Georgia football reaction after slamming Gators features an epic Chris Cole play

Cole’s return shifts momentum

Cole’s 66-yard fumble return for a touchdown was a defining moment in Georgia’s win over Florida. The linebacker’s score came after Georgia pressured the opposing quarterbacks, Smart said.

Smart said Cole’s play helped change the game’s momentum and pointed to the value of getting pressure and forcing turnovers. The return put the result nearly out of reach before halftime, as the Redcoat Band celebrated nearby.

Former quarterbacks weigh in

Aaron Murray, a former Georgia quarterback and current ESPN college football analyst, called Smart’s defense elite. Murray had beaten Florida three years in a row as a player. Former Florida quarterback Tim Tebow had picked the Gators before the game, saying he was glad Aaron Philo was starting because, in Tebow’s words, “We are going to run the dang ball.” The article also recounts Tebow’s prediction and a Florida turnover against Georgia.

Celebrations at Mercedes-Benz Stadium

After the game, Cole and several teammates celebrated with a dance in the end zone where he scored. He later jumped into the stands with Georgia fans. The report notes Cole was the only player it saw enter the stands after the game. It also says the stadium’s end-zone layout differs from what players have grown used to in Jacksonville.