ATHENS, Ga. --- Georgia continues to be spurned by coaches it pursues to become defensive coordinator.
Alabama's Kirby Smart became the latest Monday when he decided to stay in the same position with the national champion Crimson Tide instead of returning to his alma mater.
The Broyles Award winner for nation's top assistant coach is at least the third coach Georgia has targeted that received a boost to his financial package after talking with coach Mark Richt. Virginia Tech's Bud Foster and LSU's John Chavis also stayed put.
Alabama coach Nick Saban announced Smart's decision, which came after two days of contemplating a Georgia offer.
Smart reportedly received a multiyear offer from Georgia for more than $700,000 a year. He made $369,350 last season and will receive a "substantial increase," after trustees approve the deal this spring, according to the Mobile (Ala.) Press-Register .
Smart, 34, was an All-SEC defensive back for Georgia and was running backs coach under Richt in 2005. He has also coached with Saban at LSU and the Miami Dolphins.
Richt might now turn to Dallas Cowboys defensive line coach Todd Grantham, who reportedly had been approached about the job.
Seems like no one wants to work with Coach Mark Richt.
UGA had its best chances for a National Championship last decade. Now time for the program to go dormant for another 20 years.
Kirby Smart has it made at Alabama. He can make big money and continue to hide behind Saban's skirt. At least we made Alabama spend some of their Wal-Mart money.
Kirby is smart. Alabama is now the top program in the country, and are expected to compete for another national title next year. Why go to work for a loser like Georgia, and ruin his career. In another year or so he will be offered the head coaching job at a div 1 school.
it is tough - that's for sure, but at least GA is going after top talent!
"Why go to work for a loser like Georgia"
Builder Boy smells of Tech!
Georgia holds the record at 13 8+ wins a year in a row. Now how is that a loser???? Georgia will get a fine DC when it is all over. Obviously getting a good DC to move to another school as a DC is not easy. At least we are getting some coaches significant raises. Kirby Smart will be a Head Coach in the next 2-3 years.
I am not the least bit worried. We own Tech.
KS will be a head coach in 2 more years....at UGA once they fire Richt.
It's been 29 years since your last NC Dawg fans? Where is the accountability from Richt? How much longer must you wait? One of your most bitter rivals has 2 NCs in the past 4 years.
Coaches see the sinking ship in Athens. Wait for regime change before considering that place.
KS might have some baggage. When is Alabama's probation for cheating over? 2012? I guess giving up 21 victories was worth one NC. Pride aside of course.
Georgia will be fine... KS does not have any ambition to achieve anything from up under Saban's skirt. If he was looking to create his own legacy, Georgia would have been the perfect place. Most of the time schools offer DC positions to LB coaches or another defensive position; they do not go after the other team's DC. Georgia truly does not have the pockets of Alabama so why even bother with KS? I think this speaks volume of Richt and I wish him the best of luck in the future.
Hey facts, can Bama borrow Richt for a weekend? We need some dance lessons for our end zone celebrations and some advice on jersey colors. LOL!
Richt will need all the luck he can get just to beat UF on occassion and now it looks like UT will be spanking UGA more often.
Hey, did Crompton just throw another TD pass! Nice!
SMN, just be careful, Bama is one more violation away from the death penalty.
Keep dreaming there factboy. You sound like an auburn fan hoping we get the death penalty. Thats about the only way Bama football falls anytime soon
Where do you the idea I hope AL gets the death penalty. I was just making an observation. BTW, I am a UGA fan who pulled hard for Bama last week wondering why SMN felt the need to come on here trashing UGA for no apparent reason.
If an assistant coach/defensive coordinator wants a huge raise - just interview with Coach Richt. Smart was smart to interview with Richt and put the pressure on Bama to give him what he deserved for being the best defensive coordinator in the country.
Since Bama is on probation, does this year's mythical National Championship come with an *sterisk?
csrareader that would be Arkansas not Alabama get the facts straight
Look, Smart didn't take the offer for several reasons, and I think they mainly break down to money and comfort. If he went to Georgia, he'd have to start all over with recruiting at a school not fortunate enough to have won the national championship...start all over with a new staff and a new team of players...start his family all over in a new neighborhood, etc.. At Alabama, he'd have the same boss, same players, same recruits, same-same-same. The major difference now is that, thanks to Georgia's efforts, he's making a booty-load more money! In fact, the DC at LSU and at Virginia Tech can both also thank Georgia for getting them huge raises!! That doesn't necessarily mean that none of them wanted to come to Georgia, it just means that they decided to take the huge raise their school was matching and keep in a "safe" situation. Georgia will get a new Defensive Coordinator, it just needs to come on and happen because Signing Day is right around the corner and some of the recruits might be getting antsy!
Because you made it a point to say bama is one more infraction away from getting the death penalty. You may have well pulled for Bama against Texas. Thats great. But all the schools in the SEC can only hope something bad happens to Bama is they want a chance at winning against them
augustadog - I am a diehard Bama fan and have been since the early 1970's. Roll Tide.
actually, try this thought on for size: if KS went to UGA and salvaged Richt's job, how would that benefit KS? on the other hand, if he waits at 'Bama he may (1) get a head coaching opp next season or (2) be in line for consideration at UGA if richt gets fired in a couple of seasons. no real advantage for KS to go to uga. yes, i guess 'Bama really does need to put an asterisk * next to the championship since colt mccoy didn't play and 'Bama wasn't supposed to be eligible for postseason play since they are on double secret probation. RTR!!!!!!!!!!!!!
If KS thinks he'll have a shot at UGA's head coaching job, he's dreaming. First, UGA is not firing Mark Richt now or anytime in the foreseeable future. He's had plenty of success and that's just not going to happen. Secondly, right or wrong, he has burned that bridge back to UGA. If Richt were to retire any time soon, Kirby won't be coming back to Athens. If was a win-win for UGA -- we made Alabama spend some of their money, and we'll still get a very good defensive coordinator -- for probably much less than the offer to Nick's little boy Kirby.
jaschild, I'll tell you how it could've benefitted Kirby, it has been widely speculated that one of the reasons he has done well as a defensive coach is because of Saban, who is himself a defensive coach. The question is just how much of the defense is because of Kirby and how much of it is because of Saban? I'm not the one bringing this up, it has been brought up by other sportswriters and on ESPN. Had Kirby gone on to Georgia..or anywhere...he would have to be coaching defense without the "back-up" of Saban, and would've been able to prove the critics wrong. No, I don't blame him for staying anymore. But you asked the question and I gave you what I thought was a valid answer. And, as far as Bama goes, I'm STILL a happy Dawg fan that they were able to beat the crud out of the Gators and RUIN their year!! Bwahahahahaha!!Yeah, it's petty and immature of me, but it is what it is! LOL!
Wow...look at all the BAMA fans now. Where were these guys all those years BAMA was losing? I love my DAWGS! Been a DAWG fan all my life. Even moved to Athens for a while just to be closer to them and their booster club. I love em when they lose as well as when they win. I see no way Coach Richt will be fired any time soon. I think there are quite a few teams right here in the SEC that would love to have him. Now Saban is a great coach and has done well at BAMA but where will he be in 3 years? He has a history of jumping teams for $5 more. GO DAWGS!!!
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