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Kirby Smart Smells Blood In The Water At Auburn And Is Trying To Steal A Major Staffer

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Kirby Smart Smells Blood In Water At Auburn, Tries Poaching Major Staffer

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As the uncertainty within the Auburn football program continues, fellow SEC opponents are trying to take advantage. Georgia head coach Kirby Smart smells blood in the water and is trying to make a major move for his coaching staff.

Almost seven full days ago, a report surfaced out of Alabama surrounding the Tigers’ head coach Bryan Harsin. On3’s Justin Hokanson reported that his “immediate future is in question” and chaos has unfolded on the Plains ever since.

Harsin vehemently denied any wrongdoing while on vacation in Mexico. His wife and daughter pushed back on the rumors and his daughter called out former players who were making accusations against her father. Some players and coaches have come out in support of Harsin.

As the fallout continues to unfold, the university is gathering all of the details before proceeding accordingly. Harsin is back in the United States as of Wednesday and there are three potential options:

  1. Harsin is fired with cause and does not collect a buyout. That likely leads to a lot of litigation.
  2. Auburn fires Harsin without cause and pays him his full buyout. That is expensive.
  3. Harsin and Auburn settle on a number and the two “mutually agree to part ways.”

It appears as though all three options are possible at this point.

Meanwhile, Georgia is trying to take advantage of the turbulence.

One month after winning the national championship, the Bulldogs need to fill a hold at defensive backs coach. They are looking to the Tigers.

According to Hokanson, Smart is looking to hire Auburn defensive backs coach Zac Etheridge to the same position. He is considered the leading candidate for the job.

Amidst significant staff turnover on both sides of the ball, in part leading to the current investigation of Harsin, Etheridge would be a big loss for the Tigers. He was recently ranked as one of the top-20 recruiters in the country and led a strong position group last season.

To make things even worse, Auburn is his alma mater. Etheridge was a team captain on the 2012 National Championship team and returned home in 2021.

If he were to leave for Georgia, part of the Deep South’s Oldest Rivalry, it would be very telling and very costly. Smart is out for blood.