Dewberry Apologizes
It was a contrite Darius Dewberry who met the assembled media following Monday's first workout at the team's Woodruff Practice Facility.
Earlier Monday, Georgia head coach Mark Richt announced that he was suspending the junior linebacker from Fort Valley for two games after he damaged property at St. Mary's hospital early Saturday morning. According to Dewberry, he broke a parking gate and four planters at the facility.
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"I just want to let everybody know that I apologize for my actions on (Saturday morning). I want to apologize to St. Mary's hospital, my teammates and all the Bulldog fans.," said Dewberry, who decided on his own to meet the media. "I overreacted a little bit on (Saturday morning)."
Dewberry is the fifth member of the current team who will miss at least the first game of the year due to off-the-field incidents.
Starting offensive guard Clint Boling was suspended one game for a traffic offense, while fullback Fred Munzenmaier will miss the first two games for an alcohol-related offense earlier this year. Sunday, Richt suspended long snapper Jeff Henson and backup safety Donavon Baldwin indefinitely for alcohol-related offenses.
Baldwin and freshman linebacker Marcus Dowtin were hit in the back of their heads with beer bottles during an altercation early Saturday morning at a downtown Athens nightclub. Dowtin's punishment is being handled in-house.
Dewberry said he was not at the incident involving Baldwin and Dowtin but later arrived at St. Mary's after receiving a phone call from several teammates.
"I was angry that my two teammates were hurt," Dewberry said. "I overreacted."
Dewberry said he even admitted to Richt that was the one who caused the damage at the hospital.
"I kind of told him it was me," Dewberry said.
The hospital is not pursing charges against Dewberry, who is getting a part-time job to make restitution payments.
"I made a bad decision, a real bad decision," Dewberry said. "Whatever I have to do to make it up, I'll do. I did some stuff that I shouldn't have. I'm going to take care of business."