After winning a second national title with Georgia with a rout over TCU, Kirby Smart talked about entitlement, Stetson Bennett IV and more.
Kirby Smart couldn’t have dreamed up a more perfect performance from his Georgia Bulldogs in the National Championship game against TCU.
Or maybe he could, because the Georgia head coach seems to have perfected the art of coaching a team to a title and then keeping them focused enough to do it again.
The key? Getting rid of entitlement.
“As long as you can keep entitlement from creeping into your program, you’ve got a chance,” Smart said after Georgia’s 65-7 victory.
Kirby Smart postgame press conference highlights
Apparently, part of Smart’s game plan against entitlement was playing up the idea that Georgia was doubted this year.
He praised his team for proving the “doubters” wrong. Whether or not there were actual doubters is up for discussion, but you can’t deny the message worked.
He’s hoping that message against entitlement will also extend to the Georgia fanbase.
“I hope the fans understand the message I’m about to say,” he said. “They can’t take it for granted. You can’t take opportunities like this for granted. We need them to back us and you can’t become complacent.”
Kirby Smart on Georgia quarterback Stetson Bennett’s NFL hopes
There is one player who could legitimately lean on the idea of being doubted. That’s Stetson Bennett IV, the Bulldog quarterback who led his team to two national championships as a former walk-on.
Bennett has now reached the college football mountaintop twice. Despite the championships and his status as a Heisman finalist, he’s going to face questions when he moves on to the pros. Smart went to bat for his quarterback on that front.
“People have slept on Stetson Bennett for too long,” Smart said. “He deserves an opportunity to play at the next level.”
Whether or not Bennett gets that chance, it’s going to be a tough transition for Bulldog fans who have grown accustomed to No. 13 leading their team.
Celebrate Georgia going back-to-back with new National Champions gear
One of those fans is Smart’s son, Andy, who the head coach found crying after the game. When he asked the boy why he was sobbing, he replied it was because “Stetson’s leaving.”
“He’s 25 years old, he’s gotta go, he’s gotta leave,” Smart said he replied.
Later, on Sports Center with Scott Van Pelt, Smart made a declaration about Bennett’s place in Georgia lore.
“He’s the greatest Dawg of all time if you ask me,” Smart said.
It’s hard to argue that one.
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