Georgia tailback Washaun Ealey, indefinitely suspended Feb. 8 by UGA coach Mark Richt, has been reinstated, the school announced Saturday.
Ealey is clear to participate in the Bulldogs’ spring practices, which begin March 10.
Washaun Ealey rushed for 811 yards and 11 touchdowns in 12 games last season. (AP Photo)
“Over the past few weeks, Washaun has done the things we expect him to do, the things we expect all our players to do,” Richt said in a statement Saturday. “He’s been doing things the Georgia way and will rejoin team activities Monday.”
Ealey rushed for 811 yards and 11 touchdowns in 12 games last season, but his role could be diminished in the fall with the arrival of star recruit Isaiah Crowell. According to The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Richt said on National Signing Day that Crowell could play “heavily” next year.
Georgia today made the hiring of Washington Redskins assistant coach Kirk Olivadotti official.
Georgia hired former Washington Redskins assistant coach Kirk Olivadotti as inside linebackers coach on Friday Feb. 18, 2011. Olivadotti spent the past 11 seasons with the Redskins. Photo by Don Wright.
Special
Georgia hired former Washington Redskins assistant coach Kirk Olivadotti as inside linebackers coach on Friday Feb. 18, 2011. Olivadotti spent the past 11 seasons with the Redskins. Photo by Don Wright.
The 37-year old will replace Warren Belin as inside linebackers coach as previously reported by the Athens Banner-Herald. Belin left to coach linebackers for the NFL’s Carolina Panthers.
“In hiring an assistant, we look for someone who first is at the top level in football knowledge and competency,” coach Mark Richt said in a statement. “Then we want someone who is a teacher of the game, be an example of young men and can serve as a mentor for our student-athletes. We found all those qualities in Kirk.”
Olivadotti spent the past 11 seasons with the Redskins.
He was linebackers coach from 2007 to 2009 and served as the team’s defensive assistant in 2010 under new coach Mike Shanahan.
“It’s exciting to have this opportunity to work with Coach Richt, his coaching staff and players,” Olivadotti said in a statement. “I want to thank him for his confidence in what I can hopefully bring to the program. I also want to thank (Redskins owner Dan Snyder) and the Redskins for the last 11 years in Washington and the NFL.”
Olivadotti has worked in the NFL with defensive coaches Ray Rhodes, Marvin Lewis, Gregg Williams and Greg Blache.
His father, Tom Olivadotti, was a long-time defensive coach in the NFL who was on staff in Houston when Georgia defensive coordinator Todd Grantham also coached for the Texans.
Crews work to remove toilet paper from the two poisoned oak trees before spraying the leaves with a coating at Toomer’s Corner in Auburn, Ala., on Thursday, Feb. 17, 2011. Harvey Almorn Updyke Jr. has been charged for poisoning the landmark live oak trees on the Auburn University campus.
By Wayne Grayson Staff Writer
Published: Friday, February 18, 2011 at 12:51 p.m.
Last Modified: Friday, February 18, 2011 at 12:51 p.m.
( page 2 of 2 )
In the wake of an act that could have divided the state along the rivalry lines of the Iron Bowl worse than ever before, a strong bond is being formed between Alabama and Auburn fans.
Thursday night a group of University of Alabama alumni and students, started an initiative called Tide for Toomer’s with the goal of raising money to offset the cost of replacing the famous oaks at Toomer’s Corner. The trees were poisoned by 62-year-old Harvey Almorn Updyke, a disgruntled Alabama fan.
Updyke was arrested early Thursday morning and has been charged with criminal mischief. He remains in jail and his bail was set at $50,000.
Jennifer Hanson, one of the group’s founders and a UA undergraduate and law school alumna, said Tide for Toomer’s is comprised of a Facebook page and a Twitter page that launched Thursday around 8 p.m.
As of 12:45 p.m. today more than 10,000 people on Facebook, and 500 people on Twitter had liked and followed the cause, which has raised more than $3,000.
“I feel like recently it’s gotten a little nasty with the pranks and various things being said on Twitter and Facebook and (Birmingham sports radio station) WJOX,” Hanson said. “Just from what I’ve seen on the Facebook page this is something that’s helping everyone come together for a greater cause and that’s the tradition and respect we have for each other.”
During the 2010 season, Auburn fans put a Cam Newton jersey on the Paul W. Bryant statue outside the stadium. More recently, someone planted rye grass in front of the statues spelling out “28-27,” referring to the 2010 Iron Bowl score. A caller, who police suspect to Updyke, also admitted to the tree poisoning on the Paul Finebaum radio show on Jan. 27. The show is carried on WJOX.
