Was Saban sending a message to Smart?
Just listened to audio of Nick Saban’s final press conference in Pasadena today before he and the national champions flew back to Alabama.
Thought you’d be interested in Saban’s comments pertaining to assistant coaches making lateral career moves.
You could certainly interpret the remarks as pointed advice to Kirby Smart that he shouldn’t leave the defensive-coordinator job at Alabama for the same job at Georgia.
Said Saban:
“I’m always happy and interested for our coaches to be able to advance professionally, especially if it is a professional advancement in terms of a guy being a coordinator who can go be a head coach in a situation where he has a chance to be successful. . . .
“I’m not pleased when guys make lateral moves because it’s a little bit human nature to think, like my dad used to say, the grass is always greener on top of the septic tank. You always think it’s better someplace else. You kind of let your ego get involved, and you make moves that you shouldn’t make and really aren’t in your best interests for a career standpoint. So I’m not happy when guys do that. But anybody on our staff who can move up, we would like to help them do that.”
There were reports Thursday, including one during the telecast of the national-title game, that Texas Tech planned to interview Smart for its vacant head-coaching job. But Texas Tech’s president and athletics director denied the reports Thursday and again Friday.
Click here for a blog from earlier today on how long it had been since Georgia was unranked in the final polls.
And please follow me on Twitter for the latest UGA news and notes.
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425 comments Add your comment
St. Bernard
January 8th, 2010
7:39 pm
Funny how people keep dogging GA people, seeing as how Kirby Smart is a “GA person”.
mike
January 8th, 2010
7:42 pm
News flash….Winners are @ssholes to the weak at heart!! (EX:Saban, Belichik, Shanahan, etc.). Saban takes now prisoners and every asst. coach knows what is required before they work for him. He brings them in, busts their balls, wins alot, and they move on as better coaches. Kirby runs the defense with Saban’s finger print all over it. If Smart comes to GEORGIA as DC it would be a step up because he is BAMA’s DC in title only. In Athens, Kirby could RUN the defense just like Muschamp does at TEXAS. Saban wants him to stay so he won’t have rebuild his National Championship coaching Staff, but he knows that’s life in big time college football.
I’m just glad Colt McCoy had enough pride not to cry and and didn’t ask god to bless us/him!
mgdawg
January 8th, 2010
7:46 pm
Why’s everyone talking about smart being the head coach in waiting? Richt is still pretty young, he’s not bobby bowden or mack brown.
Jon
January 8th, 2010
7:49 pm
Saban didn’t mention Kirby Smart is not a fan of the DL coach Garner who Richt continues to keep because he can recruit. You don’t leave a high flying corporation for a lateral move, especially when it’s a sinking ship. Richt will be under pressure in 2010 to win the east title.
gadawgs
January 8th, 2010
7:55 pm
“I’m not pleased when guys make lateral moves because it’s a little bit human nature to think, like my dad used to say, the grass is always greener on top of the septic tank.”.. Nick Saban
Hey Nick-News flash buddy who cares if you are not pleased. This is not about you it’s about CKS and his family. They need to do what pleases them NOT you, your highness. Give me a break and get over yourself.
smitty
January 8th, 2010
7:58 pm
how mant lateral moves has saban made?
Ole Yeller Dawg
January 8th, 2010
8:01 pm
All you Bammers out there…….think you can compete with USC? Once Pete Carroll leaves for the Seattle Seahawks…..USC is will be looking for a HC…….Hm-mm lets see…..you better hope they don’t offer the Saban 7 million….he will be gone in a heart beat!!! Ask the fans at LSU…..I can
see it coming!!!
Sorry to poop on your party.
CPJ IS IN SCHULTZIE'S HALL OF FAME
January 8th, 2010
8:01 pm
ITS ALL ABOUT WHAT’S GOOD FOR NICK…HE HAS NEVER HAD ANY LOYALTY TO A PLACE OR A JOB, BUT HE EXPECTS KIRBY TO DO WHAT HELPS NICK THE MOST…AT THE BAPTIST CHURCH, THEY CALL PEOPLE WHO SAY ONE THING BUT DO ANOTHER A HYPOCRITE…DO AS I SAY DO, NOT AS I DO….
The Truth
January 8th, 2010
8:04 pm
Seems to me Nick has done good for every organization he has worked for. Even imporved Miami’s record which was dismal.
If winning NC’s is selfish, bring it on. Keeping a coach who is failing who is a good ole church boy is selfish and foolish.
