Georgia-Florida game should take turns on campus
Yes, this is a cool scene. But it leaves me feeling half-empty. (Elissa Eubanks/AJC)
Just once I would like to see a decision made in college athletics that is based on something other than money.
I bring this up now because the UGA Athletic Association board is scheduled to hold one of its quarterly meetings Wednesday, and there is a familiar topic on the agenda: Where to play the Georgia-Florida game. The contract with Jacksonville runs through 2010, and given that everybody is making a lot of money — a factor at least as important as “tradition,” despite what you may hear — I suspect that’s where the game will stay.
But it shouldn’t. At least not every year. The Georgia-Florida game should be held every other year on the Georgia or Florida campus.
I know. What a novel idea, right? College football on an actual college campus.
This isn’t about some perceived home-field advantage the Gators have playing the game in Jacksonville. Florida has won most of the time in the past two decades because it has had the better team — not because the Gators can bus to the game. And I certainly don’t see the attraction to holding the game at the Georgia Dome, just for the sake of moving it over the border once in a while.
This is about what college football truly is supposed to be about: the campus atmosphere, the student section, the home-field advantage with a small section or two of visiting fans dwarfed by everybody else in the stadium.
Georgia and Florida have a sweet deal with Jacksonville. The schools make more money there than if the game was moved on campus. But let’s get real here. The SEC has a $2.25 billion contract with ESPN and an $825 million contract with CBS. In short, the conference already is sharing $205 million a year with member institutions before anybody sells a ticket or a sponsorship or begins fundraising.
Seriously, is another estimated $1 million a year to have the game in Jacksonville that big of a deal?
My plan: Keep the game in Jacksonville every other year. Then in alternate seasons, have the game on campus. That would put in once in Athens every four seasons, and once in Gainesville in a similar rotation. Everybody wins. The tradition of Jacksonville is preserved, and so is the real tradition of college football.
But my guess is that the spirit of Gordon Gekko wins out.
Tell us what you think about the site
Customer Care »
Vacation stops, manage subscriptions and more
AJC Services
Sections
Other Editions
Visitor Agreement | Privacy Statement
© 2013 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
251 comments Add your comment
georgiadawg1970
September 23rd, 2009
7:48 am
It is time to move the game out of J’ville. I am tired of hearing that it is the only way for people from South Georgia to see the Dogs. That was frue in 1933 when most of the people were farmers and they worked from dawn to dusk six days a week and only had a mule and wagon for transportation. Now they let Mexicans do the farming and they ride around in big deisel trucks listining to Hank Williams Jr and smoking dope. Most of the old dirt roads form Hayhira to Athens is four land blacktop. They can get to Athens if the chose.
I also resent giving the AH’s from Florida and of my money. Half of them are yankees and the other half are foreigners. The only Americans down ther are in the panhandle and they all watch FSU.
Ohis State fan
September 23rd, 2009
7:55 am
Didn’t have any ideas on a new column idea, huh? Sad you had to just mail this one . . .
LoelGator
September 23rd, 2009
8:04 am
The Bulldog nation is more than the students in athens, and the bulldog nation,MR Schultz,don’t give a royal rip about who made or makes money. It s always about who won. Also no doubt the same money will be spent if the game comes to a Georgia location.
Now where to play it. It should alternate each year between Atlanta’s Dome and Jacksonville. That way you keep the tradition and built a new one. Anyone I mean anyone and everyone knows the home field means points and wins, period. So forget the money line and lets just play fair. Oh by the way and just a reminder, Steve Spurrier said Jacksonville was a home game for Florida.
UGASlobberknocker
September 23rd, 2009
8:12 am
No,, no a thousand times no. That game is one of the great college football traditions..why mess with it? both schools make enough money as it is…there are plenty of other games on campus to fill that need. I estimate 80% of the season ticket holders want the game to stay put. Why cater to a small minority of Dawg fans? How many people calling for change actually even go to Dawg games.?.not ,many I bet. Why change?..especially when Fla doesnt want to move it. I wish they would sign a 5 yr contract and forget this BS for a while.
jdawg
September 23rd, 2009
8:12 am
Mr. Shultz, did you get you property tax bill….well, it would be increased even more if the game was moved. I mentioned this times before….Georgia taxpayers actually do pretty well when you total what is spent in south Georgia and the Golden Isles. Yes, we need to win…heck we really do not look great at home. The tradition is set, and that dang Dome is not the answer, so just get over it. Have you paid and donated for 25 yrs plus? You get paid to go to a ballgame for a job…jdawg
athensdawg
September 23rd, 2009
8:14 am
jeff.
nice job yanking everyone’s chain on a slow wednesday morning.
