Ole Miss fans erupted in celebration on Saturday night after their team’s impressive win over No. 2 Georgia at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium in Oxford. The Rebels’ victory sent shockwaves through the college football world, and it wasn’t just Ole Miss players, coaches, and fans who were celebrating on the field. Surprisingly, a Georgia Bulldogs player appeared to join in on the festivities.
Video footage captured Georgia defensive back Jake Pope, wearing jersey No. 22, seemingly celebrating alongside the storming Ole Miss fans. The clip showed Pope jumping around with a smile on his face, blending in with the jubilant crowd of Rebels supporters.
Although it’s possible Pope’s actions were meant to be sarcastic, the optics were undeniably controversial. For a player whose team had just suffered a significant loss to a conference rival, the celebration—ironic or not—wasn’t a great look.
The footage of Pope’s unexpected celebration quickly spread across social media. The video sparked immediate outrage among Georgia Bulldogs fans, who were less than pleased with what they perceived as a lack of seriousness from one of their own players.
“Georgia S Jake Pope celebrating after getting blown out by Ole Miss. If Kirby doesn’t cut him ASAP, then Kirby has lost control of this team. No excuses!” one fan angrily wrote. The sentiment was echoed by others who saw Pope’s actions as emblematic of a broader cultural issue within the team.
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Another fan commented, “Jake Pope celebrating with other team, Carson Beck smiling down double digits—No leadership at all. Bad culture.” The criticism extended beyond Pope, touching on other players and, in some cases, the overall state of leadership under head coach Kirby Smart.
One particularly frustrated fan added, “Kirby needs to take a good hard look at every player and staff member this offseason and bring in guys that wanna play for a championship and not just a paycheck.” The discontent among the fanbase was palpable, with many calling for changes and questioning the dedication of the current roster.
Pope, a redshirt sophomore originally from Buford, Georgia, transferred to the Bulldogs from Alabama following the 2023 season. His brief celebration on the field, whether intended as a joke or not, has left many Georgia fans calling for his removal from the program.
Some have gone as far as suggesting that Pope should be on his way out after the 2024 season if he doesn’t demonstrate a more serious commitment to the team.
Georgia’s loss to Ole Miss dropped them to 7-2 in the conference, placing them third in the SEC standings. While the Bulldogs still have a shot at making the College Football Playoff, their path to a conference championship is now much steeper.
For a program that has set its sights on competing for national titles, the loss—and the behavior of some players in its aftermath—has been a bitter pill to swallow.
Kirby Smart’s team will need to regroup quickly as they prepare for a crucial matchup against No. 7 Tennessee next Saturday at Sanford Stadium in Athens.
The game is shaping up to be a massive test for the Bulldogs, both on and off the field. The team’s ability to bounce back, demonstrate leadership, and regain focus will be critical as they face one of their toughest opponents of the season.
With questions swirling about the culture and mentality of the Georgia program, all eyes will be on the Bulldogs to see how they respond to this setback.
For Jake Pope and the rest of the team, the upcoming game against Tennessee will be an opportunity to prove that they are still contenders capable of competing at the highest level. Whether they can rise to the challenge and silence their critics remains to be seen.
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