Smart explains decision to reject UGA (updated)
Athens — Kirby Smart won’t be coming to Georgia as the Bulldogs’ defensive coordinator, deciding after two days of deliberation to remain in the same job at Alabama.
Smart, a former Georgia player, explained his decision in written comments provided by Alabama:
“I think it was pretty well known that there was an opportunity to return to my alma mater as defensive coordinator,” Smart said. ”I wouldn’t even have considered discussing the position with any other school, but when it is a place I’ve spent some of my best years and had some great memories, I thought it was something I should discuss with my family and figure out what was best.
“After thinking about all the factors over the last couple days, we are going to stay at the University of Alabama. We love it in Tuscaloosa, have made some great friends here and I think we are building something special here at Alabama with Coach [Nick] Saban. I have learned so much in the time I’ve spent with Coach Saban, and every year I feel like a become a better coach.
“I’ve got a great deal of respect for Coach [Mark] Richt and the job he has done there, and the University of Georgia will also have a special place in my heart. Not only did I play there, but my wife played basketball there and we have a lot of friends at UGA.”
Smart had been considering a lucrative multi-year offer — reportedly for three or four years at around $700,000 per year — to return to his alma mater as defensive coordinator. His pending decision had been the subject of intense speculation among UGA fans over the weekend. Saban previously had expressed his disapproval of assistant coaches making lateral career moves.
“We’re very pleased and happy that Kirby is going to be staying here at the University of Alabama with us,” Saban said in a statement this afternoon. ”He’s done a fabulous job for us. He’s one of the finest assistant coaches in the country.
“You expect guys like Kirby to get lots of opportunities to do things, and we want to continue to help him continue to develop his career here so that when he leaves here, it’s going to be to be a head coach and probably in a very good situation. So we’re excited about that. We’re happy for him and his family. It’s very pleasing to us.”
Alabama is believed to have aggressively countered Georgia’s financial offer, but said it would not reveal Smart’s new salary until it is approved by trustees in the spring. Smart’s salary was around $360,000 in 2009.
Richt has been trying to hire a new defensive coordinator since the Dec. 2 firing of Willie Martinez and two other defensive coaches.
Georgia previously pursued two veteran defensive coordinators for the job, Virginia Tech’s Bud Foster and LSU’s John Chavis. Both opted to remain in their current jobs after having their contracts considerably sweetened.
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1,397 comments Add your comment
Todd Grantham
January 11th, 2010
8:52 pm
Coach Richt interviewed me tonight. I can’t wait to be a Georgia Bulldog!
Hootie
January 11th, 2010
8:54 pm
Seriously, just how bad is the situation in Athens??
Troof
January 11th, 2010
8:55 pm
Todd, be sure to ask Saban if it is ok to go to UGA. You did coach for him, remember? LOL!!
RTR! 29 years and counting Dawgs!
Troof
January 11th, 2010
8:58 pm
Hootie, it’s bad. Been getting worse since September 2008 when Bama destroyed UGA in their black uniforms.
LHardingDawg
January 11th, 2010
8:59 pm
Kirby is an idiot!!!
Troof
January 11th, 2010
9:02 pm
Wow, LHardingDawg, you must have really dug deep for those words of wisdom.
Typical UGA fan, eating one of their supposed own.
Big L
January 11th, 2010
9:02 pm
All you detractors, none of you were this vocal in 2002,2005,or 2007. If you think Richt magically forgot how to coach , then you are nuts. Richt will get a tenacious DC who will do a great job and you will all choke on the stupidity you have been spouting. You kept Kirby, good job, Bama will need him when Saban bouncs to Pac 10 cause the bama boredome is killing him.
alabamadultgrad.
January 11th, 2010
9:02 pm
Alright all you fellow alabama fans, lighten up. Remember where we were not too long ago. Step away from the computer and quit masturbating. You are acting like trolls.
Todd Grantham
January 11th, 2010
9:04 pm
I love Mark Richt…he and I are going to share the tanning bed!
