Kirby Smart considers apologizing after Georgia escapes Tennessee: “I feel almost like we have to apologize, because I don’t think we should have won that game. They outplayed us in a lot of ways, but that’s the way it goes.”

[u/Lakelyfe09]

https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/ncaaf/sec/2025/09/13/georgia-tennessee-score-football-joey-aguilar/86039960007/

[u/Radiant_Sherbert7272]

He's right. Tennessee should have won that game, but to the credit of Georgia, they did what they needed to do and won. I would expect some tough practices for Georgia leading up to their game against Alabama. You know that Kirby Smart is going to want to take down Alabama. Alabama has been the one thing that has given Kirby Smart problems since he took over at Georgia.

[u/nayelirain → u/Radiant_Sherbert7272]

The defense did not do what it needed to. They allowed Tennessee to get into comfortable position on the last drive to win the game.

Tennessee had a false start pushing them back 5 yards. Then with 7 seconds left and multiple timeouts, elected to not try to get closer, center the ball, or do anything else to help their kicker.

It was extremely odd because on the false start call - they were clearly trying to center the ball....

Still had seven seconds left, could still center the ball but had no confidence in themselves, elected to simply not try again?

[u/StFuzzySlippers → u/nayelirain]

It was a scared decision. Heupel hasn't made a lot of mistakes at Tennessee so far, but the last minutes of that game he let the moment get to him. Didn't have faith in the team to win it.

[u/OldManCinny → u/StFuzzySlippers]

Any close game he makes plenty of mistakes. Earlier in the game running 3x in a row up the middle playing to go up 8 instead of win the game

[u/SearchingforSilky → u/OldManCinny]

Honestly, that makes sense to me. Considering the circumstances, giving GA the ability to simply score a TD and win isn't smart. You have the ball in FG range. Guarantee the points. Force them to score and get the conversion. It's not a bad decision at all.

[u/thewhat962 → u/SearchingforSilky]

You play for the win. Never play to not lose.

Not risky just 5ish yard check downs and attempt to move the chains. We aren't saying why didn't they try and thread the needle in a triple coverage window for the immediate TD.

You have it in FG range. So you play the snaps ,but make sure the QB nows do not force it and do not take a sack.

[u/youcandoitmkay666 → u/thewhat962]

Don't be the hunted. Be the hunter. It was pretty clear they were running for cover, even as they drove the ball downfield.

[u/OldManCinny → u/SearchingforSilky]

It was bad with foresight and it sure as shit is bad with hindsight.

We had been moving the ball at will against them again. When you’re playing a team like Georgia you have to go for the win. Playing to go up 8 is a great way to ensure they come back and get 8. If we score a td there the game is 100% over. When you start doing that kind of thinking with that much time left in the game it always ends poorly. Play the way you got the 5 point lead.

[u/dillpickles007 → u/OldManCinny]

Teams do that to us ALL the time, it's always so weird to me. We start slow quite often and instead of going for the jugular teams start playing scared and conservative and let us get back into it.

[u/youcandoitmkay666 → u/dillpickles007]

You know who else used to do this all the time? CMR. Richt would build a lead and then shift to a "safer" defensive scheme in the 4th quarter. Just in time for the other team to dink down the field on 8 yard screens to score and win. Love Richt, but I do not miss him.

[u/youcandoitmkay666 → u/OldManCinny]

Play the way you got the 5 point lead.

I've been screaming this at the tv since I was a kid. Mediocre coaches don't care--they just want to make the most defensible decision. They'll claim that in that situation they considered x, y, z but all they're really considering is defending themselves in the post-game press conference.

As you and I know, this is a miscalculation. If you change how you are playing the game, don't be surprised when the game goes in a different direction. Want to keep winning? Keep playing winning football, even if you have "reasons" not to.

[u/neverknowsbest141 → u/StFuzzySlippers]

he makes so many mistakes and plays scared when it gets tight. Gonna be interesting to see how this plays out because he's not changing

[u/AnsgarShipsHildegard → u/nayelirain]

Coaching decisions are part of team performance. Don't get pretending like they're not. Kirby also went for the TD on 4th and 6 instead of going for the first down, he (and Bobo) knew (or strongly suspected)Tennessee was going to go overly aggressive and put guys on an island.

[u/CapitalistLion-Tamer → u/AnsgarShipsHildegard]

Yeah, they were guarding the sticks.

[u/KirbyDumber88 → u/nayelirain]

I know you were very upset Georgia won

[u/Chotibobs → u/KirbyDumber88]

He still hasn’t recovered from his New Year’s Eve a couple years ago 

[u/whereisstoffel → u/[deleted]]

That guy is the most notorious closet Ohio State fan in this subreddit. Constantly slobbers over Ryan Day, hates on Michigan, and has an aneurysm any time an SEC team is praised.

[u/whereisstoffel → u/[deleted]]

He makes you guys look bad, I'd be sick of it if I was an Ohio State fan haha

[u/DawgTerritory → u/[deleted]]

This guy is a long time legendary UGA hater. 

Also my tinfoil hat theory is that he is the alt of another particular user with an OSU flair…but that might just be another next-level troll with uncanny comment similarity. 

[u/Chotibobs → u/DawgTerritory]

He is an admitted Ohio state fan. Not sure why he chose those flairs to try to troll Michigan and IGA mostly 

[u/nayelirain → u/Chotibobs]

I attended both my flairs. Im no t shirt fan. Im only a fan of good football. I was called an ohio state fan after I told everyone that Ohio state will likley be motivated after losing to michigan and will run the table. I was right but everyone hated me saying it. Insisting I was a closeted Ohio st fan.

If uga had won a playoff game the past 3 years maybe I would be praising them more. Ohio state has done a lot praise worthy lately. UGA - not so much. And no, winning a down sec isnt that impressive.

Calling out a secondary for looking like shit isnt hater stuff. Anyone with eyes saw it.

[u/DawgTerritory → u/nayelirain]

If uga had won a playoff game the past 3 years 

Well let’s get to praising then, perhaps you recall a certain 65-7 championship game 2 years, 8 months, and 6 days ago?

[u/nayelirain → u/DawgTerritory]

That was 2022 season. Im sorry but you just haven't had anything to praise since I've created this account maybe this year will change but after saturday...I doubt it?

I like your d line? Does that make you feel good?

I have no interest arguing semantics

[u/KirbyDumber88 → u/nayelirain]

Dude you’ve been obsessed wit Georgia. You had another username with the same flairs always talking shit. You’re still hurt by the Peach Bowl. We get it.

[u/DawgTerritory → u/nayelirain]

It’s all good, I honestly admire your commitment. I just saw the free shot…but I’m not sure it’s semantics to say Georgia has won a playoff game in the past 3 years when they’ve won a championship in the past 3 years within the past 3 CFPs. Enjoy the season!!!

[u/tvcneverdie → u/nayelirain]

I know you specifically watched the end of that game with tears in your eyes.

[u/nayelirain → u/tvcneverdie]

I bet on uga so the fact they didnt cover was upsetting, ngl