Nick Saban Addresses Kirby Smart Departure [VIDEO]
It came as no surprise that Nick Saban's focus was geared towards this weekend's SEC Championship instead of the reports that Kirby Smart would be named the new head coach of Georgia.
Saban's opening comments revolved around his team's preparations for what he considers to be the best team the Tide has faced all season.
"I have been really pleased with the players mental energy, intensity, and how they have gone about their preparation for this week," Saban said.
"We got work to do. I think the object is understanding that we are going to have to work hard for everything we get in this game, and we are going to have to make them work hard for anything that they get so that we don't really give them anything. That's what we would like to keep our focus on."
The focus of the press conference quickly switched from SEC Championship to the Kirby Smart reports, and Saban quickly provided what little information he could regarding the reports.
"It's not really my position to confirm any of this stuff, and I really can't confirm it," Saban said. "I will say this, Kirby has done an excellent job for us. He's worked really hard to do a great job with our defense for nine years now. I think the guy, and I have said this many times before, would do a great job as head coach."
Saban went on to say that he has no doubt that the focus will stay on this weekend's game versus Florida.
"I think that everybody in this building is very, very focused on what we are trying to do for our team because regardless of what anybody's opportunities are in the future all those things get enhanced by us playing well in this game. I think that's what everyone's focus should be, and I have no doubt about anybody in our organization focusing on this."
The opening comments about Kirby Smart's reported departure seemed rather calm, but it would not be a Nick Saban press conference without some sort of entertaining soundbite.
"Incidentally, don't ask me anymore question about that (Kirby). That's all I have to say about it. I don't have anything else to say about it, so don't ask. There is no more. I know you would like to some kind of way extract something from this [Coke] bottle that's not there. Ya'll speculate and create things and then want people to respond to it. Get this bottle to respond to it because I don't know anything more than that."
We must now wonder if Coca-Cola will market what Saban said in his press conference. They would not be the first ones to do it this season.
Watch player interviews from Wednesday: