Kirby Smart dedicated Georgia football’s win over Florida to late Bulldogs legend Vince Dooley and praised Brock Bowers and Kenny McIntosh.
Saturday’s matchup between Georgia and Florida wasn’t just the latest iteration of the World’s Largest Cocktail Party.
It was Georgia’s chance to honor Vince Dooley, the longtime Bulldogs head coach who passed away on Friday at 90 years old.
They did that in a 42-20 victory over the Gators that Kirby Smart dedicated to Dooley.
"This win goes to Coach Dooley."
— CBS Sports (@CBSSports) October 29, 2022
Kirby Smart dedicates @GeorgiaFootball's win over Florida to the legendary Vince Dooley. pic.twitter.com/F0lavamNux
Kirby Smart press conference: Georgia head coach highlights Dooley
Along with the postgame interview on the field, Smart led his postgame press conference by talking about the beloved head coach.
Kirby Smart begins his postgame remarks saying it feels good to get the win for the late Vince Dooley. Jokes Dooley would have loved the first half, but the second half, “not so much,” but was glad to “have him looking down” on the Dawgs today. pic.twitter.com/otjuva93wM
— FOX 5 Sports (@FOX5Sports) October 29, 2022
“He would have enjoyed the first half. I don’t know if he would have enjoyed the second one,” Smart said with a laugh.
During the course of his presser, Smart had more positive things to say about Dooley and the ways he impacted the Georgia community.
“He’s really a person of the arts, and you don’t find that in our profession,” Smart said. “He touched every life in this state.”
While the first half was an unquestionable tribute to Dooley with some good old domination, the second half was far less comfortable. Florida closed the gap to as little as eight points.
Smart admitted that losing momentum was a problem. However, he also said he was proud of the way his team “bounced back” to secure the victory.
Georgia head coach Kirby Smart on Vince Dooley: “He’s really a person of the arts, and you don’t find that in our profession … He touched every life in this state.”
— Jordan D. Hill (@JordanDavisHill) October 29, 2022
Smart noted everyone he sees on social media had a picture with Dooley because of how willing he always was
A couple of players warranted some shoutouts from the coach as well.
Brock Bowers made an incredible first-half touchdown grab on a tipped pass. He finished with five catches for 154 yards and a score.
“He makes a lot of contested catches,” Smart said. “He makes a lot of plays on the ball. He’s the ultimate competitive excellence guy.”
Bowers may be the epitome of competitive excellence, but Smart had an even more colorful description for running back Kenny McIntosh after he dragged the defense along for a four-yard touchdown in the fourth quarter.
“I told him he’s a bad MF-er,” Smart said. “He’s tough. He’s physical.”
Georgia may need competitive excellence and bad MFers next week when they take on Tennessee in the matchup of the season.