Kirby Smart's Georgia Bulldogs was set to play in the Sugar Bowl on Wednesday, but it was delayed until Thursday after a terrorist attack in New Orleans reportedly left around 15 people dead and more than 30 injured. It then came out that on New Year's Eve, his father, Sonny Smart, slipped, fell and was admitted to a local hospital.
The fall resulted in a fractured hip and when he was admitted to the hospital, it was found that he needed surgery. Unfortunately, Sonny Smart died at the hospital on Saturday morning. He is survived by his wife Sharon, and their three children, including Kirby.
The college football world came together after the news of Sonny's death. Several people offered their thoughts and prayers to Kirby Smart and his family. Notably, Nebraska quarterback Dylan Raiola paid a touching tribute to Sonny Smart on his Instagram story.
"Prayers Up," he wrote.
Kirby Smart's father, Sonny Smart, often traveled to watch his son's team play
Kirby Smart's father, Sonny Smart was a longtime high school football coach and teacher in Alabama and Georgia. He coached Kirby when he was in high school.
Sonny always supported his son and did his best to travel to watch the Georgia Bulldogs play as much as he could. He would travel to watch the team play at nearly every game. He was in New Orleans to watch the Bulldogs compete in the Sugar Bowl. Ultimately, the Bulldogs lost the game 23-10 to Notre Dame.
Kirby Smart spoke about the influence of his father back in January 2023.
"He's taught me so much just about the way you handle things, the right way, the wrong way," Smart said via ESPN. "Control the controllables. The moment's never too big if you're prepared. And I always watched the way he prepared our teams and our staff in high school."
That statement is from the National Championship Game in 2023 when the Georgia Bulldogs defeated the TCU Horned Frogs. Sonny Smart couldn't travel to watch the game because of health issues. The Bulldogs dominated 65-7.
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