After another “It’s not who I am, and it’s not who we are” response to a really stupid action, this time by an Ole Miss player (look it up), finally a coach takes responsibility.

University of Georgia receiver George Pickens was ejected for fighting during Georgia’s rout of Georgia Tech Saturday. Here’s some of what Georgia Head Coach Kirby Smart said about the incident and the player:

Just disappointed, that’s the biggest thing. We don’t want to reflect ourselves that way. He would be the first one to tell you that he lost his composure… Unfortunately, [Pickens] got an undisciplined penalty, and when you make undisciplined decisions, regardless of what’s done first, you pay a penalty for that…We’re going to help George. We’re going to help him grow up. We’re going to help him make better decisions so he can help our team…I mean, don’t be stupid…It’s just silly, it’s selfish, it’s undisciplined…But you live and you grow up and you love them.

In this case, to love the player involves helping him be more disciplined. Coach Smart recognizes that Pickens’ decisions and actions do reflect who he is, and Coach wants to help him change that. 

For the Spirit God gave us…gives us power, love and self-discipline. (2 Timothy 1.7, NIV)

But the fruit of the Spirit is…self-control. (Galatians 5.22, 23, NIV)

If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. (1 John 1.8, 9, ESV)