Aaron Murray breaks down recruiting change in Georgia vs Florida rivalry game

Is playing the annual Florida vs. Georgia football game in neutral site the best thing for both programs and the game itself? According to former Bulldogs quarterback Aaron Murray, the game should be sent back to the campuses.

Murray recently joined the DawgsHQ YouTube channel to discuss the game. Particularly the recruiting side of it. Most teams try to host recruits at home games, and though Athens isn’t too far away from Jacksonville (where the Georgia-Florida game is played every year), Georgia usually won’t bring recruits to that game since it’s not on campus. However, when asked if it was difficult to get to that game as a recruit, Murray answered:

“It didn’t really matter. I mean, if at the end of the day, you’re going to be able to go to the games that you want essentially go to,” he said. “And lucky enough, obviously being in the SEC for both these schools, there’s plenty of great home games.”

Murray then added that the home atmospheres are the better, more fun ones in general.

“Georgia always has great home games. Florida always has great home games. And I would think, as a recruit, you’re more excited about getting on campus, about getting in the home stadium. About seeing the facilities, about what the life is like before the game, especially after the game. The excitement of going out, you know, especially if it’s a win.”

So Murray thinks not having that game on the home schedule is a mistake, since those are the games recruits most want to go to.

“So, to me, as a recruit, would I have wanted to go to Georgia vs. Florida there in Jacksonville? Yeah, probably. But, for me, I probably still would prefer to go to a game that is actually on campus, in your home stadium, getting a better feel of exactly what it’s going to be like to be a football player at that university.”

Lastly, Aaron Murray finished by singing the praises of Georgia’s beautiful campus .

“You look at Georgia right now, obviously we know they have a lot going for them. Especially after a national championship. Incredible facilities, I would say some of the best facilities in the country. The campus is immaculate, it’s beautiful. Downtown is some of the most fun you’ll have across the country too for pre and post-activity. So yeah, anytime you get a kid on campus to see it, to feel it, to be a part of it, that’s priority one. I would not be sad by any means if the game does get to a point where it is in Gainesville one year, in Athens the next, and back and forth.”