Athens -- Darius Dewberry on Monday became the sixth Georgia football player suspended for part of the 2008 season. Georgia coach Mark Richt made the announcement at the Bulldogs' preseason news conference on Monday at Stegeman Coliseum.
That the Bulldogs are ranked No. 1 and this is supposed to be one of their best shots at a national championship in decades kind of got lost in the shuffle.
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Dewberry, a junior linebacker from Ft. Valley, admitted to Richt on Sunday that he was the person seen on video surveillance damaging a parking lot control arm and kicking over and breaking four plant container pots at St. Mary's Hospital in the wee hours Saturday morning.
Dewberry left the scene that night and was described by police as, "a black male wearing khaki pants," and was being sought for criminal damage to property. The hospital is not pursuing charges after Dewberry agreed to pay for the damages, which police estimated to be about $2,100.
"[Dewberry] freely admitted to me that he did it," Richt said. "I do know he's very remorseful for what he did, and he's going to pay the price."
Richt said Dewberry will be suspended for the first two games, must immediately get a job to begin the repayment process, do 10 days of physical conditioning punishment that will begin at 5:30 a.m., do 20 hours of community service and undergo counseling.
Dewberry, who has played 23 games and started six at strongside linebacker the last two seasons, becomes the sixth Georgia player to be suspended or dismissed for disciplinary reasons this season.
Safety Donavon Baldwin and long snapper Jeff Henson were suspended for alcohol-related offenses during the weekend. Eight players have been arrested by police in 2008, although charges against one were thrown out.
Meanwhile, the Bulldogs take the field for their first practice as the nation's No. 1 team later this afternoon.
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