Kaylee Mansell DawgNation: How Long Does Kirby Smart Coach Georgia? - That SEC Football Podcast

Loading summary

Transcript74 lines

[00:00]
A
Foreign. We're here with our favorite Mansell.
[00:07]
B
Yes.
[00:07]
C
Yeah.
[00:07]
A
Without a doubt, Kaylee Mansell of the Manziel Dynasty down there in Georgia. Thank you for joining us.
[00:14]
B
I want our favorite Mansell tattooed on my forehead with your signatures on it. I know that's tough because you guys have a lot of respect for Rusty. He has the same amount of respect for y', all, so I'm glad we get to carry the relationship through him.
[00:28]
C
No, I mean, when we think dog football, we think of your family in particular. So anything that comes up, I'm like, well, what did Rusty say about it?
[00:36]
B
Oh, yeah. I mean, our group thread between me, him, and my sister. I mean, 90% of it is about Georgia football all the time, especially on game days. Like, every time you see my phone light up, it's that group message going off about what play just happened.
[00:50]
A
Did you learn anything interesting about the dogs yesterday?
[00:53]
B
I mean, not really, because Kirby is so good at giving you absolutely nothing. Nothing. I think really the biggest thing I took away from yesterday was the quiet confidence that Gunner Stockton had even walking around here. I remember sitting in on his first press conference two years ago when he was starting the Sugar bowl right after Carson got hurt. We were so excited to hear from him. I sat with him for an hour. He might have said five complete sentences. So to see him embracing the culture of what this is yesterday, I hope that can translate over to the field in terms of that confidence that they want to see from him. So that was really just my biggest takeaway is seeing how comfortable he was in this environment for a person that does not like to be around this at all.
[01:35]
C
Yeah. I mean, I felt like, you know, the reins were handed over. We see Nick Saban in here.
[01:39]
B
Yes.
[01:40]
C
It feels like, you know, Papa Smart's the one that's. That's operating this ride now, and. And I was waiting for some sort of mission statement or something. And, yes, he thanked the right people, but I didn't get that. Do you feel like he was holding back a little bit, or do you feel like he got what he wanted to get across?
[01:58]
B
Well, I think it was tricky. Usually they just come straight out with a mantra. Right. You've heard it in the past before. I think this year it's more about the philosophy of them studying the OKC Thunder and this idea of being uncommon. I don't think he said it as outright as he usually does. I think that was the main message that he wanted to get across. And now that he's the dean of the SEC now That Stoops is out. I think I talked to you guys yesterday about how him coming in and saying that I don't want to talk about all the other issues that everybody wants to talk about. I don't want to talk about the landscape. I want to talk about winning games. I think that that set the tone not just for yesterday, but for the rest of the week because it felt like on day one that's what everybody wanted to chat about. And him saying that and being able to focus more on the team itself and his philosophy and his ideals of a winning culture within the program. I think that's exactly what this week needed to keep the focus on football itself.
[02:45]
C
I felt that with Kirby. I felt that with the players. You know, so many people coming in here, I mean, we got Texas coming in. They're saying they're going to do this, they're going to do this, we got.
[02:54]
B
That's exactly what Kirby wants though. Yeah, he doesn't want the attention on that.
[02:57]
C
I just feel like that quiet Kirby is the one you got to watch out for. It's almost like let's spot the ball, it's time. You know, the two time SEC champs want to play some football.
[03:08]
B
He's really good at gaslighting. You know, he's definitely a professional at that. Sets the standard for gaslighting. And so I think it's always funny that he goes usually in that first lot on the second day. So that way everybody else can make headlines after. Everybody else can make the headlines before he goes and maybe people will forget about what he had to say. But thing about Kirby Smart is now with him being the dean, when he talks, people listen and he understands that. But he's not the one that wants to have those viral moments and make those headlines because he wants to keep the attention away from him and his team. So.
[03:40]
A
So I'm picking the dogs to win the sec.
[03:42]
B
Are you?
[03:43]
A
And I'm picking them to win the national championship. Oh. What has to happen for that to come to fruition?
[03:48]
B
It had. The wide receiver group has to come together. They've got a lot of returning production, especially on the defense. I think they have the best offensive line in the sec. You've got a veteran quarterback with experience who doesn't make a ton of mistakes. Might not be the most exciting quarterback you see in the sec, but he's really good at limiting those critical mistakes in games. For me, it's got to be the wide receivers because there's so much unknown when it comes to them. And it really Feels like that's been the case for the last three years is we, we have no idea who's going to be the leading receiver. Feels like maybe it should be a five star like Talon Taylor who hasn't really played that much because of injury or maybe somebody like Isaiah Canyon who's coming in from Georgia Tech. But we know very little about that room. They, that's probably on purpose. They don't want us to know. But if they want to really lean into the priority of having an explosive offense, a lot of that's going to have to come from downfield passes from Gunner and in turn he just has to build the trust with the wide receivers. But for me that's the group that really has to click. And then to give you one more point, I mean there's just has to be more pressure on the quarterback, there has to be more pass rush. You can't. 20 sacks in the SEC is not going to cut it and they understand that. So if we're looking at offense, it's got to be wide receivers on defense. They clearly just have to put more pressure on the quarterback.
[04:57]
C
Well, you know, we did our fall camp preview with Georgia Bulldogs and I tell you it's a pretty deep roster, you know what I'm saying? And a lot of people, they'll get in here and they'll tell you about their, their top 11 that's going to be out. But I don't think that's how it works in Athens, right? No, you need more than 11, you need 15, 16 rotation. And I feel like, well, I should ask you, how do you feel about the depth of this football team coming into this season?
[05:22]
B
I think that the importance of recruiting at the high school level gets lost a little bit now because we've seen teams that have been successful through the transfer portal, but a lot of that is short term success. It's not long term success. And so by him, by Kirby Smart still placing the value on that high school recruiting, I think that helps in the depth chart. And it's funny you bring that up because I remember the first day of spring practice. One of the first things that he said was a lot of new faces. There's a lot of roster turnover making us think that like you don't have like 60% of your team coming back. Like the numbers on the sheet don't lie.
[05:55]
C
Don't poor mouth me.
[05:56]
B
Kirby again goes back to the gaslighting. I had to immediately pull out the roster and I'm going through everybody, I'm like, he's Back. He's back, he's back. But no, I mean, having that value in high school recruiting, I think you're seeing that now. And one of the big complaints that Georgia fans have had over the last two years is them not recruiting at the level that they used to, mostly in part because of nil and just not having that same amount of money that other programs do. They're recruiting less five stars and less four stars. But for me, this really has to be the year because all the four stars and five stars that they recruited while nil wasn't really as much of an issue as it is now. They're going to be on the field, so this has to be the time for them to do it.
