Shocking..GA Football

[TrumpedUpVol]

I do understand the sentiment, but I mean Tuggle and Easily are suspended indefinitely after this. What else should Kirby do at the moment? Kick them out of school and ruin their future prospects even before litigation?

You ban your team from driving during the season. Lease a few large SUVs, have your interns/low-level staffers chauffer the players between 6:00 a.m. and midnight (longer on weekends). "You have no business being out at 2:30 a.m. on a Tuesday" covers concerns about the gap hours.

For whatever reason, this is a far bigger problem at Georgia than it is at any other program in the country. Regardless of what's causing this, you have a very easy solution that doesn't strike me as much different than coaches banning social media provided you make reasonable alternate transportation accommodations.

 

[DirtyDawg]

You ban your team from driving during the season. Lease a few large SUVs, have your interns/low-level staffers chauffer the players between 6:00 a.m. and midnight (longer on weekends). "You have no business being out at 2:30 a.m. on a Tuesday" covers concerns about the gap hours.

For whatever reason, this is a far bigger problem at Georgia than it is at any other program in the country. Regardless of what's causing this, you have a very easy solution that doesn't strike me as much different than coaches banning social media provided you make reasonable alternate transportation accommodations.

Yeah something like that might be the answer, I’m not really sure what steps Kirby has taken to help this bc he always keeps these things so close to the vest and in house as much as he can. I definitely agree with stiffer penalties, and it needs to be something that grabs every players attention.

These latest events, especially with Easily, are unacceptable and can’t be tolerated. I don’t know the answer, but I hope they figure it out. I don’t love the idea of kicking players off the team, but enough is enough. In the end Kirby is responsible for his players and their behavior and what happens to them. I hope he figures it out and takes whatever steps are necessary. It shouldn’t be happening, that’s for sure!

 

[DirtyDawg]

On a lighter note, I’m thinking we should come up with a new slogan for recruits “Come to GA, bc here, it’s either the NFL or Jail!”

All joking aside, it is a serious issue and it needs to be dealt with. I don’t know what should be done, but I can’t imagine that the University or Kirby is taking this lightly. Hopefully some wisdom prevails and things get better.

 

[stolitonic]

You ban your team from driving during the season. Lease a few large SUVs, have your interns/low-level staffers chauffer the players between 6:00 a.m. and midnight (longer on weekends). "You have no business being out at 2:30 a.m. on a Tuesday" covers concerns about the gap hours.

For whatever reason, this is a far bigger problem at Georgia than it is at any other program in the country. Regardless of what's causing tuhis, you have a very easy solution that doesn't strike me as much different than coaches banning social media provided you make reasonable alternate transportation accommodations.

Brother I would agree that would fix the problem.

Is that really a solution though? To tell grown men you are so irresponsible that you cannot be trusted to drive? Yet responsible enough to represent the school on a weekly basis?

Then what of the kid who drives a 1988 Honda Accord that will not even reach 60 going downhill with a stiff breeze behind it lol?

Something like that would have to be a punishment/deterrent for behavior and not just a blanket policy anyway. Your recruiting would absolutely tank very quickly. Blunt honesty there.

Maybe do that for a week to drive home the point and then make it clear that ANYONE (including coaches, staff, etc) who gets a speeding ticket gets to take the shuttles for 6 months.

 

[joevol33]

 

[Godfatha]

Fans don’t care as long as they keep winning. Kirby don’t care as long as they keep winning. Administration doesn’t care as long as they keep winning. Players don’t care as long as they get paid and get to play.

 

[snarcks]

Kirby is the type of coach that will always turn a blind eye for the most part if the talent is there. He’s certainly not alone but he’s a man obsessed with keeping UGA atop the hierarchy of CFB. Sit out a game or an half and punishment is rendered in his eyes as long as they win.

 

[lawgator1]

Weighing against that are the two arrests of this young lady, a UGA student.

