After decades of coaching either with or against Nick Saban, Georgia head coach Kirby Smart leads his team against Alabama this week in their first matchup since the former Crimson Tide head coach called it a career. As relieved as he may be to not be coaching against the man who so frequently beat him, it doesn’t feel the same to him.
Speaking to reporters on Monday, Smart said he was surprised that it felt “strange” to him to be preparing for Alabama without having to match wits with Saban. He said that it feels especially strange to be going to Tuscaloosa, since he lived there for so long and even had his kids born there.
“I don’t expect it to be strange,” Smart said. “That’s just the normal progression. I think it’s strange going back there sometimes because I lived there or our kids were born there. We lived there for nine years and had such great experiences there.”
But Smart made it clear that he’s not taking Alabama any more lightly just because Saban is no longer there. He pointed out that the core of the team is still made up of players Saban recruited – and also beat the Bulldogs in last year’s SEC Championship Game.
“He recruited a lot of them, and they’re good players,” Smart said. “Anytime you go against a really good team that’s a powerhouse in college football, it’s a challenge. And I really look at it like this is a hell of an opportunity.”
Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images
Alabama and Georgia head into this game with identical 3-0 records and ranked in the top five of the SEC.
There’s a very good chance that the loser of this game is eliminated from SEC title contention and possibly even the College Football Playoff.
The game will be played at 7:30 p.m. ET on Saturday and will air on ABC.
Related: Georgia’s Kirby Smart Reacts To Nick Saban Deciding To Retire