I guess it’s unanimous: nobody wants a Georgia player to go to Miami.
The gist of it: Smart believes he did not block Turman from going to where he wanted to go, as Turman did not express a desire to go to Miami. But the reason Smart blocked Miami was because he wanted to establish that it would not be an avenue for other Georgia players, now that Mark Richt is there.
“I wanted to set the precedent for the future that kids would not be able to go to Miami right away,” Smart said. “It’s very important that we understand that, and that’s pretty much standard operating procedure when a coach leaves one place, that a kid can’t go there with the coach. That’s important to me that people understand that.”
It’s certainly Smart’s call, but color me unconvinced. Is Smart that insecure about the players he’s inherited (a roster he’s criticized in certain aspects, by the way)?
This transfer culture stuff is a little tacky, if you ask me. Then again, I’ve never been in the arena in Tuscaloosa.
Get The Picture 
He’s gonna be hard on them, push them. When somebody does that, sometimes it’s easy to say f this. Coach Richt didn’t do this. I’m going to Miami. Removing that option makes it easier to maintain team discipline.
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That’s it. I think it’s a prudent rule.
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Agree… dont see why folks are getting their panties in a wad over it.
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I have read this entire comments section and this comment above by UGA95 at 2:40 pm is the most succinct and correct comment out of the entire bunch. The majority of the comments below are just Richt fanboys looking for any excuse to attack Smart. Save yourself some time and just skip them.
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Thank you for attempting to censor my reading this morning. I really hate thinking for myself.
America, FTW!
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It may have more to do with putting the Miami coaches (e.g. former UGA coaches) on notice that their old players can’t be poached. The kids are caught up in the collateral damage.
At least that’s my theory.
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Could be, be why no concern about Pruitt at Bama? Kirby should set the standard to apply to all of the SEC schools (and Miami) or none at all.
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I think he does say that in the video. So Kirby’s got you covered there.
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Shameful bullshit.
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Me thinks the ad isn’t the only one needing pr help.
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The troll is strong with this one.
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Derek, I think Kirby has handled the PR part of the job fine since early December. I have actually been very impressed with what he has done to unite the fan base to this point (the 93k at G-Day challenge was brilliant). He has handled every one of his press conferences like a professional.
I think this decision blew up in his face, and while he specifically talked about it yesterday, he’s finding out it’s hard to rationalize a poor decision.
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This shows pettiness and insecurity on the part of Georgia; why would you want to keep kids in Athens who don’t want to be there. Even if Turman went to Miami he’d have to sit out a year. Seems wrongheaded to me.
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Seems paranoid too. Wouldn’t it have been better to intimate that youre worried that agents from Miami might try and poach than to put it out there that your afraid your players won’t like you as much as CMR? Same result, better argument. One sounds like your taking care of the program. One sounds like he’s worried about that missing pint of strawberries.
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I guess you are ok with a player being released to our number 1 recruiting rival who ends up taking them to the natty! BTW another player to the same team who I’m sure is painting a rosey pic of UGA with recruits. Kirbys team kirbys call as it should be.
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I’m as okay with that as I would be if Kirby left tomorrow to take over as head coach in Tuscaloosa b/c Saban retired.
The NCAA is fine with one move, but not the other. Why do you think that is?
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Absolutely correct Senator.
Or, if we want to look at the hypocrisy in a different way, would Kirby be open to Fitzpatrick and Ridley following him to Georgia?
Something tells me he might view that differently.
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he didn’t seem to mind poaching a couple of Alabama recruits, or taking Jake Fromm’s commitment after he committed originally to Alabama…largely because of Kirby. Maybe Kirby thinks everyone is like him.
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Would you be okay with him leaving and taking the team with him? Not being snarky, just wondering. If he went to Tuscaloosa and Chubb and Eason followed, would you be mad?
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This is the ultimate tool in troubleshooting. Take the hypothesis to the limit. What if? Indeed…although that wouldn’t happen, a large chunk of it could..if CMR were that kind of man..which he’s not. But there are coaches that are…so the policy is correct.
As far as the hypocracy goes…we deal with it all the time. It’s an imperfect world and there are hotter plates on the stove than that one.
Here’s a what if..What if Georgia wins the SEC and Miami the ACC..and they face one another in the final four?
And taking a recruit that hasn’t signed yet isn’t the same argument.
