January 9, 2010
[h1]Will Smart come back home?[/h1]
Anthony Dasher and Radi Nabulsi
Talk about it in
The Dawgvent
UGASports confirmed Saturday night through a Georgia booster that the Bulldogs do indeed have a formal offer on the table for Alabama defensive coordinator
Kirby Smart.
This coincides with an earlier report Saturday by the Tuscaloosa News citing multiple sources that Georgia was indeed pursuing Smart as its replacement for the fired Willie Martinez and a formal offer had been made.
In a text to UGASports the source, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the deal could double Smart's current compensation package with the Crimson Tide.
According to the paper, Smart currently makes just under $400,000 in base pay for Alabama.
Bulldog athletic director Damon Evans could not immediately be reached for comment.
Associate athletic director Claude Felton said Saturday evening that no press conference has been scheduled.
Smart, who played safety at Georgia from 1995-98, coached running backs with the Bulldogs in 2005.
National champion Alabama finished second in total defense last year.
Friday, Crimson Tide coach Nick Saban was asked about his assistant potentially leaving for other jobs.
Although he didn't mention Smart by name, Saban seemed to be talking about the Bainbridge native during the Q&A with reporters.
"I'm not pleased when guys make lateral moves because it's a little bit human nature to think, like my dad used to say, the grass is always greener on top of the septic tank," Saban said. "You always think it's better someplace else. You kind of let your ego get involved, and you make moves that you shouldn't make that really aren't in your best interest from a career standpoint."
"So I'm not happy when guys do that. But anybody on our staff who can move up, we would like to help them do that."
In related news, UGASports has also learned that former Bulldog defensive captain and New Orleans Saints assistant defensive line coach Travis Jones has spoken with Richt in recent weeks.
Jones, who is helping prepare the Saints for next week's NFC Divisional Playoff game, could not immediately be reached for comment to determine if he had an offer as well.
Prior to arriving in New Orleans, Jones spent three years with the Miami Dolphins under for coach Nick Saban, with whom he spent two seasons at LSU, where he was the Tigers' defensive line coach/recruiting coordinator.
In his first season, the Tigers' defensive front recorded 31 of the team's school-record 44 sacks, while also limiting opponents to 67 yards rushing per game - ranking third in the nation and first in the SEC.
At LSU, Jones coached former All-American Chad Lavalais and Marcus Spears.
Jones also served a brief stint at Kansas where he served as the defensive line coach from 2001-2002. From 1998-2000, he was the linebackers coach at Appalachian State.
Awwwww man, I hope y'all don't land Jones. I wanted him to come to FSU prior to the Stoops hire, and he was on Jimbo's possible DC'list'. Esp because our DL was so terrible.
