Kirby Smart: ‘looking forward’ to next season with Tide
Alabama defensive coordinator Kirby Smart, whom many Georgia fans would love to see in the same job in Athens, made a rare appearance before the media today and said he is “looking forward” to being with the Crimson Tide again next season.
Smart, who like other Alabama assistant coaches is normally kept off-limits to the media by head coach Nick Saban, was made available at a news conference advancing Thursday’s BCS national championship game.
According to this Mobile Press-Register report from the news conference in southern California, Smart did not categorically deny interest in Georgia’s open defensive coordinator position, although that might have been because he wasn’t directly asked about it.
Here is some of what Smart did say at the press conference, according to the Press-Register:
“It’s been great. It’s been great having these players and doing this, and I’m looking forward to it next year. I mean, we’ve got a lot of good players coming back. We’re losing a lot of good ones too, but it’s something that’s special to be around, because these guys bought in and they went through some hard times. And now they’re reaping the benefits, which they deserve.”
On his head-coaching aspirations, he said:
“To be honest with you, I don’t ever think about it or worry about that. I think [longtime Florida State defensive coordinator Mickey Andrews] had a hell of a career. He’s a father figure to me. I worked for him for two years, and if I ended up coaching at Alabama for the next 30 years or however long he was at Florida State, I’d think my career was a pretty big success.
“My lifelong goal was to ultimately be a defensive coordinator, and if I ever got a chance at a head job, that would be great. But that’s not something that I’m going to draw my career and say I was a failure, I didn’t get to be a head coach or whatever. I’d be completely content with that. If a better opportunity presents itself, then obviously that’s something down the road. But young as I am, I’m happy to be where I’m at and happy to be at the University of Alabama.”
Since Georgia’s Dec. 2 firing of Willie Martinez, Smart — a former UGA player (1995-98) and assistant coach (2005) — has been at or near the top of just about every rumored list of defensive coordinators that Mark Richt would or should pursue. And if the Georgia job remains open after Thursday’s national-title game, perhaps that possibility would heat up. But to this point Smart still has given no indication he would leave Alabama for another coordinator’s job.
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356 comments Add your comment
kd4uga
January 3rd, 2010
4:50 pm
1) I think the “head coach in waiting” title is stupid. I hope UGA doesn’t stoop to that.
2) Kirby Smart is not coming to UGA.
3). Now that a lot of NFL teams are finished, look for a position coach to be named our new DC.
4) No matter who the DC is, UGA will still be mediocre as long as Bobo is OC.
5) If Bobo and the offense hadn’t put the defense in so many jams this year and last, we wouldn’t be needing a new DC. Did anybody notice the 99 yards of total offense for the 1st half of the nobodycares.com bowl in Shreveport?
Da' Da' Da' Da'
January 3rd, 2010
4:53 pm
Da’Rick Da’cant Da’catch Da’ball….
birddawg92
January 3rd, 2010
4:54 pm
If it’s an NFL guy, it better not be Bob Sanders, or whatever his name is that’s been rumored from Buffalo. I’d rather have Bill Lewis come back than that guy. Buffalo is awful, and the Sanders-or-whoever guy hasn’t coached college in over 10 years, if I remember right.
If you think Martinez was not the problem, especially after watching our D play with coaching from GA’s, Garner, and Richt in the bowl, then you just haven’t been watching UGA football games for the past 5 years.
http://www.saturdayinathens.com
Keith
January 3rd, 2010
4:55 pm
Rick = Southern Poly graduate. What a loser.
Paul The Vol
January 3rd, 2010
4:56 pm
$2.8 billion. That is the amount SEC schools share in the television contracts with CBS and ESPN. Oh and I forgot the secondary television and radio contracts and it’s the top conference for merchandising licensing fees and ticket revenue as well. So take your $14 million and go play with yourself.
Kirby Smart
January 3rd, 2010
4:57 pm
Ive already told you that Im not coming to work for a softee in CMR. Mr. Nick is Hard Nosed and doesnt allow his players tell him what uniforms they wanna wear or when to Hip Hop Dance at the Sanford Rap stadium. Get a clue fellow dawg idiots Im not coming back to a second tier program.
eponymous
January 3rd, 2010
4:59 pm
Hey 1.4 mil, why don’t you have another cosmo with your domestic partner…
Dostoyevskiy
January 3rd, 2010
4:59 pm
SEC=Sucks Every Contest
BC$
January 3rd, 2010
5:01 pm
Hey, 1.4 Million…,
Do your home work next time. Bowl money is distributed evenly throughout the respective conferences. The ACC has 1 team in a BCS bowl. The SEC has 2 teams in BCS bowls. Therefore, Tech will receive $14 million/6=$2.3 Million. UGA will receive $28 Million/10=$2.8 Million. That is not even considering that UGA prints money in Athens and most of Tech’s money goes straight to Hezbollah.