» SEC links: Florida, Florida and more Florida John Clay’s Sidelines
September 23rd, 2009
8:15 am
[...] Jeff Schultz of the AJC argues that Georgia-Florida should undergo a campus conversion. [...]
bad brad
September 23rd, 2009
8:19 am
Check out the cutoff for contributions to get tickets to the game in Jacksonville. The tickets go to high rollers and corporate types, not to the ordinary fan or the fan from South GA. When the Gators hung “half a hundred” on us in Sanford, it was a down year. The pendulum will swing back our way. This year they could score 50 and still lose. Just win baby.
Atticus
September 23rd, 2009
8:20 am
So Jeff, would you say the same thing about the Red River Shootout?
This topic is so OLD, can’t you come up with something better?
FloridaDawg
September 23rd, 2009
8:23 am
You could certainly save newsprint by moving the game…lot less to write about. No more excitement…Would still be televised but the announcers would always refer to how it USED to be exciting.
Every other year Florida would put 50 plus points on Standford Stadium scoreboard….that would be great TV and their fans could take a few clippings from the hedges.
Other than that…little left in recruiting and less donations from south Georgia.
What a great idea.
Ohis State fan
September 23rd, 2009
8:23 am
Talentless hack desperate for a topic – EVEN IF IT HAS BEEN COVERED A THOUSAND TIMES!!
Chopdawg
September 23rd, 2009
8:33 am
For the first time in over 20 years, I’m not planning on making the trip to the GA-Fla game & I’m already missing it…hope to be back in 2010! The GA-Fla game is more fun than any bowl game I’ve ever attended, with the possible exception of the Sugar Bowl in New Orleans; plus, is there a better view from the upper deck in any stadium in the world than from the Gator Bowl (I know, it’s Jacksonville Municipal Stadium now) with those bridges over the St Mary’s River?
When you go to the GA-Fla game, you go for the pregame atmosphere and for the game itself, and you know you’re part of a special happening. Never, ever move this game.
(Oh, and JSS…it was Wayne Johnson, not James Jackson, in Auburn that year.)
bamafan
September 23rd, 2009
8:38 am
Bama fans were disappointed when Auburn decided that it didn’t want to play us in B’ham at “a neutral site.” Legion Field was not neutral since Bama played at least four and sometimes more OTHER games there every year. Auburn had a point. The game moved to Auburn in 1989 and in return Auburn came to B’ham in 1990, 1991, and 1992 before going back to Auburn. Bama left Legion Field for good after 2000 game. Despite Bama’s success in Legion Field with Auburn, I think college football games should be played mostly on campus. Florida does have a distinct advantage in Jacksonville, no doubt. I do think Jeff’s proposal has merit as it keeps some of the old traditional way and also puts the game on Campus.
Indydawg
September 23rd, 2009
8:42 am
It’s not a neutral site, it never has been. Jacksonville smells anyway.
Habersham Dawg
September 23rd, 2009
8:46 am
If your tradition is to lose to Florida 16 out of 19 times since 1990, then I say move the game to home and home. I do not want to give U of F any advantage whatsoever. Especially since it can have national title implications.
Drunkdawg
September 23rd, 2009
8:51 am
The game needs to be rotated between the Florida campus and the Georgia campus every year. No more games in Jacksonville, what a joke and how stupid!
jerry
September 23rd, 2009
8:56 am
Let’s see how long “tradition” lasts if they start losing money in Jax. UGA has got to be the most money grubbing, horing out U. in the country.
Apopka
September 23rd, 2009
8:58 am
The GA dome is the biggest s–thole I’ve ever been to to see a game. There is only one bar you can drink at within half a mile and if you tailgate you get hit up by panhandlers all day. There is probably a 20 degree difference in the two cities on a fall day.
F-105 Thunderchief
September 23rd, 2009
8:58 am
It’s the Saint Johns river, not the Saint Marys, that’s north along the border.
