Smart weighs return to UGA
(Updated 9:30 p.m.)
Kirby Smart, the defensive coordinator of newly crowned national champion Alabama, apparently is considering a return to Georgia, his alma mater, for the same job but considerably more money.
Smart, seen as a leading candidate for the UGA position since the Dec. 2 firing of Willie Martinez, was weighing a formal offer on Saturday but “has neither signed it nor made a decision regarding the opening,” according to the Tuscaloosa News, which cited “multiple sources.”
Smart has been publicly coy about his interest in the job but left the door open during a press conference in California two days before the national-championship game. He could not be reached for comment Saturday.
Georgia had no comment on the matter other than to say that no announcement of a hire was scheduled. Associate athletics director Claude Felton said he had not heard from coach Mark Richt all day and that no announcement was expected through Saturday night. Felton said Richt had been on the road recruiting.
Smart would be a popular hire in Bulldog Nation. Former UGA defensive great David Pollack posted on his Twitter account Saturday: “From what I am getting guys I think Georgia has made a very SMART choice on their next DC, nothing 100% but def looks good.”
Smart makes about $360,000 in base salary at Alabama. Georgia is believed willing to pay much, much more than that.
All indications are that UGA will make a hire within the next few days. Richt would like to have the new defensive coordinator named before the final recruiting contact period starts Friday. Also, junior linebacker Rennie Curran -– expected by most around the Georgia program to enter the NFL draft –- has been trying to withhold a final decision until he has a chance to talk with the new coordinator.
Smart played defensive back for Georgia from 1995-98, making All-SEC as a senior, and began his coaching career as an administrative assistant at Georgia in 1999. He also coached running backs at UGA in 2005.
For most of his coaching career, Smart has worked under Nick Saban -– at LSU (2004), the Miami Dolphins (2006) and Alabama (since 2007). He has been the Tide’s defensive coordinator the past two seasons.
Saban seemed to be sending a pointed message to Smart on Friday when he said at a news conference that assistant coaches should not make lateral career moves.
“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,” Saban said. “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.”
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949 comments Add your comment
Saint Augustine
January 10th, 2010
8:06 am
UGA football takes a back seat to
1. Alabama
2. Florida
3. Tennessee
4. LSU
5. Kentucky
6. Georgia Tech
7. Notre Dame
8. Georgia Gym Dawgs
dawgma
January 10th, 2010
8:09 am
Uh – if Kirby is Smart he’ll leave AL before Sabern leaves to a higher paying job.
Sabern is the greediest – least loyal coach in the country. CMR is the polar opposite (see Martinez).
Come on home Kirby and let’s win a championship.
Saint Augustine
January 10th, 2010
8:10 am
USC is getting the death penalty. Saban will stay at Alabama for at least one more year. Expect him to jump to Auburn for $5 mil a year if they don’t return to prominance in 2010.
The Ole Ball Coach
January 10th, 2010
8:10 am
GT Fans talk alot of crap to have their butts handed to them
By the Dawgs.
dawgma
January 10th, 2010
8:10 am
St Augustine was crucified.
Dap01
January 10th, 2010
8:11 am
St. Augustine: If UGA football takes the backseat, why are you on this blog early on Sunday morning.
You are an idiot or you are ignorant. Which is it? Check the facts.
LSU and Florida have won two more games in the past decade than UGA, Bama and GT are 15 wins behind.
Either you are an idiot or you need to go back to the produce isle.
santa cruz dawg
January 10th, 2010
8:11 am
The Dogs can’t go wrong with either Smart or Grantham.
Adams could anty up and let Richt hire both, but I would not count on it.
I can’t wait until that egomaniac Adams leaves Athens.
Saint Augustine
January 10th, 2010
8:15 am
dawgma,
“Come on home Kirby and let’s win a championship”.
State or Shreveport bowl championship maybe, but certainly not a SEC or National Championship. Those are reserved for the states that border Georgia.
Erasmus
January 10th, 2010
8:18 am
I wonder if we’re all looking at the wrong Alabama Asst. as the most likely prospect? A buddy in Mobile tells me the word there is that Sal Sunseri, UA linebacker’s coach, is talked about as leaving for UGA.
Saint Augustine
January 10th, 2010
8:20 am
Dip01
WE OWN THIS BLOG!
(((((( 41-17 )))))) Hahahahahahahahah
(((((( 49-10 )))))) Hahahahahahahahah
Which of our two National Championships the last 4 years does the Dawg Nation want?