New Mug Shot of College Student Lily Stewart Released After Second Arrest in 1 Month. Here's What She Told Police

Police allege Lily Stewart ran away when approached by an officer and was found hiding behind a wall outside Sanford Stadium, where the Georgia Bulldogs play.

people.com

 

[GVF]

Have some hefty conduct penalties come out of their NIL contracts. NIL or not, they are still representing the school...however many they attend.

 

[GVF]

Yeah something like that might be the answer, I’m not really sure what steps Kirby has taken to help this bc he always keeps these things so close to the vest and in house as much as he can. I definitely agree with stiffer penalties, and it needs to be something that grabs every players attention.

These latest events, especially with Easily, are unacceptable and can’t be tolerated. I don’t know the answer, but I hope they figure it out. I don’t love the idea of kicking players off the team, but enough is enough. In the end Kirby is responsible for his players and their behavior and what happens to them. I hope he figures it out and takes whatever steps are necessary. It shouldn’t be happening, that’s for sure!

Sooner or later they will add more vehicular deaths to the ones already lost in the other accident a year or so ago. It'll never happen to you...until it does.

 

[DooleyOrangePants]

This does not get fixed until the Money (NFL and NIL) starts punishing them. And does the Money care?

They're pretty much employees now in all but name only. How many of us in our lines of work would get canned for a similar infraction unless we're a Dominos delivery person?

In the world of social media, businesses are very quick to protect the image of the brand/name/product. We are seeing language in contracts and handbooks that reflect as much, and in a state like Tennessee with employment at will, it makes it much easier to can someone for anything (especially stuff that reflects poorly on the business). You make the news or social media, it’s much more likely you will get canned for whatever infraction or accusation, even if it wasn’t related to your job.

The fact of the matter is, these Universities simply wave the magic wand of “youthful indiscretion” and try to walk away from the problem entirely. These players are their money makers. I’m all for giving people opportunities for redemption, but at some point you have to draw a line and look within, especially when the same problem keeps happening over and over again. If the business world is taking these kinds of issues seriously (for the most part; there are exceptions), then why shouldn’t a University? As long as these players are the product and the winning keeps happening, the will tolerate it and allow it until they can’t anymore. I thought the incident a year or two again would change it at UGA, but obviously not.

 

[GroverCleveland]

In the world of social media, businesses are very quick to protect the image of the brand/name/product. We are seeing language in contracts and handbooks that reflect as much, and in a state like Tennessee with employment at will, it makes it much easier to can someone for anything (especially stuff that reflects poorly on the business). You make the news or social media, it’s much more likely you will get canned for whatever infraction or accusation, even if it wasn’t related to your job.

The fact of the matter is, these Universities simply wave the magic wand of “youthful indiscretion” and try to walk away from the problem entirely. These players are their money makers. I’m all for giving people opportunities for redemption, but at some point you have to draw a line and look within, especially when the same problem keeps happening over and over again. If the business world is taking these kinds of issues seriously (for the most part; there are exceptions), then why shouldn’t a University? As long as these players are the product and the winning keeps happening, the will tolerate it and allow it until they can’t anymore. I thought the incident a year or two again would change it at UGA, but obviously not.

I do not disagree with anything you said here.

But something not covered is this: a WR who runs a 4.3 forty and catches everything thrown in his direction is a prize in the transfer portal to be courted (and paid) when UGA/UT/Alabama/etc decide they don’t like his driving record. There are things like domestic violence that will pretty much stop the paychecks, but driving too fast for Sunday school? Not so much.

Being peripherally involved in the incident that resulted in the dead player at UGA probably cost Jalen Carter being the overall #1 pick, but the paychecks didn’t stop because he was racing. Just bumped him down in the first round a little.

 

[DooleyOrangePants]

I do not disagree with anything you said here.

But something not covered is this: a WR who runs a 4.3 forty and catches everything thrown in his direction is a prize in the transfer portal to be courted (and paid) when UGA/UT/Alabama/etc decide they don’t like his driving record. There are things like domestic violence that will pretty much stop the paychecks, but driving too fast for Sunday school? Not so much.

Being peripherally involved in the incident that resulted in the dead player at UGA probably cost Jalen Carter being the overall #1 pick, but the paychecks didn’t stop because he was racing. Just bumped him down in the first round a little.

