Insightful Interview with Nick Saban and Kirby Smart Revealing Text Messages and Hidden Golf Trips

Preview Press Conference for SEC Championship with Nick Saban | Alabama Football

In a surprising twist, rival head coaches Nick Saban and Kirby Smart shared a lighthearted moment during an appearance on the SEC Network. Despite their on-field rivalry, the two elite coaches revealed a unique bond.

“He’s been very complimentary towards me,” Smart said of Saban. “We’ve shared many great moments together. Regardless of the game’s outcome, he always takes the time to personally congratulate the players. It’s a tradition I still uphold to this day, which I learned from him.”

“They’re out there competing, and once the game is over, he enters the coaching staff and commends them for their efforts,” Smart continued. “I think he has become more open and even texted me back for the first time this year. It’s definitely a big step for Saban, who at 72, juggles football and adapting to technology.”

Nick Saban’s Response

“I’ve learned to send simple, short texts, just three words without punctuation. Anything more than that is beyond my expertise,” Saban shared. “However, I have to admit, Kirby handled our interactions better than any coach we’ve had before.”

He then added, “I used to sneak out to play golf at 3 in the afternoon during spring. But there were two courses, and Kirby always knew where I went. He would then take four coaches and go play at the other course.”

Smart admitted to his crafty game plan, saying, “I quickly learned in my career the importance of knowing a coach’s social circle to anticipate their moves. We had a few close calls, but we always managed to disperse and hide.”

A History of Success

Putting their jokes and pranks aside, Saban and Smart share a rich history. Smart spent a season as LSU’s defensive backs coach under Saban in 2004, before rejoining him at Alabama three years later. Saban hired him as an assistant coach in 2007 and promoted him to defensive coordinator the following year.

During Smart’s tenure, Alabama clinched four national titles. However, after Smart took over as head coach at Georgia in 2015, the Bulldogs have won four out of the five matchups against Alabama. The most significant victory came in the national championship game two years ago, where Georgia triumphed with a 33-18 win for their first back-to-back titles.

This history sets the stage as Alabama and Georgia are set to face off in the SEC Championship on Saturday at 4 p.m. ET, a matchup with more than just football at stake. Viewers can catch the game live on CBS.