Kirby Smart Talks SECCG Loss, Why They Deserve CFP
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00:00 >> I'm Carson, Coach Smart.
00:01 Coach Smart will start with some remarks.
00:03 When you have a microphone, you have a question,
00:05 get the attention of our microphone holders.
00:07 Please state to who your question is being asked.
00:09 Let's start with Coach Smart.
00:11 >> Yeah, I'll open it like I always do, man.
00:14 It's unbelievable atmosphere when you play in the SEC Championship.
00:18 I mean, every year that I've coached in this thing, it's just electric.
00:21 And I think it's awesome that we get an opportunity to play in it.
00:25 Both crowds, remember the end of the game, a lot of momentum swings like we felt.
00:28 A field goal that hits the dang upright after an off sides.
00:33 And then we spotted a 10 just off of a turnover and
00:37 a touchdown on a busted coverage by a freshman.
00:40 So when you give good teams those things, they're gonna be hard to beat.
00:44 But man, am I proud of our fight and our resiliency.
00:48 I mean, two times I guess we're, two times we're down 10 or
00:51 three times we're down 10.
00:52 Offense battles back, never quits, never say die attitude.
00:57 This team is really special in terms of how they play and how they compete.
01:01 And they've been through a lot with the guys in and out of the roster,
01:05 which has been tough on these guys.
01:07 But I'm proud of them and congratulate Alabama on a great game.
01:12 >> We'll start here in the front row.
01:13 >> Kirby, two things.
01:15 Why do you think the offense stalled after that opening drive?
01:19 And if the committee's watching right now, what's your case be the final four?
01:21 >> Offense stalled after the opening drive.
01:26 Usually the rest of the night.
01:27 >> Course two, three up until the fourth quarter.
01:29 >> Yeah, I think they did a good job there.
01:32 I mean, we didn't have quite as much continuity maybe as we've had out there.
01:37 And I mean, look, it's tough guys when Brock Bowers doesn't practice for
01:40 15 days and Ladd doesn't practice for 15 days.
01:42 And they try to go out in the game, timing, rhythm's critical.
01:45 But give Alabama some credit.
01:46 They played good defense, did a good job.
01:48 I thought that we ran the ball well and did some good things.
01:51 As far as your second question, look, Bill Hancock said,
01:56 it's not the most deserving.
01:58 He said, simply, it's the best four teams.
02:02 So if you're gonna tell me somebody sitting in that committee room and
02:06 doesn't think that Georgia team, not one of the best four teams,
02:10 I don't know if they're in the right profession.
02:12 Cuz it's a really good football team.
02:16 It's a really talented football team.
02:17 It's a really balanced football team.
02:19 So they have to make that decision.
02:21 But it's the best four teams.
02:23 And that's critical.
02:25 >> Yeah, on that fourth and fourth play, Isaiah Vaughn comes down with it.
02:29 Were you able to ask for a review?
02:31 Did you get an explanation as to maybe why you weren't given a review on that play
02:35 there?
02:36 >> You know, I don't think, you're talking first half.
02:38 >> Yeah, first half, right before the halftime.
02:40 >> The first staple of any review is they review it up top, and they go quick.
02:44 So for me to ask for a review, it costs me a timeout, but they get to watch it.
02:48 So I was not aware of it being called or not called.
02:52 I mean, I guess you're saying the replay showed that he didn't catch it.
02:54 That was an extremely critical play of the game, because they go on the scoreboard.
02:58 >> Right here on the far row.
03:01 >> For both players, just can you just comment how tough it is going 12-0
03:06 through the season, and now your playoff future being in the hands of a playoff
03:10 committee?
03:11 >> Yeah, I mean, to go through a SEC schedule, 12 games, and
03:19 to win each and every one, it's not something easy to do.
03:21 It's not easy, but super proud of these guys.
03:25 And obviously, to come into this game and not finish the way that we wanted to,
03:32 and kind of leave the destiny of our team in someone else's hands,
03:37 rather than us handling it ourselves, that's hard.
03:40 But at this point, it's out of our control.
03:43 But we fought hard, and I thought throughout the season,
03:45 we showed that we were a really dominant team.
03:48 >> Yeah, like what Carsey said, it's tough.
03:53 It's tough.
03:54 I'm proud of the way the guys played tonight.
03:56 A lot of guys had to step up, and then the guys stepped up, and
04:01 just proud of the guys.
04:02 >> Go to the third row.
04:05 >> Kirby, why are you guys one of the four best teams, do you think?
04:11 >> I think it's by test.
04:12 I think you look at what we've done this season to go on the road,
04:16 the places we went on the road, the teams we beat,
04:19 the teams that are in the top 20 that we were able to beat.
04:23 And I don't know if this is right or not, but
04:25 in CFP era, a team that goes in as one, I don't think it's fallen out of that.
