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Kirby Smart knows Nick Saban as well as anyone in the business and the Georgia coach seemed to have a sense that the end was near for the seven-time national champion.
In a recent conversation with ESPN.com, Smart revealed his feelings on Saban’s future after falling to the Tide in last year’s SEC Championship game. Sharing with the outlet what he said to his mentor and friend following their last meeting.
I just said, ‘Look, I appreciate all you’ve done for me and my career. You’re one of the best to ever do it, and I have immense respect for you.’ And then I joked with him. ‘You can’t keep doing this much longer.’
Smart went on to say that he’ll miss seeing Saban on the opposite sideline when his team ventures to Tuscaloosa and that he wishes their battles could continue. Although he’s happy that the legendary HC did what’s best for him.
I love the man. I appreciate all he’s done, and I enjoyed competing against him. I wish he was still around, so that I could get some more shots at him because I hadn’t done real well against him (1-5). We’ve had some really close games, some really great games. But, yeah, I wish he was still there.
… I think if I had never coached under him, I would probably be more frustrated because it would be like, ‘Man, I never got to beat the GOAT as much as I wanted to’ or whatever. But with him, there’s so much respect having worked for him that I’m happy for him that he’s chosen to do what he wants to do. He deserves to go out how he wanted to.
Smart’s Bulldogs travel to Alabama Sept. 28 for the second of their conference games in 2024. Last year the 13-1 Bulldogs missed out on the College Football Playoff by two spots.