More buzz about Georgia-Florida and Jacksonville
While University of Florida president Bernie Machen apparently is ready to extend the contract to play the Georgia-Florida football game in Jacksonville, Georgia is not at that point, UGA athletics director Damon Evans said Tuesday.
Machen was quoted by the St. Petersburg Times as saying at Florida’s athletics board meeting Monday that he will meet soon with officials in Jacksonville and expects the game to remain there on an annual basis. Machen said he thinks Georgia is “leaning the same way we are” and the parties are “headed toward a meeting of the minds.”
Not so fast, Evans basically replied.
“We haven’t even sat down to have our internal meetings about that yet,” Evans said. “We will do that in the month of July.
“We have not made any decision. . . . It’s not a big surprise that they [Florida officials] want to keep the game there. I guess they were able to come to their decision a lot faster. I just want to look at it hard, and that’s what we’re going to do. And then come out with a decision and move forward.”
At Georgia’s athletics board meetings last month, UGA President Michael Adams said he had “no predisposition” about what to do with the game. But Adams also said: “The thing that has consistently driven me in that equation is all the folks in South Georgia who say this is their best chance to see a live game. . . . There are things we want yet out of the city of Jacksonville that can even the playing field a bit.” Then he said again: “There is no predisposition to doing anything.”
Evans said Tuesday that ”nothing has changed” on Georgia’s stance since his earlier comments that the school is open to all options — keeping the game in Jacksonville, moving it to the campuses or playing it occasionally in the Georgia Dome — after the current Jacksonville contract expires with the 2010 game. But Evans, like Adams, is on record as saying that moving the game from its traditional home in Jacksonville would not be a decision to be made lightly. The game has been played there for all but two years since 1933.
Machen was quoted this week as saying he wants to resolve some security issues with Jacksonville but “hopefully we will be able to sign an extension before the end of the summer.”
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
230 comments Add your comment
Tim Tucker
June 24th, 2009
12:03 pm
FYI: Georgia’s Sept. 19 football game at Arkansas will be televised by ESPN or ESPN2 and kick off at 7:45 p.m., UGA said today. That means two of the Bulldogs’ first three games will be played at night. As previously reported, the Sept. 12 home opener against South Carolina will start at 7 p.m. on ESPN2 and the Sept. 5 season opener at Oklahoma State at 3:30 p.m. on ABC. The SEC’s new television deal with ESPN means more night games than in the past.
mexdawg
June 24th, 2009
12:07 pm
When will you people finally get it.WE NEED THIS GAME IN JAX FOR RECRUITING IN SOUTH GEORGIA AND NORTH FLA.we just signed a guy out of Boles High School in Jax.Would we have gotten him if it were not for the exposer from this game.Do not lose south Georgia to FSU and FLA.There is also the national exposer generated by this game.It is like a bowl game during the season.Tex v Okl is the only thing that comes close.For all you who want to move the game to the dome maybe we can set up big screens and you can go there and watch it on tv,we don’t need you in Jax.WE will sell out our allotment with or without you.I say keep the TRADITION and the GAME in JAX.
Sanford Drive
June 24th, 2009
12:13 pm
KEEP THE GAME IN JAX
Ramblinwreck1378
June 24th, 2009
12:14 pm
Shards: But when it really comes down to it, how many national championships have both teams won since Dodd’s era ended in ‘66? Each of us have 1. So I guess by that standard, counting what really matters, we’re even since ‘66, correct? But if we really want to get gutsy, and look at the overall national cahmpionships, I think we have 4.. How many do y’all have?
Oh, and to stay on topic, keep the game in Jacksonville. That’s where it’s always been, and what makes you think that a change of scenery is going to help the beloved dawgs scrape up a few more W’s? 2 out of your 3 losses last year came at home. If anything, I’d be lobbying to play away from home.
Native Atlantan
June 24th, 2009
12:17 pm
I think the Tech people may want to be concerned with their own team instead of someone else. The ass whipping you took from LSU (who UGA beat at their place by two TD’s) in your home town by 5 TD’s should be a nice “REALITY CHECK” for you. Scoring 5 TD’s on a Willie Martinez D is no big deal…he’s not very good.
