UGA Continues Enabling Kirby Smart to be Urban Meyer 2.0

By Rock Westfall

Another day, another arrest for the Georgia Bulldogs football program. Wide receiver Colbie Young was arrested early Tuesday morning on misdemeanor charges for assault and battery of an unborn child, per records from the Athens-Clarke County Jail. Young was booked at 4:18 a.m. ET and released on a $3,800 bond.

According to the incident report, Young got into a confrontation with his pregnant former girlfriend while he was on the phone with another woman. Young pulled the ex-girlfriend’s arm and physically pulled her out of the room while using derogatory terms and demeaning her. As the former girlfriend was collecting her belongings, she answered a phone call, which was followed by Young grabbing her from behind, subsequently squeezing her torso and abdomen hard. The pregnant woman felt as if Young was trying to harm her.

Young denied the physical contact and his lawyer issued a statement.

"Colbie Young was arrested last night after he asked his ex-girlfriend to leave his apartment," Kim Stephens, Young's attorney, told ESPN . "He did not make physical contact with her in any way that could ever be considered a crime. I expect Mr. Young to be fully exonerated once our investigation is complete and the truth revealed."

The incident was reminiscent of when Rara Thomas was dismissed from the team on August 1 for family violence charges .

For Georgia head coach Kirby Smart , it was just another day at the office.

And that, right there, is the problem.

Georgia & Kirby Lack a Smart Approach to Criminal Culture

Previously, I have written on the Georgia Football program’s Life in the Fastlane and its criminal culture that is starting to rival the Florida Gators' reign of terror in Gainesville, AKA “Gangsville” under head coach Urban Meyer .

Georgia’s infamous traffic incidents have, tragically, included multiple deaths. I have repeatedly asked if somebody else is going to have to die for Georgia to change its ways. I am now convinced that any further loss of life will not matter whatsoever.

The University of Georgia administration, fans, and donors have enabled the lawlessness that is putting countless innocent people at risk. They are complicit enablers and accomplices to any future crimes, not that they care.

On Tuesday, Smart did his best to play the role of a benevolent Father Flanagan with more canned platitudes, alibis, and excuses.

"When you have 130 17- to 23-year-olds, you're going to have issues," Smart said Tuesday. "It's not going to be perfect. And I certainly recognize we've got to do a better job, but it's hard. It's hard on our staff because we've got really good kids. We've got really good people, man. "You just want them to make better decisions as men off the field. And, you know, I take a lot of responsibility in that. It's tough, but that's the cost of leadership. Like, you're going to be judged by the people you lead. And you've got to stand up and face it and do right by the kids and keep trying to find a better way."

I’d have more respect for Smart if he would just say that all he cares about is winning at all costs. Because, through his actions and results, that is the truth. His inadequate pap falls far short of reality.

Why Do Other Successful Programs Not Have Such Problems?

Kirby Smart learned how to run a national championship program under Nick Saban at Alabama. Saban is the GOAT of college coaching and ran the most formidable dynasty in the sport's modern era. And he did so without a criminal culture.

Dabo Swinney of Clemson is leading a resurgent program aiming for the College Football Playoff. Swinney has two national championships and runs an Atlantic Coast Conference dynasty.  And he is doing so without a criminal culture.

Steve Sarkisian , another Saban disciple, is running the top-ranked program in the land at Texas, where a new SEC dynasty could be emerging. And he is doing so without a criminal culture.

Matt Rhule is leading the Nebraska Cornhuskers back from the abyss with an impressive rebuild based on a culture of brotherhood and accountability. And he is doing so without a criminal culture.

Kirby must show he is smart enough to win without a police blotter. So far he has failed to demonstrate that he can.

Words are meaningless. The results tell all.

The logical conclusion to make, as was the case with Urban Meyer at Florida, is that losing football games will only end the madness.