04:31 And not that history says anything, but
04:34 when you talk about four best teams, watch the game.
04:38 Go ask NFL talent evaluators, go ask NFL scouts.
04:42 It's about the best teams.
04:43 And I have no question that it's not one of the best four teams, 100%.
04:49 >> Third row.
04:50 >> Question for Carson.
04:51 Just what did you see on that end around that one not being fumbled?
04:54 And just how hard is that knowing that one's up being a difference in
04:58 the turnover margin?
04:59 >> Yeah, I mean, we've obviously practiced that play a ton.
05:03 It's just a simple flip back.
05:05 And I'm not really sure exactly what happened.
05:07 I'll have to go see it on film.
05:08 I wasn't able to see the replay, but I flipped it.
05:11 And then next thing I knew, all the guys were running, but
05:15 then the ball's on the ground.
05:16 So I really don't know what happened on that.
05:19 Just go back and obviously, I'll have to fix it if we have to run that play again.
05:25 >> Smile, can you talk about just defending,
05:27 David Passworth, Chattanooga Times Free Press.
05:29 Can you talk about just defending Jalen Milrow and the challenges there, and
05:33 especially that last possession when you wanted to get that stop?
05:36 >> With how good of an athlete he is, it's a real big challenge.
05:41 As far as defending him, there were some plays you did good on,
05:45 there were some plays you could have fitted better on.
05:47 And then that last job just got to fit it better.
05:49 >> Second group.
05:52 >> Joe with the Warford WSAD.
05:53 For the players, what would it mean to you if the college football
05:56 playoff committee gave you guys one more shot to play for a national championship?
05:59 >> I mean, obviously, it would mean everything to us.
06:03 I mean, we fought so hard through this season.
06:06 I mean, it's been a gruesome season.
06:08 Those big guys out fighting to get back.
06:11 I mean, just like Coach Martin said earlier, I mean, Ladbrock too.
06:16 I mean, guys that are gonna go on and play football for a long time,
06:19 haven't really practiced at all for the past 15 days, two weeks.
06:23 And they're out there battling, obviously.
06:26 We think that anybody that steps out on that field is gonna go execute and play.
06:30 And obviously, I have a ton of confidence in every guy that's out there and
06:33 love them to death.
06:34 I mean, we're in there fighting together each and every day.
06:36 But to be given that chance would be everything to us.
06:39 [BLANK_AUDIO]
06:44 >> We're rolling.
06:45 >> Kirby, notwithstanding what you said,
06:46 would you agree that this season is sort of unique from the standpoint there's
06:50 at least five, maybe six teams that can claim, quote,
06:54 we're one of the four best teams in college football?
06:56 >> Yeah, I guess that does make it unique because I don't know the history of
07:00 the other years.
07:02 The fifth team probably always feels like they did, but
07:05 it seems like this is the year that it should be the four best teams.
07:11 Because you can make a case for deserving for everybody.
07:15 And it's unfortunate that these kids who give so much and play so hard,
07:20 not just in Georgia, all these schools, they don't get to decide it really on
07:25 the field.
07:27 It's sitting back with a committee who's gotta determine who the best four teams
07:31 are.
07:31 And if that's truly the four best teams, then let's put the four best teams in.
07:35 >> We're on the right side.
07:37 >> Kirby, just what is Sunday gonna look like for
07:39 you guys with that announcement coming around then?
07:42 >> Well, we play Alabama next year, I think early in the season.
07:46 So we're coming in to grade the film, evaluate,
07:49 see what we can do better and different.
07:51 And the coaches will have to go recruiting.
07:53 And we'll have a team meeting tomorrow afternoon,
07:56 sometime to go over the plans for the future.
07:59 But these guys need some time, so they'll get some time off.
08:04 But we'll have a team meeting tomorrow to go through what our plans are based on
08:08 what we find out.
08:09 >> Second row.
08:10 >> Kirby, you haven't had to address the team after a loss for a while now.
08:13 What was your message to them?
08:15 >> I love them.
08:16 I mean, I love them.
08:17 I just, as guys in there, I told there's two classes of guys in that room that have
08:21 not lost a game.
08:22 When you're looking at, I don't know, 10, 15 NFL players and
08:26 lose, it feels like every other week.
08:28 And there's two classes of our kids that haven't lost a game.
08:32 But just that they're resilient, they're fighters, that in life,
08:35 a lot of times, you really can't get better until you lose sometimes.
08:39 Because you have to find out what you can do better.
08:43 And it was a sad, I mean, it was really upset guys.
08:47 And a lot of guys really care about this team.
08:50 And the culture is really good on this team.
08:52 They were hurt in there, and rightfully so.
08:55 But the message doesn't change.
08:56 It's looking inward and figuring out what we can do.
08:59 >> Real quick.
09:00 >> Charlotte, with Associated Press, to follow up once again on what you said
09:03 about agreeing that maybe there's more than four teams that can make a claim.
