🏈 With Florida game three days away, Georgia won't suspend arrested lineman

[BAMANEWSBOT]

Is that the right call?

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I'm always fascinated with fan responses to how coaches handle discipline. It's always easy to sit back and say how the coach is soft on discipline when you actually don't know what's going on behind the scenes. I suspect Georgia coach Mark Richt will receive some criticism for allowing offensive lineman Vince Vance to play in Saturday's game against Florida.

Vance was arrested this morning for running a red light and driving without a license.
UGA spokesman Claude Felton told the AJC that Richt will handle discipline internally but Vance will play against the Gators.

Georgia, of course, will play a most important game against the Gators. A disappointing season could be soothed if the Bulldogs could pull off the shocker. And Florida is a vulnerable team right now, given their struggles on offense.

Vance has started three games for Georgia and played in all seven. He has been expected to be the starter at right tackle against Florida.

So what do you think? Should Vance be suspended? Or is a suspension too strong a punishment for this incident?

Personally, I'm thinking the coach who knows the player better than us and knows every detail of the case has far more insight than we do. But I've also been known to have people disagree with me, too.

 

[RollTideinGA]

I agree with the coach. Let the kid play. It's a traffic violation like any of us could get any day. No reason to bench him. If he was a problem child and this was one of a series of incidents I would say suspend him. But we all make mistakes, we all have our bad moments, and we are human.

 

[UAgrad93]

I don't see where suspending the kid for a traffic violation would warrant a suspension. Now if he had been pulled over with drugs and or a weapon then it would be entirely another matter that Richt would be getting blasted for not suspending him.

 

[c5vetman]

I agree with the coach. Let the kid play. It's a traffic violation like any of us could get any day. No reason to bench him. If he was a problem child and this was one of a series of incidents I would say suspend him. But we all make mistakes, we all have our bad moments, and we are human.

exactly!

But, on the other hand, Richt has no control over his team, the players seem to run amuck. If he did bench him, it could be a way for his team to respect him and play harder.

 

[Southern Bama]

Yea...if he were a repeat violator..I could see a suspension...but IF this is an isolated incident...let the kid play.

 

[psychojoe]

Based on what has been made known about the arrest and the surrounding circumstances, suspension would be overkill.

 

[Nate]

*edit* so wait does he have a license and just forgot it at home??? if thats the case why are we even talking about this?

 

[CrimsonPirate]

I agree, but can you imagine the outcry from our rivals if Saban didn't suspend a player for even a traffic violation?

 

[It Takes Eleven]

it wasn't a simple traffic violation though the kid was driving without a license, thats a SERIOUS case of breaking the law. he ran a redlight without a license which means he probably had no insurance... what if he had hit someone? Yes there are other GOOD ways to punish him without a suspension, I just hope Richt makes sure this kid realizes the seriousness of what he has done.

I don't think he should be suspended, but it's likely that a college age kid without a drivers license has lost it due to a prior infraction. With the number of times these issues arise, you would think team handlers would check everyone for a valid license.

RTR,

Tim

 

[BamaDelta]

Apparently licenses in general are a big issue for the Dogs. So much so that some are thinking about requiring a driver's license check at some point during camp and season. That's really a sad waste of time, but it may be necessary.

Maybe we have similar issues. When I worked the charter to KY our Delta coordinator was late boarding our van to hotel in Lexington. He sighed that it would be a long night for him. He said several players had forgotten their ID's (driver's licenses) back in Tuscaloosa. He said it obviously wasn't a huge issue with the TSA in Tuscaloosa, but the TSA in Lexington wouldn't be so kind.

Somehow it was all handled and everyone was able to fly back. I know there was some speedy work on UA's admin back in Tuscaloosa. Hmmm, just being a college kid or something more to it?

 

[Victory]

Its not going to help either way, they still lose.

 

[TerryP]

*edit* so wait does he have a license and just forgot it at home??? if thats the case why are we even talking about this?

I don't think he should be suspended, but it's likely that a college age kid without a drivers license has lost it due to a prior infraction. With the number of times these issues arise, you would think team handlers would check everyone for a valid license.

RTR,

Tim

Based purely on what is written here/reported, if he had a prior incident it would have read "driving under a suspended/revoked license," wouldn't it?

 

[TerryP]

To me, this is the most interesting thing to be drawn from this article.

I'm always fascinated with fan responses to how coaches handle discipline. It's always easy to sit back and say how the coach is soft on discipline when you actually don't know what's going on behind the scenes. I suspect Georgia coach Mark Richt will receive some criticism for allowing offensive lineman Vince Vance to play in Saturday's game against Florida.

So what's the point of this article? To see what kind of fan reaction he can elicit?

How often has Gattis been on the other side of this? He uses his "job" as reasoning for jumping to conclusions—yet he's often in the same position: not knowing what is going on.

 

[Nate]

Based purely on what is written here/reported, if he had a prior incident it would have read "driving under a suspended/revoked license," wouldn't it?

Not necessarily. depends really on how it was reported. Regardless if he just left his license at home no big deal in my mind, if its revoked or he doesn't have a license or whatever, then its a much bigger issue...

 

[porkchop]

I'll say this; IMHO Vance's transgression here is pretty minor in the grand scheme of things. Didn't I read somewhere in the Bible where it said, "He who hath never run a red light cast the first stone"? :halo: I'd also bet that almost everyone on this board has at one time or another driven without a license for one reason or another.

I'm not condoning the kid's actions, just saying that, to me..this is fairly minor. Too often today when I open up these threads about athletes getting arrested it's for far more serious offenses.

There should be some discipline involved but I'm not going to predicate it on the UGA/Florida game.