Georgia Bulldogs Coach Kirby Smart 'Has A Lot of Respect' For Ole Miss Rebels' Lane Kiffin

Lane Kiffin and Kirby Smart go way back, and the Georgia Bulldogs coach has a lot of respect for his colleague leading the Ole Miss Rebels

The Ole Miss Rebels are set to take on the No. 1 Georgia Bulldogs in Athens on Saturday, in what is arguably the biggest game in school history.

It is a free shot for Ole Miss, who, with a win, make a serious push for the College Football Playoff and stay alive in the SEC West race with Alabama. 

The Rebels also have a chance to end the Bulldogs' 26-game winning streak, which is the nation's longest.

But there is more to the game than just the massive stakes for both teams. There is also a close friendship between the two head coaches - Kirby Smart and Lane Kiffin.

“I have a lot of respect for Lane, I’ve told you that,” Smart said this week. “He and I shared seats next to each other at Alabama for two years, I guess it was, maybe three. I don’t even know how long we were there together because it all runs together, but a lot of respect for him as a coach.”

Georgia coach Kirby Smart on the sideline during the first half of a NCAA college football game against Missouri in Athens, Ga., on Saturday, Nov. 4, 2023 / Joshua L. Jones-USA TODAY NETWORK

Kiffin and Smart's relationship dates back almost a decade when the two served on Nick Saban's Alabama Crimson Tide Staff together in 2014 and 2015, winning two SEC titles and a national championship together during that time. 

And while serving under Saban, Smart says learned a great deal about being a head coach from Kiffin, who had already held the distinction with the USC Trojans, Tennessee Volunteers, and Oakland Raiders.

“He was a head coach at a really young age," Smart said. "He taught me a lot of things about what he believes in being a head coach and doing it your way. He’s certainly had a unique experience in terms of the places he’s been able to work as a head coach, and he draws on that."

On Saturday, the two will face off as opposing head coaches for the first time ever. 

Nevertheless, the two remain close friends... even if Smart is ignoring Kiffin's texts this week ahead of their showdown. 

“There are times we share ideas or GPS numbers or whatever," Smart said. "But there’s nothing outside of just a really good friendship and respect.”