Old habits die hard.

While on ESPN’s Championship Drive podcast, Kirby Smart had a few things to say about his new team’s mindset that weren’t exactly flattering.

“I don’t think our players realize how hard they have to work to be great,” Smart said. “I think pushing them to do that and pushing them harder and making them realize they can do more is a big part of our job as coaches. They’ve got to understand they can work harder than they’re currently working and they can take more reps and they can do the reps the right way at a high rate.

“Obviously, we’ve got to improve the overall talent level and depth, but more important than that, it’s gonna be whether or not these guys push through the ceiling and go through what they think they can and take the roof off it and go work a little bit harder. We start up June 1 with our entire team. It’s important to have good summer workouts and meet the demands of the program.”

So much to wonder about in those two paragraphs.  I sure would love for someone to ask Rocker and Sherrer to compare and contrast the approach of the coaching staffs in 2016 and 2015, except Smart doesn’t allow the assistant coaches to speak with the media.  Maybe some of the players will be asked about it at SEC Media Days, but I doubt they’d say much in response.  I guess we’ll have to wait and see what shows up on the field to get any idea.

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So he’s saying there’s a chance.

There are no guarantees in life, of course, and I’m not saying KC Joyner’s making one, but if you’re looking for a reason to think Georgia could have a good season in 2016, take that he’s guaranteeing the Dawgs have absolutely zero chance of making the college football playoffs as exactly that.

“Our concern is how are we going to hold up at the point with big people?”

We all know Kirby wants a lot more size on the d-line than he inherited, but, honestly, I’m a little surprised at the math:

As we speak – on campus today – the Bulldogs only have four defensive linemen who check in at over 300 pounds – Trenton Thompson, John Atkins, DaQuan Hawkins and Julian Rochester, whose status for the opener remain unclear following his arrest in April on a felony charge of having a weapon on campus (a bb gun) and destruction of property.”

While that number will increase by two when Michail Carter and Tyler Clark arrive with the rest of Georgia’s freshman class on June 1, that’s not going to do much to alleviate Smart’s fears until the Bulldogs can add more depth via recruiting.

If you’d have asked me before I read that how many 300+ pounders Rocker would be coaching this season, I’d have said half that.  Granted, three of those are true freshmen.  What’s the over/under on how many of them redshirt?

You can’t improve upon perfection.

This sounds about like what you’d expect.

A couple of readers have asked whether anything will be done before this season to improve the restrooms at Sanford Stadium and better amplify the Redcoat Band during games. One of them, Jay Unger, writes: A couple of questions about the game day experience. First, any hope in my lifetime (I’m 60) for the level 300 bathrooms? They have been abysmal for years — too small, single-door entry. You miss most of a quarter of play just trying to get into and out of one if the need arises. Secondly, any chance we can hear more from the Redcoat Band and less over-volumized canned music this season? Or at minimum, consider the demographics of those who pay the bills in selecting the playlist? Some hip-hop, OK, I get it. But a steady diet of it? Please throw us baby boomers a bone or two. How ’bout mix in a little country and classic rock as well! Other stadiums in the SEC and beyond do that. Why not us? “Baba O’Riley” (aka “out here in the fields, teenage wasteland”) is cool at the beginning but can only carry you so far. Getting back to the playing field and on a more upbeat note, thrilled about Kirby Smart and what he brings to UGA football. Go Dawgs!

I asked the UGA Athletic Association this week whether there was anything to report on either bathroom renovations or sound improvements and the response was … [crickets]. So I’m not too hopeful on either point for this fall.

Maybe they thought Bill was making an Open Records request.

By the way, to his reader who hopes for an expansion to Sanford Stadium taking attendance into six figures:  you’re insane, buddy.  They can’t handle what they’ve got now.

Like a rock

Lemme see if I’ve got this straight:  one of Gus Malzahn’s keys to the hire of his new defensive coordinator was “stability“, so he’s brought on a guy who’s on his fifth job in six years.  (It would have been six for six, but he was out of a job in 2012.)

I guess when you’re on your third DC in three years, anything looks more stable.

Musical palate cleanser, don’t you mess with me edition

From his great Live At Newport album, here’s Muddy Waters performing “Hoochie Coochie Man”.

If you don’t have this album, you should.  Sound quality is excellent and Muddy and his band are in fine form.  Highly recommended.

Eh, what the heck – here’s a bonus track, the exuberant “Got My Mojo Working”.