Smart & Georgia Are a Much Bigger Threat to Society Than Gundy & Oklahoma State

By Rock Westfall

Last week, I wrote in this space that Oklahoma State coach Mike Gundy came off as tone-deaf in his rather flippant response to his top player, Ollie Gordon II , getting a DUI.

But I also pointed out that Oklahoma State does not have a bad reputation for DUI incidents and how Georgia had continued to embarrass itself right before it did it yet again that very night.

I also commended Gundy for his authenticity and contrarian approach to handling the situation. He dared to take the heat and go against conventional wisdom. Now, it looks like Mike Gundy made a winning bet.

While the pajama boy national media predictably and unanimously had a fit over Mike Gundy’s WORDS , Kirby Smart ’s Georgia Bulldog program is getting far worse and more dangerous RESULTS than Oklahoma State.

UGA again proved why it is on the nation's Ten Most Unwanted list for communities that want to drive and live safely. Last week was the latest saga in the Georgia football program’s disgraceful rap sheet of traffic incidents.

Last week, Georgia starting linebacker Smael Mondon and backup offensive tackle Bo Hughley were arrested on separate misdemeanor charges of reckless driving.

On Tuesday, Hughley was charged with failure to maintain lane, improper driving on the road, and reckless driving. He posted a total of $26 bond and was released that night. On Wednesday, Mondon was charged with racing on highways and streets and reckless driving. He also paid $26 and was released on Thursday.

In particular, the racing charge is significant, considering its devastating history within the program.

A Not So Smart Record by Kirby’s Entitled and Privileged Bulldogs

Apparently, somebody has to die before head coach Kirby Smart and the Georgia Bulldogs will get serious about dangerous driving. Oh, wait, that already happened last year.

In January 2023, Georgia football player Devin Willock and recruiting staff member Chandler LeCroy were killed in a car wreck in Athens. Additionally, on that same night, Jalen Carter , a former Georgia defensive lineman who is now with the Philadelphia Eagles, was driving with a suspended license. Carter's actions led to misdemeanor charges of reckless driving and racing. However, the vehicle that Carter was alleged to be racing against crashed, resulting in the two deaths .

Judging by the results and record since then, NOTHING was learned by the Georgia football program.

Georgia Fans & Administrators Are Full & Willing Accomplices

On March 28, this space outlined the horrible record of Kirby Smart and his program’s repeated danger to society that nobody in Athens seems to care about. In my article, it was acknowledged that Kirby Smart has outlined in detail the steps he has taken to curtail the ridiculous driving record of his program. But the results are not there.

Football is a results-oriented business. If Smart’s program were as bad on the field as it is on the streets, he’d have been fired long ago. Since 2023, there have been 24 driving-related incidents by the Bulldogs, with the aforementioned loss of life.

While the buck stops with the head coach, he has accomplices. The University of Georgia administration has failed to scare anyone straight from coaches to players. And all the fans care about is winning, at least perhaps until one of their loved ones is maimed or killed by a Fast and Furious Bulldog football player.

UGA’s priorities have been made clear. The only thing that Smart will be held accountable for is losing football games. If that happens, the spotlight will be on him. At that moment, the compliant Georgia media and its willing blind fans will scream that Smart’s program has no discipline. But as long Smart keeps amassing wins, those who point out the lawless nature of the Georgia program will be vilified for raining on the party.

The culture of the University of Georgia and its football fans are a shameless abomination with zero empathy or consideration for innocent citizens.

Mike Gundy Deserves an Apology

Of course, Mike Gundy did not issue a polished, word salad statement about the Ollie Gordon DUI. But Gundy’s refusal to punish Gordon should NOT be questioned. That is because Kirby Smart has previously done plenty of virtue signaling and said everything he is supposed to say but with NO results. Gundy’s results are significantly better when it comes to his player's driving habits.

It’s far past time for folks in Athens to get scared straight, starting with Kirby Smart. But as long as the wins keep coming, the only folks who will be unjustifiably scared are the innocent. But the innocent are no big deal at the University of Georgia. They are just collateral damage for Georgia’s ultimate priorities.