BREAKING: KIRBY SMART REJECTS STATUE, CHOOSES TO SPONSOR ATHENS YOUTH CENTER In a surprising and emotional decision, Georgia Bulldogs head coach Kirby Smart has rejected plans to erect a statue in his honor, instead pledging to fund the construction of a youth center in Athens – where his coaching career began and flourished. “I don’t need a statue to commemorate my career,” Smart said. “But Athens needs a place where kids feel welcome, trusted, and have the opportunity to grow.”