Georgia Football’s offseason legal issues continue. In the early hours of Friday morning, police responded to a domestic violence call resulting in the arrest of Georgia receiver RaRa Thomas. Thomas is charged with three felony second-degree Cruelty to Children and three misdemeanor counts of battery. Thomas if convicted is looking at 1-10 years in prison per felony charge. Just last year Thomas was charged with false imprisonment and family violence the charges were later dropped. Georgia has seen more than its fair share of legal issues among the team and it makes one wonder, is the Georgia dynasty sitting on a house of cards just waiting to collapse?
Georgia’s Deadly Off-Season History
Thomas has been suspended indefinitely and is being held without bail at the time of writing. The University made the headlines last season after player Devin Wilcox and staffer Chandler Lecroy were killed in a single-car crash going over 75 miles an hour. Lecroy and other cars driven by UGA players and staffers were seen driving recklessly through Athens. Despite Lecroy’s history of reckless driving UGA still allowed her to drive, even getting involved in lowering fines and punishment on at least one occasion.
Since the tragedy, UGA players have had 24 run-ins with police involving DUI reckless driving, and speeding. Bulldogs linebacker Smael Mondon Jr was arrested for reckless driving, defensive back Demello Jones was cited for street racing, and Florida transfer running back Trevor Etienne was arrested for DUI. Head Coach Kirby Smart said at SEC Media Days:
The incidents that have been happening off the field are not something we condone, It’s very unfortunate, disappointing I guess is the best word. I always talk about processing outcomes in wins and losses. We try not to base things on outcomes. In this case, the outcomes are very disappointing.
From the outside looking in it appears that Georgia Football has failed to learn the tragic lesson from Lecroy and Wilcox. This leaves the question of how in control is the two-time national champion head coach of his team and what is it going to take for players not just of Georgia but of all of football to learn the grave consequences of drinking and driving and doubling the speed limit. Lives were senselessly lost and nothing at the University of Georgia has changed because of it.
Iron Bar July
Thomas makes the third Bulldog football player to be arrested in July alone. Freshman offensive lineman Bo Hughley was arrested for none other than reckless driving and Mondon Jr. for street racing. Georgia Football has a unique opportunity to have a magical season but at the rate at which players are being arrested for senseless and dangerous acts and in Thomas’s alleged case horrific acts, the magic season could turn into a nightmare.
When you look around the SEC and other college football programs we don’t see this level of arrests, especially over this long of a period. It is understandable for Universities to let players get away with some things in academics or even football meetings but the level that UGA has allowed and continues to allow is mind-blowing especially given how deep the football team traditionally is everywhere.
The Bulldogs are uniquely built to the credit of Kirby Smart and no one on the team is irreplaceable. Even Heisman Trophy candidate Carson Beck has a young and talented Gunner Stockton waiting in the wings. It is long past due for Smart and staff to have a zero-tolerance policy on the program and send the message that these headlines week in and week out embarrassing the team, the institution, the alumni and the fanbase will not be tolerated before we see another young life lost in a senseless avoidable crash or worse.
On Field Implications
Thomas being suspended indefinitely leaves a hole in the deep passing game for the Bulldogs. They will need to rely on Dillon Bell, Dominic Lovett, and Miami Hurricane transfer Colbie Young to open up the field and allow Etienne and junior tight end Oscar Delp to work the middle and short routes in the field. Due to the depth of the wide receiver room, Thomas’s potential absence may not be felt but yet another distraction certainly will. If Georgia is caught sleeping against a hungry and vengeful Clemson Tigers team on August 31st, Georgia could fall victim to college football’s first major upset of the 2024 season.
