Alabama Football: Should Tide Be Worried About Kirby Smart to Ole Miss Rumors?

Kirby Smart is one of the most respected defensive coordinators in not only the SEC, but also across the college football world. In short, it is very fortunate that Smart has been around both Alabama and Nick Saban for as long as he has. 

Smart has coached with Saban at LSU, in Miami for the Dolphins, and now since 2007 with the Crimson Tide. 

Now, after having years of experience behind one of the most talented college football coaches, it may just be time for Kirby to fly the coop, right?

Not so fast. 

Smart seems to be the center of all sorts of coaching rumors this time of the year. This is the time of year when the big-wigs of programs across the nation decide their program isn't going in the right direction. 

Naturally, Ole Miss is in the hot seat this season after finishing 2-10 with zero SEC wins. After firing Houston Nutt, they are on the coaching hunt for next season.

The first name on everyone's mind? Kirby Smart.

However, Smart is definitely not jumping for joy over this offer (if there even is an offer).

He already makes close to $1 million as a defensive assistant under Saban, more than most head coaches for lower-ranked programs.

Now since Ole Miss is an SEC school, they obviously have a lot of capital in their athletic department. They can definitely offer Smart about double what he is making at Alabama.

So why wouldn't he take it?

In 2010, Smart was offered a spot in the Georgia coaching squad. He declined the offer even though he attended Georgia in 1995 and has expressed an interest to coach there. 

Smart was rewarded with a handsome raise for his loyalty. Now he has a three-year contract through the 2013 season with Alabama. Although he may not make it that long, Smart will definitely not be leaving before next season. 

The Ole Miss situation is not lucrative enough for him to leave at this point. Smart knows he can do better than a 2-10 squad that is mocked across the SEC for their inability to perform. Those types of situations ruin a coach's reputation, and even worse, their chances at a better position in the future.

Smart will be leaving Alabama at some point in the future, even though most fans want him to stay and take over when Saban retires. 

He certainly won't be leaving for a 2-10 Ole Miss squad.