 7:23 PM | Link to this

If the players are guilty of the charges that have been alledged, then they should be punished accordingly. But if charges against these guys and any other athlete (for that matter) are found to be untrue, then I hope the you, Chip, and your fellow associates at the paper will say as such with the same zeal you report the allegations. Can you make this happen, Chip?

By UGAnSFLA

July 1, 2008 7:29 PM | Link to this

I too think that these young men should know that there is a certain responsibilty that comes with being a college athlete. However things turn out, just making the papers and being arrested does harm to the team, to the goals that they have set and to their reputation. The Lemon incident sounds pretty serious, but the other sound a little strange and if cameras captured the incident, we’ll all find out what the truth is.

By UGAnSFLA

July 1, 2008 7:30 PM | Link to this

I too think that these young men should know that there is a certain responsibilty that comes with being a college athlete. However things turn out, just making the papers and being arrested does harm to the team, to the goals that they have set and to their reputation. The Lemon incident sounds pretty serious, but the other sounds a little strange and if cameras captured the incident, we’ll all find out what the truth is.

By UGAnSFLA

July 1, 2008 7:30 PM | Link to this

I too think that these young men should know that there is a certain responsibilty that comes with being a college athlete. However things turn out, just making the papers and being arrested does harm to the team, to the goals that they have set and to their reputation. The Lemon incident sounds pretty serious, but the other sounds a little strange and if cameras captured the incident, we’ll all find out what the truth is.

By Eddis Stevenson III

July 1, 2008 7:34 PM | Link to this

UGA’s football coach apparently has done an unsatisfactory job in warning these student athletes about the big microscope that they venture under. If these young men are found guilty then strict measures should be enacted. If the young woman has been violated, both players should be kicked far away from the team and never set foot on campus. Clearly uga has some issues with not making theses young men understand and needs to recruit athletes with much better character. This certainly looks bad for the image of the University and hopefully Michael Adams will take take appropriate action sine CMR cannot get a handle on these reoccurring issues.

By aaron

July 1, 2008 7:50 PM | Link to this

to all who find this “unconsensual touching of the stomach” involving 2 uga linemen, go look at the police report describing the incident at onlineathens/dogbytes. to me, it seems very strange with the circumstances, description of the time and location, the female who pressed charges, and she being pregnant, and a “visitor”, not a student/resident. to me, sounds like the female is up to something. she doesn’t live at that building but there at ~1:30 am????? no mention of video in that article, however.

just very odd/weird. dude, what is or can be next?!?!

By Chip Towers

July 1, 2008 8:11 PM | Link to this

aaron, according to the young lady, she was visiting a friend that lives in the dorm. I have the girl’s name and checked it out. She said they watched a movie at someone else’s house and were coming back to go to sleep. I’m just saying that’s what she said.

By A-ville Ranger

July 1, 2008 8:22 PM | Link to this

MichaelG I’m as much a UGA homer as most anybody and I don’t see any relish in the way Chip reported this.It is what it is as they say and a paper’s job is to report.

By Former AJC Subscriber

July 1, 2008 8:31 PM | Link to this

I’ll tell you what I know. I know that on the eve of one of the most anticipated seasons in Georgia football history we’ve been subjected to the worst AJC coverage I have ever seen. The spring practice coverage was a joke and virtually non-existant. The college world series coverage was a joke. No blogs. No anything. Then a couple of UGA football players get arrested and suddenly Chip Towers comes out of the woodwork as Mr. Johnny on the Spot with the big scoop. Once again, a complete joke. Please stop pretending that you have any interest in journalism AJC. This is the National Enquirer of UGA sports. Dismissed.

By Huh?

July 1, 2008 8:33 PM | Link to this

“I wish these kids would behave year ‘round and never run afoul of the law. I can’t remember a year that has ever happened though.”

You must not have a very good memory then. I don’t remember any arrests before the 2006 season.

By kool$kat

July 1, 2008 8:35 PM | Link to this

Lets see, the sun came up this morning. The mailman delivered my mail today. The price of gas went up a few cents. And UGA athletes are running afoul of the law. Just another routine day.

By kool$kat

July 1, 2008 8:55 PM | Link to this

Did I fail to mention another FELONY indictment at Tech? This time rape to go along with felony drug trafficking, heroin use, and dead athletes. Yep Just another routine day. Pardon me for my omission of that penal institute over at North Avenue. They should have their own super max to contain those Tech thugs.

By DearingStDawg

July 1, 2008 9:23 PM | Link to this

Former AJC Subscriber, If you hate this paper so much, why do you come on this blog? Seriously. As a Georgia student and fan, I hate to see these guys arrested, but it is, believe it or not, a legitimate news story. And from an admittedly biased perspective, Georgia sports DO seem to get more coverage from the AJC because UGA news sells papers, meaning more adulation for our wins and more condemnation for our losses.

Back to the actual story, I hate that this happened, but it does and the players and team will have to pay the consequences. Luckily we have a ton of it (much with game experience) so I don’t think even the worst suspension will throw a serious wrench into our Nat’l title hopes, although Sturdivant looked like a potential star (and superb dancer).

That’s all I guess. Can’t wait until August 30th.

By Doc

July 1, 2008 9:31 PM | Link to this

I smell a rat. Can’t wait for the vindication of Trinton and Bean when the tape comes out. This pregnant woman is out at 1:30 in the morning….bet she will be a great mother. That’s the way to show responsibility with being a future mother. Let me also make another guess, no husband and no boyfriend and she will be looking to get “paid”. They should counter-sue if what I think happens.

By Former AJC Subscriber

July 1, 2008 9:37 PM | Link to this

DearingStDawg, great question. I guess its because I am a native Atlantan and the AJC has always been the hometown paper. Call it brand loyalty I suppose. But my moniker means what it says. I will certainly never pay for this garbage ever again. This website is free. The second it isn’t I am gone like the wind. I mean, don’t you think its funny how we get no blogs out of Chip for weeks and then blammo!!! A couple of players get arrested and we’re going to get the daily updates. Wouldn’t you consider spring practice and the CWS newsworthy as well? You hit the nail on your head with the selling newspapers comment. That is all the AJC is about and nothing else.

By Doc

July 1, 2008 9:38 PM | Link to this

She gave her name to the media? Sounds like she is really shaken up, especially when she refers to them as “Gentlemen” in the interview. She is getting her 15 minutes of fame!

By Mike

July 1, 2008 9:57 PM | Link to this

The fist fights shouldn’t be tolerated and I’m sure Richt will act accordingly, but that’s not nearly as serious as r-a-p-e which may have happened in the land of the Humble Bumbles. At what point in time will Clarence (the bore) Moore be blaming the SEC over the rape charges at Tech ??

By War Eagle

July 1, 2008 10:11 PM | Link to this

These girls are “loose”, giving name, rank and serial number. Its a shame high profile individual cant enjoy a good time without being condemned by aroused by a publicity seeking babe??

By SamoanDawg

July 1, 2008 10:22 PM | Link to this

dadgum it.. who let the dawgs out?!? good night man, don’t these kids ever learned from their mistakes. I think all the student athletes need to take some kind of ethic/diversity/harrassment/sexual harrassment class if the university hadn’t already. Make’em take it at least 5-10 times every year repeatedly. They need to understand the consequences before doing something stupid and ask themselves these questions: Is it wrong of me to drink, to fight, or approach a female? What would the coaches and my teammates think if I get arrested? Would my parents be upset with me? Would it made national headline? The answer is quite obvious. Think before you make a bone head decision, you knuckle heads! I dunno man, I’m frustrated with our guys making the same bone head mistakes every season. I know they’re just kids, immature youn men, but c’mon man, you would think they would already learned from their teammates mistakes or other schools’ student athletes trouble with the law. I hope nothing else comes up before we grind it out in August.

C’mon dawgs keep it together. Big expectations this season… focus!

sic’em!

By Chip Towers

July 1, 2008 10:31 PM | Link to this

Former AJC Subscriber: As I stated before the fact, I was on vacation during the Dogs’ College World Series appearance. Stan Awtrey covered the series instead and was in Omaha for 15 days, writing daily. I returned to work Monday and my blog resumed. It wasn’t my plan for three Georgia football players to get arrested upon my return… . By the way, we covered every single spring practice. We cover everything all the time — good or bad. Your conspiracy theories are laughable.

