ATHENS, Ga. — After a long wait, Georgia kicker Rodrigo Blankenship has officially been put on scholarship.

Coach Kirby Smart called Blankenship into his office to tell him on Friday. And then he let the kicker inform the team after their 20-19 win at Notre Dame on Saturday.

Blankenship kicked the game-winning field goal, a 30-yarder with 3 minutes, 34 seconds left in the game.

The Bulldogs were celebrating their victory when Smart turned to Blankenship and, according to the team, asked him, “Do you want to tell them what I told you on Friday?”

“I’m on scholarship!” Blankenship shouted.

The team “roared in excitement,” according to a team spokesman.

Blankenship made 2 of his 3 field-goal attempts on Saturday night, missing a 44-yarder. He also made a 20-yarder and all of his extra points. He’s also been handling kickoffs.

Blankenship was asked kiddingly if, had he missed the final field-goal attempt, the scholarship was revokable.

“I hope not,” Blankenship said, laughing. “Honestly, it wasn’t a great first game being a scholarship kicker for the University of Georgia. And this team deserves a little bit better performance than I put out [Saturday]. So just go back to the workshop on Monday and start grinding again.”