By: JJ Lanier

TheSouthernSportsEdition.com news services

There aren’t too many instances in today’s society that are win/win situations.

This is especially true in sports where the entire objective is for there to be a winner and a loser.

I mean, whole articles are written about who got the better end of a trade, or who the winners/losers are of a particular draft. Every now and again, when the moons align with Endor, and the flux capacitor reaches 1.21 jigawatts, you have a situation that plays out well for both parties involved.

Case in point: when Kirby Smart replaced Mark Richt as Georgia’s football coach. To say I was critical of the Smart hire is a bit of an understatement. The phrase “Congratulations Georgia, you just hired the Romeo Crennel of college football” may have been thrown around.

But seriously, who’s keeping track, right?

It’s not that I believe Richt shouldn’t have been let go; it’s that when you consider how the administration and fan base viewed themselves on a national level, Georgia could’ve gotten a bigger name coach.

You could argue now that they still could’ve gotten a bigger coach, but almost two years in, it’s hard to argue they could’ve found a better fit.

Smart has exceeded expectations, both on the field and in recruiting.

Don’t get me wrong, it’s not that I thought Smart would take the same nosedive trajectory Butch Jones just took; I figured he would have some semblance of success. The level of success and how quickly Georgia has attained it is what I didn’t expect.

As for Mark Richt, I’m not sure even he could have imagined his release from Georgia turning out as well as it has. He’s coaching his Alma Mater, and is only a few wins away from an undefeated season, earning his Hurricanes a spot in playoffs.

Again, much like Smart and Georgia, I don’t think anyone is surprised that Richt is getting the best out of his players; he did a tremendous job during his tenure at Georgia.

But anyone who says they saw this type of season coming for Richt’s team, is about as trustworthy as Rick Pitino standing in a Foot Locker with a big briefcase.

One storyline that could be very interesting concerning both of these schools and I realize I’m shifting gears here a little, is the future of Jacob Eason.

At this point, unless an injury occurs to Jake Fromm, there is no way Eason takes another meaningful snap for the Bulldogs. With his bags probably already packed and one foot out the door, does Eason try to reconnect with the coach who originally recruited him to Athens? You’d have to imagine there is some mutual interest there?

Obviously, I don’t have any ties to the Georgia program, so I have no idea what if this is realistic or not, but if so will Smart allow him to transfer there, or will he block it like he did with AJ Turman?

Like I said, I’m completely in the dark on this, but it does add a little more intrigue to the whole situation.

Anyways, my point is in a profession where there is so much turnover and negativity, it’s nice to see an occasion where both parties actually benefit from a separation.

Of course, if Miami happens to make the playoffs over Georgia; well, I guess all good feelings must come to an end at some point.