By TOO OLD N SMART FOR GANGSTA cRAP

July 1, 2008 11:05 PM | Link to this

all of our UGAs will be whining in their graves due to the irresponsible behavior of some of our athletes. As far as the incident in the dorm two things need to happen. One- the dorms for athletes should be off-limits to females - no exceptions. Two - these young men that are exposed to so called gangsta rap and some hip hop are conditioned to disrespect women by calling them names and mistreating them. Sadly some women go along with this sorry behaviour and when some woman does not her motives are questioned for reporting it. I personally do not think touching someone`s stomache should be a criminal offense but I do not make these silly laws. Therefore, ban all music that degrades women or men, has vulgar language (what is vulgar? the type you would not use in front of your mother or pastor - and if you would you should not be representing UGA - take your filthy music and depart the campus) and calls for violence or civil unrest. Anyone disagreeing is showing their lack of moral fibre. It is hard to expect young men to act as gentlemen when their upraising does not teach them differently. As for the young pregnant woman being in the dorm I do not think she should have been there but at the same time why would any man with any pride in being a man try to hit on a pregnant woman. Shape up you guys. STOP ALL THE STUPID STUFF AND THIS ESPECIALLY MEANS DRINKING OF ALCOHOL WHILE UNDERAGE AND OR DRIVING A VEHICLE. YOU ARE IN COLLEGE - DO NOT BE A MORON. yOU UGA athletes may not realize or care how much your fans and real friends care about you and when you do foolish things it hurts everyone that does care. We love you and may God bless and guide you. Remember, LOOK ALIVE - THERE ARE BUZZARDS OVERHEAD.

By Kyle

July 1, 2008 11:12 PM | Link to this

Wow I guess Richt just isn’t praying hard enough with his thugs, I mean kids. Funny how half the rednecks in the state of Georiga love nothing more than to condemn urban youth without a second thought, unless of course it pertains to that kid being able to run a four-fourty for good ole Georgia football!

By hotrod

July 1, 2008 11:22 PM | Link to this

Stan might have been in Ohama 15 days but he did not blog for 15 days, the coverage was a joke

By ugaheros

July 1, 2008 11:54 PM | Link to this

Every saint has a past, every sinner has a future. These young men are not perfect now, nor will they ever be, but they can, and most will learn from the mistakes of youth. The people who would throw these young men under the bus without waiting to hear both sides, or take pride in seeing this happen to another schools players need to get a life. These are real people, with real feelings, who have family, and friends who care for them. That also goes for the victims of these alleged crimes.

By RN DAWG

July 2, 2008 12:43 AM | Link to this

Kyle, you are a fool!! Richt praying with his players has nothing to do with the fact that the are KIDS!!! They make mistakes like everyone else does. They just happen to under a microscope for the world to see. No, I am sure you have never made ANY mistakes in your life.

By Denver Dawg

July 2, 2008 1:31 AM | Link to this

Like some other folks, I think this soon-to-be (c’mon 6 months pregnant is quite aways down the road) mom hanging out with friends and putting herself in potentially unsafe situations out in public at 1:30 a.m. is being irresponsible, if not stupid. That DOES NOT mean that these players had the right to do anything wrong to her (if they indeed did). If this turns out to be harmless or much less agressive or serious than she contends, I hope she is prosecuted. And on the same note, if these players indeed harassed this pregant woman in the way she described, I hope they are punished accordingly by the law and dismissed from the team. There’s no room for this garbage by anyone representing UGA, especially student-athletes, that, like it or not, represent our institution to a higher degree than than the rest of us.

By DWG

July 2, 2008 2:42 AM | Link to this

Chip, I see your point about what seems like a lot of arrests but if you dig deeper - and I know you have -most of these are pretty minor and not worthy of a “thug” tag.

Munzenmeir was arrested for hailing down a cop thinking it was a cab. At least he was drinking and had the sense to not drive and try getting a cab!

Humphrey blew a .02 and was arrested because he was 4 months underage. The other time he blew a .03. Add it up and he’s still under the legal limit if he’s of age. Not exactly a thug if you ask me.

The concealed weapons charge was a joke. A licensed gun that was just in the wrong place in the car - if it’s in the glove box he gets a speeding ticket for going 10 mph over the speed limit.

The other DUI’s are still pending and while I don’t condone that behavior it’s still more of a stupid decision than a “thug” issue.

The pregnant girl incident is strange and I’ll hold judgement to get the facts on that one but it too doesn’t seem too “thug-like”.

The only incident I see is the Lemon case. It’s unfortunate but the young man may have issues. His mom was murdered last year and he needs to get his life straightened out. Hopefully if he gets booted from the team, his coaches and team mates will be there to help him out.

So basically I think if you read past the headlines you’ll find that most of these cases are young men in college doing foolish things - not worthy of a “thug” tag.

Just my 2¢.

By Relax people

July 2, 2008 7:04 AM | Link to this

Chip - you have the nerve to go on vacation? you should be tied to your desk, delivering the latest news on “our” boys. My life is so laughable that I have to put a college logo on my chest, my car, and a flag in my yard to show everyone how successful I am. “My teenage athletes (that I’ve never even met) are playing a game in Athens, and I need the results NOW so that I can gloat about how clairvoyant I am. Can’t wait til the Fall so I can get drunk every weekend and ignore my kids!

Hey folks - do you see how ridiculous your fanaticism is? Enjoy the games, pull for your teams, but try - try to put the importance of the ajc football coverage in perspective.

if some of you put this much energy into your local schools, churches, and charities - our communities would be a much better place. Okay, lecture over. Go dawgs. Make us proud. Keep it in perspective.

By Bryan G.

July 2, 2008 7:35 AM | Link to this

Apparently the girl is claiming that Sturdivant and Anderson touched her stomach?

Can you shed some light on this, Chip? Like…was it done sexually?

Maybe they are guilty of a simple battery, but other than running a few steps, they shouldn’t be punished.

By jj

July 2, 2008 7:37 AM | Link to this

It is time for the dawgs to care about their image as well as wins. It is a constant headline of UGA legal woes. Not exactly good role models for our future athletes. All teams have “problem students”, but nothing like UGA. GET A GRIP. We do not want the dawgs to be known as the convict team.

By Kevin

July 2, 2008 7:46 AM | Link to this

Question of the day?

Who’s going to win the “thUGA vs. criminal tide” matchup? And no, I’m not talking about 9/27….

Two low rent programs working hard for that Fulmer Cup!

By Wen

July 2, 2008 8:04 AM | Link to this

The Lemon incident seems serious, but this kind of thing goes on at other colleges on a regular basis. If he outright attacked the guy, then that is assault and he will be punished by the law and the university. As for the incident involving Sturdivant and Anderson, the circumstances seem very strange. Also, the supposed victim, pregnant,out at 1:30AM and no mention of boyfriend, husband or the friend that she was going to spend the night with, doesn’t indicate a whole lot of character either. In addition, she stated that she did not know that they were football players, both 6-5 295, is extremely hard to believe. It may well be that this person is looking for the limelight or some form of recognition al la the runaway bride. I’d be willing to bet that this incident is bogus and we find out there is more to this story than her allegations. At any expense, in both cases the truth will come out and if there were crimes committed, the proper actions will be taken by law enforcement and UGA.

By Gamecock Travis

July 2, 2008 8:05 AM | Link to this

Like I’ve posted before, you uga fans should never have bashed the other SEC teams about their players in their incidents. But you people always think that you are all high and mighty. Guess what, your boys get in trouble just like everybody else’s and Richt isn’t an expert judge of character after all.

By the way, sorry about your damn dog.

By reality check

July 2, 2008 8:05 AM | Link to this

There is a big difference between being accused of something and being convicted of it.

Whatever happened to the Tripp Taylor case? He was accused of speaking harshly to someone, which can be assault in Georgia. However the fact the “victim” didn’t file charges for 6 weeks made it a very speculative case in my view.

And whatever became of the disposition of the Kevin Salisbury case at Tech? I never saw the outcome reported in AJC. He beat that girl up pretty badly based on the published pictures. That case just went away. Incidentally, he is a lawyer now.

Or Rueben Houston for that matter? I saw the AP reports of his guilty plea, but I never saw it reported in AJC.

I may have missed those so if they are somewhere in the archives I would like to know.

I think it is a valid point that all these accusations - some of which have been proven to be pretty flimsy - are reported prominently but the ultimate disposition of the cases usually are not.

By jbeggs

July 2, 2008 8:30 AM | Link to this

Hey Kevin, you wreak of Awbarn cow manure. Trey Blackmon ring a bell? How many of these UGA and UA palyers did Awbarn offer a scholly to? Answer: every one of them. Loser.

By SlickWillie

July 2, 2008 8:37 AM | Link to this

Good points reality check, but we never know what type of legal representation one may have or the type of plea arrangement. It would be ideal if all SA were mature/responsible. Ten years ago this kind of stuff would not be newsworthy and would be handled in house. As some posted, it appears rather filmsy.