Katie
January 8th, 2010
8:05 pm
Tell Colt McCoy not to feel bad about getting knocked out early. There ’s a line of QB’s who didn’t “won’t anymore” from the Tide defense and took themselves out of the game. Arkansas QB Mallet, Ole Miss QB Snead, LSU QB all had to leave the game early and Tebow wept on the side lines.
Kirby won’t leave unless it’s a springboard for a HC position. Georgia is in no hurry to push Richt out the door and you can bet Kirby Smart ain’t leaving this great job for the same in Athens. Richt has already laid out the time table if your paying attention. It leads to UGA signing a NFL assistant. Tick tock- a month and 10 days and counting. How many times will Georgia be left at the alter with an empty sack?
JRS "81"
January 8th, 2010
8:10 pm
Bama Dave….. 4 years ago you were that sinking ship. And, 4 years before that you were that sinking ship. 1 good year does not make you sussessful. If lying to recuits, and asst. coaches is what it takes, Satan is one of the best. And before you argue about my recruit statement, look at how many of his recuits are no longer there (from 2 years ago). And next year he will have to run more off to make room for this years class. And then same the next year.Look and the UNA, and Troy rosters. A lot of those kids were signed by BAMA then sent away the next year.
Ole Yeller Dawg
January 8th, 2010
8:12 pm
YOU READ IT HERE FIRST:
Next big Lateral move NICK SABAN from Alabama to USC!
You can turn out the lights because the party is over!!!!!!
JRS "81"
January 8th, 2010
8:15 pm
“Smitty” you are so right. As a Head Coach, he has never stayed anywhere 4 years. Never once seen his first recuiting class graduate.
Donnie
January 8th, 2010
8:16 pm
Georgia will always be the Michigan State of the South. Once you goobers realize your destiny is 9-3 to 8-4 seasons with maybe a 10-2 sprinkled in you will stop being delusional. Your program hasn’t won a NC since Saint Richt took over in 2000. 10 years of dreaming. Heck, you can’t even win the SEC East title anymore. Gator Bait!!! LOL. Meanwhile, all these SEC teams are stockpiling NC titles. And your wondering why these DC’s are turning your school down. LMAO.
still443
January 8th, 2010
8:24 pm
Who really gives a rip what SATAN says? This monkey has changed jobs laterally, be it head coach position for head coach position. Not to mention the jobs he’s quit when things didn’t go his way. The head clown of Alabama.
Techster
January 8th, 2010
8:24 pm
Funny to see some of these dawg fans taking digs at Saban after he and the bammers roll to a national championship. Saban should be giving career advice since every single move he made was a logical career promotion to a higher level. Kent state to Mich state to Lsu to Miami dolphins. The only downward move was back to college because he realized he didn’t like coaching pro players. Nothing wrong with that. Spurrier did the same as did Pete Carroll, Lou Holtz, and others just to name a few. The man knows a lot more about intelligent career moves then the bozo bulldog fans trying to take potshots at him for advising Smart to stay at Bama or take a promotion to a head job. And why in the hell would anyone ever ponder leaving an elite championship program like Bama to go to a notorious middle of the pack loser program like georgia. Are you kidding me? 30 years and counting you losers!
Techster
January 8th, 2010
8:25 pm
St. Bernard,
Kirby smart is a native Alabamian. He was born there idiot.
Ole Yeller Dawg
January 8th, 2010
8:29 pm
Techster:
Yeah, born in Alabama but grew up in Bainbridge Georgia!
Bama fan
January 8th, 2010
8:30 pm
Old Yeller dawg,
Saban took a downgrade in pay to come to bama from Miami you idiot. If its all about money only then why did he take a paycut moron? And btw, Saban’s daughter just started as a freshman at Bama this year, he committed a million to the university to be distributed over 10 years, and he approached bama before the season started to ask for a contract extension through 2016. Does that sound like someone looking to leave you mindless fool? Oh, one more thing. His wife has declared that they are done moving and the man’s wife has more influence than anybody. Now STFU you blithering idiots.
SuperB
January 8th, 2010
8:31 pm
Hey Saban: Two things:
1. Why did you run the score up last night? (You should have taken the knee when you led 31-21.)
2. Smart is a Georgia graduate. Unlike yourself– he is not a coaching “gypsy” and may actually have loyalty to something other than himself– which you do not.
3. Who would rather spend the rest of their life in Tuscaloosa instead of a beautiful city like Athens.
I’LL BET YOU DON’T SPEND THE REST OF YOURS IN TUSCALOOSA. (ANYTHING YOU WANNA BET.)
Neal Upandeater
January 8th, 2010
8:32 pm
Kirby Smart would be smart to leave the devil and return to the promised land.
