First, it was Alabama, then it was a rotating cast of characters. Then, it was Alabama again. Now, the Georgia Bulldogs are the team to beat in the SEC. Head coach Kirby Smart is entering his ninth year at Georgia, going 46-2 in his last 48 games with the Bulldogs. He’s been dominant.
Here are three things we learned from Smart at SEC Media Days
Three Takeaways From Kirby Smart at SEC Media Days
1) Smart Bleeds Georgia Red
Kirby Smart is in his 30th year of coaching, spending 25 years in the SEC. He went to Georgia, played football met his wife there and now he’s back for his ninth year with the Bulldogs. Simply put, Smart is home.
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That’s significant given the ever-constant rumors that college head coaches want to jump ship to head to the NFL. Sure, it’s easier to enjoy a university when the team is winning, but Smart’s love for Georgia seems to go beyond that. In his opening remarks, Smart repeatedly mentioned how much he loves the University of Georgia.
2) No Chip on the Shoulder
“I’ve never used a failure from the previous year as motivation, and I’ve never used success from a previous year as motivation,” Smart said.
Instead, he’s treating 2024 as an entirely separate entity. Last year, the Bulldogs were one game from a National Championship, losing to Alabama in the SEC Championship before demolishing Florida State in the Orange Bowl.
Smart said he’d only change one of the 15 practices this spring, and he’s incredibly proud of how hard the team worked. The Bulldogs don’t need extra motivation, and the team is working hard to make 2024 as successful as possible.
3) Smart Excited For the Challenging Schedule
When Oklahoma and Texas joined the conference, it was obvious that the schedules would get even more difficult for the existing SEC members. Georgia drew one of the toughest slates of anybody in the conference, especially on the road.
But Smart isn’t backing down from the challenge, feeling excited rather than complaining.
The Bulldogs not only have Alabama, Ole Miss and Texas on the road, but they also open the season with the Clemson Tigers in one of the most anticipated non-conference games of the entire college football season.
It’s easier to be excited when you’re 46-2 in your last four seasons, but it seems like Smart is genuinely intrigued about playing the best in the country in the regular season. With a 12-team playoff, the Bulldogs will certainly benefit from the strength of their 2024 schedule.
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