By reality check

July 2, 2008 8:48 AM | Link to this

Here is some more good reading on AJC today. I encourage everyone to read the entire article about the type of “he said she said” stuff that is going on throughout our society today. Anderson and Sturdivant just got some education on what can’t be said or done. In this case there were taxpayer dollars paid out, just like there were taxpayer dollars paid out to Jan Kemp years ago.

Chip, correct me if I am wrong, but I do not believe Jan Kemp spent any of that money to fix her hair, or if it was ever fixed I never saw it reported in AJC and it certainly would have been newsworthy.

By ARIEL HART The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Published on: 07/01/08

The state Department of Transportation has agreed to pay about $150,000 to two employees who complained that former vice chairman Garland Pinholster repeatedly made sexually charged comments to them.

A report released Tuesday details comments to DOT assistant board secretary Mary Harris by Pinholster and two other board members. Harris is settling with the department for $100,000 for incidents that go back years, the report says….

By Mike

July 2, 2008 8:51 AM | Link to this

(1) I am not a UGa fan, but think anyone who throws mud at UGa over these incidents is lower than whale do-do. Seems like every Div I school I know of has had problems and there aren’t any saintly programs out there. (2) I DO think certain programs need to take some of these things more seriously. IF (and that is a big IF) an incident is deemed to be a real problem, then much more severe penalties need to be invoked than slapping a guy on the wrist by suspending him for some game against some weakling opponent. To ne, FSU has always been one of the most serious offenders of this kind, although many SEC schools also fall into that trap. (3) II fully recognize that all too often, simple misunderstandings or very minor problems also get trumped up into big deals by media. Somewhere, there needs to be an accounting held of these media types. Don’t know how, just sayin’

By murdock5151

July 2, 2008 9:22 AM | Link to this

If they only touched her stomach, call me insensitive but what’s the big deal? To all of you posting that she had no business being out so late i completely disagree. She had just as much of a right to be out there as anyone else. It is not any of your places to say whether or not she will be a good mother because she was out at 1:30 in the morning. But i don’t understand why she couldn’t slap there hands or just yell at them. Calling the police and having someone arrested for touching someone’s stomach seems a little extreme. As for lemon, sounds like he got in a fight at a party and took care of business. This happens all of the time in college but since he is a football player and beat the crap out of the guy, the cops were called. Lemon should have known better but a college kid getting in a fight doesn’t really sound very thuggish to me. I still am amazed at these alcohol arrests though. Since when did college students start drinking? Shocking

By 82DAWG

July 2, 2008 9:37 AM | Link to this

Unbelievable. I think we need to put all these guys in a cage with a sign above it that says “In case of football, break glass”.

It is not a matter of “When will these guys ever learn”, because you know it is drilled into them over and over. It’s that they are NOT CAPABLE of learning this lesson. You can’t take a dog and yell at it “Don’t pee in the house!” and expect that he will get it. I think the same is true of these guys. No amount of yelling will ever matter. You know Richt will now meet with the whole team and yell at them to pay attention to what they are doing, spell everything out remind them what is at stake and in the next couple of weeks another player or two will be arrested for something else. They just don’t get it and they never will.

By 78 DAWG

July 2, 2008 9:40 AM | Link to this

More ajc trying to bring down our NC season. CMR has schooled these kids on how to behave, this is just slander. If somebody got punched in the nose they deserved it.

By bwest

July 2, 2008 11:01 AM | Link to this

Chip-

I’m not a UGA alum, although I am a fan. I totally understand that you have to report everything, the good and the bad. Anyone who thinks otherwise is just a nut. What I wonder is whether the Athens/Clarke Police treat UGA athletes like any other student. I know when I was in college I got away with plenty of warnings when I could have gotten DUIs. It seems to me that there are a lot of Barney Fifes out there who like to make a name for themselves. I’d be interested in hearing your perspective.

By bwest

July 2, 2008 11:02 AM | Link to this

Chip-

I’m not a UGA alum, although I am a fan. I totally understand that you have to report everything, the good and the bad. Anyone who thinks otherwise is just a nut. What I wonder is whether the Athens/Clarke Police treat UGA athletes like any other student. I know when I was in college I got away with plenty of warnings when I could have gotten DUIs. It seems to me that there are a lot of Barney Fifes out there who like to make a name for themselves. I’d be interested in hearing your perspective.

By Dawg 05

July 2, 2008 11:08 AM | Link to this

Chip,

If the incident involving Anderson and Sturdivant was on camera at the ECV, could you not use Georgia’s Freedom of Information Act to get a copy of said video? I’m sure lots of readers would like to watch what happened.

By Matt in STL

July 2, 2008 11:22 AM | Link to this

Chip, I’ve read your blogs for months and never commented, but after reading all of the negative stuff I’ve seen today - particularly by the FormerAJCSubscriber - I wanted to say I think you’re great and have done an outstanding job covering the Dogs. For the Former, yaddy yadda, to say what he said shows that he hasn’t consistently followed your blogs.

Go Dogs, and I pray to God Sturdivant and Anderson didn’t do anything wrong (it looks like Lemon is toast).

By BADDAWG

July 2, 2008 11:32 AM | Link to this

MY GAWD ALMIGHTY!!!!!!!!!! ENOUGH, ENOUGH, ENOUGH!!!!!!!!! I am a HUGH dawg fan and a HUGH college football fan. I am NOT here to defend the three latest UGA players involved in these incidents. And for those of you that will be here today casting stones and trying to make light of UGA and what CMR is or is not doing to get a grip on this sort of thing….shut up and get back in your glass house! These sorts of incidents are becoming far too common in college athletics period. And as far as i am concerned, especially so at UGA…and i say that because I AM a long time fan, and supporter of UGA athletics. I went to school in the late 60’s and early 70’s. I spent some weekends at the athletic dorm with a friend of mine that played football at UGA. What goes on now involving the partying, underage drinking, fights, etc. pales in comparison with what is happening now. And people please…..if you dont think it was and is happening at what ever university you happen to support, then you are lying to yourself big time. Somehow, someway, these kids have to realize that as a division one athlete(especially a football or basketball player at a major university) their every move is highly scruitinzed. There lives are lived under the microscope. It is really not fair to them…they cant really enjoy the college life like most students. However, that is just the way it is…it comes with the PRIVALEGE of being an athlete on scholarship at a major division one school. It will never stop, but it has to get better….enough is enough. As for my fellow DAWG supporters that are jumping all over Chip for doing his job….that is simply WRONG!!! There is no conspiracy on the part of Chip Towers or the AJC here…whether you like it or not they are just reporting the news…and in this case the “sports” news. there will always be “columns” by “columnist” much of which is opinion based…many of them i do not agree with or like…many of them I do like…because they are read thru my red and black shaded glasses. Does UGA get enough coverage….never will from a DAWGS perspective!! Ask the Tech people what they think about fair coverage and the amount of coverage they recieve…or lack thereof. Anyway…enough of my rambling and venting…Coach Richt put them under lock and key…..24-7. Maybe, just maybe this will be the last incident till kick off……somehow I doubt it!!!!

By SlickWillie

July 2, 2008 12:36 PM | Link to this

Young people are profiled by law enforcement no matter the race. I have experienced it first hand with my son. Young people, especially in college towns, garner more attention. Could be a jealousy issue with the feeling of the so called has/has not. I would imagine SA’s would receieve more scrutiny.

By Jesse Long

July 2, 2008 12:42 PM | Link to this

Before making comments about there being a problem with the behaviour of UGA athtletes - or just football players…one would need to figure out the arrest rate of males 17-24 and also the arrest rate of male UGA students and compare them to the arrest rate on the football team. You would need to control for the number of arrests of UGA athletes that occurred in their home towns or elsewhere…but that were publicized because of their being a member of a UGA athletic program while regular UGA male student arrests in their home town would not show up on the arrest records at UGA or Athens-Clark County.

By mookie

July 2, 2008 1:46 PM | Link to this

It’s amazing that alot of these issues happen (pro and college) at 1:00 to 5:00 in the morning. But when your out ” partying” and checking out all the hot babes ….. something bad is probally going to happen.Your not out at that time unless you are drinking, smokeing or popping pills, thats just the way it is when you are “trying to score”. Alot of us have already been there done that routine.

By George

July 2, 2008 1:48 PM | Link to this

I don’t know about you guys but if Sturdivant and Anderson were agressive with me I’d be pretty darned freaked out too. Have you ever seen guys like this in person? They are freaking enormous. I’m a grown man, 6 feet tall, and 170 lbs. and they could stomp me like a bug. Imagine how this pregnant girl must have felt. Just try to put yourself in her shoes. She must have been terrified. I’m not saying they attacked her or anything, just that any kind of agressive behavior at all from these guys, no matter how harmless, would be alarming for most people. I think they were just innocently fooling around and crossed a line they shouldn’t have crossed. Once the poor girl calms down maybe she’ll drop the whole thing. Who knows.

