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Georgia Football: Top 5 spring 2019 storylines to follow

By Matt Oglesby

ATLANTA, GA - JANUARY 08: Deandre Baker #18 of the Georgia Bulldogs celebrates a play during the second quarter against the Alabama Crimson Tide in the CFP National Championship presented by AT&T at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on January 8, 2018 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)
ATLANTA, GA - JANUARY 08: Deandre Baker #18 of the Georgia Bulldogs celebrates a play during the second quarter against the Alabama Crimson Tide in the CFP National Championship presented by AT&T at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on January 8, 2018 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images) /
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ATHENS, GA – SEPTEMBER 29: Head Coach Kirby Smart of the Georgia Bulldogs discusses a play with Tyson Campbell #3 during the game against the Tennessee Volunteers on September 29, 2018 at Sanford Stadium in Athens, Georgia. (Photo by Scott Cunningham/Getty Images)
ATHENS, GA – SEPTEMBER 29: Head Coach Kirby Smart of the Georgia Bulldogs discusses a play with Tyson Campbell #3 during the game against the Tennessee Volunteers on September 29, 2018 at Sanford Stadium in Athens, Georgia. (Photo by Scott Cunningham/Getty Images) /

2. Discipline 

The offseason can be agonizing for players, coaches, and fans alike. This is especially true for a team like Georgia, with such high aspirations.

The 2019 Bulldogs have the talent to win it all. But do they have the discipline?

Let’s review the old Nick Saban mantra: attaining your goals means discipline, focus, hard work, and staying out of trouble. During the preseason leading into 2017 and 2018, things remained pretty quiet in Athens, with the Bulldogs keeping their noses clean. That’s why it’s pretty discouraging to witness the six (and counting?) arrests that have taken place among the Bulldogs since the start of 2019.

These players include Latavious Brini (battery), Jaden Hunter (driving with a suspended license), Tyler Simmons and Tyrique Stevenson (bar fights), as well as Robert Beal and Brenton Cox, both of whom were recently taken in on marijuana charges.

Getting to the top is one thing. Staying at the top is another. Just ask the USC Trojans, Mack Brown’s Longhorns, the Florida Gators under Urban Meyer (who racked up 29 arrests during his tenure), the Florida State Seminoles under Jimbo Fisher. Only Nick Saban—and perhaps Dabo Swinney—have reached the top and maintained dominance.

The 2019 season offers Georgia yet another opportunity to win its first national championship since 1980. But can Smart and his staff keep the Bulldogs focused? This will certainly be something to watch out for as the season approaches.

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