Stop the presses. Alabama defensive coordinator Kirby Smart may not leave just yet.
According to Dennis Dodd of CBS Sports.com, Alabama radio color analyst Phil Savage spoke with “two close members” of the Crimson Tide program. Both told him that Smart will stay at Alabama throughout the bowl game/playoff, before heading to Georgia as its next head coach.
Savage is the executive director of the Reese’s Senior Bowl and a former general manager of the Cleveland Browns.
Information regarding Smart’s departure to Georgia as early as Sunday was leaked to the Internet this week. Alabama will face Florida Saturday in a Southeastern Conference title game.
Smart has been as assistant under Crimson Tide head coach Nick Saban for eight years. He has been a part of three conference titles and three national championships.
Regardless of all the speculation, the Bulldogs have not made an official statement on Smart.
He stands as a finalist for this year’s Broyles Award, an honor presented annually to the nation’s top assistant coach.
Alabama is second nationally in scoring defense (14.3 ppg).
Stephen M. Smith is a senior analyst and columnist for Touchdown Alabama Magazine. You can “like” him on Facebook or “follow” him on Twitter, via @ESPN_Future.
