Georgia fans come to Kirby Smart's defense after he was ranked No. 7 in list of best FBS coaches
On Tuesday, Sporting News analyst Bill Bender ranked all 130 FBS coaches. These sorts of lists never make every fan happy, mostly because it’s an impossible task to rank 130 guys.
However, 1 particular coach had many fans coming to his defense after he was perceived to be ranked too low.
As you can see below, when SEC Network host Paul Finebaum tweeted out Bender’s top-10 rankings, Georgia coach Kirby Smart checked in at No. 7:
Here's how @BillBender92 ranks the top 10 coaches for the 2021 season. He's next on the show…what do you think of his list? pic.twitter.com/qg1FD2Henk
— Paul Finebaum (@finebaum) June 29, 2021
Bulldog fans were quick to defend their coach, pointing out his record against Lincoln Riley, Brian Kelly and Jimbo Fisher, for starters. Here’s some of the reaction to Bender’s rankings:
Well Bill
#7’s a combined 4-0 vs. #3-5 so that’s a tough one to overlook https://t.co/pEDn6l5f4F
— Wes Blankenship (@Wes_nship) June 29, 2021
Kirby 7-1 against everyone on that list not named Saban
— Justin (@Dawgfan19881) June 29, 2021
This is lunacy. Smart is 4-0 vs three of the coaches ahead of him on this list.
Coach Smart deserves more respect. Brian Kelly / Jimbo Fisher / Lincoln? Smart is 2-0 vs Kelly, 1-0 vs Jimbo Fisher, 1-0 vs Riley. pic.twitter.com/FFNik7ZqyV— Phillip Beck (@philliprbeck) June 29, 2021
Kirby Smart has beaten Brian Kelly Twice and Lincoln Riley’s best offense ever in the Playoffs and he’s ranked that far behind them? Ok.
— RaB (@Dawg2020Ga) June 29, 2021
https://twitter.com/dantolick/status/1409953601770954756
Riley, Fisher, & Day are overrated. Day & Riley are at schools where any average coach would be successful. Especially Day @OSU It recruits itself in a weak conference w no competition. Smart should be #3. He's beaten everyone except Saban after he beats Clemson in a few months. https://t.co/Kx7VFjIF9d
— Mike Smith (@Bamadad1985) June 29, 2021
@BillShanks
Kirby behind Kelly and Riley? WTH have they won? https://t.co/TVhJSbz1zf pic.twitter.com/jXzczucC4A— Ken from Cumming (@klpackuga88) June 29, 2021
Kirby has beaten Lincoln Riley in the playoffs, Notre Dame twice, and beat Jimbo 2 years ago with a god awful offense. But sure he's 7th -_- https://t.co/Foi5HjoVXQ
— William (@wowjr2323) June 29, 2021
Who did Bender get right? Who did he get wrong? Check out his full rankings of the 130 FBS coaches here.
