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
warpath1
January 9th, 2010
8:30 am
Who gives a rip what your title is when you are offered twice what you are making. They could call me a grad assist. for all I care.
Troof
January 9th, 2010
8:35 am
Wow, the jealousy of these Dawg fans is sad. I guess not winning a NC in 30 years will do that to you. No, Saban isn’t leaving Bama for USC. And UGA will never have the history Bama has with regards to football. If Smart does the dumb thing and leaves for Athens then good luck to him. Saban will find another DC. It’s not the end of the world.
UGA needs to worry about actually winning the SEC East again before talking smack about Bama. If not Richt will be the next one in the unemployment line with Martinez.
ROLL TIDE ROLL!
Dap01
January 9th, 2010
8:36 am
Saban is so warm and fuzzy. Read his lips on the sideline during games. The words that he say is disgusting. Consider the fact that after leaving (yes Alabama, he will leave you) one of his past jobs, he sent a private jet back to pickup all assistants that would want a job. The jet returned empty.
Dap01
January 9th, 2010
8:41 am
Saban is hypocritical considering his job hopping resume. I now understand the Nick Satan remarks.
Hey Florida fans, why didn’t Colt cry the other night?
bird
January 9th, 2010
8:44 am
ROLL TIDE HATERS! YALL CAN HAVE SMART, WE DON’T NEED HIM! BRING COACH KINES BACK.. You know you’re back when the ajc has a daily story focusing on Bama or Saban. Ga fans kill me trying to act like they didnt act the same way when Bama was rock bottom and you were winning all those regular season games with Greene, Pollack, Shock, etc. Get out of here with all that Bama be Humble crap! In the words of Mel that calls 680 all the time “Yall some fruitcakes man!”
A pastor in waiting
January 9th, 2010
8:47 am
At Bama, if Kirby stays with Saban for maybe one or two more years, they win another NC and Saban bolts for who knows where. Thing is that maybe KS would NOT get the H job there. This is called strategic planning kids. Long term, not one short term, big pay day then gone, kind of thinking.It is called career planning. The right decision could ensure that Kirby is in one job for a long, long time. This is key to it all.
At UGA ……………..Kirby gets a great pay raise as the DC and a three or four year contract …….CMR tells him with Evans blessing that “you are the head pastor, Um, I mean Head Coach in waiting”. Richt wants BADLY to win another SEC title and all that comes with that and then, he walks away toward his Christian missionary work and leaves KS as the head man at UGA.
THIS is a deal that any young firebrand coach would take at his alma mater. This is why KS will be the UGA DC.The fanbase wants this to happen and after all, it IS ENTERTAINMENT and you keep your audience happy. Besides, Kirby’s wife played basketball for UGA and she loves Athens and his family is in the north Ga mtns,etc. It is called lifestyle gang. Lifestyle is the new nirvana for young folks.
Speaking of nirvana, go UGA Dogs!!! Woof,woof, woof.
bird
January 9th, 2010
8:49 am
Yall must have thought Paul Finebaum was playing when he said Mark Richts’ seat was getting warm? Word to the wise: He wasn’t playing!
JimDawg
January 9th, 2010
8:51 am
I see a blue carpeted field in bowl future of tech….
GaGator
January 9th, 2010
8:53 am
Did Saban really call UGA a septic tank?
bamabird
January 9th, 2010
8:54 am
I think so GaGator..lol!
GayGator
January 9th, 2010
8:58 am
What’s saban’s record vs UGA? hahaha……
WoodstockDawg02
January 9th, 2010
9:01 am
When the dawgs have bama, tech, and gator fans whining on our blog then things are heading in the right direction. Gooooooo Dawgs, Sic em!!!!!!
At first I thought there is no way Kirby leaves bama to come back but the more I hear satan talk the more I think he will actually do it. Who could or would want to work for this epic douche.
reality bites
January 9th, 2010
9:05 am
Don’t worry, Smart would have to be a total idiot to leave Bama for a 4th or 5th SEC East program…he knows he has it good.
Evansdawg
January 9th, 2010
9:08 am
Its his alma mater, Saint Saban. Who is to say that he won’t be in the driver’s seat when Richt is gone? In my heart, I do not believe Richt will be at Georgia past the next 5 years. Smart has a great pedigree….and could be UGA’s HC in the future. How is that exactly ‘lateral.’
fanfor30years
January 9th, 2010
9:09 am
SOmeone mentioned that Richt wouldn’t slap Bobo in the face by naming Smart HC in waiting…the day Mike Bobo takes over at UGA is the day I root for someone else!!!