And I think that’s the rub. Where there’s smoke, there’s fire. And with fatalities and a long stream of other arrests and violations centered around the same activity, there’s little doubt there’s a problem. You’d think any program with this kind of track record would be getting out in front of it - requiring classes, ride shares, etc. and getting serious about violations. I just haven’t seen that yet - more of the “kids will be kids, handling it internally” and then it happens again. To me, it’s flirting with disaster by not taking a heavier hand.

To be clear, not saying they should get kicked off the team immediately. But some kind of punishment that sticks and has real impact should be warranted. What happens when one of these athletes kill an innocent? Does the university wring their hands and say “terrible loss” and then let the parties responsible go about their business? I wouldn’t want that to happen at UT, regardless of the star power but maybe Im the outlier. I just don’t want to see innocent people die because of a culture that promotes or encourages no consequences, reckless behavior.

 

[GroverCleveland]

And I think that’s the rub. Where there’s smoke, there’s fire. And with fatalities and a long stream of other arrests and violations centered around the same activity, there’s little doubt there’s a problem. You’d think any program with this kind of track record would be getting out in front of it - requiring classes, ride shares, etc. and getting serious about violations. I just haven’t seen that yet - more of the “kids will be kids, handling it internally” and then it happens again. To me, it’s flirting with disaster by not taking a heavier hand.

To be clear, not saying they should get kicked off the team immediately. But some kind of punishment that sticks and has real impact should be warranted. What happens when one of these athletes kill an innocent? Does the university wring their hands and say “terrible loss” and then let the parties responsible go about their business? I wouldn’t want that to happen at UT, regardless of the star power but maybe Im the outlier. I just don’t want to see innocent people die because of a culture that promotes or encourages no consequences, reckless behavior.

It goes back to what I said. Until the Money starts caring or gets impacted, nothing is going to change. Right now, the only thing that I can think of that cuts the money short of felonies is domestic violence (not saying it is the only thing, just what I can think of off the top of my head).

Right now, the top schools only run off talented athletes that are impacting their culture. UGa and UT have done it but, being truthful here, UGa has had a lot more NFL talent for some years now. Would CJH or VolNation be quite as up in arms if a Top 10 draft pick DT was driving too fast by the stadium?

 

[DooleyOrangePants]

It goes back to what I said. Until the Money starts caring or gets impacted, nothing is going to change. Right now, the only thing that I can think of that cuts the money short of felonies is domestic violence (not saying it is the only thing, just what I can think of off the top of my head).

Right now, the top schools only run off talented athletes that are impacting their culture. UGa and UT have done it but, being truthful here, UGa has had a lot more NFL talent for some years now. Would CJH or VolNation be quite as up in arms if a Top 10 draft pick DT was driving too fast by the stadium?

It’s a good point. I’d like to think if we had a top DT speeding in a reckless manner, we should judge by the facts of the case and with grace if it was an isolated incident (provided no innocent was hurt). They should still get a punishment that stings, regardless if they wear orange or not. The rest of us would, so why shouldn’t they? This UGA situation is far from isolated though, so I think that’s where it bothers me the most - not because it’s UGA, but it’s a seemingly never ending supply of this kind of behavior. And at a program that had multiple fatalities a short time ago.

I get caught doing felony speeds down by Calhouns, I’m going to suffer the consequences. It may impact me financially, personally, and professionally. It should be no different for an athlete, who is a representative of the University. Consequences are a huge deterrent to bad behavior for a large segment of the population, forgoing those makes no appreciable change in outcomes.

 

[05_never_again]

Have some hefty conduct penalties come out of their NIL contracts. NIL or not, they are still representing the school...however many they attend.

According to Kirby, they have taken NIL money away from at least some of the ones who have done stuff. Doesn't seem to be working.

IMO, the problem here is likely with the kinds of guys Kirby is recruiting. He seems to have a bunch of knuckleheads who truly believe they can just do whatever they want, and even taking away money and playing time doesn't matter. Even having one of their teammates die doing this kind of stuff hasn't stopped the conduct.

