“Our Classic City Collective has been fining people quite a bit for those things for over a year,” Smart said. “This is not a new thing. This is something that is going on outside my jurisdiction that they have decided to implement and have done so at a considerable expense.”
Driving-related arrests continue to be a problem in Georgia, including two arrests last week. Seven players have been arrested on driving-related charges since the deaths of player Devin Willock and staff member Chandler LeCroy in a January 2023 car crash in which police found LeCroy had been drinking and racing with then-player Jalen Carter. Was doing.
Safety David Daniels-Sisavanh, who was arrested on a reckless driving charge in February, has been dismissed from the program for what Smart would only say was a violation of team rules.
Speeding tickets were sold and a staff member (Jarvis Jones) was arrested for speeding. Another player, Jamon Dumas-Johnson, was arrested last year for a street racing incident that occurred before the crash.
Smart has declined to specify what the suspensions will be, saying only that they will be confirmed after the fact, such as last year when receiver Marcus Rosemy-Jaxant was suspended for a speeding arrest. As the season approaches, running back Trevor Etienne (DUI) and linebacker Smail Mondon (reckless driving, racing) could face suspensions. But Smart said he wouldn’t publicize those suspensions in advance.
“I don’t think it’s right to go to the town square and publicly shame kids when this happens,” Smart said. “They endure a lot, and these young people have a lot of regrets for the mistakes they have made. But our job is to educate these youth and take them forward.”
Yet, given all the arrests made after a tragic car accident, how has an otherwise disciplined program failed to mitigate this issue?
“That’s a great question,” Smart said. “I would love every possible solution because now every time we talk about it and every time we address it we write it down, and at every meeting we have someone who listens to it, and my Before its arrival, it had been mentioned 162 times.
“But if people say, ‘Well, this falls on deaf ears, you’ve got to have discipline, you’ve got to discipline someone.’ Well, we have and we will continue to do so. If the tasks require it, we will do what is necessary to do so, when you have to reduce some things. Go in and you get them because these fines are substantial, and it will make you think twice about your mistakes.
Georgia has used what Smart called active learning, such as defensive driving courses. But Smart also defended the discipline process.
“As far as I know there is not a single team in the country that has suspended a player for the traffic violation that Marcus Rosemy was suspended for,” Smart said. “I don’t know if anyone has ever kicked anyone out of the team for this. And we have that. And we will remain active. This is repeated behavior that will get you fired. Repeatedly bad behavior and poor decisions. In some cases, we repeat the behavior, and in some cases, we have people who make mistakes, and we’re going to punish them.
Senior quarterback Carson Beck, who famously drove a Lamborghini, was asked if “driving a fast car” sends the wrong message. Beck expressed displeasure at this.
“Let’s be clear: I don’t like fast cars. But I like cars. Obviously, yes, my car is 100 percent fast, but I don’t drive like an idiot,” Beck said. “Obviously, it’s ridiculous to talk about, but it’s been a serious issue for our team. But we also have hundreds of players, and a large percentage of our players are very focused and above that. But there are obviously people who have made mistakes, and there will be consequences. …
“Obviously with the tragedy that happened two years ago, that’s the biggest thing, is people feeling intentional about being in this moment. …It doesn’t matter if you get there five minutes early, it’s not going to change anything. “Slow down, and follow the rules.”
(Photo of Kirby Smart: Kirby Lee/USA TODAY)
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