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
Smart to UGA
January 9th, 2010
9:21 pm
Richt and Damon Evans better not blow the Smart hire—for enough money, he’ll come to UGA. If they screw this up, they can hit the road.
Cowboy
January 9th, 2010
9:23 pm
Why do all the tech fans come on a DAWG site?????????????
jimmy
January 9th, 2010
9:23 pm
please let it be smart
Mark Fox
January 9th, 2010
9:24 pm
We came up a little short but Leslie took Cousins to school and Cousins graduated with a PhD (Playa hata degree)………….
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uO7TY4mwNEQ
dawg snit on buzzzzzzzzzzzzzz
January 9th, 2010
9:25 pm
30-24 LOUIE. Good nite and GO DAWGS!!!!!!!!!!!!
IKNOW YOU ARE STILL PEAKING, NERDS LIKE YOU DON’T GO AWAY.
PirtDawg
January 9th, 2010
9:27 pm
Smart is a great coach, no doubt about it. but this move wouldn’t make any sense for either party. if he comes to UGA and does well then its just another resume booster, he’ll be gone after a year or two at most. we need someone who can win but isnt going to bail out of town right away for a head coaching job.
Charlie Daniels
January 9th, 2010
9:29 pm
“The devil went down to GEORGIA, he was in a bind, way behind, willing to make a deal.”
WELCOME HOME, KIRBY!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Charlie Daniels
January 9th, 2010
9:34 pm
“Fire on the mountain run boy’s run.The devil’s in the house of the rising sun!
Chicken in the bread pan kickin out dough!
Granny does your DAWG bite …………HELL YES
GO DAWGS– GET SMART!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
D- Day Dawg
January 9th, 2010
9:35 pm
Love The Charlie Daniels Band
Dandydon
January 9th, 2010
9:36 pm
SABAN & EVERYONE! The move of DC at Bama to UGA is not a lateral move-
it is an upgrade, if he had went to Tech – that would be a step backwards
i'm telling u
January 9th, 2010
9:39 pm
kirby is coming home on monday…bringing travis jones and shane beamer with him to help…sending rodney packing…going to have 800k in his pocket…and a blitz and stunt playbook thicker than jim donnans head…he is also bringing blake sims who decommitted yesterday from ala with him…make no mistake..we have the players…reshard jones would have been an all-american and first rounder at ala or fla…when kirby comes… all these little 4 and 5 stars on these recruits shoulders fall off at the door…he doesnt care who these kids are…will have the best 11 on the field (5 star or a walk on)doesnt matter to him….they will have to earn their playing time…WE HAVE TO GET BETTER IN THE WEIGHT ROOM AND DEVELOP THESE KIDS
Buckhead Bulldog
January 9th, 2010
9:40 pm
Sad Richard: I hear you on Dawgstephen. At first I thought the same but after reading some his stuff he actually makes some pretty valid arguments, and has some decent observations of Dog Sports. Yes! I admit I went to his blog but it was JUST so I could find some stuff to make fun of him. I do agree the coat tail AJC ride is little annoying. Not defending the dude, just saying he writes some okay stuff.
D- Day Dawg
January 9th, 2010
9:40 pm
Two gay tekkies walking down North Ave . in ATL come up on Bulldog licking his lunker. One tekkie tells the other ” I wish I could do that!”. The other tekkie says “That DAWG will bite you !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Wreckmaniac
January 9th, 2010
9:41 pm
PJ gets rid of one coach and finds another in 48 hours. CMR takes six weeks and dosen’t have one yet. Whats with this guy ? Is it PMS or does he need to use deodorant ?
Keydet Dawg Lover
January 9th, 2010
9:43 pm
UGA needs a splash, Florida is recruiting their tails off. They keep landing who’s who. Who would not win or be in contention for a national title with all that talent.
UGA has digressed since this summer in recruiting. If Kirby say’s no, then the UGA ship is not looking good. I can smell the howitzers smoking on all sides, Florida to the south, Bama to the West, GT southwest, Tennessee to the north. UGA has more rivals than any other team I know. It is crazy.
