The Bulldogs coach still isn't used to Saban's new media role.
Since 2016, Smart and Saban have squared off in a slew of SEC primetime matchups, with Smart at the helm of the Bulldogs and Saban at the helm of Alabama. Their on-field rivalry ended after Saban announced his retirement from coaching in January, but the seven-time national title-winning coach has since made numerous appearances in the media, causing Smart to do somewhat of a double take.
“It’s weird,” Smart said of talking to Saban about Georgia’s upcoming season. “The call I did to set up for Media Days, I was nervous, like… For 15 minutes I'm going to share with him about my team? I feel like I'm giving answers to Darth Vader or something.” Georgia Bulldogs HC Kirby Smart on Nick Saban now being apart of the media and sharing UGA info with him:, yet it isn’t difficult to see why the Bulldogs coach would be hesitant to start chumming it up with a former adversary.
Smart and Saban dominated the SEC during a seven-year span that saw both coaches frequently go head-to-head for national glory. Now, a new saga awaits for Smart, who is looking to guide his alma mater to a third national championship, as well as Saban, who has left the dark side for the bright lights of college football media.Kristen Wong is a staff writer on the Breaking and Trending News team at Sports Illustrated. She has been a sports journalist since 2020.
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