Ahead of a top-10 matchup in Athens, Georgia coach Kirby Smart offered a witty retort to Ole Miss coach Lane Kiffin, who had playfully jabbed at Smart’s weight earlier in the week.
The friendly exchange began Monday when Kiffin was asked which of the former Alabama coordinators burns more calories on the sideline. “I don’t know,” Kiffin replied. “That’s a good question. I walked by the TV and saw his press conference today. Doesn’t look like he’s burned too many calories.”
Appearing on ESPN’s “The Pat McAfee Show” on Friday, Smart revealed that his friend Kiffin had been texting him all week, prompting Smart to mute the conversation.
“I think he’s worried about my figure,” Smart said. “I told him, that’s my wife’s job, not his.”
Smart took the comment in stride, embracing the humor. “You know what, I’m all about self-deprecation,” he said. “I’m good with it. I told him my son got all upset when he said it. Lane texted me and said, ‘Hey, I was just cutting up.’ I said, ‘No, you were telling the truth. Sometimes the truth hurts.’”
The Georgia coach also suggested Kiffin’s joke served as a convenient diversion from a controversial moment in the Bulldogs’ recent 20-10 win over Auburn, where Smart was seen flashing a timeout sign while arguing with officials.
“Lane has loved that,” Smart explained. “He thought it was going to be a good distraction… and then he did a great thing by coming out and just blowing me up for being a fat guy… and took all of the attention off that.”
When host Pat McAfee complimented Smart’s appearance, the coach, wearing a black Georgia hoodie, quipped, “I appreciate it. That’s why I wore black.”
Georgia is set to host Ole Miss at Sanford Stadium on Saturday at 3:30 p.m.
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