TommyGator
September 23rd, 2009
9:01 am
Yes. It is about money. But your brilliantly biased analysis misses the real losers if the game gets moved. The game in Jax is not only beneficial to the economy of Jax, it is VITAL to the economies of the sall town along the Georgia coast. Talk to the local politicians and businessmen from Brunswick, St. Mary’s and the surrounding areas. This weekend makes the year for many of them.
It’s easy for UGA to think that moving the game will solve their problems in handling Florida on the field, That may or may not be true, after all the Gators have dominated EVERY team in the SEC east since 1990; and all but UGA are home and home affairs. That fact also tends to negate your concept that “college football on actual college campuses” is a unique concept, at which you just happened to arrive, as if it is some divine revelation.
This is a shallow, un-researched and knee jerk article. That said, it is about up to your usual standards.
oldschooldog
September 23rd, 2009
9:04 am
Give fans who have attended the game one vote per game attended over a lifetime. Who else should really have a voice? I can live with whatever result. All 30 of my votes go to home and home. Jax is a dump; Athens is Nirvana; road games absolutely rock; we need to add Ben Hill Griffin Stadium to our itinerary.
blazerdawg
September 23rd, 2009
9:08 am
The annual celebration of the Georgians victory over the Floridians/Spanish on the Battle of Bloody Marsh must stay on the coast. Until Savannah builds a 90,000 seat stadium, this game must stay in Jax. Go Dawgs!!
shannon1776
September 23rd, 2009
9:09 am
Bring it to campus. People say the trip doesn’t hurt us because Dooley never had a problem beating them there. When we held the talent advantage in the 70’s and 80’s, sure, we could win.
But when talent is equal, heck yes it makes it easier for Florida to hop on a bus and we have to fly. We lose one day of prep that UF doesn’t have to. Also, usually the last week of Octover is cooler in Athens with lower humidity. The game in Florida on the other hand is usually 80-85 with 80% humidity. That matters!!!
people, we are letting UF stick it to us with this deal. For the Spurrier years, they had a week off while we played. two weeks to prepare AND the lost travel day AND the higher humidity at that time of year MAKES a difference.
If you guys want to worry about getting hammered down there and party, fine. I want to win SEC championships!!! As long as the talent is equal, UF has the advantage.
Notice what happened the ONE time we had a week off? We beat them 42-30 with about the same talent level.
We have the week off THIS year. watch how we shcok everyone and beat them.
Home and home. THEN, we would be in position to maybe do something with the Ga Dome and open the year every year with a Notre Dame/Michigan/Texas or somebody. This will stop Alabama from coming in here to Atlanta every year and building a recruiting base by playing in the kickoff classic.
Think people!!!!!!!!
JSS
September 23rd, 2009
9:10 am
Sorry ChopDawg, I stand corrected…
After Tony Flannagan, I kinda lost track…
oldschooldog
September 23rd, 2009
9:11 am
On the subject of tradition…we’ve only played in Jacksonville Municipal Stadium a couple of years; played in Alltel a couple more, and the Gator Bowl a bunch. I’m not feeling it.
Larry
September 23rd, 2009
9:11 am
Forget the money – make it home and home!
M. Adams
September 23rd, 2009
9:14 am
Follow the money!
Ferndolin
September 23rd, 2009
9:16 am
MikeinValdosta: It IS about money, don’t kid yourself. People who make the trek to Athens also make the trek to Jacksonville. South Georgia fans should never be the swing vote in this discussion. I agree with Jeff. Regular season college football should be on campus, with an occasional acception, like every other year in Jacksonville. I do dissagree with Jeff about the ‘home field’esque advantage the gators have. I’ve been to the GA/FL game and it can be intimidating for fans so it must be for the players. Gotta be a factor. But hey, money rules in college athletics. Pathetic!
ccdawg
September 23rd, 2009
9:16 am
If its not at a neutral site do you think any of the outcomes would have been different? Do you think there would be ANY interest in GA/FL nationwide? Do you think it is in the top 10 rivalries nationwide? The answer is no to all of the above. Lets face it the GA/FL series gets a HUGE buzz by being played in a truly unique location with everything split 50/50. In the actual football game location is overrated. Look at Richt’s away record. A football field is a football field. And without Jax the series recently resembles FL vs Kentucky. The Dawgs need to man up and just start beating them down there. Then FL will want to move the game like they did in the 70s and 80s.
jcoleman
September 23rd, 2009
9:17 am
A good analogy is the Alabama Auburn game, which was always played in Birmingham until 1989. I was reluctant to the change myself, but the game is so much better now that it is on one of the team’s campuses each year.
