Kirby Smart on dealing with Nick Saban in the media: 'I felt like I was still talking to my boss'

Texas and Oklahoma joining the conference make the SEC look different ahead of the 2024 college football season, but head coach Nick Saban‘s retirement feels like an even bigger change within the SEC for some. A staple in the conference spending 22 of the past 24 years as a head coach in the SEC between his five seasons at LSU and 17 with Alabama.

Saban has quickly transitioned from head coach to media analyst, joining ESPN and SEC Network for their coverage of SEC Media Days in what’s served as an adjustment for many in attendance in Dallas and beyond. Including his former defensive coordinator turned rival, Georgia Bulldogs head coach Kirby Smart.

“It’s different,” Smart admitted on ESPN’s Get Up Tuesday morning. “I’ll tell you the most unique part, I think Lane [Kiffin] and I were sharing some texts, he reached out to talk to us to prepare for this media days. And I still got nervous on the phone with him, I felt like I was still talking to my boss.”

Both Smart and Kiffin coached under Saban before becoming mainstay head coaches at their respective SEC programs. And when the season rolls around, themselves and the other coaches in the conference likely won’t miss Saban too much after he boasted a .877 win percentage during his time with the Crimson Tide.

But as Smart and others still adjust to the change, including the staffer who denied Saban entry at media days after he forgot his credentials, Saban’s retirement still feels surreal.

“I told Lane I said, ‘Oh, he’s still calling us and asking about our teams and I feel like I’m sharing inside information or something,'” Smart added.

Saban still has an office in Alabama’s football facility, striving to continue to be a part of the football program and offer guidance where needed. Which new Crimson Tide head coach Kalen DeBoer is likely thankful for.

But for coaches and football fans alike, they’re happy that he will now share his knowledge and insight through his media career. Already doing so during the 2024 NFL Draft and slated to appear on ESPN’s College GameDay during college football season.

“But he’s been a critical part of my career and so many coaches careers. I’m just happy he stayed involved in college football and he’s helped him carry the torch forward. He’s been an incredible asset for me,” Smart concluded.

Both Saban and Smart can be seen during SEC Media Days on Tuesday where coverage will be featured on SEC Network and ESPN+.