Admit it, Techies…we are better than you. Deal with it.
Go Dawgs….30-24….8 out of the past 9..
Sorry for not being sorry…
Dap01
January 3rd, 2010
5:01 pm
Is must be a sad life to be trolling on another’s team blog. Reiventing history and obsessing about UGA.
Get a life Tech fans.
Marie
January 3rd, 2010
5:02 pm
Great!!!!! Having people come to UGA to play, then go coach, for the enemies. The love of money is the root of all evil. In that case— “HOOK EM HORNS”!!!!!!!!!
DOG Brad
January 3rd, 2010
5:03 pm
30 24. Thats ALL that matters!
Hey 1.4 million
January 3rd, 2010
5:03 pm
Do you find it a lil strange that you continue to post about the Universtiy of Georgia all the time??? Do you find it a lil strange that even though Tech had a little success this yr that nobody still thinks they are a good football program??? Do you find it a lil strange that even though you had a lil success this yr UGA ran all over Georgia Tech this year??? Do you find it a lil strange that very few descent recruits even consider coming to Georgia Tech??? Thats because you guys are who everybody thinks you are……… Georgia Tech(Stepchild program in your own state)
2007 was an illusion
January 3rd, 2010
5:04 pm
Boo Boo is a joke along with Van Hangler and CMR. Doesnt matter who CMR hires. The big problems still exist.
TUCK FECH
January 3rd, 2010
5:07 pm
ACC = All coast Clear!
DAWGS 30 ACC Champ 24
LET ME HAVE IT DAWG FANS, FYI
January 3rd, 2010
5:08 pm
FRAUD ALERT== $1.4 Million = St.SIMONS= YellowFuzz
Was exposed already . TRUE POSTING
Barkin'Dog
January 3rd, 2010
5:11 pm
Smart has not given a certified NO to this offer as UGA’s DC. Even if he did, I’ve heard many coaches say they were not interested in an offer before, or that they were happy where they were, only to leave and accept better offers (ie. Saban, more than once). It isn’t over ’til it’s over. Was it over when the Germans bombed Pearl Harbor?
Da' Da' Da' Da'
January 3rd, 2010
5:12 pm
Where is Da’ Rick ? is he gonna Da’ dance at Da’ Sanford????? Its Hip HOP Saturday in Da’Athens !
Big Sack Dawg
January 3rd, 2010
5:16 pm
Yes Dawg nation,sad to say we thought St. Simons went to that great bee-hive in the sky.
I saw recently where $1.4Million was proven to be St. Simons.
He doesn’t have money to be in Miami, play golf , etc. Ialso know he DID NOT attend or graduate from GT. Sono, he hasnt gone away. He was here all along.
AltamahaDawg
January 3rd, 2010
5:16 pm
Birddawg, I’ve been watching football for the past 5 yrs, as well as decades, and the defense I saw in the bowl was identical to what I’ve seen all year. What differences did you see?
I also saw the same offense that was just as eratic as it has been all year, costing us a few ballgames. And almost did again. What is your take on that?
Ali Akabar U.
January 3rd, 2010
5:17 pm
Is there a question in anyone’s mind that “$1.4 million Shreveport vs. our $14 million BCS Orange bowl” is St. Simon’s resurrected from his crying jag over the 30-24 thumping his Yellow Turds took at the hands of the mighty Dawgs. That’s now 8 out of the last 9 and 5 straight at Bobby Dodd. UGA won the ACC Championship and didn’t even have to play in the conference. LMAO!!!!
In case you forgot (((30-24))), now suck on that for the next year!!!!!
Tech Real Fans Are..
January 3rd, 2010
5:19 pm
Saying Da’ Da’ Da’ Da’ and have been for the last 9 friggin years, huh BOY
tech fan
January 3rd, 2010
5:19 pm
Doral? Try Augusta National RV boys.
Can you dig it?
January 3rd, 2010
5:20 pm
Hey $1.4 million….
Tech Real Fans Are..
January 3rd, 2010
5:20 pm
Pi$$ed
adawg2006
January 3rd, 2010
5:21 pm
I have family that work in the ticket office, and they have seen Kirby smart in and out of there at least 5 times in past month. Same with Tommy Tubbs. Rumor is we have already signed Kirby, but upon his wishes waiting till after the NTG to announce it. So get ready to welcome Kirby back to Athens!!! And why are Tech fans on this blog if they are so “turnt up” in Miami right now?? 7 out of 8 and 15 out of 19!!! Enjoy the worse BCS game in the history of the BCS!!! I’m sure the ratings will be through the roof!!!!