[06:33]
A
Are you surprised at all that when people talk about the top quarterbacks in this conference, Basically no. Nobody talks about Gunner.
[06:41]
B
No, I'm not surprised by that. I mean, Georgia just doesn't have super flashy offenses. A lot of people want to point to Mike Bobo as the reason for that. You know, it's really about this slow kill. It's not super exciting. You're not seeing a lot of 60 yard bombs downfield, but at the end of the day it gets the job done. And I think it's interesting because we've heard so much about guys talking about how they don't have a run game. They got to improve in the run game. Well, that's what George's bread and butter is. They kill you with the run game. And it's. So I'm. I'm confident in what Gunner is going to be able to do this year. But it does not surprise me that he's getting lost in the mix of guys who are more exciting, like an Arch Manning or a Trinidad Chambliss. So I think that's the way that Gunner likes it too, though, because it keeps the public's expectation of him low.
[07:25]
A
When I think of Gunner, though, I think of a guy that'll. I mean, he'll take a. He'll take a pounding. Sometimes he gets hit. I'm like, man, is he. Is he going to.
[07:33]
B
I think that they're going to try to limit that this year too.
[07:35]
A
He just gets right back up. We were talking to Matt Hayes. Apparently he's over 70% completion in the red zone when. Anytime Georgia's down by 10 points. His individual statistics are off the charts. And I think of that. I mean, I just can't get that throw out of Tennessee out of my head. The London Humphreys. I mean, to me that's Gunnar Stockton. Yeah, I get the Arch Manning love, but he out dueled Arch, so I just feel like he doesn't get enough respect.
[08:00]
B
Well, I think it was tricky because it felt like maybe the peak performance performances that we got from Gunner were mid season last year. You think about that game at Tennessee, that was early also Ole Miss as well in the regular season. Those felt like the best passing games that he had throughout the course of the entire season. And that kind of fizzled out towards the end when they really started leaning on the run game. So maybe if those games would have been later on in the season last year, there would be more excitement and more hype. But of course the, the last battle that he lost to was Trinidad Chambliss, who was by far and away the best player on the field that day. So it doesn't surprise me that he's getting lost in the mix. But just like last season when there was no hype on him, give it a few games and I think that will change.
[08:38]
C
I could sense an emphasis on keeping everyone home. Right. We talk about becoming an older team. We do that by keeping your roster intact. Georgia brought in probably the least amount of Portal kids. Was that. Was there some Mrs.
[08:52]
A
In there?
[08:52]
C
Because outside people are saying Georgia ain't got money. You know, they missed out on a quarterback, you know, but did from your, your point, do you feel like there was any means? Well, you just, you, you, you think that some of these big names that were floating around like that would be an absolute perfect fit. You were talking about wide receivers, prime example. Was there any guys that you felt like they missed out on the Portal?
[09:15]
B
I thought that they would make more of an effort for Cam Coleman, but I, I think there's also something to be said about you have to pay the guys on your roster for first before you go out and pay other guys. And I'm sure that Cam Coleman, you know, he probably, he probably got a few Benjamins. But I think what we've seen with Georgia in the past is they're very selective when it comes to the Portal because obviously the emphasis is still on recruiting at the high school level and it feels like they've made smart decisions within the Portal. You look at somebody like Zachariah Branch last year who ended up being the piece that they needed to take them to where they wanted to go. But this year it's just like you want to be more selective about that and make sure that not only is this person going to be a good fit for us, but Georgia is also going to be a Good culture, fit for them too. I think out of all the transfers Georgia took this year, though, I'm really excited to see Khalil Barnes because we really saw the lack of safety depth in the Sugar bowl last year and it was like they don't have another guy who could compliment K.J. bolden. So I feel like by bringing Cleo Barnes in, they're going to do that. So, you know, maybe they could have dished out some more money in an effort to get Cam Coleman, but there wasn't really any other big misses that I recognized in this year's Sports portal class.
[10:22]
A
Do you have any idea how long Coach Kirby Smart wants to stay at Georgia?
[10:26]
B
My theory on this and I put it out there, so it's fine. There's. I promise you this is all conspiracy theory, a product of my own brain. I think that he will retire when Andrew goes to college because, you know, if Andrew does decide to go to Georgia, I don't think he's going to want the stress of number one being the head coach at the University of Georgia, but also having to coach your own son and then having to face a media that's going to scrutinize him if he's doing bad. But also if he decides to go somewhere else, I think that he's going to want to be able to spend that time with him and really enjoy it and watch his son go through school. So I think that Andrew is going into his freshman year this year and I think that by the time that he's graduating high school, that's when we're going to see Kirby retired.
[11:10]
C
Yeah, I think everybody thought he's just going to coach as long as Saban did. And everybody closer is like, no, Kirby's not that guy.
[11:17]
B
No, not at all. I mean, I think that he likes, you know, wants that classic retired life move somewhere tropical. Don't have a ton of worries and I don't think that Mary Beth would let him stay that long either. You got to keep the wife happy and you know, she's enjoyed that success. But also too, she's going to want some time with him at some point because this has been his life from the moment that he graduated from Georgia.
[11:38]
C
I've asked every Georgia girl or gal, that guy that's been over here about the new coaches hired in Florida and Auburn.
[11:46]
B
Yes.
[11:46]
C
What are your immediate thoughts? Maybe this season and big picture, what that rivalry could mean again.
[11:52]
B
You know, it's funny, I remember when it was clean old fashioned eight as we call it. And even though Georgia Came out on the right side of that. People were like, we need Buster Faulkner right now. They just lost. But it'll be interesting. I think it was the same thing that I said when Florida had DJ Lagway last year. It's not this year that worries me, it's the next year because he'll have Aaron Filo come back again, presumably. I think bringing in Eric Singleton was a great idea on Faulkner's behalf. So I do think in the long run, if they can get on the same page and mindset as Summerall, that's definitely going to be a team to be concerned about just because of the funding and the support that Florida has too. But no, that was definitely an interesting off season move that I was not expecting to happen. And say, something crazy does happen this year and Florida comes away with the win. Everybody's going to be like, well, we told you guys two years ago at Clean Old Fashioned that you all needed to get Faulkner instead of Boba, so you best believe they're going to bring it back up.
[12:50]
A
What do you think of Kirby being asked yesterday about not playing Tennessee and not getting that guaranteed win Every year?
[12:56]
B
