Georgia football coach Kirby Smart fired back at Mississippi State coach Lane Kiffin, who blasted Smart's weight ahead of the team's top-10 game in Athens earlier this week.
Kiffin was asked Monday which former Alabama coordinator burned more calories on the sidelines during games.
“I don't know,” Kiffin said. “That's a good question. I passed by the TV today and saw his press conference. It seemed like he didn't consume too many calories.”
Smart told ESPN's Pat McAfee Show on Friday, Oct. 17, that Kiffin had been texting him all week and he had to mute him.
“I think he was worried about my size,” Smart said. “I told him that was my wife's job, not his.”
Smart didn't seem fazed by the attack from his friend Kiffin.
“You know what, I was just kidding myself,” Smart said. “I'm cool with that. I told him my son was very upset when he said that. Ryan texted me and said, hey, I just wanted to say something. And I said, no, you're telling the truth. Sometimes the truth hurts.”
Smart reiterated to McAfee that he told officials Auburn's defense was applauding even though he made the timeout gesture during a controversial moment in the fourth quarter of the Bulldogs' 20-10 win last Saturday.
“Ryan loves this,” Smart said. “He thought it would be a good distraction Sunday and Monday, and then he did a great thing, he came out and blasted me with his language for being a fat person and took all the attention away from it. My kids saw it. My wife saw it.”
“By the way, I think you look great,” McAfee told Smart, sitting outside the Butts-Mehre Building overlooking Spec Towns Track.
Smart, wearing a black Georgia hoodie: “I appreciate that. That's why I wear black.”
Georgia and Ole Miss play Saturday at Sanford Stadium at 3:30 p.m.