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
a
January 10th, 2010
9:24 am
so enough with st augustine, time to get back to what this blog is actually about. is anyone else hearing Travis Jones and/or Lance Thompson rumors, too?
Big L
January 10th, 2010
9:24 am
Where did the jean shorts syndicate come from. Should’nt you all be workin on that gold statue of Teblow that you will forever worship at the feet of. Trust me, your 20 year deal with satan is up. Gaytor nation is bout to remember what football was like before 1990.
Saint Augustine
January 10th, 2010
9:25 am
blue
“Saint Augustine no damn has signed yet you cant till feb3. get your damn facts stright”
How about you getting your use of the English language straight
JoeDawg
January 10th, 2010
9:26 am
GA Gaytor, Augustine the Gaytor fan, talk about septic tanks, how we discuss you two being the dingleberries from UGA VIII’s rear quarters!
King Donko of Punchstania
January 10th, 2010
9:26 am
At UT, each entering freshman will be issued an ankle monitor and weed eater for highway cleanup duty in preparation for the fact that they will almost assuredly serve jail time or probation while at UT. In fact, the state government is considering converting the UT campus in Knoxville from a center for higher education to a medium security prison. Down in Gainesville, the celebration of diversity continues despite the impending departure of Timmy Teebag. Urban Meyer rounded up another great class of the finest homosexual athletes in the land by using his patented technique of hosting the Gay Gaytor Gay Orgy Recruit Weekend at his Big Gay Ranch located just blocks from the UF campus. UF- where gold teeth and golden showers can come together as one. Ain’t nothin like a lil thug love!
Saint Augustine
January 10th, 2010
9:27 am
small a and Big L(oser)
Time for you guys to find another blog
a
January 10th, 2010
9:28 am
folks, it’s obvious st augustine is here to rile people up. so if you’re a dawg fan, ignore it. the best you can do to piss him off is to just talk georgia football, which should be the point in the first place.
but, uh…st augustine, it’s 9:28 – and i’m still here. didn’t you try and kick me about 13 minutes ago?
JoeDawg
January 10th, 2010
9:29 am
King, Now that was hilarious, I just spit coffee all over my monitor!
The Other St. Simons
January 10th, 2010
9:29 am
Saint Augustine = $1.4 Million = St. Simons = Loser
((((((((((((((((30-24))))))))))))))) Hahahahahahaha!!!
Nice Orange Bowl. Hahahahahaha!!!
Ed
January 10th, 2010
9:29 am
Coach Richt’s getting it now. He’s going to pull a Tennessee and get an all-star defensive staff in here. I’d say we got an NFL D-Line Coach coming, good chance Martinez will coach our DB’s, Smart hits the LB’s, and Gardner the DE’s. I also think Richt just might get a special teams coach.
Saint Augustine
January 10th, 2010
9:30 am
small a
I feel sorry for you so I’m giving you a pass. Don’t abuse it or you’ll lose it
BSM
January 10th, 2010
9:30 am
Let me get this right…a lateral move would be bad for Kirby Smart, but it was perfectly fine when James Willis did it last year moving from Auburn to Alabama.
Hypocritical doosh.
Saint Augustine
January 10th, 2010
9:31 am
Joe Dawg,
At least it was coffee
a
January 10th, 2010
9:31 am
so DAWG fans, is anyone else seriously hearing Travis Jones or Lance Thompson as position coaches? that would be a monster staff…
JoeDawg
January 10th, 2010
9:31 am
Ahhh! I can see it now, BSPN trailer scroll past the scores and down in Jerksonville, the Dawgs are piling up the points on the hapless Gaytors score Ga 72-Fla-10 MUHAAAHAAAHAAA!!!!
Saint Augustine
January 10th, 2010
9:31 am
Ed
“Gardner”. I love it!
The Other St. Simons
January 10th, 2010
9:32 am
How many yards did Tech have at the half? I don’t remember.
The triple option:
1. 3 and out
2. Punt
3. Interception
GaGator
January 10th, 2010
9:32 am
JoeDawg
Name calling only shows your jealousy and frustration.
