Georgia coach Kirby Smart criticizes Jake Pope for celebrating with Ole Miss fans after loss: ‘What an idiot’

by Junna Base November 11, 2024

Georgia coach Kirby Smart ripped into the Bulldogs’ backup safety Jake Pope on Monday after he was seen celebrating with a group of Ole Miss fans following the Rebels’ 28-10 win last weekend.

Pope was seen on the field jumping with fans at Vaught Hemingway Stadium in Mississippi on Saturday after the Rebels’ upset win over the Bulldogs. While it turned out that Pope was actually partying with old friends from high school that he hadn’t seen in a while, the optics certainly weren’t great.

“What an idiot. I mean, just stupid,” Smart said on ESPN on Monday. “I haven’t seen it until today, but he’s embarrassed. He is upset about this. This is obviously a friend from his childhood that he grew up with and played with there in Buford, and he knows him, hadn’t seen him in forever, but just not really smart.

“To be honest, I don’t have time to waste energy on this. My focus is on Tennessee. I’m not worried about that.”

Pope transferred to Georgia this season after spending his first two years at Alabama. He has played in three games for the Bulldogs this season.

Pope apologized in a statement on social media on Monday.

“This is in no way representative of me,” Pope said in part in the statement. “In no way would I ever celebrate a loss in this program, and anyone who knows me well knows that. My longtime family friends unexpectedly approached me after the game as I attempted to leave the field.” brought to safety and were really happy to see me again after the game.

“I was surprised to see them too and that’s why you saw the reaction I gave about the video… I’m Georgia through thick and thin and have never loved a group of guys more than the guys I was with Fight day in and day out.”

Georgia, now 7-2 on the season, fell nine spots to No. 11 in the latest AP poll after the loss to Ole Miss. The Bulldogs will host No. 6 Tennessee on Saturday in a game that could well keep the loser eliminated from the College Football Playoff this season. The Volunteers enter the competition with a record of 8-1. Their only loss came in October at Arkansas.

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