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Kirby Smart is fully confident in what he has built at the University of Georgia and does not concern himself with players who leave his program to enter the transfer portal. Business is buisness.

The 48-year-old head coach takes an ice cold stance on transfers, which is likely shared by most coaches across the country.

Even if an athlete chooses to leave the Bulldogs, Smart knows that the show must go on. He also makes that very clear to the players who are on his roster.

All-American defensive back Malaki Starks and wide receiver Miles Thornton joined The Players’ Lounge podcast to discuss a variety of different topics. One of them was the transfer portal. They disclosed their head coach’s philosophy toward the portal, which is built on brutal honestly.

Georgia is not built around one guy. Every single player on the roster is talented enough to get on the field and they are all cogs in a greater machine. And if there is not someone who is ready and waiting to replace the athlete who chooses to leave, the staff will go find one.

Smart often tells his team that if he is going to lose someone, that is okay. He will be replaced.

UGA’s Malaki Starks & Miles Thornton talked about Georgia’s team first approach and the transfer portal on a recent episode on @ThPlayersLounge“Kirby says all the time… If we lose you, that is okay. We will replace you.”FULL SHOW: https://t.co/yFlWQMT9Sz pic.twitter.com/gVATk4Yh8T— Graham Coffey (@GrahamCoffeyDC) May 9, 2024

This is the only way to approach the new era of college football. NIL and the transfer portal changed the sport. It used to be about student-athletes who get an education while playing a sport. Not anymore.

Whether you are willing to admit it or not, college football is a professional sport. Pro sports are a business. Feelings and business don’t mix.

Kirby Smart knows that he’ll be just fine if players leaves. There are endless talented athletes who want to play in Athens. One out, one in. The cycle continues and, clearly, it’s working!




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