Kirby Smart sends message to Georgia fans following national title win
Georgia did it. On Monday night, Kirby Smart and Georgia got even with Alabama, winning a national title in Indianapolis. The championship is Georgia’s first since 1980.
Following Georgia’s national title win, Kirby Smart took a moment to praise the fans that made the trip to Lucas Oil Stadium. Throughout the team’s stay in Indianapolis, Smart said that Georgia fans were everywhere. That carried over into the stands during the game.
“Dawg Nation showing up here, the tremendous belief in this program, of our fan base,” Smart said after Georgia won the title. “I mean, everywhere we went in Indianapolis we saw our people. Somebody told me it would be 60-40; it felt like 70-30.”
Moving forward, Smart doesn’t want fans to get complacent or spoiled despite now having another national title. Smart wants everyone involved – players, fans, coaches – to stay hungry to keep building off of this season’s momentum.
“I just hope they remember this feeling and understand they don’t need to get spoiled, they need to stay hungry like these players,” Smart added.
“Just so proud of our players. Somebody told me you’re not playing for the 41 years that we haven’t won a national title, you’re playing for the men in the room, and that really touched me, because that’s what it was all about was those guys in the room.”
Smart had a great reaction to Georgia’s title-sealing pick-six
The national title game took a while to ramp up on Monday night. Alabama got out to a 3-0 lead at the end of the first quarter and led 9-6 at halftime. Offenses got going in the second half, though. Georgia won the third quarter 7-0 to take a 13-9 lead into the final 15 minutes. With just over eight minutes remaining, Georgia found the end zone to take a 19-18 lead.
The Bulldogs then forced Alabama to punt, and Georgia drove down the field to take a 26-18 lead on the ensuing possession. Then, with Alabama down by eight and needing a touchdown, Bryce Young threw an interception to Kelee Ringo, who returned it 79 yards for a touchdown, sealing the victory.
As Ringo ran the ball down the field, Smart jumped into the air in celebration and then ran with him, seemingly telling him to get down instead of continuing the return. But after Ringo crossed the goal line and sealed the touchdown, Smart threw his hands up in celebration, realizing that the national title belonged to Georgia.