I wanted to crawl under a desk and hide. You know, I think some of the laughter in the room helped with the situation, but it was one of the. I think my, like, my arm hair grew an inch because it stood straight up. I have to admit, though, I a little bit upset to see Tennessee not come back to Athens, but I'm not that disappointed that we don't have to go back to Knoxville. You know, it's not my favorite trip, but being from northwest Georgia, I think rivalries in the state kind of differ on where you're from. And being so close to Tennessee, being from Rome, in my mind, growing up, it was never that Florida was the biggest rival. It was always Tennessee. And then so to come work for Dawg Nation, get out of college, and people are saying, well, no, Florida's public enemy number one. I don't know what you're talking about, because Tennessee was the one that, I guess growing up in my household, that in my mind was always number one. So it's a shame to see that go away on a regular basis. But maybe when they revise the schedule in a few years, it'll be Tennessee instead of South Carolina.
[13:53]
A
And to your point, Tennessee, along with a lot of others. But Tennessee really recruits Georgia?
[13:58]
B
Yes.
[13:58]
A
And under Kirby, Georgia's really recruited Tennessee and stolen away some of the best volunteers out there, you know?
[14:04]
B
Yeah, yeah. I mean, the same could be said for, for Tennessee. I remember when Georgia didn't get Mike Matthews when he was a Parkview. Those are really, really big deal. A great steal for Tennessee. So I, you know, it kind of goes both ways, but it's really the smart thing to do to go into the state of Georgia and get that talent because it's right there and there's. There's enough for everybody to go around, you know.
[14:22]
C
Well, speaking of Tennessee, that was a hot thing was the new uniforms. Is there any new uniforms gonna hit the.
[14:29]
B
No. No, there's not. No, he's not.
[14:31]
C
Loosen it up a little.
[14:32]
B
No, if. Listen, they made that big promise that it was gonna happen at G day and I was like, okay, I'll believe it when I see it. Kirby doesn't care about any of the standard is the standard. What they've done is what they're going to continue to do. So I mean the day that they come out in different uniforms, I quit my job. That's how confident I am that we're not going to see them in any sort of alternate uniform. Like you want to talk about what wins games, not what jersey they're going to wear. So Kirby smarts is not about that.
[15:02]
C
I did see a photo floating around though, Gunner. So apparently he's not driving this old pickup truck all the time, right?
[15:09]
B
No, because it doesn't have ac. You can't do that in the summer. Is it Georgia?
[15:14]
C
Which.
[15:15]
A
Which opponent do you think scares Georgia the most on the schedule?
[15:18]
B
Well, I mean most Georgia fans are going to point to that Alabama game just because of the history between those two schools. So I'll go something different. I think Oklahoma is going to be real challenge, especially because it's so early in the season. That is a tone setter for both of those teams. You've got two coaches who are very much alike in terms of the way that they think both defensive minded guys. I think the rosters are very similar when you look at the defense and what both courts quarterbacks kind of look like and you've got two teams that are coming off of disappointing ends to their season. Thought they were going to go further. So that motivation is higher than ever and that is a tone setter for both of those teams. And you don't want to be the team that's playing catch up if you lose. So I think just from where Oklahoma stands and where that game, when that game is scheduled, I think that makes it really important to stay ahead at the beginning of the SEC schedule.
[16:05]
A
Yeah, I love that answer because I've Been telling people, I think Oklahoma at Georgia, I think that's the best game.
[16:10]
B
It's going to be a slug fest. I mean, I know that it's. Everybody's going to want to look at the quarterback battle between John Matier and Gunner Stockton, but I just think it's going to be a low scoring game that I know it sounds cliche. Is really going to be one in the trenches with the experience that they both have at the defensive line.
[16:25]
C
I think Kirby's pretty happy at this schedule compared to some in the past for a nine game SEC schedule. But I do want to ask you, I don't want to say you got to guarantee one, but if you feel more confident in one road game, would it be Alabama or would it be Ole Miss?
[16:42]
B
Oh, my gosh. There's no right answer to this. Oh, Ole Miss is going to be tough. I, I think my more recent memories of going to Ole Miss and them losing on the road, it was a rainy day, it was miserable. I just. Based on their rosters right now, Ole Miss has their quarterback situation figured out if they're healthy at that point in the. I'm gonna say probably more concerned about Ole Miss just because Alabama doesn't know who their QB one is right now. So let me just say that even though I'm probably gonna get crucified for
[17:21]
A
it, when he said Kirby in the schedule, it just immediately made me think of, I guess it was two years ago, SEC championship. As soon as Kirby, they won it, Sankey gave him the trophy and he's. They put us on the road.
[17:33]
B
Oh, yeah.
[17:34]
A
I mean, my goodness, the guts on that guy right to the commissioner's face. That was wild, wasn't it?
[17:39]
B
It was. I remember it was. You know, one of the things I do for Dog Nation is I try to do some social clips for us after the game. So I'm just trying to take sound bites, whatever put them up. As soon as I heard that, I could not get on my computer fast enough to go ahead and try to get that out because I knew it was going to be everywhere. But to your point and to your point, Georgia plays Ole Miss and Alabama and we're looking at the schedule as easy. Like that's crazy. That's why, you know, I know that everybody wants to talk about the SEC hasn't won a national championship in the last couple years, but the fact that we're calling that schedule easy compared to everybody else, I think it still shows you that college football runs through the sec. That's crazy.
[18:17]
C
Last question I've got for you. If I'm coming down to Athens, what's the one place I need to check out?
[18:24]
B
Everybody says Chuck's fish. I actually don't live in Athens. I live in Atlanta. So I'll go close to home and go with what I know. And it's always going to be Johnny's hideaway. If you have the trip to go up and make the trip to Johnny's about an hour outside of Athens, you've got to do it. Because whether you're 21 or 91, you're gonna have the best time of your life. And when you order a shot, it's going to be three shots. So don't say that I didn't warn you because they're massive.
[18:49]
A
All right, Kaylee, thank you so much. Before you go, tell our audience how to follow you and how to find all your work.
[18:54]
B
Yeah, so you can look up any of my shows on our Dog Nation YouTube page. That's D A W G. You can also follow me on Twitter. It's just Kaylee Mansell, K A Y L E E. Or if I'm missing, just contact my dad on Facebook. He'll get back to you.
[19:08]
C
Did you do a hot take? Oh, Tennessee. Real quick. Tennessee Legend. This whole thing's brought to you by Tennessee Legend Distillery. Best damn distillery in East Tennessee. And we're trying to figure out boldest take right now. It doesn't have to be Georgia related, but just the hottest take in the sec.
[19:24]
B
Somebody's bound for a big SEC scandal this year. I don't know which team it is, but I feel like scandal is brewing on the horizon. With the way that the rules are changing, I don't know if everybody's following the rules. So I see some team in the SEC that this year big scandal is coming breaking.
[19:38]
A
I'll. I'll make sure to tag her. Kirby's cheating.
[19:41]
B
That's actually not the team I had in mind.

