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Steve Sarkisian discusses growing relationship with Kirby Smart, which includes pregame texts

Joe Cookby: Joe Cook8 hours agojosephcook89
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Steve Sarkisian (Will Gallagher/Inside Texas)

Before Georgia went into Davis Wade Stadium and left with a 41-21 win over the Mississippi State Bulldogs, Kirby Smart passed the time during his team’s drive to the game by texting with Texas head coach Steve Sarkisian.

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The message was sent because teams that play in Starkville often stay about an hour away in Tupelo, something Sarkisian came close to complaining about on Monday. Smart had to kill time somehow, so he did it by exchanging messages with Sark.

Before a game against a completely different opponent, what did Sarkisian and Smart talk about?

“He checked in with what I was doing,” Sarkisian said Monday. “I said I just got a workout in. About to have breakfast and watch you play, bud. Good luck. We’ll see how it goes.”

Sarkisian and Smart both represent high profile branches of the Nick Saban coaching tree. Smart, who was Alabama’s defensive coordinator from 2008 to 2015 and part of Saban’s original Crimson Tide staff, has led the Bulldogs to two national titles and three SEC championships. Sarkisian has helped Texas return to prominence with a Big 12 championship and back-to-back College Football Playoff semifinal appearances.

Now, both are members of the SEC. Texas and Georgia battled twice last year, could battle twice again this year, and are scheduled to see each other at least once in 2027 and 2029. The interactions between the coaches are more than just scheduled appearances on the field in Austin or Athens. The two share memberships in a handful of group chats as well. Plus, both occupy very significant places within the sport. Sometimes that leads the two to similar viewpoints on pressing topics in college football.

“I think our relationship has gotten closer since we’ve been in the league,” Sarkisian said. “We have more things to talk about. One thing about him being the head coach at Georgia and myself being the head coach at Texas, we have an opportunity to be influential on trying to do what’s best for our game not only in our conference but in the state of college football. I think us being aligned on as many issues as we can be aligned on I think is good for the sport.”

Sarkisian joked that his status as an offensive coach sometimes leads him to disagreements with Smart, a defensive-minded coach. “He’s trying to get all the rules in favor of the defense. I’m trying to get them in favor of the offense,” Sarkisian said with a smile.

Specialization is one place where the two don’t align. Aside from that, Sarkisian and Smart often are on the same page as leaders of high-quality football programs. Those programs will battle this Saturday.

“In the end, I have a ton of respect for Kirby, the job that he does, and the way his teams play the game,” Sarkisian said. “Ton of respect for him. I always love competing against him. It’s a great challenge. This week is no different.”

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