Georgia coach Kirby Smart did not back down from his postgame comments Saturday that Bulldogs fans left him “disappointed,” but he attempted to move past the moment and accused the media of creating an “us against them” conflict.
One week after losing a 41-34 instant classic at Alabama, the Bulldogs returned home to throttle Auburn 31-13 Saturday. Speaking to the Georgia radio network’s sideline reporter after the game, Smart said the crowd atmosphere in Athens needed to have a bigger impact on the game.
“To be honest, I’m probably disappointed in our fans for the first time,” Smart said then. “I thought there was a lack of really affecting the game crowd-noise wise, passion and energy.”
The game at Sanford Stadium was a sellout of 93,033 fans, according to Georgia, but Smart did not feel the fans were loud enough and some were seen leaving the game early.
Smart was asked about his remarks multiple times in Monday’s press conference with No. 5 Georgia preparing to host Mississippi State next.
“I think I said what I said and stand on what I said and feel that it could have been better,” Smart said, “but my job is to coach the football team and I’m going to do the best I can in my power. …
“We’ve had coaches tell us that come here and play that it was the best environment they played in the entire year. But I didn’t think that was Saturday, and I don’t think I’m the only one that feels that way.”
Smart insisted that he simply wants the crowd to make it hard on opponents to play at Georgia, where the Bulldogs have a winning streak of 27 games — the longest active streak in FBS. He said he didn’t know that that’s how the stadium felt for the Auburn game.
Georgia won consecutive national championships in the 2021 and 2022 seasons, but with fans disappointed in the showing against Alabama, Smart was asked if his team had to give fans more to cheer about.
“It’s like you’re wanting to make this us against them,” Smart said. “That’s not really what this is about. We’re a team. We’re a unit and I think it’s OK to say how you feel and try to pull the family together and pull in the right direction, and you guys want to make it about, ‘Kirby said this.’ We’re a team. Let’s do this together. Let’s help each other, not make it about, ‘He said,’ and, ‘They said.’ I’m not into that.
“When I got hired here, it was all about pulling in the same direction, creating an atmosphere that’s hard to play in. You know, you win these games at home, and maybe you take it for granted if you win so many games at home. But I know this: It’s hard.”
–Field Level Media