In a recent development, concerns surrounding speeding and reckless driving within the Georgia Bulldogs football program have come to light. Head Coach Kirby Smart addressed the issue during the SEC Media Days and informed the media that multiple players from the team are facing suspensions due to driving violations.

According to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, there have been a total of 24 incidents involving DUI, reckless driving, or speeding within the UGA football program over the past 18 months. These incidents have raised serious concerns since a fatal car crash in January 2023 resulted in the deaths of player Devin Willock and staff member Chandler LeCroy. The police attributed the accident to excessive speed, racing, and alcohol.

To address these concerns, Coach Smart revealed that the Classic City NIL Collective has been imposing fines on players involved in traffic-related incidents. This marks one of the first public acknowledgments of fines within the program. Smart mentioned during the media event that the Classic City Collective has been implementing these fines for over a year, and it is a decision outside of his jurisdiction.

However, Matt Hibbs, the founder and CEO of Classic City, later clarified that the collective is not actually fining any Georgia football players. Instead, they are withholding or deducting scheduled payments for athletes charged with car-related incidents. Hibbs emphasized that athletes are not being fined as they are not considered employees. The decision to withhold payment was made in consultation between Smart and Hibbs as a means to address the ongoing situation. This procedure has been in place for approximately two years and aims to reflect the diminished value of athletes involved in such incidents.

Hibbs revealed that Classic City has withheld a significant amount of money, amounting to roughly six figures, over the past two years. However, he declined to provide a specific figure.

It is worth noting that Smart has typically not disclosed suspensions in advance and has only confirmed them after the fact. In this case, he shared that safety David Daniel-Sisavanh, who was arrested for reckless driving in February, has been dismissed from the program.

Most NIL collective contracts, including Classic City, incorporate moral clauses that stipulate consequences for athletes involved in criminal activities. Such clauses are often heavily negotiated. Classic City's morals clause allows the collective to deduct payment from Georgia football players in cases where their conduct violates the agreement's terms.

As the Georgia Bulldogs football program takes steps to address the issue of traffic violations, the team and coaching staff are working in collaboration with organizations like the Classic City NIL Collective to enforce accountability and uphold the program's values. The implementation of fines and payment deductions aims to discourage reckless behavior and ensure that players adhere to the standards established by the collective agreements.

While concerns regarding traffic violations within the program persist, the Georgia Bulldogs are actively striving to address the issue and maintain a positive image for both the team and the collective.