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It’s not a matter of what I like. It’s a matter of what’s fair.
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Jack, he wouldn’t be able to field a team if he took the team with him. They would have to sit for a year before being eligible to play. That’s why this debate is ridiculous because it’s the players on the margins that will be the only ones affected by this change in the program’s operation.
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Could it be one is a professional who has paid his dues and the other is a student athlete who has to earn their way. To view it different is the same view that seems to be a problem with our entitlement society today.
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Thanks, Dabo. But, no, that’s not why.
Another antitrust verdict or two and you’ll figure it out.
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When I was a student at UGA, teachers could leave and take a job anywhere they wanted, and by your definition They had ‘paid their dues and I hadn’t. Yet, I could transfer and go to school anywhere I wanted, but I guess Football Players are a lesser kind of intellect or something that warrants more oversight so a school can ensure they don’t fall off the track of learning life lessons as moral high ground. Give me a F-ing break, that’s the biggest load of horseshit I’ve ever heard.
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“I guess you are ok with a player being released to our number 1 recruiting rival who ends up taking them to the natty! ”
Yes, I am okay with a player leaving and playing with whomever he wishes to play. We are okay with our head coach,while serving as our head coach and tasked with hiring a staff and recruiting, working full time for another SEC school. If a player wants to have such flexibility, then fine with me.
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I am ok with letting kids live their own lives and not restricting their freedom. Any asshole can cut corners.
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Are you talking about Nick Marshall?
We kicked him out. He went to JUCO. There was nothing we could do about where he went, as it wasn’t a transfer
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I smile, (not that i agree or disagree) with those who are not really liking Kirbys decisions… you wanted change… guess what? you got it.
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He’s is earning his money on this one.
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Another thing.. some of the stupid media questions.. eventually are gonna get a NON RICHT answer too..haha.. Kirby gonna go off one day… my fingers are crossed and PRAYING its Schultz, Bradley, or one of those idiots like Chuck Oliver or John Kincaid….
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So, if AJ Thurman wanted to go to Miami, he could do this with a 5 day plan. Day 1. Smoke weed . Day 2. Ask for a drug test. Day 3. Drink a beer in front of the B-M. Get a citation for underaged drinking (I think that is the new policy – citations, not arrests.) Day 4. Drink another beer in front of the B-M and get another citation, resulting in the 3rd drug and alcohol offense and dismissal from the program. Day 5. Say “F you” to Smart and The J. Reid Parker Director of Athletics and drive to Miami to enroll.
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^^^^^This. Incentives matter.
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We’re talking Miami here..not Auburn.
For Tennessee transfer wannabes….hold an armed robbery in front of the police station.
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That was my question on a previous thread.
Does the one year rule apply is you are dismissed or if scholly is rescinded?
If not, the new policy basically makes transferring like dodging the draft. “That’s correct Seargant, I’m a homosexual, dope-smoking, Communist-sympathizing, pacifist named Muhammad Al-Turman….but if you still want me to play ball here…”
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Yes, it does apply if you are dismissed. That’s why you never see the victims of Saban’s roster management practices at another SEC school immediately. That’s also why Trigga had to sit out 2014 on the Plains after being kicked off the team at UGA. You either have to go JUCO (see Mettenberger, Zach or Marshall, Nick) or move down in classification (see Crowell, Isaiah) for immediate eligibility.
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clap clap clap
too funny.
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I’m ok with a new policy in effect for players Smart recruited/signed, because they came in and have to live with his rules (not that I agree with it). But to suddenly Change a rule that was a staple just because you can is inherently wrong in my opinion. I get the new paradigm and that this is the way it is almost everywhere else, but in this case, I side with the kids. The hypocrisy of this by McGarity is disheartening.
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It definitely leads me to believe that Kirby is running things in B-M. I bet we see McGarity on the sideline with a collar/leash around his neck next fall.
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I’m all for Smart establishing a level playing field with others in the SEC. If the issue is so morally reprehensible then the Presidents and the ADs should have no problem agreeing not to let it happen anymore. As for the criticism of the change in stance, it’s like criticizing someone who has historically driven 45 in a 55 zone but decides he no longer wants everyone passing him by. He’s acting within the rules set for everyone rather than constraining himself to a competitive disadvantage.
Go ahead and apply the Les Miles weed rules while you’re at it (OK, maybe that’s going a bit too far.)
