Kirby Smart believes grad transfers should be able to transfer within SEC

Unsurprisingly, Georgia coach Kirby Smart supports Maurice Smith’s desire to transfer to Georgia.

Smith, a defensive back at Alabama, wants to transfer to Georgia. As a graduate transfer, he’d be eligible to play immediately at his new school. Again, that new school is preferably Georgia, where Smart, the former Alabama defensive coordinator, has recently taken over as head coach.

Alabama has defended its handling of Smith’s situation and why it won’t let him transfer within the SEC. Smart disagrees with that thought and said grad transfers should “absolutely” be allowed to transfer within the conference.

“Every young man that we want to bring here to the University of Georgia, we want them to graduate from this place,” Smart said via Dawg Nation. “And if they have an opportunity to go to a graduate school at another place, I certainly think that that’s something that we’re going to let them do if they have an opportunity to go, once they graduate. I think that’s important to know.”

Independent of anything else, it’s easy to agree with Smart and his position on graduate transfers.

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But it’s impossible to view Smart’s comments regarding Smith outside of any other context. Earlier this year he prevented a Georgia running back from transferring to Miami. Why Miami? That’s the school where former Georgia coach Mark Richt is coaching. And while it may not be as simple as it looks (A.J. Turman was an undergrad transfer), it certainly looks like Smart doesn’t want his new players to follow old coaches but approves of old players following him.

Doesn’t make much sense, does it? It’s another reason why simplifying and relaxing transfer rules is a good idea. Even if it’s simply to prevent coaches from looking hypocritical.

For more Georgia news, visit UGASports.com.

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Nick Bromberg is the assistant editor of Dr. Saturday on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at [email protected] or follow him on Twitter!
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