 

[GVF]

According to Kirby, they have taken NIL money away from at least some of the ones who have done stuff. Doesn't seem to be working.

IMO, the problem here is likely with the kinds of guys Kirby is recruiting. He seems to have a bunch of knuckleheads who truly believe they can just do whatever they want, and even taking away money and playing time doesn't matter. Even having one of their teammates die doing this kind of stuff hasn't stopped the conduct.

This current can-do culture has been fostered by Kirby for sometime. Or tolerated, which means enabled. No clear answer. Regardless, he has to change first to decide how to facilitate change. Even the Gators don't have his notoriety of late.

 

[LouderVol]

According to Kirby, they have taken NIL money away from at least some of the ones who have done stuff. Doesn't seem to be working.

IMO, the problem here is likely with the kinds of guys Kirby is recruiting. He seems to have a bunch of knuckleheads who truly believe they can just do whatever they want, and even taking away money and playing time doesn't matter. Even having one of their teammates die doing this kind of stuff hasn't stopped the conduct.

I know you are quoting Smart, so this isn't targetted at you, but I am willing to bet he is playing semantic games.

1. Are they taking all of the existing but yet to be paid NIL money? or are they actually fining these kids the NIL money they have been paid to date?
2. is it enough money to make a difference if its not 100% of it? lets say a kid gets 400k a year, and is "fined" 10k, does he really care?
3. Smart doesn't say anything about the lost NIL money staying gone with no new NIL prospects. They could just take the kids 400k NIL deal "with" the local Sub Shop away, and replace it with an NIL deal "for" the local car dealership.

 

[GroverCleveland]

This current can-do culture has been fostered by Kirby for sometime. Or tolerated, which means enabled. No clear answer. Regardless, he has to change first to decide how to facilitate change. Even the Gators don't have his notoriety of late.

I suspect he'll change just as soon as all the other Power 4 programs paying big bucks for talent refuse to pay anyone with issues.

The quickest cure would be the NFL mandating a firm requirement on potential prospects. As an example, for x behavior, cannot be drafted before the sixth round or even must be UDFA; maybe even better have a miscreant round where all the dummies get drafted. The NFL have clauses in their contracts about behavior and one team cannot slip in and take a player from another team with behavior issues. There is no such control in college football.

 

[05_never_again]

I know you are quoting Smart, so this isn't targetted at you, but I am willing to bet he is playing semantic games.

1. Are they taking all of the existing but yet to be paid NIL money? or are they actually fining these kids the NIL money they have been paid to date?
2. is it enough money to make a difference if its not 100% of it? lets say a kid gets 400k a year, and is "fined" 10k, does he really care?
3. Smart doesn't say anything about the lost NIL money staying gone with no new NIL prospects. They could just take the kids 400k NIL deal "with" the local Sub Shop away, and replace it with an NIL deal "for" the local car dealership.

As far as I know, he hasn't gotten specific. There was at least one press conference I saw where a reporter asked if he thought taking away NIL money would stop the behavior, and he said they had been doing that. Obviously if they are getting docked some amount of money that amounts to a speeding ticket-type of fine, or shifting around which deal they get the money from, isn't going to change anything.

Teams who are winning are said to have good cultures and teams who are losing are often said to have bad ones. UGA has been a highly successful program under Kirby, so nobody is going to say that the culture is bad even though it likely is. Ultimately, nothing will change related to this until he starts losing a couple of games a year they think he should win and they start missing CFPs, and then people will start chirping about how the "culture is bad," all the incidents have become a distraction that is affecting their play on the field, etc. The narrative will only shift at that point. Not even the death of one of his players and staff members stopped it. Very sad but true.

"Culture" is a very nebulous thing and I think people often confuse cause and effect with it. Do winning teams win because the culture is good, or is the culture good because they are winning? I think it is also possible to be highly successful with a rotten culture (look at UF under Urban) and there are bad teams who nonetheless have good cultures.

 

[VolInNW]

Shocking. Just....shocking.

Trash program.