Miguel Cervantes
Jedi Master
If you tracked the last couple of games leading up to the shot at the NC game with Saban and Smart you might have recognized a lot of similarities and a couple of strategies that lead to this pairing.
There is no doubt Smart is employing everything he has ever learned under Saban in shaping the Ga Bulldogs. They were virtually indistinguishable in strength and formations. They were so similar that outside of the physicality of a real game, the NC looked like the Spring 'A' day game at Bama.
Here is where the strategy to get there came into play. Saban new good and well that if he brought Tagovailoa in for the game against Auburn two things would happen. #1 - his playmaker would be exposed and Smart could prepare for him. #2 - though Tua played in the Fresno St. game, it wasn't long enough or an important game enough for anyone to profile his ability. #3 - and the most critical. Saban wanted Smart to have every opportunity available to make it to the NC. That being said, if he had employed Tua in the Auburn game he would have most assuredly upped the chances of winning that game pitting Bama against UGA for the SEC Title Game. Saban knew that the chances were good he could plead his strength of schedule case to the committee to get a bid in the final four without beating Auburn and hoped he didn't have to use Tua in the game against Clemson. (one of the most over rated teams in the NCAA for this season) This strategy proved successful and even afforded Saban to go off book in using Payne, a DL, in one of the final TD's in the game to seal the deal, thus further throwing a monkey wrench into the "up the sleeve" potential that Kirby would have to watch out for.
Saban knew Hurts was "too much in his own head" carrying the weight of the win on his own shoulders instead of engaging in basic fundamentals of the QB position over the final five games. He knew Tua didn't have this issue, but didn't want to show his hand in using him too early in the final games of the season. Even when he did finally put him in the second half of the NC game there was always the question of; "Could he handle the pressure?". Fortunately, and mysteriously Mel Tucker didn't put near as much pressure on Tua as he should have. No way to know if Kirby urged him to either. Many times HC's let their team coaches call the plays based on all of the strategizing that has lead up to that moment in time. The rest is history.
The take away is, no matter how long you train under a master of any discipline, you will never have their life long knowledge of how to manipulate the business, the game to your advantage. The good thing is, Kirby is a master study of every moment of a game and is as diligent in watching films as Saban is. Diligent in learning as much as he can about his craft as Saban is, and as diligent in recruiting as Saban is. Under Richt the talent in Georgia went largely unrecruited and under Kirby that has changed drastically, severely cutting down on the pool of candidates from the SE Saban has to draw from.
I don't see the NCAA allowing too many more, if any, opportunities for another all SEC NC Game. There will just be too much backlash from the rest of the nations conferences over this, even though it has happened before in the past. Though Saban may have the upper hand in experience, I believe the Student, Kirby Smart has the upper hand in recruiting talent and just as much knowledge in training them up for giving 110% intensity for the duration of a game, and then some to rise up to what is surely to be a regular meeting of the two teams in the SEC CG, that is until Saban retires. At 66 years old I expect that to be within the next 3 years, and sooner if Ms. Terry has her way. At that point Saban's choices are unlimited, from something as simple as a network commentator, which I can't see. He hates speaking publically, to something more in his wheelhouse of Team consultant to anyone that will hire his services, at which point he actually could be a greater asset to what UGA and Kirby for what great things are to come as Georgia finally get's their shot at building a true, lasting dynasty in College Football.
The pesky, annoying question lingers in the back of everyone's mind as to who will replace Saban. Though Dabo has said he is happy right where he is, would he go? Kirby is the most natural fit for Bama's modus operandi and is making one third the salary that Saban is, but has proven to be just as capable of building and running such a team. Would the dollar figure, if offered to him sway him back to Bama? There will be a lot of speculation over the next couple of years as to who will get tagged and accept that job. My advice to the UGA AD, Alumni and Sponsors is; Step it up. If you want to keep Kirby on home turf for the duration $4mil a year isn't going to cut it in the long run.
Though I am a life long Bama fan, UGA is where my donation money goes. How bout it all of you fans, alumni, sponsors. You willing to put your money where your mouth is to keep Kirby right where he is? To benefit the program, the facilities, the future potential?
Once the Master retires the Student will take his place, either at home, or where he is appreciated and paid the best.