Summary7 min read

That SEC Football Podcast

Guest: Kaylee Mansell (DawgNation)

Episode Date: August 6, 2026

Host: Michael Bratton (SEC Mike) and Cousin Shane

Episode Overview

In this episode, SEC Mike Bratton and Cousin Shane welcome Kaylee Mansell of DawgNation for an in-depth discussion about the current state of Georgia football, Coach Kirby Smart’s future, recruiting philosophies, and the looming 2026 season. They dive into team dynamics, quarterback evaluation, the impact of NIL and the transfer portal, Georgia's schedule, key rivalries, and wrap up with lighter Athens recommendations and SEC hot takes.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Georgia Football Culture & Coach Kirby Smart's Approach

Kirby Smart's Media Strategy
- Kaylee describes Kirby's mastery at revealing little in the media:
  
  "Kirby is so good at giving you absolutely nothing. Nothing." (00:53, Kaylee Mansell)
- Kirby’s "quiet confidence" this year centers around a philosophy of being “uncommon,” influenced by studying the OKC Thunder, rather than a public mantra.
  
  "This year it's more about the philosophy of them studying the OKC Thunder and this idea of being uncommon. I don't think he said it as outright as he usually does." (01:57, Kaylee Mansell)
Transition of Power in SEC
- Now that Mark Stoops is out, Kirby is the "dean" of SEC coaches:
  
  "Thing about Kirby Smart is now with him being the dean, when he talks, people listen and he understands that. But he's not the one that wants to have those viral moments and make those headlines..." (03:07, Kaylee Mansell)

2. Team Strengths, Weaknesses, and X-Factors

Offensive & Defensive Outlook
- For Georgia to win the SEC and national title, the wide receiver group must emerge:
  
  "For me, it's got to be the wide receivers because there's so much unknown when it comes to them." (03:47, Kaylee Mansell)
- Defensive priority: Must increase quarterback pressure; 20 sacks isn't enough.
  
  "There just has to be more pressure on the quarterback, there has to be more pass rush. 20 sacks in the SEC is not going to cut it..." (04:47, Kaylee Mansell)
Roster Depth & Recruiting
- Kaylee emphasizes the importance of consistent high school recruiting over short-term transfer portal solutions:
  
  "A lot of that is short term success. It's not long term success. And so by him, by Kirby Smart still placing the value on that high school recruiting, I think that helps in the depth chart." (05:22, Kaylee Mansell)
- Notes a critical year, as players recruited pre-NIL impact are now stepping into main roles. (06:08, Kaylee Mansell)
Quarterback Analysis: Gunner Stockton
- Gunner is “quiet,” “comfortable in the culture,” and undervalued by national media, something the staff seems fine with:
  
  "Georgia just doesn't have super flashy offenses...it's really about this slow kill. It's not super exciting...but at the end of the day it gets the job done." (06:40, Kaylee Mansell)
- Gunner excels under pressure (notably vs. Tennessee and Ole Miss in 2025), but his lack of end-of-season fireworks may have dampened hype:
  
  "It felt like maybe the peak performance we got from Gunner were mid season last year. You think about that game at Tennessee...those felt like the best passing games that he had throughout the entire season. And that kind of fizzled out towards the end." (08:00, Kaylee Mansell)

3. Transfer Portal, NIL, and Roster Management

Selective Transfer Portal Approach
- Georgia prioritizes "paying your own" over big splashes in the portal. Only missed on Cam Coleman, but made key additions like Khalil Barnes to fill specific needs:
  
  "You have to pay the guys on your roster first before you go out and pay other guys...out of all the transfers Georgia took this year, I'm really excited to see Khalil Barnes..." (09:15, Kaylee Mansell)
NIL Constraints
- Georgia fans are concerned about lower levels of elite (5* and 4*) recruiting due to stricter NIL budgets, making 2026 pivotal. (05:55-06:33, Kaylee Mansell)

4. Kirby Smart’s Tenure & Retirement Rumors

How long will Kirby stay?
- Kaylee speculates, with a wink, that Kirby may retire when his son Andrew goes to college—“total conspiracy theory”:
  
  "I think that he will retire when Andrew goes to college...he's going into his freshman year this year and I think by the time he's graduating high school, that's when we're going to see Kirby retire." (10:26, Kaylee Mansell)
- Not planning to stay as long as Saban:
  
  "Everybody thought he's just going to coach as long as Saban did. And everybody closer is like, no, Kirby's not that guy." (11:09, Cousin Shane)

5. Rivalries, Scheduling, and SEC Landscape

Florida and Auburn Coaching Changes
- Kaylee sees long-term potential in Florida under Buster Faulkner, but not an immediate threat. Florida’s resources and staff chemistry could reignite the rivalry. (11:46-12:49, Kaylee Mansell)
Tennessee Rivalry and Scheduling Change
- She expresses disappointment at losing annual Tennessee games, which she grew up considering Georgia’s top rivalry:
  
