ATHENS, Ga. — Georgia coach Kirby Smart opened Tuesday's weekly press conference with comments about transfer running back Trevor Etienne.
Etienne, the Bulldog's projected starting running back, was arrested early Sunday morning for drunken driving, reckless driving, and other charges.
"Sometimes kids don’t make the best decisions," he said. "The older you get, the tougher the consequences of your mistakes are sometimes. He is not going to let this mistake define him. He is embarrassed, he is upset and he knows he has made a mistake. It is a teaching moment, and we think he gets better from it."
Smart said there will be "in-house" discipline in addition to the university discipline process.
"We have all the stuff we deal with in-house, and he will be under the same rules we have in-house as well as university discipline," he said. "Disappointed in his decision-making, but he is a good kid.
"I first want to reiterate what I said last week about the kid. I have really enjoyed getting to know him. I think he is a great kid and a great person. We have gotten to know his family. He enjoys being coached, and he is a bright kid. We push him hard out there, and he really loves the competition."
Eitenne transferred from Florida in December. In two seasons with the Gators, the Jennings, La. running back rushed for 1,472 yards and 14 touchdowns.
http://accesswdun.com/article/2024/3/1234759/smart-issues-comments-on-etienne-dui-arrest