Kirby Smart describes how strange it will be to coach against Alabama without Nick Saban

For eight years, when Kirby Smart led Georgia into battle against Alabama, he saw Nick Saban striding along the opposite sideline. However, the 71-year-old head coach retired after the 2023 campaign and was replaced by Kalen DeBoer. On Monday, Smart explained how it’ll feel to face off against the Crimson Tide without Saban.

“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.”

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Smart made no shortage of fond memories with Saban. In 2004, Smart spent one season under Saban as LSU’s defensive backs coach. Just three years later, Smart reunited with Saban in Alabama.

Saban hired Smart as an assistant coach on January 9, 2007. Saban promoted him to defensive coordinator just over one year later. Under Saban’s tutelage, Smart boosted Alabama to four national titles. On Dec. 6, 2015, Smart took over as head coach at Georgia.

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In the ensuing eight years, Alabama and Georgia met six times. Saban led the Crimson Tide to a 5-1 record against Smart and the Bulldogs. In the two coaches’ final matchup, Alabama defeated Georgia 27-24 in the 2023 SEC Championship to secure a spot in the College Football Playoff.

Although Saban isn’t at the helm of Alabama this season, Smart knows the legendary head coach has still had a massive influence on the current Crimson Tide roster.

“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.”

Georgia has a lot to prove against No. 4 Alabama. The team enjoyed a bye this past weekend after narrowly defeating a subpar Kentucky team 13-12 in Week 3. It was a comeback effort for the Bulldogs, who trailed 9-3 early in the third quarter.

In the win, Georgia’s offense sputtered, only amassing 262 total yards. Although the team didn’t record any turnovers, they committed nine penalties for a total loss of 85 yards. Kirby Smart knows his team can’t afford to make the same mistakes against Alabama.

“It hasn’t been perfect, but we have shown resiliency and that’s a trait that I would probably trade outside of perfect,” Smart said. “I would trade a lot of traits for resiliency.

On Saturday, Georgia will square off against Alabama at 7:30 p.m. ET. The game will air live on ABC.