A former Florida State Seminole turned NFL player made some pretty interesting comments as to why there were so many opt-outs in the 2024 Orange Bowl

The Georgia Bulldogs’ most recent college football matchup was a historic defeat of the Florida State Seminoles in the 2024 Orange Bowl. The Dawgs dominated in a 63-3 victory to close out their season with a 13-1 record and hand the Seminoles their first and only loss of the 2023 season. 

While the victory was indeed a historic beatdown, revisionists claim that the Dawgs’ dominance should not be legitimately recognized due to the number of opt-outs Florida State had heading into the game. The Noles’ opt-outs were a result of the 13-0 team before being snubbed by the college football playoff committee and left out of the 4-team tournament.

In the aftermath of the controversial exclusion and historic victory, one former Nole has spoken out and blamed the Bulldogs for the reason so many Florida State players opted out of the Orange Bowl game. Former Florida State and newly drafted Bills wide receiver Keon Coleman claims that had Georgia won their game against Alabama in the SEC Championship, Florida State would not have any opt-outs.

“If you [Georgia] would have won, you would’ve found out who’s better between Florida State and Georgia.” Said Coleman. “You would’ve played us in the ‘matter bowl’, the bowl that mattered. We aren’t gonna play in the bowl that doesn’t matter, that’s a waste of time. But if y’all would have won and did what y’all were supposed to do, you would’ve had to see us.” 

Many believe that Georgia’s loss to Alabama in the SEC Championship was inadvertently the reason that both the Bulldogs and Seminoles were left out of the College Football Playoff, given that the loss propelled Alabama into the fourth playoff spot. While Georgia may have some responsibility in the Seminoles’ opt-outs, it’s hard to imagine that Florida State’s starters would have made a 60-point difference in the game. 

Georgia Bulldogs 2024 Football Schedule

• Aug. 31 – vs Clemson (Atlanta, Ga.)
• Sept. 7 – vs Tennessee Tech
• Sept. 14 – @ Kentucky
• Sept. 21 – BYE
• Sept. 28 @ Alabama
• Oct. 5 – vs Auburn
• Oct. 12 – vs Mississippi State
• Oct. 19 – @ Texas
• Oct. 26 – BYE
• Nov. 2 – vs Florida (Jacksonville, Fl.)
• Nov. 9 – @ Ole Miss
• Nov. 16 – vs Tennessee
• Nov. 23 vs UMass
• Nov. 30 vs Georgia Tech

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Police in Georgia’s capital have used water cannon, tear gas and stun grenades against crowds outside the country’s parliament protesting against a bill the opposition says aims to crack down on press freedoms.

The legislation being debated by parliamentarians will require media and non-commercial organisations to register as being under foreign influence if they receive more than 20% of their funding from abroad.

Thousands of demonstrators gathered in the streets of Tbilisi on Tuesday to oppose the legislation.

Clashes erupted between security forces and protesters as they faced tear gas, water cannon and stun grenades.

Reuters eyewitnesses saw some police officers physically attack protesters, who threw eggs and bottles at them, before deploying the tactics to force crowds from outside the parliament building, the news agency reported.

After being dispersed, thousands continued to block Tbilisi’s main Rustaveli Avenue, barricading it with cafe tables and rubbish bins. Some shouted “slaves” and “Russians” at police.

Levan Khabeishvili, the leader of Georgia‘s largest opposition party, the United National Movement, posted an image on X with his face bloodied and sporting a black eye.

A party official told Reuters that Mr Khabeishvili was beaten by police after disappearing from central Tbilisi.

Georgian President Salome Zourabichvili, who is opposed to the bill and whose powers are mostly ceremonial, said in a post on X the crackdown had been “totally unwarranted, unprovoked and out of proportion” and that the protests had been peaceful.

The bill has heightened political divisions, setting the ruling Georgian Dream party against a protest movement backed by opposition groups, communities, celebrities and the figurehead president.

It is viewed by the opposition as authoritarian and bearing a resemblance to Russian anti-independent media legislation.

Critics have labelled the divisive bill “the Russian law”, comparing it to Moscow’s “foreign agent” legislation which has been used to crack down on dissent there.

Read more from Sky News:
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Police raid university to break up protest

Parliament endorsed the bill in the first reading earlier this month. It must pass two more readings before becoming law.

Those opposed to the legislation see it as an impediment to Georgia’s long-sought prospects of joining the European Union.

EU officials have said it could halt Georgia’s progress towards integration with the bloc.

VALDOSTA, Ga. (WALB) – On Tuesday, April 30, Governor Brian Kemp finalized new laws to strengthen Georgia’s No. 1 industry: agriculture.

Department of Agriculture Commissioner Tyler Harper said the laws will impact tax policies in agriculture, operations of the Hemp program, and penalties on cattle theft. It will also ensure foreign entities are not able to purchase farmland needed for local farming.

“The legislation that we at the Department of Agriculture and our friends in the general assembly, that the governor signed into law today goes a long way in moving the ball in the right direction to continue to protect, promote and ensure our farm families across Georgia are successful which in turns allows agriculture to be successful which allows the state to be successful,” Harper said.

Gov. Kemp officially signed Senate Bill 465 into law which will increase the penalties for fentanyl dealers. It’s known by many as Austin’s Law.

It’s named after Austin Walters, a Valdosta man who died in 2021 after taking a single pill laced with fentanyl. Under previous law, there was no penalty to hold the drug dealer accountable.

“It’s a wonderful day for us as the family of Austin, it’s a wonderful day to honor him but truly it’s a great day for Georgia,” Gus Walters, Austin’s father, said.

The Georgia House and Senate unanimously approved SB 465, known as “Austin’s Law,” in March of 2024. Austin’s Law creates a new offense called aggravated involuntary manslaughter.

The bill states: “The offense of aggravated involuntary manslaughter shall be considered a separate offense and shall not merge with any other offense.”

The bill gives law enforcement and judges discretion when investigating and trying cases involving substance abuse.

“All Americans are dealing with fentanyl, so increased penalties, doing that to honor Austin’s life and having his family here was very special,” Kemp said.

Gus and Beth Walters, Austin Walters’s parents, were in the chamber for the vote. They have worked with Senator Russ Goodman and Lt. Gov. Burt Jones’s office for almost two years to push this bill through the House and Senate.

“It became very personal for a lot of people there in the legislature, and I was just glad to see something that needs to happen,” Jones said.

The Walters family plans to continue to spread the word of Austin’s Law across the state and country. To learn more about Austin’s Law click here.

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