As an optimistic pessimist, it seems there is always a rhyme or reason why UGA can never quiet get over the hump. I believe that Mark Richt will have to coach, motivate, inspire and pray his tail off to beat the Florida’s, Tennessee, Alabama’s and Tech’s out there, like never before. Also, with fewer numbers of less talent than Florida. I am praying the coaching ferries sprinkler Mark Richt with a little of Saban/Meyer dust tonight. We need it.
By the numbers, we have a lot of wholes to fill on the lines, need another top tier receiver, another ilb/olb not to mention we have some glaring holes still in the secondary. I know we have Jakar/Ogleetree on the way. We still need a few big times recruits, it seems a few of them have UGA on their list, but are not “feeling” UGA, as they say.
Now until Feb. 2nd will one way or the other seal Coach Richts future at UGA or somewhere else.
May the ghost of 1980 strike again and again. Hopefully he will get inspired by Paul Bryant and the coach ferry will team-up on Mark Richt. Go Dawgs
UGA='s loosers
January 9th, 2010
9:43 pm
Smart gets no credit? He won the award for assistant coach of the year…and his name has been brought up in every coversation about a head coaching job..thats credit to its self
WE RUIN THIS STATE
January 9th, 2010
9:43 pm
Smart nor anyone is going to covert that pack of 57 quarterbacks that Richt has recruited into defensive players.
Sid
January 9th, 2010
9:43 pm
Piss on Saban’s daddy’s septic tank !
#2 BAMA FAN
January 9th, 2010
9:44 pm
Kirby Smart would be a great hire for the dawgs, but he will get a better head coach job in 2011 if he stays with the crimson tide!! I am a fan of both teams so it does matter to me if goes to Athens or stays with 2009 National Champs!! RTR
just a fan
January 9th, 2010
9:44 pm
If Saban bolts Bama it will be for Michigan next year after tehy fire rich rod. I want Grantham not Smart as the D cord
Roll Tide
January 9th, 2010
9:46 pm
I heard from someone back in T-town, that Chavis has been talking to CNS.
WE RUIN THIS STATE
January 9th, 2010
9:47 pm
Kirby, the entire inbred clan of UGA Koolaid drinkers will be in love with you until the first 55 yard TD pass is thrown on your squad.
Blue Grass
January 9th, 2010
9:47 pm
We own your azz. The wildcats are far superior to your weak weenie dogs. We own you in football and we own you in basketball. You might should start thinking about going to Divn 1AA.
AugDawg
January 9th, 2010
9:53 pm
im tellin u….where u here that travis j. and lil beamer is coming along? youre second person iveeheaed say travis jones in relation to ks being hired
Go DOGS
January 9th, 2010
9:53 pm
Blue Grass = Tech Geek
"Blue Grass" My gurl has a big Azz
January 9th, 2010
9:53 pm
Get off these Dawg Nutz, and read something on your own blog.
Sad Richards
January 9th, 2010
9:57 pm
Mark Fox is gonna surprise some folks this year !!!!!! AWESOME DUNK Leslie!!!! …. BTW Buckhead Bulldawg I like to pick on dawgstephen even though he criticized some of us for calling for Willies head.
KingGator
January 9th, 2010
9:57 pm
Would be a great hire by UGA! By coach Saban saying what he did, he probably just pushed Smart to take the job at UGA. Nobody likes to be talked down to, esp. an up and coming coach like Smart.
Coffee Bluff DAWG
January 9th, 2010
10:00 pm
Blue Grass,
UK wins 1 time in 40 years at Sanford and you own us? Keep the jokes coming. We’ll remember that when we need a good laugh.
Nerd Central @ North Ave
January 9th, 2010
10:11 pm
UGA forget it GT is now the best program ever! CPJ is our god. We feel like 10-3 is the best we can do. Really we only lost to three teams. That is just awesome for us. We usually have six losses so I really beloved we are now better. If UGA thinks Smart can out coach Johnson well they are absolutely correct!
Buckhead Bulldog
January 9th, 2010
10:11 pm
Sad Richards: Yeah! I know. He had a little too much rah-rah, UGA can do no wrong song.
