Mark Richt, Kirby Smart launch Chick-fil-A Dawg Bowl to fundraise for Parkinson's Disease research

Georgia head coach Kirby Smart is joining former Bulldogs coach Mark Richt in his fight against Parkinson’s.

Smart announced on Monday that he and Richt are teaming up for the Chick-fil-A Dawg Bowl. The VIP bowling fundraiser will take place on Oct. 18 in Athens, with proceeds benefiting Parkinson’s research that is taking place at Georgia.

Those interested in donating can do so by clicking here. Mark Richt spoke about the event prior to Smart’s press conference on Monday, and Smart also offered a few thoughts.

“What a great cause. It means a lot to me,” Kirby Smart said. “When coach Richt reached out and asked about doing that, we’ve been all on board. Obviously letting our players participate. My grandfather had Parkinson’s, and I can remember him going through that experience. It’s touched everybody’s lives in some way, shape or form. So anything we can do to give back to that. … We’re going to fill up that bowling alley with everybody we can.”

There will be 32 lanes at the event, and a Georgia player will be on each of the lanes, serving as a celebrity bowler. The fundraiser will feature teams of four, plus the one celebrity bowler.

The event will take place during Georgia’s bye week on Wednesday after the Vanderbilt game. Each participant from the winning team will receive a championship belt, including the Georgia player.

According to Richt, over $500,000 has already been raised through the event. The goal is to reach $1 million. All donations are tax deductible.

Kirby Smart compliments Mark Stoops, Kentucky ahead of matchup

Georgia still has a couple of games to play before the upcoming fundraiser later this month. Smart alluded to the matchup with Vanderbilt, but before it, the Bulldogs will host Kentucky on Saturday.

This is one of the tougher remaining games on Georgia’s schedule, as the Wildcats are undefeated and fresh off a beatdown of Florida on Saturday.

Smart said ahead of this week’s matchup that he is impressed with Kentucky and its head coach Mark Stoops.

“That’s Mark Stoops’ team. They’re going to be physical. He’s a defensive coach. They run the rock,” explained Smart. “I always said, our kids are the most sore they’ve been after playing Kentucky. It was that way last year. It was a bloodbath up there last year. It’ll be the same way.

“I have so much respect for the way his team plays. The back they got (Ray Davis), I heard that he’s playing really good.”