Mike Farrell Sports

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Kirby Smart’s Absolute Power is Corrupting and Declining, Absolutely

Georgia and Smart are out of control and falling short of expectations

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Sep 28
Sep 28

By Rock Westfall

Kirby Smart is a head coach who has lost a lot of shine since blowing the SEC Championship last year. The head coach of the Georgia Bulldogs is becoming an example of how absolute power corrupts absolutely.

Previously, I documented the ‘Fast and Furious’ culture of Smart’s Georgia program. In addition to traffic deaths and a plethora of tickets, Georgia expanded its renegade program to include players allegedly assaulting women and even unborn children.

None of these issues caused Smart to go on a rant about anyone involved in those incidents being an “idiot” or “just stupid.”

But when backup defensive back and special teams player Jake Pope danced with some Ole Miss fans after Saturday’s 28-10 loss, Kirby finally snapped.

Kirby Smart has a rather bizarre set of priorities.

More Sports News

 

Jake Pope Was an Idiot – But So Is Kirby Smart’s Priority List 

At his Monday press conference, Smart did not hold back regarding his comments on the Jake Pope incident.

“What an idiot,” Smart said. “I mean what a — just stupid. I didn’t see it until today. He’s [Pope] embarrassed about it. He’s upset about it. It’s obviously a childhood friend of his he grew up and played with there at Buford. Hadn’t seen him in forever. But, just not real smart. But to be honest with you, I’m not going to waste energy on that. My focus is on Tennessee. I’m not worried about that.”

While Smart is technically correct, the statement is indicative of a coach utterly tone deaf about the lengthy list of his program’s transgressions. 

It is also an example of how the unaccountable Smart has been coddled by a media and fan base that rush to make excuses for him on such incidents as when he blatantly shoved a Mississippi State player while wanting to rage at one of his assistants. Smart walked, scot-free.  

This season, there have been numerous camera shots of Smart screaming and out of control on the sideline during games, emblematic of a program that lacks discipline and polish.

Meanwhile, Pope issued a statement.

“I wanted to address the videos that have been put out after the Ole Miss game,” Pope posted on “X.”“First and foremost I wanted to say sorry for the way it was taken out of perspective and has caused distractions/commotion for my teammates and coaches. This is not representative of who I am in any way. In no way, shape or form would I ever celebrate a loss in this program and anyone who knows me well knows that.

“My long time family friends had came up to me unexpectedly after the game as I was trying to get off the field to safety and were extremely excited to see me after the game. I was also surprised to see them as well and that’s why you saw the reaction that I gave via the video. They are also very close with my former teammate and long time friend on the Ole Miss team which is why they have those jerseys on. (They have come to my games as well.)

“I am Georgia through thick and thin and have never loved a group of guys more than the guys I go to battle with day in and day out. Lastly, and once again I’m sorry to my teammates, coaches and fans all around about the way that video looked and I choose to move forward and get ready for a great rest of the season with my brothers. Go dawgs.”

With a must-win game on Saturday against Tennessee coming up at Sanford Stadium, Smart, Pope, and Georgia are turning the page. But what is not going away is the strange hybrid of entitlement and an out-of-control aura within the Georgia program.

Previously, I wrote that the only way Smart would be held accountable for anything is if he started to lose. Well, by Georgia standards, that has begun to happen. Georgia is 7-2, with no margin for error if they want to make the College Football Playoff.

Of greater concern is that quarterback Carson Beck may not be up to championship standards. 

Beck Is Living Large While Delivering Less  

Carson Beck is no Stetson Bennett. But he is living large with his $300,000 Lamborghini and his glamorous, eye-catching Miami Hurricane basketball playing girlfriend. Beck shows up to games dressed in Louis Vuitton gear but is not delivering Prime Time results.

The senior QB, in his second year as the starter, has a quarterback rating of 140.5 down from 167.9 in 2023. His yards per attempt have declined from 9.5 in 2023 to 7.8 this season. Last year, Beck had a 24/6 TD/INT ratio, compared to 17/12 in 2024.

Indeed, the good life seems to be getting to Beck. But Smart continues to defend him and insisting that Beck will not be pulled.

Kirby Smart is losing control of a program that appears to be in decline.

Better start winning, Kirby. 

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