Just remember George O’Leary lied on a resume to escape North Avenue to go to Notre Dame. Bobby Ross ran away from the Flats when he got the chance. Your own Bill Curry dumped you for Alabama. With the success of “unusual” offenses like UF and Utah, larger and better programs are much more likely to take chances on a coach like Johnson if he is successful.
But go ahead and stay preoccupied with UGA. It’s the perfect formula for Tech to remain a “stepping stone” program for coaches.
Ramblinwreck1378
June 24th, 2009
12:26 pm
Tech was a stepping stone for coaches like Heisman and Dodd, wasn’t it? And who wouldn’t take jobs at Notre Dame and Alabama? Those are two of the most storied programs in college football. Jim Donnan was a good coach though, I heard.
Native Atlantan
June 24th, 2009
12:36 pm
Actually, the Notre Dame and Bama programs were a little down at the time of those hirings. If Johnson is successful, good luck in keeping him. Yes, Dodd and Heisman were pretty good…having to go back a while for that one.
You may want to be concerned with the teams you have to play this year. The ACC is a pretty good league and there are several teams that are looking for a little “payback”. Tech has not been in that situation too often.
And no, Jim Donnan was not that good…guess that’s why he is still at ESPN, which probably isn’t that bad of a job.
Atlanta Gator
June 24th, 2009
12:37 pm
Larry—The rotation that you suggested eliminates 13,000 seats every time the game is played In Atlanta, meaning that 6,500 fewer UGA season ticket holders will get seats in Atlanta. Each school would get approximately 10,000 tickets for away games, or 32,000 fewer than when the game is played in Jacksonville. Of course, the home fans would get more tickets for the one game in four that is played in the school’s home stadium. Nevertheless the fact remains that two out of the remaining three years UGA fans would receive fewer tickets based on your proposed rotation.
Viewed purely from the perspective of possible game-day advantages, I have nothing against playing the game in Atlanta. It’s a neutral site for the Gator players and coaches (in fact, they play there more often than the Dawgs), but the Georgia Dome does offer limited tailgating potential and Atlanta does not present the same late-October amenities and activities that Jacksonville and the Georgia coast offer.
To each his own. I’m under the impression that the Gators will play the Dawgs anywhere UGA wants . . . every other year. Florida is likely to keep their home games in Jacksonville regardless of what UGA does, but the UGA ticket allocation in Jacksonville will not remain the same if UGA moves their home games to Athens.
SEC
June 24th, 2009
12:43 pm
good point native… Can GT handle the pressure that UGA faces every year. They are no longer the sleeper or goin to be taken lightly. But anyway, i say keep the game in jax. Its tradition and its a vacation at the same time. I do agree with the fact that we should play GT in the dome. The tailgating will be the same and plus the dome sits more people. And i’m not sure Ramblin has any clue what hes talking about. He has been proven wrong on almomst everything he says and then tries something else. Get facts Ramblin
rebeldawg
June 24th, 2009
12:43 pm
hong diddley dawg diddy georgia dome! wofwofwofwofwofwofwofwof!!!
Atlanta Gator
June 24th, 2009
12:44 pm
Realty Check, Southside Dawg & Larry—-The Florida-Georgia game will be played on October 31st this season. Florida plays Mississippi State in Starkville on October 24th. Georgia plays Vanderbilt in Nashville on October 17th, and then has a bye week.
Next question?
Atlanta Gator
June 24th, 2009
12:47 pm
“. . . and that’s all I’m gonna say bout that.” —- Forrest Gump, University of Alabama ‘66.
Mr. B in Jacksonville
June 24th, 2009
12:49 pm
well! who gains the most from playing the game in Jax, first Georgia has to travel for almost 6 hours and add to that travelling cost while Florida is 1.5 h ride, second the game generate huge economic boost to Florida while Georgia dont get any of that, on the contrary our fans get home with empty wallets (negative impact), third it is not a neutral site. if you are talking about tradition we can make new one. make it home and home series it is good for the people of Georgia and its the best for our team. I attended all GA-FL games for the last 15 years and I suggest it has to be a home and home series for the best interest of our state of Georgia and our team
mighty kc
June 24th, 2009
12:49 pm
gawd it’s a crying shame we don’t have cached message board posts from the 1980s (ie, the last decade UGA won an NC) and their feelings on the game in jax then.
