Florida and Georgia needed somewhere to play their rivalry for two years. Crazy idea here.. how about FLORIDA AND GEORGIA?
Jacksonville’s stadium is being renovated, so this Saturday’s game is moving to Atlanta. Next year’s game? Tampa.
Two years, two NFL stadiums.. and not ONE game on either campus.
The wild part is they already did this in 1994 and 1995 when Jacksonville’s stadium was being rebuilt! Florida hosted one in the Swamp, and Georgia hosted one between the hedges.
That 1995 game ended with Steve Spurrier hanging 52 points on Georgia IN ATHENS. It’s been 31 years, and people still talk about it!
Now imagine No. 3 Georgia hosting No. 17 Florida at Sanford Stadium this Saturday. Next year, Georgia has to walk into the Swamp. Two environments that these players and an entire generation of fans have never experienced in this rivalry.
THAT would’ve been awesome.
Now, I understand why they passed. According to the Athens Banner-Herald, each school is getting $7.5 MILLION for playing in Atlanta, plus another $1.5 million apiece from Jacksonville. That’s $9 million EACH. Hard to argue with that payday.
And I actually LIKE the Jacksonville tradition. I think the Cocktail Party belongs there long-term.
But for TWO YEARS? You had the perfect opportunity to give each fanbase something special before returning to Jacksonville in 2028.
Instead, we’re just renting two more NFL stadiums.
College football had a chance to do something really cool here.. but apparently the money was just too good.