ColtMcCoy'sVagina
January 9th, 2010
9:09 am
I HURT!!!!!
1973dawg
January 9th, 2010
9:09 am
Heard from a pretty well placed source that Kirby will be in Athens soon.
GaGator
January 9th, 2010
9:17 am
Dap01 said
“Hey Florida fans, why didn’t Colt cry the other night?
”Dap01, don’t talk to me about crying, when you mutts only have won 3 out of the last 18. There are plenty of Georgia fans crying in Jacksonville every year that is the ones who even go any more.
BOOGIES THE MAN FROM HARTWELL GA
January 9th, 2010
9:20 am
SOUNDS LIKE SABAN IS A LITTLE PI$$ED ,HUH.
TOO BAD, HE DIDNT LOOK VERY SMART IN THE N.C. GAME . LUCKY FOR HIM MC COY GOT HIRT OR MAYBE HE GETS HIS A$$ HANDED TO HIM. REMINDS ME OF CPJ. HATES TO SMILE.
ROLL TIDE ROLL
January 9th, 2010
9:21 am
You Ga fans are just jealous!! Bama wins a National Tilte for the 13th time and you want to smash mouth Saban? How many National Titles does Ga have? Ga fans are pitiful. All of you are hanging on to that one National Title(almost 30 years ago). What is sad is you have one more National Title than South Carolina and Vanderbilt. Tells you alot about the football program at Ga. And if Saban is such a bad guy, why does he always have a great team, how does he recruit so high, why does he have 2 National Championships with 2 different teams?
GaGator
January 9th, 2010
9:22 am
Why can’t Richt get any defensive coaches to come to UGA, much less a coordinator?
Could it be Saban is right and they don’t want to coach is septic program.
BOOGIES THE MAN FROM HARTWELL GA
January 9th, 2010
9:23 am
GAYGAYTOR- YEAH, YOUR BUNCH OF THUG-AHOLICS REAL CLASSY. GO UP TO TENN. AND CRY WITH YOUR KIFFIN-A$$ BROTHERS.WHAT A HAT.
PapaDawg
January 9th, 2010
9:25 am
Saban is and always will #1 in his own mind. He’s a selfish I I ME ME individual and if USC offers he’ll be gone Bama Fans. His GIANT EGO will kick in and tell him he cam be #1 at 3 different schools. I don’t know what Kirby Smart is thinking but with all the openings around I’d get the Hell away from Saban.
01HAWK
January 9th, 2010
9:25 am
What you GOOBER UGA fans fail to realize is that BAMA football will go on very well without Nick Saban because they will be lined up trying to get the job…………………………..Not like before when the team was down. BAMA is one of the TOP 5 coaching jobs in college football.
We will go after the coaches at TCU, Boise State, maybe Riley (Ex Bama player) now at Oregon State, Maybe the ole ball coach at South Carolina. The team is stocked with talent and has a TOP 3 recruiting class on the way. Sims is a good player and I wish him well, but our offense is built around the running game and he will not be able to showcase his talent at BAMA. Would love to have him on defense, but we have 4 talented QB’s.
Who has the top running back tandem in the country ? You guessed it…………………….BAMA with Mark Ingram and Trent Richardson. SEE………………………..The talent is there and the coaches will be lined up to get the job.
You GOOBERS are so funny.
You HOUND DOGS just crack me up. I am still laughing at the hatred and jealousy.
What uniforms will you wear next ?
The TIDE does not want to change uniforms………………………It is a classic…………….our uniforms that is.
BOOGIES THE MAN FROM HARTWELL GA
January 9th, 2010
9:26 am
ROLL TIDE(AKA ALWAYS CIRCLING THE DRAIN)
WHAT YOU GONNA SAY WHEN KIRBY COMES HOME BOY?
BOOGIES THE MAN FROM HARTWELL GA
January 9th, 2010
9:28 am
THE OLD BLOW COACH WOULD BE A CLASSIC FIT AT O-BAMA.
GT Joe
January 9th, 2010
9:28 am
Did he just call Athens a septic tank? LOL.
BOOGIES THE MAN FROM HARTWELL GA
January 9th, 2010
9:30 am
WATCH AUBURN START KICKIN SABAN’S A$$ AND HE WILL BE GONE.
ROLL TIDE ROLL
January 9th, 2010
9:30 am
Maybe Kirby can persuade Ga to have an all “BLACK OUT” uniform wearing season. Thats how dumb GA fan really are. Hey, lets were black uniforms, that’ll make us better and them worse. Friggin idiots.