By Alan

July 2, 2008 2:44 PM | Link to this

You people make more excuses for bad behavior than are believable. It starts with recruiting and then “babying” athletes as if they have special standing in society. Recruiters know what kind of person they are getting when they recruit. It’s easy to find out about the character and behavior of potential athletes. It’s obvious that UGA (and GA TECH) will recruit thugs and badly behaving men when winning is the only bottom line. Changes need to be made in this entire process and scholarships revoked for ANY illegal and simply bad behavior. If not currently in, scholarships must have moral, ethical and legal requirements. Anything less is a farce. Kind of like the punishment these athletes reveive for this behavior.

By Big Earl

July 2, 2008 2:53 PM | Link to this

Chip - I just read the Police reports from both instances. It sounds like Trinton and Justin were just kidding around and touched this girl’s pregnant stomach. Didn’t sound to me like she was threatened or harmed in any way, but they didn’t have her permission. Of course, I’m sure the very size of these men could scare her, but I’d love to see the video to see if these girls were talking to and/or smiling and laughing with these guys. Any insight from your conversation with her? From what I’ve read, sounds to me like they should offer a sincere apology to the girl and MR should make them write 1000 times, “I must keep my hands to myself unless given permission”.

As for the Lemon fight, it sounds like he’s a real bully and a jerk. To beat up a guy (I’m sure was much smaller than him) simply because the guy was “talking” to his girlfriend….c’mon. If the article is true, I’m sure MR will get rid of his sorry butt. No 2nd chances for something like this. If what I’ve read is true and the whole story, UGA doesn’t need or want thugs like him.

By shane#1

July 2, 2008 2:55 PM | Link to this

Chip, it was a case of bad timing for the arrest and Your vacation that made Former feel like You were rapping on UGA. If You remember I picked this bone with You a while back. My problem is not with the AJC covering the news, it is opening every player arrest to comment. The haters wll call them thugs, the fans will defend Them and nothing will be solved. If anyone has any idea how to stop teenagers from doing somethig stupid, I am sure CMR would be more than glad to hear it. In fact, as a parent that raised two of Them, so would I! As it is now, most posts on this subject are a waste of time and just lead to more trash talk. BTW, I wish I could subscribe to the AJC, but We South Georgians were deemed unworthy.

By Jim Donnan

July 2, 2008 3:02 PM | Link to this

This is a non-story. Just another in a long line of disciplinary problems at UGA. There have been some in the past, here in the present, and you better believe there will be more in the future. It has to do with the type of athlete that UGA recruits —there is no total person concept whatsoever.

By Big Earl

July 2, 2008 3:06 PM | Link to this

Does anyone know how you could “sexually touch someone’s pregnant stomach”?

By shane#1

July 2, 2008 3:12 PM | Link to this

Alan, How do You judge character? None of these guys had records and Trinton was valadictorian and President of His Senior class. He finished HS with a 4.01 gpa. He made the SEC Freshman All Academic team. Would You not have recruited this kid? Lemon was a hardship case, His Mother was murdered by Her ex-boyfriend. I was pulling for Him to make it, but that type of background is hard to overcome.

By Jaime Gaverts

July 2, 2008 3:21 PM | Link to this

Chip, I love how you say: “Say what you want but Georgia needs to get a handle on all this and I’m sure it will.”

Sure they will? They’ve had 3 decades to get a handle on it and they haven’t come close. When UGa understands that suspending a guy for Directional St U and running some stadium steps ain’t cutting it, then they’ll “get a handle on this.” Throw them off the team. That’ll get a handle on it. It starts from the top down over at the asylum aka Athens Correctional.

By bamafan

July 2, 2008 3:46 PM | Link to this

Looks like the bulldogs are trying to win the Fulmer cup from Bama this year!! If your a fan of the crimson tide or bulldogs, get ready to pass the hat for bail money? PAROLE TIDE AND PAROLE BULLDOGS!!!

By Zeb

July 2, 2008 3:53 PM | Link to this

Shane, come on man, the Albany Herald is a heck of a paper!!!LOL. At least you’ve got that. I grew up with the freakin Cuthbert Times!! What a joke.

Lemon’s situation and background is sad, but this type of behavior can’t be tolerated. Sounds like he needs some serious therapy. And I agree with some on here, I’d like to see that video of the pregnant girl. Somethin’ just don’t sound right.

By Cuz

July 2, 2008 4:04 PM | Link to this

The Lemon case sounds serious and should be dealt with accordingly as soon as ajudicated. The other two, most of us were raised that if a woman did not want to be touched, leave her alone. Poor judgement on their part. One would think that they would have been smart enough to leave her alone. One would think, but evidently, young people do not think anymore.

Pull off the redshirts so we can have a line for the first few games.

By Zeb

July 2, 2008 4:13 PM | Link to this

You’re right Cuz, we keep losin lineman, me, you and Shane might have to suit up!! Man, that would be scary.

By Georgia Fan

July 2, 2008 4:28 PM | Link to this

There are slightly over 100 people on UGA’s football team. There have been 7 arrests this offseason. That is roughly 7% of the football team. If it is the “type of athlete that UGA recruits”, wouldn’t there be a higher incident rate than 7%? That’s painting with a pretty broad brush buddy.

Its ashame that the 93% that can behave themselves have to be subjected to this. Just recently I was watching some interviews with UGA football players during spring practice on CSS. Contrary to the stereotypes and myths perpetuated by some, they were well spoken, intelligent, humble, and polite. These guys work harder than most of you will work in an entire lifetime. They deserve your respect. This goes for all of college football, not just Georgia. The bad actions of a few should not be imputed to the vast majority that mind their own business and do what they are supposed to do.

Chip, I wish the media would provide a little more perspective when reporting these stories.

Thanks for listening.

By The Real Scope

July 2, 2008 6:01 PM | Link to this

Here is how it all boils down folks. A GAME is a series of choices that lead to consequences. Make the right choice, the consequence is most likely a good one. Make the wrong choice, the consequence is most likely not so good.

Now, take out the word GAME and put in LIFE. Life is a series of choices that lead to consequences. That is what we have going on now at the University of Georgia, Georgia Institute of Technology and many other schools around the country. Unfortunately, several of our young people have not been taught to make the right choices in the game of life and don’t understand that there will be consequences that accompany their choices.

You drink, you drive, you get caught, there are consequences. You touch a girl that doesn’t want to be touched, there are consequences. You take drugs and take too many, there are consequences. Some of those consequences may mean you run a few stairs, some may mean you miss a game or two, some could end your career or even your life.

We can all scream that the UGA players did this or the Tech players did that, or the (insert the name of your favorite school here) players did what ever. It really doesn’t matter what school it is, too many kids are making the wrong choices. To make matters worse, we all take the “our kid would never do that” attitude and deflect the blame to others for the kids bad behavior (simply scroll back up and locate the comment that blames the Barney Fife’s of the world to see what I mean). The kids are the ones to blame for the choices THEY make. We as parents, mentors and experienced adults need to help them make the right choices and help them the best we can when they make the wrong ones. In the end, they are still the ones that have to be accountable for their choices.

By harleydawg

July 2, 2008 6:44 PM | Link to this

when i played we had a athletic dorm we shared w/basketball team, a coach lived in the bottom floor with wife and kids, to keep tabs, dont get caught late coming in, be on porch by 10 pm during season, midnight after season, the ncaa was stupid to take this away in 91, we were not special and we wanted freedom from curfew but it helped coaches keep us in line, thats what counts, we were kids who believed we wouldnt get caught and its the same today,bring back athletic dorms.

By harleydawg

July 2, 2008 6:44 PM | Link to this

when i played we had a athletic dorm we shared w/basketball team, a coach lived in the bottom floor with wife and kids, to keep tabs, dont get caught late coming in, be on porch by 10 pm during season, midnight after season, the ncaa was stupid to take this away in 91, we were not special and we wanted freedom from curfew but it helped coaches keep us in line, thats what counts, we were kids who believed we wouldnt get caught and its the same today,bring back athletic dorms.

By Cotton Mather

July 2, 2008 7:32 PM | Link to this

The harlot tempting our upstanding athletes should be stoned to death, and Richt should cast the first stone.

