Kirby Smart highlights senior class, wears Vince Dooley tie following comfortable win over Georgia Tech
By Keith Farner
Published:
Kirby Smart enjoyed the win over Georgia Tech on Saturday and made sure to highlight the seniors following the win.
“This group’s meant so much,” he said. “This group’s 46-5 … Their leadership is our consistency, and each and every one of them from walk-ons and scholarships are deserving of the recognition.”
Smart, who wore a Vince Dooley tie in the post-game press conference, honored the legendary coach who recently passed away. He didn’t want to distract the players during the game, but considered wearing the tie on the field.
“I was going to but I chickened out,” Smart said, and added that Derek Dooley gave it to him.
Smart also applauded Tech’s staff led by Brent Key, the interim coach.
Head Coach Kirby Smart wearing a Vince Dooley tie. He said he was going to wear it during the game but didn’t want to distract the players that he was changing his uniform. He said he wanted to wear it to honor Coach Dooley. #goDawgs pic.twitter.com/UCirCUcshY
— Alison Mastrangelo (@AlisonWSB) November 26, 2022
“Georgia Tech, Brent [Key], give a lot of credit to their staff … I thought special teams came through, and it was the first game in quite a while that we made plays in special teams to give us some momentum,” Smart said.
Smart said he thinks the next week will be more manageable than last week given Thanksgiving changing the schedule.
“There’s a lot of variables you can’t control … You lose a routine as a coach, and it worries you a little bit,” Smart said.
Smart on LSU’s Brian Kelly: “I know he came in this league because he wanted an opportunity to play the best … He’s at a storied place that’s got a lot of tradition and history.”
About Kelee Ringo’s play, Smart said, “He got targeted a lot … He continues to work. He understands playing out on that island, guys, it’s tough.”
On injured OLB Nolan Smith being part of the group that drew a sideline warning: “As long as he’s excited, I’d much rather have to coach the excitement out of them than into them.”
H/T Jordan Hill.
A former newspaper veteran, Keith Farner is a news manager for Saturday Down South.
