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Kirby Smart updates latest on tight end Arik Gilbert ahead of SEC championship game against LSU
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Kirby Smart updates latest on tight end Arik Gilbert ahead of SEC championship game against LSU
ATHENS — Georgia may not have a former LSU Tiger available on Saturday, as Arik Gilbert has not dressed for Georgia in either of the last two games.
Comments
Couldn't find today's podcast article yet, so I will put this here.
What is all the talk about today on the podcast from the listeners about Burden and Hunter? Is there info or hints on them transferring to UGA? I have also seen that mentioned on other you tube videos. Truth or hype? Not wanted or wishful thinking?
On this article, I just don't think Gilbert will play this year. If it's bad for him to play, then he shouldn't. He needs to get himself together. First and foremost.
Why don't you write about kids that actually will play this Saturday? We have a bunch of guys who bust their ass all week and really excel at what they do and are never mentioned in any of your articles.
I have no problems with supporting a guy like Gilbert and treating him and all players as students and young adults... the issue I have, however, is that when he is taking a spot and scholarship spot from someone who would give it his everything and his best. I get it: Arik has some serious issues he's going through. But, has he really earned the right to wear that uniform? I thought that during pre-season he was 100% committed to playing football, but now he can't even be on the sidelines for a Home Game? I'm sorry, but that's not an excuse. He absolutely needs to find help and if that's not playing football, then that's fine... but whatever this is needs to end.
It was a chance, a risk in making room for him….with his talent level, worth rolling the dice on.
Pretty sure if nothing has improved after all of this time, he won’t be invited back. I wish him well…..
I’m Not a doctor or a professional counselor and would never hold myself out to be one. But I’ve got a pretty good idea from my own personal experience as to what’s wrong with Arik. If I’m right, and NO I won’t go into it here on a public site, it has Absolutely Nothing to do with being lazy or a lack of motivation. It is a situation that I would not wish on Anybody. And it simply Cannot be addressed with “OK you just need to snap out of it”. If it was That simple I am Totally convinced we’d have seen Arik active and going hard a long time ago. And it’s Most Certainly Not about him not being tough enough, or the “he just can’t take it” stuff. IF it’s the problem I think it Might be, it is Very, Very debilitating, and as I said I wouldn’t wish it on Anyone. I sincerely ask that those of you of Faith, Please Pray for him. IF it’s what I think it is it nearly cost me my Family, My job, My home, My reputation, Everything. I Salute Kirby Smart and the Dawgs Football program for sticking by him, Just Like they would if it were some horrendous Physical issue. Saban and Bama would have cut him long ago to redeem a scholarship slot. Lastly the Good News IF it’s what I think it is there is an Excellent probability that he can and will over come it and go on to Live and Enjoy life On and Off the football field. Even if it’s Not what I think it might be what ever it is must be Really Bad. I just can’t see a young man with the talent he has squandering away s potential slot in the NFL over nothing. If it were some Disciplinary type issue Kirby would have given him the boot by now. I also read right here on Dawg Nation that his teammates like him, so being accepted doesn’t seem to be the problem. We just celebrated Thanksgiving all across this great nation. So Please Be Thankful that You or someone you Love doesn’t have what ever Arik is dealing with. I have Both ( for a Long time) Physical and Mental health issues and I can Assure You that the mental health issues are every bit as bad if not worse than the physical issues. And the really bad thing one adversely affects the other. It’s a terrible catch 21 !! BUT there is Plenty of Hope !! FOR ME My Faith and Trust in Jesus Christ has been my Greatest Healer, Comfort, and Aid. But I am also Very grateful to my Doctors ( all four) and their staff for all They have done for me as well. I Believe that God works Through them to help me. I doubt that Arik reads these comments but if by some chance he does, I’m Praying for you Arik. Just Know that there are people who Love and Care about you, but Much More importantly, Jesus Loves You and is there for You.
Oh wanted to add this to my novel posted earlier. One of the trends that I’ve seen Numerous times with Kirby and Staff’s recruiting efforts is reading where parents will say “ I KNOW Kirby Smart and Georgia will Take Good Care of my Son no matter what”. This is being exemplified by the way Kirby is dealing with Arik. If it gets to where One scholarship give or take will make or break the football program at Georgia then something has gotten Bad Wrong. Georgia is an Elite National Title Winning Program on the brink of Hopefully having two consecutive Ntl. Titles. I don’t think that Arik Gilbert holding a scholarship will do even a tiny amount of damage to the program. And I certainly don’t think it will do any harm to the recruiting efforts. If Anything it will only serve to solidify the sentiment that Kirby Smart and UGA will take care of your Son if he comes here !! Go Dawgs !!
Kirby has done a great job of telling everyone “ it’s none of your business”. But people keep asking.
regardless of the issue, our goal as fans should be focused on the field of play.
In the end sacrificing 1 scholarship to support a player to recover and get back on his feet will be a small price to pay. And probably pay big dividends. Though I don't believe that's why CKS did/does it. Phony Dabo Swinney maybe but not CKS.
What CKS has done will resonate with players and player PARENTS across the country. It will say, Come to Georgia, we will care for your young man and help him become a productive and solid citizen. Well worth 1 scholarship.
I have not heard anything about Hunter or Burden. The good news is that SBIV has petitioned the NCAA, and been granted, another year of eligibility!
The young man has missed 2 seasons of great opportunities to enhance his professional stock. He is very good at playing football. You would think, you know, actually playing football would be therapeutic and an easy way to have some positive structure in his life. Very puzzling.
There is enough film from LSU days for some NFL team to take a chance on him day 2 of the NFL draft. If he somehow tests and interviews well after the season he could go late Rd 1. NFL GM's gamble on talent every draft. Would be surprised if he came back next season.
I just want to see Arik realize his enormous potential. And it wouldn't do UGA any harm either.
Thank You !!! Well said and Very True !!!
If one of my grandsons were very blessed to be able to play at UGA ( I have four) I would Hope and Want Georgia to take good care of them Regardless as long as they were abiding by the rules laid down by the Coaches/Program and the University. Now if it were a Disciplinary thing you wouldn’t hear a single peep out of me if they got kicked off the team. That would be on Them. But what I would Hope fans can and will try to appreciate is a mental health issue is Just As debilitating and traumatic as a physical issue, in some cases maybe even worse. I don’t think ( Sure Hope not) we have any Dawgs fans that would want a player kicked off the team for a blown ACL or a torn meniscus or damaged spine. No I think your all better folks than that !! This is almost 2023, the stigma surrounding mental health Is or Should be gone now. It IS sad for Everyone concerned that things haven’t worked out with Arik playing more or being available to play more. He’s a competitor or he’d have never made it to the SEC ranks at all. So I’m sure it’s making Him more miserable than anybody. So Again I salute Kirby and UGA for sticking by Arik. Kirby and the University are doing the Right Thing in so doing, and it just stands To Show that UGA really is an Elite Program. There are other selfish programs that Would have kicked him out just to have that One scholarship open. And that’s Why I wouldn’t want to see any of my grandsons go to those other schools, I’d want and hope for them to be All Dawgs !! P.S. Three of them are still very young so it’s hard to tell, but all three Are playing football so who knows ?? Maybe ?? I hope I live to see that !! I’d be one more Happy Ole Man !!
I saw you said it first but I missed your post until after I wrote mine.