‘Guys are in pain’: Inside Georgia’s Thursday meeting where football didn’t matter

Georgia head coach Kirby Smart saw the seven shots taken by Jacob Blake at the hands of law enforcement in Kenosha, Wisconsin. He viewed it from numerous camera angles and felt uneasy as a leader of young men. He knew it had an effect on his players.

On Wednesday night, Smart saw the sports schedule unravel due to the events. As a number of professional organizations within the NBA, WNBA, MLS and MLB announced boycotts or postponements, Smart connected with the pain and personal experiences that the players on his predominately-Black football team endured.

As professional leagues responded to the unrest, a flurry of text message notifications appeared on his phone.

“Coach, let’s talk,” one Georgia player said.

“Let’s revisit this,” another player followed.

Georgia had Thursday off from practice. The coaches and players could convene for meetings and workouts, so the Bulldogs originally planned to have a quick gathering and hit the weight room. But not when social injustices and concerns of Black athletes permeated through the football facilities.

Three of Georgia football’s 11 Black staffers — running backs coach Dell McGee, wide receivers coach Cortez Hankton and director of player personnel Jonas Jennings — saw an opening to allow players to talk. They gathered into meeting rooms and the discussion took three-and-a-half hours. Each player had a personal experience to share with coaches and teammates.

It could’ve been a memory with their mom that’s haunting and hard to shake. One with their brother that might make a player apprehensive.

Georgia had open discussions about racial divide over the summer when the deaths of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor and Ahmaud Arbery occurred. Since fall camp began, however, those team-wide conversations weren’t as plentiful, aside from a few guests like former Tennessee Volunteer and motivational speaker Inky Johnson.

But on Thursday, Georgia players had a pressing need to reconvene and speak their hearts to each other.

“We didn’t do any football that day,” Smart said. “Football wasn’t important. They got to voice their opinions.”

Smart works with Black athletes and colleagues each day. He has mentored and coached young men for future successes since he first became a coach at Valdosta State in 2000. These recent months have allowed him to realize that his players face deep-rooted issues in regard to race. It’s not only what is seen on television or political news networks, but that’s only the spark to conversation and outrage.

Those inside the meeting room heard individual stories that didn’t crack the headlines, whether it be a conflict with police or a simple inequality that one of his players faced because of skin color. Their conflicts are on a smaller scale, yet equally significant.

“Emotionally, a lot of guys are in pain,” Smart said. “Until you’ve heard guys and the pain they’re going through, you don’t know. Our guys are heavily affected. Our society, donors, alumni and those across the country don’t understand how it affects each young man differently.”

Georgia’s players have been adamant about steps toward change. They’ve been free to use their platforms as current and former players have voiced their stances and concerns with social injustices through each national event since the end of May. There’s an evident call for people to support them, beyond what occurs on Saturday afternoons inside the football stadium.

After those Thursday meetings, Georgia posted a video to social media with input from Smart, Hankton, Tyson Campbell, Azeez Ojulari and others.

“So, how do I feel,” Hankton said as the video began with narration. “Angry. Hurt. Disappointed. Confused.”

Some players added input from their personal Twitter accounts, too.

▪ Senior cornerback Eric Stokes: “I’m bigger than just an athlete.”

▪ Sophomore wide receiver Kearis Jackson: “Something must change ... do what’s right.”

▪ Senior linebacker Monty Rice: “When we agreed with them on playing it was no problem for us to speak up, but when we speak up on this Bs going on it’s shut up and tackle!”

▪ Senior safety Richard LeCounte: “Together we Can Make a Change”

▪ Redshirt freshman tight end Ryland Goede: “In order to create change we have to start listening to understand instead of listening to reply.”

▪ Former wide receiver and Jacksonville Jaguar Chris Conley: “This is about life. ... We’ve had conversations time and time again on what we can do that’s actionable. We’ve come up with ideas but ultimately the thing that we have all agreed on is that we can’t stop pressing until things happen.”

▪ Former outside linebacker and current New York Giant Lorenzo Carter: “I just want equality. I want everybody to realize that all life is sacred. All life is valued. I don’t want to see the injustices done. I want America to stand out on the values that were written in the Constitution.”

After hours of reflection, Georgia spent time brainstorming among its players and coaches. Smart didn’t shares any specific tasks, but assures that the Bulldogs have prioritized action.

They gathered a list of about 17 ways that change can be taken, beyond a statement, video or opinion. One by one, Georgia players want to check them off through the coming months.

“They want to do things in the community and give back to their communities. They want to make change,” Smart said. “They want 100 percent of the student-athletes at Georgia to vote. They’re issuing the challenges that need to be done. I’m proud of them for that.”

Smart’s responsibilities as a football coach involve winning games and championships. Once he saw another act of injustice that rocked the players within his locker room, a head coach’s role changed. Throughout this week, football mattered less.

Georgia players had to speak. They needed a platform to loudly voice their worries. Now, Georgia wants to transform words into actions.

“We’re going to be very intentional in what we do,” Smart said.

This story was originally published August 29, 2020 at 6:24 PM.