Georgia officially names Bama’s Kirby Smart new head coach

“I believe Kirby Smart is the flawless fit for the University of Georgia”.

Smart’s father, Sonny, was a longtime high school football coach in Georgia, so family ties run deep in the Peach State.

Kirby Smart has done great things at Alabama, we wish him the best at Georgia (unless they are playing Alabama). “Now there are qualities that take a lot of discipline and self-drive to achieve, and I think the magical secret is: (Saban)’s been able to move an entire organization in nine years, one that was probably floundering around a little bit when they got there, to arguably the most consistent college football program in the country”. Georgia hasn’t had a new coach in 15 years and it’ bound to be a learning first season for him. A four-time member of the SEC Academic Honor Roll, Smart earned his undergraduate degree in finance from Georgia and his master’s degree from Florida State in 2003. Alabama has looked like the best team in college football since its lone loss to Ole Miss in Week 3, and should advance to the College Football Playoff after Saturday’s game.

“I know what type of coach he is”, Alabama cornerback Cyrus Jones said Saturday night. “We mutually agreed that he would step down as head coach and would have the opportunity to accept other duties and responsibilities at UGA following the bowl game”. He’s a great guy.

The 2015 Alabama defense now ranks first in rushing defense (74.0 ypg), second in total defense (258.2 ypg), and third in scoring defense (14.4). “He will demand stuff out of you”.

Since 2004, Smart has only spent one year away from Saban’s staff, which caused Saban to become a bit emotional prior to the conference title game kicking off.

Smart will be formally introduced as Georgia’s coach at a news conference on the UGA campus at 12:30 p.m. on Monday.

After his comments, Saban wanted to make it clear that he would not respond to any questions about Smart.

“He’s the defensive coordinator”, Saban said.

“We’ve worked together for a long, long time”, he said before pausing for several seconds to collect himself.

Smart, a Bainbridge native who played for Georgia from 1995-98 and was running backs coach with the Bulldogs in 2005, will be asked to get Georgia back to Atlanta by winning the SEC East, something it hasn’t done the last three seasons, and compete for national championships.

McElwain, a former Alabama offensive coordinator, hugged Smart after Saturday’s game.

Obviously, Smart’s decision will be vital to both programs.

“Following that interview, I accepted the athletic director’s recommendation to hire Kirby”, Morehead said.

Smart left Georgia to coach safeties for Miami Dolphins and head coach Nick Saban. And it’s not just the football part.

Georgia had to have known when it hired Smart that this scenario was a possibility.

Smart will bring in his own staff, but is expected to retain defensive line coach Tracy Rocker, according to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

Alabama linebacker Ryan Anderson expects Smart to be full committed to the Tide through the end of its season. “That would be awesome”.