Kirby Smart reveals why he was so surprisingly emotional following Georgia Bulldogs SEC rivalry win over Auburn Tigers

Despite the rivalry, Auburn clearly holds a special place in Kirby Smart’s heart given his story

Travis May — College Football Managing Editor
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Georgia Bulldogs Postgame Press Conference – Auburn Game

Kirby Smart and the Georgia Bulldogs pulled off quite the stunning comeback win over their SEC Rivalry Auburn Tigers on Saturday. There was plenty of controversy, from the punch-out fumble on the goal line, to the questionable roughing the passer calls, to coach Smart’s “clapping” on the sideline. None of that is what Kirby Smart wanted people to take away from the game.

More than anything he just wanted it to be known that he was proud of his team, and that was evident based on how surprisingly emotional and ecstatic coach Smart was following the game. When asked about it afterwards, his answer was somewhat surprising, even disarming, as it was a great reminder that Kirby Smart is just another man with a family and a life outside of football that helped guide him to where he is today.

Kirby Smart shares why Auburn rivalry means so much to him

When asked about the extreme emotion he displayed after Georgia’s 20-10 win over Auburn, Kirby Smart got candid and real with the media, sharing exactly why Auburn, and the surrounding portion of Alabama means so much to him:

“So much goes into these games, guys. We’ve got another next week. So much emotion, and so much energy. This one’s special for me because my of my dad (who passed away this past January). I took Andrew (his youngest son) today to a little small town called Slapout (also known as Holtville), Alabama. They built a baseball field with my dad’s name on it. They wanted to take me over there with a trooper and an escort. I said, ‘Nope. I’m just taking me and Andrew. We’re going to look at my dad’s field that’s named after him and where I was born. A trailer behind a high school with two teachers that didn’t have anything coming out of college.’

And we loved it. To go back and see that field where he was–I grew up coming to Auburn so this place has always been very unique to me. They play on the video board, me talking about Jordan-Hare [Stadium], so I’ll give them another sound bite. It’s a great place to play. They can keep playing me here, and show their recruits that. That’d be real good (he said with a sly grin). But I’m proud of those guys in the room. It’s emotional for me because of my father being from here and a lot of his family went to Auburn. Just proud of our staff.”

Kirby seemed to be on the verge of tears as he talked openly about his father. It’s moments like this that remind us of the human beings behind the sport. Yes, it’s great that Georgia won an SEC football game 20-10 and is on the fast track to the College Football Playoff. That’s wonderful. But coach Smart drove an hour and fifteen minutes out of his way with his youngest son just to show him a baseball field named for his father–in a small town that meant a lot to the Smart family. That’s a cool moment.

The school had named the baseball field for Kirby’s father about two years ago in response to his help in building a baseball field there a long time ago, and winning a state championship around 50 years ago.

Smart himself was born in Montgomery, Alabama. He has tons of family from in and around the Auburn areas. When he can visit special places that mean a lot to him, his family, specifically his recently passed father, and get a season-changing victory that sets his kids (his players) up for a potentially amazing year, that makes for an emotional day. Smart closed with this:

“I’m really proud of this team, guys. That’s the message. Nothing else needs to be said than how hard these guys played in the face of a tough crowd and tough adversity. We need a better atmosphere than that next week by our fans.”

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