Kirby Smart Joins ESPN College Football and Talks Carson Beck and Georgia Football

Georgia's head football coach, Kirby Smart, joined ESPN College Football's show, College Gameday Podcast, to talk Carson Beck and more.

The University of Georgia is in the thick of fall camp as "week zero" of college football approaches us. Recently, Kirby Smart made headlines by naming Carson Beck as the Bulldogs' QB1. Smart joined ESPN College Football to talk about Beck and more things related to Georgia football. 

Many knew Beck would likely be named the starter due to his experience in-game, but people have been wondering if the Georgia program will be able to fight off complacency and be victorious for their third straight national title. Rece Davis asked Smart what his perspective is on going for their third straight title, and Smart had a few interesting points. "We don't focus on trying to get the third one - we don't worry about it," Smart stated, "My biggest concern right now is fighting complacency because you have a senior and junior class who has all won one." 

Smart then mentions how he brought former Alabama player and College Football HOFer Sylvester Groom to speak to the team. Smart noted how when he played for 'Bama, national titles were voted for, and he won three straight titles, but also how they won three straight SEC Championships. Smart said he dived into the conversation of complacency with the team, "how he felt like that third year there was a lot of hunger on the upper end of the leadership, I thought that was really interesting," Smart added. Bringing in a voice like Groom's, who played and coached for legendary coach "Bear" Bryant, will resonate with Smart and his players. 

Complacency will have its place in every football program, but you rarely find it within Georgia's because they point it out with "physical evidence," as Smart stated in the interview. But this team is still filled with hungry Dawgs who want to "eat off the floor." Davis asked him, "Who wants to eat off the floor," and Smart had this to say, after giving a pretty big smirk to the question - 

"We've got several guys to me who have had good camps, but they're not household names. We've got a kid who's probably gonna be one of our returners and slot receivers in Mekhi Mews. He was great in the spring game- but man, he's had a great camp. He wants to eat off the floor every day. He's 5' 8" and 185 pounds, blocking and playing bigger than he is.  Jackson Meeks is another guy who has had a good camp. We've got some defensive guys; Javon Bullard has had a good camp. Really competitive. I hope they all wanna eat off the floor, or we're in trouble. We had somebody speak to the team, and they said, 'There's two times you eat off the floor. Either the floor is really clean, or you're really hungry,' and were hoping were hungry as hell.".

Smart was then asked to tell people more about Carson Beck that college football fans may not know and brought up some interesting points about his new starting quarterback. 

"He keeps his emotions in check. He told me "I've been that way since a kid...' He was a really talented baseball player, committed to Florida in high school, and then decided to go the football route. He's different. The players enjoy him; they rally around him. He has a way with the skill players. Calm, cool, collected, and poised in the pocket. The interesting thing about Carson that people don't talk about during our national championship run is there was a time when he was the two in our first national championship run, and Stetson [Bennett] was a three. - Carson spoke to the team about missing that opportunity and how it affected him, and he didn't think he prepared the right way and as prepared. It went on that Stetson played two more years, but Carson could've been our quarterback that whole time."

Smart and his Georgia Bulldogs football program is in a historic position, being able to compete for their third straight national title. But they were also in this position just a few years ago when Beck had an opportunity to take over the starting position. Smart believed in Beck then, and he does now. 

Other Georgia News:

• Despite Injuries, Smart Bullish on Georgia's Running Backs
• Practice Observations - Georgia Priming for Second Scrimmage
• Preseason All-SEC Teams Released

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