Poor Kirby Smart! Already the Georgia Bulldogs HC has so many things on his plate. There looms an uncertainty in the Bulldogs hood about their Sugar Bowl performance that was scheduled for Wednesday, January 1. However, the game got postponed to January 2. Does that mean Smart cannot sit back and relax? Unfortunately, no. He now has to deal with an emergency in his own family. The Georgia HC’s father, Sonny Smart, was rushed to the hospital after having a bad fall. While many feared that it had some relation with another unfortunate incident that left New Orleans in shock, thankfully that was not the case. 

The preps were going on in full swing. Already, the rival Notre Dame Fighting Irish HC Marcus Freeman has been named the winner of the Dodd Trophy. After all, he in his third season has led the program to a 12-1 record. With this, he and Notre Dame entered the College Football Playoff after grabbing a win over Indiana. However, Smart does not have much time to think about the awards. The Georgia Bulldogs HC had something else on his mind. Smart’s father was rushed to the hospital. 

On Tuesday, December 31. Sonny Smart suffered a fall in front of his New Orleans hotel. And the injury does not look good. After being admitted to the local hospital, as per the Rivals reporter Radi Nabulsi, he was expected to have hip surgery. Now that’s a matter of huge concern for the Bulldogs program as well. After all, their HC Smart parents, Sonny and Sharon Smart, often travel to Georgia games. 

Besides, Smart’s father has been a high school coach himself who mentored Rayburn County High and Bainbridge. For over two decades, he had contributed to high school. So much so, that even the Georgia HC often gives the credit to his father for planting the seeds for head coaching in him. Plus, the Bulldogs had been too excited to put up their best feat in front of Sonny, who had missed the 2023 national championship game due to “some medical stuff.” Unfortunately, the universe had some different plans. But at least Smart’s father is safe from the other mishap that engulfed New Orleans. 

Kirby Smart and Marcus Freeman’s face-off hits a pause  

The first day of 2025 turned out to be ominous. Smart’s Georgia Bulldogs and Freeman’s Notre Dame were ready for the kickoff at Caesars Superdome. Unfortunately, both the location and the date for the Sugar Bowl were changed. That’s because, in the wake of the New Year’s Day, there was an attack on Bourbon Street in New Orleans. 

As per the reports, an armed man drove a speeding truck into a New Year’s Eve celebration on Wednesday. And the consequences have been alarming. The attack k- – – -d at least 15 people and injured more than 30. Finally, the reported assailant was s- – t and k- – – – d by the police. That’s when the Bowl committee took the decision. Sugar Bowl CEO Jeff Hundley started with, “The Sugar Bowl Committee has a 90-year history of being a good corporate citizen for the city of New Orleans, and that’s why this tragedy hurts us as much as anybody right now.”

“All parties and all agree that it’s in the best interest of everybody and public safety that we postpone the game,” continued the CEO. Even though the game was originally said to be postponed for 24 hours, later on, both Kirby Smart and Marcus Freeman’s programs submitted requests to have the kickoff time moved to earlier in the day. Let’s keep Sonny Smart in our prayers so that the Georgia Bulldogs can be their best version against Notre Dame without any worries.