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WATCH: ‘Talk show Bubbas’ bashing Kirby Smart a lazy narrative, per Paul Finebaum
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WATCH: ‘Talk show Bubbas’ bashing Kirby Smart a lazy narrative, per Paul Finebaum
ATHENS — The negative narratives surrounding Georgia football coach Kirby Smart are getting old, as far as SEC Network host Paul Finebaum is concerned.
Comments
Thank you, Paul! Well said.
Hate to say it, but it's hard to imagine Kirby being universally considered a great coach until he has at least one natty under his belt. Go Kirby! Go Dawgs!!
I would disagree with Finebaum on one thing - I wouldn't call it a lazy criticism. When you think about the lengths to which people will go to perpetuate it - going as far as to criticize calls that should have worked and just weren't executed properly, and even questioning decisions that DID work and led to victory - I'd say the people who cultivate the idea that Smart can't coach work pretty hard at it.
Name me a first time HC who's accomplished more over the last five years.
10-6 record against Top10 teams. 3 of those loses to the best coach of all time.
Kirby has dominated the SEC East over the last 4 years with the only exception being last year and everything was lined up for Mullen, from the schedule to untimely injuries. Georgia will dominate the SEC East again this year.
Anybody who's criticizing Smart is either just looking for comments or is scared he's about to dominate their team for the foreseeable future.
Most of the people who are overly critical of CKS are 1) sportswriters taking the lazy take or 2) rival fans hoping UGA fans and administration get tired of Kirby's "underachieving" and get rid of him. If you keep knocking at the door it is inevitable that you eventually kick it in. Kirby will get at least as long as Richt got to win a NT. UGA is way ahead of the Richt program already.
I know it was a completely different era, but it took Dooley 18 years to win a national championship. Hey Kirby bashing sports writers, find something else to write about. As far as Kirby not winning one yet, I can give substantial arguments as to why the last 20 winners have won them, and it mostly wasn’t because they were good, but because so many others were bad. Go Dawgs!!
Yeah, there was an idiotic article on al.com that likely started this. Pointed out that Kirby was averaging 10 wins a season, without pointing out the first season was 8 wins and that Georgia only play 9 league games last year to everyone else's 10 (except Vandy).
Mentioned that Pickens was gone, but didn't mention picking up Gilbert.
Did not talk about how different the offense looked in the last four games. Did not talk about this last spring being the first time that Monken has had a full period to work with his players and now with a healthy Daniels, with some gametime under his belt.
Did not talk about Bama's advantage in QB'S in the two losses Georgia has there. Did not talk about the LSU team that had a massive QB advantage.
This is the narrative that will continue to come out of Bama until Georgia beats them. I take that back, the narrative will change to a shrill, until Georgia beats them twice. For a fan base that has enjoyed the most dominate stretch in college football history, they sure are insecure. Especially when it comes to Georgia. And you know what? They should be.
Maybe those "expert bubbas" should worry about their own skeletons in the closet before bashing another individual. A lot tougher to coach than it is to flap your gums..
Totally agree with Finebaum...BUT....there's a hint of truth in UGA's criticism. True, if UGA hadn't had to face Bama head-to-head the last several years to make the CFP, then people would be fawning all over Kirby. But unfortunately, UGA is in the most competitive conference in college football and in a conference with the greatest program/coach of all time. Kind of like Tiger and Ernie/Phil....if Tiger weren't around these guys would have a boat load of majors.
Bottom line - UGA is now measured in the media ONLY against Bama...not the SEC East, not recruiting rankings, not their record as every other team in America is. Kirby's only fault is not beating Bama and until that happens, UGA will always be seen as an underachiever regardless of how unfair and untrue that is. It's a great but frustrating place to be UGA fans...Clemson, Ohio State, Oklahoma get more credit BUT they don't have to beat Bama every year to get into the CFP....they have cake-walk paths to the CFP. But it is what it is....Kirby has to beat Saban and IMO soon to be seen and appreciated the way he should be. Until then, UGA knows what a great coach Kirby is and we'd better keep that in mind.
If it takes a NC to be a great HC, we’ll be safe crossing the names of Nick, Dabo, Urban, Jimbo, Spurrier, and even Orgeron off the list of bringing a “great head coach” to UGA. That leaves us with Miles and Chizik who are available. That’s not just no, but hell no! Kirby’s greatness at this point in his career may be up for debate just like all the coaches listed were debatable five years into their coaching career!
Finebaum has always been fair to Georgia Football. Praises them when they win, mild criticism when they lose.
Hey, you know Kirby is the best head coach and certainly the best recruiter the Dawgs have had in decades...maybe ever. However, he does have to prove he can win at a high level CONSISTENTLY (including beating Bama). The bar has been set high, and it will be easier in one sense and harder in another to win a National Championship when we go to 12 teams.
Easier yet Harder? Easier to make the playoffs but unless you are in the Top 4 of a 12-team playoff then you're going to be playing multiple games against elite competition week after week making it harder to actually win a National Championship. The Top 4 teams have a distinct advantage in the playoffs with a bye in the first round. You'll need elite talent and DEPTH in that talent to make it through the playoff gauntlet.
BTW.....Gus Malzahn has the best record (3-4) against Saban than any other head coach, and Auburn fired him.
Not just Saban that gives Smart trouble. Kirby's 0-2 vs Orgeron and LSU, and weren't in either game. Kirby just needs to have a great game plan, and make great adjustments, with no silly fake calls, let the O score 60 if they can, don't give away momentum, win the game and people will shut up. But keep letting Saban out-adjust him, or LSU out-punch his boys in the mouth, people will talk - louder each season.
@SmartsTheMan I can think of two coaches. The first would be Lincoln Riley. He is 45-8, won 5 BIG12 championships and appeared in 4 CFP games. The other one would be Ryan Day. He is 23-2, won 2 Big10 championships, appeared in 2 CFP and one CFP final.
Kirby would do the same or better in either of those weak conferences.