BOOGIES THE MAN FROM HARTWELL GA
January 9th, 2010
9:31 am
I-285 CIRCLES THE WORLDS LARGEST SEPTIC TANK
Johnny Test
January 9th, 2010
9:33 am
What would you expect Saben to say. He does not want to lose a good coach and he certainly doesn’t want him to go to a competitor.
Adam
January 9th, 2010
9:34 am
Dumb move if he leave bama for uga.
Johnny Test
January 9th, 2010
9:34 am
GT Joe, I see you are on the UGA blog. What the matter, nothing interesting going with the maggots? Nothing like a nerd trolling a UGA blog. 30 to 24 baby.
BOOGIES THE MAN FROM HARTWELL GA
January 9th, 2010
9:35 am
DIDNT NEED BLACK TO KICK O-BAMA THE YEAR BEFORE ,DID WE?
OH, IN 5TH GRADE SPELLING CLASS, ASK MISS SUSIE HOW TO SPELL WEAR.
PapaDawg
January 9th, 2010
9:35 am
I have to laugh at the Bama fans calling Dawg Fans Goobers and refering Ga. to a septic tank program. You should know about all this being from Alabama
ROLL TIDE ROLL
January 9th, 2010
9:37 am
Johnny test who won the year before that?
Who went to a better bowl?
Who played a nobody in the toilet bowl?
Geeze, Ga fans are still dreaming of Vince and Hershel, and that one and only National Title almost 30 years ago. You football program is just a cut above GA southern.
reality bites
January 9th, 2010
9:38 am
2010 SEC East: FL, TN, SC, KY, UGA……Shreveport here we come….
Johnny Test
January 9th, 2010
9:39 am
If Kirby Smart comes to UGA and the DAWGs improve and become competitive again it will build his resume as much as staying at Alabama will maybe more. Saben is always going to get most of the credit for Alabama’s success. When Bear Bryant was asked why he left a Texas A&M program he had built up to go to a struggling Alabama program in 1958 he said “mama called”. Mama is calling Kirby Smart.
GT Joe
January 9th, 2010
9:40 am
I love trolling UGA blogs… pure comedy…
Yeah, nothing is going on in Tech land, other than, we are about to hire an NFL caliber DC. Who is Richt going to hire?
Athens a septic tank, can’t stop laughing…
PapaDawg
January 9th, 2010
9:40 am
Johnny Test. Flash, Then Nerds can only trash the DAWGS cause they never have anything to brag about except maybe being ACC Champs WHOOPEE. Their team totally stunk against good teams and this year is the best they’ll do for a while.
Me,Me, Me.
January 9th, 2010
9:41 am
Nick Saban-Urban-Kiffie-Spurnier,that’s us, yes sir.
What a fore-some. Could you imagine those 4 heads trying to pull a condom over them?????????
GT Joe
January 9th, 2010
9:41 am
We don’t need to trash the dogs, the players/coaches do that themselves…
All that talent, then go to Shreveport and beat a 6-7 team… sad.
Johnny Test
January 9th, 2010
9:43 am
reality bites=Tech fan. Roll tide roll = Tech fan pretending to be a Bama fan..#1 Tech tactic. Pretend to be someone else. If I were a tech fan I’d hide my identity to after getting beaen by the worst Uga team in 13 years and getting killed on national TV in mt first major bowl game in 42 years.
GaGator
January 9th, 2010
9:43 am
So how long had it been since Georgia ended the season unranked in either the Associated Press or coaches’ final poll, as happened today?
The last time it happened was . . . 1996
Richt will set another record in the fall. Georgia will be unranked (in the top 25) at the start of a season for the first time since Walker.
Saban to USC?
January 9th, 2010
9:44 am
Lots of people think so, and Saban likes to move around, he’s a gypsy.
BOOGIES THE MAN FROM HARTWELL GA
January 9th, 2010
9:47 am
FUNNY HOW tech-nots COME OVER ON OUR SITES AND DONT EVEN POST ON “tech” or “ramble on” (WHAT A PROPER NAME FOR THAT SITE, HUH.)
BOOGIES THE MAN FROM HARTWELL GA
January 9th, 2010
9:49 am
GAGAYTOR, ANOTHER tech-not IN DISGUISE .
reality bites
January 9th, 2010
9:50 am
I believe the Cesspool extends from Athens to Hartwell.
Me,Me, Me.
January 9th, 2010
9:52 am
Don’t forget I want in under that condom, I,m the biggest one of ALL.
Realist
January 9th, 2010
9:56 am
GT Joe,
When Tech wins a bowl game, then your opinion will matter. Keep your 2 cents.
GaGator,
If we want your opinion, we will ask your head coach. Oh wait, you don’t have one.