Kirby Smart didn’t spend Monday trying to make excuses for what happened after Georgia’s win over Alabama. He went straight to the point: the fan behavior directed at Bulldogs linebacker Raylen Wilson was wrong.
Wilson was caught on video near one corner after Saturday’s game, and the footage showed a fan smacking his helmet before eventually pushing it while yelling, “Let’s go boy. Let’s go boy. Get the f--ck out of here.”
Asked about the scene during his press conference, Smart said Georgia teaches players to respond the right way in moments like that - and said Wilson did just that.
“You want people to make good decisions and do things the right way,” Smart said. “Raylen certainly did there.
There’s so much that goes into that. He thought it was a Georgia fan.
Probably helped him react the way he did initially. Disappointing behavior by any fan.
Certainly nothing we condone and I’m sure Alabama doesn’t condone it either.”
The video drew attention on social media after the game, with one post describing it as a “VERY odd moment” and saying, “Don’t love seeing stuff like this from fans @WilsonRaylen.”
Alabama athletics later addressed the incident in a statement to AL.com, saying it was also looking into reports of fans throwing trash on the field after the loss.
“We are disappointed by the unacceptable behavior exhibited by some of the game’s attendees last night and are in the process of gathering information,” UA athletics said in the statement. “Alabama takes matters of fan conduct seriously and expects everyone at our events to demonstrate respect to the student-athletes, coaches, staff, officials and visitors. Such conduct will not be tolerated.”
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