Kirby Smart explains why he’s thrilled for Nick Saban in ESPN analyst role
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Kirby Smart coached under Nick Saban for many years at Alabama, and then he had his battles with Saban when he took the head coaching job at Georgia.
All those drama-filled contests are in the past now though, and Smart is delighted that Saban has found a new home within the college football landscape as an analyst for ESPN.
Smart called Saban “extremely thorough” in his new role at ESPN.
Kirby Smart called Nick Saban "extremely thorough" in his new role as an ESPN analyst.
Said he's thrilled Saban gets to do what he wants and enjoy spending time with family.
"I'm really happy he's still part of college football because he makes college football better.”
— Matt Stahl (@mattstahl97) September 23, 2024
Smart also said Monday that he’s thrilled that Saban is finally getting to do what he wants and isn’t tied down to the rigors of a college football season. He also is happy that Saban is getting to enjoy quality time with his family.
Had Saban not retired in January, Smart would’ve been once again locking horns with Saban this Saturday night when 4th-ranked Alabama hosts 2nd-ranked Georgia in a primetime showdown in Tuscaloosa. For a change, Saban won’t be on the sidelines for that epic battle, with Kalen DeBoer taking over at Alabama and facing off with Smart instead.
Smart is thankful that Saban is still very much a part of the college football world, just with a different view of the action.
“I’m really happy he’s still part of college football because he makes college football better,” said Smart.
Cory Nightingale, a former sportswriter and sports editor at the Miami Herald and Palm Beach Post, is a South Florida-based freelance writer who covers Alabama for SaturdayDownSouth.com.
