Kirby Smart reflects on decision to leave Alabama and Nick Saban for Georgia

Fox News Flash top headlines are here. Check out what's clicking on Foxnews.com.

The decision for Kirby Smart to leave Alabama six years ago for a chance at rebuilding his alma mater Georgia has paid off significantly. It was always a gamble, taking over a team in the East and challenging his former boss Nick Saban on and off the field. But looking back on how things have played out so far and two SEC Championships later, I’d say he’s made the most of his opportunity.

He took everything he learned from Saban and laid a foundation at Georgia built off recruiting. All of those days shadowing the Alabama head coach has paid off on multiple levels. He has consistently put Georgia near the top of the recruiting rankings, won the SEC East four different times and led the Bulldogs to their first National Championship in forty years. Oh, and he’s just getting started.

CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM

Georgia Bulldogs Head Coach Kirby Smart holds the College Football Playoff National Championship trophy during the Georgia Bulldogs National Championship Celebration on January 15, 2022 at Sanford Stadium in Athens, GA. (Jeffrey Vest/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

Speaking with ESPN’s ‘First Take’, Kirby discussed that decision to leave Tuscaloosa and build a program of his own.

"I felt like it was the next step," Smart said. "I had a great nine years there at the University of Alabama and then to get the opportunity to come home to my alma mater, it was a no-brainer. It’s a top-10 job in the country, top five job in the country. So when I got to go back I knew the race in the SEC is brutal. I mean, it’s brutal. Recruiting in the SEC, coaching in the SEC. But you get to coach guys like this. I knew taking on