Kirby Smart’s Honest Admission on GM Role Forces Georgia AD to Make Big Announcement

In the sporting world, General Managers are often the ones pulling the strings. Making those moves, deciding which players would be coming and who would be going out, and shaping the future of franchises. I mean, we all have seen Billy Bean in ‘Moneyball’ changing the landscape of MLB through his revolutionary ideas. In the NFL, too, GMs are not just cogs in the front office machine; their decisions make or break whole franchises. Ask any Detroit Lions fans about Matt Millen’s tenure, and they’ll tell you everything you need to know. However, in college football, the dynamic has always been different. That said, Kirby Smart offers an interesting take.

Historically, college football never really needed GM positions. There was no money involved in players’ transfers or even in other ways, like navigating salary caps or negotiating salaries. But now? Everything has taken a U-turn. The NIL and transfer portal together are bringing in a deadly combination. In addition to that, the House v NCAA’s proposed $20 million cap. Good luck trying to rebuild programs like UNC without a Michael Lombardi. So, GMs are the need of the hour. However, if you ask UGA head coach Kirby Smart, he isn’t entirely sold on the idea. He has a different theory to present.

“I don’t want a GM tagged to say, ‘this guy is going to be a negotiator, he’s going to go and close the deal and sign the deal. It’s still a relationship business for us. If we were drafting and we could go across the state and say, ‘OK, this is our draft pick,’ (then) I think a GM role is really, really important, but when you have to have a relationship with somebody, how does that GM have a relationship with somebody ….?.” These aren’t just hollow words, Smart has shown it on the ground, too.

The head coach recently roped in the 2026 class’s number 1 QB, Jared Curtis. Curtis’ father described the move to be inspired by the relationships they built at UGA. “We’ve got great relationships with those coaches. We just know them all so well.” It’s not that Kirby Smart is reluctant to use those NIL coffers. His strategy is more about navigating the money prudently and with responsibility. The 2022 championship wasn’t built on a blind money trail; it was a meticulous effort of Smart’s philosophy of spending mindfully as opposed to other programs. Otherwise, we have also seen Aggies pouring millions into their classes, and how far have they gone? UGA AD Josh Brooks describes a similar philosophy of relationships first.

Josh Brooks, speaking on ‘DawgNation’s’ 20th May episode, spilled some beans on what goes on behind the curtains at UGA and dismissed the importance of the GM role. “I think first of all, you have to look at that and know that the term (GM) gets thrown around a lot, and it means different things in different places. So there’s not just one cookie-cutter way to do it, and that’s probably a little true even when you look at the NFL, and I think each school’s got a different dynamic…we’re thankful we have a head coach who really gets it and knows what he wants.” Is this the new philosophy Georgia and Kirby Smart are giving football to wade through the NIL world?

Probably not! The NIL and transfer portal are in their infancy, and there are still facets that need to be explored. For instance, the House v NCAA settlement that is about to bring new money close to $20 million for players. Also, a plethora of other changes that would need to be tackled. And if any head coach thinks that he can do that without the help of a GM or a GM-like figure? Well, that mindset is dated. Because college football is just getting more brutal, and time has taught us that change is inevitable. So, programs not leveraging and navigating NIL money would be no more than chapters in the glorified history of football books.

The secret sauce behind Kirby Smart’s success revealed

Who is currently the best head coach in college football? If your answer wasn’t Kirby Smart, instant flag on the play. The man learned from the GOAT Nick Saban. He delivered two natties in less than 10 years, and 3 SEC championships. But the head coach’s influence goes beyond the silverware, and in the mindset of the players he coached. Dean Legge provided an insight into how Smart transforms his players for good and how his players don’t buckle under pressure.

“But why make things so difficult? Well, after games, when you ask guys, they’ll chuckle a little bit because it has been their view for a long time, and they can verify this probably ten times a year—that practices are more difficult than games. To be honest with you, when they have very difficult games—like, for instance, the Georgia Tech game this past year—I think they are almost energized by their ability to get through games and complete them, finish them, because practices have been so hard for so long.” Smart in this way is a true head coach in football right now.

It’s no secret why Georgia is the favorite every year. It’s less about stacking talent like baseball cards, but more about putting every given card to good use. Stetson Bennett showed that influence when he was a Heisman finalist and Manning Award winner. Last season might have been a setback for Georgia, but this season, they are expected to come roaring back after Smart finished with a 2nd ranked class nationally.