I don’t know how much of this is real and how much of it is merely AJ-C pot stirring, but either way, it’s kinda sad.
Team focus and program morale took a hit with some parents and boosters disappointed a former player was allowed to watch the closed scrimmage from within while some player parents and Magill Society Donors were turned away. Smart and UGA were in a tough spot; there was bound to be criticism no matter how the former player’s presence at the private, invitation-only event was handled.
“Team focus and program morale took a hit”? Because some Magill folks got their fee-fees hurt? Jeez, Kirby may not possess the level of support we thought he had.
I also love the way that Justin Fields has become He Who Cannot Be Named. Thanks for sparing our delicate sensibilities, Mike.
Get The Picture 
The author who shall not be named is a clickbait troll.
LikeLiked by 6 people
I would bet most current players would rather have had “the former” player there than a donor they’ve never met. Also, it was JUSTIN FIELDS. Now I’m waiting for him to materialize out of a mirror or something.
LikeLike
Am I the only one that sees the recruiting message Kirby is sending here? That there are no burned bridges? I’m not saying he’s trying to recruit Justin back, i don’t think anyone thinks that’s a possibility.. but to me the message is clear.
LikeLiked by 3 people
From Kirby’s POV, there is no upside to being petty about it.
LikeLiked by 7 people
The implicit message of “I should have stayed at home” is priceless.
LikeLiked by 9 people
Kirby literally is playing 4-D Chess.
Anyone thinking he won’t use Justin Fields’s “wistful” visit to Georgia’s first scrimmage this year in recruiting doesn’t know Kirby.
LikeLiked by 1 person
No burned bridges. Exactly right. Only real posture he could have taken.
LikeLiked by 1 person
It kind of demolishes the “I had to leave because it was a toxic atmosphere and I felt unsafe” pitch. I think Kirby was very smart to just let it happen without some announcement. Just a routine day at the office, no hard feelings, no problem.
LikeLiked by 5 people
Another thing Kirby will use to counter negative recruiting.
“We know Fields and his Family had to game the system to play right away at tOSU, and even though it made us look bad, we don’t hold a grudge. At Georgia, we’ll always want what’s best for YOU.”
LikeLike
There is no way in hell Kirby makes a sales pitch like that.
I know it’s convenient to forget, but the Sasser situation — including the school’s dismissal — made this a textbook case for a waiver. Nobody made UGA look bad because the facts spoke for themselves and the school didn’t want to put itself in the position of minimizing Sasser’s remarks after the school had dismissed him for making them.
LikeLike
Nope. Kirby plays the long game. Recruits and their families are watching and when somebody tries to negative recruit Georgia and Kirby on the Fields transfer issue, they’re going to see through it now.
LikeLiked by 1 person
“There is no winner here” for the win….
LikeLike
Uhmmm…aren’t there more important things to worry about at the moment?
LikeLike
Just wait until the “Former” “Player” starts working out with the team and leading the scout team as a Preferred Walk-On.
p.s. The “Former” “Player” works with the same private QB Coach as Newman.
LikeLike
The former player’s last collegiate pass may well end up being an interception to lose a game. Hope he enjoyed his time in the spotlight at Ohio
LikeLike
Dude. If he doesn’t take a snap this season he’ll be a first round pick based on what he’s done at Ohio State. It was a smart move to go. Nobody on planet Earth predicted Georgia’s offensive slide last season, and Fromm’s decision to leave early was very unlikely. He was looking at probably waiting two more years to start one if he stayed.
LikeLiked by 3 people
As someone who has attended practices before (although not a scrimmage and, no, definitely not as a Magill donor), people need to get a life… Again, maybe a pre-season scrimmage is a little different, but it ain’t “all that” folks, despite what you may have been led to believe – anyone who is complaining about Fields being there instead of them really needs to re-assess their priorities in life!
LikeLike
If they weren’t there they can’t walk around swinging their big dicks saying, “I was there.”
LikeLike
Guess they will just have to talk about how good much cheddar they made in the market this week at their next cocktail party instead, to go along with their whine…
LikeLiked by 1 person
As many point out, JF at a scrimmage is the kind of thing former players have done before. I might fret a little if there was something specific. About team morale taking a hit, but this sounds like something that got written because the boss needed words to fill column inches for an article.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Morale taking a hit is hilarious because the “Former””Player” was well liked by his teammates
LikeLiked by 1 person
Maybe Kirby is trying to send the “no bridges burned” message, but Fields being there is a LOT different than Herschel, Chubb, Ward, etc. being there.
