Georgia begins Kirby Smart era against rising Tar Heels Posted Sep 2, 2016 Longtime Alabama defensive coordinator Kirby Smart will take the sideline as a head coach for the first time when the No. 18 Bulldogs open the season Saturday against No. 22 North Carolina in Atlanta at the Chick-fil-A Kickoff Game. Smart downplayed his debut and wants his players to treat it as just another game. Good luck with that. (Associated Press)