In a surprising turn of events during Week 8's thrilling match against Auburn, Kirby Smart, the head coach of Georgia, seemingly requested a timeout in the fourth quarter. This call quickly became a topic of heated debate, especially after Smart insisted to the officials that his intentions were merely to clap.
The incident played out with 13:06 remaining in the game, specifically during a crucial 3rd & 9 situation at Auburn's 39-yard line, as the play clock was running down. Ultimately, Georgia was awarded the timeout, and the play clock was reset, stirring curiosity and maybe even some frustration among viewers.
Urban Meyer, Rob Stone, and Mark Ingram, hosts of the Triple Option Podcast, couldn't help but poke fun at Smart's dramatic antics in this SEC showdown. Stone humorously requested Meyer to show how a head coach might clap for his team while also signaling for a timeout, emphasizing the noticeable differences in body language.
"Kirby Smart on the sideline trying to convince everyone that this (mimics a timeout) is clapping," chuckled Stone. "I seriously don’t hear anything on my microphone. Anyone else hear this clapping? What a load of nonsense!"
Ingram didn’t hold back his amusement either, calling Smart “crazy” for his actions. Yet, he acknowledged that he wasn’t necessarily upset with the referees for siding with Georgia, much to the delight of those who support the Bulldogs over his former team, Alabama.
As the moment unfolded, Georgia's left tackle seemed to have a false start, raising questions about whether this lapse was triggered by the quickly dwindling play clock or due to Auburn trying to imitate a clap to confuse the opponent. Smart hinted at this perplexity during his post-game remarks.
"Hey, some bizarre things occur in that peculiar stadium," Ingram noted. "Maybe what we saw was just an illusion, a trick of the mind."
In the aftermath, Stone expressed skepticism regarding the authenticity of Smart's clapping. Nevertheless, he commended Smart's determination to present his case while the officials gathered to deliberate what had just transpired. "I absolutely love that Kirby was actively on the field during all this confusion, still doing this (mimics clap), performing for anyone who was watching."
Following the game, Smart clarified his stance, stating that he wasn't actually calling for a timeout; rather, he aimed to grab the officials' attention concerning the purported simulation of a clap. Smart was confident his offense could execute the play in time, so he felt there was no actual need for a timeout.
On the following Monday, Smart reiterated his comments from Saturday after Georgia's 20-10 victory over Auburn, maintaining his position on that controversial moment. He expressed that his focus is now directed toward the upcoming top-10 faceoff against Ole Miss, with kickoff scheduled for 3:30 p.m. ET, broadcasted nationally on ABC.