JoeDawg
January 10th, 2010
9:33 am
Yep, Saint we in Ga are not like you, we don’t put things in our mouths that don’t belong!!
Gilda the Gatorette Gatorade Drinker
January 10th, 2010
9:33 am
Oh my ya’ll, Gators Nations in truble. If Mr. Smart is going to be the coach at Georgia, and Coach Meyer with his brain and hearts issues and all, where will all those Gators Nation recruits go? Probably head over to Ahtens. I’m so sad. Need a drink–some mroe Gatorade. Listen Gatores Natrions, we need a new Gatorade formula–the odl one didn’t work against Alabama in the SEC Championship and all. Just saying.
Saint Augustine
January 10th, 2010
9:33 am
Joe Dawg,
“Ahhh! I can see it now, BSPN trailer scroll past the scores and down in Jerksonville, the Dawgs are piling up the points on the hapless Gaytors score Ga 72-Fla-10 MUHAAAHAAAHAAA!!!!”
And you are basing this on ????? The past? Hahahahaha
JoeDawg
January 10th, 2010
9:35 am
Oh, Ga Gaytor, I am not as frustrated as you guys will be! No Timmy Teblow, No charley strong, no Pouncey Twins, No carlos Dunthug, no J.Hayden, and no Brandon Spikes! hmm that’s a lot of Non wins for you guys!!
RED DOG 77
January 10th, 2010
9:35 am
Saint Augustine……Boy you sure can type fast……dont know if I can keep up with the likes of you….you are just flat out strong son , and witty, witty, witty….Think I will pull on my sleeveless shirt, Darline likes it, and go on up to the Waffle House….Get me some breakfast…..I know when I am beat! you are just too strong for me St. Augustine! be back later…… mabe you could teach us all a thing or two…….cant wait!…..all I can say is WOW ! St. Augustine…….you are the MAN !!!
GaGator
January 10th, 2010
9:35 am
Ed
You have been drinking too much of that kool-aid.
Saint Augustine
January 10th, 2010
9:36 am
Joe Dawg
“Yep, Saint we in Ga are not like you, we don’t put things in our mouths that don’t belong!!”
Right! That’s why I saw your mascot lick his nuts repeatedly on national TV
Saint Augustine
January 10th, 2010
9:37 am
Thanks Red Dog 77. That means a lot coming from you
JoeDawg
January 10th, 2010
9:37 am
Maybe this go round Augustino, Coach Richt will drop trow, and take a big ol dump on that stupid looking gaytor in the end zone when the team celebrates!
fishtales
January 10th, 2010
9:39 am
Joedawg…like most other tool Bullpuppies on here talk soooooooooooooo much smack…yet haven’t won anything since 1980. But we’re all scared and jealous of you right Joe? That’s the kind of douchebag mentality that will make it another 30 years before you win anything. See…to have an entitlement mentality you have to be entitled. You’re not.
Saint Augustine
January 10th, 2010
9:39 am
Je Dawg,
“Maybe this go round Augustino, Coach Richt will drop trow, and take a big ol dump on that stupid looking gaytor in the end zone when the team celebrates!”
If he does he might just get TWO more bigtime beatdowns like he did after he pulled his last stunt!! Hahahahhahahahahahah
JoeDawg
January 10th, 2010
9:39 am
Oh Yes, Now we are jumping on a dead pooch! nice one there sonny boy, well since we are talking about nut-licking, maybe Urban shouldn’t have been watching UGA trying to learn new tricks on teabagging Teblow and paid more attention to his coaches!
Big L
January 10th, 2010
9:40 am
I think it would be great for Martinez to coach the backs. He was great at it before he was handed DC job . Maybe refocusing for a coupla years would help. For all the detractors, if all this pans out, we will have some geniuses who will make Alec Ogletree a freak and the rest of the D scary. Be afraid, be very afraid. Gonna pray for you St. Augustine.
