Alabama defensive back Maurice Smith would like to transfer to Georgia. His mother said Alabama is blocking the transfer. Smith’s desire to leave the Tide has come at a personal cost to him.
In a push back against arcane transfer rules -- there is no explanation for why Kirby Smart can leave Alabama for Georgia with no penalty while Smith can’t except for “we’ve always done it that way” -- it has been pointed out Alabama allowed wide receiver Chris Black was allowed to transfer to Missouri without a crimson blockade.
Alabama offered this explanation on Thursday:
Alabama on Chris Black and Maurice Smith. pic.twitter.com/cc6HMdwJUf
— Aaron Suttles (@AaronSuttles) August 4, 2016
Still, Alabama could allow Smith to transfer to Georgia if it wanted. It just doesn’t.
Translation: One wasn't going to play and we doubt Mizzou will make the SECCG. The other was and UGA, well, maybe. https://t.co/ZgtzLwdSUs
— Andy Staples (@Andy_Staples) August 4, 2016
Of course, Smart and Georgia have no leg to stand on. Earlier this off-season, the exact same scenario played itself out in Athens, except it was an even less inconvenient scenario for the Bulldogs.
Georgia running back A.J. Turman wanted to rejoin Mark Richt at Miami. Smart didn’t let him. Turman ended up at Florida Atlantic, and what went around finally came around.