Alabama fans having tough time dealing with the reality of Saban leaving?
SEC football notebook: Georgia, Alabama announce staff changes
AP file photo by Lynne Sladky / Georgia football coach Kirby Smart announced two departures and one addition to his staff Wednesday.
ATHENS, Ga. — The University of Georgia football program has a new special teams coordinator after more staff changes announced Wednesday by Kirby Smart, who is preparing for his ninth season as head coach at his alma mater.
Kirk Benedict, a special teams analyst for the Bulldogs the past two seasons, has been promoted to replace Scott Cochran.
In a news release announcing the changes, Smart said Cochran and offensive analyst Darrell Dickey both resigned to pursue other opportunities.
The 44-year-old Cochran, a former strength coach at Alabama, moved to Georgia in 2020 for an on-field position. He took a leave of absence ahead of the 2021 season to deal with his mental health before rejoining Smart’s staff after the first seven games that fall.
The
Enter your email
Sign Up
Already a subscriber? Log in!
Topics
Kalen DeBoer, Kirby Smart, Mark Stoops, University of Alabama, Washington, Freddie Roach, Eli Drinkwitz, Georgia, Darrell Dickey, TUSCALOOSA, Fran Brown, Scott Cochran, Robert Gillespie, Boise state, Ryan Grubb, Scott Huff, Nick Saban, University of Kentucky, Mountain West Conference, Baylor School, Steve Sarkisian, Kirk Benedict, Southeastern Conference, Liam Coen
Related
Washington’s Kalen DeBoer hired to replace Nick Saban at Alabama
Recommended For You
Chattanooga’s newest grocery store opens as Gordon Food Service
Pride flag ban advances for Tennessee schools
Dear Abby: Efforts to connect are met by silence
Review: Ernest Chinese deserves all the love it’s getting
Opinion: A letter to Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene after her ‘Curb Your Enthusiasm’ rant
Sponsored Content
Recommended by
The Liposuction Patches Everyone is Talking About
The Liposuction Patches Everyone is Talking About
Wonder Patch
The pilot cried when he realized why the birds were flying next to the plane
The pilot cried when he realized why the birds were flying next to the plane
loansocieties.com
He Demands A Divorce In a Message, Her Reply Makes Him Regret Sending It
He Demands A Divorce In a Message, Her Reply Makes Him Regret Sending It
loansocieties.com
Chattanooga Times Free Press logo
News
Local
Photo Galleries
Obituaries
Archives
National/ International
Sports
Main
Preps
Sports Betting
College
Outdoors
Pro
Columns
NFL
MLB/Lookouts
Nascar
Golf
Opinion
Main
Local Columnists
Free Press Opinion Page
Times Opinion Page
Letters to the Editors
Cartoons
Rants
Business
Main
Local Business
Best of the Best
Edge Magazine
Politics
Main
Region
Elections
Features
Life
What to Eat Next
Faith and Religion
Chatter Magazine
Get Out Magazine
ChattanoogaNow
Events
Special Projects
Main
Digital Publications
Classifieds
Jobs
Homes
Legal Notices
Classifieds
Tennessee Public Notices
Contact Us
Advertise
Terms and Conditions
Privacy Policy
Ethics Policy
Manage Subscription
Download App
Digital FAQ
Copyright © 2024, Chattanooga Times Free Press, Inc.
All rights reserved.
This document may not be reprinted without the express written permission of Chattanooga Times Free Press, Inc.
Material from the Associated Press is Copyright © 2024, Associated Press and may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Associated Press text, photo, graphic, audio and/or video material shall not be published, broadcast, rewritten for broadcast or publication or redistributed directly or indirectly in any medium.
Neither these AP materials nor any portion thereof may be stored in a computer except for personal and noncommercial use.
The AP will not be held liable for any delays, inaccuracies, errors or omissions therefrom or in the transmission or delivery of all or any part thereof or for any damages arising from any of the foregoing. All rights reserved.
Read more
Fox News
☰
GEORGIA BULLDOGS
Georgia’s Kirby Smart takes issue with Florida State opt-outs after 60-point win: ‘It needs to be fixed’
Georgia won the game 63-3
Ryan Gaydos By Ryan Gaydos Fox News
Published December 31, 2023 11:47am EST
Georgia head coach Kirby Smart led the Bulldogs to an absolute blowout in the Orange Bowl against Florida State on Saturday night, 63-3.
While Smart was happy with the win, how Georgia got the victory was something that didn’t sit right with him. Florida State came into the game missing at least a dozen of their key players because of opt outs and the transfer portal.
