Why the Florida-Georgia rivalry game won't leave Jacksonville permanently

Whenever the contract for a Florida-Georgia football rivalry game expires, speculation begins in the media about whether Jacksonville could lose one of its most economically influential sporting events.

Aside from the 2026 and 27 seasons, in which EverBank Stadium's redevelopment warrants moving the game to Atlanta and Tampa, respectively, there's a strong chance that the Florida-Georgia spectacle will disappear in Jacksonville at any time in the next 30 years .

Why? It's a combination of stadium revenue money and political motivation, two factors that favor Jacksonville from an incentive standpoint and that potentially competing cities may have a hard time competing with.

The Florida and Georgia governments have long known that they have a bargain deal with Jacksonville in terms of revenue, which currently totals more than $5 million when taking into account guaranteed payout, ticket revenue and hotel underwriting. /Transportation costs through the city combined.

Now imagine how much more financial incentive the city can offer the two schools if a renovated EverBank Stadium becomes a reality in 2028. The price of keeping Florida and Georgia happy with keeping the game at the 904 will only increase, so we have a The new venue with more premium seating benefits Jacksonville.

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

As Jaguar's owner Shad Khan and president Mark Lamping When they negotiated this deal, 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 been a constant presence in Jacksonville since 1933 – with the exception of two years on campus in 1994-95 for the Gator Bowl renovation – it would be devastating for every politician in the city, an estimated 35 annually Losing millions of dollars in economic impact.

“Nobody wants to be in office and lose this game, especially not the mayor,” the councilman said Matt Carlucci. “Whoever is mayor in 20 years will not give up this game. That's like voting against Social Security in Congress.

“I don’t think the game will go anywhere. We can’t lose that.”

Despite so many college football traditions falling by the wayside, the Florida-Georgia game remains a staple in Northeast Florida. With a new NFL stadium on the horizon, the city has the resources necessary to ensure that one of the crown jewels of Jacksonville sporting events is not lost.

Go ahead, Atlanta, Tampa, Miami, Orlando, do your best if you feel like competing after the Florida-Georgia game.

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

Interesting facts about the Florida-Georgia game

Except Georgia's Carson BeckWho is the other starting quarterback for Jacksonville in the Florida-Georgia game who won in his only start? Answer below.

Can the Gators keep it close?

Except Georgia is regaining control of its rivalry with Florida under a nine-year head coach Kirby SmartThe most discouraging thing for the Gators lately has been 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 difference between Georgia and the Gators since World War II.

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

With Smart threatening to embark on a similar run, one of the big questions heading into Saturday's game is whether Florida can keep up with the No. 2-ranked Bulldogs for an extended period of time.

The combined halftime score of Georgia's last three wins is 78-10, detracting from the entertainment value of the game. The only time UF had a 10-minute lead after quarterback in any of those three contests was last year Graham Mertz threw a 25-yard TD pass Eugene Wilson III on the Gators' first possession.

With Wilson out this week with a lingering hip injury, that's one less key weapon for the UF quarterback DJ Lagway. But the most important factor for the Gators if they hope to stay with Georgia, a 16.5-point favorite, is bolstering a defense that allows 164.3 yards rushing per game (97th nationally).

Florida is a marked improvement over a team that was beaten at home by top-10 opponents Miami and Texas A&M earlier in the season. 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 woefully inconsistent. It's hard to imagine Florida pulling off one of the biggest upsets of all in this rivalry.

Georgia 34, Florida 23.

Trading Cam Robinson was a no-brainer

General Manager of the Jaguars Trent Baalke did the right thing on Tuesday by sending the left tackle Cam Robinson and a conditional 2026 seventh-round pick to the Minnesota Vikings for a conditional '26 pick, which will be a fifth-round pick and more likely a fourth-rounder.

At one point, Robinson was on the bench for the first time last week against the Green Bay Packers and was replaced by Walker LittleHe clearly remained distant from his teammates on the sideline during the 30-27 loss.

During Monday's media availability period, Robinson appeared briefly in the locker room before retreating to the restroom until media time was over and reporters had to leave.

Because Robinson exuded a forbidding vibe, the Jaguars were better off trading him to the Vikings, who need a tackle, especially since the team's 2017 second-round draft pick will be a free agent after this season anyway.

There was no point in Baalke making a better offer to an unhappy camper.

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

Stanton power surge evident in Jacksonville

Long after he left Jacksonville for the big leagues in 2010, he was an outfielder for the New York Yankees Giancarlo Stanton continues to put on a show of force that could well get him to Cooperstown.

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

For the 6-foot-1, 220-pound Stanton, who hit 429 home runs in 15 MLB seasons with the Miami Marlins and Yankees, he delivers the long ball with breathtaking performance in the playoffs.

Stanton is up to 18 postseason home runs in 151 at-bats or one HR every 8.4 at-bats. The only player to even come close to that home run clip in the playoffs is Baby Ruthwho hit a home run every 8.6 at-bats (15 of 129 at-bats).

Over the course of his 132-game career in Jacksonville, Stanton – then the third-best prospect in minor league baseball – hit .263 with 37 home runs and 105 RBI. What also made these numbers impressive was that Stanton did this at ages 19 and 20 before being called up to the Marlins on June 6, 2010.

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

If that happens, the five-time All-Star and 2017 National League MVP would be a fixture for the Baseball Hall of Fame since Stanton doesn't carry the stigma of steroids.

Trivia answer

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 on a LeCount pass in the back of the end zone.

Pigskin forecast

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

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

Interesting facts about the Florida-Georgia game

Can the Gators keep it close?

Trading Cam Robinson was a no-brainer

Stanton power surge evident in Jacksonville

Trivia answer

Pigskin forecast

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