$80M worth Nick Saban reveals what he texted Kirby Smart following Georgia’s loss against Alabama

Nick Saban shared an unexpected moment of camaraderie with Georgia’s Kirby Smart following the Bulldogs' 41-34 loss to Alabama in week 5. The two are long-time friends and former colleagues, with Smart spending nine years working under Saban at Alabama before becoming the head coach in Athens.

The Georgia-Alabama rivalry has only intensified with both coaches at the helm, but Saban didn’t hesitate to send an encouraging text after Georgia’s tough night. On ESPN’s College GameDay, Saban revealed the content of his message to Smart, saying,

"I know how disappointed everybody in Georgia had to be about Georgia losing the game. But I actually texted Kirby after the game and said, ‘Hey, this is not the worst thing that ever happened.’"

Given its dominance over the last four seasons, it's rare to see Georgia falter, making Saban’s words of support even more surprising.

The $80 million worth Nick Saban (via Celebrity Net Worth) also offered his wisdom on the College GameDay show about how the right mindset, even after a loss, can help teams get back on track. Unlike previous seasons, one single loss doesn’t affect College Football Playoff qualification as much, with it now expanding to 12 teams.

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Nick Saban thinks Alabama loss will benefit Kirby Smart's Georgia

The Georgia coach is finding support from an unexpected source after the tough loss to Alabama. Smart’s former teacher, who taught him tricks of the trade, believes that the Bulldogs’ 41-34 loss to the Crimson Tide is a disguised blessing and might benefit the squad.

Drawing from his own experience of more than 50 years of coaching football, Nick Saban shared on College GameDay that sometimes a defeat can light a fire under a team that even a big win can’t.

"I think when you have a loss and the players are disappointed, it's just human nature that everyone seems to respond better when you have a thunderbolt, something bad happens. Everybody’s willing to make the changes they need to make to get it right. And I think Georgia will respond in a really positive way.”

Saban's insight comes from experience. During his tenure at Alabama, the Crimson Tide won six national championships, only two of which came in undefeated seasons. That said, there might be merit and evidence to support Sabam’s viewpoint.

Georgia has proven its resilience in the past. Just two years ago, after losing to Alabama in the SEC Championship, the Bulldogs returned stronger, winning their first national title since 1980.

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