  "Growing up, it was never that Florida was the biggest rival. It was always Tennessee." (12:56, Kaylee Mansell)
Recruiting Battles with Tennessee
- The flow of talent between Georgia and Tennessee is mutual and fierce, with both poaching elite recruits from each other's backyard. (13:52, Kaylee Mansell)
Uniforms Tradition
- No new Georgia uniforms are coming—Kaylee vows to quit if that changes:
  
  "...the day that they come out in different uniforms, I quit my job. That's how confident I am..." (14:32, Kaylee Mansell)

6. Big Games and Pivotal Matchups

Most Dangerous Opponent
- Oklahoma is the early-season game she’s closely watching:
  
  "I think Oklahoma is going to be a real challenge, especially because it's so early in the season. That is a tone setter for both of those teams." (15:18, Kaylee Mansell)
- Predicts that the UGA-OU game will be a hard-fought, defense-driven battle in the trenches. (16:09, Kaylee Mansell)
Toughest Road Game: Ole Miss vs. Alabama
- Picks Ole Miss as potentially more concerning, citing QB stability:
  
  "Based on their rosters right now, Ole Miss has their quarterback situation figured out...I'm gonna say probably more concerned about Ole Miss just because Alabama doesn't know who their QB one is right now." (16:42, Kaylee Mansell)
SEC Scheduling Difficulty
- Even playing at Alabama and Ole Miss is now considered a “manageable” schedule for Georgia, underlining the SEC’s toughness:
  
  "Georgia plays Ole Miss and Alabama and we're looking at the schedule as easy. Like that's crazy...the fact that we're calling that schedule easy compared to everybody else, I think it still shows you that college football runs through the sec." (17:39, Kaylee Mansell)

7. Athens Recommendation

Johnny's Hideaway is the spot Kaylee suggests for a night out—not in Athens, but worth the detour:

"When you order a shot, it's going to be three shots. So don't say that I didn't warn you because they're massive." (18:23, Kaylee Mansell)

Notable Quotes (with Timestamps)

"Kirby is so good at giving you absolutely nothing. Nothing." — Kaylee Mansell [00:53]
"This year it's more about the philosophy of them studying the OKC Thunder and this idea of being uncommon." — Kaylee Mansell [01:57]
"He's really good at gaslighting. You know, he's definitely a professional at that. Sets the standard for gaslighting." — Kaylee Mansell [03:07]
"For me, it's got to be the wide receivers because there's so much unknown when it comes to them." — Kaylee Mansell [03:47]
"Georgia just doesn't have super flashy offenses...It's really about this slow kill. It's not super exciting...but at the end of the day it gets the job done." — Kaylee Mansell [06:40]
"I think that he will retire when Andrew goes to college...I think by the time that he's graduating high school, that's when we're going to see Kirby retire." — Kaylee Mansell [10:26]
"The day that they come out in different uniforms, I quit my job. That's how confident I am..." — Kaylee Mansell [14:32]
"Oklahoma is going to be a real challenge, especially because it's so early in the season. That is a tone setter for both of those teams." — Kaylee Mansell [15:18]
"Georgia plays Ole Miss and Alabama and we're looking at the schedule as easy. Like that's crazy..." — Kaylee Mansell [17:39]
"Somebody's bound for a big SEC scandal this year. I don't know which team it is, but I feel like scandal is brewing on the horizon." — Kaylee Mansell [19:24]

Timestamps for Important Segments

Kirby Smart’s media philosophy & culture: [00:53–03:07]
Key offensive/defensive questions for UGA: [03:41–04:56]
Depth, recruiting, NIL challenges: [05:22–06:33]
Gunner Stockton analysis: [06:40–08:37]
Transfer portal/roster management: [08:52–10:21]
Kirby’s timetable & family factors: [10:26–11:37]
Rivalry evolution, Florida/Auburn coaching change: [11:46–12:49]
Tennessee rivalry history & recruiting: [12:49–13:52]
Uniforms tradition: [14:28–15:02]
Schedule strength and key games: [15:18–17:39]
Athens rec (Johnny’s Hideaway): [18:23]
SEC Hot Take – Scandal coming: [19:24]

Memorable Moments

Kaylee’s bold vow to quit if Georgia ever changes its uniforms [14:32]
The “conspiracy theory” around Kirby Smart’s retirement, tied to his son Andrew finishing high school [10:26]
Lively takes on SEC schedules—what’s considered easy for Georgia [17:39]
Athens nightlife tip: beware the three-shot pours at Johnny’s Hideaway [18:23]
Final “SEC hot take”: a big scandal is looming, but not at Georgia [19:24]

If you missed this episode, you missed a thoughtful, wide-ranging conversation about Georgia’s football present and future, the quirks of Kirby Smart, and why the Bulldogs’ greatest threat might be keeping their own tradition-ridden, quietly dominant identity intact. Kaylee Mansell’s insights offer an inside view for Dawg fans & SEC watchers alike.

