A Preview: Florida Gators vs. Georgia Bulldogs
My love for college football grew during a time when
Florida
dominated
Georgia
. A Bulldog win was rare, so rare in fact that many my age didn’t consider Georgia a chief rival of the Gators. There was
FSU
and
Tennessee
and then further down the list, the Dawgs. That’s not to say there wasn’t a rivalry-based hatred in the air for the school we ask if they’d like to bite our asses, but it wasn’t a top thought.
Then two things happened that changed the course of the rivalry. Steve Spurrier left Florida for the NFL and Mark Richt came to Georgia. The two only coached against each other once in the rivalry before Spurrier left for greener (read: money) pastures, a 24-10 win for the Gators. The Bulldogs would only beat the Gators twice in Richt’s first seven seasons, but the games became a battle. From 2002-2006, every game was decided by seven points or less. The rivalry was restored.
And then the 2010 season happened. That sigh you hear is both fanbases letting out a collective ugh. For Florida, a 4-0 start has given way to a three-game slide in which offense has been an afterthought. Although Georgia has won three in a row, the Bulldogs started the season 1-4. Neither program is where they want to be or where they thought they would be. And now they face each other in an extremely important game.
The goal for both is still Atlanta, as surprising as that may sound. Georgia needs some help to get there. A win over Florida and two South Carolina losses would put the Dawgs in good shape. For the Gators, it’s more simple (on paper). Win three straight against Georgia, Vanderbilt, and South Carolina and Florida is the SEC champ. A month ago that may not have seemed like such a lofty goal. Now a win over any of those is in question.
Because this game present a serious “I have absolutely no idea what’s going to happen” moment, I asked some faithful TBG readers (I can’t guarantee they even know of this site’s existence) for their thoughts. Here’s a sample of what I got:
SBNVoodooFive: Just drink. It’ll make the day go faster. I think Addazio might do this every week.
They don’t call it the World’s Largest Outdoor Cocktail Party for nothing. At least they didn’t used to. We all still call it that so that might as well be its name. So pick your favorite drink and enjoy the day. After all, the moniker is telling you to.
The USF blog (quick plug to some good guys, check it out) also points out something most Gator fans wish would just go away, offensive coordinator Steve Addazio. Blame who you want or blame no one. There is one unit struggling more than any other and it’s the offense. Addazio is the offensive coordinator. I’ll let you come up with your own conclusions…for now.
And along those lines…
mhblack: Fire Steve Addazio will be the consensus (again) after this game. I can feel it. UGA looks damn good and UF is spiraling.
There’s another Addazio mention and this time the word “fire” is added. There is a strong feeling from many that Stevie isn’t the right man for the job. That could be true. It sure seems to be. This game will speak volumes to his future with the orange and blue.
Another good point is where both teams are at the moment. Georgia has won three in a row and has scored over 40 points in each game. Granted those games were against the bottom half of the SEC East, but the Bulldogs’ offense is moving the ball and scoring points, something the Gators are struggling to do. Look at the last three or four weeks and it might be easy to pick a winner, then again both of these teams have had their ups and downs in 2010.
John: Gators bounce back with dual quarterbacks.
You’d have to think this is going to be how it is for Florida for the rest of the season. Unless the offense changes and John Brantley suddenly becomes an every down star, Trey Burton will get plenty of snaps as well. Neither is perfect for the offense, but both bring certain talents. Both are probably needed, but the question is how the Gators do it. The players have expressed concerns over making changes within single drives, but if you go drive-by-drive it may be too easy for defenses to recognize what is coming. Whatever happens, if Burton is in, the coaches need to let him throw from time to time. Add that threat.
KaityGator: Hoping for the best, expecting the worst, drinking the most.
If that doesn’t sum up the feelings of many fans of both sides, I don’t know what does. Florida fans are worried, but behind their team 100%. Georgia fans are confident, but aren’t sure which Dawg team they’re going to get. Both hope for a win, a big win against a big rival. Both have that feeling in the pit of their stomachs of the disaster that could befall. Both are ready for the cocktail party.
There you have it. Hope. Fear. Support. Nerves. “Just win” and “just score” turning into “just drink.” To hell with Georgia. Avoid peaches. Grab a cocktail. Enjoy the game. Worry about the offense. Cheer the defense. Dream of touchdowns. Go Gators!