Three quick takeaways from Kirby Smart at SEC Media Days

Georgia football head coach Kirby Smart took the stage at SEC Media Days this morning, and his interview was one of the best all week.

There wasn’t much he left to the imagination as Smart made sure to answer each question with poised, educated answers.

The talking season is a weird time of year because nothing goes on except the buzz of what coaches say at media days, rumors from all over, and how Smart handled it was exceptional.

He has done this for a few years now, and Smart is a seasoned veteran. However, it was the first time he had done SEC Media Days as reigning national champ. I must say he handled it and looked so good in that role.

Georgia football fans should take these three things away from what Kirby Smart said at SEC Media Days.

From talking about his players, pickleball, and Title IX to avoiding complacency, Smart touched on a lot. However, three things really stood out during his time on stage.

Those things we will discuss should excite Georgia fans and hold them over until fall camp starts and then the season.

It has been 41 years since the Dawgs were reigning national champions, so this is somewhat new territory. The way Smart, Stetson Bennett, Nolan Smith and Sedrick Van Pran handled themselves at SEC Media Days should tell the world what kind of culture is in the Georgia football program.

There are a lot of expectations that come with winning a national title, but after Wednesday, it’s safe to say the Dawgs aren’t focusing on that. They know this team isn’t like the last one, so that championship matters, but it’s about getting this current group to that level.

The way Smart spoke about this team should fire up the boosters, fans and everyone who wants to be associated with the program.

Here are my three takeaways from Smart’s impeccable SEC Media Days press conference.

1: Georgia football NIL situation is perfect

One of the biggest takeaways is how Georgia football head coach Kirby Smart discussed the NIL collective. There are 95 players with NIL deals at Georgia, but the way recruiting continues to vocalize, it seems like the Dawgs aren’t doing anything.

Instead of offering NIL incentives out of the gate, Smart and Georgia decided to wait until players get to Athens. Once they get to school, then the NIL deals start to happen. The Classic City Collective also recently partnered with Truist Bank to help teach the players more about taking care of their financials.

He praised Matt Hibbs, who runs that collective, and the job they are doing with it. The key word he used was sustainable and how it’s their way of doing the NILs.

Smart said that NIL has been good to Georgia and mentioned Jordan Davis as likely one of the highest-paid defenders through NIL last year and Brock Bowers being one of the highest-paid tight ends. He also said a highest-paid cornerback, and we can assume that is Kelee Ringo.

There are 95 kids making money off their name, image and likeness. Some are using that to help pay parents’ medical bills, that would have to go home and work if they didn’t get that money. He mentioned Dan Jackson, a walk-on, and how his NIL deals help pay for his education.

It’s safe to say that the NIL deals have benefited the Dawgs.

This practice is how all NIL collectives should work. Smart was quick to say that using it to get a player to come to your school isn’t good for anybody. I must agree because if you cannot honor what you committed to a kid, why do it? How long can schools continue to offer these wild deals? It doesn’t help the game but hurts it.

Sustainable is a great way to put it, and being able to teach his players financial knowledge is only going to help them past football.

Smart and Georgia got it right on the NIL deals, and the way he said all of this on Wednesday really stood out. Georgia fans should be happy that is how the Dawgs are handling this new beast because it’ll pay off in the long run.

2: Kirby Smart gives Stetson Bennett the credit he deserves

Another takeaway from Georgia football head coach Kirby Smart was his words on starting quarterback Stetson Bennett.

In his opening statements, he discussed Bennett first and how he is one of the special ones. We all now know that Bennett is from Nahunta and not Blackshear, which will help when the documentary starts.

However, it was a comment on how Bennett was the least respected good player there is in the country that should send a message to the entire fanbase.

Smart knows what kind of player Bennett is and how that young man helped the Dawgs win a national championship. Why other people don’t want to give him that credit is only something they can answer, but he gives the Dawgs an advantage.

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Bennett is the starting quarterback and deserves to be after the title run. The way Smart discussed Bennett is a factor for the Dawgs and gave him so much praise. It was evident that Smart felt like he had to say what he did to endorse Bennett once again and tell the world he is Georgia’s quarterback.

When Smart said it was fine with him if people kept doubting Bennett, that gave me full body chills. He knows his quarterback, and when people doubt Bennett, he only plays harder.

Doubt the Dawgs and their Mailman, but don’t get too upset when they manhandle you on Saturday. Smart knows what kind of weapon Bennett is, and so does offensive coordinator Todd Monken.

These two coaches have been in the business a long time, and anyone can comment on Smart’s history with the quarterbacks, but the way he defended Bennett and told the world that he is fine with you doubting him — it should make opponents second guess everything.

That fire and grit bring me to my last takeaway from Smart’s presser on Wednesday.

3: No complacency or getting hunted for Georgia football

Georgia football head coach Kirby Smart let the world know that the Dawgs won’t have the word complacency in their vocabulary this season.

This season will be the first time in 41 years that Georgia has to have the expectations of being a reigning champion, so would this be something to fret over, or will Smart have his team ready?

He said this team is different from last year, and they hadn’t won a national title, so there wouldn’t be any complacency.

These kids are hungry to continue the success the 15 NFL draftees started.

However, it was the whole we’re not going to get hunted at the University of Georgia. The Dawgs are doing the hunting, and that was the moment I knew Smart wasn’t changing anything.

If anything, this team will likely work harder because they want to continue being a contender. No one wants to give Georgia credit. No one gives Georgia a shot, and that is fine by him.

The way he opened his press conference up with those powerful statements should tell all of the SEC that Georgia isn’t going anywhere, and they better be ready to take on the hungry Dawgs.

He said that success comes to those too busy to look for it, and that statement would be the same mindset this year. This group doesn’t think they have found success yet, and staying humble like that is important to sustaining success.

Smart said he doesn’t want Georgia to be a one-year-wonder but to sustain the program to be around a long time. Sustain also seems to be one of the messages this year for the Dawgs, and it’s one we think is perfect.

The opportunities with this 2022 squad are limitless, and Smart knows that. If he can get them to buy in, the Dawgs will contend, and from the sound of it on Wednesday, this group has already bought in and are hungrier than ever.

Georgia football may be getting some heat from the talking heads about whether or not the Dawgs have what it takes this season, but Smart silenced those doubters on Wednesday.

He reminded everyone who the University of Georgia is and how he runs that program. There is a new culture in Athens, well, it’s been around seven years now, but people will see it come to life again with this 2022 squad.

That mindset, attitude, and work ethic will continue to be at an elite level for Georgia football. Smart will ensure that and remind every opponent who they are as the Dawgs keep that chip on their shoulder in 2022.