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ESPN hammered for repeatedly showing Parker Jones late in Sugar Bowl broadcast
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ESPN showed walk-on defensive back Parker Jones late in Georgia’s 23-10 loss to Notre Dame at the Sugar Bowl and fans didn’t appreciate the insinuation.
Jones was penalized in the second quarter for sideline interference when an official ran into him. Georgia receiver Arian Smith had a 67-yard catch-and-run that took the Bulldogs down to the Notre Dame 11. But because the side judge ran into Jones during the play, Georgia was flagged for a personal foul and the ball was backed up to the 31.
Georgia gained just 3 yards from its next 3 plays and settled for a 41-yard field goal.
Notre Dame then scored the next 20 points. While the Irish controlled the line of scrimmage with their defensive front, it was a comedy of errors from Georgia that contributed to the loss. The Bulldogs fumbled with less than a minute remaining in the first half and gave up a touchdown to Notre Dame just seconds after the Irish kicked a field goal. On the opening kickoff of the third quarter, Georgia gave up a 98-yard return. The Bulldogs were flagged for offsides on a fourth-and-1 midway through the fourth that helped Notre Dame bleed time off the clock. Wideout Dillon Bell had a touchdown pass bounce right off his hands in the third.
The Bulldogs gave up 4 sacks, turned it over twice, went 0-for-2 in the red zone, and combined to go 2-for-15 on third and fourth down.
But as the fourth quarter wound down, ESPN’s camera followed Jones on the sideline as play-by-play host Sean McDonough said, “He must be absolutely devastated.”
Georgia didn’t lose because of Jones. But ESPN’s continued focus on him drew the ire of many on social media.
Derek Peterson does a bit of everything, not unlike Taysom Hill. He has covered Oklahoma, Nebraska, the Pac-12, and now delivers CFB-wide content.
