Ken Sugiura: Kirby Smart and Georgia on a shocking agreement
ATLANTA – There’s no denying Kirby Smart’s brilliance as a coach, as evidenced by his back-to-back national championships and seven consecutive New Year’s Six bowl games. His players are tough, dedicated, and numerous have gone on to the NFL. However, the graduation rates are less impressive. When he speaks, his care for his players and love for Georgia are clear. But he must urgently address his team’s dangerous driving habits, highlighted again by recent arrests for reckless driving and racing. This brings the total to 24 speeding incidents involving Georgia football players, starting with the tragic January 2023 crash that killed recruiting assistant Chandler LeCroy and offensive lineman Devin Willock. The longer Smart delays finding a solution, the more likely his players will face arrests and bring more embarrassment to the university. More seriously, the risk of fatal consequences for his players or innocent bystanders increases.
At the SEC Media Days in Dallas, Smart acknowledged the issue, expressing disappointment over the continued irresponsible driving. He outlined efforts to correct this behavior, including 162 team discussions on the dangers of reckless driving and DUI, and imposing substantial fines through the collective providing name, image, and likeness payments to players. Safety David Daniel-Sisavanh was dismissed from the team after being charged with reckless driving and leading police on a pursuit in February. Sanctions have included team dismissal, suspension, reduced monetary awards, game restrictions, mental health treatment, community service, and mandatory educational programs.
However, these measures have not been effective. In July, linebacker Smael Mondon was arrested for driving at least 75 mph in a 40-mph zone and racing teammate Demello Jones. Offensive lineman Bo Hughley was arrested for reckless driving after a car accident. Many Georgia players, like others their age, may feel invincible and believe rules don’t apply to them, especially when driving high-performance cars obtained through NIL deals. No amount of lectures seems to penetrate this mindset.
To address this, UGA might consider two new measures: implementing a mandatory one-game suspension for reckless driving charges and requiring speed-monitoring technology in players’ cars. The first-time offenders of the UGA athletic association’s substance-abuse policy must sit out at least 10% of their season, and reckless driving could be included under similar guidelines. Monitoring technology would deter speeding by tracking driving habits, with disciplinary actions for reckless driving.
Although these measures may seem intrusive and could impact game outcomes, they could be more effective than additional presentations. Smart’s commitment is evident, but current efforts aren’t sufficient. Without a new approach, the risk of another serious incident remains high.