Kirby Smart didn’t need long to get in a shot at Lane Kiffin on Tuesday at SEC Media Days.
When a reporter asked Smart whether he would define Kiffin as a troll, the Georgia coach first turned it back on the reporter and asked for a definition. After the reporter explained that a troll “just means poking fun. He likes to stir the pot,” Smart gave a quick, blunt answer: “Yup, that's him”
The exchange fit the long-running relationship between the two coaches, who both came up under Nick Saban and worked together as coordinators at Alabama in 2014 and 2015. Since then, Smart and Kiffin have made a habit of taking playful swings at each other whenever the moment is there.
In this case, Smart’s comment landed because Kiffin has built a reputation for leaning into the chaos. He has left programs in dramatic fashion, including Tennessee and most recently Ole Miss, and he’s never been shy about feeding off the reactions from unhappy fan bases.
That dynamic has shown up before. A few seasons ago, Tennessee students were ejected from a game after throwing things on the field at Kiffin, and his response was to keep trolling. With LSU set to travel to Ole Miss this year, plenty of fans are already expecting another charged atmosphere.
Georgia won’t face Kiffin’s LSU team this season, but the Bulldogs do have Ole Miss on the schedule. The Rebels are bringing back Trinidad Chambliss and the group that knocked Georgia out of the playoffs back in January.
Even without a matchup between Smart and Kiffin this year, the back-and-forth isn’t going anywhere. The two will keep taking shots, and the recruiting trail gives them plenty of chances to cross paths. Kiffin’s chance to answer back comes Thursday, July 23, when LSU holds its media day.
In Other News...
Former Georgia Star From That Title Defense Just Cashed In Big
Georgias championship-era talent keeps finding ways to cash in, and Devonte Wyatt is the latest example. The former Bulldogs defensive tackle, part of that title defense run, has turned his NFL success into a major payday, a reminder of how much value Georgias defensive pipeline continues to carry long after players leave Athens.
The timing also fits the larger conversation around the program at SEC Media Days, where Georgia was again treated like the leagues measuring stick. Brent Venables called the Bulldogs the gold standard, and even with the preseason chatter splitting between media confidence and Vegas skepticism, Georgia remains the team everyone seems to measure themselves against while its former stars keep stacking proof of that reputation. [Read more 🡒]
Gunner Stockton Just Entered Georgias Mike Bobo Debate
Gunner Stockton has only been in the spotlight as Georgias quarterback for a short time, but he is already stepping into one of the programs familiar debates. The conversation around offensive coordinator Mike Bobo has never really gone away, and Stockton made clear he sees the job from the inside, backing the coachs approach and pointing to the grind that goes into building an offense every week.
That support matters because Georgia is heading toward a season in which the passing game will need to look sharper, especially with several key receivers moving on to the NFL. The Bulldogs have the talent and the expectations to keep pushing forward, but whether Stockton and Bobo can turn that confidence into a more dangerous downfield attack is the question hanging over the offense now. [Read more 🡒]
Kirby Smart Just Confirmed A Major Georgia Backfield Setback
Georgias running back room took a hit this week when Kirby Smart confirmed that transfer back Dante Dowdell is dealing with an injury that will keep him out for a significant stretch. Smart did not offer a firm timetable, leaving some uncertainty around when Dowdell might be able to return, but the news is enough to alter the early shape of the backfield as the Bulldogs move deeper into camp.
With Dowdell sidelined, Nate Frazier and Chauncey Bowens are the names expected to carry the load for now, giving Georgia a clearer picture of its top options but a thinner margin for error. The backfield setback comes alongside another injury note for the Bulldogs, as Auburn transfer Amaris Williams is already out for the season with a torn ACL, adding to the list of roster questions Georgia has to manage before the opener. [Read more 🡒]