Kirby Smart blasts Georgia player who celebrated after loss
Nov 25, 2017; Atlanta, GA, USA; Georgia Bulldogs head coach Kirby Smart shown on the sideline against the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets during the first half at Bobby Dodd Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports
Georgia coach Kirby Smart did not hold back Monday when discussing a Georgia player who was seen celebrating on the field with fans after the Bulldogs lost to Ole Miss.
Video emerged following Saturday’s game of Bulldogs DB Jake Pope seemingly celebrating with some fans after Georgia lost to Ole Miss 28-10 at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium in Oxford, Ms. The video went viral among Georgia fans, who were not pleased to see one of their own players reacting that way to a damaging defeat.
Georgia player celebrating with Ole Miss fans??? 🤨https://t.co/v4yvJLacwx pic.twitter.com/rLIVF4V57D
— On3 (@On3sports) November 11, 2024
Smart was not happy either. On Monday, he branded Pope an “idiot” for his actions, but did not indicate that there would be any action taken over it.
“What an idiot. Just stupid,” Smart said. “I didn’t see it until today, but he’s embarrassed about it. He’s upset about it. That’s obviously a childhood friend of his he grew up and played there with in Buford, and hadn’t seen him in forever, but just not real smart. To be honest with you, I don’t have time to waste energy on that.”
Smart on video of Jake Pope: "What an idiot" 😬 #KirbySmart #GeorgiaFootball pic.twitter.com/YoCyTodva1
— UGASports.com (@ugasportscom) November 11, 2024
Pope shared an apology on social media Monday, saying he was “surprised” to see his old friends on the field, and that the video was “not representative of who I am in any way.”
— Jake Pope (@JakePope24) November 11, 2024
Pope definitely should have known better here. After all, Ole Miss fans had two shots at storming the field. It’s not as if he couldn’t have seen it coming.