Kirby Smart didn’t have much interest in spending his Monday talking about anything other than Georgia’s big road win over Alabama, but the Georgia coach still had to address an ugly postgame moment involving one of his players.
That moment centered on linebacker Raylen Wilson, who was shoved in the helmet by an Alabama fan after Saturday night’s game in Tuscaloosa. Reggie Chatman Jr. of Atlanta’s WXIA-TV captured video at Bryant-Denny Stadium showing the fan touching Wilson’s helmet. Wilson walked away and did not escalate the situation.
The incident was serious enough that Alabama athletics released a statement to AL.com on Sunday night responding to the fan behavior.
The statement read, in part:
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.
Smart was asked about the situation during his Monday press conference and made clear he viewed it as unacceptable.
He said about Alabama fans interacting with players:
I don’t know that you can predict; you want people to make good decisions and do things the right way, and Raylen (Wilson) certainly did there. There’s so much that goes into that.
He thought it was a Georgia fan, which probably helped him react the way he did initially. It’s disappointing behavior by any fan, and certainly nothing we condone.
I’m sure Alabama doesn’t condone it either.
Georgia now turns the page from the chaos of Week 6 and heads into Week 7 looking to keep the momentum going. The Bulldogs will host Auburn in Athens, with a 3:30 p.m. ET kickoff on ESPN.
In Other News...
Georgia Defense Just Sent A Clear Message In The Alabama Win
Georgias 20-17 win over Alabama looked like more than just another top-end SEC result. The Bulldogs defense spent the night making the Crimson Tide uncomfortable, and the bigger takeaway was how the group answered a challenge against an offense that had been piling up points all fall. Linebacker Chris Cole and safety Khalil Barnes pointed to the teams physical practice habits and sharp defensive focus as part of the reason Georgia was able to control so much of the game.
The real separation came after halftime, when Georgia tightened the screws and barely let Alabama breathe. The Bulldogs allowed only three points the rest of the way and shut out the Tide in the fourth quarter, which is the kind of finish that tends to travel well in this league. For Georgia, the win was important on the scoreboard, but the way the defense handled the second half may have said even more about where this unit is headed. [Read more 🡒]
Auburn Just Lost A Star Defender Before Facing No. 1 Georgia
Auburn will head into its Week 7 matchup with No. 1 Georgia without one of its top defensive players, after head coach Alex Golesh announced linebacker Xavier Atkins has been suspended for the game. The junior and first-team All-SEC selection was held out because of internal discipline issues, a notable loss for a defense that now has to prepare for the Bulldogs without one of its most proven playmakers.
Golesh said the suspension will be revisited after the game, leaving the door open for Atkins to return later in the season. For Georgia, it is one more development to monitor in a matchup that already carried major stakes, and for Auburn it raises the pressure on a unit that will need to absorb the absence of a centerpiece in the middle of the field. [Read more 🡒]
Georgia Fans Will Notice What Alabama Just Lost After That Game
Ryan Coleman-Williams is trending toward missing Alabamas game against Tennessee after leaving the matchup with Georgia banged up in more than one way. Coach Kalen DeBoer said the wide receiver is dealing with leg and head issues, and the Crimson Tide are treating his status as a week-to-week situation as they sort through what comes next at the position.
For Georgia fans, the detail worth watching is less about the injury report than the ripple effect it leaves behind. Alabama may lean on a committee approach at wide receiver if Coleman-Williams is unavailable, which changes how the Tide can distribute targets and manage depth after what Georgia already helped expose in that game. [Read more 🡒]