By The Big Dog Rooster Stomper

July 2, 2008 8:18 PM | Link to this

Mr Lame C** Travis This is a UGA blog and your negative comments about Mr UGA vi are not welcome. He was a damn good dog not a damn dog. Your wimpy chicken mascot would not make a good meal for a Bulldog. Speak when spoken to child.

By Joe

July 2, 2008 9:33 PM | Link to this

Chip, Coach Richt cannot get ahold of it.

The police in Athens are like the Gestapo.

I had plenty of friends in Athens get arrested for very, very little. It is a joke there.

In Atlanta, the cops are not going to bother with a case of a pregnant girl trying to get paid. They would laugh if she called that it.

In Auburn and Tuscaloosa, the police pander to the athletes and let them get away with anything.

Athens has become an extension of those white trash enclaves of Gwinnett county, and unfortunately those redneck cops have moved to Clarke Co. as well.

It is a sad situation.

By Gen Neyland

July 2, 2008 10:02 PM | Link to this

Hey Joe, where you going with that gun in your hand..? I’m not qualified to refute your claim re: the Athens police, but IF someone files charges, what are the police to do..? I doubt the S.W.A.T. Team was sent out on the touching event, but the smackdown may have garnered a bit more attention from the squads…BTW, the sunsets are beautiful in Sabatical City…

By Cuz

July 2, 2008 10:10 PM | Link to this

It is what it is. It only matters what you define the word is to mean. Sorry got that from a future Mt. Rushmore candidate. Look, if you wash your hands, don’t run around with sharp objects and keep your hands off women who you don’t know and never met, after 12:00 AM, you will be fine.

By SamoanDawg

July 2, 2008 10:35 PM | Link to this

Keep your paws to yourself fellas..

59 mo’ days.

sic’em!

By War Eagle

July 2, 2008 10:50 PM | Link to this

Bamafan, what `s up in Tideland? Can we add to Parole Tide to Blow Tide? tough luck, Johns had his brain in the gutter..I think UGA players got hit by semi-low life looking for action and found it.. Getting ready for the Dome, should be a good game, think Clemson will win by 10?

By shane #1

July 2, 2008 11:42 PM | Link to this

War Eagle, if Clemson beats Saban by ten, the ACC will have something on Their hands. Give Me Saban with all summer to prepare, and the other Bowden with the same amount of time, I’ll take Saban. With a young Papa Bowden and the same athletes, Papa would be playing for a NC. Of course, I would not put it past Jr to beat Bama, and the have His tookas handed to him by Tech and Wake Forest. Jr just can’t seem to take the title and get past 9-4. Cotton, I agree with You on the stoning, but here in South Ga We don’t have enough rocks. Throwing sand at people kind of loses something. Cuz, My Old man always said “nothing good can happen after 12 pm.” I found Him to be right about 70% of the time.

By Well

July 3, 2008 12:51 AM | Link to this

1.)All fans need to remember that it happens to every BCS program to varying degrees 2.) These guys are innocent until proven guily. 3.) These are athletes and only reflect on their own character, not the character of the schools fans or students overall.

By sobedawg

July 3, 2008 3:05 AM | Link to this

Another example of the redneck Clarke County law enforcement officers stirring up trouble for UGA…and the AJC is just fanning the flames. This type of stuff happens ALL THE TIME to Florida, Florida State and Miami, but it gets put on the back page (in the briefs) of the Miami-Herald. Enough of this…Let’s get ready to play some football!

By George

July 3, 2008 7:05 AM | Link to this

I think UGA and Bama should help the world out and join forces to build a jail to house all of their football players. 16 players arrested between those two schools in the last year alone. Just truly pathetic and truly the the most classless programs in not only the SEC but the country. UGA just continues to prove again and agian with the actions of its PATHETIC fans, THUG players, etc that they are the least classy progrgam in the country!!

By KC Kid

July 3, 2008 7:08 AM | Link to this

Well said by The Real Scope who posted at 6:01. No matter what school it happens at, these guys aren’t victims. They made their choices, now they live with the consequences. If they’re innocent, great. If not, so be it. Let the punishment fit the crime. No excuses, don’t blame police departments, coaching staffs or anyone else. Young men must learn to stand on their own two feet, and deal with the consequences. By the time they’re in college, it’s not their mommas and daddies, it’s not their schools, it’s not their coaches, and it’s not the people they find themselves around. It’s all up to them. Hold them accountable for their actions, no matter where they go to school.

By jack

July 3, 2008 7:12 AM | Link to this

You UGA f’ing fans are just truly amazing!!! Saying this stuff happens everywhere. You are right it does. But you know what????? 6 arrests in the last year. That does NOT happen everywhere and the fact that yall are making excuse after excuse is just typical of the PATHETIC PATHETIC PATHETIC PATHETIC dawg nation. There is not a program in the country that is more full of excues in every aspect than the dawg nation. Excuses why the pups Always choke when the have high football expectaions, excuses and whining of why the should have played for the national championship when they did not even win their division of 6 teams. It can be seen in other sports as well. Most recently in baseball as the excuses were flying from every angle to why the dogs simply choked to death and let one player beat them to a pulp in the last game of the college world series. Just grow up dawg fans and get rid of all the excuses. Nobody likes whiners and that is why it is so damn easy to hate the pathetic dawg nation. If yall are going to continue to cry about various things please help us all out and go shed your tears over lake lanier so you can help out the drought and fill the lake back up.

By reality check

July 3, 2008 7:35 AM | Link to this

What team do you support jack? Are you a Tech fan like george?

You are very confused. Dawg fans aren’t making excuses. We are very proud of our athletic results this past year including multiple national championships, number 2 final ranking in football and baseball and SEC tournament champs in basketball. How did whatever team you support do?

Or are you too ashamed to say what team you support?

Criticism of success is usually an indicator of low self esteem. Get some help.

By reality check

July 3, 2008 7:44 AM | Link to this

The Michel Lemon case appears to be by far the most serious charge in the Richt era if the Athens Banner Herald Reports are true. He is likely to be convicted, although his attorney may be able to get him modest punishment as a first offender.

I’m disappointed for him. He was showing great promise and he certainly has had it rough. What he did appears to be a serious offense that could cost him his football career at Georgia.

By buford the redneck

July 3, 2008 8:09 AM | Link to this

our boys are innocent they didnt do anything. the more arrests you have the better the team

By Paddy

July 3, 2008 9:03 AM | Link to this

According to some of you, you don’t think this is news and it is a hatchet job on UGA. Get over yourselves. This is a news worthy story as much as we all hate this type of news coming out of Athens. The AJC like any other newspaper in the country would cover it in the same manner. Let it play out and then we will play great with whomever is left. Tech has had similar stories written in the near past. Do you think the AJC is trying to ruin both school? Grow up. This is what we call unbiased journalism. Not conspericy journalism.

By shane #1

July 3, 2008 11:11 AM | Link to this

Hey Chip, did You write the “Fulmer gets fat raise” headline? It sounds like Your sly humor. One has to wonder how effective Lemon would be as a DE. He was most improved at His posistion in spring practice, and worked His way up to third string. That means that either that the Dawgs are very deep at De, or Lemon’s talent was somewhat limited. With the players that UGA has coming in at DE in 2008 and 2009 how much pt do you guys think He would have gotten?

By The General Feeling

July 3, 2008 11:39 AM | Link to this

Am I reading “kids will be kids” at UGA? Give us a break. UGA has become, once again, the leading program gone afoul. Kids will stray but it happen more often in Athens. Black jerseys, gansta rap, dancing on the field…its all a lack of discipline.

By War Eagle

July 3, 2008 11:55 AM | Link to this

shane#1, please take care of your lee County money betting on Saban. Moral is almost rock bottom at Bama. They might lose another LB(starter) ,plus bad attitudes.They might be better than last year, it depends on how many of those 5 STARS can come through.The past recruiting years was not the best. for Bama.

By Jaime Gaverts

July 3, 2008 12:03 PM | Link to this

reality check, no one is surprised at your statements. The rest of the nation gets weekly confirmation that the tail wags the dog over in Athens. Half those clowns couldn’t get into ANY other college without playing a sport. When folks start to take the problem seriously, only then will things shape up. You can be proud of your athletic success all you want, but until things are cleaned up over there, the rest of us see it for what it is. The Mean Machine plays on Saturdays………..in Athens.

By Huh?

July 3, 2008 12:16 PM | Link to this

Black jerseys? Really? Did I hear that right? I am willing to sit back and let people say absolutely mindless things to a point, but this crosses a line. Now uniform color is an indication of one’s individual character? Please allow me to take this opportunity to laugh directly in your face Mr. General Feeling. Good grief.

