Smart ‘didn’t even realize’ he pushed Van Buren

• Mark Schlabach, ESPN Senior WriterOct 14, 2024, 01:07 PM ET

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  • Author of 7 books on college football
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Georgia coach Kirby Smart reached out to Mississippi State coach Jeff Lebby and quarterback Michael Van Buren Jr. after he shoved Van Buren throughout the fourth quarter of Saturday’s 41-31 victory at Sanford Stadium

In a news conference Monday, Smart stated he didn’t understand he had pushed Van Buren up until seeing film of the play after the game. Smart stated he called Lebby on Saturday night and Van Buren the next day.

“I went back and watched it,” Smart said. “I didn’t even realize that I had actually faced him. Yesterday, I talked to Mike and told him that I had no objectives or ill will towards him at all.”

Smart shoved Van Buren after the freshman was pushed out of bounds on Georgia’s sideline by security Dan Jackson at the end of a 6-yard run with 2:55 left in the game.Editor’s Picks 2 Associated After the

game, Smart stated he was trying to get defensive coordinator Glenn Schumann’s attention when Van Buren encountered his path.”If you’ve ever been on the sideline

, it’s pandemonium,”Smart stated Monday.”It’s actually pandemonium when you’re trying to alter workers, and you have actually only got 3 to 4 seconds to do it. We were bad off, in a bad workers organizing, and I was trying to get to Schumann to get that altered.”Smart wasn’t punished by authorities for reaching Van

Buren, however on Monday, SEC commissioner Greg Sankey stated the play needs to have led to a 15-yard penalty against the Bulldogs.”Coaches can not make contact with an opposing player,”Sankey stated in a statement.

“This play must have resulted in enforcement of an unsportsmanlike-conduct charge. As Kirby discussed in his interview today, he has properly reached out to Mississippi State head coach Jeff Lebby and quarterback Michael Van Buren. I am positive the contact was not intentional, and the clear expectation is this conduct will not take place once again.” In his 2nd college start, Van Buren completed 20 of 37 passes for 306 backyards with three goals and one interception.”

He was terrific, “Smart said of their conversation.”He’s an actually excellent player. He’s going to be a good player

in this league, and he played much better as the game went on against us. “Also on Monday, Smart announced that sophomore running back Branson Robinson would miss this week’s game at No. 1 Texas after injuring his best knee against Mississippi State. Robinson, the No. 5 Bulldogs ‘third-leading rusher with 73 lawns and three goals, has a sprained MCL, according to Smart.Smart didn’t state how long Robinson will be sidelined.The Bulldogs are currently playing without Roderick Robinson, the group’s top returning rush, who hasn’t yet played

this season because of a toe injury.Freshman Nate Frazier and previous walk-on Cash Jones will probably see increased action behind starter Trevor Etienne.