Nick Saban threw some major props Georgia’s way last week, calling them the ‘most complete team’ in college football, but Bulldogs head coach Kirby Smart just shot it down, straight up calling it his old mentor’s infamous ‘rat poison’ in a move that screams this weekend’s clash against Alabama is gonna be absolutely wild.
Saban’s Shocking Endorsement: The Most Complete Team?
Okay, so here’s the deal. On College GameDay from Iowa City, ESPN analyst and former Alabama head coach Nick Saban dropped a bomb. He declared Georgia the team to beat, saying they’re the “most complete team” he’d seen all season. He wasn’t pulling punches, either. Saban pointed out Gunner Stockton’s stellar play, their stable of running backs, how they make defenses cover the perimeter with all those screens and advantage throws, and their ability to hit explosive plays downfield. And, yeah, he even gave props to one of the best defenses in the country. Saban said Kirby Smart told him himself that this is the first time in years he’s had the depth to practice the way he truly wants, and it’s showing in their physical play.
Kirby Smart Sniffs Out the ‘Setup’ from His Old Mentor
But then, after Georgia absolutely stomped Vanderbilt 38-14, looking every bit as dominant as Saban claimed, Kirby Smart hit ESPN’s SportsCenter. And what did he say? He dismissed it all. Said Saban, who served as Alabama’s defensive coordinator under Smart from 2007-2015, was trying to serve up some classic ‘rat poison.’ Smart called it a “setup,” pointing out that Saban knows they play Alabama this week, and he said those things “a couple weeks out” before the big game. Smart wasn’t holding back, saying, “That’s easy to say up there on that stage. It’s hard to earn that kind of accolade as a coach because we’re not what he says right now. That is his version of ‘rat poison.’ That’s fine. I get it.” Man, that’s a direct hit!
So, get ready! Georgia and Alabama are set to absolutely tear it up this Saturday night on ABC. The stage? Bryant-Denny Stadium in Tuscaloosa. Kirby Smart is going back to his old stomping grounds, aiming to ruin Saban’s homecoming in what’s shaping up to be an SEC powerhouse showdown. You know Smart is gonna have his guys fired up after basically calling Saban’s compliments a psychological warfare tactic.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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