Tech Real Fans Are..
January 3rd, 2010
5:23 pm
on I-285, (for the 8th time around) looking for their exit to get to the urange bowl parking lot.
Mark Olsen
January 3rd, 2010
5:25 pm
HAHA, posting from South Beach about UGA!!! A little obsessed????? Oh and nice job on the 3 A’s….(did you really post that?)
Tech Real Fans Are..
January 3rd, 2010
5:28 pm
changing their do-nut spare tire to make it to Candler Road exit. they think VIP parking is 2 miles south of I-285. Scratching their bug head wondering why Marta park and ride is close by. No fear , they feel at home now.
DR.J
January 3rd, 2010
5:28 pm
Popular urban myths…Santa Claus, global warming and the strength of GaTek football….face slapped by a mediocre Dawg team…ouch.
LET ME HAVE IT DAWG FANS, FYI
January 3rd, 2010
5:31 pm
$1.4 Million here…………. You smart a$$ doggies have figured me out, so I guess I will have to change my handle one more time.
2007 was an illusion
January 3rd, 2010
5:32 pm
Yea Global Warming is a myth just like its so cold outside like UGAs last 1980 MNC…..Burrrrrrrrrrr
Tech Real Fans Are..
January 3rd, 2010
5:33 pm
Still not in a bwl game mood. What if we get throttled by Iowa?
Can we still project ourselves as a good football team?
GSP Dawg
January 3rd, 2010
5:35 pm
Adawg: I don’t buy it. There isn’t any reason for Smart to come into Athens 5 times, too much exposure. He can take care of most of his business over the phone. I’m not saying CMR isn’t making a run at him. but visiting 5 times is wishful thinking. Tubberville basically applied for the Texas Tech job on national TV the other day. Personally, I hope Smart’s the man, but I ain’t counting on it. I think its a NFL coach or a DC from a team in another conference.
Tech Real Fans Are..
January 3rd, 2010
5:35 pm
asking 2007 was an illusion-
Did that blue grass in Boise taste good?
Mydog1
January 3rd, 2010
5:35 pm
Tech. May God bless you.
Only alumni who are over 50 still walking around talking about their grades and SAT scores.
Inferiority is a sad condition.
yoda
January 3rd, 2010
5:37 pm
To the few dozen techies really in Miami…why only a tech Geek would be in SoFla and be on a laptop instead of getting some honey…guess techies just would rather play with their stingers
Tech Real Fans Are..
January 3rd, 2010
5:38 pm
mugged on side of I-285
Tech Real Fans Are..
January 3rd, 2010
5:39 pm
Not liking what yoda said . no , sir
Bo Williams
January 3rd, 2010
5:39 pm
Man I hate where my job takes me. I have to drive through SC and Ga. to get to my work in Fl. It takes hours to wash off the stupid which collects on my fenders from driving so close to Clemson, SC., and Uga.
Tech Real Fans Are..
January 3rd, 2010
5:40 pm
yoda -correct yourself.Only 2 dozen tekkies in miami
Big time?? Not
January 3rd, 2010
5:40 pm
Four tickets, four hot dogs, four cokes
LET ME HAVE IT DAWG FANS, FYI
January 3rd, 2010
5:42 pm
$1.4 Million is still around. Try to guess which DA he is.
Tech Real Fans Are..
January 3rd, 2010
5:43 pm
Madder than you think.
Tech Real Fans Are..
January 3rd, 2010
5:44 pm
Bo williams on a moped
J
January 3rd, 2010
5:45 pm
Andy in Blairsville, I thought cordinator was a typing error, but you did it twice. How’s that Union Co. High and Tech spelling working out for you?
UGA FAN
January 3rd, 2010
5:47 pm
I sick and tired to UGA fans posting the 30 -24 score of which we beat tech. When we are able to Consistantly beat Florida, Alabama LSU on a regular basis. We have something to boast about. Damn a state championship. That’s want high schoolers aspire to win. What about a National Champoinship. Then and only then can be boast.
Big Sack Dawg
January 3rd, 2010
5:47 pm
When I drive down North Ave. I not only get stupid on my fenders, Ihope and pray no one steals my fenders.
BC$
January 3rd, 2010
5:48 pm
Correction: Tech will receive $14/12=$1.16 Mil vs. UGA’s $2.8 mil….
Plus, Tech alumni don’t travel well to bowl games because they are all on the “No-Fly List”…
Big Sack Dawg
January 3rd, 2010
5:50 pm
UGA FAN, Don’t tell me you didn’t smile when we beat the buggies. I guess it gets to be old news,huh.