to all you turds talking about “agendas”, any UGA fan that wants to move the game out of Jax is just looking to get a better chance to win out of every 2 yrs or 1 of every 4 (depending on which schedule to are pushing). nut up, losers. it’s just whiny. how about ‘tradition’ — where is the agenda there? i’d be embarassed to be a fan/UGA coach/admin during the time when this great tradition was thrown away because your team/coach can’t compete.
it’s such garbage because Dawg fans pump up Richt’s road record, where only 10% of the fans are pup fans (and oh by the way, UGA has a longer trip to those games than the home team!), yet they whine about a 50/50 stadium split because of travel time.
anyone (larry, reality check) that calls it anything other than complete BS whiny-ness is full of sh1t. man up. grow a sack. lane kiffin would do what spurrier did — same thing w/ saban and any other good coach…they’d man up, and say we have to play better. instead UGA fans/coaches make excuses. typical. THAT’S the reason you will continue to get your a$$es handed to you.
good day, mutts. woof woof.
Gatorzone
June 24th, 2009
12:54 pm
Does it really matter where it is played? Last time I checked UGA had the overal winning record against UF. Everything runs in cycles…
Isn’t that what all you Ga fans say? The last 20 have been good for UF, but you owned the Gators before that, and still have the overall record.
What is the problem?
Okefenokee Dawg
June 24th, 2009
12:58 pm
Larry – I do indeed live near the Okefenokee. I have been buying Georgia season tickets since 1970. I would be willing to guess that I have driven to Athens to see more games than 90% of the people who blog on here. If they do move the game from Jacksonville then I will go to Athens and Gainesville – or wherever they move it – to see the game. However that does no change my feeling that the game is going to stay in Jacksonville no matter what is blogged on here. That is not my “motive”, that is how I feel.
SEC
June 24th, 2009
12:59 pm
As a dog fan i have to agree with mighty kc, It would be embarassing to the DAWGS. Although me personally i would love not to have to make that drive every year but i really wouldnt wanna move it. We have owned JAX before why make excuses now. When you go down there its more DAWG fans anyway.
Tech= Dungons & Dragons Greatness
June 24th, 2009
1:01 pm
Rambling Rick you silly bear… i know you have a tattoo because ive got a matching one just like it. Don’t be ashamed about your tramp stamp tattoo that says “Chasing Waterfalls” you big silly dummy. Man i cant wait for our first game/tickle pile…mmmmm i love me some tickle piles. Rick are you the tickle pile cord???? Yeah go tech!!! we whipped yall by 3 points yeah! sprit sprinkles yeah!!! wheewww
Chris
June 24th, 2009
1:05 pm
Ramblin Rick…if you like to talk numbers here’s a few that are actual facts.
1-1 Paul Johnson’s actual record in Athens (He lost there in 2000 as the coach of GSU.)
14-4 That would be Georgia’s record against Tech over the last 18 years. It’s not about Chan Gailey you idiot. He was there for 6 years, not the past 18.
To sum it up, Georgia has had complete and udder domination over Tech for the past 18 years as Florida has had domination over us. You don’t see Georgia fans bragging over and over and over about one little win. Get over it, you won. A blind hog picks up an acorn every now and then. Paul Johnson’s 1 year success will be short lived.
Oh I forgot 45-42, 45-42, 45-42!! You need a life dude.
DAWGNUTZZZZ
June 24th, 2009
1:07 pm
WHAAAAAAAAAAA!!! WE ARE TUCKING OUR TAILS AND RUNNING FROM JAX. ITS NO FAIR WE HAVE TO FLY 1 HOUR TO JAX WHILE UF DRIVES 1.5 HOURS TO THE STADIUM!!! IT IS IN FLORIDA AFTER ALL! THEY GET ALL THE $$$!!
WHAAAAAAAAAAA!!!
WE NEED TO PLAY IT IN GA!!!! I AM TAKING MY BALL AND GOING HOME!
