Georgia Coach Kirby Smart Reaches Out After Incident with Mississippi State Quarterback
In a display of sportsmanship, Georgia coach Kirby Smart has apologized to Mississippi State quarterback Michael Van Buren Jr. after inadvertently shoving him during Saturday’s game at Sanford Stadium. Smart claimed he didn’t realize he had made contact with Van Buren until reviewing the game footage.
A Heated Moment on the Sideline
The incident occurred when Van Buren was pushed out of bounds by Georgia safety Dan Jackson, and Smart, in an attempt to get defensive coordinator Glenn Schumann’s attention, accidentally collided with the freshman quarterback. Despite the contact, Smart was not penalized by officials.
A Conversation of Mutual Respect
Smart reached out to Van Buren and Mississippi State coach Jeff Lebby after the game, explaining that he had no intention of harming the quarterback. “I went back and watched it,” Smart said. “I didn’t even realize that I had run into him. Yesterday, I talked to Mike and told him that I had no intentions or ill will toward him at all.” Van Buren, who completed 20 of 37 passes for 306 yards with three touchdowns and one interception, reportedly took the apology graciously.
Injury Update: Branson Robinson to Miss Texas Game
In other news, Smart announced that sophomore running back Branson Robinson would miss this week’s game against No. 1 Texas due to a sprained MCL in his right knee. With Robinson out, freshman Nate Frazier and former walk-on Cash Jones are expected to see increased action behind starter Trevor Etienne. The Bulldogs are already without top returning rusher Roderick Robinson, who has yet to play this season due to a toe injury.
A Glimpse into the Future
Despite the setback, Smart remains optimistic about his team’s prospects. “He’s a really good player,” Smart said of Van Buren. “He’s going to be a good player in this league, and he played better as the game went on against us.” As the Bulldogs look to their next challenge, they will undoubtedly be focused on putting the incident behind them and moving forward.
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