Kirby Smart shares what he was told after controversial call in win over Texas
AUSTIN, Texas — Georgia’s win over Texas was Kirby Smart‘s 100th career victory, and he’s been in coaching since before all of his players were born. Yet, for Smart, the 30-15 UGA victory featured something he’s never seen.
In the third quarter with Georgia leading 23-8, Carson Beck threw a down the near sideline to Arian Smith with Jahdae Barron in coverage. The senior defensive back had already come up with one interception on the night – a first quarter pick in the red zone that kept the Bulldogs from getting on the board – and Barron came away with another one, or at least it appeared. He returned it to the UGA 9 before head referee Matt Loeffler came over the stadium PA to announce a pass interference penalty on Barron and a fresh set of downs for Georgia.
At that point, chaos ensued, and the next few minutes were unlike any other of Smart’s coaching career. Texas fans threw their trash onto the field, the game was delayed for clean up, and shortly after, referees returned to announce that after further discussion, the call on the field had changed: interception, Texas ball and no penalty on the Longhorns for delay of game.
“He just said the guy got it wrong,” Smart shared with reporters in his postgame press conference when asked what he had been told by officials. “The guy called it on the wrong guy, which it took him a long time to realize that.”
“It’s one of those things that I don’t know what I’m allowed to say or not say,” Smart continued, “so I won’t comment because I want to respect the wishes of the SEC office.”
That’s not necessarily the same tone the ninth-year Georgia head coach took during his postgame interview with ESPN.
“They tried to rob us with calls in this place,” Smart said as part of a larger answer.
Georgia players were thrown off by the entire situation too. They were forced off the sideline and towards the hashes to get them away from possible debris being thrown from the stands of the record-setting Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium crowd.
“It was crazy, and then I don’t even know what happened with the call, but I mean, it is what it is. It happened,” Carson Beck said. “I mean, I can’t tell you what the actual call was or what was supposed to happen, but to come back after that and respond was huge for our offense.”
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While he said he he didn’t want to share anything out of line, Smart wasn’t done with his comments on the situation. His concern shifted from the actual call on the field to the example it sets for fan behavior.
“We’ve set a precedent that if you throw a bunch of stuff on the field and endanger athletes, that you’ve got a chance to get your call reversed,” Smart said. “That’s unfortunate, because to me, that’s dangerous. That’s not what we want. That’s not criticizing officials. That’s what happened … I guess (it should’ve been called on) the offensive guy. Eleven and seven, two distinct numbers. I don’t know in all my coaching career I’ve ever seen that happen that way. And it’s pretty unfortunate.”
At the time of publication, the SEC has not shared comment on how things played out Saturday night in Austin.
Georgia was able to overcome the controversy and still walk out of Austin with a win over the top-ranked team in the country. Moving to 6-1 on the season, UGA sets itself up for a shot at the SEC Championship Game and an inside track at the College Football Playoffs. With a loss, those things would’ve been in question.
It’s a bye week next for the Bulldogs, having a week to regroup from the emotional victory before they are away from home again. Georgia heads to Jacksonville to take on rival Florida on Saturday, November 2nd at 3:30 p.m. ET (TV: ABC).
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