They’re gonna need a bigger hashtag.

Fair warning:  Kirby’s pushing G-Day, peeps.

This spring, Smart is not pushing a specific goal, but on his call-in show Monday night, he reiterated how important it is to have a sizable crowd.

“I think it is critical,” Smart said. “The more we can pack that stadium and make it like a real game, I get to find out how kids respond and adapt to that atmosphere.”

Last year saw Sanford Stadium packed to capacity, possibly more, which Smart says helped with the true freshmen.

“I think it was really helpful for us against UNC,” Smart said. “You look at the guys who went out in that Georgia Dome and played as true freshmen. Jacob goes out there and plays. Nauta goes out there. Those guys played because a lot of them got to go out there in that G-Day game, at least the six that came in mid-year and get used to it.”

Unlike last season, the Bulldogs will open the 2017 season at home against Appalachian State.

“Any atmosphere we create like that is an advantage for our opening game, which this time is at Sanford Stadium. “So we approach it as coaches just like it was a game because we want those butterflies. We want that gameday experience.”

The feedback from the players was very positive after Smart’s first G-Day.

“They love it,” Smart said. “Who does not love getting to play on ESPN with a packed house. It shows our brand. It talks a lot about our recruiting when you have a great fan base that turns out for these events.”

The specific attendance goal may not be enunciated like it was in 2016, but the attitude that the fan base is a production prop for recruiting lives on.  I’m thrilled to have the opportunity to serve in a greater cause.  Ask not what Georgia football can do for you, but what you can do for Georgia football really stirs the soul, does it not?

Hey — just a thought.  What kind of reaction would we get if nobody came to G-Day until they fixed the bathrooms?  Not that it would happen, but it sure would be fun to hear the sputtering.