By trent

July 3, 2008 12:43 PM | Link to this

BRING BACK CARTER STRICKLAND! Seriously. Or someone. Former AJC subscriber is right. I am a lifelong subscriber and while it was very good in recent years, it has really, really tailed off lately — ESPECIALLY the offseason coverage, which is non-existent.

The editor left. The other UGA writer left. Knobbler left covering Georgia Tech. We’re left with biased coverage — am I the only fan sick of reading “Richt is doing everything he can” cuz he’s clearly NOT — and not very much of it.

The paper is too small and what is in there is just not interesting. What happened to the full pages on the SEC — and yes, even the ACC — after spring practice? Last year, yall did a full page every Sunday in the summer time that I looked forward to every weekend. There is NOTHING now. They even got rid of the top five list.

By buck b

July 3, 2008 1:21 PM | Link to this

Perriloux should be granted Sainthood in comparison to these uga thugs. uga is turning into the old Miami Hurricane with the exception that they have not won a major championship in any sport since HW.

By buck b

July 3, 2008 1:21 PM | Link to this

Perriloux should be granted Sainthood in comparison to these uga thugs. uga is turning into the old Miami Hurricane with the exception that they have not won a major championship in any sport since HW.

By buck b

July 3, 2008 1:22 PM | Link to this

Perriloux should be granted Sainthood in comparison to these uga thugs. uga is turning into the old Miami Hurricane with the exception that they have not won a major championship in any sport since HW.

By shane #1

July 3, 2008 2:06 PM | Link to this

War Eagle, I don’t plan on betting any money on Bama. I bet on the home teams, UGA and Tech. Tech has cost Me money the past couple of Years so I doubt I’ll put any more money on them untill Johnson shows Me what He’s got. Same with young Bowden, He hasn’t shown me that much in the past 11 years, especially the last couple of years with FSU and Miami hiting the skids. If this Clemson team had Grobe or Beamer for a coach and I was betting on the game, then My money would be on Clemson. As far as the problems at UGA, most are minor offenses and 99% of them involve drinking. Adams’ idea of stopping the “party school” culture in Athens doesn’t seem to be working. Higher admissions standards and changing the name of the “worlds largest outdoor cocktail party” haven’t helped. Neither has stepped up police actions and more student arrests. According to some of the posters on this blog non-athletes are being arrested by the van load too. So what next? Richt started a mentoring program for feshmen. He has suspended players year after year, kicking some off the team. Hebron was suspended for two semisters. Guys have been locked up, some have been fined, yet it continues summer after summer. I don’t think the football players will ever improve untill the student body as a whole improves. What Adams has tried so far hasn’t worked, and I have no clue what plan would work.

By Mr Westside

July 3, 2008 2:46 PM | Link to this

TOO OLD N SMART FOR GANGSTA cRAP, How do you know what type of music those players listen to? And do you think all young people listen to foul music and follow what they hear in songs? Please think before you stereotype kids. No one excsuses bad behavior, but by giving univeral causes of problems is ridiculous.

By Cane Alum

July 3, 2008 2:49 PM | Link to this

Sobedawg,

You say this stuff happens all the time to FSU, UF, and Miami. I don’t know about FSU or UF but I can’t recall a Miami player being arrested in years. We certainly haven’t had 7 arrests in a matter of months. Looks like UGA and OSU are fighting for the title of Thug U!

By Paddy

July 3, 2008 2:56 PM | Link to this

Here is a plan. Adams restricts CMR and is staff to campus 24/7. No more visiting the troups no more family vacations. Just be on constant patrol. When will this maddness end? UGA fans are getting nervous. CMR seems to be doing all the preventive measures he can, and it still does not effect behavior. Players YOU are responsible for your own actions. Team captains, time for you to answer the bell on this one. It is out of control.

By CarolinaJacket

July 3, 2008 3:10 PM | Link to this

Paddy, you are right, and, obviously, its not just at UGA. Everyone involve simply must step up and work to reduce this sort of thing. Otherwise, a lot of kids are going to mess up a chance of a lifetime, plus, the teams and fans will be hurt as well.

By catlady

July 3, 2008 3:46 PM | Link to this

Kids need to be recruited based on academics, athletic skills, and character. Each leg of the stool is important.

By Zeb

July 3, 2008 4:02 PM | Link to this

Carolina, I don’t know why these knuckle-heads do this every year, but I start to cringe as soon as the spring game is over. When I was in bootcamp, and one of our guys did something stupid, the entire platoon got punished. Believe me, it only happened a couple of times. I know it may not seem fair, but it dang sure worked. That team is only as good as it’s weakest link. They need to start policing themselves a little better.

By reality check

July 3, 2008 4:44 PM | Link to this

Okay Chip I want to see where AJC has reported that Jeremy Lomax was totally exonerated on the concealed weapons charge. AJC prominently reported he was arrested. I posted on this blog that an unloaded gun under the seat did not appear to me to be a violation of Georgia’s concealed weapons law.

Maybe I missed it in the AJC, but it is a fact he was found not guilty.

It is also a fact that the overall Grade point average of the football team last semester was 3.23!

Maybe I missed it in AJC but that is a fact as well and one that I believe is newsworthy. What it is not, however, is negative toward Georgia football.

By A-ville Ranger

July 3, 2008 5:17 PM | Link to this

Doc and Wen,are you guys out of your minds ? Questioning a girl for ”being out at 1:30 am” as if she was partying or even streetwalking.The comment by Wen that ”there was no mention of her going home to a boyfriend or husband”.Who are you to make such asinine judgements of her ?

By reality check

July 3, 2008 5:51 PM | Link to this

I’m tired of all this stuff about arrests. Most of them wind up like the Lomax case and get dismissed but nmobody reports itbecause it isn’t sensational.

Where is the reporting on how the football team is doing?

I have heard reports from very credible sources that the summer workouts are going extremely well and two of the freshmen who reported just this summer have really been turning heads and will definitely contribute this year.

I’m leaving for Saint Simons for a little break so I’m through for a while.

By reality check

July 3, 2008 6:16 PM | Link to this

OOps.

Sorry Chip I see where AJC did report the Lomax exoneration and the 3.23 GPA

By Ed

July 3, 2008 7:59 PM | Link to this

I’m as big a Georgia football homer as anyone, but this is getting really, really old. Richt needs to hammer some people, and it needs to be harsh enough to get everyone’s attention. 2-game suspensions at the start of the season usually only covers a couple of cupcakes and doesn’t really hurt the team. Start suspending players for longer periods or for key games like Tennessee, Alabama, Florida or Auburn and see how the other players react. See how the fans react when a key suspension or two or three results in a close loss to a major rival. Or suspend them for the whole season and make them redshirt or lose a year of eligibility. Pressure from authority figures doesn’t seem to be working, so maybe some heat from their peers will do the trick.

Lou Holtz once kicked seven of his best players off his Arkansas team before playing Oklahoma in the Orange Bowl, and they Hogs won in a rout. Teams sometimes rally around the loss of key players.

By War Eagle

July 3, 2008 8:56 PM | Link to this

shane#1, one last 4th comment, Adams, Richt, Saban, Tuberville Spurrier and you can go on and on cannot decrease the actions involved with todays athletes. There has been a standard change in sports society , no shame, morals mean nil and yet schools let offenders return to their previous positions and life goes on for the next soph. or Jr high schooler to absorb from these wrong doings. It will always be somebody in trouble every year.. The discipline given is too light and seems to send no message from all schools especially Tenn, SC, UGA and Bama in the SEC

By Phil

July 3, 2008 9:19 PM | Link to this

By The Big Dog Rooster Stomper

“Mr Lame C** Travis This is a UGA blog..”

It is? I thought it was an AJC blog!

By TommyGator

July 4, 2008 7:53 AM | Link to this

From my handle, I am obviously not a UGA homer. I grew up 20 miles from Tallahassee, and was a fan of the FSU in those days. Steve Tensi and Fred Bilitnekoff were my first college football heroes. But I attended UF and have lived in Georgia since 1975. I love the Gators but I am NOT an “Anti-Dawg.” (Although in the 1980’s it was very difficult not to HATE the puppies!). I HAVE LOST an enormous amount of respect for FSU’s programs over the last 20 years due to the continuing erosion of discipline in their athletic programs.

I give that background in order to say this:

I think Coach Richt is a fine man and an excellent coach. That said, (and meant) he DID learn the ways and means of discipline from the master of denial, the old ostrich himself, Bobby Bowden. I think he MUST find a way to deal firmly and convincingly with these issues or UGA will find its program in the same boat with the Free Shoes University.

As a life-long lover of NCAA football and the SEC, I don’t want to see that happen.

