Georgia Bulldogs coach Kirby Smart: "I Was Ready to Step Down and Resign" Before 2021
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ATLANTA - Georgia Bulldogs coach Kirby Smart said Tuesday that he considered retiring before the the 2021 season.
"I was ready to step down and resign," Kirby shared with the Texas High School Coaches Association. "I was done.”
One reporter in attendance said Kirby’s comment was “hyperbole, but a way to illustrate how challenging last June was.” Football Scoop reported Kirby’s comments Tuesday afternoon.
Georgia went on to win the College Football Playoff National Championship Game over No. 1 Alabama in Indianapolis. It was Kirby’s first championship as head coach. He told the crowd that he was aggressively recruiting after the NCAA lifted recruiting restrictions, but that nearly put him over the edge.
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Now Kirby is trying to slow down the summer recruiting season for himself and his staff. Instead of recruiting nearly each day of June, Kirby and crew now have Mondays off in June. Friday mornings are also not required for the Dawgs’ staff.
Kirby is entering his seventh season at UGA. His program has won the Rose, Sugar, Peach and Orange Bowls along with the 2017 SEC Championship and the 2021 CFP national title. He was a four-year letterman at Georgia before starting his coaching career.
The 2021 season started with the bang for the Dawgs as they took out No. 3 Clemson 10-3 in Charlotte. The team then beat No. 8 Arkansas, No. 18 Auburn and No. 11 Kentucky before defeating the Gators in Jacksonville.
A loss to No. 4 Alabama in the SEC Championship Game set up the Dawgs for a matchup with No. 2 Michigan in the Orange Bowl. After a 34-11 win over the Wolverines, Georgia beat No. 1 Alabama 33-18 to capture the program’s first national title since 1980.
Kirby’s Bulldogs return a slew of offensive players, but will have to replace the bulk of the Dawgs’ offense from the 2021 run. Georgia opens up against Oregon in Atlanta to start the season. The Bulldogs are considered a 17.5-point favorite to beat the Ducks by Fan Duel.