Before Florida and Georgia square off on the football field on Saturday in Jacksonville, the two programs’ swimming teams will compete in the pool Friday.
The Bulldogs’ women’s team, the defending NCAA and Southeastern Conference champions, poses a threat and can give the Gators their first two-meet losing streak since Florida lost to Texas A&M and Florida State last November.
UF came up short against California on Oct. 20, and considering Georgia has dominated Florida’s women in the water in recent history — the Gators’ last win against the Bulldogs was in October 2006 — Friday’s meet may be a grudge match seven years in the making.
“We feel like, if nothing else, we’d like to get the weekend started on a good foot,” coach Gregg Troy said. “In our sport, it’s not quite as dramatic whether you win or lose this point in the year. It’s a little bit more of a measuring stick.”
It may be Florida that will be used as the measuring stick Friday. The Bulldogs’ women are 4-0 but have faced only one opponent in the top 20 this season, defeating No. 20 Wisconsin on Oct. 4-5.
Troy said he thinks Georgia is just getting warmed up.
“They’ve got no weaknesses, and they’ve got someone every place,” he said. “They’re deep and they’re strong everywhere. It’s going to be a heads-up competition.”
The Bulldogs men’s team provides another threat, having posted two top times in the country this season. Georgia is also second to Florida in the 800-yard freestyle relay — the Gators’ best relay.
“It gives us a chance to measure where we’re at and what athletes we have and what they’re going to have to do at the end of the year,” Troy said.
Follow Logan McGuire on Twitter @loganjmcguire.
Florida swimmers line up to begin the men’s open 400-meter individual medley during the Pinch A Penny All Florida Invitational on Sept. 28 in the O’Connell Center.
