Georgia football is out of control, and Kirby Smart has failed to get a handle on the disciplinary issues mounting in his program.
Georgia endured another offseason of off-the-field incidents.
The latest: Wide receiver Rara Thomas faces a felony charge of child cruelty and multiple counts of family violence after his arrest last week. Thomas also got cited for three traffic incidents this offseason, adding to Georgia’s string of dangerous driving.
Georgia suspended Thomas from the team indefinitely, so that’s something, but is Smart doing enough to slow the off-the-field incidents that keep piling up? And, could these disciplinary issues affect Georgia’s on-field performance?
On this edition of “SEC Football Unfiltered,” a podcast from the USA TODAY Network, hosts Blake Toppmeyer and John Adams weigh in on Smart’s handling of the situation at Georgia.
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Here’s their take:
Is Kirby Smart doing enough in response to off-field incidents?
TOPPMEYER: No, Smart isn’t doing enough. When his athletes run afoul of the law, he’s often been light on disciplinary action. He should start by dismissing Thomas from the program. Georgia doesn’t need Thomas’ off-the-field drama.
That’s what Smart should do. Not what he will do.
I wouldn’t expect Smart to do much. Coaches have little incentive to be heavy-handed with player discipline. Being the program of fast cars makes for a stronger recruiting pitch than being the program of law and order.
If a coach dismisses an athlete, that athlete can transfer to a conference rival in no time. Plus, there’s no evidence that Georgia’s off-field issues hamper the on-field product. Alabama stopped Georgia’s three-peat bid last season, not a lack of on-field discipline.
Georgia has become the poster child of…
Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/georgia-football-control-kirby-smart-100847287.html
Author : The Tennessean
Publish date : 2024-07-30 10:08:47
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