Kirby Smart discusses his relationship with Nick Saban ahead of SEC title game

Kirby Smart and the Georgia Bulldogs will take on the Alabama Crimson Tide with an SEC title on the line on Saturday afternoon.

For Smart, it’s also another chance to earn his first victory against his former boss, Nick Saban.

During his final media appearance before Saturday’s game, Smart discussed his relationship with Saban. He said he still has a ton of respect for Saban, but they don’t communicate on a daily basis:

Kirby Smart on Nick Saban: "Coach and I are both very appreciative of our relationship. I think a lot of him. He meant a lot in my career, as he has a lot of coaches out there.

"I think you appreciate the job he does more when you're gone than maybe when you were there."

— Charlie Potter (@Charlie_Potter) December 2, 2021

“We don’t communicate daily but I have a lot of respect for him,” Kirby Smart said on his relationship with Nick Saban.

— Michael Casagrande (@ByCasagrande) December 2, 2021

A former Saban assistant, Jimbo Fisher, finally beat Saban earlier this season. Can Smart become the second?

The game will kick off at 4 p.m. Eastern time on Saturday afternoon in Atlanta and can be seen on CBS.