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Hear, hear. Any policy in which we are a (1) an outlier in our own conference and (2) potentially puts us in a position of a competitive disadvantage when compared to our SEC and recruiting rivals should be reevaluated. Like it or not, for better or worse, we are in the SEC. If that means occasionally holding our noses and doing what the rest of the league does (assuming of course, that it is within the rules) with respect to transfers, offers, drug policy, etc…. well, I can live with that. That being said, I’m all for our school reps (prez on down) to advocate for higher standards with respect to those things for the whole conference, so we can happily (re)adopt them when everyone else does too.
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He specifically said there is a rule that you can’t transfer within the conference, so there is no “competitive disadvantage.” Miami isn’t on the schedule any time soon (and the AD isn’t going to put them on), so who cares if a player who doesn’t want to be in Athens for whatever reason wants to head to Coral Gables?
Kirby said he needed to re-recruit the players to this team. He seems to have done a pretty good job of that. One guy (so far) has decided to leave the program and wasn’t interested in Miami. Let’s see what happens after spring practice and after the semester ends.
Regarding changing our drug policy, it isn’t going to happen. Even Kirby acknowledged that at his press conference after being named head football coach.
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Did Kirby forget he got he job because CMR was fired not because he left to go to Miami? I wouldn’t agree with it either way, but his excuse for this is weak sauce. If Richt had a left Georgia voluntarily to go the U, maybe he would have a point, but his logic isn’t the best around this issue.
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Bush league move to me. I have no issue with blocking the SEC schools, and those on the immediate schedule. That is one flimsy reason for blocking Miami. You show yourself to be a dick for what, 2-3 players that don’t fit, at the most? And what a spineless this AD shows himself to be. Bad enough he has looked goofy from the start, now he cannot eeven stand up for his prior positions on issues. Hope this better than it is starting out. I never agreed with Richt’s position of blocking no schools but that makes more sense than what we just heard Smart say.
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Meh…just win baby. This is a semi-pro game today. Milk every advantage and bleed every opportunity to gain an edge. I bet Marshall would have love to have a couple of players that followed Coach Donnan to Ga. I know two of them ended up playing in the pros. This ain’t your father’s college game anymore. Get use to it…enjoy your tailgates.
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Yep. Marshall should have kept Damien Gary. Good point. Glad Kirby isn’t making that mistake.
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Lol. There is a Lotta dif between the two backs. I don’t think it matters too much. But apparently our new,HC does. Well there ya go. It’s his decision.
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What the hell are you talking about Damian Gary never played at Marshall? Olandis Gary played for Donnan at Marshall.
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Jeez, I got the first name wrong. Don’t get your panties in a wad.
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You like to tell us how much of an expert you are on college football, and tell the people who don’t agree how dumb they are.
By the way, both he and Verron Haynes thought it was important enough to play for Donnan that they were willing to sit out a year to play at Georgia. I don’t like the restrictions other than within the conference (and have been consistent about that) on players’ ability to transfer, but I think if a player wants to follow his coach (especially one that was terminated involuntarily), he should be able to do it.
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Sounds He did not expect the flash from this decision and is now having to justify his decision. Bad move on his part what if Thurman now says he wants to go to Miami? If he can’t build a rapport with the team it is his issue. He seemed to have done it with his players at Alabama and should trust himself to ‘ve able to do it here. This shows insecurity on his part.
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I hate my kindle sometimes first sentence should read sounds like he did not expect the backlash.
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There has been much made of the disastrous 2013 recruiting class. I think 14 of them are gone now. We can’t afford to lose players. Especially not to a former coach. Suck it up.
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So now you’re saying Georgia players shouldn’t be able to transfer at all?
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Hell let them all leave. I’m sure you would love to watch walk ons play between the hedges next year.
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Jeepers! No more coffee for you. Lol.
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Jeez, man, get a grip. There’s no mass exodus coming. I don’t get why anyone would want to keep a bunch of disgruntled kids on the roster. You seem to believe it’s just a matter of tough shit for them, even if they hadn’t planned on a new staff.
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How do you know that?
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Well, that no other player has asked Smart about a transfer would seem to be a good clue.
Maybe the whole team was just waiting to see if Turman was gonna be allowed to go to Miami.
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Maybe they were. None of you know. I don’t know. I will trust the guy that does know.
