ATHENS – This time it wasn’t deeply discussed or debated, but it was inevitable that the subject of the long-term future of the Georgia-Florida game in Jacksonville would come up during the week of the 102nd renewal of the intense cross-border rival.
It took a full 15 minutes before coach Kirby Smart – who has been on record favoring it as a home-and-home series – had to answer a question about it in Monday’s media day press conference.
“Don’t really even think about it anymore,” Smart said without a trace of inflection. “We are where we are. That really has not even crossed my mind, except for in the offseason when I get asked about it. I’m a lot more concerned with how we play than where we play.”
In May, the contract between the city of Jacksonville and the two schools was extended through the 2025 season. That was significant in that the league will expand to 16 teams next year and play a non-divisional schedule going forward. It’s has not yet been determined, at least publicly, whether or not Florida and Georgia will continue to play annually.
Most insiders, however, believe that the Bulldogs and Gators each have voted for each other to remain permanent rivals regardless of what the new conference schedule format will look like. As for this year, the annual neutral-site meeting on the banks of the St. Johns River sets up like it does almost every season.
That is, the outcome appears critical to determining who represents the SEC East in the conference championship game Dec. 2 in Atlanta.
The defending SEC champion Bulldogs (7-0, 4-0 SEC) could knock out the Gators (5-2, 3-1) from contention. Conversely, Florida could rejuvenate its season with a victory and own the tiebreaker over Georgia as each faces a future matchup with Missouri (7-1, 3-1) on the road to possibly winning the division.
It’s from the standpoint of championship pursuits that the current Bulldogs are viewing their annual two-day excursion to Jacksonville to face Florida.
“This is old-fashioned hate, Georgia versus Florida,” said safety Javon Bullard, a junior from Milledgeville. “I mean, one of the biggest rivalries ever. It’s going to continue to be that way. It was that way before I got here and it will continue to be that way after I leave.”
Said senior center Sedrick Van Pran, a New Orleans native: “When you get here, you’re told about Georgia-Florida; you’re told about the game and what it means, the history, the guys that have played in it. Then it’s upon each individual to do their own research. … Having played in it, you know in order to have a successful season you have to go through those guys.”
As for the future of the series, players are decidedly dispassionate.
“That’s a tough one,” Van Pran said. “The neutral-site game, I have enjoyed playing in it. It’s an amazing atmosphere, going to Jacksonville is genuinely good. But I don’t think a home-and-home series would be bad. I think it would add some fire to the series.”
Georgia leads the overall series 55-44-2 and 48-41-1 in Jacksonville, specifically.
Health and well-being
Other than the notable absence of star tight end Brock Bowers, who will be out at least four weeks recovering from surgery for a high-ankle sprain, the Bulldogs appear to be the healthiest they have been all season for Saturday’s game.
Offensive tackle Xavier Truss (ankle) and running back Kendall Milton (knee), each of whom left the Vanderbilt game with injuries, are back at practice this week and expected to contribute versus Florida. Starting right guard Tate Ratledge hyperextended an elbow in the 37-20 win over the Commodores but is “fine,” according to Smart.
There’s even a remote chance junior right tackle Amarius Mims, out since the third game against South Carolina with a high-ankle sprain, will play Saturday.
“A lot of rehab, a lot of maintenance, a lot of getting back. Until I see him out there (Tuesday), I probably wouldn’t be a good judge to be able to tell,” Smart said.
Smart did say that freshman running back Roderick Robinson was able to practice last week and could be able to play.
As for Bowers’ eventual return, Smart remains reluctant to discuss it. The junior and two-time All-American underwent tightrope surgery on Oct. 16 in Birmingham.
“That’s all speculation,” Smart said. “I’m not getting into the speculation part of it. The most important thing right now is our guys and getting them prepared for Florida.”
How ‘bout them Gators?!
Smart spoke glowingly of Saturday’s opponent. The Gators are coming off wins over Vanderbilt (38-14) and South Carolina (41-39) after dropping a 33-14 loss to Kentucky on Sept. 30 in Lexington.
“They’ve played their best football the last two weeks or so,” Smart observed. “Look at the statistics on their quarterback. He’s maybe the No. 1 quarterback in the country for two games in terms of the way he’s played. You can tell he’s got a lot of confidence in their system. They’re able to execute and do a lot of good things with him.”
Graham Mertz, a senior and first-year transfer from Wisconsin, leads the SEC with a 76.2% completion percentage and has 1,897 yards passing, 12 touchdowns and two interceptions. Combined with one of the best running back combos in the conference in Montrell Johnson (62.6) and Trevor Etienne (67.8) and the multipurpose threat (receiver/kick returner) Ricky Pearsall, it has given the Gators great explosive-play potential.
Smart said he has been impressed with the job Florida coach Billy Napier -- his former co-worker at Alabama – has done in two years.
“Lot of respect for Billy; always have liked him a lot,” Smart said. “He does a really good job as a football coach, as a man, as a person. Worked on a staff with him and admire him and the way he coaches and goes about things. He’s very detail oriented. No stone is left unturned, and they play that way.”
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