HOOVER, Ala. — Even if Kirby Smart learned a lot under Nick Saban, he doesn’t necessarily plan on building Alabama East.

After a nine-year run working for Saban in Tuscaloosa — the last eight as defensive coordinator — Smart would be wise to follow the same game plan to some degree in Athens. The Crimson Tide have been dominant.

A defensive back at Georgia from 1995-98, Smart takes over a program that was competitive in the SEC more often than not for a decade and a half under Mark Richt. Nevertheless, the Bulldogs could never quite get over the hump. Smart is charged with transforming a good team into a truly great one.

However, just like there is only one ‘Bama, there is only one Saban. Smart needs to do things his own way.

“The biggest thing for me is recognizing the difference, and I got great value from the nine years I spent at University of Alabama and 11 years I worked for Coach Saban, learning the difference between a team and a program,” Smart said Tuesday at SEC Media Days. “That’s where I want to put my stamp on the University of Georgia, is the difference between a team and program.

“A team is a group of young men playing together. The program is the entirety of that, what goes into that, how do we support these student-athletes off the field, what things can we give them from a nutrition standpoint, strength and development, their wellness, psychological development, everything we can do for the team and for the entire program is the stamp that I’d like to put on it.”

Still, the Tide and Dawgs have one dubious characteristic in common heading into the 2016 season: Neither Saban nor Smart has settled on a starting quarterback. Even for a defensive guru like Smart, that’s Job 1.

UGA does have a senior incumbent on the roster, but Greyson Lambert — a former Virginia transfer — won’t generate much excitement between the hedges. While his completion percentage of 63.3 and TD-to-INT ratio of 12-to-2 look impressive on paper, the Bulldogs were all bark throwing the football in 2015. Zero bite.

Jul 12, 2016; Hoover, AL, USA; Georgia head coach Kirby Smart speaks to the media during SEC media day at Hyatt Regency Birmingham-The Wynfrey Hotel. Mandatory Credit: Butch Dill-USA TODAY Sports

Credit: Butch Dill-USA TODAY Sports

From the moment five-star phenom Jacob Eason arrived on campus, fans have been clamoring for him to start.

When asked about his QBs, Smart failed to mention either Lambert or Eason by name — let alone experienced backup Brice Ramsey. He played the “we’re going to play the best player that gives us the best opportunity to win” card.

Maybe Smart can get to the point where the depth chart at the game’s most important position isn’t overly important. Saban is clearly there. Neither of his previous two passers, Blake Sims or Jake Coker, is on his way to a legitimate NFL career. But Alabama made back-to-back College Football Playoff appearances anyway.

That’s a long-term goal, though. First step: Smart needs to win on the field. On the recruiting trail, too.

Smart might never have been one of the featured attractions at Media Days before. That being said, he gave the impression quickly that he belongs at the top of a premier program in the best conference in America.

Being a Saban disciple isn’t enough. Smart can’t become an elite head coach by osmosis alone. If that were the case, then Tennessee would have been resurrected already. Derek Dooley spent time on Saban’s staff in college at LSU and in the NFL with the Miami Dolphins. His stint in Knoxville was an unmitigated disaster.

“The trademark for us is going to be big, physical, fast football team,” Smart said. “We’re not there yet, but we’re certainly moving that direction.”

In Hoover, Smart has already differentiated himself from Saban. He actually thanked media members for being here.

John Crist is the senior writer for Saturday Down South. You can send him an e-mail directly at jcrist@saturdaydownsouth.com or follow him on Twitter @SaturdayJC.