Joe M
January 8th, 2010
8:38 pm
Funny how Saban has done, numerous times, exactly what he says he doesn’t like to see done.
bart
January 8th, 2010
8:39 pm
If Smart has any sense at all he’ll get the hell out of Tuscaloosa. Saban is a jerk.
Flo-Ri-Duh!
January 8th, 2010
8:41 pm
Krby Smart will have to get at least a 25% pay raise to leave Bama because Bama will match anything smaller to keep him there. UGA is building their defense now and Bama’s is returning a built defense. Saban is the best recruiter in the SEC. That makes things easier for the assistants. UGA has been spotty in their recruiting – mising out on several in state stars. Saban rarely lets one get away in Alabama.
Flo-Ri-Duh!
January 8th, 2010
8:43 pm
If Smart interviews for the UGA job he had better take it – Saban won’t appreciate him even looking around – though Saban has done the same himself many times.
dagnabit
January 8th, 2010
8:49 pm
HALL OF FAME! I went to a baptist church for a while. Could not stomach the hypocracy. And Mark Richt; get Urban’s toilet paper out of your azz and find somebody. Anybody who will go to Athens.
Gator in the Hootch
January 8th, 2010
8:52 pm
Say what you want Georgai fans, but at least Saban and Meyer have coaches on their staffs that other programs want, and want mostly as their head coaches. No one wants any of Mark Richt’s coaches…wonder why?
Technophobia
January 8th, 2010
8:58 pm
Saban: “like my dad used to say, the grass is always greener on top of the septic tank (UGA).” ROFLMAO
Ole Yeller Dawg
January 8th, 2010
8:59 pm
Bama fan:
There’s a difference from Ole & Old undoubtedly you can’t read but I not going stoop to your level by calling you names.
You need to quit worrying about your DC and start worrying about your HC because there is greener grass in California!
Wait and see there is no loyalty with these coaches too much “ego” it’s just “Quid Pro Quo”
I hope he stays at Alabama, I hope Meyer comes back to coach at UF. We want to compete against the best.
By the way I was pulling for Alabama (we have friends on the team) in the NC game so exactly how much of a Moron or Idiot can one be?
Debate without the name calling and you will sound a whole more intelligent.
Gator in the Hootch
January 8th, 2010
9:01 pm
P.S….after Saturday’s Army HS game, Meyer will put a seal on this year’s number one recruiting class. In fact, this year’s Gator recruiting class may go down as one of the best recruiting classes ever in about 3 to 4 years. Meyer is such a great recruiting that Pete Caroll is giving up and heading to the pros. Saban will be next…just joking Bama fans…Saban is done with the NFL…till someone offers him 8 mill a year…which may be soon.
Lieutenant Dan
January 8th, 2010
9:03 pm
CMR needs to refocus on his football program versus saving third world countries, selling Ford ( Dawg Tough ) trucks and carpet up in Dalton. There is something missing in his committment compared to just a couple of years ago.
Should Know Better
January 8th, 2010
9:04 pm
Ole Yeller…Bama fan insults everyone and everything. It is just his back woods Bama way of doing things. He don’tt no no beter then tat!
Bama fan
January 8th, 2010
9:06 pm
SuperB,
The lead was only 10 pts and frankly if you can’t stop a dive play between the tackles from several yards out then too bad. Saban has had Bama take a knew at least 3 times this season when Bama was inside the opponents 10 yd line VT, Ole Miss, Miss st, so STFU. And as mack brown said once when he was queried about running up the score “Well, if you don’t want the score run up then put out on the field a defense that won’t let you run the score up”.
Joe M,
Exactly how many times did Saban do what he just mentioned you should never do which is take a lateral job? Are you just stupid or what? Kent to Mich state to LSU to Miami are all job promotions you moron. Only Miami to Bama was a downward move and that was because he found he didn’t enjoy coaching pro players. Dam you are stupid.
He Hate Gator
January 8th, 2010
9:09 pm
Saban’s comments border on the bizarre…as someone who has made several lateral moves…
mike addington
January 8th, 2010
9:11 pm
Fire Richt. Hire Van Gorder.
Bama fan
January 8th, 2010
9:14 pm
Should know better,
Nope. I just insult blithering stupidity and some of the comments coming from these dawg fans are utterly stupid. Ole yeller, the idea that saban is going to usc is so preposterous I don’t even know where to begin. Where did you get your “inside” information. Did the USC president tell you this? Fact is there is no factual basis for your nonsense. You just spout gibberish that you just made up out of thin air. Guess what? I just heard CMR is going to Clemson. Trust me. He’s going to Clemson. See how easy that was. What’s my factual basis. None. Just something I heard or it just sounds like a good fit. But I did hear that Richt is gone at the end of the year. That much is true. He will be gone after another 7-5 8-4 year and you can bank on that. I heard it from several sources. And the idea that CMR will be gone after next year is far more realistic than some crazy arse saban to USC idea. Man you guys are dumb.
bull dykes
January 8th, 2010
9:15 pm
we need rosie odonnel to run our bull dykes team!
