University of Georgia

Kirby Smart says the connection and bond on this year’s Bulldogs team was everything

ATHENS, Ga. — “It’s moments like this that allow us to look back and allow us to look forward”. With that quote, University of Georgia head coach Kirby Smart encapsulated the emotions and success of this years Georgia Bulldogs football team in front of a massive crowd at Sanford Stadium.

Smart spoke to a packed house, a stadium that looked like a football game sellout to share what he believed to be the secret to the success of this year’s team.

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Smart said that it was all about this team’s “Connections”, and he compared it to a quote from poet Henry David Thoreau, “Success usually comes to those too busy to look for it.” It was a phrase he kept going back to.

He said the 2021 Bulldogs were the most connected team he’d ever coached. From the players to the staff, everyone was always on the same page. Smart spent much of his five minutes at the podium talking about the sacrifices his coaches, their families, the players and others made to get this team where it ended up.

“What you 95-100,000 fans didn’t get to see was that about a year ago today, these guys were out running around this field at 6 a.m. sweating blood and tears,” Smart said.

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Before Smart finished, the second coach in University of Georgia history to win a National Championship took a minute to thank the fans who he said were always there. He said he’s still awestruck at the Bulldog faithful who show up even for road games. And he spoke about how proud he was for them “Owning Indianapolis” this year.

For the Bainbridge raised former Georgia Football player, this was a moment to catch his breath, take a step back and enjoy the moment. Smart took absolutely no credit for the success of this team at any point, he just smiled at the knowledge that he was able to watch this group of young men grow up in front of him and accomplish something they’ll remember the rest of their lives.

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