Believe them.
There's a lot of pearl clutching and teeth gnashing over two players (Mendoza and Key) who chose to make what amounts to lateral moves.
It is clear to me that neither of them wanted to come compete for the chance to be elite, they want guarantees, and made lateral moves to get them.
Playing for Kirby Smart at UGA is a privilege. Pressure is a privilege. Playing on the biggest stage in college football is a privilege. Putting great practice and game film on tape for the NFL is a privilege. Winning championships and the glory is the payoff.
Going to Indiana and Nebraska isn't competing and compared to succeeding at UGA, ain't a privilege. It is settling. It is chasing mediocrity instead of excellence.
If a player doesn't believe in himself enough to go to the Alpha program in college football and compete to be the Alpha Dawg at his position, he won't believe in himself and his teammates when he's down 2 TD's to Ohio State in the 4th quarter, down 3 TD's in Tuscaloosa, down 2 TD's to Tech, or down to Texas in the SECCG w/o their starting QB.
Guys like that get you beat, and turn your program into Nebraska or Indiana. I'll take the heart and grit of Arian Smith and Gunner Stockton over either one of them every single time.
Championship heart and meddle always beats settling for mediocrity.
When somebody tells you who they are, believe them.
As Erk used to say, FIDO.
