Georgia’s head coach Kirby Smart has expressed his regrets after referring to defensive back Jake Pope as an “idiot” after the team’s unexpected loss to Ole Miss on Saturday.
The Bulldogs’ record fell to 7-2 for the season and they dipped to No.11 in the rankings subsequent to their 28-10 defeat by the Rebels at Vaught-Hemmingway Stadium. Following the game, a video circulated online of sophomore safety Pope looking upbeat amongst individuals donning Ole Miss jerseys post-exit from the field, sparking backlash from fans who interpreted it as him celebrating the defeat.
In response to the video, an irate Coach Smart blasted: “What an idiot,” when questioned about it by media in the heat of the moment post-game. Pope later explained that the individuals in the clip were in fact close friends who had come as a surprise to see him, and they were equally there to support another friend playing for Ole Miss.
Pope offered an apology to his teammates for the misunderstanding caused by the video, while Smart has since softened his stance and acknowledged that he was out of line with his remarks. “I should not have called the kid an idiot,” admitted Smart.
“You know, I don’t like to comment on the internal stuff going on inside. He did talk to the team and did a great job. You know, I’ll say I should not have called the kid an idiot. That was a mistake by me.”
Additionally, Smart complimented Pope’s character, stating, “But I appreciate Jake. He’s a great kid. He works really hard. He’s a team player. I think he knows it was an emotional mistake. And he told the team that. So, I appreciate the way he handled it.”
Pope took to social media with an extensive message explaining his viewpoint. His statement read: “First and foremost I want to say sorry for the way it was taken out of perspective and has caused distractions and commotion for my teammates and coaches.”
He added: “This is not representative of who I am in any way. In no way, shape or form would I ever celebrate a loss in this program and anyone who knows me well knows that.”
Pope continued: “My longtime family friends had come up to me unexpectedly after the game as I was trying to get off the field to safety [as fans stormed the field] and were extremely excited to see me after the game. I was also surprised to see them as well and that’s why you saw the reaction that I gave via the video.”
He explained further: “They are also very close with my former teammate and longtime friend on the Ole Miss team which is why they have those jerseys on. They have come to my games as well.”
Pope asserted: “I am Georgia through thick and thin and have never loved a group of guys more than the guys I go to battle with day in and day out.”
Concluding his remarks, he said: “Lastly, and once again, I’m sorry to my teammates, coaches, and fans all around about the way that video looked, and I choose to move forward and get ready for a great rest of the season with my brothers. Go Dawgs.”