Hope no one was hostile to him.
Let me know when he starts getting reps.
LikeLike
“He Who Cannot Be Named” : smells like a future
Lexicon entry!
LikeLike
Kirby is playing 11 dimensional chess with everybody
LikeLike
If a “reporter” started talking down team morale in the current climate, I’d be sending him directions to 37F.
LikeLike
“Team focus and program morale” aren’t dictated by donors. I seriously doubt any players took issue with JF being there. Like everyone is saying, it’s just clickbait.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Just on the off chance that any of the Magill Society people who are allegedly unhappy about this development are also GTP readers who scroll through the comments like we, the downtrodden unwashed masses, I’d like to maybe break this down to help change your channel a little here.
Rival programs are spreading rumors about the UGA program being an unhappy place in order to keep the best players from coming to Athens, and they’re using Justin Fields’ defection from the program (amid rumors of racism, no less) as evidence that things aren’t good in Athens. Well, Kirby Smart just defused that bomb and invalidated that entire theory just by holding up the velvet rope and letting Justin Fields stand on a practice field at Butts-Mehre for a few hours. But we gave Ohio State intel on our team, you say? By the time Ohio State has any possible shot at competing against Georgia again it will be 2021, Fields will be gone, and any speculation he’d have on the 2020 team would be moot because we will have 10 games at least of tape on this team. Ohio State has opted out of the main 2020 season. They aren’t a threat. I wouldn’t be surprised if we let their coaches watch at this point, we do that sort of thing, too.
Finally, I’d point out that Justin Fields has spent most of his summer in a football quarantine bubble in Ohio. You, valued donor, have not. It’s a lower risk to let him into a football practice than it is to let you into practice. We are very sorry that you aren’t getting to enjoy the full benefit of your generosity to the program this year. i’m certain that UGA is going to find a way to make it up to you someday. In the current environment and situation, your presence doesn’t improve UGA’s standing in the football world. Justin Fields’ certainly does – – it was a big win in the recruiting wars as it took a tool out of the other schools’ tool belt. We’re looking forward to welcoming you back to practice in 2021, and, oh yeah. You’re also going to be among the very, very few who are welcome in Sanford Stadium next month. Enjoy.
LikeLiked by 4 people
“Rival programs are spreading rumors about the UGA program being an unhappy place in order to keep the best players from coming to Athens…
Not to mention a certain “former” “player” is trying to claim this exact thing so he can play for a divisional rival this year.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Maybe its the devil’s advocate in me, but I can understand player’s parents being miffed to a certain extent. First of all, I haven’t got a clue why a player from a different school would want to attend our practice, or why he’d expect to be let in. You’d think Fields would have better things to do with his time, rather than dropping in to bum around our practice session. And for all we know, Fields may be a super spreader. Yes, parents, boosters, alumni, and even casual fans who have supported the program should take precedence over a guy who ditched both the school and its football team.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Kirby likes to fuck with everyone’s head and he’s good at it.
LikeLike
I bet there are a lot of coaches out there who oppose players transferring because it’s “taking the easy way out” and those same coaches would love to have Justin Fields on their roster.
LikeLike
Probably a really smart play by Kirby as it sends a message to future recruits and their parents that he cares about his players irrespective of whether they stay at UGA. However, in the current toxic Covid environment, the optics to allow someone not part of the program to be allowed in the facility is not very good.
LikeLike
It may be that some donors and parents didn’t “pass” the COVID screening to be admitted and Justin did.
LikeLike
Patience, please, ninety days from now Seth Emerson will get his FOIA cleared and will let us know what the testing procedure was for a 20yo with zero comorbidities sitting outside and socially distanced from the team was.
LikeLike
Ftmf. I always loathe this part of the season.
LikeLike
“Smart and UGA were in a tough spot; there was bound to be criticism no matter how the former player’s presence at the private, invitation-only event was handled.”
LikeLike
Sometimes maybe you oughtn’t r-u-n-n-o-f-t.
LikeLike
We should all aspire to be such decent Dapper Dan men.
LikeLike
Pingback: “It was as exclusive as it gets.” | Get The Picture