The Florida Gators and Georgia Bulldogs will meet in Atlanta on Saturday to continue a century-long rivalry between the two cross-border schools — one that represents one of the most storied rivalry games in the sport.
On Wednesday, UGA head coach Kirby Smart took his turn on the SEC teleconference to discuss the upcoming matchup at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, with topics ranging from Jadan Baugh and Aaron Philo coming out of the Peach State, college football's roster attrition, updates on his players' injuries, his relationship with Gators offensive coordinator Buster Faulkner, the importance of the rivalry game, and more.
Below is a look at everything Smart said on Wednesday's SEC teleconference call.
Kirby Smart's opening statement
Yeah, our guys were excited to play this game
in Atlanta. Very unique experience to get to play in Atlanta. Mercedes-Benz is really an awesome venue to play games in, a great atmosphere. I know both alumni bases have a ton of alumni there in Atlanta.
So it will be a very unique experience, and it always is with a 50/50 crowd. A lot of respect for Coach Sumrall and their team. How hard, how physical they play, the games they've played in our league have been really tough ones as well as ours, and I'm sure this one will be no different.
On if he would've recruited Jadan Baugh as a RB in hindsight
Yeah, absolutely. For sure. It's interesting. You always do self-scout or quality control, looking back on kids, especially kids in your own state. Because we're like Florida. There's so many good players in our state that you look across college football and there's so many good ones playing from your state and you have to do a critical look at what your decision-making is.
I remember Jadan well; I got a great relationship with him, his dad and his family. He came as a ninth grader and was in camp and was playing safety. And everybody was raving about him as a ninth-grade safety, and I just remember this big, physical kid.
For a ninth grader. I thought, "Golly, man, what's this guy gonna be?" Then he grew and grew, and came each year. I think by his junior year, he was playing a lot more linebacker in high school. Then he went on a playoff run late in his senior year, he had an unbelievable run of running back stats and doing really incredible things.
At the time, I think we had two running back commits and he kind of went off in the playoff run and just blew up and he did a great job. I mean, he's a really good player and one of the ones that got away for sure.
On Aaron Philo in high school
Yeah, he broke all kinds of records. I mean, he was right here by us. Obviously, had a great relationship with his coaches. His quarterback coach was Coach (Mark) Richt's son, and Coach (Greg) Vandagriff; we had his son on our team. And he did incredible things.
I got a lot of respect for his toughness, the way he plays and how much better he's gotten. I think Buster's done an incredible job developing him throughout his career there at Georgia Tech and now at Florida.
On teams having less roster attrition
I don't really know, Mike. I mean, I don't know. I think people are being smart, trying to practice smart. Preseason camp. I think people, at least the people I talk to, did a little less. You got less numbers. So with less numbers at practice, I think you've got more volume on a smaller group of people.
With the 105, a lot of teams in the SEC used to operate at 125, 130. So you're trying to cut down on contract, soft tissue injuries, all those things. To be good at football, you do have to practice football. We're not dealing with kids that are third-, fourth-, fifth-year pros. We're dealing with kids that are first-, second-, third-year players out of high school.
And so it's an adjustment for them. And it makes it tough. But I don't know how to put a finger on it. I'd be remiss to suggest that NIL plays any factor in the attrition part of it. You know, I don't think it does. So I don't know really what it is with each place. Maybe it's different.
On how defensive end Amaris Williams' rehab is coming along
Doing great. He's working hard. Seems day-to-day, comes out with us, is able to get some parts of practice — like flex — and does some things with us to stay part of the group. But he's not in any shape to play or anything right now.
Is there is a possibility of getting him back this season?
I don't know the answer to that. To be honest with you, I hadn't even really thought about it because of where we are and what we're focused on.
Is Kyron Jones is dealing with an injury?
He's been dealing with the injury for over a year now. He's dealing with a tough lower-leg extremity that's bothered him some, and it's really hard to manage for him. He's not able to have the volume that he probably needs for practice. He's got to do things on bank reps. He's a guy that's been in our program a long time. He's a really tough, hard-nosed player that works his tail off every day, and he gives everything he's got. He's been helping us more on special teams.
What he remembers about Faulkner from their time together at Valdosta State
I didn't really go against Buster in practice there. It wasn't really like that. But I have a lot of respect for him. He's a competitor. He's a winner. He won in high school at one of the best programs in the state at the time. He's a winner. He's a competitor, and you know he's a really good coach.
On how much attention Smart places on the program's revenue stream compared to earlier in his career
It's different than then, but it's the same as it's been for four or five years. So I don't look at it as different because the adjustments have been made. They continue to change, but change is inevitable. And I feel like the last three to four years has been; it's been pretty consistent. You have to dedicate time to both.
When I took the job, that wasn't the case.
On why the Florida-Georgia rivalry is so significant
The most obvious would be the border. I would argue that over the last 20, 30 years, they have the most players that aren't from Florida are from Georgia — and our most players that aren't from Georgia are from Florida. So we cross the state line to recruit players a lot, which creates more rivalry.
The historic SEC East was decided a lot of years through this game. Those are the two or three most obvious. The national championship implications that it's had through time. There's just a lot of history there. They have a lot of rivals. We have a lot of rivals, but you could certainly point to this one has been the most meaningful in the grand scheme of things, SEC-wise and nationally, of most of the rivals that each of us have.
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This article originally appeared on Gators Wire: Georgia's Kirby Smart discusses Florida game on SEC teleconference call