Loading summary

Transcript74 lines

[00:00]
A
Foreign. We're here with our favorite Mansell.
[00:07]
B
Yes.
[00:07]
C
Yeah.
[00:07]
A
Without a doubt, Kaylee Mansell of the Manziel Dynasty down there in Georgia. Thank you for joining us.
[00:14]
B
I want our favorite Mansell tattooed on my forehead with your signatures on it. I know that's tough because you guys have a lot of respect for Rusty. He has the same amount of respect for y', all, so I'm glad we get to carry the relationship through him.
[00:28]
C
No, I mean, when we think dog football, we think of your family in particular. So anything that comes up, I'm like, well, what did Rusty say about it?
[00:36]
B
Oh, yeah. I mean, our group thread between me, him, and my sister. I mean, 90% of it is about Georgia football all the time, especially on game days. Like, every time you see my phone light up, it's that group message going off about what play just happened.
[00:50]
A
Did you learn anything interesting about the dogs yesterday?
[00:53]
B
I mean, not really, because Kirby is so good at giving you absolutely nothing. Nothing. I think really the biggest thing I took away from yesterday was the quiet confidence that Gunner Stockton had even walking around here. I remember sitting in on his first press conference two years ago when he was starting the Sugar bowl right after Carson got hurt. We were so excited to hear from him. I sat with him for an hour. He might have said five complete sentences. So to see him embracing the culture of what this is yesterday, I hope that can translate over to the field in terms of that confidence that they want to see from him. So that was really just my biggest takeaway is seeing how comfortable he was in this environment for a person that does not like to be around this at all.
[01:35]
C
Yeah. I mean, I felt like, you know, the reins were handed over. We see Nick Saban in here.
[01:39]
B
Yes.
[01:40]
C
It feels like, you know, Papa Smart's the one that's. That's operating this ride now, and. And I was waiting for some sort of mission statement or something. And, yes, he thanked the right people, but I didn't get that. Do you feel like he was holding back a little bit, or do you feel like he got what he wanted to get across?
[01:58]
B
Well, I think it was tricky. Usually they just come straight out with a mantra. Right. You've heard it in the past before. I think this year it's more about the philosophy of them studying the OKC Thunder and this idea of being uncommon. I don't think he said it as outright as he usually does. I think that was the main message that he wanted to get across. And now that he's the dean of the SEC now That Stoops is out. I think I talked to you guys yesterday about how him coming in and saying that I don't want to talk about all the other issues that everybody wants to talk about. I don't want to talk about the landscape. I want to talk about winning games. I think that that set the tone not just for yesterday, but for the rest of the week because it felt like on day one that's what everybody wanted to chat about. And him saying that and being able to focus more on the team itself and his philosophy and his ideals of a winning culture within the program. I think that's exactly what this week needed to keep the focus on football itself.
[02:45]
C
I felt that with Kirby. I felt that with the players. You know, so many people coming in here, I mean, we got Texas coming in. They're saying they're going to do this, they're going to do this, we got.
[02:54]
B
That's exactly what Kirby wants though. Yeah, he doesn't want the attention on that.
[02:57]
C
I just feel like that quiet Kirby is the one you got to watch out for. It's almost like let's spot the ball, it's time. You know, the two time SEC champs want to play some football.
[03:08]
B
He's really good at gaslighting. You know, he's definitely a professional at that. Sets the standard for gaslighting. And so I think it's always funny that he goes usually in that first lot on the second day. So that way everybody else can make headlines after. Everybody else can make the headlines before he goes and maybe people will forget about what he had to say. But thing about Kirby Smart is now with him being the dean, when he talks, people listen and he understands that. But he's not the one that wants to have those viral moments and make those headlines because he wants to keep the attention away from him and his team. So.
[03:40]
A
So I'm picking the dogs to win the sec.
[03:42]
B
Are you?
[03:43]
A
And I'm picking them to win the national championship. Oh. What has to happen for that to come to fruition?
[03:48]
B
It had. The wide receiver group has to come together. They've got a lot of returning production, especially on the defense. I think they have the best offensive line in the sec. You've got a veteran quarterback with experience who doesn't make a ton of mistakes. Might not be the most exciting quarterback you see in the sec, but he's really good at limiting those critical mistakes in games. For me, it's got to be the wide receivers because there's so much unknown when it comes to them. And it really Feels like that's been the case for the last three years is we, we have no idea who's going to be the leading receiver. Feels like maybe it should be a five star like Talon Taylor who hasn't really played that much because of injury or maybe somebody like Isaiah Canyon who's coming in from Georgia Tech. But we know very little about that room. They, that's probably on purpose. They don't want us to know. But if they want to really lean into the priority of having an explosive offense, a lot of that's going to have to come from downfield passes from Gunner and in turn he just has to build the trust with the wide receivers. But for me that's the group that really has to click. And then to give you one more point, I mean there's just has to be more pressure on the quarterback, there has to be more pass rush. You can't. 20 sacks in the SEC is not going to cut it and they understand that. So if we're looking at offense, it's got to be wide receivers on defense. They clearly just have to put more pressure on the quarterback.
[04:57]
C
Well, you know, we did our fall camp preview with Georgia Bulldogs and I tell you it's a pretty deep roster, you know what I'm saying? And a lot of people, they'll get in here and they'll tell you about their, their top 11 that's going to be out. But I don't think that's how it works in Athens, right? No, you need more than 11, you need 15, 16 rotation. And I feel like, well, I should ask you, how do you feel about the depth of this football team coming into this season?
[05:22]
B
I think that the importance of recruiting at the high school level gets lost a little bit now because we've seen teams that have been successful through the transfer portal, but a lot of that is short term success. It's not long term success. And so by him, by Kirby Smart still placing the value on that high school recruiting, I think that helps in the depth chart. And it's funny you bring that up because I remember the first day of spring practice. One of the first things that he said was a lot of new faces. There's a lot of roster turnover making us think that like you don't have like 60% of your team coming back. Like the numbers on the sheet don't lie.
[05:55]
C
Don't poor mouth me.
[05:56]
B
Kirby again goes back to the gaslighting. I had to immediately pull out the roster and I'm going through everybody, I'm like, he's Back. He's back, he's back. But no, I mean, having that value in high school recruiting, I think you're seeing that now. And one of the big complaints that Georgia fans have had over the last two years is them not recruiting at the level that they used to, mostly in part because of nil and just not having that same amount of money that other programs do. They're recruiting less five stars and less four stars. But for me, this really has to be the year because all the four stars and five stars that they recruited while nil wasn't really as much of an issue as it is now. They're going to be on the field, so this has to be the time for them to do it.
