The Georgia Bulldogs were a good team for 15 years under head coach Mark Richt. What they weren’t was a national champion. And that’s really the only suitable goal for a team like Georgia. But if you’re going to replace a very strong coach like Richt, you have to believe what you’re bringing in is national championship material. Enter new Georgia head coach Kirby Smart, 40, the architect of University of Alabama’s national championship winning defense. It’s a choice without a whiff of controversy.
How valuable has Smart been to Alabama head coach Nick Saban‘s success? This year it’s probably a toss-up for Saban between Kirby Smart and monster running back Derrick Henry. Smart controls the nation’s No. 2 defense while on offense, Henry carries the ball (and the offensive load). As Saban said on Monday, “This is Kirby’s defense…I try to sort of help him out.” Now the defense and offense of the Georgia Bulldogs will belong to Kirby Smart, who will wear his national titles on his sleeve to inspire and challenge the Georgia players and fans. Smart is a Georgia native and UGA alum. This is his first head coaching position.
