Kirby Smart Issues A Bold, Unflinching Answer To Georgia Tech Head

Georgia Bulldogs head coach Kirby Smart has issued a bold and unapologetic response to Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets coach Geoff Collins, who recently questioned the academic integrity of the Bulldogs' football program. Collins had suggested that Georgia's commitment to academics was secondary to its focus on winning.

In a defiant interview, Smart dismissed Collins's remarks as "ridiculous" and "uninformed." He asserted that Georgia was "a world-class academic institution" and that the football program held its student-athletes to the highest academic standards.

Smart provided data indicating that Georgia's football players had a graduation rate of 85%, significantly higher than the national average. He also emphasized that Georgia was among the top 10% of Power 5 schools in the Academic Progress Rate (APR), a metric used to measure academic performance and progress.

"Our guys are students first," Smart said. "We set very high standards for them academically, and we have the numbers to prove it."

Smart questioned Collins's motives for making such remarks, suggesting that they were an attempt to deflect attention from Georgia Tech's own struggles both on and off the field. The Yellow Jackets have gone 4-8 in each of the last two seasons and have faced criticism for their poor academic performance.

"I think Georgia Tech is trying to deflect from some of their own issues," Smart said. "They're not in a good place right now, and I think they're just trying to stir up some controversy to take the heat off themselves."

The exchange between Smart and Collins has reignited the long-standing rivalry between the two schools. It remains to be seen whether Collins's remarks will have any impact on the upcoming game between Georgia and Georgia Tech on November 26th.

However, Smart's response sends a clear message that he will not tolerate any criticism of Georgia's academic integrity and that he is confident in his team's ability to succeed both on and off the field.