LHardingDawg
January 11th, 2010
9:05 pm
Troof is an idiot!!!
Troof
January 11th, 2010
9:05 pm
Big L, you and the rest of the SEC only wish Master Saban was leaving.
Prepare for the beginning of the anguish and woe that will befall the SEC for a long time to come!
Troof
January 11th, 2010
9:06 pm
And again, LHardingDawg, is that it? I’m sorely disappointed in you Dawg fans. Perhaps the Tech fans could come up with better smack with their higher intelligence.
rabiddawg
January 11th, 2010
9:06 pm
We got used just like we always do. Like with Foster, Chavis now Smart who WAS and I mean WAS a dawg. We got abused last year when looking for a hoops coach. We have gotten raises for half of the football and basketball coaches in D1. I am starting to think that Damon doesn’t know what he is doing. Just make a hire, stop being politically correct and not give a damn about prof courtesy. Hire Grantham and get his name out there at least so we don’t lose anymore recruits. This is BS.
Todd Grantham
January 11th, 2010
9:06 pm
Nick Satan told me not to go to UGA but Mark Richt threw in a Ford Truck. I couldn’t pass it up!
maddawg
January 11th, 2010
9:07 pm
Ok, come on Ga fans, lets flood the tide blogs and give back to them hard and deep like they like it. Don’t let up.
Troof
January 11th, 2010
9:07 pm
Dear Todd G.,
I want to let you know Coach Richt taught me everything I know about tanning. He’s the best!
Signed,
George Hamilton
gbpier
January 11th, 2010
9:09 pm
All these Alabama fans start talking trash now, where has all this talk been over the last 10 years? Bama was good this year; everyone in the nation knows that, but dont start acting like Florida! Keep your class!
Troof
January 11th, 2010
9:10 pm
maddawg, don’t go away mad….just go away! LOL!!
RTR!! 29 years and counting Dawg fans!!
When will you demand accountability from CMR for his lack of NCs? Isn’t that what he was hired to do? Why are you content with no national titles? Vandy is also content with not having a NC in 29 years! How the proud have fallen!
Troof
January 11th, 2010
9:11 pm
My mama is easy and she makes me clean her up.
Troof
January 11th, 2010
9:12 pm
Actually I am easy too, I wish I could clean myself up.
Troof
January 11th, 2010
9:12 pm
gbpier, the smack comes when you dare try to hire our coaches without Lord Saban’s blessing! When you offer Kirby the HC job in 2 years and this move is approved by Saban, there will be only congratulations to Dawg fans on hiring the best coach available.
Big L
January 11th, 2010
9:12 pm
Hey , we could be a Dawg or a purple elephant. I know I am having a hard time choosing. Dawg til I’m dead. Tuff times will make championships taste better.
Troof
January 11th, 2010
9:13 pm
Mama, come clean me.
Hire Somebody, Anybody!
January 11th, 2010
9:13 pm
Two words: Dave Campo
Troof
January 11th, 2010
9:13 pm
Come on impersonators! Is that the best you have? Sad, sad, sad.
But then again you are Dawg fans. I should have expected as much!
Troof
January 11th, 2010
9:14 pm
Wait, I can reach it, mmmmn mmnnn.
Troof
January 11th, 2010
9:15 pm
Daddy, you hungry? I am, you’re looking good.
Troof
January 11th, 2010
9:15 pm
Purple elephant??? That must be some good meth you guys have there around Athens!
RTR! 29 years and counting!
Todd Grantham
January 11th, 2010
9:15 pm
Mark Richt and I are going on missionary trips to Africa and Mexico. We will be back before national signing day.
Troof
January 11th, 2010
9:16 pm
Man, the Athens mouthbreathers must have found an internet connection.
No originality. It figures.
Big L
January 11th, 2010
9:17 pm
Hey Troof, putting faith in Saban is like jumping out a window with a bed sheet. Don’t forget Louisiana-Monroe. I think a little humbleness is in order.
Troof
January 11th, 2010
9:17 pm
I want to go to Africa, when you go black you don’t come back.
