Since the start of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, college administrators and coaches from the 14 SEC schools have met virtually to discuss how to best navigate and prepare for a season where so much uncertainty still remains.

However, that hasn’t been the only topic of discussion.

Identifying ways to address the current social climate as it pertains to student-athletes, and finding ways for young men and women, along with athletic department staff, a way to voice their feelings is also a huge part of what’s being done.

“We (SEC athletic directors and coaches) have a meeting once a week,” Athletic Director Greg McGarity told UGASports. “We get into programming, some of it is just bringing them up to date on NCAA legislation, NCAA protocol, but also there’s an element of programming that deals with all the social issues that we’re dealing with now. It’s not as much competition-wise, but more or less than we can deal with the issues in today’s society.”

Those steps are already being taken at Georgia and continue to be an area that the University takes extremely seriously.

“I think it’s essential to create a space where not only staff, but student-athletes can express themselves and I think Kirby (Smart) has done a great job of allowing that space,” McGarity said. “We’ve had a small luncheon with our administrative staff, along with some representatives of the football team to listen and learn. I think all our coaches are having discussions with their respective teams regarding creating a space and making sure that within our athletic department that we have an environment where bias and bigotry have no place in our program.”

McGarity said the discussions have proven beneficial for everybody involved.

“We want to learn and if the student-athletes have problems or have had instances, we want to learn and create that space where these young people can articulate how they feel,” he said. “It’s been really beneficial, first to create that space, and to let them know that they’re going to be fully supported at the University of Georgia, not only in athletics but as a university as a whole.”

McGarity said of the examples of prejudice he heard from the school’s African-American representatives, most occurred back home and not only on campus itself.

“I think it’s more so at home, or growing up in their environments,” McGarity said. “I would say it’s much more focused on things they experienced away from campus, situations that affected their family, a family member, friends that they’ve had to experience as a black person, which has been enlightening and has been educational for everyone.”

Athletes aren’t the only ones whose concerns are being addressed.

Wednesday, McGarity said the athletic department will hold a second meeting - this time as a face-to-face in the team meeting room - for members of the respective maintenance, operations, building services, grounds and custodial services.

“We had a great meeting the first time and there’s another meeting tomorrow just to give staff a chance to express themselves and talk about various instances that they had growing up; things that are educational for all of us,” McGarity said. “It’s been very helpful.”

Earlier in the day, the UGAA sent out an email from McGarity to donors where he addressed the ongoing voluntary workouts and some thoughts on the upcoming football campaign.

Of note, the fact that mandatory workouts can begin on July 15 leading up to preseason practice starting on Aug. 9.

You can read the entire statement below:

McGarity told UGASports that everyone continues to keep their fingers crossed.

“July is a critical time,” McGarity said. “Really, any day is critical moving forward, from the day the young men and young women entered the voluntary space, all of its critical. It’s not that it’s building up, it’s just every day is critical as you evaluate and prepare to play football.”

So far, it’s full speed ahead.

McGarity said that the conference continues to closely watch the situation and weekly Zoom meetings with his contemporaries from around the league are starting to refocus on some of the logistical challenges, including the chances for fans, once the season ultimately gets underway.

“I think the discussions that we’ll have next in the next two or three weeks will be about moving forward with our fall sports, what does that look like as far as competition, what it looks like as far as attendance, schedules, things along those lines,” he said. “There’s still a lot to discuss, but I’m sure by the end of July or early August, we’ll have some clarity as to what the fall looks like.”