It didn’t take long for Nick Saban to return the compliment.
“He’s the best assistant coach we’ve ever had ,on defense, especially, and seeing the big picture of the game,” Saban, 72, said during Smart’s appearance on SEC Now.
Smart was Saban’s defensive coordinator at Alabama from 2008-2015.
“A couple words I want to say to Coach Saban, who meant so much to me in my career,” Smart said earlier in the day, per AL.com’s Nick Kelly. “First of all, the words he shared at the ESPYs the other night were incredible. Very touching, very moving. What he’s meant to myself and my family as a mentor, as a friend, as a competitor that drives you to get better. There was never a day in 11 years I worked for him that we didn’t share a room in some sort. Whether that was the defensive room, the defensive back room, staff room.”
Saban, who has made it a point in the past to never make comparisons, appeared to do so during the broadcast when it came to his best assistant coaches.
So Smart is No. 1.
“(Texas coach Steve) Sarkisian was probably one of the better offensive guys. Lane, all those guys, did a great job for us.”
The panel joked that Saban was ranking his former assistants, but Smart quickly pointed out that only one of those coaches would have a problem with the ranking.
That would be the same person Smart has a “side-action” text thread with Kiffin.
The joke over recent years is that Saban is texting these days. Smart was asked if he can tell it is really Saban texting.
“He can tell it’s me,” Saban jumped in. “There’s no punctuation. You just have to go through the reading of it.”
Smart replied: “It’s the emojis. It’s the thumbs up. Lane and I have a side-action thread. Every time he responded we shared it with each other. We’re so excited. It’s like getting the first text of your life when it comes from Nick Saban.”
The Georgia coach is always quick with quip about Saban. He started with a little jab at the former Alabama coach during his opening statements to the media on Tuesday.
“Good morning,” Smart started. “I appreciate you all coming out. I do want it to duly noted that I got in here without a credential today.”
On the SEC Network set, Saban laughed. “You’re only as good as your weakest link,” he said.
Smart gave a little more detail on the SEC Now set.
“They said this guy who stopped Saban was like a four-star recruit. I was like, ‘he must’ve had a personal vendetta against Coach. He didn’t recruit him or something.’
“So then I’m walking in and I see him. I’m like, ‘I don’t have my credential.’ So then Leland, our SID, flashes it. I got in without a credential, but Leland had a credential.”
Mark Heim is a reporter for The Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter @Mark_Heim. He can be heard on “The Opening Kickoff” on WNSP-FM 105.5 FM in Mobile or on the free Sound of Mobile App from 6 to 9 a.m. daily.