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Kirby Smart updates Arik Gilbert status, explains his absence from 48-7 win at South Carolina
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Kirby Smart updates Arik Gilbert status, explains his absence from 48-7 win at South Carolina
COLUMBIA, S.C. — Georgia coach Kirby Smart said tight end Arik Gilbert didn’t make the trip for “personal reasons” on Saturday.
Comments
Heavenly Father…heal this young man and give him a peace that surpasses all understanding. In Jesus’ Name. Amen!
Personal reasons. Right.
He just needs to leave football behind and concentrate on himself, but still stay with the program where he can get the support and help needs, but be around his teammates, brothers, and family of the team! Get better Arik and hope you find some peace!
Amen brother in Jesus our Lord and Savior.😎
Well, you can only hope he finds happiness. Clearly, the NFL isn't in his future based on this.
Though I posted it in an earlier comment section, it bears repeating - in case he sees it. Arik, you've been blessed with natural gifts beyond what most can dream of, and there is only one person standing in the way of you accomplishing everything your enormous talent enables you to be capable of. You could rewrite the record books at UGA, if you wish. No one expected Bowers to accomplish what he did, but he worked his rear end off and made the most of the opportunity given. Should you do the same, you will never worry about lack of opportunities, for they will be there. Coach Smart only wants to win, and there is but one reason he wouldn't put the most capable, you, on the field when needed. Look in the mirror, and decided to give yourself the chance to fulfill your dreams, for only you can do such. Best of wishes, man. Now go and grab the world by its proverbial footBalls.
Amen !! Agree Totally with that Prayer to the Heavenly Father in Christ Jesus name !! NO ONE but God and Arik know the Depth of whatever issues he’s enduring. Those who point a finger at him have three pointed back at themselves. You have to walk in the other man’s shoes to know Exactly how He feels. Get better soon Arik there are bunches and bunches of Dawgs fans that Love and Believe in You, on and Off the football field.
He should go find happiness elsewhere. Obviously it is not in Athens, where he has been only a distraction. Good luck to an immensely talented young man.
Each to their own. It’s still a free country at least for the time being. So you have a right to bash on this young man if that gives you your jollies. But the Truth is NONE of us Know exactly what’s going on in his life. We simply don’t. It seems that some fans just automatically ASSume that he’s lazy or doesn’t embrace competition. I read an article right here on Dawg Nation where back in the Fall camps and practices Kirby said he’s (Arik) working really hard. He missed an entire season !! The guys that didn’t Bowers, Washington, are Super Studs. If memory serves the other two though maybe not as talented have been at UGA longer. And Delp is an extremely talented player, I predict he will be another Bowers. So coupled with off field personal problems I’m not shocked that he’s not played any. These things said he’s a human being Before he’s a football player. Also if he had some devastating Physical injury there probably wouldn’t be much said. Well To Me a human being is composed of three parts: the physical body, the mental body ( mind), and the soul/spirit. Any one of these can get sick or injured and NEED healing, sometimes All three !! So I’d respectfully and kindly ask that you do for Him what you’d do for yourself OR one of Your family, friends, and/or loved ones and that is kindly cut him some slack. I’d also respectfully and kindly ask that you stop asking him to quit the team or transfer else where. He’s a Dawg. And I think probably a DGD. He’s just right now a sick Dawg that needs some Help, Support, and above all Compassion. So if you want to down vote me or off topic me ( the title of the post is about Arik) then whatever shucks your corn. As For Me I’m gonna Pray for the young man and root for him to heal and get things together and come back Big Time as a contributor to the team. But mostly to enjoy His life. Go Dawgs !!
@navydawg I'm not going to bash Gilbert (though I'm not at all surprised that this situation with him has arisen), and while I agree with you that none of us (fans) likely know what's going on with him, I know for a personal fact that several other people around the Georgia program, starting with Coach Kirby Smart, along with several members of the media that cover the team -- including a couple of DawgNation writers and Seth Emerson at The Athletic -- know EXACTLY what's going on with him. They won't tell you unless and until Gilbert leaves the UGA program because they think it will harm him too much. Yes, he needs our prayers, yes he needs our compassion. But he also needs to do some growing up on his own and it's not exclusively about his mental health. I said on this forum after last week's game that I didn't believe Gilbert would be a significant player on the 2022 team, but I did think that he would remain WITH the team. Now, I'm not even sure of that.
