Nick Saban and Kirby Smart have built quite the history as coaches.

As coaches on the same team or as opponents on different squads, Saban and Smart have always had a deep appreciation for each other.

“You’re right about one thing … I’m too old for this game,” Saban jokingly said as he walked up to Smart and shook his hand in Atlanta at the SEC Championship.

Saban and Smart met at midfield prior to the start of the SEC Championship game this past Saturday. Smart praised Saban for “great job he’s done” with Alabama this season.

Saban, however, quickly turned the compliment onto Smart.

“Nobody has done as good of a job as you have for this long,” Saban said to Smart, acknowledging his time and success at Georgia.

Smart, who noted he’s “trying to enjoy” every moment with the Bulldogs, told Saban that he’s a “heck of a coach.”

Smart was part of Saban’s Alabama coaching staff from 2007 to 2015. Smart was also a coach for the Miami Dolphins when Saban was the head coach during the 2006 season.

Since Smart became the head coach at Georgia, his Bulldogs are 1-5 against the Saban and the Crimson Tide. Georgia’s only win against Alabama during that span was by a 33-18 score in the 2021 College Football Playoff Championship game.

Alabama beat Georgia, 27-24, in this year’s SEC Championship game.