ATHENS, Ga. – Coach Kirby Smart was disappointed by the home fans’ somewhat subdued performance in No. 5 Georgia’s 31-13 win over Auburn on Saturday.

Although Sanford Stadium was sold out with 93,033 spectators, Smart felt that the fans were not loud enough. Some fans even left early. Smart said he wanted the noise to give the crowd a greater home-court advantage.

“To be honest, this is probably the first time I’ve been disappointed in our fans,” Smart told Georgia Radio Network sideline reporter and former Bulldogs quarterback DJ Shockley of Atlanta’s WAGA TV after the game. “I thought there was a lack of really impacting the game in terms of the noise, the passion and the energy of the crowd.”

Georgia (4-1, 2-1 Southeastern Conference) extended its home winning streak to 27 games, a school record. The home winning streak, which began in 2019, is the longest among FBS teams. Mississippi State visits Athens on Saturday in another SEC game.

“We need to make it difficult for other teams to play here, but that’s not the case,” Smart said in his postgame press conference. “It’s not the same as it was in the past. It has to be energetic. It has to be that way.”

On Monday, Smart stood by his criticism.

“I think I said what I said and stand by what I said and feel like it could have been better, but my job is to coach the football team and I will do mine Do the best I can,” Smart said.

Smart’s concerns may have been influenced by other AP Top 25 teams struggling with road losses on Saturday, including Vanderbilt’s stunning 40-35 upset of No. 1 Alabama.

After this week’s game against Mississippi State, Georgia will play three consecutive games away from Athens, including an Oct. 19 game at No. 1 Texas and a Nov. 9 game at No. 9 Ole Miss. The Bulldogs return to Texas on April 16. November returns home to play No. 8 Tennessee.

Smart’s criticism of fans was a popular topic for questions at his weekly press conference on Monday. He became testy when asked at what point in the game he thought the fans let the team down.

“It’s like you’re trying to put us against them,” Smart said. “That’s not really what this is about. We are a team. We’re a unit and I think it’s okay to say how you feel and try to bring the family together and steer it in the right direction and you want to do it.” on ‘Kirby Said That’ .”

Two Georgia players available for interviews Monday, left guard Dylan Fairchild and fullback Chaz Chambliss, said they were unaware of a decline in fan support at the game.

“I mean, on Saturday I was engrossed in the game,” Fairchild said. “I’m completely focused on what I have to do.”

Chambliss added: “When I’m on the field I don’t really like all the juice and all that. I just want to concentrate on my task and pay attention to communication on the field. You know, it’s just like that.” Dead silence out there.

Smart said Georgia’s long streak of consecutive home wins may have spoiled fans.

“You win these games at home and maybe you take winning so many games at home for granted,” Smart said. “But I know this. It’s hard. These teams that travel across the SEC make it difficult for them by what they do and what they create. … It’s about us all pulling together.”