Kirby Smart understands that the college football coaching profession has changed even in the last 4 or 5 years because of the transfer portal, recruiting, additional money and attention directed toward the top programs.

Smart was asked that one day after Florida fired Dan Mullen on Sunday

“The stakes have gotten higher, the pay has gotten higher and with that comes expectation,” Smart said. “It’s a much tougher job, and I think you see a lot of people in our level go to the next level because it has a little less strain on your family. I know it’s a tough atmosphere, but most people would say they pay you so much, it doesn’t matter. But at the end of the day, I hate it for Dan because I think Dan’s a good person and it’s a tough situation. But it’s the profession we chose to be in, and I know Dan will be fine. He’ll be perfectly fine.”

Smart and the Bulldogs take on Georgia Tech at noon on Saturday in Atlanta.