Dale Zanine-Imagn Images

'He was still winning championships with his statue outside' - Former UGA star makes honest admission about Georgia being a dynasty

Originally posted on A to Z Sports | By Zach Ragan | Last updated Jun 19, 2025 5:07 PM ET

The Georgia Bulldogs have won two national championships and three SEC championships since Kirby Smart took over as the the program's head football coach ahead of the 2016 season.

That's a pretty impressive stretch from the Bulldogs.

But is it enough for Georgia to be considered a dynasty?

That's the question that Philadelphia Eagles and former Georgia linebacker Nolan Smith Jr was asked this week during an appearance on the Exciting Mics podcast.

Specifically, Smith was asked if he would put the Smart era up against the Nick Saban era at Alabama.

"The Smart era is going really good," said Smith. "NIL has kind of evened the playing field. But come on now, Nick Saban was still winning championships with his statue outside (of the stadium).

"If that's not greatness -- I can't go against my coach, but, man, Coach Saban has done something in the NCAA that no one will ever replicate."

There have been very few true dynasties in sports -- especially over the last 30 years. The Chicago Bulls and the New York Yankees in the 90s. The New England Patriots during the Tom Brady/Bill Belichick era, and Alabama under Saban. That's about it.

So while Georgia's had an incredible run under Smart -- and I fully expect Georgia to win more national championships while Smart is in Athens -- the Bulldogs aren't a dynasty. At least not yet.

Kudos to Smith, though, for answering that question objectively -- even though he's a Bulldog.

This article first appeared on A to Z Sports and was syndicated with permission.

More must-reads: