In a rivalry with as much historical significance as Florida-Georgia, there tends to be little love lost between the two schools. Ever since the Gators and Bulldogs first met in Jacksonville over 100 years ago in 1915, the event formerly known as the “World’s Largest Outdoor Cocktail Party” has spawned all kinds of memorable moments, photo finishes and all-around chaos.
While Georgia leads the all-time series 56-44-2 (or, if you ask Florida fans, 55-44-2), both programs have seen their share of roaring highs, as well as some controversial finishes that are scrutinized to this day.
Here’s a look back at some of the most memorable moments between the Gators and the Bulldogs, and how each one has cemented its place as a staple in the rivalry.
1904: The beginning of an era (or not?)
The exact starting point of the Florida-Georgia rivalry has remained in dispute between the two schools. In 1904, the Georgia Bulldogs played host to the University of Florida Blue and White football team. This squad, which was originally based in Lake City, Florida, served as a predecessor to the Florida Gators football program established in 1906.
While Georgia came away with a resounding 52-0 win against the Blue and White, Florida does not recognize the game as a part of its record between the two schools. Instead, the Gators recognize their first meeting with the Bulldogs as their 1915 meeting in Jacksonville, where UGA came away with another lopsided 37-0 victory.
Nonetheless, Georgia still recognizes the 1904 contest as the first meeting between the two squads.
1966: Steve Spurrier hounded by the Bulldogs
Despite Georgia’s early dominance in the rivalry, Florida started building some momentum of its own in the series. Entering their 1966 contest with UGA, the Gators had won 11 of their last 14 matchups against the Bulldogs. Clocking in at No. 7 in the country with soon-to-be Heisman Trophy winner Steve Spurrier under center, UF was seen as a heavy favorite to take down the unranked Bulldogs.
Instead, Georgia’s defense put together one of its strongest showings of the 1966 season, intercepting Spurrier three times to pull off a stunning 27-10 upset victory. UGA defensive lineman Bill Stanfill, who grew up on a farm with his father, later compared sacking Spurrier to “holding pigs for my dad to castrate.”
In the end, however, Spurrier would get the last laugh. Upon returning to Florida as the “head ball coach” in 1990, he led the Gators to an 11-1 record against the Bulldogs in his tenure at UF.
1980: “Run, Lindsay, run!”
Seeking its first national championship since 1942, then-No. 2 Georgia’s undefeated season was in jeopardy against No. 20 Florida. With less than a minute to go in the contest, UF squeaked ahead to take a 21-20 lead. The Bulldogs needed a miracle to emerge victorious – and they got one from wide receiver Lindsay Scott.
Facing a third-and-long from his own seven-yard line, UGA quarterback Buck Belue scrambled around his own end zone before finding a wide-open Scott at the 25-yard line. From there, the Georgia wideout took off running, leaving Florida’s secondary in the dust en route to a 93-yard touchdown.
The Bulldogs would go on to win the game 26-21, which in turn catapulted them to No. 1 in the country.
2002: Florida avenges its championship ghosts of the past
After decades of seeing Georgia play spoiler for their potential championship ambitions, the Gators finally turned the tables on the Bulldogs in 2002. UGA entered the contest ranked at No. 5 in the country, while Florida entered the game with a 5-3 record, struggling in its first season following Spurrier’s departure to the NFL.
While fans and analysts alike expected the game to be nothing more than a pit stop in Georgia’s road to a championship, the Gators went on to shock the college football world with a stunning 20-13 victory. UF quarterback Rex Grossman, who was named an SEC Football Legend on Oct. 22, threw for 339 yards and two touchdowns.
2007-08: The “Gator Stomp” and the extra timeouts
The Urban Meyer years at Florida would prove to be some of the more fierce ones in the Florida-Georgia rivalry. In 2007, the Gators were fresh off of a national championship victory and had won 15 of their last 17 against the Bulldogs. Then-UGA head coach Mark Richt gave his team rather unconventional instructions after the Bulldogs scored their first touchdown of the game: giving the nod for the sideline to mob the end zone and excessively celebrate until there were flags everywhere.
It appeared that Richt’s motivation tactics worked. As soon as UGA running back Knowshon Moreno found the end zone to take a 7-0 lead, Georgia’s sideline emptied out as players poured onto the field in what is now widely seen as one of the most famous (or infamous) celebrations in college football history. The Bulldogs would go on to secure a 42-30 upset victory, marking the first time in the history of the rivalry that both teams scored 30 or more points.
Needless to say, Florida had a newfound chip on its shoulder coming into 2008’s rematch. UF entered the game ranked at No. 5 in the country, while UGA clocked in at No. 8. Add in the lingering effects of the “Gator Stomp,” and tensions were already at an all-time high between the two schools.
Meyer publicly denied that the “Gator Stomp” incident would have any influence on his play calling or approach to the game. However, that stance was all but reversed in the waning moments of the matchup in 2008. As Florida held onto a 49-10 lead with less than a minute to go, Meyer elected to burn his two remaining timeouts, seemingly to suck the life out the Bulldogs to the very last second.
Contact Jack Meyer at jmeyer@alligator.org. Follow him on X @jackmeyerUF.
Jack Meyer is a fourth-year journalism major and the Assistant Sports Editor for The Alligator. In his free time, he enjoys reviewing music, spending time with friends, playing video games and going to the gym.
