<body><div><figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=2k90a2_0wELpu9h00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=2k90a2_0wELpu9h00" width="1280" height="720" ></figure>AUSTIN, Texas — Kirby Smart knew he had to walk a very line. Say the wrong thing, and he would likely earn a hefty a fine by the SEC.But Smart also knew he had to voice his displeasure with the officiating on Saturday in the Georgia-Texas game.With 3 minutes remaining in the third quarter, Georgia quarterback Carson Beck threw an interception to Texas defensive back Jahdae Barron. But a flag had been thrown on the play, with the head official announcing that Barron had committed pass interference. The Georgia offense took the field but could not get a snap off due to Texas fans raining down trash and debris on the field. The game was stopped for nearly four minutes by the delay. And when the trash had been cleared, the official announced that the penalty — which is not reviewable — had been overturned. “Yeah, he just said the guy got it wrong,” Smart said. “The guy called it on the wrong guy, which it took him a long time to realize that.”<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">This was called pass interference to wipe out a huge Texas interception <a href="https://t.co/5aiCVhtGLf">pic.twitter.com/5aiCVhtGLf</a>— Bad Sports Refs (@BadSportsRefs) <a href="https://twitter.com/BadSportsRefs/status/1847825724494774616?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 20, 2024</a><input type="image" src="empty.gif" style="opacity:0" onerror="s=document.createElement(&quot;script&quot;);s.src=&quot;https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js&quot;;document.body.appendChild(s);"></blockquote>Texas would score two plays later to make it a 23-15 game. Georgia responded and found a way to win, but Smart made his frustrations over the way the officiating was handled crystal clear. “I will say that now 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. “And that’s unfortunate, because to me, that’s dangerous. That’s not what we want. That’s not criticizing officials. That’s what happened.”<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Texas students tossing beer bottles and other trash onto the field after what was legitimately a bad call that negates a Longhorns interception. That’s Sark walking over to calm the masses. <a href="https://t.co/79UGvybnB2">pic.twitter.com/79UGvybnB2</a>— Ross Dellenger (@RossDellenger) <a href="https://twitter.com/RossDellenger/status/1847825746590339207?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 20, 2024</a><input type="image" src="empty.gif" style="opacity:0" onerror="s=document.createElement(&quot;script&quot;);s.src=&quot;https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js&quot;;document.body.appendChild(s);"></blockquote><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Here's the moment where I got hit <a href="https://twitter.com/DawgNation?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@DawgNation</a><a href="https://t.co/HnXd25Vwox">pic.twitter.com/HnXd25Vwox</a>— Cody Chaffins (@CodyChaffins) <a href="https://twitter.com/CodyChaffins/status/1847854598591029504?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 20, 2024</a><input type="image" src="empty.gif" style="opacity:0" onerror="s=document.createElement(&quot;script&quot;);s.src=&quot;https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js&quot;;document.body.appendChild(s);"></blockquote>Smart was more blunt in a postgame video with ABC. Then they tried to rob us with calls in this place. These guys are so resilient.<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Kirby Smart calls out ESPN and the Refs <a href="https://t.co/p19AVxVRTq">pic.twitter.com/p19AVxVRTq</a>— NMD Grant (@NMDgrant) <a href="https://twitter.com/NMDgrant/status/1847844647374102982?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 20, 2024</a><input type="image" src="empty.gif" style="opacity:0" onerror="s=document.createElement(&quot;script&quot;);s.src=&quot;https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js&quot;;document.body.appendChild(s);"></blockquote>On the drive after the Texas touchdown, Georgia responded with a touchdown of its own. That score by Georgia proved to be the final one in a 30-15 win. “Everything was gone,” Smart said. “And on third and 12 or third and whatever it was, he steps up and fires on the area in the middle and it changed.”Beck also shared his thoughts on the controversial play for Georgia. “Yeah, I mean, that was a crazy situation, first and foremost,” Beck said. “I’ve never been a part of anything like that in a football game. It was crazy. Then, obviously, their fans started going crazy. But, no, I mean, they made the call, and that’s what it was. I mean, I was confused out there, but, I mean, it is what it is.”Georgia was also called for two targeting calls in the fourth quarter on Dan Jackson and Joenel Aguero. Those players will now miss the first half of Georgia’s game against Florida in two weeks. The officiating controversy comes a week after SEC commissioner Greg Sankey noted that Smart should’ve been flagged for making contact with Mississippi State QB Michael Van Buren. Sankey was present in Austin to witness the game. Georgia next takes the field on Nov. 2 when the Bulldogs play Florida in Jacksonville, Fla.Kirby Smart voices his displeasure with officiating, Texas fans after controversial penalty<div style="position:relative;width:100%; height:0; padding-bottom: 56.25%;"><iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/8A-HT6bY95o?feature=oembed" allowfullscreen frameborder="0" style="width:100%; height:100%;top:0; left:0; position:absolute"></iframe></div></div></body>

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Kirby Smart voices his displeasure with officiating, Texas fans after controversial penalty

AUSTIN, Texas — Kirby Smart knew he had to walk a very line. Say the wrong thing, and he would likely earn a hefty a fine by the SEC. But Smart also knew he had to voice his displeasure with the officiating on Saturday in the Georgia-Texas game. With...