Since the 2017 season, the Georgia football program has achieved significant success, including winning two College Football Playoff National Championships and reaching at least 11 wins six times. They have also participated in a New Year’s Six Bowl five times. As they head into next fall, Georgia continues to get recognized as one of the top programs in college football. With two titles secured since 2009, Georgia remains tied with Clemson in championship wins. However, both powerhouses fall well short of the Alabama Crimson Tide regarding championship victories. Alabama’s remarkable run from 2009 to 2022, led by head coach Nick Saban, resulted in six national titles.
Saban has since retired circa last offseason, potentially opening a window for Georgia, Clemson, and other high-end programs to go on a monster title run. Although other SEC programs not named Alabama are taking a sigh of relief with the retirement of the seven-time champion Saban, Georgia head coach Kirby Smart paid his respect to the longtime bench boss during SEC Media Days on Tuesday.
Georgia Football HC Kirby Smart: Gives Praise to Nick Sabana
The Georgia Bulldogs found a good one when they poached Alabama Crimson Tide defensive coordinator Kirby Smart to fill their head coaching vacancy in 2016. Smart owns a 94-16 record, won two titles, and earned SEC Coach of the Year three times. However, Georgia’s bench boss still believes he is far from catching longtime Alabama frontman Nick Saban as the best of all time.
Georgia’s Kirby Smart on Nick Saban: “He is the GOAT. He is the greatest of all time. He dominated for a long time”
— Brett McMurphy (@Brett_McMurphy) July 16, 2024
“He is the GOAT. He is the greatest of all time. He dominated for a long time,” said Smart during SEC Media Days on Tuesday. Saban indeed ran the SEC and college football for most of the 21st century. From 2000 onward, Saban never posted a losing record while winning double-digit games in 18 of his 22 seasons. More importantly, he won seven titles, six with Alabama and one with the LSU Tigers.
Smart: Worked With Saban Since NFL Days
In 2005, two years after winning a title with the LSU Tigers, Nick Saban accepted the head coaching job with the Miami Dolphins of the NFL. Saban’s time with Miami was short-lived, with the Alabama Crimson Tide hiring him away before the 2007 season. However, during his last season as an NFL bench boss, Saban hired Kirby Smart, who worked with him for one year at LSU, as his safeties coach. Smart followed Saban back to college football, operating as the assistant head coach during their inaugural season in Tuscaloosa.
Saban promoted Smart to defensive coordinator the following season, a position he held from 2008 to 2015. Smart helped lead Alabama to five championships, winning AFCA Assistant Coach of the Year in 2012. He also won the Broyles Award in 2009, an honor given to the best assistant coach that season. Smart eventually left Alabama for Georgia’s head coaching vacancy in 2016, where he has won two titles thus far.
For More Football News:
For More Football News and to dive into the excitement, follow me on Twitter at @alec_musa. Let’s get the conversation rolling! I’m all ears for your thoughts and insights. You can also reach out to me via email at musaalec@gmail.com. To read more of our articles and keep up to date on the latest college and NFL news, click here!