Hahahahahahahahahahahahahahhahahahaha!
Saint Augustine
January 10th, 2010
8:22 am
Georgia owns Vandy only. Stick to gymnastics!
Saint Augustine
January 10th, 2010
8:23 am
Smart is not stupid!
Saint Augustine
January 10th, 2010
8:23 am
Georgia = septic tank
Saint Augustine
January 10th, 2010
8:25 am
Septic Stadium will empty early again next fall. Bank it
out house buster
January 10th, 2010
8:26 am
2009 Champs
January 9th, 2010
6:16 pm
“the grass is always greener on top of the septic tank,” Saban said.
What a perfect analogy of a lateral (at best) move to UGA,
Hahahahahahahahahahah!
…at least we have septic tanks here you moron…GO DAWGS!!
Dap01
January 10th, 2010
8:28 am
St. Augustine: So why are you on this blog? Isn’t there a blog for emotionally unstable coaches that would interest you more?
Saint Augustine
January 10th, 2010
8:29 am
The Ole Ball Coach
“GT Fans talk alot of crap to have their butts handed to them
By the Dawgs”.
GT is a school a third your size and athletic budget. Way to thump that chest beating them by six (and losing by 3 before that). Hahahahahahaha
ken
January 10th, 2010
8:29 am
Honestly…I think Saban is only wanting for KS to stick around because he know that is one helluva good DC for ‘Bama. Bama had a fantastic year. Would not even surprise me for ‘Bama to offer KS more money…but in KS’s mind…’Bama will be going places, with/without him. KS’s attempt to get back to him alma mater would be awesome…closer to his “connections”, so to speak. But can you imagine this one: Suppose KS would be hired. What a helluva assistant to hire than David Pollack? I mean…think of it… KS is an alumnus…So is Davey Pollack? What a tandem…and David is now retired from the NFL. I am quite sure GA maybe thinking this as well…that is why there is so much “commotion” going on. I think it would be absolutely awesome. Thank you.
Saint Augustine
January 10th, 2010
8:31 am
Dip01,
“So why are you on this blog?”
Enjoy keeping the Dawgs humble. And it ain’t real hard to do the way you have fallen.
Their Everywhere...
January 10th, 2010
8:32 am
congrats to Alabama and for representing the SEC….But one thing to its fans that are coming out of the wood-work…where was all yall, oh lets say three / four years ago, when things was bad…No Bama post on the blogs back then..welcome to the bandwagon..
Dap01
January 10th, 2010
8:33 am
I am on this blog because I am a dawg fan. Why are you on this blog?
Saint Augustine
January 10th, 2010
8:35 am
And since David Pollack has never coached a game in his life, he’d be a perfect coach for uga. I totally agree.
(((((( 41-17 )))))) Hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha
(((((( 49-10 )))))) Hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha
We Run (over) this state!
Hahahahahahahahahahahahhahahahahahhahhahahahahahahahha
Odd
January 10th, 2010
8:36 am
I don’t lmow/ If I am Kirby Smart, I would have to consider the loyalty that Saband has shown to him to brinng him with him at every stop. Then, look at how Richt let the fans/alumni force him to fire Willie. Also, if he stays at Bama another year or two, he will be on the national stage for one-two more years. At that point, he will be a highly sought after head coach. This won’t happen in athens.
Saint Augustine
January 10th, 2010
8:37 am
Hello, HELLO??
January 10th, 2010
8:31 am
Dip01,
“So why are you on this blog?”
Enjoy keeping the Dawgs humble. And it ain’t real hard to do the way you have fallen.
Saint Augustine
January 10th, 2010
8:40 am
Dip1,
I appreciate the fact that you are a scolded dawg fan. However, WE own YOU and therefore this blog. Sorry, but you will either need to stop blogging or find another one that I am not moderating.
verge
January 10th, 2010
8:40 am
I don’t know Dawg world! Have you all been paying attention to the latest recruting news? Bama, Fla, and Tenn have stacked the deck. UGA may be in trouble again. I don’t see them winning the east no time soon.
Saint Augustine
January 10th, 2010
8:42 am
UGA has the 6th best recruiting class (Rivals.com) as of this morning. Top 10 nationally, but 6th in the conference. Better get used to being abused!
