COLUMBIA, S.C. - Georgia football coach Kirby Smart has gone from matching up at South Carolina with one close friend in Will Muschamp to another in Mike Bobo.
The three men were college teammates at Georgia in the 1990s and have remained close throughout their coaching careers.
Smart, who took over at his alma mater before the 2016 season, is 3-1 against South Carolina, with the Gamecocks coached by Muschamp in each of those games. That includes South Carolina's 20-17 double-overtime upset of the Bulldogs - ranked No. 3 at the time - in Athens last season.
However, with Muschamp fired two weeks ago, it will be Bobo in charge on the South Carolina sideline Saturday night as Smart's 13th-ranked Bulldogs (5-2) visit the Gamecocks (2-6) for a Southeastern Conference matchup.
"I respect both of them as coaches and as friends, and they know as well as I do when you get in this profession that's a possibility that that happens," said Smart, who referred to Bobo's attitude and energy as strengths that appeal to players.
Bobo, Muschamp and Smart are all the sons of fathers who coached high school football in Georgia.
"He's grown up in a coach's family," Smart, who played safety at Georgia, said of Bobo, a quarterback during his time with the Bulldogs. "He's got thick, tough skin, and players like him."
Bobo came to South Carolina last December, shortly after Colorado State announced his fifth season as head coach was his last with the Rams. Muschamp hired him as offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach, roles Muschamp held during his time as a Georgia assistant before heading to Colorado State.
AP photo by Sean Rayford / South Carolina football interim head coach Mike Bobo, center, walks the sideline during last Saturday's 17-10 home loss to Missouri.In his newest position, Bobo has spent much of his time working to rally players and build the confidence of a team that has lost four straight games. In his debut last Saturday, the Gamecocks lost 17-10 to Missouri after trailing 17-0 at halftime.
Freshman quarterback Luke Doty replaced starter Collin Hill in the second half and accounted for 189 of South Carolina's 283 yards of offense.
Georgia has its own quarterback who has stirred excitement in his first season with the program. Redshirt sophomore JT Daniels, who transferred from Southern California, made his Bulldogs debut last Saturday and passed for 401 yards and four touchdowns in the Bulldogs' 31-24 win over Mississippi State.
Daniels became the third player to start at quarterback for Georgia this season, following redshirt freshman D'Wan Mathis and junior Stetson Bennett. Daniels will present a huge challenge to South Carolina's secondary, which is still making up for the loss of NFL-caliber defensive backs Jaycee Horn and Israel Mukuamu, who opted out after Muschamp was let go.
The fact that Bobo is a former Bulldog was apparent as he discussed the game between border rivals.
"There's more excitement in the air," Bobo said. "Lot of history, there's a lot of people I've known on the other side of the ball."
Gamecocks receiver Shi Smith, one of the team's top playmakers, is unlikely to face the Bulldogs. Smith is third in the SEC with 54 catches and 605 yards, but he was hit hard in the first quarter against Missouri and needed help getting up and to the sideline. Bobo said Smith was in the concussion protocol and doubtful to play.
Smart said injured Georgia defensive tackle Jordan Davis is hopeful about returning to play at South Carolina. The word is not as good on defensive back Richard LeCounte, out since a motorcycle accident after the team's Oct. 31 win over Kentucky, the game in which Davis hurt his elbow.
"Jordan has a chance," Smart said, "and that is promising."