While the Twitter page is a great way to keep up with Tide For Toomer’s progress, to make a donation, fans will have to visit the Facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/TideforToomers and click on the link in the left pane that says “Donate via PayPal.”
Hanson said the group is in talks with Auburn to link their PayPal account to an AU fund for replacing the Toomer’s oaks.
Taylor Nichols, a current UA law student and Tide For Toomer’s founder, said the idea came from a Twitter update from fellow group founder Cameran Williams on . Williams had stated he would be willing to donate $100 to Auburn.
“So I said well why don’t we all do it and start up a fund?” Nichols said. “I kind of got tired of the crazies speaking for Alabama fans so I just wanted to do something to show that we aren’t all like that and we don’t think it’s okay to do what Updyke did.
“If there’s no response from us then it’s like we’re letting this guy speak for us and we couldn’t stand for that. Alabama fans don’t feel responsible but they still feel bad.”
Alabama supporters raise money to help replace poisoned trees
The Associated Press
Crews work to remove toilet paper from the two poisoned oak trees before spraying the leaves with a coating at Toomer’s Corner in Auburn, Ala., on Thursday, Feb. 17, 2011. Harvey Almorn Updyke Jr. has been charged for poisoning the landmark live oak trees on the Auburn University campus.
By Wayne Grayson Staff Writer
Published: Friday, February 18, 2011 at 12:51 p.m.
Last Modified: Friday, February 18, 2011 at 12:51 p.m.
( page of 2 )
In the wake of an act that could have divided the state along the rivalry lines of the Iron Bowl worse than ever before, a strong bond is being formed between Alabama and Auburn fans.
Thursday night a group of University of Alabama alumni and students, started an initiative called Tide for Toomer’s with the goal of raising money to offset the cost of replacing the famous oaks at Toomer’s Corner. The trees were poisoned by 62-year-old Harvey Almorn Updyke, a disgruntled Alabama fan.
Updyke was arrested early Thursday morning and has been charged with criminal mischief. He remains in jail and his bail was set at $50,000.
Jennifer Hanson, one of the group’s founders and a UA undergraduate and law school alumna, said Tide for Toomer’s is comprised of a Facebook page and a Twitter page that launched Thursday around 8 p.m.
As of 12:45 p.m. today more than 10,000 people on Facebook, and 500 people on Twitter had liked and followed the cause, which has raised more than $3,000.
“I feel like recently it’s gotten a little nasty with the pranks and various things being said on Twitter and Facebook and (Birmingham sports radio station) WJOX,” Hanson said. “Just from what I’ve seen on the Facebook page this is something that’s helping everyone come together for a greater cause and that’s the tradition and respect we have for each other.”
Arrest made in poisoning of Auburn trees as efforts to save them continue
By Cindy Boren
As an uphill battle to save the 130-year-old oak trees at Toomer’s Corner in Auburn, Ala., continues, a man has been arrested and charged with poisoning the iconic foliage that marks a traditional gathering spot for Auburn celebrations.
Harvey Almorn Updyke Jr. was charged with one count of first-degree criminal mischief and, if convicted, could face one to 10 years in prison. He is accused of pouring a lethal dose of an herbicide into the soil around the trees.
“There’s no reason for something like this to happen,” Gary Keever, an Auburn horticulture professor who’s working to save the oaks, told al.com. “It’s not looking good, but we’re doing what we can to give the trees a fighting chance.”
The trees are fragile to begin with and being party magnets doesn’t help. According to al.com., they are well north of their usual range, they’re on a busy street corner, and they’re regularly covered in toilet paper (after the game against Georgia, someone set fire to the tp). “We stress them even more when we light them on fire and vehicles run into them,” Keever said. “We use fire hoses to blow the toilet paper off them and that blows off a lot of buds.”
The poisoning was discovered last month, after a University of Alabama fan who identified himself as “Al in Dadeville” called a syndicated radio show and said he had poured on the poison after the Nov. 26 Iron Bowl, won by Auburn.
“It was kind of hard to take it seriously, and then as he went on it started sounding more serious,” Paul Finebaum, host of the program, said. “And now that we’ve played it back, there’s no doubt that he was absolutely serious.”
It’s taken the rivalry to a new low and drawn a response from Alabama Athletic Director Mal Moore. “It’s an awful act, a terrible thing to do,” Moore said in a statement. “A lot of what makes our two programs so special is our many unique traditions. So, hearing this about Toomer’s Corner is upsetting to me in several ways. I certainly hope that whomever is responsible is held accountable.”
Washaun Ealey rushed for 811 yards and 11 touchdowns in 12 games last season. (AP Photo)