Coaches and media personalities in the Southeastern Conference are not accustomed to seeing Nick Saban being an analyst at SEC Media Days.
The scene at the Omni Hotel in Dallas, Texas, has been weird for Greg Sankey, Lane Kiffin, and Kirby Smart, but Saban is having fun with it after 17 years of coaching at the University of Alabama. Georgia football spoke Tuesday and Smart got his opportunity with Saban. He studied under the 72-year-old for nine seasons (2007-15) as a defensive backs coach and defensive coordinator.
RELATED: Kirby Smart shares thoughts on Alabama and Georgia matching up with Kalen DeBoer as Tide HC
Smart was on four national championship teams, four SEC Championship teams, and helped the Crimson Tide crown two Heisman Memorial Trophy winners in his time. He is a two-time College Football Playoff National Champion with the Bulldogs; however, he admits it’s weird to seeing Saban on the media side instead of coaching. Smart hilariously compared Saban to an evil Star Wars character after having to share information about his team.
Georgia Bulldogs HC Kirby Smart on Nick Saban now being apart of the media and sharing UGA info with him:
“I feel like I’m giving answers to Darth Vader” pic.twitter.com/GZigSxBbcu
— Zach Klein (@ZachKleinWSB) July 16, 2024
“It’s weird,” Smart said. “The call I did to set up for this media days, I was nervous. For 15 minutes, I am going to share with him [Nick Saban] about my team. I feel like I am giving answers to Darth Vader.”
Smart knows he is not competing with Saban anymore, yet he does not want Alabama having any extra ammunition.
Georgia suffered a 24-27 loss to the Crimson Tide in the 2023 SEC Championship Game. The loss knocked the Bulldogs out of the CFP conversation. Smart is looking for revenge, but he has to get it against Kalen DeBoer.
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Stephen M. Smith is the senior writer for Touchdown Alabama Magazine. You can “like” him on Facebook or “follow” him on Twitter, via @CoachingMSmith.