By D'Marcus Jefferson, KA pledge

July 4, 2008 8:23 AM | Link to this

What difference does it make if they get in trouble with the law. Its all about winning at UGA…AT ALL COSTS. Brush this under the rug…get the Vince Dooley spin machine working and let’s get ready for some football!!!

Is it me or is the composition of the team changing? We used to recruit most of our players from GA….now that we’re a national team, we are cheering guys from New Jersey, Texas, Nebraska….etc. NOT like the good ole days.

By PTC DAWG

July 4, 2008 8:31 AM | Link to this

I’ve seen one major incident this off season. Other than the Lemon case, the other stuff seems VERY minor to me. I mean, walking with a BEER? Trying to get a cab after you’ve been drinking? Touching someone’s stomach?

The problem is, the laws/enforcement have changed big time in the last 20 years, the KIDS haven’t changed at all.

By AltamahaDawg

July 4, 2008 9:34 AM | Link to this

Mr. Jefferson, I’m not sure in what country you grew up, but in mine, letting somebody get thier day in court to fight minor misdemeaner charges, some of which prabable will not stand, giving them a fair punishment, (not to mention making public statements, which would never be the case for an ordinary student/citizen), is hardly “sweeping it under the rug”. Can you give one credible example of something that was swept at UGA in order to win at all cost? Any? I may be wrong, but that sounded like you just totally made it up. Why would you do that??

BTW, please go read the roster if you seem to think “most” of our players are not recruited from Georgia still. For whatever point that was trying to make.

By dawgx2

July 4, 2008 9:52 AM | Link to this

Chip, I give you credit for having the stones to check back here and reply to some of the comments. In my book that puts you head and shoulders above Terence who just does a drive-by and then ignores the carnage he caused.

By Zeb

July 4, 2008 10:57 AM | Link to this

Alt, Shane, Cuz and the rest of you dam good dawgs, I say, Happy 4th!!! Alt, you’re right about Mr Jefferson’s comments. If a football player farts out of turn, it’s reported somewhere. Nothing is swept under the rug, especially at UGA. Just look at the reports of the stupid incidents that athletes are involved with. Hailing a cab(cop), driving the wrong way on a freakin scooter…..I tell you, I’m not making excuses for these guys, but the dam Athens PD are a bunch of numbers hounds. I did their job for 11 years. I worked with guys like that. They’re a bunch of young idiot rookies that got beat up in high school then became cops. Power hungry. No people skills. Jealous of the spotlight. And for you idiots who’ve never been in law enforcement, don’t even comment, cause you really don’t understand. I would love to hear from someone at Athens PD or UGA PD to refute anything I’ve said. I worked in Metro Atlanta, you guys have no clue what it means to focus on real crimes. College kids are easy prey you d!cks.

By AltamahaDawg

July 4, 2008 11:55 AM | Link to this

If you’ve seen my post in recent years on this subject, you’ll will know I have never blamed the APD or campus cops for any overzelousness. If they have some flexibility and choose not to use it, to me that just CWA. With attitudes like Mr Jefferson out there, its no wonder they do go straight by the book. I dont blame the police for that. Now should they be out chasing real bad guys, prabably. Could thay handle it as to not create a media stir, I’m sure they could. I wish they did, but they don’t, thats the way it is. Still they are not at fault, to enforce the laws to the fullest, even if it does seem to be selectively rigid at times. Any more than I blame the Atlanta, Tuscoloosa, Gainsville, Knoxville police. I’m sure their attitude is that we have a judge, let him sort it out, but I am not losing my job over some preferential treatment whistle blower.

That being the case, these guys have to know the climate now. They have to know that picking your nose in public will make the paper. However, there is a limit to how much you can expect college kids to never have a moment of temporary careless judgement. Case in point, who EVER thought it would be an issue, and need to screeen for and lectures of the dangers of touching the belly of the 1 in 1000 gals who is going to take offence to it, so much so she is willing to file a police report, and put her name out in every local paper.

Frankly, I am surprised thery is ONLY as little of these guys getting in trouble now and I’m sure its no mistake that the vast majority of them are very careful. You know damn well they do everything possible to remind them. If the standards of today were applied to the players of yesteryear, we would’nt be able to field a team till about midseason. Nobody would.

What I wish everyone would do it treat it as it is. Minor stuff….. Embarrasing, sure, sinister, come on. Extremely rare serious offence, kick off the team. But call it like it is. All the folks trying to come in here and convince others that there is something terrrible going on over in the UGA athletic dept, don’t have an ounce of credibilty. The truth is, those folks don’t even beleive that themselves and they just come off looking stupid trying to pretend they do.

And the next person to use the term “thug”, you officially are without a doubt, a simpleminded, no vocabulary, walking parrot of a dumbass. Who is it going to be now?

By Zeb

July 4, 2008 3:25 PM | Link to this

Cuz, you are as on point as a german short hair. Any bad news at any rival university serves as fodder for some bloggers. But, as I posted earlier, this team better get control of ITSELF. What a novel concept!!! Richt needs to implement something that will punish the entire freakin team every time one of the TEAM members does something stupid. This type of punishment is not normally accepted in society, but it does work in certain groups.

By UGA Grad

July 4, 2008 3:46 PM | Link to this

If you are out and not totally passive when you encounter a power hungry control freak underachieving cop, then he can always find something that he can cite you for. Just disagree with one and see how fast you are accused of giving the police a hard time. Unless you have really done something bad however, the citation will be a misdemeanor.

People who commit misdemeanors are not thugs though. Some have done something wrong, but many have just managed to hack off a jerk dirt wad cop that that has achieved self actualization by obtaining the power to control others through the threat of an arrest.

I don’t follow it that closely, but Lemon is the first UGA football player I can recall that has been charged with a felony. How many others can you name?

Athens Clarke County Police and the UGA Police like to pick on students. I am a UGA grad and remember it first hand. We were an easy target and source of revenue from fines and tickets, even if you were minding your own business and not bothering anybody. The “boy, you are in a heap of trouble” attitude was always just below the surface and it was directed at all students. You didn’t even want to make eye contact. It was like Nazi Germany.

You only read about the UGA athletes because when the AJC writer goes down to the police station to check the blotter, he can easily compare the names to the names on the sports roster to see if a UGA athlete got arrested. It probably takes 30 minutes and if he gets a match, then he has met his employment obligation to file a story for the day.

I find the average cops’ character disorder and the AJC writers’ laziness to not do research and write original material with unique perspective much more telling than a student’s misdemeanor arrest, regardless of if they are an athlete or not.

By UGA Grad Making Excuses

July 4, 2008 10:12 PM | Link to this

.

Oh my, another story about how the cops pick on the students and student athletes. Hmmm, I think the cops were called and charges pressed in these last two incidents. That has not a thing to do with a power hungry cop. Maybe you wrote it because of YOUR laziness and YOUR failure to read the articles.

Get off it. It is getting old. I don’t don’t buy the statement that “We were an easy target and source of revenue from fines and tickets, even if you were minding your own business and not bothering anybody.” Excuses, excuses, excuses.

Read the Real Scope and Cuz’s posts above and if you still don’t get it, read ‘em again.

Geez

By jason

July 5, 2008 8:47 AM | Link to this

The Lemon situation does seem serious. Well at least he just punched the guy a few times. I am not making lite of it, but now days you are more likely to get shot or stabbed. I don’t get the deal with Sturdivant and Anderson. That seems like two guys horse playing and getting carried away. Alcohol induced. Thank God 7 arrests, and all minor with the exception of Lemon. They could be like Florida, and steal not only a dead girl’s credit card, but his roommates girlfriend. Or fail multiple drug tests in one season, and still remain on the team. Or we could be Alabama or Tech; which ever, and sell crack cocaine. I laugh at all the comments about UGA being Thug U, or thUGA. Pretty pathetic. I don’t think Lemon should be kicked off the team. I do think suspension is warranted; even after the charges are cleared up. More importantly; with his background and what he has lived through; I think he does need some sort of counseling whether it be Coach Richt, position coach, a friend, or even a priest. I don’t condone violence, but didn’t the fight involve talking to his girlfriend ? I know that is no excuse, but being in highschool, and being a young man of that age, that is usually what happens when you talk to another guys girl.

By jason

July 5, 2008 8:51 AM | Link to this

Oh yeah Chip, I think you are a great writer. I like reading your blogs on the DAWGS. I live in San Antonio, and will gladly take any info I can get. It does get depressing reading the trouble in the law articles, but you have to report. In this day and age any and everything gets reported. Right now in the great ol’blogosphere there is probably a report somewhere that I am commenting on a blog at work. Go figure

By CrimeDawgies

July 5, 2008 10:47 AM | Link to this

How are the crimedawgies going to perform in the classroom this year?

