Kirby Smart reveals what he learned from his Bulldogs football team after thrilling 8 OT win over Georgia Tech
The Georgia Bulldogs were heavy 19.5-point favorites entering Week 14's rivalry matchup against Georgia Tech, but nobody could have predicted what would end up happening between the hedges on Friday night. Georiga trailed Georgia Tech 20-6 at the start of the fourth quarter before former walk-on defensive back Dan Jackson caused a forced fumble that […]
The Georgia Bulldogs were heavy 19.5-point favorites entering Week 14's rivalry matchup against Georgia Tech, but nobody could have predicted what would end up happening between the hedges on Friday night.
Georiga trailed Georgia Tech 20-6 at the start of the fourth quarter before former walk-on defensive back Dan Jackson caused a forced fumble that was recovered by linebacker Chaz Chambliss.
That was the game-changing play that ultimately led to the Bulldogs tying Tech 27-27, bringing the game into overtime.
But it was far from over after that.
It took eight overtimes — capped off with a successful two-point conversion attempt by running back Nate Frazier — for Georgia to finally beat the Yellow Jackets, 44-42.
Following the thrilling — yet extremely exhausting — victory, head coach Kirby Smart was asked what he learned from his football team.
"That no matter if you got the hardest schedule in the country — hardest schedule probably in the history of Georgia — you keep fighting, you keep fighting, and everybody you know wants a shot at you," Smart said. "Those guys played really hard. They had a good game plan. They played well enough to win. I'm talking about Georgia Tech, but our guys found a way to win, and at the end of the day, that's what this is all about."
With the win over Tech, Georgia is officially locked into the 2024 College Football Playoffs. But before they get to the real post-season, they will take on the winner of the Texas vs. Texas A&M game in the SEC Championship on Dec. 7.
Smart made it clear that SEC Championship preparation will start on Sunday because, for now, his guys need a day to rest.
"I mean, all we can do right now is rest," Smart said. "Our guys need they need a mental break. They need this day. I mean, tomorrow it's one day, but it's a day that we don't know who we're going to play. Daily recovery. This was a really short week. It was a tough week. Remember, Tech played on Thursday night in this deal and caught us on two days. And that always, you know, you don't usually get that in our league, but you get that when you cross leagues, when you move the game up. And a lot of respect for the way they played the toughest they played with.
"And we got to turn around and play stellar opponent, no matter who it is. Next week, it's going to be physical. And I told the guys in the locker room, you can rub your bruises and pout and do everything and say I could have done better, but you better get ready to pull a strap it on and play again."
