Georgia head coach Kirby Smart was excited Saturday night despite a 41-31 win over Mississippi State at home at Sanford Stadium.
Mississippi State quarterback Michael Van Buren Jr. had a 6-yard gain with 2:55 left in the game, but was pushed out of bounds by safety Dan Jackson on Georgia's sideline.
He pushed Van Buren away while Smart ran toward defensive coordinator Glenn Shuman.
Emotions were clearly running high after the play, when Smart ripped off his visor and screamed at Schumann as Van Buren cut into his path. Smart made it clear that he was trying to get Schumann's attention when he shoved him.
“I think I was chasing Schumann,” Smart told reporters after the game. “I was trying to get Schumann's attention. We were trying to make a personnel change. I think this was a play where they came to our sideline and were trying to get Schumann's attention. But no, I don't remember much.”
There was no penalty given to Smart for hitting the quarterback.
However, some Mississippi State fans believed that the incident occurred right in front of the officials and that Georgia deserved some kind of punishment.
“Hey @GregSankey why did Kirby Smart just make physical contact with our QB and the referees didn't do anything???” the X account wrote, tagging the SEC commissioner.
Van Buren did not know what to make of the situation, and Mississippi State coach Jeff Levy did not comment on the situation, explaining that he did not see what happened.
“I don't really know what it was, but I was just trying to make my play,” Van Buren said. “I haven't actually seen it.”
In his second college start, Van Buren went 20-for-37 for 306 yards, three touchdowns, and one interception.
