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
cowboy
January 10th, 2010
12:17 pm
Stinger,
Is that what Yech is going to pay a new DC
dawg fan 17
January 10th, 2010
12:17 pm
Bulldawg Nation you might be interested in checking this story out, it would be a “Smart” move.
http://sports.espn.go.com/ncaa/recruiting/football/news/story?id=4811710
1eyedJack
January 10th, 2010
12:18 pm
TDAWG, the personal rancor reflected in that remark I don’t intend to dignify with comment. But I would like to address your general attitude of hopeless negativism. Consider the lilies of the field or… hell! Take at look at BamaBill here as your paradigm of hope.
Gatorguy
January 10th, 2010
12:18 pm
Oh my! So instead of
((((((((((((((((((((((41-17))))))))))))))
it might be 40-17? hahahahahahaha
Harold
January 10th, 2010
12:18 pm
If we are stupid enough not to find a way to get Kirby we need to fire everyone. THIS IS SOMETHING YOU TAKE ON LIKE TENNESSEE DID—–MONEY IS NOT AN OBJECT. Looks like if we don’t get him we get our fourth choice!
WE DO NOT WANT GRANTHAM. HE WAS HORRIBLE AT CLEVELAND. GOT FIRED!
The Turd Burglar
January 10th, 2010
12:22 pm
I wonder how many of the UF “5-star” recruits will be in jail by their sophomore year.
yogi2
January 10th, 2010
12:23 pm
I sure hope Mike Bobo doesn’t get a raise. he is a joke
brucemac
January 10th, 2010
12:23 pm
BullDawg, do you actually think anyone is going to read your novel. How embarrasing, read a book or start a business or something productive.
dandydawg
January 10th, 2010
12:24 pm
Florida is getting a lot of good recruits. Since it’s so many of them, I doubt they will all hang around more than one, not including the redshirt year. Way to many to keep them all. Plus, you have to have the coaches to coach them up – see UGA. Anyways best of luck to all of the kids. And Come Home KIRBY… we need you back!
Gatorland
January 10th, 2010
12:25 pm
All of this Kirby Smart talk : looking at houses, planes flying to Tuscaloosa, being named coach in waiting….
All of this Saban took a lateral move, LSU to Miami to Alabama, he did not like the Pro Game and the type of players and personalities you have to deal with, he wanted to go someplace where the college game was the only focus. So all of that is hog wash….and those writing it need to get a grip on reality.
Mark Richt was a fantastic offensive coordinator and earned the right to be a Head Coach, he turned a program with issues into a winner, he recruits well and wins.
The issue at hand now is that EVERY School( almost every school) in the SEC has upgraded their facilties, coaches, resources and now UGA is suffering from an Identity loss. The facts are that most schools have great indoor facilities and support environments to provide an attractive location for recruits. All schools will have down years, All schools copy other successful programs, All schools steal Recruiters, Coordinators, Coaches from other schools, that is the nature of the beast.
Those schools willing to invest in the program will reap the rewards if the venture was done correctly without shortcuts. Do you really think that the UGA Administration has done everything that Coach Richt has requested? How bout 75% of what he has requested? How about 50% of what he has requested? I think it is somewhere around 50-75% range. On the other hand UF has given Meyer approximately 95% of what was requested. UA has given Saban 95% of what he has requested.
Just look at the practice facilties at UGA, UF, UA, LSU, TENN, SC, CLEMSON, NC, OLE MISS, KENTUCKY…UGA is in the bottom tier in that group. You invest, you pay for coaches, you get a return for your investment or you move on to someone who will be a CEO of Football. UF has MEYER as CEO, UA has Saban, LSU has Miles, SC has Spurrier, all with full support of the AD and Administration.
2007 was an illusion (Football & Basketball)
January 10th, 2010
12:25 pm
UGA is getting CLOBBERED again in recruiting by the Gators. This hiring fiasco of a DC has been embarrassing for UGA too . CMR is an absolute joke along with Damon Evans. Gym dawgs are the only sports program at UGA that the dawgs can be proud of. If Kirby Smart is the man he still will be missing a key ingredient for success and that will be top top players. In two years UGA fans will want CMR gone…. Bank it!
CDAWG
January 10th, 2010
12:26 pm
BamaBill, I totally agree with you on the discipline issue. Someone correct me if I am wrong here, but didn’t the commentator say during the NC game that Bama had not had a holding call in a boatload of quarters; that my friend is discipline. I am a Dawg fan all the way but we have not had the discipline since Dooley left. Man those were the days.
I really, really hope that getting KS is a better choice over Grantham.
dandydawg
January 10th, 2010
12:27 pm
Great post Gatorland. We do need to upgrade the facilities.
