Kirby Smart To Tennessee?

I heard the news about Kiffin as I was celebrating my fiance's birthday last night at about 10pm. Ofcourse I was shocked like the rest of you, but I immediately began to wonder about the soap opera that is the SEC coaching ranks right now. I asked myself, who will take over at Tennessee?

My initial thoughts were that if I was the AD at Tennessee, I would probably have Bobby Petrino on my short list, but man would I have to think about that one before I offered another coach likely to jump ship. Then, Muschamp came to mind. Not surprisingly, when I googled 'Will Muschamp' early this AM, his name was at the top of everyone's list as to who the Vols are going after.

Finally, it came to me. Duh? I know who the next coach at Tennessee is going to be; none other than Georgia's own Kirby Smart. I'm not trying to be a smarty pants here, but it would throw some more salt onto the wound if Kirby boy landed the gig. OK, I know, I need to move on. That being said, I will try to be nice to Kirby from now on.

I finish with this thought: Man up Nick Saban, and get your boy the job! You don't won't him making any lateral moves, so pull some strings, do what you've got to do, and push for your loyal servant. I would be happy for Kirby, and it would make the situation we went through this weekend a little easier to swallow if Kirby took the reigns at a program like Tennessee.

What's next in the SEC? Is Jerry Glanville really going to be the next UGA defensive coordinator? :)

I love this quote from Behind The Colums blog: "Lane, you might as well be General Sherman burning Atlanta, because I guarantee you that every soul south of the Mason-Dixon line feels this way right now. I hope the NCAA screws you over out West.
"

The Puppet Master Spoke...

...and Kirby Smart listened. I'm going to be short and sweet today and just do a little hypothetical analysis of yesterday's events.

KIRBY: Coach Saban, I really appreciate everything you have done for me, but I am going back to coach at my alma mater.

SABAN: I don't allow lateral moves son. Stay here and get 10% credit for my defense. I'll give you more money, and we'll both look good.

KIRBY: But, Coach Saban, at UGA I can make a name for myself.

SABAN: Listen to me Kirby, if you go there and suck you're done.

KIRBY: But, I know I will be a good defensive coordinator coach Saban.

SABAN: Kirby, you are a defensive coordinator.

KIRBY: What, really? I thought that was just a title for me, I don't make any decisions about the Alabama defense.

SABAN: Yes you do Kirby! Remember that time I let you pick the color socks our team would wear against LSU so that you could motivate the defense?

KIRBY: I guess you're right Coach, I'll stay at Alabama.

SABAN: I know you will Kirby, and I will tell the country about it because I don't want them thinking you have any more control over Alabama and it's affairs. I'll let you know when it's time Kirby.

KIRBY: Thanks dad, I mean Coach.

Kirby Says...

…we don’t know exactly what Mr. Smart says yet.

How many of us spent yesterday scavenging the online media outlets trying to get just one more piece of factual evidence as to which way Kirby Smart is leaning? I know I got looked at sideways a few times by my better half for “spending way too much time on the computer”. Here we are more than two weeks past Christmas, and I found myself tossing and turning all night long like a kid on Christmas Eve in anticipation of what most of us think will come sometime today… Kirby Smart is coming home!

No, I don’t have any magical piece of evidence that the rest of you don’t. I do know a few people in the “know”, but they all say about the same thing that David Pollack excited the whole Dawgnation about last night with his Tweeting. Surely Pollack isn’t just talking to get hits on his Twitter account, is he?

The most exciting things that I have come across are that some fairly credible people are reporting that Kirby is going to bring Travis Jones and some other excellent coaches along with him. Thank you Damon Evans for putting your money where your mouth is and bringing the tools to this program that are going to allow us to win a much anticipated Richt Era National Championship. After all, I was less than one year old the last time the Dawgs could lay claim to the best team in all of the land. 1980, the year of my birth was special, but let’s make 2010 the beginning of the Decade of the Dawg baby!

Check back throughout the day for updates. I will post the news as soon as it is made available, or one of my sources leaks it to me.

Pollack says it's Kirby Smart

Pollack is reporting this on his Twitter account: "Remember guys I'm not saying this is 100%, but it looks to be the case."

TUSCALOOSA | University of Alabama defensive coordinator Kirby Smart has been formally offered the same position at Georgia since returning from Pasadena, Calif., multiple sources have told The Tuscaloosa News.

Leather Helmet Blog has some good information on this "almost confirmed" rumor. Go check it out.

Points to Ponder the Morning After

More than anything about last night’s National Championship game, I can’t stop thinking about how many times I heard “this Nick Saban defense”. That statement must have been made at least ten times during the broadcast, at least. For all you “why would Kirby ever make this lateral move” people, there’s your answer. We all know that Saban is a defensive guru, but if it’s still “His” defense, Kirby might as well move on.

Done with that point; it’s been made a hundred times on the web already. On to my points to ponder from the playing field last night:
- The game ended up being a lot closer than it should have been, or did it? Wish Colt hadn’t been hurt!
- Why did it take Alabama a full quarter to remember they have the Heisman winner at tailback? They did get him going though, and that Richardson kid is going to be really good!
- McElroy came back down to earth after that amazing SEC Championship performance.
- Once Colt McCoy was done, the camera showed Vince Young, and he looked like he was aching to suit up. That would have been fun!
- Really Nick Saban, you’re gonna call a fake punt on the first possession of the NC with the ball deep in your own territory? Really?
- I loved it when Mack Brown tried to defend the shuttle pass debacle when he got interviewed running off the field at halftime.
- Kicking the ball at one of those front line guys on kickoff is a dangerous weapon. I bet we see that happen a few more times next season. After all, what else do kickers have to practice all off season?

Is it next season yet?