Some of UF's administrators will be at The Jacksonville Landing with partygoers during UF-Georgia festivities this weekend, but they probably won't be drinking cocktails.
Instead, they'll be manning the safety areas in the fourth annual Sideline Student Safety Zone in downtown Jacksonville.
The areas offer fans from both sides a refuge from the crowds, providing medical treatment, water, snacks, cell phone chargers and other assistance.
This year, the number of safety zones will double to six. Also, Jacksonville will be picking up the bulk of the tab this year. Last year UF and Jacksonville split the costs.
UF spent about $11,000 last year on hotel rooms for volunteers and overtime pay for University Police Department officers, among other expenses.
Also, as part of an agreement between UF and Jacksonville, there will be 25 percent more police officers stationed at the Landing this year, said David Bowles, director of UF's Recreational Sports.
The agreement stems from safety concerns expressed in a letter from UF President Bernie Machen to Jacksonville Mayor John Peyton.
The safety areas, which will be open on Friday and Saturday, were created after student deaths in 2004 and 2005. One student fell from a parking garage and another was beaten to death after he became separated from his friends.
Bowles said one of the most important functions of the safety areas is to help intoxicated people who, in some cases, can't even operate their cell phones.