Troof
January 11th, 2010
9:17 pm
Todd, you and Mark have a good trip. Say hello to Tubberville if you stumble across him duck hunting. Nick will be out recruiting and continuing to own everything he sees.
Troof
January 11th, 2010
9:19 pm
And they say Bama fans live in the past. Big L, come into the present…you know, the one where Bama is national champs.
RTR! 29 years and counting Dawgs. Bama NCs since 1992 = UGA NCs in their entire history!
Troof
January 11th, 2010
9:19 pm
No seriously dawg fans. I just like kicking dogs when they are down. I’ve got my panties around my ankles and well, you know….I’m using 3 fingers tonight.
Todd Grantham
January 11th, 2010
9:21 pm
Man…the Africa, Mexico trip is cancelled…Katherine Richt wants another baby…I guess I will go get in my new Ford Truck and drive to the tanning bed…
Troof
January 11th, 2010
9:21 pm
If you’re gay and you know it clap your hands…..clap, clap. If your gay and you know it clap your hands….clap clap………….
Troof
January 11th, 2010
9:22 pm
Dawgs have been down for 29 years. They’ve had some nice close calls but can’t seal the deal. And it starts with the head coach.
welder
January 11th, 2010
9:23 pm
Wow, Todd G. you have alot of class.
Troof
January 11th, 2010
9:23 pm
Dear Coach Richt,
I sell Ford Trucks too and I own you in that also.
Take care and don’t bother my assistants again,
Nick Saban.
P.S. If you keep it up, ask Urban what can happen. 911?
TheItalianDawg
January 11th, 2010
9:25 pm
Smart is rarely acknowledged for the Bama D, its all Saban at least that how the Bama fans see it and football commentators and experts, maybe there is some truth in that and possibly Kirby is not ready enough to lead the D at Georgia on his own. so Kirby doesn’t want the job, so be it! it might just work for the best for us. Go Dawgs
Troof
January 11th, 2010
9:25 pm
Answer me this Dawg fans. Why does Richt have the same expression regardless of the score? How can a human have such a limited range of emotions? Is there some kind of neuromuscular issue going on? Were Goff and Donnan the same way?? Weird.
Mike
January 11th, 2010
9:26 pm
Welder, don’t sweat it, most bama fans are decent as most SEC fans are but then you have the Troofs and Todds etc that have no life…look what they are doing with their time on another team’s blog. hahahahahahaha They obviously have no women in their lives…. take a bath that might help.
Troof
January 11th, 2010
9:27 pm
ItalianDawg, if he isn’t ready to lead the D at UGA then why offer him the job???
He’s in a great position and can utilize it to jump to a HC job in a few years. Learning at the feet of one of, if not the, best college coaches today.
Troof
January 11th, 2010
9:28 pm
I’m finished now. I swallowed the whole thing….
Troof
January 11th, 2010
9:29 pm
My goal in life is to sniff Saban’s sac
GT IS STILL A 4TH RATE HIGH SCHOOL TEAM
January 11th, 2010
9:30 pm
SMART IS THE BENEDICT ARNOLD OF UGA DAWGS. HAHAHAHAHHAHAHHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHHAHA
Troof
January 11th, 2010
9:30 pm
Mike, you must not have been around many 10RC fans! LOL!!
I must say I am disappointed at the quality of the derogatory comments towards me here tonight. I expected more than this pitiful showing.
Sounds like when Bama went to Athens in 2008! Bama expected a better showing from UGA there too!
RTR! 29 years and counting Dawgs! When will it end????
Big L
January 11th, 2010
9:30 pm
Hey troof, the difference between me and you is that when I get off this blog, I am gonna have sex with my wife, not my sister. Who knew inbreeders could blog. Good for you , not letting that funky leg thing slow you down or nothin.
NC Dawg
January 11th, 2010
9:31 pm
stay at Bama with your Daddy Kirby – everybody knows Saban is the real D Coordinator in Tuscaloosa