You can’t really ask any Georgia Bulldogs to look ahead when they’ve got a rivalry game this weekend against the hated Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets. But even so, it was important to be mindful that they’ve already clinched a spot in the SEC Championship Game and need to be full strength for that one.
That won’t be the case, at least for one half, after wide receiver George Pickens picked up an ejection for fighting on Saturday.
Pickens actually missed the first half of the rivalry game over a “team matter,” so he was already in the dog (dawg?) house. So when he got into the game, you could imagine he really wanted to make an impact. However, the impact he ended up making was not a touchdown but instead was his forearm with the helmet of Yellow Jackets’ defensive back Tre Swilling.
Georgia receiver George Pickens going full backyard brawl, getting a well-earned ejection. pic.twitter.com/1ZJ7McQRYY
— Matt Schick (@ESPN_Schick) November 30, 2019
According to ESPN sideline reporter Allison Williams, Pickens told Georgia head coach Kirby Smart that “(Swilling) punched me first in the throat.” The footage does appear to back that up, but Pickens did himself no favors by throwing several punches in retaliation, right around the time when the referees were paying attention.
Pickens was ejected from the game for unsportsmanlike conduct and fighting. That’s bad enough, but then there’s the SEC rule that states anyone ejected from a game from fighting must miss a full half from their next game. So Pickens, who has 457 yards and five touchdowns on the season, will have to serve that during the first half of the conference title game against LSU.
This is the rule that states Georgia WR George Pickens will miss the first half of the SEC Championship Game vs. LSU after he got tossed for fighting today. pic.twitter.com/LNbd9cDgjO
— Yahoo Sports College Football (@YahooSportsCFB) November 30, 2019
It’s also possible that Georgia will further suspend Pickens, though it remains unclear at this time. The Bulldogs are going to be heavy underdogs either way against LSU but it can’t be helpful to lose one of your top receivers for a full half.
Georgia will be without Lawrence Cager and will have to sit George Pickens for the first half of the 2019 SEC Championship Game after the freshman threw some punches.
D'Andre Swift also got banged up against Georgia Tech.
Good luck upsetting LSU.
— SEC Mike (@MichaelWBratton) November 30, 2019
As far as today, it turned out that the Bulldogs didn’t need Pickens. He did score a touchdown before being ejected but they cruised to a 52-7 victory in spite of his ejection.
