Georgia DB Jake Pope issues statement on viral postgame video following loss to Ole Miss
Georgia defensive back Jake Pope found himself in a bit of hot water coming out of a weekend that included a devastating loss for the Bulldogs in Oxford.
On Saturday, Ole Miss took it to Georgia, winning a resounding matchup that puts Lane Kiffin’s program on the doorstep of a College Football Playoff appearance. Meanwhile, the Bulldogs head to a likely do-or-die showdown vs. Tennessee, and Pope was caught in an awkward video after the loss.
In that video, Pope appears to be taking part in the on-field celebration as Ole Miss fans flooded the field. That video quickly made its way across social media, and it even elicited strong comments from Kirby Smart with the head coach calling it “just stupid” and referenced Pope as an “idiot.”
Now, Pope is addressing the matter himself with a statement shared on social media. He apologized for the video itself being “taken out of perspective” and creating a distraction for the Bulldogs but also said the video doesn’t represent who he is.
According to Pope’s explanation, it was a longtime family friend who he was genuinely excited to see:
“I was also surprised to see them as well and that’s why you saw the reaction that I gave via the video,” wrote Pope. “They are also very close with my former teammate and longtime friend on the Ole Miss team which is why they have those jerseys on…
“I am Georgia through thick and thin and have never loved a group of guys more than the guys I got to battle with day in and day out.”
— Jake Pope (@JakePope24) November 11, 2024
Hello portal my friend…
That was my thoughts after reading what Kirby said; Pope is not working out for UGA on the field and he just gave Kirby a reason to how him the door.
Starting QB that hits every open defender – we’ve got to support him, he’s playing great, it’s not his fault. Non- contributor taking up a scholly faarts during Dawg Walk – he’s a locker-room cancer, a detriment to team cohesion and comradery, he’s got to go.
Yup, don’t understand the Kirby-Carson bromance and yet Coach crawls this kid mercilessly. Good time to get Gunner Ryan and Jaden geared up for next year’s QB battle, Carson’s team ain’t winning no title. Giggling and joking it up on the sidelines with 3 and half minutes left trailing 22-10, I’ve seen enough of the leadership skills of Florida’s Mister Football…
You do realize Carson has another year of eligibility left right?
Yes we have already had that discussion after the G8r game, thank goodness he’s still top6 on Mel Kiper’s big board. A couple of good games and he’s outta here…please
Next year’s QB is not on the roster.
And if the o-line isn’t greatly improved, and the RBs aren’t healthy, it won’t matter who the QB is.
I’m not so sure I agree about the QBs next season, JTF. But you are spot on about the OL and running game.
An average OLine, which is us this year, can be good enough (see Oregon) with a true dual threat QB that doesn’t require 5 seconds in a clean pocket to make an elite throw. Don’t know If Gunner or Jaden give us that option, I hope so. Carson certainly doesn’t. I agree the RB situation and WR suspensions were crippling this year. The Oline play is a head scratcher. With all the turnovers (hold on a second, Beck is picked off again) the DLine and secondary has been stressed. Can’t give good teams 3 or 4 extra offensive possessions a game and expect much better than we have seen so far.
The culture at Choking Georgia is demonstrably sick.
Will you STFU
Pope should have put on a long-haired blonde wig, some make-up, some fake breeasts and called himself Jacelyn – he would be Time Magazine Woman of the Year and celebrated as a National Hero today!
Or he should have just joined Carson on the bench laughing and hamming it up in the 4th qtr, I’m sure the affection shown Kirby’s boy would have kept Pope off of Kirby’s shhttlist. How dare him being happy seeing old friends, the nerve of him…
Had he punched one of those Ol Miss fans Kirby would be defending the kid as a model student-athlete who just got caught up in the moment, no harm no foul. But simply jumping up and down is what makes someone an “idiot”. Unreal.
Negative, keep it real booch. Say what you will about Kirby, he doesn’t roll that way.
You know what I’m saying though. Kids (even GA players) have behaved in a manner much worse than jumping up and down with some old buddies, yet we’ve never heard KS publicly call one of his players “an idiot”. If he has, I’d like to have a link.
No lie .. it’s not fair to comment on players arrest but you can call your player an idiot on national television..I wonder how recruits are taking note of that
It isn’t a question of whether you are Georgia through and through. It is a question of how seriously you take playing football for a major player on the national scene. Taking a loss and putting yourself in a place that could keep your team out of the playoffs should not be an occasion for jumping with joy. Speaking to them and patting them on the back is one thing, but feeling any joy at all after the turd UGA dropped is not acceptable.
Kirby when a player gets too excited to see family/friends: “What an idiot…stupid…”
Kirby when Georgia Players have been arrested or cited for speeding, reckless driving or racing at least 24 times after the Jan. 15, 2023 fatal crash that killed offensive lineman Devin Willock and recruiting staffer Chandley LeCroy: “These are good kids and I want them to make better decisions”
Bingo!