Kirby Smart offers halftime critique of team, Stetson Bennett illness update

After seeing Stetson Bennett IV vomit on the field against South Carolina, Georgia coach Kirby Smart explained his illness was from being “over-hydrated” as the teams headed into the locker rooms for the half. Georgia ended the first half with a 24-0 lead over the Gamecocks, with Bennett throwing up on the field being one of the biggest storylines of the half.

The Bulldogs continued their dominance on defense in the first half by giving up zero points to the Gamecocks, while Bennett led the offense to three touchdowns on their first three drives of the game. Georgia has now outscored opponents 106-3 through the first 10 quarters of their season.

South Carolina had chances on the offensive side of the ball that gave Smart reason to be upset, including a pair of near-scoring drives that ended with a Spencer Rattler interception and a fourth-and-nine try from just outside of field goal range. Despite gaining 153 yards on offense, the Gamecocks were unable to crack the scoreboard before the half.

Stetson Bennett illness

As they entered the locker rooms, Smart was interviewed on the field about if there were any parts of the game that upset him — despite the major lead.

“Probably defensive eye-control,” said Smart. “[We] had a couple plays where they got behind us, we weren’t looking at the right things. And the offense, we kinda stalled out there in the second quarter. Didn’t put together some drives.”

Smart then offered a strange explanation for Bennett’s illness concerns, indicating that his star quarterback’s stomach was too full of water from hydrating for the heat and humidity.

“Well, I think he just hydrated a little too much. We’ve been hitting him all week, ‘hydrate, hydrate, hydrate.’ He felt like he had a lot of water in his stomach.”

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During the second quarter after Bennett’s first touchdown pass of the game to Brock Bowers in the red zone — Bennett was caught by the broadcast bent over on the field for a moment before composing himself. It was later revealed that Bennett had been feeling ill throughout the game and was throwing up after his touchdown toss.

“Quarterback Stetson Bennett actually got sick after that scoring play and came over to the sideline and yelled in frustration with his head down,” ESPN sideline reporter Molly McGrath said during the game. “He’s been taking oxygen all game from their very first drive, and athletic training staff was pouring water and cool towels on his neck, but I’m told he’s fine and will return in this game.”