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
Dama O'Bama
January 9th, 2010
6:33 pm
BET YALL WISH YOU HAD COME UP WITH MY NAME FIRST, DID’NT YOU!!!!!
Floundering Fox Hounds Batman!
January 9th, 2010
6:34 pm
Too bad the dawgs seem to only Sniff an upset over a top ranked teams. Even in football it has just become the norm for UGA. Can UGA sniff out 5 star recruits or a top notch DC. Yes they can only sniff but never really get to smell the sweetness of winning the big ones! KY pulls away once again only to let the dawgs sniff……..
Done Deal
January 9th, 2010
6:34 pm
We locked up Kirby today. 3 years 750, 000 per year. It will be official Monday.
sc dawg
January 9th, 2010
6:34 pm
Looks like we’re in good hands with either Smart or Grantham, and while I’m a big KS fan, I wouldn’t be disappointed if it turned out to be Grantham. One thing we know for sure, if we can trust Tuscaloosa papers, is that KS has a contract in hand–its his for the taking. And, he, according to those sources, is making a decision. As for you tech fans, concern yourself with CPJ and his hires. I’ve just got one thing to say to the Bama fans . . . congrats on one hell of a season and both titles earned!!!!!!!!
jerry
January 9th, 2010
6:36 pm
I don’t believe Smart would share the same opinion of Saban as some of the idiots on this blog. Well, maybe they’re not idiots, just haven’t grown up.
Bremen Dawg
January 9th, 2010
6:37 pm
Guys it looks good. I don’t think Saban will offer Kirby the money to keep him. Saban is a controlling sob and I don’t think he will want to pay him that kind of money that UGA is offering. Controlling people like him don’t want a cord. coach to have a upper hand on him. If Saban offers that kind of money, then he would be letting some control go and he just has that mentality. Remember Saban has complete control over the football program.
PMDawg
January 9th, 2010
6:38 pm
Smart might make a lateral move to get out from under Sabans shadow. he gets very little credit for the defense at bama and would get all the credit at uga. If he can turn the d around at uga it will look great on his resume and put him in line for a hc job in the near future. I’d like to see Sabans career moves befor the LSU job wonder how many lateral moves he made? Also daddy was know as a wanderer and seems like hes got some of that in him too, question is how long is he going to be satisfied at bama?
Satan
January 9th, 2010
6:39 pm
Saban is a tool – He’s the king of lateral moves
Louie
January 9th, 2010
6:39 pm
Punk a$$ doggies think their poop dont stink, always get their way. This deal aint happening boys.
Kirby using D. Evans to get more money outta UA ( NATIONAL CHAMPS) If you forget,look at Friday morning sports paige. How bout them SEPTIC TANKS!!!!!!!!!
DawgInDC
January 9th, 2010
6:39 pm
apparently someone else is hearing the same thing…
http://twitter.com/SECGridironLIVE/status/7569599960
jerry
January 9th, 2010
6:40 pm
Saban does not set the salaries.
sc dawg
January 9th, 2010
6:42 pm
agreed jerry, saban is no idiot . . . whatever he is, he’s a damn good football coach
PMDawg
January 9th, 2010
6:42 pm
People in bama know a thing or two bout septic tanks
SOUTHGADAWG88
January 9th, 2010
6:45 pm
750k is too much
Brian
January 9th, 2010
6:46 pm
Can UGA sniff out 5 star recruits
Actually we’ve got a commitment from a 5-star already in Da’Rick Rogers. According to Rivals, he’s the #2 receiver in the country. I guess they can do more than sniff them out.
Louie
January 9th, 2010
6:47 pm
No matter who comes to athens, they join band of losers,really got jobbed by GT and was luck they won .D. Thomas wasbout to crush there a$$es and doggies know it. Next year it will be diferent.
Guarenteed!!!!!!!!
Randy in Dalton
January 9th, 2010
6:48 pm
If Smart is making $400,000 and Georgia is willing to offer him $600,000 to make a lateral move, what is that to Saban? Who gives a rat’s you know what whether Saban is “happy” or not. Note the lateral moves ol Nicky has made in his career (mentioned up thread).
I say if Saban wants to keep Smart, pay up to keep him at Alabama. If he’s not willing to ante up, then he should simple shut his mouth. I’m guessing he can’t get the OK to pay Smart that sort of money and doesn’t want to lose him. So he’s rattling his little saber trying to scare Smart.
Just because he’s won a BCS title doesn’t mean he’s some sort of diety now.
Top Dawg
January 9th, 2010
6:49 pm
NOTE TO SABAN: Being well-paid does not give you a license to be a hypocrite.
Top Dawg
January 9th, 2010
6:50 pm
$750K is not too much for CKS
Bremen Dawg
January 9th, 2010
6:50 pm
Saban has actually made lateral moves and he has also went backwards before. Pros back to college.
Dama O'Bama
January 9th, 2010
6:51 pm
Little louie. Go get a drink of that Alabama tap water you’ve been enjoying. It flows down from GEORGIA. We half a$$ treat it for punks like YOU.
Brian
January 9th, 2010
6:51 pm
No matter who comes to athens, they join band of losers,really got jobbed by GT and was luck they won .D. Thomas wasbout to crush there a$$es and doggies know it. Next year it will be diferent.
Guarenteed!!!!!!!!
Think what you want man, we beat you guys with a horrible DC, without our best player, and WITH Joe Cox at qb. Just wait until Aaron Murray is the starter next year. He’s a dual-threat, and he’s really good, or he wouldn’t have been offered by Florida, USC, and Tennessee. Oh, and D. Thomas is gone, and you’ve got no one to take his place. Dwyer and Morgan are leaving next. Go Dawgs!
