Kirby Smart details toughest part of dealing with off-field issues as head coach

Bad headlines have continued to follow the Georgia football program. The latest: A wide receiver facing criminal consequences for alleged assault and battery against an unborn child.

And head coach Kirby Smart acknowledged during a press conference on Tuesday that these things do weigh on him. And that he and his staff are constantly working to try and ameliorate the issues.

“Like, you’re going to be judged by the people you lead,” Smart said. “And you’ve gotta stand up, face it and do right by the kids and keep trying to find a better way. We’re constantly trying to find a better way to make a difference, and that’s in everything we do in our organization. That’s evaluation of the kids. That’s in the football side of it. The becoming a man, the graduation, it’s all wrapped into one. And we’ve gotta keep working on that.”

The current incident involving a Georgia player that Smart is answering for involved wideout Colbie Young, who is suspended indefinitely after being arrested on a pair of misdemeanor charges for the alleged assault and battery.

That comes after Georgia dismissed wideout Rara Thomas shortly before the season began for being charged with cruelty toward a child, among other things.

And that all is on top of the various and seemingly continuing issues the Bulldogs have had with players and staffers driving dangerously and recklessly.

Smart acknowledged it all comes back to him.

“It’s not envious but I think spoke two years ago about the cost of leadership,” Smart said. “I read that each day I come into work. It’s right behind my desk. And I never forget what somebody sent me and it just hits me on days like that. And I didn’t find out on this one until I got up in the morning. So it’s one of those 7 a.m. deals. But, had ones that hit in the middle of the night.

“And when you have 130 17-to-23 year olds, that’s — you’re going to have issues. It’s not going to be perfect. And I certainly recognize we’ve gotta do a better job, but it’s hard. It’s hard on our staff. Because we’ve got really good kids, we’ve got really good people, man, and our kids go out there today and they have one of the best practices we’ve had all year on a Tuesday. And they’re out there competing, working. And you just want them to make better decisions as men and off the field. And I take a lot of responsibility in that and it’s tough. But that’s the cost of leadership.”