[06:33]
A
Are you surprised at all that when people talk about the top quarterbacks in this conference, Basically no. Nobody talks about Gunner.
[06:41]
B
No, I'm not surprised by that. I mean, Georgia just doesn't have super flashy offenses. A lot of people want to point to Mike Bobo as the reason for that. You know, it's really about this slow kill. It's not super exciting. You're not seeing a lot of 60 yard bombs downfield, but at the end of the day it gets the job done. And I think it's interesting because we've heard so much about guys talking about how they don't have a run game. They got to improve in the run game. Well, that's what George's bread and butter is. They kill you with the run game. And it's. So I'm. I'm confident in what Gunner is going to be able to do this year. But it does not surprise me that he's getting lost in the mix of guys who are more exciting, like an Arch Manning or a Trinidad Chambliss. So I think that's the way that Gunner likes it too, though, because it keeps the public's expectation of him low.
[07:25]
A
When I think of Gunner, though, I think of a guy that'll. I mean, he'll take a. He'll take a pounding. Sometimes he gets hit. I'm like, man, is he. Is he going to.
[07:33]
B
I think that they're going to try to limit that this year too.
[07:35]
A
He just gets right back up. We were talking to Matt Hayes. Apparently he's over 70% completion in the red zone when. Anytime Georgia's down by 10 points. His individual statistics are off the charts. And I think of that. I mean, I just can't get that throw out of Tennessee out of my head. The London Humphreys. I mean, to me that's Gunnar Stockton. Yeah, I get the Arch Manning love, but he out dueled Arch, so I just feel like he doesn't get enough respect.
[08:00]
B
Well, I think it was tricky because it felt like maybe the peak performance performances that we got from Gunner were mid season last year. You think about that game at Tennessee, that was early also Ole Miss as well in the regular season. Those felt like the best passing games that he had throughout the course of the entire season. And that kind of fizzled out towards the end when they really started leaning on the run game. So maybe if those games would have been later on in the season last year, there would be more excitement and more hype. But of course the, the last battle that he lost to was Trinidad Chambliss, who was by far and away the best player on the field that day. So it doesn't surprise me that he's getting lost in the mix. But just like last season when there was no hype on him, give it a few games and I think that will change.
[08:38]
C
I could sense an emphasis on keeping everyone home. Right. We talk about becoming an older team. We do that by keeping your roster intact. Georgia brought in probably the least amount of Portal kids. Was that. Was there some Mrs.
[08:52]
A
In there?
[08:52]
C
Because outside people are saying Georgia ain't got money. You know, they missed out on a quarterback, you know, but did from your, your point, do you feel like there was any means? Well, you just, you, you, you think that some of these big names that were floating around like that would be an absolute perfect fit. You were talking about wide receivers, prime example. Was there any guys that you felt like they missed out on the Portal?
[09:15]
B
I thought that they would make more of an effort for Cam Coleman, but I, I think there's also something to be said about you have to pay the guys on your roster for first before you go out and pay other guys. And I'm sure that Cam Coleman, you know, he probably, he probably got a few Benjamins. But I think what we've seen with Georgia in the past is they're very selective when it comes to the Portal because obviously the emphasis is still on recruiting at the high school level and it feels like they've made smart decisions within the Portal. You look at somebody like Zachariah Branch last year who ended up being the piece that they needed to take them to where they wanted to go. But this year it's just like you want to be more selective about that and make sure that not only is this person going to be a good fit for us, but Georgia is also going to be a Good culture, fit for them too. I think out of all the transfers Georgia took this year, though, I'm really excited to see Khalil Barnes because we really saw the lack of safety depth in the Sugar bowl last year and it was like they don't have another guy who could compliment K.J. bolden. So I feel like by bringing Cleo Barnes in, they're going to do that. So, you know, maybe they could have dished out some more money in an effort to get Cam Coleman, but there wasn't really any other big misses that I recognized in this year's Sports portal class.
[10:22]
A
Do you have any idea how long Coach Kirby Smart wants to stay at Georgia?
[10:26]
B
My theory on this and I put it out there, so it's fine. There's. I promise you this is all conspiracy theory, a product of my own brain. I think that he will retire when Andrew goes to college because, you know, if Andrew does decide to go to Georgia, I don't think he's going to want the stress of number one being the head coach at the University of Georgia, but also having to coach your own son and then having to face a media that's going to scrutinize him if he's doing bad. But also if he decides to go somewhere else, I think that he's going to want to be able to spend that time with him and really enjoy it and watch his son go through school. So I think that Andrew is going into his freshman year this year and I think that by the time that he's graduating high school, that's when we're going to see Kirby retired.
[11:10]
C
Yeah, I think everybody thought he's just going to coach as long as Saban did. And everybody closer is like, no, Kirby's not that guy.
[11:17]
B
No, not at all. I mean, I think that he likes, you know, wants that classic retired life move somewhere tropical. Don't have a ton of worries and I don't think that Mary Beth would let him stay that long either. You got to keep the wife happy and you know, she's enjoyed that success. But also too, she's going to want some time with him at some point because this has been his life from the moment that he graduated from Georgia.
[11:38]
C
I've asked every Georgia girl or gal, that guy that's been over here about the new coaches hired in Florida and Auburn.
[11:46]
B
Yes.
[11:46]
C
What are your immediate thoughts? Maybe this season and big picture, what that rivalry could mean again.
[11:52]
B
You know, it's funny, I remember when it was clean old fashioned eight as we call it. And even though Georgia Came out on the right side of that. People were like, we need Buster Faulkner right now. They just lost. But it'll be interesting. I think it was the same thing that I said when Florida had DJ Lagway last year. It's not this year that worries me, it's the next year because he'll have Aaron Filo come back again, presumably. I think bringing in Eric Singleton was a great idea on Faulkner's behalf. So I do think in the long run, if they can get on the same page and mindset as Summerall, that's definitely going to be a team to be concerned about just because of the funding and the support that Florida has too. But no, that was definitely an interesting off season move that I was not expecting to happen. And say, something crazy does happen this year and Florida comes away with the win. Everybody's going to be like, well, we told you guys two years ago at Clean Old Fashioned that you all needed to get Faulkner instead of Boba, so you best believe they're going to bring it back up.
[12:50]
A
What do you think of Kirby being asked yesterday about not playing Tennessee and not getting that guaranteed win Every year?
[12:56]
B
