Georgia head coach Kirby Smart didn’t hold back when addressing an incident involving backup safety Jake Pope, who was seen celebrating with Ole Miss fans after the Rebels’ 28-10 upset over the Bulldogs this past Saturday. Following the defeat at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium, a video surfaced showing Pope seemingly joining in the Rebels’ post-game festivities, raising eyebrows among Georgia fans and team members.
“What an idiot. I mean, just stupid,” Smart said Monday, according to ESPN. “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 that he grew up and played with there at Buford and he knows him, hadn’t seen him in forever, but just not real smart.”
The backlash toward Pope was immediate, as fans and media questioned his loyalty to the Bulldogs. However, Pope later clarified the situation, explaining that he had not intended to celebrate Ole Miss’s victory but was instead caught off-guard when he encountered high school friends among the Ole Miss fans. Pope, who transferred to Georgia from Alabama earlier this season, has only appeared in three games for the Bulldogs, making his appearance in this incident even more unexpected.
Pope took to social media on Monday to issue an apology, saying, “This is not representative of who I am in any way. In no way, shape or form would I ever celebrate a loss in this program and anyone who knows me well knows that. My long-time family friends had come up to me unexpectedly after the game as I was trying to get off the field to safety and were extremely excited to see me after the game.”
He added, “I was also surprised to see them as well and that’s why you saw the reaction that I gave via the video … I am Georgia through thick and thin and have never loved a group of guys more than the guys I go to battle with day in and day out.”
Despite Pope’s apology and explanation, Smart’s focus remains resolute. “To be honest with you, I don’t have time to waste energy on that. My focus is on Tennessee. I’m not worried about that,” he stated.
The Bulldogs, now 7-2, fell nine spots in the AP poll to No. 11 following their loss. They now face a crucial matchup against No. 6 Tennessee this weekend. With an 8-1 record, the Volunteers present a formidable challenge, and this game could have major implications for each team’s College Football Playoff hopes. As Georgia regroups, Smart is determined to refocus his team on securing a crucial win.