More trouble in paradise for the Georgia Bulldogs! More so than the team itself, Kirby Smart is at the forefront of the heat since he has yet to take firm action against the players who’ve had regular run-ins with law enforcement authorities over their delinquency. The arrest of RaRa Thomas seems to be the spark that has set fire within the community of Athens, Georgia as they demanded a drastic change over the policies that are put in place for the team players.

The Georgia Bulldogs have had a poor record of crime culture within the team ever since January 2023. After Rodarius Thomas was arrested for the second time over his violence towards his family charges, the total count of arrests within the team came out to be 25 since last year. Many continue to blame Smart for the lack of proper measures against the players who continue to step out of the line but it looks like the HC and the management are finally beginning to invoke strict punishments, starting with Thomas’ indefinite suspension.

Kirby Smart and the team suspend RaRa Thomas till further notice

On 28th July, Aaron Torres and Jason Martin, hosts of the Fox Sports Radio show, took to the mic to react to the story of RaRa Thomas, who was accused of three counts of second-degree cruelty to children and three counts of family violence battery. These are some words that shouldn’t be in the same sentence as a talented WR of the Bulldogs, but unfortunately, these sorts of headlines are becoming quite popular within the team.

Torres had a lengthy piece of advice for Smart and how he needs to take more accountability to ensure nothing of the sort tarnishes the team’s reputation anymore. He said, “There’s just too much stuff happening that doesn’t need to be happening and eventually if you’re in a position of authority, you actually have to take accountability for that. You actually have to step up and hold people accountable, and you actually have to stand up and say, “Yep, it’s my responsibility.” Aaron went on to add that he doesn’t think Thomas is going to play anytime soon and made the remark that Georgia “wins too many football games“, which is the probable cause for the team not needing Thomas’ talents anymore.

Lastly, Jason Martin quoted Smart’s mentor, Nick Saban, to shed light on the tumultuous situation that this is and said, “Nick Saban has that famous quote about, you know, giving kids second chances whatever. Okay, I get it but at the same time, you want to send a message to whoever it is. Now this kid Rara Thomas. I can’t imagine that he ever plays again.” Everyone is hell-bent on putting the nail in the coffin for Thomas’ career, which very well might be over for now but what does this mean for Kirby Smart?

The HC seems to be in a messy conundrum about the team’s future at the moment. He faces scrutiny from the community for not having a firm hand for such situations and at the same time, is losing his 6 foot 2 inches, 200-pound star WR who played a dominant role in 2023 by playing in 11 of the 14 games. As the fans demand Smart’s release from the team, it’s noteworthy to remember that the HC has been one of the pioneers for UGA football with his success. Additionally, for someone who used to be the apprentice of ‘THE’ Nick Saban, Smart has witnessed a fall from the stars as he continues to be dragged through the mud.

Kirby Smart led Georgia to riches, only to come tumbling down

The fans of UGA have grown up witnessing one of the most dominant sides in the sport. Names like Herschel Walker used to be the signature players of the program as the team would go on to be exceptional in the league but would crash out when it came to national championships. Even though the program’s trophy case remained empty for most of its existence, every fan who wore the red-colored jerseys to the game held feelings of hope and faith for that “one day”.

Kirby Smart joined the program in 2015 and in the years 2021 and 2022, achieved something no coach in UGA history could manage. He won back-to-back national titles, making him the most successful Georgia coach to ever don the cap. But now, it’s almost like there can’t be a yin without a yang. The Bulldogs have seen waves of brilliant games from back in the day but are now adorned with a dark atmosphere with only police sirens and the red and blue lights to shine the way. Every fan that abides by the college’s motto, “Assume Nothing,” will unfortunately assume that most of the players on the team have seen the insides of a jail cell, which is just diabolical for young talents to be subjected to.

That being said, it is still hard to pinpoint the actual issue here. Has it been Smart all along for not putting strict measures in place when the first-ever arrest occurred? Or is it the players who continue to take advantage of lax discipline in the team which makes them feel like they’re almost invincible? “Assume Nothing” but do assume the fact that despite being one of the shameful eras of the team, the Bulldogs will fight their way through it and come what may, will come back to the once renowned spectacle that the fans remember it to be.