2007 was an illusion (Football & Basketball)
January 9th, 2010
6:53 pm
Any news on a UGA DC?????? Tech is hiring Mr. Al Groh. Urban Meyer has made a NFL hire as well. Those guys sure dont let any grass grow under their feet! CMR and UGA has that Green Grass over the septic tank though !
Brian
January 9th, 2010
6:53 pm
I’m out, Go Dawgs, We run this state.
PMDawg
January 9th, 2010
6:54 pm
hey Louie, just keep your doo doo hole runnin, GT is a sorry program that will once again get beat by UGA in 2010 and lose its bowl game b/c they are a joke. And after the qb leaves they are really screwed. The ACC…All Clown Conference
Louie
January 9th, 2010
6:54 pm
Ithink you are a believer in fairy tails. The doggies are going nowhere in a hurry, have been and will be.And I drink bottled spring water, thank you very much.
Top Dawg 2
January 9th, 2010
6:56 pm
Hire smart!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
ryan
January 9th, 2010
6:56 pm
Poor GT is only getting Al Grow And UGA is getting the big kahuna Kirby Smart !
south
January 9th, 2010
6:56 pm
Louie
45-42 was the fluke
8 of 9 is no fluke
UGA offense stalled against pathetic defense in 4th QTR or it would have been the beatdown you’re used to.
Floundering Fox Hounds Batman!
January 9th, 2010
6:57 pm
hey Brian…….Da Rick sure couldnt sniff a catch last week in Tha Under Armour Game while being outshined by those Fla. commits!
mgdawg
January 9th, 2010
6:57 pm
Why would richt hire a “coach in waiting”? He doesn’t appear that old, don’t know how old he is though. His mentor is/was bobby bowden, how long did he coach again? The head coach in waiting thing would kind of scare me, unlike some people I want richt to stay at UGA for a long time.
Louie
January 9th, 2010
6:59 pm
To pmdog- We have backups ready to start when our people leave, don’t you worry my friend. CPJ is ready for any situation that comes along. We won’t be caught with our pants down like you clowns will.
Asheville Dawg
January 9th, 2010
7:00 pm
I will be surprised if Smart leaves Bama, but stranger things happen. Like Pete Carroll leaving USC before the NCAA posse arrives and sticks them on probation. Are you listening Bama backers.
The Lone Trumpeter
January 9th, 2010
7:00 pm
Best team tech has had in 10 years. Worst UGA team in Richt era. Final score 30-24. And it wasn’t that close. WE RUN THIS STATE.
Top Dawg 2
January 9th, 2010
7:00 pm
That was a gimme.
J-Bo
January 9th, 2010
7:02 pm
Actually North Avenue would be thrilled to have Smart at UGA as DC. All the UGA grads working at the sandwich shops on North Ave are praying Smart gets the DC job. I see them every day at lunch, its all they have talked about for weeks.
jerry
January 9th, 2010
7:02 pm
What I’m hearing is that the people pushing hardest for Smart are his friends (like Pollack) and the people pushing hardest for Grantham know football.
The Lone Trumpeter
January 9th, 2010
7:02 pm
How about the orange bowl? Pants down and got SPANKED!!!! nerds lol
Louie
January 9th, 2010
7:03 pm
To south(mouth), you know and Iknow you should have lost this last game . OldLady Luck as your daddy MUNSTONsaid just happened to shine on your a$$, thats all.
Whistlebritches
January 9th, 2010
7:03 pm
Not exactly, he would spite Saban because of his comment about taking a lateral move. Not because of what he has done for him.
I know from personal knowledge Kirby values Mark Richt more. I am not a UGA fan.
jerry
January 9th, 2010
7:04 pm
The Lone Trumpeter: That ain’t much.
Gulf Dog
January 9th, 2010
7:04 pm
Hey you’ve got to love the SEC. They finally closed Brushy Mountain State Prison in Tennessee and left Lame and “The Pearl” without a correctional facility to house their two teams. Fulmer used to bus the team in from Brushy for Sat. games. I guess Miles will eventually figure out to manage the clock. And Meyer will take his ‘leave’ after Nat. Signing Day, Spring Practice, Tebow’s return for his fifth year. Richt we need a DC – now. We also need a special teams coordinator. Get with it. But otherwise think about it – the players, the coaches, the fans, the history, the fine looking women of the South, the smooth sipping Kentucky and Tennesse bourbon – nothing better than the SEC and our beloved South. It’s not priceless it’s our heritage…winning!!!!!!!!!!
Dama O'Bama
January 9th, 2010
7:05 pm
Little louie, a 12 year old using pa-pa’s computer.
The Lone Trumpeter
January 9th, 2010
7:05 pm
Nerds call it lady luck, we call it business as usual,
toofless in alabamer
January 9th, 2010
7:06 pm
PER TUSCALOOSER NEWS: KIRBY HAS CONTRACT OFFER IN HAND! GO DAWGS!!
The Lone Trumpeter
January 9th, 2010
7:08 pm
Grantham was already a DC 4 the browns for two season and impressed nobody. Never know though he may be the guy.
jerry
January 9th, 2010
7:09 pm
Tech used to be money in the bank. I’m not so sure now with PJ and a new DC.
jerry
January 9th, 2010
7:10 pm
I guess Grantham didn’t impress the Cowboys, huh?
Louie
January 9th, 2010
7:11 pm
Let me tell you something-Your party is OVER. Enjoy this years gift. The REAL party starts next year in athens town .Cant wait to taste them hedges.
BG
January 9th, 2010
7:12 pm
30 – 24 all year!!!!!!!!!!!!!