Smart said it was a problem becoming all too common in the sport.
CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM
Kirby Smart with oranges
Georgia head coach Kirby Smart reacts to the trophy after Georgia defeated Florida State in the Orange Bowl, Saturday, Dec. 30, 2023, in Miami Gardens, Florida. (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell)
“People need to see what happened tonight, and they need to fix this,” he said. “It needs to be fixed. It’s very unfortunate that they, who have a good football team, are in the position they’re in. Everybody can say it’s their fault. Everybody can say that we had our guys and they didn’t have their guys. I can listen to all that. But college football has got to decide what they want.
“It’s really unfortunate for those kids on that side of the sideline that had to play in that game that didn’t have their full arsenal. And it affected the game, 100%.”
FROM OUTKICK: ROSE BOWL MEDIA WEEK FEATURES JIM HARBAUGH’S ‘JESUS’ MOMENT, ALABAMA SOUNDS PREPARED FOR UPCOMING WAR
Georgia defense celebrates
Georgia defensive back Daylen Everette, second from right, celebrates with teammates after intercepting a pass thrown by Florida State quarterback Brock Glenn during the Orange Bowl, Saturday, Dec. 30, 2023, in Miami Gardens. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)
Florida State was 13-0 going into the game and won its conference championship but was left out of the College Football Playoff. Seminoles coach Mikie Norvell suggested that was part of the reason why players were quick to opt out.
“Every situation is different,” Norvell said, via ESPN. “Ours was unique, something that’s never happened in college football. Ultimately, I think there was a lot of things that made it extremely challenging. I fully believe that if we would’ve come up short in the (ACC) championship game, it might’ve been a little different.
“It was hard choices for a lot of the young men that were on our team. We were hurt…. When you do the things that our guys did throughout the year and the way that they responded, the way they fought, the way that they just pulled together, it hurt when we were not selected.”
ARCH MANNING ADDRESSES CHATTER ABOUT HIM POTENTIALLY LEAVING TEXAS: ‘HAVEN’T LOOKED INTO TRANSFERRING AT ALL’
Georgia running back Kendall Milton was the Orange Bowl MVP after he rushed for 104 yards and two touchdowns.
Florida State head coach Mike Norvell talks to quarterback Brock Glenn during the Orange Bowl, Saturday, Dec. 30, 2023, in Miami Gardens. (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell)
“You want to take every game serious no matter what the level is,” Milton said. “You’ve got to prepare the right way because this is top level college football on any given week, so we took that very personally.”
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP
Georgia and Florida State both finish the season 13-1.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Follow Fox News Digital’s sports coverage on X and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter.
Ryan Gaydos is a senior editor for Fox News Digital.
U.S.
Crime
Military
Education
Terror
Immigration
Economy
Personal Freedoms
Fox News Investigates
Digital Originals
Politics
Executive
Senate
House
Judiciary
Foreign Policy
Polls
Elections
World
U.N.
Conflicts
Terrorism
Disasters
Global Economy
Environment
Religion
Scandals
Opinion
Media
FOX Nation Coverage
Entertainment
Celebrity News
Movies
TV News
Music News
Style News
Entertainment Video
Sports
NFL
College Football
MLB
NBA
NHL
Golf
Tennis
Soccer
UFC
WWE
Lifestyle
Health
Food & Drink
Auto
Travel & Outdoors
Real Estate
House & Home
Fitness + Well-being
Style & Beauty
Family
Faith
FOX Business
Personal Finance
Economy
Markets
Watchlist
Lifestyle
Real Estate
Tech
Science & Tech
Air & Space
Security
Innovation
Video Games
Military Tech
Planet Earth
Wild Nature
Watch Live
FOX News Shows
Programming Schedule
On Air Personalities
Full Episodes
Show Clips
News Clips
About
Contact Us
Careers
Fox Around the World
Advertise With Us
Media Relations
Corporate Information
Compliance
Apps & Products
FOX News Go
FOX Weather
FOX Nation
FOX News Shop
FOX News Radio
Outkick
Newsletters
Podcasts
Youtube
Slack
RSS
Newsletters
Spotify
iHeartRadio
Fox News
New Terms of UseNew Privacy PolicyYour Privacy ChoicesClosed Caption PolicyHelpContact UsAccessibility Statement
This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. 2024 FOX News Network, LLC. All rights reserved.
Quotes displayed in real-time or delayed by at least 15 minutes. Market data provided by Factset. Powered and implemented by FactSet Digital Solutions. Legal Statement. Mutual Fund and ETF data provided by Refinitiv Lipper.
