ATHENS — Georgia football coach Kirby Smart was noticeably upbeat following Tuesday’s practice, pleased with the tempo and effort from the Bulldogs as they prepped for Vanderbilt.
“The kids practiced hard, practiced fast, that’s for sure,” said Smart, whose team was forced inside by a gas leak. “For some reason, when we’re inside they have more juice a little longer.”
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Georgia (5-0, 3-0 SEC) plays host to Vanderbilt (3-2, 0-1) at 7:30 p.m. on Saturday at Sanford Stadium. Smart said he’s looking forward to the team’s first night game of the season.
“I’m excited for the players. I think they enjoy it, it’s cooler longer,” Smart said. “On our GPS systems we get higher speeds at night. Our fastest games last year were night games. They sustain them longer. They might be just as fast in an afternoon game, but not as long, not for as many yards. But that’s true for the other team, too.
“The game’s faster. I think they enjoy it. I think the fan base enjoys it more, it’s more of a build up for it. I think it’s good when you get to have one. We haven’t had one.”
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The No. 2-ranked Bulldogs also haven’t lost at home since the 2016 season when they dropped three home games Smart’s first season, including a 17-16 loss to Vanderbilt.
Georgia has won nine straight home games entering Saturday’s action.
“We haven’t even talked about that consecutive streak, it’s not something that we talk about a lot,” Smart said. “I am proud of it and certainly think our fan base makes it hard on people to play here.
“We want to keep that going. Anytime you can protect your home turf, that becomes one of the most important things you can do.”
Georgia football coach Kirby Smart
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