Since Kirby Smart took over as Georgia's head coach in the winter of 2016, he's attempted to erect an impermeable wall around his program. He doesn't want players transferring to other SEC programs, and he's not too fond of journalists reporting news of player injuries, either. Smart took this approach to new heights on Tuesday, when he decreed that media members aren't allowed to report injuries that they haven't first run by the Bulldogs head coach.

Beginning today, injuries -- non-contact jerseys and injuries seen in front of media -- can't be reported until Kirby Smart is asked. — Jason Butt (@JasonHButt) April 18, 2017

Because the head coach is likely to have useful information about a player's injury, it makes sense for reporters to ask him about them. If a player goes down with an ankle injury, Smart might have information that fans would want to know about the player's injury history, his recovery timetable, or potential replacements. But to require reporters to ask the head coach about the injury before reporting that they witnessed the star wide receiver crumble to the turf after making a cut, for instance, is unusual.

What can Smart do if reporters ignore his request and report injury news anyway? His most effective tool would be to cut off or limit access to himself, his players, or his assistant coaches. He could decide to make all practices closed to the media. In 2016, he sent Nick Chubb into Georgia's game against Tennessee for one snap after several outlets reliably reported that an ankle injury would keep Chubb out of the game altogether.

Smart's interest in keeping injury information private is obvious. He doesn't want to concede any potential advantage to his opponents from having that knowledge. While his point of view is understandable, it's also understandable that reporters coming into possession of this information will pass it along to their readers. The reporter's job isn't to run public relations for the team they cover but to seek the truth and report it to their readers. Though Smart might not like the news of an injury getting out in the short term, there's no doubt that having thorough coverage of his team fuels interest in Georgia football program and is a net positive for everyone in the long run.

It will be fascinating to see how this new injury reporting policy plays out.