I think he was a panic hire. They had a 2 month head start to hire a coach. I can't say how much of this is true, but the timeline works out. Smart was their number 1 guy. After our awful showing at UF, a few of biggest booster, were more than upset, 2 weeks to prepare, only thing we did differently was play our 3rd string qb who was a dual threat guy, but didn't change our offense to fit him at all. He threw 4 picks and Richt/Schotty left him in. So they had a meeting with the Moreland, the president, flew to speak to Kirby and offer him the job. Kirby told him what he would have to have and they told him consider it done. Called our AD up, told him to what to put in the contract and not to screw it up or he was gone too. Our AD isn't the smartest guy around, glorified ticket counter, he wanted to be tight with assistant's money, President took it away from him and did the deal. Carolina made a counter offer but UGA was the job Kirby wanted. Then Herman was next, obviously a hot commodity but he decided to stay. Carolina fans will say Fuentes wasn't contacted, foolish on their part if he wasn't in my opinion, Rich Rod was interviewed, saying no offer was made, Rich Rod got a raise anyway, what is really meant is Rich Rod wasn't offered but his agent was. Muschamp was leaving AU, he was going to be our DC but USC rescued us from that. I think he was way overrated at Texas, he had good defense at UF, but he shortened the games so much by the offense he forced them to run it was like playing half a game.
But Kirby is probably on the hot seat more than Muschamp.