Former NFL Safety Puts Kirby Smart on Blast for Record vs. Alabama
In a fiery and unexpected segment on a national sports podcast, former NFL safety Corey Mitchell—known for his hard-hitting style on the field and even sharper commentary off it—took Georgia Bulldogs head coach Kirby Smart to task over one glaring blemish on his otherwise sterling résumé: his track record against Alabama.
“Listen, Kirby Smart is building an empire at Georgia,” Mitchell began, his voice tinged with equal parts respect and frustration. “But let’s not act like that Crimson Tide curse ain’t real. Until recently, Alabama owned him—and when the stakes were highest, they still did.”
Mitchell, who spent nine years in the NFL with three Pro Bowl nods, is now a prominent analyst with a reputation for calling it how he sees it. During the segment, he referenced Georgia’s head-to-head struggles with Alabama during Smart’s tenure, particularly in the early years when Georgia repeatedly came up short in key matchups.
“2017 National Championship. Up 13-0 at halftime. Tua comes in, throws that bomb in OT, and boom—heartbreak. That game broke Georgia’s spirit for years,” Mitchell said, his tone rising. “Then you get to 2018 in the SEC title game. Same story, different heartbreak. Georgia’s leading late, and Bama just flips the script again. That ain’t a coincidence. That’s mental. That’s coaching.”
Mitchell’s commentary struck a nerve across the college football landscape. While few denied Smart’s success—national championships, elite recruiting classes, and SEC dominance—many agreed that Alabama has been his white whale. Before finally defeating Nick Saban in the 2021 SEC Championship Game and then winning the national title over Michigan, Smart’s Bulldogs had been 0-4 against Saban-led Alabama teams. That record, Mitchell argued, isn’t just numbers—it reflects a deeper mental hurdle.
“You can’t talk dynasty and act like you’re still trying to prove something every time you see Saban across the sideline,” Mitchell added. “That’s a psychological edge, and Saban had it for years.”
Still, Mitchell acknowledged the tide may be turning. Georgia’s convincing win over Alabama in 2021 marked a symbolic shift in the SEC power structure, one that culminated in back-to-back national championships for Smart. But Mitchell wasn’t letting Smart off the hook entirely.
“I’m giving Kirby his flowers—he’s evolved. His team ain’t soft anymore. They’re killers on both sides of the ball,” Mitchell admitted. “But don’t rewrite history. You want to be the king? Beat the king when it matters. Do it consistently. That’s how dynasties are born.”
In a press conference the next day, Smart was asked about Mitchell’s remarks. With his trademark cool, he replied: “We respect the past, but we live in the present. We’re building something real at Georgia. And we ain’t done yet.”
Mitchell later posted on social media: “Fair response, Coach. But we’ll see what happens next time Bama and Georgia share the field.”
With both programs reloading for another run at the top, fans may not have to wait long for the next chapter in what’s quickly becoming college football’s most compelling modern rivalry.