Duluth Gator
September 23rd, 2009
9:18 am
I have no problem with moving the game to home and home or Atlanta then Jax every year. What I can’t figure out is why did Georgia dominate the series when Dooley was coaching and everything was fine. Really, moving the game might be a good thing but I feel the almighty dollar for the city of Jacksonville is dictating where the Dogs and the Gators play.
heyberto
September 23rd, 2009
9:18 am
Stirring the pot I see Jeff… but don’t be stupid… leave in in Jax.
Jax Dawg
September 23rd, 2009
9:20 am
It’s all about the $$. I live in Jax and the only reason I want the game to stay is for all the $$ it pumps into our economy. Nobody down here gives a crap about UGA other than hoping they bring their wallets.
The game should go back to rotating to Athens and Gainesville. I’ve been attending this game since I very young and have only missed the 97 game (bad one to miss).
For those of you who come down, you must see that the 50-50 split is slowing eroding in favor of Gator fans. They are buying up UGA tickets from fans. I’m in my 40’s now and I am not going this year and may never go again until it’s held in Athens.
Who wants memories of an annual a*# whooping and then having to endure the wrath of the AH Gator fans. I look forward to my continuing my weekend trips to Athens with my family. Much better family atmosphere and truly good memories.
Go Dawgs!
DawginLex
September 23rd, 2009
9:22 am
DON’T MOVE THE GAME FROM JACKSONVILLE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Bugkiller,
I’m not quite sure how old you are, but I have a sneaking suspicion that you are not out of your 20’s. That being the case, I can’t blame you for swallowing the SOS propaganda. The bottom line is this:
The 1990’s were Spurrier’s because our program was floundering.
However, since Richt has arrived, the series has always been competitive except for 2008. I know we are only 2-6 but, you can’t blame that on Jacksonville. If we were to figure out a way to win this year, the series will be 3-3 over the last 6 years.
If you move the game, you are admitting that florida has changed the mindset of the series and we will have lost before anymore games are played between the two.
I’m guessing you weren’t around in the 70’s and 80’s when we owned Florida. No matter what kind of year we were having, we knew we could win that game. Guess where it was played?
JACKSONVILLE-DON’T MOVE THE GAME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
MikeWood
September 23rd, 2009
9:22 am
How about having it in Atlanta simply for the students/fans who can’t afford to travel every year to Jacksonville to see a game. The cost alone for the fans here in Athens/Atlanta for the bulldogs fans in insane. I agree it is fun to travel to Jacksonville every once in a while but it would be nice if I could go see a Georgia/Florida game with out spending $600.00. You guys get so caught up in the fact that we believe it is a home game for the Florida players. I for one do not believe the win/loss has anything to do with the players travel time, but it is a lot easier for a Florida fan coming from Gainsville to make the trip. All I ask for in return is that same luxury every other year.
JSS
September 23rd, 2009
9:23 am
I laugh every time I read about the tradition of college football being played on college campuses… What planet are you people from? FSU-Miami (Orange Bowl), Notre Dame-Army (Old Yankee Stadium), Army-Navy (Old Franklin Field), Tenn-Bama (Legion Field), Notre Dame-Navy (Soldier Field), GA-Auburn (Columbus, GA) and Texas-Oklahoma (The old Cotton Bowl)… That is the history people… These new on-campus coliseums are relatively new, stop making them into something they weren’t…
Shug
September 23rd, 2009
9:24 am
Auburn was 18-34-1 playing Alabama at Birmingham’s Legion Field. Since moving the game to each teams campus, Auburn is 7-2. Get out of Jacksonville completely, there’s not very many home games to begin with.
Okefenokee Dawg
September 23rd, 2009
9:25 am
I say we split the difference, and play the game in Vidalia.
