The Sanford Stadium videoboard implored fans to “Make Noise” late in the first half on Saturday when Auburn's Oscar Chapman punted out of the end zone.

Later that day, Kirby Smart weighed in after the Bulldogs’ 31-13 win in a way he perhaps never has in his nine seasons as head coach, saying he was “disappointed” in the lack of energy.

“I’ll just be honest about it. I think we’ve got to do a better job as fans,” he said. “I know I’ve 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 made that comment after Georgia played before a school-record 73^rd straight sellout crowd with an announced attendance of 93,033, up now from 92,746 after stadium renovations.

On Monday, Smart didn't back away from that assement.

"I said what I said and I stand on what I said," Smart said. "I feel like it could have been better, but my job is to coach the football team. I'm going to do the best that I can in my power."

Smart said home atmospheres when he was on staff at Florida State and Alabama at times created "a monster." He said some visiting coaches who played at Georgia have told him that it was the best environment they've played in that season.

"I didn't think that was Saturday," he said. "I don't think I'm the only one that feels that way."

Georgia will play before home fans on Saturday at 4:15 p.m. against Mississippi State with the home Bulldogs ranked No. 4 in the country but ranking ninth in the SEC in total offense and seventh in total defense. They may be a championship team eventually but they're not quite playing at that level yet.

Smart’s postgame comments Saturday hit a nerve with many fans. Our story about them garnered 123 comments on the Athens Banner-Herald Facebook page by 1 p.m. Monday.

Facebook’s Meta AI described the reaction this way: “Coach Kirby Smart’s criticism of the home crowd’s energy has sparked debate. Fans cite high ticket prices, alcohol sales distracting from the game and the team’s own subpar performance as contributing factors to the lackluster atmosphere. Some fans also felt Smart should focus on improving the team’s play rather than blaming the crowd.”

Here’s my human reaction to that: Ouch.

I couldn’t really judge the atmosphere in Sanford Stadium because the newly opened press box that puts us near the west end zone is fully enclosed now instead of open-air, which makes gauging the crowd noise hard.

I asked my friend, Dean Legge, who is the publisher and owner of DawgPost, about the fans Saturday because he’s shot photos on the field for 24 years at Georgia games.

“They are spoiled and not what they were in recent years,” Legge said. “Might have been the unexpected heat. But it wasn’t loud.”

It was 82 and sunny at kickoff.

Legge said Sanford can be “a really difficult place to play, but it certainly was not Saturday. The loudest pop sounded like it was for Jordan Davis and Kelee Ringo.”

I reached out to Sam Tidwell, who I spoke to for a 2021 story about the gameday atmosphere at Sanford, via email for his reaction to the crowd Saturday.

“I think the flow of the game was uninspiring,” said Tidwell, a season ticket holder since 1978. “Execution by both teams was sloppy, fans will get behind quality play, even if the score is not close.”

A few of the reactions on the Athens Banner-Herald Facebook page to Smart comments with their handles:

Brett Huett: “I was there, the environment was TERRIBLE. … I think last week’s loss aided to the lackluster environment, but it still doesn’t fix the fact that the Dawgs do not look elite right now. ...”

Deborah Lucas: “Coach! break the fans some of your SALARY and you’ll get the HYPE! Pay me to YELL GO DAWGS!”

Blake Hill Leverett: “Let’s not forget that half the state was devastated by Helene a week ago. Spirits are low. Many came to the game for a break...”

Dustin Cleveland: “That’s what you get when you make it where only your elite donors can afford to be there.”

Georgia will try to extend the nation’s longest home winning streak to 28 games on Saturday.

Auburn was called for just 25 penalty yards on Saturday, the fewest by an SEC opponent in Sanford Stadium since Missouri had 25 in a 43-6 Georgia win on Nov. 6, 2021.

That season, Arkansas had 13 penalties for 101 yards in a noon game that started with two straight false start penalties in what became a 37-0 Georgia win.

Georgia athletics did not respond for a request for comment on what steps it may take for Saturday’s game in light of Smart’s comments.

Smart said he trusts Georgia’s event staff and the fans to help create a better environment. He said it’s not “us against them.”

“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," Smart said. "Let’s do this together. Let’s help each other.”

He added: “When I got hired here, it was all about pulling in the same direction, creating an atmosphere that’s hard to play in. You win these games at home and maybe you take it for granted, you win so many games at home. But I know this, it’s hard. These teams are going on the road all across the SEC, you make it hard on them by what you do and what you create.”

This article originally appeared on Athens Banner-Herald: How UGA football fans are reacting to Kirby Smart's criticism of them