Kirby Smart and today’s world of NIL

Kirby Smart and today’s world of NIL

Georgia’s Kirby Smart sometimes says smart things – although he should have kicked that field goal against Alabama. He recently said after the Dawgs throttled Texas 35-10 that “I don’t know that a lot of these kids nowadays, they want the check. They don’t want physicality. When you have the check and no physicality, you end up with nothing. So you’re not just getting checks at our place. We’re hitting people.” Smart is obviously saying that in today’s world where you have to pay your players that some just want the money and are not willing – or motivated – to put in the work it takes to win championships. Was he pointing a finger at the high priced Texas team that his Dawgs just embarrassed? His Georgia team has shown toughness and resiliency, especially in the fourth quarter where some teams simply fade. He is also sending a message to recruits that Georgia will pay their players, but the players must earn it, put in the work and be tough.

Georgia was one of the finalists for the coveted recruit Arch Manning. I blame my granddaughter who hosted Manning on his campus visit for his not signing with Georgia and going to Texas. I wonder what would Manning be like if he were wearing Red and Black rather than burnt orange? Regardless, Georgia’s quarterback Gunner Stockton seems perfect for the team and epitomizes Kirby’s mantra of toughness. I like him. Stockton drives an old Ford F-150 not the Lamborghini of his predecessor who left Georgia to be paid $4,000,000  (more than he would have gotten in the pros) to throw interceptions for the Miami Hurricanes. Stockton’s NIL valuation is only seventh among Georgia players and 53^rd among all college quarterbacks. He doesn’t seem like a prima donna.

Smart is smart. He is sending a message to all recruits. If you come to Georgia, you will get paid but you will have to earn your money. My other team is Ohio State (then the Tennessee Vols) who were roundly criticized last year for the money they spent on a team that won the national championship. But Texas was the top spender followed by Texas Tech, then followed by Ohio State, Oregon (Phil Knight), Texas A&M and Miami. Tennessee was ninth on the list and kicked out their starting quarterback who boycotted spring practice demanding more money. There were even stories of players refusing to play in the bowl games unless they were paid more. 

For the major schools, only the playoffs matter. But NIL matters as well. Texas Tech went out and bought a defensive line of players who all likely will be drafted in the first round. They are ranked seventh in the latest poll. Ohio State (Go Bucks!) is number one followed by Indiana (Indiana?), Texas A&M, Georgia and Oregon. Ole Miss is sixth. NIL obviously matters but Indiana shows the exception to the rule. The other programs are traditional powerhouses before NIL but you still have to recruit the right type of athlete and coach them up. One thing I would like to see changed is to not allow the players to jump from one program to another. Some players are on their fourth team although I do like allowing players to transfer when their coach gets fired.

I feel for the schools that do not have the NIL resources. If they have a star, that player can be approached and bid away by the richer programs. Yet coaches and athletic directors get fired because of losing games and not being bowl eligible, despite not being able to compete for four star and five star talent or to hold on to them if they do sign them. It probably is more difficult to stress the value of an education in this environment. I wonder if we will get to the point where going to class becomes optional although now you can say that if you don’t go to class and stay eligible, you won’t get paid.

But to win championships in this environment ultimately, comes down to asking your players “are you man enough?” Remember the song by that title by the Four Tops?

“Are you man enough, big and bad enough?
Are you gonna let ’em shoot ya down?
When the evil flies and your brother cries
Are you gonna be around?

Someone needs a friend, just around the bend
Don’t ya think you should be there?
Are you man enough when the goin’s rough?
Is it in your heart to care?”

My Dawgs care.