Florida vs. Georgia: The History of the Game
The Florida-Georgia rivalry is one of the fiercest in all of college sports.
Oranges or Peaches? Palm trees or Pines? Albert or Uga? Gainesville or Athens?
If you’ve spent any time in the southeast you know you have to pick a side in one of the fiercest college football rivalries this side of the Mason-Dixon. Every fall, the Florida Gators and the Georgia Bulldogs face off in the Football Classic, an annual event first played over 100 years ago. Learn about the history of the game and some lesser-known facts ahead of this year’s matchup at TIAA Bank Field in Jacksonville on Saturday, October 30th!
Origins of the Florida-Georgia Game
In a rivalry as contentious as this, even the facts are under dispute. Georgia says the teams first played in 1904 and claim a 47-40-2 record, but Florida says they didn’t even have a football team until 1906. Florida believes the first matchup came in 1915 and the record stands at 46-40-2. The game has been played every year since 1926, except for a wartime exception in 1943.
In 1927, Jacksonville opened a new football field, the 7,600-seat Fairfield Stadium. The main purpose of the stadium was to serve as the home field for the local Jackson, Lee and Landon High Schools. Governor John W. Martin called the venue “the best place in Florida to see a football game”. The stadium quickly became one of the premier football facilities in the southeast and, as of 1933, became the permanent home of the Florida-Georgia Game.
The neutral site benefited both schools by creating the possibility of higher ticket prices and easier access by roads and railways in a bigger city between Gainesville, FL and Athens, GA.
The Okefenokee Oar
Since 2009, the Florida-Georgia game has passed a trophy back and forth to the winning school. But, this isn’t any normal gold or silver cup—the winning team becomes the guardian for the year of the Okefenokee Oar; a ten-foot long oar made from a 1,000 year-old tree from the Okefenokee Swamp on the border between Georgia and Florida.
This is definitely one of the newer traditions in a game played for a century, but it has become an important one already. The Okefenokee Oar even has its own Twitter account.
Fans tailgate before the game.
The World’s Largest Outdoor Cocktail Party
Despite kickoff on Saturday afternoon at 3:30PM, the game isn’t just a one-day event: it’s a four-day celebration!
RV City is set up in the parking lots of Jacksonville so everyone can get down to party. There are multiple events that take place, including a BBQ competition between both teams, tailgating and lots and lots of partying. There’s a reason the game has become known as the “World’s Largest Outdoor Cocktail Party”. (School administrators are not happy about this title and have attempted to rebrand the game as the Georgia vs. Florida Football Classic or Florida vs. Georgia Football Classic, the first team switching off in the name each year.)
The crowd can get so rowdy that both teams and accompanying bands have to stay in undisclosed hotels over an hour away from the stadium.
Uga’s Record
Possibly the most famous mascot in American sports, Uga is a pure white English bulldog that patrols the sideline of Georgia games—at least when he’s not hanging out inside his air-conditioned doghouse. There have been ten Uga’s since 1956, all owned by the Frank W. “Sonny” Seiler family of Savannah, GA. Uga VI has put together the most wins with a record of 87-27. The current Uga X is no slouch, but as of 2021 has a 3-3 record in the Florida-Georgia game. Maybe this year he will break the tie!
Uga X outside of his air-conditioned dog house.
Thankfully, Florida opts for a costumed mascot instead of a live one—an adult alligator might be a little dangerous to have snapping at your heels while trying to run back a kick return.
More than Football
If you’re visiting Jacksonville for the game, there are plenty of activities away from the stadium to make your trip a full weekend. Amelia Island is a great respite from the noise filled with ocean-view hotels like the Ritz Carlton and the Omni Hotel. The island has golf courses and beaches to enjoy with friends and family. A walk-able historic downtown area is waiting to be explored. Finally, there are enough delicious food options to last you this year, next year and for every year you come to Northeast Florida for the Football Classic!
A fried basket full of wild-caught shrimp from Timoti’s Seafood Shak.
Timoti’s Seafood Shak
After a day of cheering on your favorite team, it’s time to enjoy some wild-caught seafood! Timoti’s has everyone’s favorites: poke bowls, tacos, fried classics, and refreshing cocktails. We’ll serve your favorite seafood basket any way you like: fried, blackened or grilled. Enjoy this local favorite while you’re in town!