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You really think Smart is coaching an entire team that doesn’t want to be there? C’mon, man. It’s fine that you support his transfer policy, but you don’t need to pretend like that.
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Whatever dude. Your opinion doesn’t mean anymore than mine. The head guy said it matters. That’s enough for me.
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So why are you even arguing about this?
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I agree. The old regime never understood the power of Stockholm syndrome. It was the missing ingredient.
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After listening to the press conference, the restriction on Miami and Fl was a message to others on the roster that may think of leaving. As Kirby asked, has anyone talked to AJ?
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Long term Miami will compete with us in recruiting less than FSU because of distance. A strong Miami weakens the Gators. I really don’t see the downside to letting him transfer to Miami unless he thinks he’s that much less charismatic than Richt and can’t compete.
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Do not agree with limiting Turman, petty and insecure. My biggest gripe with it is if we are now recruiting SFla hard offering 12 STA players, you can bet everyone of them probably already heard look what Ga did to this Fla kid.
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Yeah, no shit. Anybody with a pulse who is not pissed about Richt being shown the door knew why Kirby chose Miami as a restriction. Much ado about nothing, but at least it gave the Richt gang something to get all hot and bothered over for a few days. Seriously, you guys are acting like a bunch of high school girls over this.
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Agree dude, a lot of those complaining about this are just butt-hurt Richt fans. This is Kirby’s team now and he is doing things his way, get used to it or get lost.
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So while CMR was coach you kept quiet because it was “his” team, I guess. I am pretty sure the Dawgs belong to a lot of people, not just Smart.
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Exactly this. Georgia is not Kirby Smart just like Georgia was not Mark Richt, Jim Donnan, Ray Goff, Vince Dooley, etc. If he wanted to change the policy, fine, but don’t complain Mr. AD the next time someone gets restricted from transferring to UGA.
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Sorry…I was a Georgia fan before I was a Smart fan and I’ll make my own decisions about what I do and you’ll like it.
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So, I’m just curious. How many years do fans have to agree on every single decision Kirby makes before y’all stop pulling the ‘Richt apologist’ card? Can we get a ball park figure?
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I don’t now. Why don’t we try one of Richt’s patented 5 year plans you guys were so fond of? Deal?
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I never heard him talk about a 5-year plan. Feel free to provide evidence of that.
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That was a snark. I guess it went over your head, but I am not surprised.
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Sorry – I missed it. Certainly didn’t read like like snark to me.
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Look, my point was based on UGA’S self interest only. We should weaken the Gators if we can without hurting ourselves. A strong Miami hurts them but doesn’t hurt us much because of the distance. FSU competes with us for a lot of recruits so it makes more sense to restrict transfers there than to Miami.
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Honestly this seems to have been blown way out of proportion. As for the insecurity claims being floated around, those people and I have must have watched a different press conference (and Kirby mic’d up) video than I did. Ain’t nothin insecure about that guy imo.
He makes the rules now. Things change. New boss, new procedures. Move on y’all.
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I, for one, welcome our new transfer-restricting overlords.
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Okay, that’s a good one.
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It’s still a chicken shit thing to do.
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A couple of SEC championships and an appearence or 2 in the final 4 and y’all will be praying at the alter of Kirby and setting fire to the alter of Richt and this transfer shit will be long forgotten.
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You know we’ll sell our souls and you think you know the price do ya? Should I resent being called a whore or should I be greatful for not being considered cheap?
The truth is that trophies won’t buy some of us and that the promise of trophies will buy some of us. We know you passed negotiating price long ago.
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Maybe Richt will win you a couple of trophies at Thug U and you can keep kneeling at the altar of Richt.
Butt hurt apologists don’t go away mad just go away
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And people wonder why I end up name calling. I think it’s because it’s deserved and sometimes only vulgarity can fully capture ones thoughts. That being said, allow me to retort:
That CMR ran a program in a way that made me proud to be a Georgia Bulldog does not mean that my loyalty was or is or will be to CMR. This distinction is called nuance. Nuance requires thought. Nuance requires reflection. Nuacr requires an iq north of 100.
Of course if I wanted to be an idiot like yourself I’d presume that since you were so hostile to CMR that you spent the last 15 years pulling for Alabama or I could just once again emphasize that you’re fucking stupid. The second is probably much closer to the truth anyway.
