ATHENS, Ga. - Maurice Smith managed to please two Southeastern Conference fan bases Saturday during Georgia's 13-7 upset of No. 9 Auburn.
Smith, the graduate transfer defensive back for the Bulldogs, scored his team's only touchdown with a 34-yard interception return of Sean White on the third play of the third quarter. His score helped eliminate the Tigers from the SEC West race, punching Alabama's ticket to the league championship game for a third straight year.
Alabama, of course, is where Smith transferred from in August, and he had been hearing from his former Crimson Tide teammates all week.
"It's crazy," Smith said. "Their players had confidence in us, and they felt like we were going to be the team that beat them."
Smith notched his first interception this season last month against Tennessee, but this will be far more meaningful given his history with the foe. He was a freshman at Alabama in 2013, when the Crimson Tide lost at Auburn in the memorable "Kick Six" finish, and the Tide survived the 2014 encounter 55-44 despite allowing 456 passing yards.
Two of his defensive coaches at Alabama, Kirby Smart and Mel Tucker, are now Georgia's head coach and defensive coordinator, and the irony of Smith punching the Crimson Tide's ticket to the SEC title game was not lost on anyone.
"I know that meant a lot to him," outside linebacker Davin Bellamy said. "He's come in here and stepped into a leadership role, and he just got a pick six in a very big game. I'm just proud of him, and we appreciate everything he is doing for us."
Said Smith: "I want to beat them more than any other team. Me, Coach Smart, the whole coaching staff and the whole locker room - we hate these guys."
Smart did find the significance somewhat amusing, but he preferred to brag on Smith.
"There is nobody I've seen in my coaching career who works as hard day in and day out," Smart said. "I've been coaching him for a long, long time, and he works hard. He knows what play is coming before it comes a lot of times. He's a mature kid who has become one of the best leaders on this team."
Alabama improved to 10-0 Saturday with a 51-3 thrashing of Mississippi State, and the Crimson Tide could very well be headed to a fifth national championship in eight years. Smith was a part of last year's national title team, and he was happy to do what he could Saturday to help his former teammates.
Smith was even happier that he helped his current ones, saying that knocking off Auburn made his transfer decision worthwhile.
"It's been a blessing to be a part of this team and to be able to help them like I did," he said.
Contact David Paschall at dpaschall@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6524.