I typically love anything I read that casts a shadow over the UGA program. Occasionally when I talk to other fans that drop that "well I root for Tech whenever they aren't playing UGA" line extending that olive branch towards perhaps an "I don't really hate UGA" response. I can honestly say that such a asinine, ridioicuous notion has ever crossed my mind. If youre one of these people, more power to you... not me, I hate UGA, their coach, their players, their barking and their disturbingly obsessive blogs covering the time they cried because somebody hurt their kudzu bushes next to the field or how they salivate 365 on prospective high-school boys who may come to practice one day... (Im kidding... but seriously)





Having said that...









This is one of the most ridiculous and unbelievably sad posts I've seen in a while.... If his dad is disappointed or feels he's gotten a bad deal - understandable; but how he decided to handle this situation is a pretty good snapshot of how many parents attempt to place themselves at the center of their kids athletic experience; how they handle and control the ups and downs and their overly gross-involvement throughout the entire process. Long story short, the kid is a walk-on kicker, accepted a spot as a walk-on kicker, went into the season knowing he was a walk-on kicker.... (ended up being the #1 guy due to another player getting injured). Many walk-ons will later be granted scholarships; during a post-season meeting Coach Smart met with him and his parents, they didn't like what they heard... which was similar to what was said in a previous meeting (we don't have a scholarship available) the parent hears a conclusive decision being presented (I guess Coach Smart isn't allowed to be indecisive or unsure; his intentions are obviously targeted and malicious in nature).









In reality there are only two possible scenarios:



Smart is Being Honest (he is) Smart is lying and conjures up sales pitch to retain a very valuable, key-contributor as a walk-on. A position where he can walk at any time for greener grass... (since its easy to "hide" superstars/SEC recruiting isn't that competitive; not like coaches take helicopters to games or private fights across country for an hr in-home visit, oh wait nm.)





"just like a business manager refusing to give a raise to an employee during a sit-down meeting, he was extremely well-prepared with his list of grievances."





No, so you mean there are two perspectives or points of few? positives and negatives? He has a list that differs from your highlight reel version? no way. A list of grievances to you may be a list of reasons why we aren't given him a scholarship (hard to hear).





There are 2 options here:

1. walk-away (tranfer)

2. stay, hope offer improves





X. have daddy boo-hoo all over the internet and media hoping it gets better.





The sad part... this won't effect dad too much. It may internally, at home at work, etc. But the person it effects the most is his son. I cannot even begin to imagine the type of stuff, negative attention, unfair judgement and everything else he's now got to deal with (and did not bring upon himself). The amount of negative attention that will be floating around his classmates, teammates, message boards and blogs, via the media, twitter, his relationship with his coaches, his friends, fans and his teammates... Is now a unnecessary distraction from what he is there to do, and agreed to do every day.





Coach Smart said he came to Georgia as a walk-on and had to earn a scholarship, so he knows what our son is feeling.





This is called empathy, so is this implied to be insincere? This isn't Pop-Warner, mean ole' Georgia in the SEC... daddy come rescue me, scream at coach, email all the newspapers... like your son is in college? did you ever consider the fact it could be a bit unpredictable? change a major? fail a class? make a mistake? new direction? change mind? I mean that occasionally happens at that time in your life. Is it ok to be disspaoiinted or have a chip on your shoulder? no doubt, how will you respond? say someday your son sits down with his business manager and refuses to give him raise during a sit-down meeting will you be there to arbitrate that case? whos hand will be hold? He's not 6? When do you become old enough to handle your own problems? Sometimes you learn from it.



I once read a story about a walk-on kid from Alabama that cleaned gutters, worked odd jobs... his mom didn't send him any money, she actually Lived WITH him in his college dorm, they had none. His sophomore year loans didn't come through and had to pay $550 the next day couldn't go to school or play football and had no idea what to do. The next day found a letter from discover in his mailbox despite not having a credit card, found two blank checks and called number on the letter wast told he has $1000 credit line. He wrote one check for $550 to pay half of his tuition and one for $450 to pay his rent. After 3 seasons as a walk-on his senior year finally got his scholarship... but above all, back against the wall the kid made things happen, and still does... his team plays in the national championship tomrrow night.



His goes on to cluelessly give his assessment of value, accolades and contributions (means well... but through fathers eyes of 1, not a manager of 85+ player on a roster) He has no clue what he is talking about. He's a kicker, t o put it in perspective, here are teams Gary Anderson and Morten Andersen (2 top PK in NFL history) played for: Bills, Steelers, Eagles, 459ers, Titans, Saints, Falcons, Giants,, Chiefs and Vikings... Their coaches must have tried the same trick!



The entire letter can best be read towards the bottom, eliminate everything else and this is the truth, and the only time in which he puts he looks at things from his sons point of view:



Rodrigo loves UGA

he loves Dawg Nation

he loves his teammates

he loves being a starting player in the SEC

he loves his major field of study

...and this father cannot break his son’s heart by asking him to transfer to a school.





Well it's not about you pop, its not about how you "appreciate his talents" or his "accrued resume", or "you experience" or what "you feel" hes owed, deserves and is not getting. If all of the above is true, on a team or in life, is it worth dealing with the tough times? or fighting for? or staying course? I believe so, and would think most people do.