However, if you’re really fucking stupid like yourself you can understand multiple facts operating independently of each other.
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That is always your replies either foul comments or calling people stoopid.
Shows how intelligent you really are. Still kneeling at the altar of Richt, take a deep breath and just let it go, Richt is gone get over it already.
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Let me try this. I am not making a foul comment or calling anyone stupid. My alma mater had a policy endorsed by and publicly articulated by the athletic director. That policy was that UGA would not restrict transfers’ selection of schools. I agreed with the athletic director regarding that policy, and applauded his criticism of Georgia Tech when Tech refused to allow Robert Carter to transfer to UGA.
That Greg McGarity ran the athletic program in a way that made me proud to be a Georgia Bulldog does not mean my loyalty was or is or will be to Greg McGarity. This distinction is called nuance.
No one can accuse me of kneeling at the altar of The J. Reid Parker Director of Athletics.
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ADM gave away control of the Football end of it when he hired Kirby. He knew he would have to back him up on anything he decided as regards to the players/team. ADM is now paying the price for that. Too damn bad 🙂
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Only tangentially related (along the lines of getting the team to buy in – I’m not inferring that Turman hadn’t) to this post, but any word on Kirby employing/contracting a team shrink similar to Sabans guru from Mich St?
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“It’s certainly Smart’s call, but color me unconvinced. Is Smart that insecure about the players he’s inherited (a roster he’s criticized in certain aspects, by the way)?
This transfer culture stuff is a little tacky, if you ask me. Then again, I’ve never been in the arena in Tuscaloosa”
You are right on Senator. This is not the way to unite the Bulldawg Nation. It speaks of immaturity and insecurity…………Just do the right thing and coach and win.
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I don’t agree with the policy, but as I’m sure many will point out, it ain’t my opinion that matters. It’s Smart’s choice and that’s how he chooses to run the program. As long as he’s not breaking the rules, so be it.
However, it does seem like there’s a bit of a contradiction in the opening part of this interview. I may have misheard, but I thought Smart said that it’s the SEC’s policy not to let kids transfer to other SEC schools. If that’s the case, then Turman couldn’t have transferred to UF anyway, so why put a restriction on there? Now he’s double-restricted from transferring to UF? Again, maybe I misunderstood.
A little off topic, but I think situations like this are the biggest chink in the armor of the NCAA’s Amatuerism defense. Do med students get restricted from transferring to other schools? Do debate team members get restricted?
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Are you people still talking about this?
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Umm, Kirby talked about it yesterday after his boss essentially said, “Talk to the coach. It’s his decision.” Until we get some scrimmage QBRs, there’s not a lot to talk about right now. 😉
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Bunch of whiny ass pu$$ies on this thread. I understood why Kirby did it this way when it was announced. No need for a press conference to explain it.
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Nice name calling, jackass. If I were the Senator, I would ban you for this comment alone.
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Somebody defined it best on this thread or another. Stockholm Symdrom
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Don’t fret. Soon enough we’ll all be rationalizing anything and everything like the Auburn people. It appears we’ve already gotten a good start.
It also seems that I was wrong about the administration’s ability to shed the Georgia Way. Of course, it would be the good portions but what the hell…we’re winning more football games and that’s all that matters.
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The man hasn’t even coached a game and people are already talking this much trash? Smh
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“A new broom sweeps clean”. Change ain’t a comin’, it’s already here. As for McGarity’s role, he was told by the Big Money Boosters to stay the heck out of Kirby’s way. ADM is a “yes man” now. It’s Kirby’s world and he’s just living in it. However, CKS isn’t acting under the Al Davis slogan of “Just Win Baby”, but under a much tougher one of “Better Win Baby”. He is fully aware of how high the bar has been set.
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I agree with everything you’ve stated here, Sportsdawg. What I don’t understand is why restricting transfers is in line with “Better Win Baby.” If a guy doesn’t want to play for him, why would Smart want to tell him where he can and can’t go? I would tell him … feel free to leave and sit for a year if it’s that important to you.
Winning & doing things the right way aren’t mutually exclusive.
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I’m with you all the way. Perhaps a guy who has been an assistant coach his entire career feels like he has to exert this kind of power now that he has his own program to make sure everyone knows who is in control.
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I would rather he use that power to do something that makes a difference in the product on the field.
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