Georgia Bulldogs release Demetre Baker
The Georgia Bulldogs have released linebacker Demetre Baker after he was charged for driving while under the influence over the weekend.
Baker was charged by Athens-Clarke county police for a DUI along with underage possession of alcohol and improper driving. The freshman’s arrest is the 10th this season for Georgia.
The club has been having serious discipline issues this season and head coach Mark Richt had finally had enough, dismissing Baker from the team.
Richt was asked whether or not Baker understood the punishment if the team were to receive another arrest this season. Richt responded, saying, “Well, I’ll just say that Demetre was fully aware of the possible consequences that resulted from this type of
decision.”
Nevertheless, Richt has not remained consistent in his punishment of players throughout the course of the season, with some drawing suspensions, while others seem to get off scot-free. The decision to dismiss Baker from the club is likely to have a great
deal to do with the amount of arrests the team has already tallied this season, as well as the freshman’s status as a non-starter.
Nevertheless, the Bulldogs have struggled on and off the field this year. Georgia currently sits at 1-3, with a 0-3 record against SEC opponents. The Bulldogs opened the season with a win over Louisiana-Lafayette, before suffering three straight losses to
conference rivals. Georgia has lost to #24 South Carolina, #12 Arkansas and Mississippi State.
The off field antics and poor on-field performances have certainly worn on the head coach, who when asked if this was the most difficult of his ten years at the helm, said. “Oh yeah, there’s no doubt it is. It’s obvious that it is. The bottom line is we’re
0-3 in the league. We’ve never been there. We’ve had enough issues off the field that have been a big distraction and sad for our young men and our program and for our university and our fans and everybody else. There’s no doubt it’s the toughest bit of adversity
that we’ve faced since I’ve been here.”
The Bulldogs will visit the Colorado Buffaloes next week.
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