Kirby Smart is having a very good week.

To recap:

• A Sugar Bowl win for which he deserves a fair amount of credit having his team prepared to play.
• Richard LeCounte announces his decision to return for his fourth season.
• Two five-star commits make their signings official, moving Georgia’s average in the 247Sports Composite to a nation-leading 94.21.

Speaking of which, have a look at this.

2020 Secondary (pending):

Richard LeCounte
Eric Stokes
Divaad Wilson
Kelee Ringo
Tyson Campbell
Otis Reese
Lewis Cine
Tyrique Stevenson
DJ Daniel
Mark Webb
Major Burns
Jalen Kimber
Ameer Speed
Nadab Joseph
Latavius Brini
Chris Smith
William Poole

– 4 5⭐️
– 12 4⭐️
– 2 All-SEC

— blakejmorgan (@bIakejmorgan) January 4, 2020

Four five-star recruits in Georgia’s secondary alone.  Is there another team in the SEC East with four five-star recruits on its entire roster?

What’s next?

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A modest proposal

This is great. pic.twitter.com/nrYM7y8Fr9

— Parrish Walton (@ParrishWalton) January 4, 2020

After a few chuckles, that chart got me to thinking.  I mean, here’s Auburn not showing up at a bowl game for the second time in the last three years, giving some program an over-inflated sense of worth.  Not good, Bob, but, going forward, what can be done to prevent schools from half-assing another meaningless bowl game?

I’m glad you asked.

We all know that money rules in today’s college football world.  Make me god-king of the NCAA for a day, and I’ll make every athletic director, coach and player care about every bowl game the way somebody who took minus-22.5 in a bowl game featuring a mid-major sweats out a drive in garbage time that would cut the final margin to 20 cares.  Three easy steps to giving a damn:

1. A school only gets its share of conference bowl money if it wins its bowl game.
2. A coach only gets a bowl game bonus if his team wins the game.
3. Players receive a share of conference bowl money, but only if they suit up for the bowl game.

I realize the third proposition is the most controversial, but, really, how many kids staying out to protect a shot at the NFL are going to turn down, say, a $20,000 check?  I’m guessing not many.

Hey, if you’ve got a better suggestion, I’m all ears.

Off to a good start

Not too shabby, Kirbs.

Although not having quite the sample size as most of the following, Kirby Smart’s record vs. AP top-10 opponents compared to previous #UGA and other notable head coaches (pic @UGASportscom): pic.twitter.com/fyaVzlWzuK

— Patrick Garbin (@patrickgarbin) January 5, 2020

That Goff record — oof.

Clean old-fashioned embarrassment

Now he knows how we feel when it happens.

Roy Williams said after falling to Georgia Tech that today was the "most disappointed, most upset" he's ever been coaching a basketball game. Added that, "It's the most negative I've ever felt about myself, and most negative I've ever felt about any team." pic.twitter.com/XWxWehN0F5

— Kyle Boone (@Kyle__Boone) January 5, 2020

Losing to Tech has a way of doing that to a body.

[Ed. note:  In no way should this post be construed as expressing sympathy for Roy Williams or North Carolina basketball.  It’s one of life’s little pleasures watching both wallow in misery.]

Good morning, SEC.

Apparently, I was a very good blogger for Christmas, because Santa is showering me with goodies.

Like this:

Be still, my five-star heart.  Booch back in the conference and Grantham staying at Florida is almost too much for me.  Almost.

Toss in the triumphant return of Ted Roof — “Attracting Ted Roof to join the Commodores as defensive coordinator is a huge win for our program,” is something that should make Vandy’s AD question why Mason still is his head coach — and you’ve got the makings of a truly joyous offseason.

Thanks, football gods.