Why Kirby Smart's decision to kick the FG was actually the Gutsy call.

Up 20-10 late in the 4th quarter, Fromm nearly converted a 3 & 11, Smart elected to kick the field goal on 4 & 1. Despite criticism, it was the gutsy call.

It's fairly easy to play the result in life. To sit on the sidelines after a critical moment with the hindsight of the outcome and critique the decisions of others. And despite a win over a top-ten opponent, some Georgia fans are doing exactly that. 

They are questioning coach Smart's decision to kick a field goal on 4th & 1 after Jake Fromm nearly converted a 3rd & 11 with his legs. But, let me tell you why Kirby Smart actually made the gutsiest decision of all to kick that field goal. 

Georgia hadn't played a true four-quarter game since the SEC championship game back in December of last year. The Texas game wasn't close, and neither of the first three matchups of the season was either. 

So, for Coach Kirby Smart to say, "there are just under 7 minutes left in this contest, we are up 13, go prove to me you can score twice on our defense," that takes an extreme amount of confidence in your team's preparation and conditioning. 

Something that coming into this contest, no one truly knew if Georgia could maintain throughout the game. Simply because they hadn't been asked to do so in such a long time. 

And as Kirby Smart said in his post-game press conference, "You never know who you are in football, and in life, until you are tested." This Georgia football team learned a lot about themselves this weekend. 

To the fans that questioned the decision, and claim that Smart's "cautious" decision making will cost Georgia football games down the road, all I have to say is this. You haven't been paying attention to what Smart's trying to do. 

The motive is simple. Dominate the line of scrimmage, win the turnover margin, run the football, and play defense for four quarters. If that's not flashy enough for you, I hate to break it to you, things aren't changing.