Smart’s passion shows on the sidelines

December 30, 2008

By Ken Rogers

Alabama defensive coordinator Kirby Smart likes being on the sidelines a lot more than being up in the press box—or worse.

Smart recalled a harrowing experience when he was coaching for Bobby Bowden at Florida State in the Superdome before the 2003 Sugar Bowl against Georgia.

“I was stuck in the elevator with the Georgia staff. It’s funny, because the Georgia staff, a lot of them were my best friends. ... We were going up in the elevator, I remember, ‘Is it too much weight?‘ It just kind of locked up. ... Got a little nervous before the game. “

Repairs were made in time that the coaches barely made it to their places by kickoff.

“That’s never happened before or since,“ he said.

It doesn’t happen now. He’s carrying on along the sidelines, pumping up his players. He has chest-bumped Terrence Cody and leaped into Rashad Johnson’s arms after Johnson intercepted a pass in overtime against LSU. It is evident he’s having fun.

“That’s why I do it. If I could still play, obviously I’d love to play,“ Smart said. “I wasn’t good enough, so I’ve got to teach somebody else to do it and live vicariously through them. Play the game with them. That’s why you do it. You enjoy the game, being around the players. If you don’t have that passion, I wouldn’t do it. The day I don’t have that passion, I want to get out and go do something else. Right now that’s why I do it. That’s why I coach. To be around the guys like Rashad and Javy (Arenas).“

And his antics keep his players in the game.

“Those kids get excited. They want to be excited. They want to see you excited,“ he said.

But chest-bumping Cody?

“Yeah, that’s a little scary,“ he admitted.

That energy is similar to what his boss brings to the practice field. Saban clearly enjoys being on the field, working with his players. He has said on several occasions that he’s just the highest-paid GA in the country.

“He’s a lot smarter,“ Smart said when asked about his “assistant” compared to most GAs. “He does a heck of a job. I’m glad to have him in there. He helps, I guess it’s four or five years now, having been in the room with him. We work well together.

“Our secondary guys got to feel like they’re getting hit from both sides. One time he’s saying something to them. Then they mess up and they’re getting it from two people. If they do well they’re getting it from two people. So it’s kind of a double-edged sword for them. But they get a lot of information. It helps me. I’ve learned an enormous amount of football from him and respect the fact he’s in there every day.

“He loves it. He’s got the same passion I do. He loves coaching. If I’m ever in those shoes I’d want to coach, too.“