UGA’s Smart has kept eyes on TCU

ATHENS — Since the first regular season of his Georgia head coaching tenure ended with a stinging defeat, Kirby Smart has basically spent all of his time getting ready for next year: On the road recruiting, hosting recruits on the weekend and then more recruiting next week.

There is still, however, the matter of one more game this season. And when Smart left the team’s senior gala on Sunday and hopped on a teleconference to promote the Liberty Bowl, he made clear that TCU had his attention.

Never mind this year’s record. (The Horned Frogs limp into the bowl with a 6-6 record after being routed by Kansas State.) Smart had plenty of history to draw on, despite never having ever faced TCU in person.

There’s the offense, which like many in the Big 12 is adept at putting up points quickly. This year, TCU ranks 23rd nationally in total offense, which is a free-fall compared to how well it did last year (third nationally) and the year before (fifth).

“They set the standard for how they play offense and how fast they play,” Smart said. “You watch their guys on TV, they’re an exciting brand of football. They go really fast and I know what they’ve done defensively.”

Yes, the defense. Smart said that when he was a 2009 finalist for the Broyles Award, which goes to the nation’s top assistant coach, TCU defensive coordinator Dick Bumpas was also a finalist. At the ceremony Smart recalled hearing “the most amazing statistics I’ve ever heard, defensively.”

When Alabama prepared to play Oklahoma in the Sugar Bowl a few years ago, Smart watched tape of the Sooners playing TCU. The defense was fast, physical and talented, which led him to respect even more the work of longtime TCU head coach Gary Patterson.

“Gary’s one of the best defensive minds in all of ball,” Smart said. “When you see they’ve played somebody and you’re going to play them, you watch that film, because of what they’ve done defensively.”

There’s also the quarterback. Smart has seen him in person. Kenny Hill was a sophomore quarterback at Texas A&M in 2014 when he started at Alabama and Smart’s defense shut him down on the way to a 59-0 victory. This year at TCU, Hill has had his ups and downs, throwing for a lot of yards (3,062), but leading the Big 12 in interceptions (13).

“I do remember preparing to play against him,” Smart said. “In a very similar style offense of up-tempo with the ability for the quarterback to run, the quarterback’s a good thrower, spreading you out and take advantage of some matchups.”

Georgia doesn’t have a bowl practice schedule yet, but Smart said the team would start practice either Dec. 13 or 14, then probably finish the 22nd or 23rd. Athletic Director Greg McGarity reiterated Sunday that it’s “too early to tell” if the program’s new indoor facility could be ready for some practices this month. Rain over the past few days has limited the amount of work that can be done.

The team will break for Christmas and report to Memphis in time for a “gameweek” type practices. The game is on Dec. 30 at noon on ESPN.