The University of Georgia Bulldogs have recently experienced the turmoil caused by the firing of a head coach with a .740 winning percentage.
Whether or not you agree with the move no longer matters. The change has been made. What’s done is done.
Now if you are a fan of Georgia Bulldog football, you should want even greater success for the team, and that is exactly what Kirby Smart promised to deliver in time during his press conference. Coach Smart doesn’t need to begin his career as the UGA head coach under a cloud of negativity and a set of unrealistic expectations.
Just because Mark Bradley pointed out that Jim McElwain won the SEC Eastern division in his first year doesn’t mean we should make that the standard for Coach Smart. Coach Richt didn’t win the SEC until his second year in Athens.
Mark Bradley knows basketball. Unfortunately, that doesn’t stop him from sharing his opinions on football or baseball.
Coach Smart said that he will demand excellence in every facet of the program, and that we will continue to do things The Georgia Way — we will win with integrity, and lose (on those rare occasions) with dignity. That’s really all we can ask…the titles will come in time.
He also promised that he and his staff will bring the best athletes he can find to Athens and then make them into highly skilled players. Several top-rated potential recruits for the defense have already moved Georgia to the very top of their list because of Coach Smart.
Coach Richt had been in the process of assembling a stellar recruiting class, the best in his tenure by far, when he was fired. One of his recruits, prized running back Devwah Whaley recently decommitted, and a few purported Bulldog fans took to social media to make a few somewhat derogatory comments about the young man that questioned his future — a young man who appears to be a very talented tailback on film.
Please, just don’t go there. Let’s agree to act like adults. Just because a thought crosses your mind doesn’t mean it needs to be shared with the world. Of course, this applies equally to me. And this does need to be said.
It is a shame that UGA lost the young man’s commitment for sure, but that is no reason to disparage him for his decision. He didn’t suddenly get fickle and change his mind at the very last minute.
Things changed that were out of his control.
Remember Pat Allen? He decommitted last year, then flipped back to Georgia on signing day. He’s a Dawg. These kids from out of state…it isn’t like they grew up around a bunch of Bulldog fans. Their connections are with people, not just a place.
Another person decided to post a comment critical of Jacob Eason for expressing interest in the Florida Gators in wake of Coach Richt’s termination. It would be grotesquely unfair to question the young man’s loyalty at this stage of the game, because for months he kept telling Georgia fans that the only thing that might cause him to waver would be a head coaching change. Which is exactly what happened.
Yes, it would be devastating to lose Jacob Eason’s commitment from this class, but you can’t blame the young man after he repeatedly said that would be his only possible cause of concern
It’s a bit of a surprise and kind of unsettling to have the guy who surprised you for breakfast lose his job after winning four games in a row, you know? We need to give these young men time to get over the shock. Jacob Eason needs to make the decision that’s best for himself.
He has friends within this recruiting class that he will see this coming weekend, and Coach Smart jumped on a plane to fly across the country immediately after the press conference to meet with him and his family.
Hopefully all will go well.
I’m fairly confident that filling the offensive coordinator position is extremely high on Coach Smart’s agenda, and it will be important in determining the final decision when it comes to where Jacob Eason plays college football.
I feel the need to point out they call it “social media” for a reason — you might be amazed at how many people might see a comment that you posted on the internet. For example, one of my recent articles about UGA was read in all fifty states. I was surprised to learn there are people in South Dakota and Alaska who read articles I’ve written about the Dawgs.
If you’re a Georgia fan, you really don’t want to say anything negative about any recruit, regardless of their status. Don’t undermine what Coach Smart is trying to accomplish.
Fans of Coach Richt don’t need to worry about him — he landed on his feet. Have you looked at his division in the ACC? Instead of Florida, Auburn, Tennessee, and South Carolina, he only has to worry about the likes of North Carolina, Georgia Tech, Duke, and Virginia Tech in the post-Frank Beemer era. It won’t be long before he’ll be leading Miami in the ACC championship game against the likes of Clemson or Florida State.
During his coaching career at Georgia, Coach Richt’s record against the ACC was 19-3. So Coach Richt landed in a pretty good place, and we should all be happy and wish him the best in the future, because it wasn’t his choice.
But it’s time for the Dawg Nation to unite in support Coach Kirby Smart.
The best way to do that is not to behave like fans of lesser schools and attack players who might waver in their commitment to the “G.”
I’m quite sure that young Mr. Eason can count. I’m also sure he knows how many quarterbacks are currently on the roster at Florida and that there are two more QBs signing in their 2016 class.
But I’m also fairly certain that he’s not going to be afraid of a little competition from Feleipe Franks and Will Grier.
Young Mr. Eason doesn’t need overzealous fans like some of us trying to influence this major life decision. Let Coach Smart and his staff do their job, and we can all hope for the best.
But don’t beg a teenager to commit to play football for your school because that’s what you want. Remember that it’s his decision.
If you don’t have a positive comment, then don’t make one. Don’t beg. Don’t bother talking about how orange isn’t a part of your color wheel. If you can’t say something nice, don’t say anything.
Don’t bash the Gators. I know it can be tempting, but it isn’t going to be helpful right now. If you can’t resist saying something, sing only praises of the Dawgs. Give Coach Smart a chance to work his recruiting magic.
Of course, it certainly can’t hurt to point out that Eason does look terrific in the red and black.
Just sayin’.
I don’t know you, but I wish I did‼️ Thank you for taking the time to put keyboard and conscience together!
I read most of this in coach Smart’s speech. The one thing that is exactly right, it is over and done with. Doesn’t remove the sting that goes with the process. I wish him well but hope he knows what is expected out of him from the same 2 ppl who were so anxious to get rid of CMR. Always a Dawg fan, just one with an opinion. GO DAWGS!!