Chris
January 10th, 2010
12:27 pm
so quick does Bama fans forget about much of the 90’s and this entire decade with the exception of the last couple of years, you wanna talk about the stability of UGA’s program
cowboy
January 10th, 2010
12:29 pm
IT’S OVER
DumbGator
January 10th, 2010
12:31 pm
u jorja fans suk u cant recruit i kno i been watchun fooball forevur tebow winna super boul i smrt
TDAWG
January 10th, 2010
12:31 pm
You said it all Gatorland. Good post.
dax
January 10th, 2010
12:32 pm
Yes Bama did have problems in the 90’s, but we still had a SEC championships and a National Championship..
Gatorguy
January 10th, 2010
12:33 pm
7 out of 9
17 out of 20
cowboy
January 10th, 2010
12:36 pm
Kirby has signed the dotted line! 4 yr at 800K
GatorInsider.com
January 10th, 2010
12:37 pm
Hello, fellow Gator fans! Those of you counting your chickens about that recruiting class would best hold off for now; it’s not the biggest secret in the world that Urban Meyer’s “time off” is due to something other than health (here’s a hint: you can’t pay players). We’ll have more shortly.
GaGator
January 10th, 2010
12:41 pm
cowboy
Why are Gator,Vol,Bama and Yeller Jacket fans surfing a UGA story web site.
COWBOY, it’s kind of like watching a car crash in slow motion. You dawg fans scream and cuss and call people names as you football program implodes.
GatorInsider.com
January 10th, 2010
12:44 pm
GaGator-
Ha! Georgia will be just fine, and will be rewarded with a trip to the SEC Championship Game next season. You would be better served focusing on the upcoming scandal in Gainesville. It’s gonna be a bloodbath, unfortunately.
2007 was an illusion (Football & Basketball)
January 10th, 2010
12:44 pm
C dawg…… the problem is in some areas our culture has coddled this attitude of political correctness onto the football field. Coaches cant say anything to players or punish players now in fear of losing their jobs. Players these days are into the realty tv culture and have bought into this thug attitude with no discipline. Hard nosed attitude is not accepted anymore because it hurts people’s little faint hearted feelings. Urban, Saban, Miles, Stoops and even Carroll are hard nosed guys and win championships. Players now on signing days are limelight grabbers with their hat tricks and jersey swapping and dont understand th meaning of the word commitment. Overbearing parents who thinks their kid should play all the time when their kid sucks”’ ala Craig James. CMR is probably putting emphasis on bowling and swimming at the Ramsey center with his players along with a hand held prayer meeting instead of getting players or encouraging them to study game film or working out for improvement for next year.
D.N. Nation
January 10th, 2010
12:46 pm
“even Carroll are hard nosed guys and win championships.”
When the NCAA is done with USC, they’ll have won zero championships.
Top Dawg 2
January 10th, 2010
12:48 pm
looks like he’s ours
D.N. Nation
January 10th, 2010
12:48 pm
As for Les Miles, my cat has a better concept of clock management.
Hairy's Balls
January 10th, 2010
12:48 pm
@ Gatorland:
You can try to write up a fancy rebuttal, but that does not change facts.
It doesn’t matter what is the reason, that’s what you seem to not understand, Saban dropped down from the pros to the college ranks making it worse than a lateral move. The reason is insignificant. HE STILL DID IT. He made the move. You are giving him excuses. If Kirby chooses to make a lateral move, he may have great reasons to do so, but it’s still a lateral move. Nick Saban is the quintessential example of a hypocrite (pretending to possess beliefs that he himself does not follow)!!
Big DAWG
January 10th, 2010
12:50 pm
Four reasons Kirby Smart will pick UGA over bama:
1) He is a SMART young man and feels like he is living in a hick state that is 30 years behind the times.
2) He will make twice what bama pays.
3) He will be working for Coach Mark Richt and not Nick Satan.
4) Kirby and his wife and TRUE DAWGS.
GatorInsider.com
January 10th, 2010
12:50 pm
Gatorland, unfortunately, is delusional. We Gator Insiders have found that much of the Florida bandwagoning fanbase is.
GaGator
January 10th, 2010
12:50 pm
GatorInsider.com
Either say what have on the Gators or your just blowing smoke? I understand your
hope and prayer that there is something wrong at Florida, it’s going to be hard to change the dawgs record of 7-9 and 3-20 against the GATORS.
Gilda the Gatorette Gatorade Drinker
January 10th, 2010
12:53 pm
No way Florida keeps any good recruits. Sure, they all sayin that right now to make people feel good, but now that Georgia’s got sMART, it won’t matter who Florida recruits, they don’t have any coaches left to coach em’ up. I need some more Gatorade—gonna be a long year for Gators Nation.
Buckhead Bulldog
January 10th, 2010
12:55 pm
I must say that Gatorland and BamaBill have made some very good points regarding UGA’s lack of discipline, and the coach(es) taking ownership of the program.
