The Georgia Bulldogs lost in the Southeastern Conference championship to the Alabama Crimson Tide, thus missing a chance to be in the College Football Playoff — but that doesn't mean Georgia head coach Kirby Smart lost any admiration for now-retired Alabama head coach Nick Saban.
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Sitting down with Josh Pate of the "Late Kick Live" podcast, Smart detailed how he heard about the retirement of Saban, his former boss, and who he thinks the next "face of college football" will be.
Kirby Smart on hearing about Nick Saban's retirement & who the next face of CFB will be pic.twitter.com/cV3na5I9q6
— Josh Pate (@JoshPateCFB) March 3, 2024
At the beginning of the clip, Smart was asked about where he was when he heard the news about Saban's retirement.
"I didn't believe it immediately," he said. "I think I got a text from somebody. I was here at the office, so we had been working all that day."
He then mentioned how there had been some job openings at Alabama and also at Georgia.
"I got a text, I was like, 'Nah ... I don't believe that, I've heard that before,'" Smart said. "It kinda came out of left field a little bit in terms of the timing of it. ... I think he felt comfortable in his decision. ... He left a major impact on this sport we know."
Pate then discussed Smart being a "face of college football" and asked him what he thinks of that — whether he embraces it or resists it.
"First off, I don't want to be seen as the face of college football because I don't think that's the case," he said. "Nick was that and will continue to be a voice that people will listen to. First of all, he's extremely intelligent. He's smart, he understands all the problems we have as head coaches, and he wants what's best for the players. I mean, I worked for the guy and know that's what he really wants for the players. I don't think that's just some kind of spot that's inherited or given to anybody — you earn that. He earned that through time."
From there, Smart discussed how he wants to continue helping the sport, and the importance of young men playing the sport.
"If that means I'm vocal or a spokesperson for something I believe in, then I'm gonna stand up for that when I do," Smart said.
