Georgia Bulldogs head coach Kirby Smart may have taken a subtle shot at the Tennessee Vols on Saturday after UGA’s win over the Alabama Crimson Tide in the SEC Championship Game.

Over the last week, there’s been a lot of discussion about some comments that Vols quarterback Joey Aguilar made about Tennessee’s practice habits.

Aguilar told reporters after the Vols’ loss to Vanderbilt last weekend that Tennessee needs to “attack practice every day more seriously.”

“I would just probably say our week of preparation,” said Aguilar. “Some days we’re really good at practice. Some days we’re a little slower. And I mean, that carries on to game days. So, I think what we got to do is just attack the week like it’s your last. I mean, sometimes it could be your last, sometimes it can’t.

“We’re grateful that we are able to keep on going, but I think we just got to attack practice every day more seriously. And not saying that we don’t, but I mean there’s an extra level of urgency that we can have attacking practice week by week. So I would just say that.”

Aguilar’s comments come a month after On3’s Chris Low reported that some within the Tennessee program feel the team’s practices aren’t physical enough.

“One source told On3 that one of the biggest concerns among some within the program is that the practices throughout the entire year, not just the season, aren’t physical enough and that there’s not enough contact,” reported Low in November.

Kirby Smart’s practice comments after beating Alabama felt like a shot at Tennessee

Moments before accepting the SEC Championship trophy on Saturday, while being interviewed by ESPN’s Laura Rutledge, Smart made it a point to talk about how much his team loves to practice.

“A couple of them just told me they want to go back and practice tonight,” said Smart. “They said they want to get out there tonight and get a bloody Tuesday (practice) when we get back home. That’s the kind of mentality this team has. They want to practice some more. They want to practice some more. They love contact, and we love them.”

Georgia’s practices under Smart are known for being extremely intense, with quarterback Gunner Stockton even saying last month that he sometimes gets more nervous for a Friday practice than the actual game.

Smart, like every coach in the SEC, is well aware of what’s being said about teams around the conference. And since Tennessee is one of Georgia’s primary competitors on the recruiting trail, it’s not a surprise that Smart is trying to subtly take advantage of the narrative surrounding the Vols’ practice habits (great recruiters are always looking for any small advantage they can use).

Injuries prevented Tennessee from practicing the way it probably wanted to this season. But regardless of the injuries, it’s clear from Aguilar’s comments and Low’s report that Tennessee needs to up the intensity in practice. Otherwise, it’ll continue to negatively impact the Volunteers on the recruiting trail and on Saturdays.

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