09:08 Is that an advertisement for next year's format in your mind?
09:12 Or will that take a little bit off of this game, this SEC Championship game,
09:16 if both teams are gonna be advancing anyway?
09:18 >> Yeah, I don't know that the next year has anything to do with it.
09:23 I think next year is next year, because nobody's gonna ever play in this game and
09:26 not lay it on the line and compete for a championship.
09:29 You're playing for a ring.
09:30 You're playing for something that's really hard to get.
09:32 I mean, look at the SEC Championship.
09:35 Our teams in the playoff, look what they've done.
09:38 I mean, y'all tell me the record of the SEC teams in the playoff.
09:41 It's pretty spectacular.
09:43 I know twice, two of them ended up playing each other.
09:47 So, I mean, we're the best teams, and do we want the best teams.
09:51 >> Left side against the wall.
09:53 >> Kurt, do you have any updates on Amarius Mims and
09:55 how much did that just change your game plan when he went out?
09:57 And also, what does it say about Brock Bowers and
09:59 Lab McCondie, who you could see limping off the field that time?
10:02 >> All those guys are just warriors.
10:04 I mean, literally, I mean, just fighting.
10:05 Mims bumped it against, I don't know exactly what happened to my fellow owner.
10:10 He stepped on Tate, something happened, and he just felt like it was weak.
10:14 And he couldn't go, and it threw us back to,
10:17 Truss having to go back out, cuz Truss had moved in for Tate.
10:21 To try to play for him some, and it threw Truss back out there,
10:23 which he's played out there a little bit of tackle.
10:25 So it's just part of what we had to do, we had to move those guys around.
10:29 But Brock and Lab, man, they'll go down as, those guys are just,
10:33 they battle and compete.
10:35 They've been in rehab every morning.
10:36 They wanted to play so bad against Tech, and they couldn't, they couldn't.
10:40 And they were gonna be close today, and they're out there limping around,
10:43 not 100%, but the game matters to them, the team matters to them.
10:47 I mean, Brock Bowers, of all people, this guy's gonna be a first round pick, and
10:51 he's out there just battling his tail off.
10:54 >> Yeah, what led to some of the short yardage issues you guys had,
10:58 a couple third and twos that are ones we just couldn't quite pick them up and
11:00 had to punt there?
11:01 >> Yeah, I have to watch and see, I mean, golly, we went backwards on two of them,
11:05 I think.
11:06 I mean, we had already decided we were gonna go for it, and we didn't lose yardage.
11:11 And we lost yardage, and the only thing I can say is they whipped us up front.
11:15 I mean, even late there in the two minute drive, we had a third and one, and
11:19 they whipped us, and we had to get on fourth and one on the goal line.
11:23 They have big, big shoes, and people always say, well,
11:27 Georgia can run the ball, Georgia can run the ball.
11:28 It's hard to run the ball when they have good size in there, and
11:31 they're a very physical front.
11:33 But I was very pleased with the run game, not the conversions.
11:36 That probably was the difference in the game with the short yardage conversions
11:39 and gifting ten points away.
11:40 >> We have time for two final questions.
11:43 Anybody else?
11:44 [BLANK_AUDIO]
11:47 Okay, left side again.
11:48 [BLANK_AUDIO]
11:52 >> What's kind of the game plan tomorrow for watching?
11:53 Are you guys gonna all be together?
11:55 What does that kind of look like for you guys watching the final four?
11:57 >> No, I said earlier, we were gonna come in and grade them.
12:00 I've already set the schedule for the coaches and defense will meet earlier.
12:03 We'll go through the game plan and then talk about things we can do different.
12:06 And then offense will meet.
12:08 There's a break in there for the coaching staff to be able to watch and do that.
12:12 We're not bringing the players in until later to go over the schedule.
12:16 So we'll have a better idea of what we're doing moving forward.
12:20 Then I wanna bring them in and not know information.
12:22 >> Yeah, Carson, what'd you learn about yourself in this loss and
12:27 struggling at times, but
12:28 then pushing through and getting touchdowns in your last few drives there?
12:31 >> I mean, obviously, to always have the mentality to never give up.
12:37 It's never over.
12:38 And I truly believe that every guy on that sideline,
12:42 through every second of that game, never gave up.
12:45 And obviously, I'm super proud of this team and it shows how resilient we are.
12:49 Obviously, it didn't finish the way that we wanted to.
12:52 But to see guys fight and care and love each other on the field and
12:58 truly fight for one another is special.
13:01 And I mean, it goes to say how special this program is and
13:04 how Coach Smart has built this program.
13:06 I mean, we just kept going out there and fighting and kept going.
13:10 And obviously, it didn't go our way at times, but just never give up.
13:15 >> Okay, guys, thank you very much.
13:17 [BLANK_AUDIO]