A popular fan favorite became one of the heroes of the 2017 Georgia-Notre Dame game, but K Rodrigo Blankenship got the news before everyone else that led to a special post-game locker room announcement.

Georgia coach Kirby Smart revealed on Monday when and why he told Blankenship that he was on scholarship, but this is the scene many remember from the 20-19 victory in 2017 at Notre Dame.

“I got one other thing to add that I want everybody to know about,” Smart said in the locker room in 2017. “Rod, would you like to tell the team what I told you on Friday?”

“I’m on scholarship,” Blankenship replied, which led to a roar from teammates.

Smart was asked why Blankenship seems to get more cheers from fans than even QB Jake Fromm.

“I think they love him because he’s a Dawg through and through,” Smart said. “He’s got a great personality. He loves Georgia, he sells Georgia. He’s a tremendous asset for us, but I love him as a person because of everything that he’s persevered and been through.”

Smart explained that he told Blankenship about the scholarship before the game because he earned it and had proven it.

“We thought that it would be a tight ball game and thought it might help his confidence knowing that he wouldn’t have the pressure of a scholarship out there kicking,” Smart said. “He already had it, he had already won the job, and ended up coming out that he hit some big field goals in the game.”

Blankenship made a 27-yard field goal in the first quarter, and a 30-yard field goal with 3:34 left in the game, which proved to be the difference.