The highlight for Georgia football fans on Saturday was the fact that UGA football is back and they were able to dominate Marshall en route to their 45-7 victory. While that was obviously exciting for Kirby Smart to see as well, he detailed an emotional moment he shared with his mom immediately after Georgia’s win against Marshall.
"It was great. It's great any time you get to see family after a game," Smart sahred via 247sports.com. "We only get to do these things 12 times a year, less than that sometimes, less than that at home. So you better enjoy them. If you can't enjoy them, why do you play the game? And that's what I told the players is you got to enjoy it. You got to embrace it. It was emotional for her. First game she's been to without my dad, so it was an emotional moment for her, for sure."
Kirby Smart shares emotional moment after Georgia’s win over Marshall
Saturday marked a significant moment in Smart’s life. Beating Marshall is just a footnote for most Georgia fans, but this win marked the first victory since the passing of Smart’s father.
Smart’s father, Sonny Smart, passed away from complications from a hip injury he sustained in a fall days before Georgia’s College Football Playoff game against Notre Dame last season. So Saturday’s game marked the first of Smart’s career without his father in his life. This is obviously an emotional moment for him and his mother, and it looks like they shared a special moment on the field once this game was over.
Emotional moment for Kirby Smart & his mother after Saturday's win. First game since losing Kirby's dad Sonny pic.twitter.com/LJguE0KFWm
— Cody Chaffins (@CodyChaffins) August 31, 2025
Smart's father clearly played a major role in his life, so hopefully Smart is able to find peace throughout this season knowing that his father is still with him every step of the way.