Kirby Smart faced criticism on Saturday after he shoved an opposing player during Georgia’s 41-31 win over Mississippi State at Sanford Stadium in Athens, Ga. The Georgia head coach has since addressed the incident.
The situation occurred in the fourth quarter when Mississippi State quarterback Michael Van Buren Jr. ran out of bounds near Georgia’s sideline. As Smart rushed over to speak with defensive coordinator Glenn Schumann about a personnel change, he bumped Van Buren in the process. Video footage of the moment sparked reactions online.
After the game, Smart explained that he was focused on getting to Schumann to adjust personnel and didn’t realize he had bumped Van Buren. On Monday, he reiterated his statement and revealed that he had contacted both Van Buren and Mississippi State head coach Jeff Lebby.
“I didn’t even realize I had run into him. I reached out to Lebby that night, and he said the kid was great,” Smart said. “I also spoke with Mike and told him I had no ill intentions.”
Kirby Smart on the sideline incident with Michael Van Buren pic.twitter.com/Od3am7tMYI
— Benjamin Wolk (@benjaminwolk) October 14, 2024
Smart acknowledged the chaos of the sideline during games, especially when quick adjustments need to be made. He praised Van Buren’s performance and wished him well. However, Mississippi State fans felt Smart’s behavior crossed a line, believing his emotions got the better of him in that moment, even if the shove wasn’t intended for Van Buren.
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