Nick Saban shares how Kirby Smart looks at Georgia's schedule 'completely different' than the media
Although coming in as one of the best teams in the nation, Georgia is going to have a challenging year with their upcoming schedule. Even so, Nick Saban thinks they’ll be just fine so long as they take it one step after another.
Saban broke down the Bulldogs’ schedule at the desk while at SEC Media Days in Dallas on Tuesday. While definitely a difficult slate, he says all they need to do is go snap by snap and game by game, which is how Kirby Smart is already thinking about it as opposed to how reporters may. That includes their fall camp in preparation of their opener versus Clemson in Atlanta on August 31st.
“Well, here’s the thing, you know. The way the media looks at the schedule and a coach looks at the schedule are completely different, alright?” Saban said. “You’re going to play one game at a time, one play at a time, one practice at a time, and one preparation at a time. You don’t ever want the players looking forward to a game that’s going to happen in November or whatever.”
“They’ve got to focus on Clemson,” said Saban. “Clemson probably has given them a great opportunity to have a great offseason because they’re anxious and looking forward to playing a top team. I always like that.”
From there, Georgia will play 11 more contests, including eight difficult ones in conference play. That league schedule has home games in Athens against Auburn and Tennessee. It also features some significant road tests against Alabama, Texas, and Ole Miss along with Kentucky.
As for those contests away from the hedges, Saban believes they’ll again have the right approach to them. He expects Smart to have the Bulldogs prepared to make the most of those moments and, in turn, silence those venues by the time that they leave the field.
“They’re going to have some tough games on the road. But having the mental toughness to be able to sustain and play well on the road? You need a mature team and a veteran team with great leadership,” Saban said. “I think Georgia has that and they develop that every day in the way they go about what they do. Kirby has done a really good job of that.”
“I think really good teams focus on what they have to do to get better. So every practice, every game is an opportunity. Good, bad, and ugly. What we do well, what do we need to improve on. That’s what prepares you to play at Texas or at Alabama and all these tough games in the future. You’re focused on you. Not them – you. Not the atmosphere you’re going to play in but you,” continued Saban. “Like, I used to say when we played on the road, our guys are more motivated sometimes than when we play at home. I would say, ‘What do we have to do to go into this game and make them sit on their hands? 100,000 people against us and we’re going to make them sit on their hands. How are we going to do that?'”
Georgia hasn’t had an issue with their regular season the last three years with them not losing one game during it since 2020. Now, in 2024, Saban expects much of the same so long as they remain present throughout their fall.
“You want to be where your feet are,” Saban said. “That’s exactly what you’re saying. Focus on the day.”