Odd
January 10th, 2010
8:42 am
To their everywhere, the AJC didn’t have these blogs, say three to four years ago. Alabama fans are thousands of times more loyal than uga fans and their program is much more about winning than uga will ever be. That’s why they don’t have a problem changing coaches when needed.
verge
January 10th, 2010
8:43 am
Saint Augustine, sit back and relax. Don’t upset the GA faithful.. They get really nasty and ugly when you say things about those mighty bulldogs. They will turn on you in a minute.
Saint Augustine
January 10th, 2010
8:43 am
Better rag on Tech and Vandy and let the BIG BOYS rage on the Gators.
Saint Augustine
January 10th, 2010
8:44 am
Georgia is not MAN enough to beat Florida!
Rid-X
January 10th, 2010
8:44 am
$aban is a $eptic Tank.
michael buchanan
January 10th, 2010
8:45 am
Did that idiot just call the dawgs a septic tank
Saint Augustine
January 10th, 2010
8:46 am
Georgia is NOT man enough to beat
Alabama
Florida
Tech
Okla St
Tennessee
LSU
Florida
Kentucky
Georgia IS man enough to beat Tennessee State
Saint Augustine
January 10th, 2010
8:47 am
Michael,
He didn’t but I did
Saint Augustine
January 10th, 2010
8:48 am
Where are all the Meyer and Tebow critics this morning?
MattInSTL
January 10th, 2010
8:50 am
So Saban is calling UGA a septic tank.
michael buchanan
January 10th, 2010
8:51 am
Why dont you get off our blog Saint Augustine why dont you come to athens and say all this crap ill tell you why because you dont want to go home with 2 black eyes and a sore body your one of them telephone tough guys who talk smack but cant do it where it counts the most
Saint Augustine
January 10th, 2010
8:51 am
MattInSTL,
AND HE IS RIGHT!
UGA '83
January 10th, 2010
8:52 am
Saint Augustine = Saint Simon?
((30-24)) hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha
Get a life moron
Saint Augustine
January 10th, 2010
8:53 am
Michael,
whatever
Saint Augustine
January 10th, 2010
8:54 am
UGA 83
Get a “team” MORON!
a
January 10th, 2010
8:55 am
saint augustine, what do you do when the internet is down and you can’t refresh this page every 9 seconds to feel like a man? do you just sit around and jerk off to pictures of tebow crying? i tell ya what – let’s meet up after the game in JAX next year and see who’s laughing. deal?
Saint Augustine
January 10th, 2010
8:56 am
a
WHATever little man
Gilda the Gatorette Gatorade Drinker
January 10th, 2010
8:56 am
Seriously ya’ll, I am so worried about the Gators Nation. The empires in trouble. Meyer isnt coming back for sure, those 5 coaches who quit after the SEC Championship really hurt my feelings. Now we hear the underclassmen are going pro instead of coming back to play another year for Gatoes Nation, horrible. If this Kirby Smart thing is for real, Florida is sunk. It has been fun for a few years here, looks like were back to Zook years now for the next several years. Ouch! We going to need a lot more Gatorade in 2010!!!
GaGator
January 10th, 2010
8:57 am
Why can’t Richt find any defensive coaches? He fired two defensive position coaches and the DC has not replace any one of them. UGA is in trouble when no coach worth his salt want to coach there. Urban Meyer, that coach you said last week had his program in disarray. Well check this out, Meyer replaced 4 quality coaches that moved up (not laterally), one to a head coach. People want Florida coaches, I can’t think of any Georgia coach that has been offered a promotion to another program, that speaks volumes about Richt’s staff and his head coaching ability.
Then we come to recruiting, and you said The Gators were going to lose all the commitments. Well,well now, it just so happen that the Gator’s signed 3 FIVE STAR
players just yesterday——–what did Richt sign? And BTW the Gators now have the # 1 class in the country according to Rivals.com, Scout.com and ESPN.
Meyer can out coach and out recruit Richt from a hospital bed, or on vacation.
Saint Augustine
January 10th, 2010
8:58 am
Gilda the Gatorette Koolade Drinker
We dominated YOU duri ng the Zook years TOO!!! Hahahahahahahahahaha
GaGator
January 10th, 2010
8:59 am
Gilda, you are a fool and are uninformed.
Saint Augustine
January 10th, 2010
8:59 am
Florida OWNS Georgia. We own half of Lake Lanier (your water supply) too!
haywood...
January 10th, 2010
9:00 am
can’t we all just get along?