Ramblinwreck1378
June 24th, 2009
1:08 pm
SEC: Just in case your comprehension level is too dull to infer my satirical tone in my latest post: I WAS BEING SARCASTIC. It doensn’t matter how down the Notre Dame and Alabama programs were at the time, the fact remains that they are NOTRE DAME and ALABAMA. Nick Saban, arguably one of the best coaches in America, didn’t seem to mind taking the Alabama job at a time of struggle, nor did Charlie Weis. And Saban indirectly left LSU for Alabama (taking a stint with the Dolphins inbetween), so are you saying that LSU is a stepping stone program? I have my facts straight, and SEC, get off your high horse. The dawgs haven’t won a national championship since ‘80 and with the competitiveness increasing in the SEC, it’s virtually impossible to dream of a perfect season. Oh, and tack on those “nerds” from North Ave at the end of the season. Based upon last season, they’re not too shabby either.
Reality Check
June 24th, 2009
1:12 pm
Atlanta Gator, Mighty KC, etc. I never said the game being in Jax had abything to do with the loss. I only said that It would be nice to have the game within a reasonable driving distance for the 90% of the population base in the state of Georgia to come to. Call it whining but I do not like the game being 60 miles from one campus and 600 miles from the other. There is no impact on the game, this is just fans perspective from a real Georgia fan.
Jax Dawg Fan
June 24th, 2009
1:14 pm
Jacksonville is great collegiate tradition that every major football program wishes they had. Oklahoma and Texas in Dallas is the only other big-time neutral rivalry.
W-H-I-N-I-N-G is painful to hear from our fan base. This neutral site is great for recruiting in South GA and North FL. Imagine moving it to Athens or Atlanta and then losing there. No excuse and it would kill recruiting as we would be sore losers that got what we deserved. Lets restore an old tradition in Jacksonville: W-I-N-N-I-N-G.
SEC
June 24th, 2009
1:15 pm
Again Ramblin i have no idea what you are talking about. I havent said anything about Alabama or Notre Dame soooo….. I also never said anything about a perfect season or a national championship. However, just reading through all the post it seems you really have no clue what you are talking about. That i did say. Do you feel better typing all that for no reason? So did you attend at GT sporting event last year?
gator fan
June 24th, 2009
1:24 pm
Just checked the records on this game. The record, between Florida and Georgia, has Georgia ahead overall. If the majority of these games were played in Jacksonville, then the conclusion must be drawn that the myth of an unfair advantage, due to location, is indeed false. The evidence doesn’t support it. Both teams have equal ticket allotments and the game is allways sold out. So, there is no crowd advantage. While you do lose a home game every other year, it equals out because two halves make a whole. Just because you aren’t as good in recent years don’t run out on tradition, especially a tradition in which you are winning overall.
Sanford Drive
June 24th, 2009
1:30 pm
Agree with gator fan. Keep it in Jacksonville. Who wants to watch football in Atlanta? Nobody. Just ask Tech fans.
EverGator
June 24th, 2009
1:35 pm
This is all smoke and mirrors by Evans….level playing field is pure BS and UGAly will wind up deciding to keep it in Jax .No way they move it anywhere, because UF will not go for it.You want to move the game/Fine, then.You play with yourselves in the Dome and forfeit the game.
EverGator
June 24th, 2009
1:36 pm
Whereve you play, there you lose…
Sanford Drive
June 24th, 2009
1:38 pm
EverGator,
Your writing is so profound.
Mikey
June 24th, 2009
1:39 pm
This is about the 3rd or 4th blog on this same tired old topic.
Next !!!!!!
gg
June 24th, 2009
1:42 pm
Dogs should alternate Ga-Fla between Jacksonville and Atlanta, and on those years the game is in Atlanta, schedule another top opponent, like FSU, or Miami, or Auburn, or S.C. in Jacksonville. That way Ga-Fla levels up for the Dogs, and south Georgia fans still get a game in Jacksonville every year.
Bewildered
June 24th, 2009
1:44 pm
Let’s see……Tailgating in JAX vs no tailgating at the Dome. FL beaches vs Centennial Olympic Park. The Landing vs Underground Atlanta. All the while destroying a nearly century old tradition. Why is there any discussion even going on? It’s a no brainer to leave it in JAX. UGA doesn’t FLY down the morning of the game, so they get plenty of sleep / rest before the short bus ride to the game. Travel is not the problem, and the crowd is always split in half. All of the traditions in this country are fading away because of dumb decisions like potentially moving this game. UGA just needs to play better, ride out this cycle, and they’ll start winning again when the cycle changes. Then this won’t be an issue anymore. FL has never tried to tuck tail and run when they lost the majority of the time, so why is UGA trying to do it now? Man up UGA!
