ATHENS — Kirby Smart was asked about the ongoing Michigan sign-stealing scandal during Tuesday’s press conference.
The Georgia coach shared his thoughts on sign stealing at large and its place in football.
But his most interesting comments came in regard to the 2021 Orange Bowl battle between Michigan and Georgia.
“I didn’t notice anything or know anything,” Smart said. “Nobody we talked to warned us or anything like that. I think everybody we play, they say ‘we steal your signals.’ We play somebody, they’re great at stealing your signals. But what they’re referencing is different than stealing them. They’re coming in and you’re talking about someone coming in and filming them, that’s completely different. We’ve tried to hide the signals, hold the calls, put signs up, do all that. But there’s nothing I remember about the Michigan game that makes me think that.”
Georgia beat Michigan 34-11 in a game that wasn’t as close as the final score indicated. ESPN’s Pete Thamel and Mark Schlabach report that Michigan staffer Connor Stalions bought tickets to the 2021 and 2022 SEC championship games. Georgia played in both those games, winning in 2022 against LSU and losing to Alabama in 2021.
Georgia and Michigan are the only two programs to make the College Football Playoff in each of the past two seasons.
Sign stealing is nothing new in college football, which Smart acknowledged following Tuesday night’s practice.
Allegedly, the sign stealing involved sending a Michigan analyst to games against possible future opponents and would film the signs from the stands.
“Yeah, I never heard of anybody going to the games to watch and film and do all that — all the stuff that’s going on that everybody’s talking about,” Smart said. “I don’t know anybody that’s ever done that. I’ve never been asked to do that as a young coach or known anybody to do that. I’ve never heard of that.
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