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Why the Florida-Georgia rivalry won’t leave Jacksonville for good

Vaseline November 2, 2024

Whenever the contract for the Florida-Georgia rivalry approaches an expiration date, media speculation begins about whether Jacksonville could lose one of the most economically impactful sporting events.

With the exception of the 2026 and ’27 seasons, when EverBank Stadium’s renovation warrants the game going to Atlanta and Tampa, respectively, it’s a safe bet that Jacksonville will see the Florida-Georgia spectacle disappear over the next thirty years.

Why? It’s a combination of both money from stadium revenue and political motivation, two factors in Jacksonville’s favor from an incentive standpoint that potential rival cities may find difficult to match.

Florida and Georgia administrations have long known they got a good deal from Jacksonville in terms of revenue, currently more than $5 million when the guaranteed payout, ticket revenue and the city paying the hotel and transportation costs are combined.

Now imagine how many more financial incentives the city can offer the two schools once a renovated EverBank Stadium becomes a reality in 2028. The price tag to keep Florida and Georgia comfortable about the game remaining in the 904 will only increase, so having a new location with more premium seating works in Jacksonville’s favor.

It’s clearly mayor Donna Deegan is optimistic about an upcoming contract extension announcement between Florida and Georgia. Part of the reason for that is the NFL’s recent approval of the $1.4 billion stadium upgrade, which means more than just keeping the Jaguars here for another three decades.

Then Jaguars owner Shad Khan and chairman Mark Lamping When they put that deal together, they didn’t just have the NFL franchise in mind. It’s also about attracting better concerts and other events, including making sure the Florida-Georgia game stays in Jacksonville for a long time.

Then there is the political motivation. Since the Florida-Georgia game has had a consistent presence in Jacksonville since 1933 — with the exception of two years on campus in 1994-95 for the Gator Bowl renovation — a loss of an estimated $35 million in annual economic impact would be devastating for every politician in town.

“Nobody wants to come to power and lose that race, especially not the mayor,” said the city councilor Matt Carlucci. “Whoever will be mayor in twenty years will not give up this game. That’s like voting against Social Security if you’re in Congress.

“I don’t see the game going anywhere. We don’t have to lose that.”

Despite many college football traditions falling by the wayside, the Florida-Georgia game remains a fixture in Northeast Florida. With a new NFL stadium on the horizon, the city has the resources to ensure one of the crown jewels of Jacksonville sporting events doesn’t disappear.

Go ahead, Atlanta, Tampa, Miami, Orlando, do your best if you’re so inclined to root for the Florida-Georgia game.

The simple truth is that there is too much at stake for Jacksonville to lose.

Florida-Georgia Game Trivia

Next to Georgia Carson Beckwho is the other starting quarterback from Jacksonville in the Florida-Georgia game winning in his only start? Answer below.

Can the Gators keep it close?

Aside from Georgia regaining control of its rivalry with Florida under nine years as a head coach Kirby Smartthe most discouraging part for the Gators recently was their inability to make the game competitive.

The Bulldogs have outscored Florida 119-47 in the last three meetings, and that 72-point margin is the most lopsided three-year spread in Georgia’s favor over the Gators since World War II.

No coach has been more dominant in this series than UF legend Steve Spurrierwho went 11-1 against the Bulldogs, beating them by a total of 113 points from 1994 to 1996.

With Smart threatening to make a similar run, one of the big questions coming into Saturday’s game is whether Florida can stay in contention with the No. 2-ranked Bulldogs for an extended period of time.

The combined halftime score of Georgia’s past three wins is 78-10, which diminishes the entertainment value of the game. The only time UF had a lead in any of those three games was for 10 minutes after the quarterback last year Graham Mertz threw a 25-yard TD pass to Eugene Wilson III about owning the first Gators.

With Wilson out this week due to a lingering hip injury, that means one less important weapon for the UF quarterback DJ Laway. But the most important factor for the Gators if they hope to hang with Georgia, a 16.5-point favorite, is shoring up a defense that allows 164.3 yards rushing per game (97th in the nation).