Denver Dog
September 23rd, 2009
9:25 am
I’ve been going for 30 years. I have had less fun lately, it is harder to get decent rooms, an oh by the way, we haven’t been wining. Let’s use this same logic. Since CMR and co are better on the road than elsewhere, let’s play in Gainesville every year. Heck with this neutral field stuff.
Leave it alone! What fools on this blog think that college football is not about money, big money? Both schools make a killing out of this, and we all know it. Most schools would kill for a rivalry in a place like this. Leave it alone, make improvements, like get the fair out of there during this game, have more parking, pay UGA more to come down. Leave it alone. When we dominated the series for the first 60 years, UF didn’t want to quit playing there every year.
collegeballfan
September 23rd, 2009
9:27 am
When Georgia is the home team the game should be in Athens.
If you are not going to play the home games on campus you can disband the team as far as I am concerned.
jcoleman
September 23rd, 2009
9:28 am
“These new on-campus coliseums are relatively new, stop making them into something they weren’t…”
new on campus coliseums?? bryant denny, jordan hare, neyland, etc, were all built in the 20’s or earlier. not exactly neuvo in my book.
Vince
September 23rd, 2009
9:31 am
I lived in Gainesville for the past for years and now live back in Dawg country. I am not a huge fan of Jax myself, maybe its the $380 a night hotel or the fact that we lose way too often, not sure. Florida fans don’t enjoy the trip like GA fans. They fail to realize how many UGA fans are not in JVille for the weekend except the game. A LOT of FL fans come up Sat AM and leave Sat pm. For us GA people, its a vacation. I also have a lot of friends who would love to have an opportunity to come to Athens for a game. They always tell me how great they hear downtown is and would love to do a home and home once in a while. I am sure quite a few UGA fans would love to experience the swamp and see why it is such a great home field advantage for the gaytors. I would love to see a cycle that includes a game in GVille, a game in Athens, a game in JVille and a game in ATL (there are a lot of Gaytor fans in the city, they love going to ATL to watch a game) Jax will lose out but maybe just an 8 year contract of that cycle would please everyone and then we could see how it goes. JVille is gaytor country, its an away game for UGA, no doubt.
CJ
September 23rd, 2009
9:31 am
Haha. You lost 16 out of 19 so it’s the locations fault. Plenty of other rivalries take place in neutral locations. Whining mutts and sore losers. That’s all UGA is. Go Gators!
world b
September 23rd, 2009
9:33 am
Gordon Gekko: And the under 40 audience asks a collective: Huh?
Jax Dawg
September 23rd, 2009
9:35 am
Denver Dog, you don’t have to worry about the fair anymore. Mayor Peyton took care of that. I hope you all keep coming and spending big $$. We need it.
Florida didn’t want to move the game when they were losing because that would have meant taking the game out of Florida every other year.
Sykojohnny
September 23rd, 2009
9:35 am
The over on the Florida game is already 100+. Just for Florida. The Gators are setting up a table for Tebow in the backfield so that he can sit down for a snack while Georgia attempts to rush him.
Will
September 23rd, 2009
9:36 am
This is the problem with the main stream media. You are are perceived as an elitist, and this article is added proof. Have you thought about how moving the game would effect the economy of the many communities in N Fla or SE GA? Of course not….. However you think moving the game in the name of “campus atmosphere” is a great idea for the game. What a crock, there is no better college atmosphere every Halloween weekend than in Jax Fla. Think about the “little people” sometime, moving this game would effect many.
Here is the deal and the prediction….This game will be played in Jax for the 20 years! Sorry Jeff, looks like you will have to drive down here every year. Nice try however.
Go Dawgs!
Tbone
September 23rd, 2009
9:36 am
This decision should not be difficult. The answer is simple…..a four year rotation….home and home in respective stadiums….and alternating neutral sites in Ga Dome and J’ville. This is easily the smart call. All the drunks that argue “tradition” to protect their orgie of a 4 day drunkeness should just “get over it”.
ROLL TIDE
September 23rd, 2009
9:37 am
Georgia needs to quit whining and play football. If you are a good enough team it should not matter where you play.
Chris
September 23rd, 2009
9:37 am
Oh so now it’s a road game to you dawg fans. How come you didn;t include that in richt’s road record then when you were gloating about how well he does on the road. Bwahahaha. Stupid fans. You sure weren’t complaining in the 80’s were you. Whiners!!