By AltamahaDawg

July 5, 2008 10:55 AM | Link to this

Let them worry about college classes. You just concentrate of that 7th grade math class this year.

By Realist

July 5, 2008 11:49 AM | Link to this

I totally agree with CrimeDawgies,if we as society are so quick to write-off our young people that get into trouble with without first trying to get them the appropriate help and resources, then we have no room to judge them. We all are guilty of some things that we are not proud of and have all made bad judgement calls….especially when we were younger and immature.These are college students…NOT THUGS!!! For all of you that are regurgating “verbal vomit”…For the record… THUGS DON’T GO TO COLLEGE!!!!!! Don’t be ignorant - Take time to research what constitutes one to be classified as a thug!!!!!!

By funny

July 5, 2008 12:16 PM | Link to this

dogs in south Georgia trying to explain what happened in north Georgia….you guys know just the same as the rest that can read….what compels you to (try to) explain?

By AltamahaDawg

July 5, 2008 12:50 PM | Link to this

If you mean commenting on what is logical and fair, that prabably doesnt stop at Macon.

By Zeb

July 5, 2008 1:51 PM | Link to this

“Funny”, what the hell does that mean??? Are you insulting our fine brethren from south georgia? I would certainly hope not, cause there are more dog fans south of Macon than are in Atlanta!!!!!

By On vacation

July 5, 2008 9:46 PM | Link to this

The AJC got called out for not posting updates or blogs while the Dawgs were in the CWS (Chip was on vacation and nobody else there knows how to do it).

Chip got back just in time to report the 3 arrests (2 of which are BS). Terence baited everyone with an assinine column about “What is the big deal with Uga VI?” And now NOTHING for days!!!

Chip, have you gone ON VACATION again?

By Free Lomax

July 5, 2008 9:51 PM | Link to this

Any word on Lomax? I’m sure when the charges are dropped we will not hear about it in the AJC!!!!

By The charges were dropped

July 5, 2008 10:28 PM | Link to this

Sorry you missed it, Free Lomax. The charges were dropped and I read about it on AJC.com. Hope you’ve already got Tix for the up coming season. They’re hard to get.

Go Dawgs!

By Jimmy

July 5, 2008 11:13 PM | Link to this

Someone wake me come the start of two a days, when we can get some real football news.

By Real Football News Reporter

July 5, 2008 11:27 PM | Link to this

Jimmy, there are 8 more Saturdays till CFB begins.

Because of the off field drama, some young dudes will definitely get a shot to compete, during the early part of the season. Who do you expect to step up, and prove their mettle?

Go Dawgs!

By "prAbably" should be prObably

July 6, 2008 8:51 AM | Link to this

prabably just a typo…

By On vacation

July 6, 2008 10:57 AM | Link to this

No new stories. Just let the arrest of Lemon and the headline by TM stay up for another week!

Make the charges dropped against Lomax the headline. Anything but leaving the negative stuff up forever.

By Future Beat Writer/Columnist

July 6, 2008 3:37 PM | Link to this

As the 2008 College Football Season slowly approaches, Mark Richt’s Georgia Bulldogs are looking to return to national prominence. In week one, the Dawgs will host little bro from Statesboro, the GSU Eagles. This one should be over by half-time, or at worst, the third quarter break.

The following week, the competition begins to increasingly grow more rigorous. Games against Central Michigan, South Carolina, and Arizona State will be tougher than expected. The Dawgs are not only looking to replace Senior leaders, Velasco, Chester Adams, Thomas Brown, they are also looking for some answers.

Qusetion #1: Will the loss of FB Southerland (through first 5+ games), combined with the suspensions of a few key O-Linemen make life difficult for QB #7? Stafford and Knowshon might have to improvise quite a bit, until several of their best blockers are back from suspension and injuries.

Question #2: Who will step up, to provide a “rudder” for the offensive line? It looks as if that unit could use a vocal leader and mentor, both on and off the field.

Question #3: Will the young running backs be effective in pass protection schemes, and be able to pick up blitzing defenders? Even our Heisman hopeful, the Amazing Moreno, struggled at times to do so. However, he now has a year of SEC experience, and should be much improved in this facet of the UGA offense.

Question #4: Who replaces Marcus Howard at DE? Coach Willie Martinez always utilizes a solid rotation of players on the DL. Look for Neland Ball to get into the mix.

Question #5: Will we see A.J. Green in 2008?? Your guess is as good as mine. I’m leaning towards yes, but the WR corp is deep, and a red shirt season would allow A.J. to bulk up. The added muscle could help him avoid getting jammed by physical defenders.

Question #6: Is incoming kicker, Blair Walsh as good as UGA needs him to be? At some point, there always seems to be a pivotal game that must be decided with a kick of the ball. Can a Freshman handle the pressure?

Question #7: Can stellar special teams play provide the Dawgs with a powerful “X Factor”?

Question #8: Speaking of special teams…How effective will the Dawgs be, when it comes to shutting down opponents’ return men? There are always an abundance of speedsters in the SEC, capable of turning a game around with one good return.

Question #9: Tennessee comes to Athens in 2008. Given the previous beatdowns the Dawgs have suffered over the last two seasons, will we see another Black out??

Question #10: With improved foot work, Will Matt Stafford accomplish his goal of completing at least 60% of his passes? If so, the Georgia offense could be unstoppable. He will, however, need his WRs to cut down on the drops.

If this season is to be as magical a year as predicted, the Dawgs will need to find positive answers to all of the questions above. That’s all I’ve got for now. I look forward to your feedback.

In the absence of new material, this is my attempt at providing you all with a current “article” on Georgia football.

Go Dawgs!

By S.E. Dawg

July 6, 2008 4:28 PM | Link to this

Future beat writter/columnist: Keep us the good work. I would say you’re on point on all counts. Look forward to hearing from you again.

I believe we blackout the Tennessee game. We may blackout the Alabama game but will probably wear red. Or if we blackout the Alabama game we’ll probably blackout Tennessee when they come to town too.

By P Dawg

July 6, 2008 6:47 PM | Link to this

Let me see. At least half of these arrests are for pretty weak offenses. Two for rubbing a pregnant girl’s stomach and another for a college kid out drinking (imagine that!) and mistakes a cop for a cab. At least he was trying to get a safe ride home. I would be a lot more concerned if they were stealing cars, dealing drugs, or raping women. The DUI’s are something less laughable but at least they aren’t violent. Who knows what went on with the kid that punched another guy. He might have deserved it.

By Gen Neyland

July 6, 2008 9:41 PM | Link to this

FBW/C

RE: # 9…Interesting concept. Mind games can equal the 12th man in some arenas. Will this 2008 UT team be affected by that sort of hype ? One word, NOPE…UGA can suit up in Red, White or Black. Attach the Silver britches to complete the outfit and they’ll be pretty darn good no matter what color jersey…We’ll come to play what’s inside the jersey…But if the Dawgs win, please don’t rip down the goalposts ala some years back. Those things cost us taxpayers big bucks…Thx

By Future Beat Writer/Columnist

July 6, 2008 10:28 PM | Link to this

S.E. Dawg thanks for the kind words. Can’t say I’ll be able to devote Towers-like dedication to the blog, but I’ll do my best.

Gen Neyland I agree that there is no need to tear down the goalposts after UGA beats UT in 2008. You are correct in saying the Vols won’t care what color jerseys the Dawgs wear. That is very true. The home crowd is who needs to be affected by the “mind games” of bringin’ out the black jerseys. I have never heard Sanford Stadium rock the way it did during the Black Out.

Good to hear some contrasting feedback.

Go Dawgs!

By falconfanatic

July 6, 2008 10:54 PM | Link to this

I hate it for UGA but let me tell you this about Michael Lemon, his mother was his world until about a year ago. She was murdered in cold blood and her trailer set fire with his little brother Marquez inside. His brother escaped because the mail lady knocked on the door and woke him up. It seems everyone including our great investigative journalist have seem to have forgotten this part of the story. The kid has been through alot over the last year and I’m sure things have built up on him. That doesn’t make it okay but hesitate before you put down words like THUG. Everyone at his high school of Stratford in Macon and the surrounding area talk about what great people the Lemon’s are. I just hate that he did this to himself, his family, and UGA.

By thUGA_nation

August 10, 2008 3:07 PM | Link to this

Hey now, this is UGA. We only care about atheletics. If you can play football, we want you, no matter how much of a thug you really are. These boys should be let off the hook. Afterall, they have more important things to do like win us a National Championship. And shame on the girl who turned them in, she must not realize how much of an asset these men are to our program. Go thUGA! Way to represent our state!

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