Florida has improved significantly from a team that was defeated at home early in the season by top-10 opponents Miami and Texas A&M. Under third-year coach Billy NapierThe Gators are 2-12 against ranked teams, although they nearly beat No. 7 Tennessee on the road three weeks ago.

The Gators should have a better chance of keeping this game close as Georgia’s offense has been insanely inconsistent. It’s just hard to see how Florida would pull off one of the biggest upsets ever in this rivalry.

Georgia 34, Florida 23.

Trading Cam Robinson was a no-brainer

Jaguars general manager Trent Baalke did the right thing on Tuesday when he sent a tackle to the left Cam Robinson and a conditional 2026 seventh-round pick to the Minnesota Vikings for a ’26 conditional selection, which will be a fifth-round pick and more likely a fourth-round pick.

Robinson was on the bench for the first time last week against the Green Bay Packers and was replaced by Walker Kleinhe remained clearly detached from his teammates on the sideline during the 30-27 loss.

During Monday’s media availability period in the locker room, Robinson made a brief appearance before retreating to the bathroom until the media period ended and reporters had to leave.

With Robinson giving off a inconsistent vibe, the Jaguars were better off trading him to the tackle-heavy Vikings, especially since the team’s 2017 second-round draft pick will be a free agent after this season anyway.

It made no sense for Baalke to keep waiting for a better offer for a dissatisfied camper.

Despite injury issues and a PED suspension, Robinson was a decent left tackle during his 91 games with the Jaguars. But it was time for Robinson to go and landing him a potential fourth-round draft pick made it a no-brainer trade.

Stanton surge visible in Jacksonville

Long after leaving Jacksonville for the big leagues in 2010, New York Yankees outfielder Giancarlo Stanton continues to put on a show of force that could very well land him in Cooperstown.

Stanton, who played parts of two seasons for the Double-A Jacksonville Suns, hit seven home runs in the postseason before the Yankees were eliminated by the Los Angeles Dodgers in five World Series games.

For the 6-foot-4, 245-pound Stanton, who has 429 home runs in 15 MLB seasons with the Miami Marlins and Yankees, he’s delivering the long ball with stunning velocity in the playoffs.

Stanton has hit 18 postseason home runs in 151 at-bats, or one HR per 8.4 at-bats. The only player who comes remotely close to that home run clip is in the playoffs Babe Ruttewho hit a homer every 8.6 at-bats (15 in 129 at-bats).

During his 132-game career in Jacksonville, Stanton – then ranked as the third-best player in minor league baseball – hit .263 with 37 home runs and 105 RBI. What also made these numbers impressive is that Stanton did it at ages 19 and 20 before being drafted to the Marlins on June 6, 2010.

Stanton, who turns 35 on Nov. 8, is two or three healthy seasons away from reaching the 500-homer club.

If that happens, because Stanton doesn’t have the stigma of steroids attached to his name, the five-time All-Star and 2017 National League MVP would be a lock for the Baseball Hall of Fame.

Trivia answer

In 1977, future NFL receiver Terry LeCount from Raines High was a wishbone quarterback for the Florida Gators, leading them to a 22-17 victory over Georgia. Star receiver/running back Wes Chandler scored all three UF touchdowns, including a one-handed 12-yard catch off a LeCount pass in the back of the end zone.

Pigskin prediction

Philadelphia Eagles over Jaguars by 7 (Doug Pederson thank you signs); Buffalo Bills over Miami Dolphins by 4 (Super Bowl tickets); Tennessee Titans over New England Patriots by 1 (No. 1 draft pick selection); North Carolina over Florida State by 3 (quarterback shuffles); Miami over Duke by 7 (engravings of the ACC Championship trophy); Ohio State over Penn State by 1 (CFP caveat). Last week: 4 good, 3 Anthony Richardson apologies for tiredness.

[email protected]: (904) 359-4540; Follow him on X, formerly Twitter, at @genefrenette