Nick Saban announced his retirement from college football on Wednesday, and few in the sport knew him better than Georgia’s Kirby Smart, who won four national titles with him as the Crimson Tide’s defensive coordinator from 2008 to 2015. Smart discussed Saban’s retirement during a radio broadcast on Thursday.
“I was a little shocked when it happened,” Smart told Atlanta’s 92.9, The Game. “We are all going to walk away. Sometimes you leave on your own terms. Sometimes you don’t. It’s quite nice that he got to leave on his own terms. He has had a significant impact on my career. There’s a lot of mutual respect.
Smart also criticized NIL and the transfer portal, claiming that the two-time transfer regulation can have a negative impact on a player’s mental and academic performance. He also discussed Carson Beck’s return, quarterback losses, and his experience coaching Brock Bowers, among other topics.
Here’s what Smart said about Nick Saban, the transfer portal, NIL, and Carson Beck.
On Nick Saban’s retirement, I met him for the first time.
“I was a little surprised when it happened. It’s something that is unavoidable for all of us. We are all going to walk away. Sometimes you leave on your own terms. Sometimes you don’t. It’s quite nice that he got to leave on his own terms. He has had a significant impact on my career. I initially met him in Mobile. I was at FSU as a graduate assistant and met him for an interview around the Senior Bowl. I arrived about an hour before he did to ensure I was on time. We had a really fantastic interview. Coach Muschamp was present. It was distinctive.
“I was probably not as intimidated as I should have been. It was shortly after he won his first national title. I admire him as a coach, a person, and a man. He and Miss Terry have made enormous contributions to football, particularly in Tuscaloosa. He’s put many coaches through his coaching factory. I can assure you of this. He’s very talented at what he does. According to what I hear, he was continuously working and coaching right up until the last minute. I admire him greatly. He had a significant impact on my career.
Regarding mutual respect between him and Saban.
“There is a lot of respect both sides. I make a point of telling him how much I value what he’s done for the game and other coaches. He has done a lot for the sport of football. Nobody in his business works harder than he does. He places high expectations on his employees, but he fulfills them himself. I respect that. I understand how difficult it is to maintain that level of performance for an extended period. He has accomplished that.”
On Carson Beck’s return for the 2024 season
“It’s a tremendous momentum builder. It instills a strong sense of confidence in the program that everything are on track. He trusts us enough as coaches to continue to lead and guide him in the right way. It is essentially a business choice for him. He expects to progress and extend his NFL career by staying at Georgia for another year. He did an excellent job of investigating stuff. He had a lot of support around him. There was no right or wrong for him. He made the decision that best suited him. His long-term objective is to play in the NFL for many years. He wants to practice more and win some games while he’s at it. It’s certainly significant for us. It had a significant impact on recruiting and guys deciding to stick with him.”
What makes Beck difficult to play against.
“He made some tremendous conversions with his legs. That frustrates coordinators because he is a kid who wins with his intellect and protections before throwing at an extraordinary level. Then, after you’ve figured everything out and you defeat a player on the offensive line and have a one-on-one opportunity to tackle him, he takes off. It is simply disheartening to defenses. If you’re number one in the country in third-down offense, you’ve got a quarterback who knows what he’s doing. “That is what he is.”
IF HE IS SURPRISED BY THE LOSSES GEORGIA’S QB ROOM HAS TAKEN
“I’m not surprised at all. Nothing shocks me anymore. Let’s go with the flow. Who can best adapt? It is up to you to make the most of the information you are given, as well as the opportunity to acquire players. That is what we have done. I’m quite satisfied and confident. Ryann Puglisi had a wonderful round of bowling practices. I got to see him toss and do things. He gained vital experience by being able to enter into the game and start playing. “You’re always looking for depth in that room.”
WHAT IT WAS LIKE TO COACH BROCK BOWERS
“It was special. Every day, you knew you’d receive an A for effort and toughness. You nearly take it for granted. You don’t realize what you have until it’s gone. He never was a problem. He never complained. He never complained. He was just a reliable worker. He started making plays right away. He’ll be remembered for the way he approached things, whether it was injury and being in therapy every morning before the coaching staff, or staying out and running extra. It’ll be legendary, and folks around here will talk about it for years. “He was simply different.”
The NIL transfer portal has a negative impact on both coaches and players. Many people believe that children benefit from having so many alternatives. I tend to disagree. What weighs on so many of our and other college football players is the question, “What else could I be doing?” Where can I go for immediate success? Where is the best path for me? Often, the best path is just where your feet are.
“Believing that the grass is always greener has an impact on your academic, emotional, and mental health.” You’re continually considering the alternative. I’m not sure if we’re at the right place when guys may transfer twice and travel twice a year. There’s a lot of doubt. It’s simply terrible that it’s gone so far. Most of the youngsters that left our place look back and say, “Gah-lee Coach, I messed up.” “I didn’t know any better.”
HOW TO RESOLVE THE NIL AND TRANSFER PORTAL ISSUES
“People will quickly point to coach wages and the fact that coaches are free to move elsewhere. I understand that argument. However, coaches can also be sacked. Coaches can have their contracts canceled. Coaches have buyout options. None of the players own those items. I would be quite comfortable if a student simply checked the box before coming to school and said, ‘I’m going to be a student-athlete on scholarship, and I get to keep my scholarship for four or five years. Or if a kid says, “I want to come in and have NIL, but I also risk losing it and being terminated.” Most kids would chose the NIL option, but 15-20 kids per year would accept the scholarship and commit to staying for 2-3 years.”
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