I wanted to crawl under a desk and hide. You know, I think some of the laughter in the room helped with the situation, but it was one of the. I think my, like, my arm hair grew an inch because it stood straight up. I have to admit, though, I a little bit upset to see Tennessee not come back to Athens, but I'm not that disappointed that we don't have to go back to Knoxville. You know, it's not my favorite trip, but being from northwest Georgia, I think rivalries in the state kind of differ on where you're from. And being so close to Tennessee, being from Rome, in my mind, growing up, it was never that Florida was the biggest rival. It was always Tennessee. And then so to come work for Dawg Nation, get out of college, and people are saying, well, no, Florida's public enemy number one. I don't know what you're talking about, because Tennessee was the one that, I guess growing up in my household, that in my mind was always number one. So it's a shame to see that go away on a regular basis. But maybe when they revise the schedule in a few years, it'll be Tennessee instead of South Carolina.
[13:53]
A
And to your point, Tennessee, along with a lot of others. But Tennessee really recruits Georgia?
[13:58]
B
Yes.
[13:58]
A
And under Kirby, Georgia's really recruited Tennessee and stolen away some of the best volunteers out there, you know?
[14:04]
B
Yeah, yeah. I mean, the same could be said for, for Tennessee. I remember when Georgia didn't get Mike Matthews when he was a Parkview. Those are really, really big deal. A great steal for Tennessee. So I, you know, it kind of goes both ways, but it's really the smart thing to do to go into the state of Georgia and get that talent because it's right there and there's. There's enough for everybody to go around, you know.
[14:22]
C
Well, speaking of Tennessee, that was a hot thing was the new uniforms. Is there any new uniforms gonna hit the.
[14:29]
B
No. No, there's not. No, he's not.
[14:31]
C
Loosen it up a little.
[14:32]
B
No, if. Listen, they made that big promise that it was gonna happen at G day and I was like, okay, I'll believe it when I see it. Kirby doesn't care about any of the standard is the standard. What they've done is what they're going to continue to do. So I mean the day that they come out in different uniforms, I quit my job. That's how confident I am that we're not going to see them in any sort of alternate uniform. Like you want to talk about what wins games, not what jersey they're going to wear. So Kirby smarts is not about that.
[15:02]
C
I did see a photo floating around though, Gunner. So apparently he's not driving this old pickup truck all the time, right?
[15:09]
B
No, because it doesn't have ac. You can't do that in the summer. Is it Georgia?
[15:14]
C
Which.
[15:15]
A
Which opponent do you think scares Georgia the most on the schedule?
[15:18]
B
Well, I mean most Georgia fans are going to point to that Alabama game just because of the history between those two schools. So I'll go something different. I think Oklahoma is going to be real challenge, especially because it's so early in the season. That is a tone setter for both of those teams. You've got two coaches who are very much alike in terms of the way that they think both defensive minded guys. I think the rosters are very similar when you look at the defense and what both courts quarterbacks kind of look like and you've got two teams that are coming off of disappointing ends to their season. Thought they were going to go further. So that motivation is higher than ever and that is a tone setter for both of those teams. And you don't want to be the team that's playing catch up if you lose. So I think just from where Oklahoma stands and where that game, when that game is scheduled, I think that makes it really important to stay ahead at the beginning of the SEC schedule.
[16:05]
A
Yeah, I love that answer because I've Been telling people, I think Oklahoma at Georgia, I think that's the best game.
[16:10]
B
It's going to be a slug fest. I mean, I know that it's. Everybody's going to want to look at the quarterback battle between John Matier and Gunner Stockton, but I just think it's going to be a low scoring game that I know it sounds cliche. Is really going to be one in the trenches with the experience that they both have at the defensive line.
[16:25]
C
I think Kirby's pretty happy at this schedule compared to some in the past for a nine game SEC schedule. But I do want to ask you, I don't want to say you got to guarantee one, but if you feel more confident in one road game, would it be Alabama or would it be Ole Miss?
[16:42]
B
Oh, my gosh. There's no right answer to this. Oh, Ole Miss is going to be tough. I, I think my more recent memories of going to Ole Miss and them losing on the road, it was a rainy day, it was miserable. I just. Based on their rosters right now, Ole Miss has their quarterback situation figured out if they're healthy at that point in the. I'm gonna say probably more concerned about Ole Miss just because Alabama doesn't know who their QB one is right now. So let me just say that even though I'm probably gonna get crucified for
[17:21]
A
it, when he said Kirby in the schedule, it just immediately made me think of, I guess it was two years ago, SEC championship. As soon as Kirby, they won it, Sankey gave him the trophy and he's. They put us on the road.
[17:33]
B
Oh, yeah.
[17:34]
A
I mean, my goodness, the guts on that guy right to the commissioner's face. That was wild, wasn't it?
[17:39]
B
It was. I remember it was. You know, one of the things I do for Dog Nation is I try to do some social clips for us after the game. So I'm just trying to take sound bites, whatever put them up. As soon as I heard that, I could not get on my computer fast enough to go ahead and try to get that out because I knew it was going to be everywhere. But to your point and to your point, Georgia plays Ole Miss and Alabama and we're looking at the schedule as easy. Like that's crazy. That's why, you know, I know that everybody wants to talk about the SEC hasn't won a national championship in the last couple years, but the fact that we're calling that schedule easy compared to everybody else, I think it still shows you that college football runs through the sec. That's crazy.
[18:17]
C
Last question I've got for you. If I'm coming down to Athens, what's the one place I need to check out?
[18:24]
B
Everybody says Chuck's fish. I actually don't live in Athens. I live in Atlanta. So I'll go close to home and go with what I know. And it's always going to be Johnny's hideaway. If you have the trip to go up and make the trip to Johnny's about an hour outside of Athens, you've got to do it. Because whether you're 21 or 91, you're gonna have the best time of your life. And when you order a shot, it's going to be three shots. So don't say that I didn't warn you because they're massive.
[18:49]
A
All right, Kaylee, thank you so much. Before you go, tell our audience how to follow you and how to find all your work.
[18:54]
B
Yeah, so you can look up any of my shows on our Dog Nation YouTube page. That's D A W G. You can also follow me on Twitter. It's just Kaylee Mansell, K A Y L E E. Or if I'm missing, just contact my dad on Facebook. He'll get back to you.
[19:08]
C
Did you do a hot take? Oh, Tennessee. Real quick. Tennessee Legend. This whole thing's brought to you by Tennessee Legend Distillery. Best damn distillery in East Tennessee. And we're trying to figure out boldest take right now. It doesn't have to be Georgia related, but just the hottest take in the sec.
[19:24]
B
Somebody's bound for a big SEC scandal this year. I don't know which team it is, but I feel like scandal is brewing on the horizon. With the way that the rules are changing, I don't know if everybody's following the rules. So I see some team in the SEC that this year big scandal is coming breaking.
[19:38]
A
I'll. I'll make sure to tag her. Kirby's cheating.
[19:41]
B
That's actually not the team I had in mind.