Georgia-Florida, Then and Now
It’s that time of year again. The air is crisp, the leaves are changing and Jacksonville, Florida is the center of the football universe. The fact that the “WLOCP” falls on Halloween this year means the crazy meter might reach an all-time high, but that would take a lot. It is the one game where the amateurs are encouraged to stay home and let the professionals do their thing.
I was fortunate to play in four Georgia/Florida games. The good guys went 3-1 and ended the era with one of the most famous games in the series; the 1980 game. It does not matter if you wear red and black or jorts, you remember this game. It’s the game where Georgia QB Buck Belue hit WR Lindsey Scott with a short pass and Lindsey raced 93 yards to totally deflate a previously euphoric Gator sideline. It was 3rd and 11 after all, with 1:03 left in the game. There was no way Georgia could win. But miracles do happen and believe me, this was a miracle.
Georgia may need another miracle this week if they are to beat a superior Gator team. Florida is 8-0 and ranked number 1 in the nation by the BCS poll. But let me ask you this. Do you know what dogs do to polls(poles)? That’s correct. That’s what Old Coach Erk Russell used to tell us every preseason. It was great motivation for us to exceed expectations.
Many of you have only heard about the recent history of this series where Florida has dominated 16-3 in the last 19 contests. It’s as if college football was invented in 1990. Well, it was not, and even with the impressive run that the Gators have enjoyed, the Dawgs still lead the series.
Good Guys- 47 Bad Guys – 38 Ties – 2
What’s that you say? That’s impossible Mr. Robinson?
Oh no, I’m not lying. We used to spank that armor plated fanny on a regular basis. Do the math. That would mean at one point it was 44-22-2. Ouch! Georgia’s series with the Gators ranked right up there with the Vanderbilts, South Carolinas and Kentuckys of the world. Yep, it was that good.
But then Florida hired freakin’ Steve Spurrier aka “The Ole Ball Coach”. Man, I knew as soon as it was announced that he was going to be trouble. He took Duke to an ACC Championship. Nuff said. Back in the day everyone acknowledged that Florida had talent, it just never had the teams you thought they could have. The rest, as they say, is history and with the advent of Urban Meyer and Tim Tebow, Florida has truly reached their full potential.
Two eras, B.S.S., before Steve Spurrier and A.S.S. after Steve Spurrier….as different as they could possibly be. Georgia dominated the first three quarters of the series and Florida has dominated the last quarter. If Georgia wants to stem the tide, they must do everything better.
Recruit better…Coach better…Play better…It’s just that simple.
Go Dawgs!
I was at the game Russ mentions above where we whupped em by 24 to 3 when they were ranked #1. 1985 I believe. My best memory of that game was a group of young Florida fans, well lubricated as is the custom, dashing about to everone in Georgia gear and yelling in their face we’re number one. I took it in good humor knowing tacky taunting was what Florida fans excelled in until they approached a very old couple, the man walking with a cane, and began shouting in their faces. The woman was obviously very concerned, maybe because her husband had such difficulty in walking and so I walked over to try and tell the guys to leave them alone. After the last shouted We’re number one the old man calmly spoke up and said….”Yes…Yes young men your number one….for about three more hours.” As the old couple ambled off the stunned silence and look on those Florida boys faces was priceless. I’d like to see it again on the Florida sideline this Saturday. Oh, and Rex for the record, from a previous post I don’t hate any player or really hate any team. Its a game. Its outcome doesn’t ensure world peace or feed starving children. I do find media hype and arrogant boasting feeding off each other disturbing in any endeavor. And I will always appreciate the Greatness with Class that was one Herschel Walker. I’d like to see Georgia Honor him by having one game at least where they simply hand the ball to the referee whenever and whoever scores the touchdowns…..hopefully many, many times.
10/30/2009 at 12:57 AM
Second on the word of the day Elizabeth. Just wtf is a jort?
Rex, a fine article.
I know this will sound like heresy to many of my fellow dawgs but I’ve never hated Steve Spurrier. He is most responsible IMO as to why the SEC is the best league in college football. He raised the bar in the SEC. I’m not as fond of Meyer to put it mildly.
10/29/2009 at 7:04 PM
Jort = Jeans shorts, the height of “fashion” in Florida, along with sleeveless t-shirts and a mullet haircut.
10/30/2009 at 11:00 AM
Word of the day: jorts
10/29/2009 at 11:32 AM
When’s the last time we lost to a defending national champion? I know we’ve beaten UF, LSU, Tech, Clemson, Bama and Michigan. We lost one in there somewhere, but generally we play well against MNCs.
Also, the last time we played UF when they were #1, we thumped them pretty good 24-3.
Lots of good mojo out there for us. GATA, Dawgs!
10/29/2009 at 10:11 AM
Hey Rex!
I have been to many of those games, stemming from when you and I were in Jr HS and HS. Never missed a game! I feel lucky. This year and last year have given up the opportunity to go to the game. I Love this game. I had to live in the thick of the Gators for about 5 years, and really dislike them more than I used to!!! Good Karma is brewing for this year. GO DAWGS!!! Love My Dawgs!! And I saw Buck to Lindsay…an unforgettable play!!
10/29/2009 at 12:30 AM
What a great article. I am glad some one has pointed out that we not only still leads this series but we used to dominate it once upon a time. Everyone like ESPN and other networks and people in general acts if Florida has just dominated us forever and that we are their little brother program looking up to them.
They have had a lot more recent success than we have hence the dominance they have had over us for the last couple of decades. Like you said in the article it is not like Florida has this new found talent, they always had talent just as Georgia did, they just found the right coaches to utilize that talent, something Georgia did not do after Dooley until CMR.
But CMR is going to have to learn to hire best coaches to put around him on his staff if he is going to want to get to that championship level with Meyer’s, Saban’s, and these other programs in who have the same great talent but has superior coaches on their staffs.
10/28/2009 at 12:28 PM
Hoping for a repeat of 2007. Go DAWGS.
10/28/2009 at 11:49 AM
“Back in the day everyone acknowledged that Florida had talent, it just never had the teams you thought they could have.”
Kind of reminds me of another team in the SEC.
10/28/2009 at 11:05 AM
“Just win baby!”
10/28/2009 at 8:55 AM