Johnny Football. If there was a quiz question for the most popular CFB athlete to have ever worn shoulder pads, Johnny Manziel is probably the consensus answer. Especially if it’s a pub quiz! The former Heisman recipient and Texas A&M Aggie is revered by the masses. However, football savants such as Kirby Smart probably despise him. Crack open a thesaurus, and Manziel is synonymous with polarizing. Speaking of quizzes, an unassuming one conducted by coach Smart has stirred pandemonium on social media.

The Georgia head coach spoke at the Nike Coach Of The Year Clinic. An annual event held in the off-season where some of the greatest minds in CFB leverage their acumen and coaching prowess. Kirby Smart opened a question to the audience, putting up a picture of 4 former QBs. Johnny Manziel, Joe Burrow, Cam Newton and Bryce Young. “What do these guys have in common? Speak up,” asked Kirby Smart. Someone replied with the fact they’re all Heisman winners, which Smart acknowledged was true. Although it wasn’t the answer he was looking for. Then, another member in the audience floated that they’re all “champions”. Not only was this untrue, it triggered a scathing jab by Kirby Smart. Begrudgingly, Johnny Manziel was on the receiving end.

“Champions? [Manziel] ain’t no champion. Champion of what? Champion of fireball?” remarked Kirby Smart. This was said in jest, of course. But the underlying tone didn’t go down well on X. Johnny Manziel was infamous for being a party animal during his days in College Station. Something that caught up to him later in his career in the NFL. Which he confesses to and laments. That makes the comment by Kirby Smart more egregious in the eyes of the social media verse. Who was quick to point out that coach Smart probably needs to put into perspective similar, or worse, misdemeanors in-house at Georgia. Rather than berate a retired player. You know what they say about stones and glass houses?

Throughout his tenure in Athens, coach Smart has overseen dynastic success with the Bulldogs. However, his conference and National championships are undercut by some dreadful activity off the gridiron. Over 25 Georgia players have had DUIs issued to them, with even more speeding and street racing cases. One such case includes former D-tackle and now Super Bowl champ Jalen Carter. The Eagles’ superstar was involved in a car crash which resulted in the death of Georgia staff member Chandler LeCroy and player Devin Willock. LeCroy, with Willock riding shotgun, was racing Carter. She was under the influence too. Carter continues to be followed by both legal trouble from the authorities and resentment from the football sphere. Not to mention the possibility of survivor’s guilt.

As for the actual answer Kirby Smart was looking for, it was the fact all 4 QBs have “had great days vs. our defenses.” Be it at Alabama when he was DC under Nick Saban or at Georgia. Regardless, that became secondary in the backwash of his initial comment about Johnny Manziel. The people of X took to the aforementioned post and let their feelings be known. Not mincing words whatsoever, as they tend not to. 

Fans have Johnny Manziel’s back as they retaliate against Kirby Smart over his own players’ history

“LMFAOOO no way the coach of DUI University is talking shit😂😂” wrote one person. This was a bit of a theme in the comments section, with another echoing this sentiment with “Interesting comments because yes Johnny did party. But his own roster have been crashing vehicles and committing actual crimes.” 

“Bro should be focused on making sure ANOTHER driving incident does not happen,” reiterated another. Most of this is rival fans getting their licks in, but Kirby Smart did leave himself open to it. Johnny Manziel still holds a place in fans’ collective hearts. Come for the king, you best not miss eh? “Kirby still mad Johnny Football busted his team’s a*s back in the day” implied that maybe there’s still a grudge. Manziel beat Bama in Tuscaloosa, something that was akin to a miracle back when coach Smart was deployed there.

Another person said, “Look at your own players gang.” Kirby Smart sure recognizes the problem he’s had with his players and their history. Things have improved over time, but it still follows him. Trolling comes with the territory of being a public figure. Both Manziel and Smart have had their fair share. Friendly fire from a coach who knows of the pitfalls of being a young star is rare, though. It sure does leave a bad taste in the mouth. Some Fireball could perhaps help with that!