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Georgia's Kirby Smart avoids Gatorade bath after win over Michigan

By Ryan Gaydos

Published January 01, 2022

Fox News
Fox News Flash top headlines for January 1 Video

Georgia football coach Kirby Smart did everything he could to avoid a Gatorade bath following the team’s College Football Playoff semifinal victory over Michigan on Friday night.

Georgia players were trying to sneak around the corner to get Smart, but the Bulldogs leader yelled at his team about giving him the shower.

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Georgia head coach Kirby Smart greets wide receiver Jermaine Burton after their win against Michigan in the Orange Bowl NCAA College Football Playoff semifinal game, Friday, Dec. 31, 2021, in Miami Gardens, Florida. Georgia won 34-11.

Georgia head coach Kirby Smart greets wide receiver Jermaine Burton after their win against Michigan in the Orange Bowl NCAA College Football Playoff semifinal game, Friday, Dec. 31, 2021, in Miami Gardens, Florida. Georgia won 34-11. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)

ESPN’s sideline reporter Holly Rowe said on the broadcast Smart was telling the team "we’re not doing Gatorade baths" because their job wasn’t finished and still have Alabama to worry about.

Stetson Bennett had three touchdown passes and Nakobe Dean led the defensive effort to limit the Wolverines to just 11 points. The Bulldogs earned a rematch of the SEC Championship with a shot at the title on Jan. 10.

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Georgia head coach Kirby Smart greets wide receiver Jermaine Burton after their win against Michigan in the Orange Bowl NCAA College Football Playoff semifinal game, Friday, Dec. 31, 2021, in Miami Gardens, Florida. Georgia won 34-11.

Georgia head coach Kirby Smart greets wide receiver Jermaine Burton after their win against Michigan in the Orange Bowl NCAA College Football Playoff semifinal game, Friday, Dec. 31, 2021, in Miami Gardens, Florida. Georgia won 34-11. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)

"Answered a million questions about our team, bouncing back and how you played. We’ve got a lot of high-character guys on this team and they played their tail off today," Smart said.

Georgia held Michigan to just 101 yards in the first half. Smart credited the defensive effort.

"I thought our [defensive] front controlled the line of scrimmage. I thought our offensive line controlled the line of scrimmage. That’s a total team effort," he said.

Georgia head coach Kirby Smart celebrates after winning the Orange Bowl NCAA College Football Playoff semifinal game against Michigan, Friday, Dec. 31, 2021, in Miami Gardens, Florida. Georgia won 34-11.

Georgia head coach Kirby Smart celebrates after winning the Orange Bowl NCAA College Football Playoff semifinal game against Michigan, Friday, Dec. 31, 2021, in Miami Gardens, Florida. Georgia won 34-11. (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell)

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Georgia lost to Alabama 41-24 in the SEC title game. Alabama beat Georgia in the national title game in 2018, 26-23 in overtime.

Ryan Gaydos is a senior editor for Fox News Digital.

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