Georgia football: response to those doubting Demetris Robertson
By Mike Stowe
Former California wide receiver Demetris Robertson is announcing the school he will transfer to July 14. Georgia football is on his short list.
Here we are in the dog days of summer, Georgia football fans. It’s that long, drawn out part of the off-season that seems the longest. There’s no early or national signing day, G-Day, or fall practice. This is usually the time when we are left just predicting Georgia’s record, their biggest competitor in the East, or who the starter at each position.
Jake Fromm/Justin Fields discussions and news about Fromm’s lake mishaps have dominated the summer. But another story has come along and become the hottest topic in all of Dawgnation. The continuing saga of Demetris Robertson.
Robertson was the no. 1 wide receiver recruit in the nation coming out of high school in 2016. He was a Georgia kid, and many believed he would inevitably come to Athens to play for the Dawgs. He put on a bit of a show during his recruitment and with his announcement.
When he chose to go out West to play for the California Golden Bears, he left a sour taste in a lot of Dawg fans’ mouths. It was two-months after signing day. It hasn’t been forgotten. That sour taste apparently remains with many.
Fast forward two seasons later. Robertson announces that he’s leaving Cal to come back closer to home to play. Whether or not he could play immediately is another question (The NCAA has to grant him a hardship).
But even if he had to sit, you’re talking about a kid that would be one of, if not the, most talented receivers on many teams. He’s a weapon. A legitimate difference maker whether he plays this season or next. Georgia is in his final four, and a decision is coming soon. So of course, he announced that he’s set a date.
https://twitter.com/d_rob4/status/1015419542749761536?s=19
We are going through the whole song and dance again, and that makes many fans feel frustrated. I’ve seen a lot of them say “we don’t want him” or “he’s a diva”. I get the frustration with this part of our fan base. I do, I have rolled my eyes a time or three during the whole saga.
What I don’t get people acting like if this were their decision (which it’s not of course, is ultimately Kirby Smart’s decision), Robertson wouldn’t even be allowed to come here. Let’s pump the brakes a little on all that noise.
I know about how a bad attitude can affect a locker room. I understand that kids mimic certain behaviors and can become a detriment to a team. That’s where leadership comes into play. And the Georgia Bulldogs have great leadership. This is one of those situations where we, as fans, need to trust that Kirby Smart knows what he’s doing.
If Robertson does decide to come here, Smart can handle the situation. I truly believe that. He has given me no reason in his two years here to have doubt that he doesn’t know what he’s doing. News flash peeps, Smart has dealt with his fair share of five-star players who everyone tells them how great they are. He understands how to get the best out of the best.
So let’s make this simple. Answer a few questions for me, Dawg fans. Do you trust Kirby Smart’s judgment? Can Demetris Robertson come to Georgia and contribute? Can he make our offense more dangerous? Help us beat Bama? Help us win a championship? Do we want to keep a kid with his talent off of Bama and Clemson’s roster if we can?
If the answer to those questions is “yes”, then maybe the Robertson haters should rethink their stance on the kid. If the answer to those questions is yes, that outweighs all the other drama and spectacle of the continuing saga of Demetris Robertson
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Who knows for sure besides him, his family, and the coaching staff of the team he’s coming to where he will finish out his time as a college football player. The kid coming here will make me excited. Why wouldn’t I be? He can make us better, and I’m all for that. He could be yet another piece in solving the puzzle of bringing Georgia its first National Championship since 1980.