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The Georgia Bulldogs just can’t stop getting behind the wheel of a car and breaking the law.
And if head coach Kirby Smart’s latest comments are any indication, that won’t stop anytime soon.
Smart commented on the repeated troubles at SEC Media on Friday, and his answer showed that he’s entirely out of touch,
Kirby Smart about his players’ 24 driving violations: “The No. 1 thing I’m disappointed. Anytime you have situation like that you want your players to make better decisions. I always say you can't be outcome related & I'm very disappointed in the outcomes but I am very pleased…
— Brett McMurphy (@Brett_McMurphy) July 26, 2024
“The number one thing (is) I’m disappointed. Anytime you have a situation like that you want your players to make better decisions,” he started. “I always say you can’t be outcome related and I’m very disappointed in the outcomes but I am very pleased with our process we put in in terms of education, driver safety, requiring defensive driving & education … We have a really good locker room & I feel really good about that. I love the players we have.”
Those comments came after Georgia linebacker Smael Mondon and tackle Bo Hughley were arrested earlier this month on misdemeanor charges that included reckless driving according to Dawgs 247.
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports 19 Georgia football players have been incarcerated for driving-related offenses since the January 15, 2023 accident that killed offensive lineman Devin Willock and recruiting analyst Chandler LeCroy. LeCroy was racing a vehicle with other members of the football team while under the influence of alcohol. Willock was a passenger.
“I’ll be the first to admit we haven’t solved that issue or problem,” Smart told reporters last summer.
His latest comments show that he still hasn’t solved that issue. In fact, it shows that Smart doesn’t particularly care to fix it, either.
I’m all about being process-oriented. A good process will, in theory, eventually yield results.
But we have countless pieces of evidence now that Georgia’s process stinks to high heavens. It’s not only offensive that Smart would suggest his program has a good process in place, it’s also wildly insensitive.
It’s insensitive to the families of Willock and LeCroy. And it’s insensitive to the families of anybody else who has ever been affected by reckless drivers, as well as the rest of the citizens of Athens.
Smart’s players are putting themselves in danger. But they’re also endangering everyone around them. And so long as they’re winning and competing for championships, Smart obviously does not care.