Kirby Smart calls out Georgia fans following Auburn win

For the eighth straight year, Georgia was able to take down Auburn in the Deep South’s Oldest Rivalry. A game head coach Kirby Smart has routinely been able to win, this year’s contest was a little more comfortable than the last go-round in Jordan-Hare Stadium. A great home environment was created last season and Smart was hoping for one on Saturday.

He did not get his wishes and even called out the Georgia fans following the game. Smart understands the weather was warm but the players were in the same conditions with a lot more on their bodies. The entire game lacked a true home field advantage in the head coach’s eyes.

“It was a great victory for Georgia,” Smart began. “It was hot out there today. If anything, to be honest, I’m a little disappointed. I’m probably disappointed in our fans for the first time that I thought there was a lack of really affecting the game crowd noise-wise, passion and energy.

“Hey, it was hot but our players got full pads on, helmets, pads, and it’s hot out there. They’re pushing, trying to have a home field advantage like we’ve had when we’ve played against teams and I can’t get crowd noise. That’s frustrating for me.”

Announced attendance at Sanford Stadium was just over 93,000, well over the listed capacity. Even so, the overall impression was not a strong one for Smart. The goal is to have them better moving forward as Georgia works its way back following the loss to Alabama.

“I know I got to do a better job as a coach but we need these fans to support us and these players need them behind them,” Smart said postgame.

Next Saturday will be a great opportunity to respond with Mississippi State coming to Athens. After that, Georgia will not be back until Nov. 16 to play Tennessee, a game set up to be a big-time matchup between two SEC rivals.