Sometimes if we are afraid to look in the mirror, it takes somebody from the outside to point our flaws out.
Good post guys!
Big DAWG
January 10th, 2010
12:56 pm
Why are you Gaytor idiots on this DAWG site? Could it be the fear you have with crying Timmy and the fact that Urban Cowboy is not really going to come back? You know your days are over and the DAWGS will RULE from here on. Also, Tin-a-sea is no threat. They will be on probation within 2 years and Lame Kiffin will be history.
cowboy??
January 10th, 2010
12:57 pm
where are you getting your info?? The earleir post about NS offering KS a CIW position what is the word on that??
GatorInsider.com
January 10th, 2010
12:57 pm
GaGator-
We’re Gator fans, sick of the bandwagoning tools who have made Florida a laughingstock. You won’t be rooting for Florida in a month’s time when the bomb drops on Urban’s administration.
GaGator
January 10th, 2010
12:59 pm
Your blowing smoke, I didn’t think you could back up you comments.
GaGator
January 10th, 2010
1:01 pm
Gilda, what are you smokin, Florida has already replace the 4 quality coaches that moved up, not fired like those sorry dawg coaches.
GatorInsider.com
January 10th, 2010
1:02 pm
It’s “you’re,” not “your,” my bandwagoning fellow fan.
I can’t say anything more because Florida’s internal investigation isn’t over yet. But believe me, what I’ve seen so far….it isn’t pretty. You’ll see why Urban keeps hinting at taking a leave.
Question...
January 10th, 2010
1:02 pm
St. Augustine,
What year did you graduate from Florida?
Seriously Guys...
January 10th, 2010
1:03 pm
Guys, We all sound like a bunch of idiots.
I am went to UGA AND I don’t hate the Gators or Bama or Tech.
We are all the SEC (okay not Tech but they are in state and they have gotten their act together) and regardless of what the talking heads on the radio from up North say, I root for the SEC when my team (UGA) is out of it. And deep down so do you. Are you really going to pull for a Big 10 or 12 team over SEC? I think not. We run deeper than that. That is what makes our conference special. Remember after all of these BCS NC games, the winning SEC team’s fans are always chanting S..E..C!
Nick Saben is a Great coach, Urban Meyer is a Great coach, and I think Mark Richt is a Good coach getting better. (like aging wine)
But Really… Do we need all of the garbage from ALL directions? We look like a bunch of idiots.
Let’s get a little class and “clean it up”.
Don’t forget “I can beat up on my little brother… but I won’t let the neighbor’s kid or my best friend lay a hand on him”.
Now Georgia needs to hold up our end of the SEC and do a better job of representing OUR conference….Have a great Sunday and Go Dawgs!
San Francisco Dawg
January 10th, 2010
1:04 pm
We are losing ground with recruits already verbally committed or who are on the fence because we have not hired a DC…someone, anyone, needs to make a decision whether a “smart” one or not!!
chi Chi
January 10th, 2010
1:06 pm
kirby just using the puppy dogs to get more money from bama
Gatorland
January 10th, 2010
1:07 pm
You can call SABAN anything you want…it does not change the fact he WINS AND WINS AND WINS,
HE GRADUATES HIS PLAYERS, HE PUTS PLAYER IN THE PROS AND HE IS VERY GENEROUS WITH HIS MONEY TO THE UNIVERSITIES AND COMMUNITIES HE LIVES AND WORKS IN.
Mark Richt
January 10th, 2010
1:09 pm
I have a better career winning percentage than Nick Saban.
Hairy Dawg
January 10th, 2010
1:10 pm
Smart is to Smart to stay with them dumbo Bammers. He wants to go to the winning and cause it at the Dawgs. Dawgs is winning the National Champs and SEC with Timmy T-Blows leaving and arrogants hore backside Myers breaking down nervouses. Smart wonts to be final piece of Dawgs champs winning. Why would Smart wont to keep working for Satan? Richt is Christain and that is important to. Dawgs have good recruiting enough to win SEC with the coaching.
GatorInsider.com
January 10th, 2010
1:10 pm
Gatorland-
Just as I suspected; Gator “fans” will be flocking to Bama next year after the hammer drops on the corrupt Urban administration.
Buckhead Bulldog
January 10th, 2010
1:11 pm
I just want Ray Lewis to BREAK Tom Brady…Ravens kicking some tail right at the start. Whoa!
Hairy Dawg
January 10th, 2010
1:12 pm
I mean horse not hore.
What's the deal?
January 10th, 2010
1:13 pm
I am starving for an accurate update on Kirby. Will someone please post an accurate update on KS? Is he going to accept the job? Has he already accepted the job? What are the terms of the agreement? ESPN sucks in their coverage of this potential hire, and so does the AJC.