SOUTHSIDE DAWG
June 24th, 2009
1:49 pm
Atlanta gator
Why does the SEC give uf the week off before the UGA all the time. The ole ball coach always had it off. Just look it up. One other question for u why idint the ole ball coach ever play miami during the regular season and why doesnt uf play them EVERY year?
Ramblin Rick
June 24th, 2009
1:50 pm
hi Chris. are all UGAg fans as cool as you? dudette!
Marlon
June 24th, 2009
1:53 pm
http://loserswithsocks.com/2009/06/24/marlon-brown-just-played-you-whitey-2/#comments
Season Ticket Holder
June 24th, 2009
1:54 pm
I would like to see it in Jacksonville once every four years, alternating between both campuses and the Dome. As a season ticket holder, I feel like I get screwed out of a big home game every year by having it in Jacksonville.
Tech= Dungons & Dragons Greatness
June 24th, 2009
1:56 pm
Rick you ready to chase some waterfalls???? Ive got a Paul Johnson Tickle Pile mat that mom made for this football season!! Do you want to come over a christen it with me? We can listen to some robot music and dry hump..mmmm mom isnt home til 5 so we have some time to tickle each other!!!!
From Chris, at 1:05pm...
June 24th, 2009
1:57 pm
…”To sum it up, Georgia has had complete and udder domination over Tech” – would you like some cereal with your “udder”s? Or are you just pointing out that you “suck”? Just another UGA fan showing off that UGA education, or the lack thereof!
Ramblinwreck1378
June 24th, 2009
1:57 pm
SEC, my response regarding Notre Dame and Alabama was in response to Native Atlantan. I’m sorry if you got confused. But yes, I actually have been to many Georgia Tech events this past year. I’m actually a student there, and I bet if I trace just a little bit, I can find someone I know that’s your boss, if you even have a job. Get a real education, douche.
newborn gator
June 24th, 2009
2:14 pm
i have been a dog fan since the 70s i am ashamed of our coward ad who was a crappy wr under dooley and is the same as an ad,get a life keep playing in jacksonville,thw way we are playing they will beat us in jacksonville,athens or that sorry ga dome rickt cannot win the big games so may be we have a weak coach
Bubba J Feepshucker
June 24th, 2009
2:14 pm
GO DWAGS!! WOFF!! WOFF!!
Zoomie
June 24th, 2009
2:16 pm
If you’ve just got to change the venue, go home-and-home. Keep the Georgia Dome out of it.
reservoirDAWG
June 24th, 2009
2:19 pm
Has anyone been assualted and robbed on the Tech campus today?
The Truth
June 24th, 2009
2:19 pm
Hey Tom…I hear that the same thing can be said about your wife…Passionate..but not bright! I know most of the guys that dated her at Tech feel that way!
Army Vet
June 24th, 2009
2:23 pm
Who freakin cares? Most of the people on these blogs need to get a life! Your entire life revolves around UGA football. How pathetic. As a UGA graduate (Class of 81) and someone who tells it like it is, It doesn’t matter where the game is played……Florida will own UGA. UGA will be lucky to win 7 games this year.
Ohio State fan
June 24th, 2009
2:24 pm
There are a lot of whiners in the Georgia fan base.
If you were winning that game at the same rate that Florida was, you’d be ecstatic and never even consider moving it. Florida beats everyone at about that rate . . .
Leave it Jax, it’s a national treasure. Don’t mess with success.
reservoirDAWG
June 24th, 2009
2:36 pm
I agree OSU fan.
SEC
June 24th, 2009
2:42 pm
hahah ahh the backup Tech comment. Actually my boss is a graduate of Vandy and then got his masters at UGA.
Gridiron Gator
June 24th, 2009
3:00 pm
Hey UGA…If it will make you feel better, we’ll play you at SIX FLAGS! It don’t matter! We would love to play you in the Atlanta Gator Dome! Great preparation for when we play in the SECCG! And Athens?? BRING IT!!!
Eric Zeier
June 24th, 2009
3:14 pm
I wish you guys would quit proving me right.