ESPN took flak from fans for focusing too much on Georgia's Parker Jones after his sideline penalty
Georgia football has lots of reasons to be frustrated at itself after losing to Notre Dame on Thursday in the Sugar Bowl, but cornerback Parker Jones should be far, far, far down the list.
The redshirt sophomore walk-on wasn’t even dressed out for the game in New Orleans. However, he cost the team yardage on an explosive play during the first half while celebrating quarterback Gunner Stockton’s 66-yard pass to wide receiver Arian Smith.
Parker bumped into a referee as he celebrated, which got flagged for sideline interference and set the Bulldogs back 15 yards after the big play. To make matters worse, Georgia only got a field goal out of the drive.
It was a tough break for the walk-on cornerback that made it harder for his team to fully capitalize on the Smith catch. However, the penalty was largely inconsequential for how the Bulldogs ultimately lost the game.
Georgia is penalized for sideline interference after an official runs into Parker Jones (No. 39) — who is not even active for the game — on the sideline.
"That's a good call."- ESPN rules analyst Matt Austin #CFP pic.twitter.com/WAOYb5osO7
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) January 2, 2025
Parker’s penalty didn’t overshadow Georgia’s vaunted defense failing to slow down Notre Dame’s offense, Stockton taking time to adjust in his first-ever college start and the Bulldogs’ special teams unit letting up a kick return for a touchdown.
However, some fans weren’t happy with the ESPN broadcast’s insistence to focus on Jones throughout the game after his accidental penalty.
— no context college football (@nocontextcfb) January 3, 2025
Piling on the poor kid for making an honest mistake as if it had a major impact on Georgia’s lackluster performance just felt unnecessary.
Please stop showing that kid. I’m sure he’s already going to get death threats.
— Nicole Auerbach (@NicoleAuerbach) January 3, 2025
ESPN showing Parker Jones again and again acting like he's the reason that Georgia couldn't move the ball, tackle, show discipline or come up with the big play when they needed it.
Do better. pic.twitter.com/fUcut8eLFU
— Tim Preston (@TimmyTebrows) January 3, 2025
ESPN continuing to show shots of Parker Jones with Sean McDonough commentary about it in a game UGA is down 13 is pretty gross, to be honest.
— John Talty (@JTalty) January 3, 2025
ESPN basically ruining Parker Jones' life right now
— BFriedACC (@BFriedACC) January 3, 2025
Espn piling on Parker Jones .
Their play of the game was his penalty. Georgia would have lost with or without that moment. pic.twitter.com/XKuPjBe0r3— Maximiliano Bretos (@MaxBretosSports) January 3, 2025
ESPN is so close to giving out Parker Jones’ address and names of family members.
— Brendan Keany (@BrendanKeany) January 3, 2025
I thought this was really irresponsible by the broadcast crew.
They acted like the kid had just stuck out his foot to trip the ref on a game-winning TD https://t.co/mlXjVnJZJM
— Alec Pope (@alec_pope) January 3, 2025
Showing him AGAIN with 2 minutes left in the game was awful by @ESPNCFB @espn https://t.co/G5v6lIQNzn
— Dr. Dumbledore Calrissian (@therealAL19) January 3, 2025
I honestly couldn’t believe they were cutting to this kid at the end of a game in which ND thoroughly outclassed Georgia. https://t.co/HLZN3xEOCT
— Mason Ballard (@maseballard) January 3, 2025
.@ESPNOmbudsman and @ESPNPublicEd
This was an incredibly irresponsible editorial decision by your production team.
Maligning this kid who had no outcome on the game and who will become a social media target as a result.
Cheap, engagement-bait tactics. Not journalism. https://t.co/bSdajLQW6S
— Chris Kilroy (@chriskilroy) January 3, 2025
Be better. https://t.co/8TJPtLgAQe
— Andrew Wiens (@AndrewWiens1) January 3, 2025
— Tyler Dahlgren (@DougyTweets10) January 3, 2025