Georgia head coach Kirby Smart, known for his hard-nosed demeanor on the football field (and locker room!), showcased a lighter side during a recent event at the Macon Touchdown Club.
Earlier this week, Smart entertained the audience with a quip about considering an unconventional mode of transportation after a turbulent flight.
Reflecting on the rough journey, Smart joked, “It was the bumpiest plane ride, windiest plane ride I’ve ever been on, so I was thinking. Could I have gone in the parking lot, my players parking lot, and maybe got a Lamborghini and drove down really fast?”
Kirby Smart at Macon Touchdown Club: “It was the bumpiest plane ride, windiest plane ride I’ve ever been on, so I was thinking, could I have gone in the parking lot, my players parking lot, and maybe got a Lamborghini and drove down really fast?”
— Chris Rodgers 🦚 🇺🇸 (@rodgeau) March 21, 2024
The remark elicited laughter from the crowd, with Smart adding, “That’s an inside joke for some of you.”
“I thought about it, I don’t think I could drive one, I don’t think I could fit in one of those,” Smart continued, humorously acknowledging the size constraints of a Lamborghini.
“But there’s definitely a different parking lot when it comes to players in the world we live in right now,” he added.
Kirby Smart jokes about using Carson Beck's Lamborghini at Macon Football Club appearance https://t.co/ddC01BKQL4
— Dawgs247 (@Dawgs247) March 19, 2024
Smart’s jest touched upon the ongoing conversation surrounding NIL deals in college sports. These deals have become particularly significant in football, where top players are securing lucrative contracts to represent their universities.
To thrive in today's college football landscape, quick adaptation to NIL is essential ⬇️ pic.twitter.com/g1SePGd9ly
— State Media (@StateMediaPSU) March 17, 2024
The inside joke took on added significance with quarterback Carson Beck’s recent acquisition of a Lamborghini Urus Performante.
Beck, a leading contender for the Heisman Trophy next season, disclosed his purchase during the team’s spring football press conference, emphasizing his love for cars.
The fact that Carson Beck received a FREAKING Lambo for being maybe the 4th best QB in his own conf…
while JJ McCarthy, Blake Corum, Will Johnson, or Rod Moore got basically a “Thank you” shows just how far behind Michigan is in the NIL landscape…
Step Up or Step Aside…
— Sports Nerd (@TheSportsNerd92) February 6, 2024
“I love cars, and I got a car, that’s really all it is,” Beck remarked about his Lamborghini, valued at $270,000.
His acquisition underscores the growing trend of student-athletes capitalizing on their brand endorsements under the controversial NIL framework.
Georgia Quarterback Carson Beck: $300K Lamborghini Isn’t 'Too Big Of A Deal'https://t.co/uGYdWmwh47
— Barrett Sallee 🇺🇸 (@BarrettSallee) March 13, 2024
Beck is not alone in his off-field success when it comes to NIL. Many players across the country are capitalizing on the system which is currently working under very few, if any, guardrails.
Nick Saban explained why he had to step away from coaching in college football, noting the drastic changes at the collegiate level as the primary factor.#NIL #NFL #CollegeFootball #NickSaban pic.twitter.com/MVTbhmU3z1
— The SportsRush (@TheSportsRushUS) March 14, 2024
For coaches like Smart, NIL deals present both challenges and opportunities. While some, like Alabama’s Nick Saban, have expressed concerns about players prioritizing financial incentives over personal development, others like Smart have embraced the changing dynamics of the sport.
“I just want to make sure that the game stays at a point where we can control it,” Smart remarked previously, reflecting on the challenges posed by NIL deals and the transfer portal.
“There’s no crying out there from my end. I want what’s best for the student-athlete.”
Kirby Smart on a question about college coaches potentially wanting to move on due to NIL.
— Will Hearn (@willahearn_) March 19, 2024
What are your thoughts on the current structure of NIL and the transfer portal?
What changes need to be made to fix the system?
As far as Smart and the Bulldogs, how do you think they will do next season?
Are we on a Georgia-Ohio State collision course???
Kirby Smart and Nick Saban have never been "hurt" by the NIL era
(Pre NIL) 2019 recruiting rankings top 2: Alabama, Georgia
(NIL era) 2024 recruiting rankings top 2: Georgia, Alabamahttps://t.co/2rIuH9sscM pic.twitter.com/R3ktMkNgUc— J.D. PicKell (@jdpickell) March 14, 2024