It was a moment that Georgia cornerback Parker Jones I sure wish I had gone back.
The redshirt sophomore went viral on social media Thursday night for all the wrong reasons when he cost the Bulldogs 15 yards despite being inactive during the College Football Playoffs Quarterfinal game against Notre Dame.
Parker Jones, No. 39 of the Georgia Bulldogs, was penalized for sideline interference for denying a referee a pass play to Arian Smith, No. 11, during the second quarter of the 91st Allstate Sugar Bowl at Caesars Superdome on Jan. 2. 2025 in New Orleans. (Chris Graythen/Getty Images)
The strange penalty occurred during the second quarter of the Sugar Bowl with both teams scoreless.
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Quarterback Gunner Stockton connected with wide receiver Arian Smith for a 67-yard gain before being tackled to the sideline. However, it was who Jones knocked down on the bench that led to the penalty.
Jones, a Georgia native, was animated on the bench cheering on his teammates when an unsuspecting official collided with him. Jones had crossed the sideline and was called for an interference penalty, erasing the play and pushing the Bulldogs even further back.
Head coach Kirby Smart, apparently not knowing at the time who committed the penalty, addressed the incident with reporters following him. The loss of Georgia.
Georgia Bulldogs wide receiver Arian Smith, #11, runs with the ball after catching it as Notre Dame Fighting Irish safety Xavier Watts, #0, attempts a tackle as side judge JB Garza collides with Bulldogs cornerback, Parker Jones, #39, on the bench during the second quarter at Caesars Superdome on January 2, 2025. (Images by Geoff Burke-Imagn)
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“Very unfortunate. We had a… they said a coach, but I think it was a player they told me about [was] on the white. The target is reserved for the referees,” Smart began.
“That’s a safety issue. Most of the time they give you a warning about that, but it was a situation where it cost us 15 yards. We still had first and 10 and we didn’t take advantage of it. But “Again, I call those undisciplined things, self-inflicted wounds where you lose momentum. “It’s something that can’t happen.”
All things considered, it was probably the best response Jones could have hoped for.
Georgia Bulldogs Kirby Smart looks on from the field before their game against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish at the Caesars Superdome. (Images by Amber Searls-Imagn)
However, it wasn’t Jones’ error in judgment that led to Georgia’s playoff demise.
Georgia outscored Notre Dame 296-244, but went 0 for 3 on fourth downs, 2 for 12 on third downs and allowed a 98-yard kickoff return to open the second half.