Glad to see TT go to TT and out of the SEC. He caused us some fits…not as bad as Dye did, but nonetheless..bye-bye! Man, they will have some fun with those initials. TT@TT
sc dawg
January 9th, 2010
10:13 pm
that was one cool dunk today . . .
Insider
January 9th, 2010
10:15 pm
Saban has also already told Alabama taht he will not be coaching past the 2011 season. Make Kirby the HC in waiting.
Blue Grass
January 9th, 2010
10:15 pm
Wez ownz youz. Wez ain’t ever goings to lous too Georgie agian! I can beleive us can’t beet Tenecee!!!!!
Pit Bull
January 9th, 2010
10:16 pm
Does this mean I’m not getting the Ga DC Job?
haywood...
January 9th, 2010
10:16 pm
i’m tellin you….
i was starting to believe what u were sayin until
you didn’t know how to spell rashad’s name.
Pit Bull
January 9th, 2010
10:17 pm
Saban treats his coaches like children, no MAN, is going to put up with that crap!
Blue Grass
January 9th, 2010
10:20 pm
Enter your comments here
Confirmed
January 9th, 2010
10:21 pm
Its official, My mom just yelled down to the basement that she was playing video poker at the swifty store tonight with KS aunt and he’s looking at double wides in Watkinsville as we speak.
Buckhead Bulldog
January 9th, 2010
10:23 pm
Pit Bull: Yep! He is control freak, and that got him a one way ticket out of the NFL. Pro Players and Coaches won’t put up with that junk.
Bama Rules
January 9th, 2010
10:24 pm
Kirby won’t leave Saban! Kirby feels like Nick is his daddy! UGA is not even a good team any longer. UGA and Auburn can’t beat UK!!!!!!!
WE RUIN THIS STATE
January 9th, 2010
10:26 pm
Kirby; Everyone will be crying and saying welcome “home” until FL hangs 45 on you. Don’t unpack all your bags. In fact, you may be wise to rent out that house in Tuscaloosa for a couple of years.
FLA DAWG
January 9th, 2010
10:27 pm
I’m concerned that Smart has not accepted the offer yet. Is he just using it to get more money from Alabama like the others?
On the other hand I would think that he and his wife would like to return to UGA – especially with Smart in line to takeover from Richt whenever he leaves.
Just don’t understand the delay in this.
Jesup
January 9th, 2010
10:28 pm
confirmed…….that was funny…lol
Nick Saban
January 9th, 2010
10:29 pm
I just told Kirby that I wanted him to leave! Who needs Smart when I do all the coaching anyway. I can take a crack head and turn him into the best DC in two years!
WE RUIN THIS STATE
January 9th, 2010
10:30 pm
Bama Rules: You just don’t understand. This is Kirby’s chance to come
“home”. He may never get it again. You know that when you live in AL you are never allowed to even visit GA. Its like east berliners trying to get to west berlin back in the 50’s.
Go DOGS
January 9th, 2010
10:32 pm
Bama Rules=BlueGrass=Tech Geek
Go worry about Al Groh on your own blog, Poindexter!
WE RUIN THIS STATE
January 9th, 2010
10:32 pm
Leaving AL to go to UGA isn’t even a lateral move. Try demotion. For the national champ ?
RNB
January 9th, 2010
10:32 pm
Word is Saban has promised he will not be coaching past 2011. Kirby will be named the Alabama coach in waiting.
Mister T
January 9th, 2010
10:36 pm
So 26 you are a pu$$y ugay student? It seems that you talk pretty big yourself.
We’ll see. The coaches, polls and all the computers (imagine that) still believed Tech to be the better team (See Final BCS ranking).
Still not understanding putting grass in your mouth. I mean the Tech Players were celebrating something that they had not accomplished in a long time…consider it a bit of a complement to uga that they celebrated withthe legendary hedge. Eating grass…painted grass….just simple-minded.
I generally don’t come over and talk trash on y’all’s board. It was just your atitude that brung it out. My appologies to the rest of the fine folk on here…all three of you.
Tech is back. With a defense, it will continue to get better for Tech. I guess you can same the same for uga.
THWg!