After Georgia State overcame a brutal upset and still managed to defeat No. 1 and undefeated Texas on Saturday, Kirby Smart didn't hesitate to say what he really thought in his postgame interview.
In an interview with ESPN's Katie George, Smart began by saying, “No one gave us a chance” during the 30-15 win.
The Bulldogs enter the showdown ranked No. 5, having already lost to a top-five team this season.
But then Smart looped his answer into ESPN and the referees as well.
“Your entire network suspected us,” Smart said. “Nobody believed us. And they tried to rob us on the phone in this place, and they're so resilient, you know what I mean? About intentions. We discussed: What were our intentions when we walked on the field? Our purpose was not to take pictures, it wasn't to do anything like a superstar. Our purpose was to eat.”
In his response, it was revealed that Smart was still upset about the chaotic development of the third quarter, in which Texas defensive back Jahday Barron's interception was negated by pass interference. It was overturned after a review while the Longhorns' student section was pitching. Throw away bottles, cans, and other trash in the field.
The Bulldogs held a 15-point lead at that point, but the Texans had already switched to quarterback Arch Manning after officials reversed the decision and the pick of Carson Beck prompted a possession change. However, they brought on Quinn Ewers again in the second half. A quick touchdown attack from Ewers to Jadon Blue closed the gap.
But Beck fought back with an 11-play, 89-yard drive, and Georgia held off Texas' late comeback.
“I would say we've set a precedent that if you throw a bunch of stuff on the field and endanger the athletes, you have a chance to have the call reversed,” Smart told reporters after the game. “To me, that's unfortunate because it's dangerous. That's not what we want. I'm not criticizing the bureaucrats. That's what happened.”
Smart and the Bulldogs will surely move into the Associated Press Top 25 after the win in Austin, Texas.
The Longhorns will likely fall out of the top five after the loss, or perhaps only drop a spot or two, and will definitely drop in the standings.
With the College Football Playoff's new 12-team format, it's certainly possible that the two teams will meet again during the 2024 season.
And if that happens, Smart will want more people to take a chance on his Bulldogs.