There is no doubt Smart is employing everything he has ever learned under Saban in shaping the Ga Bulldogs. They were virtually indistinguishable in strength and formations. They were so similar that outside of the physicality of a real game, the NC looked like the Spring 'A' day game at Bama.
Here is where the strategy to get there came into play. Saban new good and well that if he brought Tagovailoa in for the game against Auburn two things would happen. #1 - his playmaker would be exposed and Smart could prepare for him. #2 - though Tua played in the Fresno St. game, it wasn't long enough or an important game enough for anyone to profile his ability. #3 - and the most critical. Saban wanted Smart to have every opportunity available to make it to the NC. That being said, if he had employed Tua in the Auburn game he would have most assuredly upped the chances of winning that game pitting Bama against UGA for the SEC Title Game. Saban knew that the chances were good he could plead his strength of schedule case to the committee to get a bid in the final four without beating Auburn and hoped he didn't have to use Tua in the game against Clemson. (one of the most over rated teams in the NCAA for this season) This strategy proved successful and even afforded Saban to go off book in using Payne, a DL, in one of the final TD's in the game to seal the deal, thus further throwing a monkey wrench into the "up the sleeve" potential that Kirby would have to watch out for.
Saban knew Hurts was "too much in his own head" carrying the weight of the win on his own shoulders instead of engaging in basic fundamentals of the QB position over the final five games. He knew Tua didn't have this issue, but didn't want to show his hand in using him too early in the final games of the season. Even when he did finally put him in the second half of the NC game there was always the question of; "Could he handle the pressure?". Fortunately, and mysteriously Mel Tucker didn't put near as much pressure on Tua as he should have. No way to know if Kirby urged him to either. Many times HC's let their team coaches call the plays based on all of the strategizing that has lead up to that moment in time. The rest is history.
The take away is, no matter how long you train under a master of any discipline, you will never have their life long knowledge of how to manipulate the business, the game to your advantage. The good thing is, Kirby is a master study of every moment of a game and is as diligent in watching films as Saban is. Diligent in learning as much as he can about his craft as Saban is, and as diligent in recruiting as Saban is. Under Richt the talent in Georgia went largely unrecruited and under Kirby that has changed drastically, severely cutting down on the pool of candidates from the SE Saban has to draw from.
I don't see the NCAA allowing too many more, if any, opportunities for another all SEC NC Game. There will just be too much backlash from the rest of the nations conferences over this, even though it has happened before in the past. Though Saban may have the upper hand in experience, I believe the Student, Kirby Smart has the upper hand in recruiting talent and just as much knowledge in training them up for giving 110% intensity for the duration of a game, and then some to rise up to what is surely to be a regular meeting of the two teams in the SEC CG, that is until Saban retires. At 66 years old I expect that to be within the next 3 years, and sooner if Ms. Terry has her way. At that point Saban's choices are unlimited, from something as simple as a network commentator, which I can't see. He hates speaking publically, to something more in his wheelhouse of Team consultant to anyone that will hire his services, at which point he actually could be a greater asset to what UGA and Kirby for what great things are to come as Georgia finally get's their shot at building a true, lasting dynasty in College Football.
The pesky, annoying question lingers in the back of everyone's mind as to who will replace Saban. Though Dabo has said he is happy right where he is, would he go? Kirby is the most natural fit for Bama's modus operandi and is making one third the salary that Saban is, but has proven to be just as capable of building and running such a team. Would the dollar figure, if offered to him sway him back to Bama? There will be a lot of speculation over the next couple of years as to who will get tagged and accept that job. My advice to the UGA AD, Alumni and Sponsors is; Step it up. If you want to keep Kirby on home turf for the duration $4mil a year isn't going to cut it in the long run.
Though I am a life long Bama fan, UGA is where my donation money goes. How bout it all of you fans, alumni, sponsors. You willing to put your money where your mouth is to keep Kirby right where he is? To benefit the program, the facilities, the future potential?
Once the Master retires the Student will take his place, either at home, or where he is appreciated and paid the best.
Miguel, surprised this drivel came from you???? Tell me, what insane bama site did you copy this from?
Would Saban rather see Kirby lose at the SEC level, something that had been done many times before with UGA? or would Saban rather take the chance of losing, but at least get Kirby to the NC level, something that had not happened since most of you were born, and something that would enhance his wallet, win or lose, as a new HC for UGA?
