The Red and Black

Issue date: 10/20/08 Section: Sports

Media Credit: DANIEL SHIREY Redshirt sophomore and defensive tackle Brandon Wood plays against Vanderbilt Saturday. That night, he was arrested for DUI. [Click to enlarge]

Brandon Wood, Vince Vance UGA Police incident reports

Two Georgia football players were arrested by University police during the weekend, one for DUI and another for a charge of requiring a license.

Brandon Wood, a backup defensive tackle, was arrested and charged with DUI and lights required at 3:42 a.m. Sunday morning and was released on $1,750 bond, while Vince Vance, a junior offensive lineman, was arrested for requiring a license at 9:29 p.m. Saturday night.

"Brandon certainly made a bad error in judgment to have alcohol in his system," head coach Mark Richt said in his Sunday teleconference. "He is 21, he's of legal age, but he did have something to drink earlier in the evening and he drove his automobile."

Because the University Police Department is not open on weekends, no further information was available as of press time Sunday. But Richt said that Wood told him that he was picking up his girlfriend and her friends from downtown, keeping just his parking lights on while waiting and forgot to turn his headlights back on during his drive back to East Campus Village.

Under Georgia Athletic Association policy, athletes who violate the University alcohol policy are suspended for 10 percent of a season for a first offense.

Richt said Wood will not play in Georgia's upcoming game against LSU.

"He made a mistake and he'll pay the price," Richt said. "He certainly won't be playing in this ball game coming up here."

Wood, a sophomore from Buchanan, has played in all seven of Georgia's games, recording 10 tackles. He began the season as the third-string defensive tackle behind seniors Jeff Owens and Corvey Irvin.

After Owens tore his ACL in the season opener, Wood has seen significant playing time.

With Wood unable to play Saturday, the Bulldogs will see junior defensive tackle Kade Weston return to the lineup. Weston has seen limited time this season due to a knee injury, but is expected back this week after not playing against Vanderbilt.

Vance had been a part of Georgia's already young offensive line before tearing his ACL and injuring his MCL against Tennessee on Oct. 11, putting him out for the rest of the season. Richt said Vance was pulled over with a license that he didn't know had expired on his birthday, the day of his injury against the Volunteers.

"From what I understand Vincent had an expired license and did not stop very well at a stop sign," Richt said.

Because an expired license is not usually an arresting offense, Richt said that he asked Vance if he had a suspended license or any outstanding tickets and he said "not that he knew of."

Sophomore Clint Boling has moved over to fill Vance's spot at left tackle since the injury, and has played well in the two games since. The line hasn't given up a sack in two games.

These are the ninth and 10th arrests since the 2007 season ended. Richt said he doesn't know if he can do more to keep his Bulldogs on the right side of the law.

"I don't think I can," he said. "I think that again, it's individuals, these guys are making decisions and when they make a mistake we can discipline it. We educate them very well. It's not like [Wood] wasn't aware. He knew the deal and he made a bad judgment."

BULLDOGS BEHAVING BADLY SINCE END OF 2007:

• Fullback Fred Munzenmaier - Arrested and charged with underage consumption of alcohol and pedestrian in road in January. Suspended for first two games of season.


• Safety Donavon Baldwin - Arrested for DUI and suspended for one game in January. Baldwin was involved and injured in a downtown altercation at the beginning of August. Dismissed from the team.


• Offensive lineman Clint Boling - Boling, a sophomore, was arrested for DUI in May before the charges were dropped to reckless driving. His original suspension of two games was dropped to one.


• Offensive linemen Justin Anderson and Trinton Sturdivant - Arrested for assaulting a pregnant woman on campus. Neither player received a suspension and charges were later dropped.


• Defensive end Jeremy Lomax - Arrested in June on charges of carrying a concealed weapon. Exonerated in July, no suspension.


• Defensive end Michael Lemon - Arrested and charged with felony aggravated battery stemming from an incident at a pool party in July. Dismissed from the team.


• Linebacker Darius Dewberry - Vandalized property at St. Mary's Hospital in August. Was not arrested but admitted guilt to head coach Mark Richt, and served a two-game suspension to open the season.


• Long snapper Jeff Henson - After being arrested for a DUI in November 2007, Henson, 25, was arrested again in August on charges of public intoxication and public urination. Dismissed from the team.


• Offensive tackle Vince Vance - Arrested for requiring a license, presumably an expired one, Saturday night. Punishment, if any, not yet determined.


• Defensive tackle Brandon Wood - Arrested and charged with DUI and lights required at Sunday morning. Will be suspended for at least one game.

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