UGA Rivalry Review: Florida Gators traditions, rituals and more
January 1,2013; Tampa, FL, USA; South Carolina Gamecocks head coach Steve Spurrier against the Michigan Wolverines during the second half of the 2013 Outback Bowl at Raymond James Stadium. South Carolina Gamecocks defeated the Michigan Wolverines 33-28. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
The Evil Genius
We hate Steve Spurrier.
We hate his prickly critiques. We hate his arrogance.
We hate his domination.
We hate his genius.
We whipped him, but good, as a player, and we hate ourselves for it.
But mostly, we hate that the Head Ball Coach is special. If you poll Georgia fans, the majority admire Steve Spurrier as the greatest college football coach ever.
And while we hate Florida, it’s painful to admit that they are special, too. If you poll Georgia fans, the majority admire Florida’s top to bottom, President to janitor, laser focus on winning.
Florida has never finished out of the top ten in the race for the NACDA Learfield Sports Directors’ Cup – the NCAA Division 1 all sports competition, finishing 3rd, 2nd, 4th, 2nd, 2nd, 2nd the last six years. (Georgia has finished in the top ten eight times since the award’s inception in 1993.)
Except for an occasional loan to Georgia, Florida keeps permanent possession of the Halifax Media Group’s SEC All-Sports title, winning 24 times since the 1987-88 school year, including the last eight. (Georgia has finished first once and second nine times in the last thirteen years with two third and one fifth place finish.)
When it comes to winning, Georgia is very good. If it wasn’t for Florida, Georgia could be the best.
But, the Gators, like the Evil Genius, are special – and we hate them.