Kirby Smart Receives Tragic and Devastating Personal News Following Sugar Bowl Loss
The Georgia Bulldogs saw their 2024 college football season come to an end on Thursday afternoon to the Notre Dame Fighting Irish, but that is the furthest thing from the mind of head coach Kirby Smart at this time.
It was reported on Saturday that Sonny Smart, the father of Kirby, has passed away after dealing with complications from hip surgery.
According to ESPN’s Adam Rittenberg, Smart had suffered a broken hip while walking in New Orleans before the Sugar Bowl on Dec. 31. He underwent surgery after being hospitalized, but the team announced in a statement that he saw complications with the surgery and passed away at 12:15 a.m. on Saturday.
“The Smart family treasures everyone’s thoughts and prayers and now prays for God’s comfort, strength, and guidance,” the team wrote in a statement.
Georgia coach Kirby Smart pictured with his dad Sonny Smart.
Joshua L. Jones / USA TODAY NETWORK
Sonny was well known around the Georgia community, serving as a high school coach for many years. He also traveled to games with the team for many years once Smart was named the head coach.
This is just one of the tragic events to take place surrounding the Sugar Bowl, which was delayed a day after the tragic act of terrorism on Bourbon Street that left 15 people dead and many more injured after a person drove their vehicle through a crowd of people.