OK no sarcasm at you. And I’m not gonna get into a protracted debate about it as like I said we simply Don’t Know. Again no sarcasm at you, but you contradict yourself here. You admit that probably people In the program and maybe Some that are exclusively Very close to the program probably know. OK I’ll buy that. Then you go on to say that WE don’t know ( as fans). But then you state “it’s not exclusively about his mental health”. No disrespect or sarcasm but how can you state with total confidence that it’s Not Exclusively About His Mental Health. Some here ( not talking about you) might see clear to bash on ME and if they do Hey that’s fine. I just consider the caliber of a person that would do that. But IVE had mental health issues ( Still do to some degree) that almost destroyed my life !! Very, Very debilitating !! And it’s FAR More than just a simple grab your boot strings and tighten up. Anyone if their suffering enough would do that IF it were that simple. But some mental health issues when the person doesn’t Know what’s wrong and there for doesn’t Know to seek professional help, if not brought under control can actually cause a chemical imbalance in the brain. When a person reaches that point it’s FAR, FAR more than just simple will power. Just simply Getting A Grip. When you reach that point you NEED Help. It happened to ME !! And like I said it almost Ruined my life !! NO I wasn’t on any drugs ( street drugs). I’m a wore out tired old man now but in my younger years I was just as much a jock as all the other young bucks. It’s a long story and a private story, but I HAD to have help !! And though I’m light years better Now than I was back then, Thank You Lord !! I Still have meds that I take to help me to Hopefully never get back to That Bad of shape again. Look I could be BAD Wrong, sure wouldn’t be the first time. But I just Don’t think it’s a case of laziness or being irresponsible or afraid of competition on this young man’s part. If I’m wrong, OK I’m wrong. But many have pointed out Arik’s potential, even NFL potential. Don’t we all see that HE Knows that ?? Why would he Deliberately sabotage his own career ?? Something is Badly Wrong. I have No Clue what it is and in Reality all fans can do is Speculate and offer opinions. Kirby said Arik was working hard in an earlier article on this site. Kirby doesn’t seem Angry about Arik. Frustrated ?? Yeah maybe so but Even With mental health issues Kirby would be frustrated FOR the young man as like we’ve all said Arik has such huge potential. It IS Frustrating not to see him be able to capitalize on that potential. So to close my lengthy article I’m just asking Dawgs fans to show some Compassion and Patience JUST LIKE they would if this were a Known Physical injury. Unfortunately even though we’re in the year 2022 there’s Still a stigma attached to Mental health. People that have never suffered with those kind of issues can be pretty cruel to those who have. I had some people Very close to me say “ I was faking it” !! People I loved and respected !! Talk about Utterly Crushing your heart !! To be going through one of the greatest trials of your life and Wanting, Needing, all the support you can get, Only to have someone you Love, Respect, and Trust tell you “ your just faking it” !! I’m telling you from experience it Hurts down to the very marrow of your bones !! IF it’s revealed later that it’s just a matter of he’s lazy or doesn’t embrace competition. Then Hey I was wrong and shame on him. But I think it’s something Far beyond thst. I’m done and I meant no sarcasm or disrespect to You or anyone else here. I just Hope there will come a day that people will come to understand that mental health doesn’t necessarily equal Bad Person. It’s just a part of humanity just like physical health. Go Dawgs !!
I pray for that young man's strength and the love and understanding the Dawg Nation is giving him can bring him to a better place so that he can fulfill his potential as a man. There is a great future out there for him if he can find a level place. God bless him with recovery.
Great comments, @navydawg. Some of the best comments I've ever seen anywhere! You've shown that one's own battles make them stronger and more empathetic. Best of luck to Arik. May he live up to his potential. More importantly, may he grow from his experiences as you have!
I'm currently dealing with a situation with an employee who is demonstrating extreme narcissistic behavior, potentially spreading a cancerous environment among the entire workforce. What I have found throughout life, employees, friends and family is that you can try and help someone but if they're not first willing to help themselves it's fruitless. Yes , pray for the young man, it seems like Kirby is doing everything he can to allow healing to occur while protecting the overall investment of the team.