Georgia-Florida rivalry brings out the best in Bulldogs

ATHENS, Ga. — There’s no secret to the significance of the Georgia-Florida rivalry to those around the Bulldogs’ football building. Kirby Smart is from the Peach State, played in the game when he was in school and has an obvious – albeit respectful – sense of contempt for the Gators. His players have picked up on it, and as a result, take this game just as seriously.

“Georgia vs. Florida is one of the biggest rivalries ever,” safety Javon Bullard said. “It was that way before I got here, and it’s going to continue to be that way after I leave. If this game doesn’t get you amped up to play football, I don’t know what will. It’s special.”

Bullard, like Smart, is a native of Georgia. He grew up watching the game and understands the back and forth battles the two teams have had over time. He also knows the sense of pride that comes with each state’s claims of being the country’s best place for producing talented players at a younger level.

“We have a lot of Florida guys on our team. I know it’s special for them as well. Me being a Georgia boy, it’s damn sure special for me,” Bullard added. “We have to do whatever we can to come out with the victory.”

Offensive lineman Sedrick Van Pran isn’t from Georgia but certainly has become familiar with the significance of this game during his time in Athens. He did research to get an understanding. A part of the 2020 team that lost to Florida – thus keeping them out of a fourth straight SEC Championship Game – there was little need to search the Internet anymore.

“I didn’t know much when I first got here. I think being from New Orleans, most of the time what I saw was LSU. But I think when you get here you’re told about Georgia-Florida. You’re told about the game, what it means, the history, the guys that have played in it,” Van Pran said. “I think it’s upon each individual to kind of do their own research.”

“We have the Internet now, so pretty much everything is accessible to you,” he continued. “Going to YouTube, watching those old games, knowing about some of the stats and stuff that Jarvis Jones maybe had in his games when he played here, it’s that level of understanding, but also understanding too when you play in these games having the experience of having played in it, you know that in order to have a successful season you have to go through those guys. Everything that you want to accomplish goes through that team, so I think that’s the biggest thing is just kind of taking what you’re told and then developing your own understanding for it.”

Needless to say, both Bullard and Van Pran understand the significance of a game like this. Their head coach described the game as one of constant energy and momentum swings with the split crowd and an always physical contest. After all, it’s a game always standing between the Bulldogs and a shot at an SEC Championship in Atlanta.

“I mean, it’s an SEC East opponent. We take pride in the East. We own the East. That’s one of the things we talk about before the year starts, we have to dominate the East,” Bullard said. “Florida is in the East. You know coach Smart, the guy played here. It matters to him, this organization matters to him, this University matters to him. Seeing the passion and energy he brings to practice gets us, you know, all excited to play. Like I said, if this game alone doesn’t get you amped up to play, then you’re in the wrong place. 

“I know our guys are excited to play in Jacksonville. An incredible stadium and atmosphere,” Smart added. “Our players love playing in this neutral site game. It’s just kind of different in terms of the start of it, the fans, the split crowd. It seems to be a momentum flow type of game because the team that has momentum is really at home for that moment, but it goes back and forth. It’s a game of momentum swings … It’ll be a physical game, always is, and our kids will be looking forward to it.”