January 16, 2023 | Read Online

Kirby Smart's Pre-Game Speech

There is much more to Kirby Smart's leadership than his pre-game speech — and in actuality, it had little or nothing to do with his team's dominant performance against TCU.

Before the famous gold medal hockey game between the United States and USSR at the 1980 Olympics, legendary U.S. Coach Herb Brooks gave a short but poignant talk to his team.

Brooks' voice was calm, his delivery poised, each word powerful — and the address still resonates over four decades later.

"Great moments are born from great opportunity, and that's what you have here tonight, boys," he told his team. "That's what you've earned here tonight. One game; if we played them 10 times, they might win nine. But not this game, not tonight. Tonight, we skate with them. Tonight we stay with them, and we shut them down because we can. Tonight, we are the greatest hockey team in the world.

"You were born to be hockey players — every one of you, and you were meant to be here tonight. This is your time. Their time is done. It's over. I'm sick and tired of hearing about what a great hockey team the Soviets have. Screw 'em. This is your time. Now go out there and take it!"

Last week, Georgia football Head Coach Kirby Smart went viral for his highly-emotional, profanity-laced speech ahead of the National Championship game. The address drew a wide range of reactions and left many wondering about its true effect.

But there is much more to Smart's leadership than his pre-game speech — and in actuality, it had little or nothing to do with his team's dominant performance against TCU that night.

Smart really won the game at the podium the week prior after the Bulldogs narrowly beat Ohio State — telling the nation that his team simply didn't play well.

Smart was candid in his analysis, completely forthcoming, recognizing his good fortune, and not allowing the win to discourage him from calling out his team.

Some leaders might have waited until the next day, allowing the players to relish the moment, but Smart seized the opportunity to challenge his team and gain their full attention for their National Championship preparation.

He won the game against TCU before it was played by being honest and forthcoming and letting the world know HIS TEAM didn't meet the standard of excellence.

Smart knew the scoreboard against Ohio State wasn't significant because the Bulldogs didn't play to their level. This allowed him to challenge them all week to re-establish the Georgia standard.

Legendary NFL Coach Bill Walsh once said: “When things are going best is when you have the opportunity to be the strongest, most demanding, and most effective in your leadership."

Smart understood this.

Instead of focusing on his pep talk, we should focus on how he seized the moment.

The Daily Coach extends its condolences to the family of Georgia offensive lineman Devin Willock and recruiting analyst Chandler Lecroy, who lost their lives in a car crash over the weekend.