Kirby Smart sounds off on Georgia football alternate uniforms: Top 5 storylines at Arkansas

By Mike Griffith

September 26, 2020 at 10:41 am EDT

5 things to know about Georgia-Arkansas Georgia quarterback D'Wan Mathis (2) looks for running room during the Bulldogs’ practice session Monday, Sept. 21, 2020, in Athens. The Bulldogs have not announced a starter ahead of season opener at Arkansas. (Tony Walsh/UGA Sports)

By Mike Griffith

September 26, 2020 at 10:41 am EDT

ATHENS — Kirby Smart doesn’t believe alternate uniforms help a team play better.

In fact, the Georgia head coach believes they can be a distraction.

"I don’t get into the whole “uniform will make them play faster' thing,” Smart said on his weekly radio show. "If anything, you’re concerned with the distraction the day of putting them on.

“We tried to get all of that out of the way with the release, let them understand it’s not that big a deal they will wear a different color uniform,” Smart said. “The more they think about that, the less they can think about their opponent and what they need to do to play well.”

Smart, who wore an alternate uniform of a red jersey and black pants during his playing career with the Bulldogs, admitted he likes the red pants Georgia will wear at 4 p.m. Saturday at Arkansas (TV: SEC Network) in both teams' season-opening game.