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At theNike Coach of the Year Clinic, Georgia Bulldogshead coach Kirby Smartkept things lively. While presenting in front of a packed room, he showcased a slide featuring four SEC quarterbacks: Bryce Young, Joe Burrow, Cam Newton, and Johnny Manziel. The stage was set for some friendly banter.
Smart asked the crowd to weigh in on what connected these players. An attendee's quick "champions" response set the tone, and it wasn't long before Smart's remark took a playful twist.
He shot back with a smile, "Champions? He ain't no champion. Champion of fireball," drawing laughs and a few knowing nods from the audience. The quip pointedly mixed praise for on-field performance with a nudge at Manziel's well-known off-field antics.
While Manziel once dazzled with his Heisman-winning skills, his reputation off the field has been just as memorable, if not more so.
Wild college days vs. Championship discipline: Smart's jab reignites debate
The comment stirred up memories of Manziel's wild college days, a stark contrast to the disciplined image that Smart and many of his peers try to uphold. His lighthearted dig was a way to underscore that talent alone doesn't always equal championship character.
The clinic itself is a traveling event, with stops from Connecticut to Florida to Oregon, gathering top coaching minds like Lane Kiffin, Josh Heupel, and Sam Pittman. It's a setting where stories and strategies mix with a bit of humor.
Other outlets, including CBS Sports and USA Today, have explored similar themes-debating whether raw talent can outweigh off-field controversies. Such discussions continue to resonate in the world of college football.
Smart's playful jab, delivered with his trademark candor, adds another chapter to the ongoing conversation about what truly defines a champion in today's game.