"Calling your player an idiot? That's BS": Kirby Smart hears it from CFB Insider after Jake Pope controversy
No. 12-ranked Georgia Bulldogs coach Kirby Smart faces criticism after lashing out at wide receiver Jake Pope in a press conference on Saturday.
A video went viral after the Bulldogs (7-2, 5-2 SEC) lost 10-28 to No. 11 Ole Miss Rebels in their Week 11 clash on Saturday. It featured Pope reportedly with his college friends among the Ole Miss fans celebrating the win on the field. Two days after the incident, the Georgia coach said at a press conference on Monday that he saw the clip earlier in the day and called Pope an idiot.
Sportscaster Rob Stone reacted to Smart's comments on the recent episode of his podcast "The Triple Option" on Wednesday, stating he thought the Georgia Bulldogs coach didn't handle the situation properly. (26:26 onwards)
"You praise in public, and you criticize in private, okay, and I understand there is sometimes that apparently the private criticism hasn't taken hold and you need to maybe go out and have a stronger word," Stone said.
"But keep that internally. You don't need to throw your player under the bus. Calling your player an idiot? That's BS. That is bush league. That is JV and coach Smart is way above it," he said.
"That visor is not a halo": Rob Stone calls out Kirby Smart for not speaking out about other issues with the Georgia Bulldogs
Stone also criticized Smart for not pointing out other problematic issues among Bulldogs players, including driving under the influence charges.
One example is Georgia running back Trevor Etienne, who was arrested and charged with DUI, reckless driving, and two other misdemeanors on Mar. 24. The running back had his charges dropped on Jul. 10 and faced disciplinary actions from the team but was able to compete this season.
Rob Stone believes Kirby Smart should be as upset openly about these issues as he was about Pope.
"That visor is not a halo, right? Why don't you look at some of the players's transactions and transgressions that have been happening in your program the last couple of months, right? All those driving problems. Speeding, racing, reckless driving, DUI, there's a battery and assault case out there as well, and you're going to call this guy an idiot and stupid for hugging somebody that he was genuinely happy to see," Stone said.
Stone added that he understands the competitive nature of college football. However, he believes the Bulldogs coach's comments toward Pope were out of character.
Georgia will try to regroup this Saturday when it plays the No. 7 Tennessee Volunteers (8-1, 5-1) at home.