He Hate Gator
January 8th, 2010
9:16 pm
No, the only “promotion” was from Kent to anywhere…the rest were lateral head coaching moves to different scenarios…
Bama fan
January 8th, 2010
9:17 pm
Gator in the hooch,
Nope. For the reasons I listed above about his daughter starting at bama, his gift to the school, his asking for a contract extension, he’s stuck at bama and his wife and family want it that way. We’re looking forward to lots of great games vs your gators in the future. Florida has incredible depth and talent and I don’t see them dropping any time soon. Its you and me for the forseeable future pardner.
Hbtd
January 8th, 2010
9:22 pm
Sounds like a done deal to me. Welcome home Kirby!
Bama fan
January 8th, 2010
9:28 pm
He hate gator,
The only promotion was from kent to Mich state. You can’t possibly be serious? Mich st is the little brother to Michigan in a state that is not exactly talent rich. LSU is a talent rich state and is the only big boy program in the state. To say that Mich st to LSU is not a job promotion is just asinine. And LSU to a plum pro job like the Dolphins is not a promotion. Sorry dude but I know of no one who wouldn’t consider a jump from college to pro a job promotion. Can I have some of the crack or whatever it is that you and old yeller are smoking?
Kirby Smart
January 8th, 2010
9:31 pm
I am not interested in a lateral move. But a head job sounds good.
Techster
January 8th, 2010
9:31 pm
Saban’s comments were bizarre? Wasn’t he right in referring to jawja as a septic tank? Anybody see all the trash on the north side of the campus after the georgia games. Septic tank? Judging by those AJC pics of all the trash all over the campus I think so.
Bama fan
January 8th, 2010
9:33 pm
Kirby,
A lateral move would be foolish but if the pull of your alma mater says to do it then go do it. You played ball at Georgia and you need to go there if mama is calling. Besides, not you or anything else can stop that sinking ship and despite the good job you did here there’s nothing you’ll be able to do to stop the gator dominance over your alma mater. Good luck though.
SEC piggy back Dawg fan
January 8th, 2010
9:38 pm
Any news on a DC for UGA???? What seems to be the problem ?
SEC piggy back Dawg fan
January 8th, 2010
9:43 pm
When sewage floats to the top it makes the grass greener in one area. What a nice jab about our inept coach CMR from Saban . Saban is truly a genius.
jesse james
January 8th, 2010
9:43 pm
I would respect Saban’s comments alot more if he had not made so many moves. I’m not sure he is in a position to advise anyone. He is lucky he has had people like Kirby Smart follow him around. I am sure they have learned alot from him, but in turn guys have been loyal to him.
Colt McCoy
January 8th, 2010
9:54 pm
if Colt would have played then Bama would be crying like Tebow – silly biatches. You got lucky that my agent told me not to play the rest of the game and Saban came up with the money he owed me.
Ole Yeller Dawg
January 8th, 2010
9:55 pm
Bama fan;
Who is the best collegiate football coach in the nation? Everybody knows it’s Nick Saban! He’s a recruiting genius! The master!
Pete Carroll is negotiating with the Seahawks as we speak, this is almost a done deal. He is as good as gone!!!!
USC is considered by many to be the one of the top institutes in the nation or at least athletically. Once they start looking for a coach…..do you really think they will settle for second best?
Come on Bama fan add 2&2 together….Duh????? Think about Sabans defense in the PAC10….very interesting I might add. Think he would be challenged….I do.
The only hope & prayer you might have, is if the NCAA comes down so hard on USC with so many sanctions that Saban would be discouraged from going.
Dumb, Idiot, Moron whats next?
Will Dawg
January 8th, 2010
9:59 pm
First Tech fans go to pocket protector repair blog with your one dimensional o and turkey necked coach. 30-24, 73-66,
Donnie you jorted out @$$clown, MSU of the south? That was UF until Spurrier. You geniuses ran him off. Yeah Urban has 2 titles. those will do him alot of good when he falls dead of a heart attack and Tebow is nowhere around to lay hands on him and revive him. You are done. Hope you’ve enjoyed your reign.
Saban will leave to NFL before 2012 or USC if Carroll jumps. ’round the bowl down the hole roll tide roll.