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Mark Schlabach, ESPN Senior Writer
Georgia coach Kirby Smart reached out to Mississippi State coach Jeff Lebby and quarterback Michael Van Buren Jr. after he shoved Van Buren during the fourth quarter of Saturday’s 41-31 victory at Sanford Stadium
In a news conference on Monday, Smart said he didn’t realize he had pushed Van Buren until watching film of the play after the game. Smart said he called Lebby on Saturday night and Van Buren the next day.
“I went back and watched it,” Smart said. “I didn’t even realize that I had run into him. Yesterday, I talked to Mike and told him that I had no intentions or ill will toward him at all.”
Smart shoved Van Buren after the freshman was pushed out of bounds on Georgia’s sideline by safety Dan Jackson at the end of a 6-yard run with 2:55 left in the game.
After the game, Smart said he was trying to get defensive coordinator Glenn Schumann’s attention when Van Buren ran into his path.
Smart wasn’t penalized by officials for making contact with Van Buren.
“If you’ve ever been on the sideline, it’s pandemonium,” Smart said Monday. “It’s really pandemonium when you’re trying to change personnel, and you’ve only got 3 to 4 seconds to do it. We were bad off in a bad personnel grouping, and I was trying to get to Schumann to get that changed.”
In his second college start, Van Buren completed 20 of 37 passes for 306 yards with three touchdowns and one interception.
“He was great,” Smart said of their conversation. “He’s a really good player. He’s going to be a good player in this league, and he played better as the game went on against us.”
Also on Monday, Smart announced that sophomore running back Branson Robinson would miss this week’s game at No. 1 Texas after injuring his right knee against Mississippi State. Robinson, the No. 5 Bulldogs’ third-leading rusher with 73 yards and three touchdowns, has a sprained MCL, according to Smart.
Smart didn’t say how long Robinson will be sidelined.
The Bulldogs are already playing without Roderick Robinson, the team’s top returning rusher, who hasn’t yet played this season because of a toe injury.
Freshman Nate Frazier and former walk-on Cash Jones will probably see increased action behind starter Trevor Etienne.