Field Street Forum

ATHENS, Ga. – University of Georgia head football coach Kirby Smart, along with two players, offered the following comments to preview Saturday’s season opener against Clemson. The Bulldogs and Tigers kick off at 7:30 p.m. ET in Charlotte, N.C.

Head Coach Kirby Smart
Opening Statement…
“Yeah, we are excited to open up with a big-time game, a top-5 opponent, just excited to go to Charlotte. It is a great home base for our fanbase, we have a lot of Georgia alum that live in Charlotte, it is a place that we have not gotten to travel to very often. Playing Clemson is a traditional rivalry in the history of Georgia-Clemson games and I know everyone is excited about it, we certainly are. We will find out a lot about our team, we have been able to play ourselves for 20-something practices and now it is time to go play someone else and find out a lot about ourselves.” 

On rotating centers impact on the quarterback…
“I don’t think it puts a big burden on the quarterback, most people’s centers make those calls and the quarterback has the ability to override or change things. Regardless of which center has been in there in fall camp that is his id, his decisions and the quarterback can override it. It would be tough if you had a completely new center or a center, or a guard that did not make those calls and you made him the center. That can be tough if he is not making the calls and all of a sudden he has to go make them. We have two guys and that is what they have done for an entire year. They both worked a lot at center last year so they have done it for a quality amount of time. There is no greater pressure on JT (Daniels) regardless of which center is in there because he trusts both of those guys.”

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