As too often has been the case, Georgia's football team enters another week with questions hanging over the tailback position.
Coach Mark Richt indicated Sunday that he and the team's head trainer expect Isaiah Crowell, who left the SEC East-clinching victory over Kentucky with an injured ankle after just two carries, to play Saturday at Georgia Tech.
"My guess is that he will be ready to go," Richt said. "It didn't seem to swell too badly. I don't know how much he'll be able to do [at Monday's practice], but I would think throughout the week he'll be able to get enough work to go. Ron [Courson, trainer] is pretty confident he'll be healthy enough."
Crowell was injured after gaining 5 yards on his second carry against Kentucky. TV replays showed 300-pound Georgia guard Chris Burnette landing on Crowell's left ankle.
Backup tailback Carlton Thomas didn't play against Kentucky because of his third suspension of the season, and Richt indicated Sunday that Thomas' status for the Tech game remains in question.
"Carlton, I don't know on that yet," Richt said, "but I'll let you all know when I do know."
Richt said Thomas didn't play against Kentucky because he violated a rule, but would not elaborate.
Thomas' suspension and Crowell's early injury left Georgia without its top three tailbacks; Richard Samuel has been sidelined with an injured ankle since the Florida game and isn't expected back until the SEC title game, if then.
Suspensions and injuries have disrupted Georgia's tailback position throughout the season, as they also did last season. This season, there have been six suspensions involving tailbacks -– Thomas for three games, Crowell for one full game and part of another, Ken Malcome for one game -– as well as an assortment of injuries at the position, particularly to freshman Crowell.
"It hasn't been as steady as you'd like," said Richt, referring to the tailback turbulence. "There has been a little bit of drama, a little too much drama, but we're finding ways to win and guys are stepping up when they get opportunities."
He said the team's approach throughout its nine-game winning streak has been: "Once we know who can play, let's go play with who we have."
At tailback against Kentucky on Saturday, that mostly meant Brandon Harton and Malcome, who opened the season as fourth- and fifth-stringers.
Harton ran for 101 yards, 89 of them in the second half, and Malcome for 37. Harton lost two fumbles and Malcome one.
"I'm very thankful they were there to carry the mail, you know," Richt said. "Harton proved to be a real tough, resilient guy who helped us win that football game, and we appreciate everything he did. Ken Malcome got an opportunity to help us also. They'll grow from that experience."
Although the 19-10 victory over Kentucky ensured Georgia a berth in the Dec. 3 SEC title game, Richt said that will be pushed aside this week as the team focuses on preparing for its in-state rival.
"That's going to be the focus, 100 percent Georgia Tech," Richt said.
About that kiss …
Among the topics Richt was asked about Sunday on his weekly media teleconference: his long, celebratory kiss after Saturday's game, caught by TV cameras, with wife Katharyn.
"Well, I thought it was a good one," Richt said. "I personally thought she was mauling me. I went there just for a nice, friendly kiss, and she started to wear me out, and I didn't know what to do other than go with it. That's the way I saw it."
At that point, Richt and others on the call laughed.
"She'll be so mad at me," Richt said.
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