GaGator
January 10th, 2010
9:40 am
JoeDawg
Yes the Gators lose many fine players, but the Gator’s 3rd string can handle the mutts and with # 1 recruiting class in the nation, it’s going to be another long 20 years for UGA.
Fire Kirk Herbstreit
January 10th, 2010
9:40 am
I bet Kirk Hertbstreit has been cursing all night when he found out Georgia was hiring Kirby Smart. It’s got ESPN in a frenzy, they are so mad that Coach Richt’s going to win a Nationa Championship even with all their efforts to try and stop him from 2001-2009, they know there’s nothing they can do now.
Saint Augustine
January 10th, 2010
9:41 am
Joe Dawg,
“Maybe this go round Augustino, Coach Richt will drop trow, and take a big ol dump on that stupid looking gaytor in the end zone when the team celebrates!”
If he does he might just get TWO more bigtime beatdowns (49-10, 45-17) AND two more last minute time outs (LOL) like he did after he pulled his last stunt!! Hahahahhahahahahahah
JoeDawg
January 10th, 2010
9:41 am
Fishtales, you weak minded turds get back to me later after you receive the as-whuupings that you Blow-Holes have coming
Saint Augustine
January 10th, 2010
9:42 am
Joe Dawg,
whatever dude
JoeDawg
January 10th, 2010
9:43 am
Really Gay-Gaytor, You think so? Hmm I beg to differ, game is played on field turd swallow, not on Blog!
Nut
January 10th, 2010
9:43 am
Ya’ll are all wrong. I just heard that an announcement will be made monday that Richt has resigned and that Kirby Smart will be named coach in waiting. Thats right coach in waiting. Brian Van Gorder is coming back to be the head coach for one year before going back to the Falcons. Bobo is leaving to of course. They are still working on details for Spurrier to come in as Offensive Coordinator. Get a life.
Saint Augustine
January 10th, 2010
9:45 am
Joe Dawg,
really? Like 17 out of the last 20 have been played on a field? Hahahaha
Saint Augustine
January 10th, 2010
9:45 am
I think it’s safe to say that this has officially turned from a Georgia to an Alabama and Florida Blog!
GaGator
January 10th, 2010
9:46 am
JoeDawg
Teabagging is a term used by by GD liberal socialist, I certainly hope that’s not you,.
but if you are you and all your socialist, Marxist fascist can go to h%ll.
Big L
January 10th, 2010
9:47 am
No more bangin on other teams. Let the other morons do it. I want my team to be elite and I ain’t gotta focus on UF or GT to do it. UGA will rule SEC East next year.
Saint Augustine
January 10th, 2010
9:47 am
Joe Dawg,
What’s the matter, can’t compete (like your team)?
Bama Bill
January 10th, 2010
9:48 am
Coach Smart has done a fine job at Alabama and if he wants to leave for Georgia that is just fine – part of the business. But I bet that the contract includes a clause about “head coach in waiting” in about 3 years or a huge financial pay-off just like Florida State and Texas recently executed. Coaching is a business and Coach Smart has another “RING” which is something that he is not likely to receive again unless another Herschal comes with him. Good Luck Coach Smart !
Saint Augustine
January 10th, 2010
9:49 am
Big L(OSER)
“UGA will rule SEC East next year”.
How much money do you have?
Saint Augustine
January 10th, 2010
9:50 am
Where did Jaw Dawg go? I mean Joe Dawg. Did he just take his usual BEAT DOWN and leave?
GaGator
January 10th, 2010
9:50 am
Joedog
I thought I told you about calling people names——very immature.
Saint Augustine
January 10th, 2010
9:52 am
Joe Dawg,
Like your team you are WAY out of your league here
JoeDawg
January 10th, 2010
9:54 am
HMMM let’s see here we don’t run a medium security prison like UT, we don’t teach surfing like UF, and we don’t have homosexual relation with our self proclaimed virgin qb.
Saint Augustine
January 10th, 2010
9:56 am
Whhhhhaaattt?
bahahHAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA