Steve Spurrier sends a jab at Georgia head coach Kirby Smart
GAINESVILLE, Fla. — Former Florida Gators head coach Steve Spurrier might be 78 years old but his wit and humor haven’t aged a day. Spurrier loved golf season almost as much as football season but he coined the phrase “talking season.”
This week, talking season is in full swing with SEC Media Days taking place in Nashville, Tennessee. Tuesday afternoon Georgia Bulldogs head coach Kirby Smart took the stage. Smart avoided most questions about his team’s off-field incidents, something Spurrier would have taken a jab back in his coaching days.
In one of the side rooms, Smart was asked a question by New 4 Jax sports anchor Jamal St. Cyr, who phrased his question about the future of Florida and Georgia playing in Jacksonville as, “The Florida-Georgia game.
“Well, first off, you misspoke about the game,” Smart said. “It’s the Georgia-Florida game. Ok, so, want to clear that up. For us, I really don’t care where the game is played. I want what’s best for the student-athlete and what’s best for our program.”
Steve Spurrier responds in classic fashion
Spurrier wouldn’t let this transgression slide. He took to his Facebook page, posting a picture of him and Smart from a golf tournament.
“Heard Kirby said it was the Georgia-Florida Game today during the SEC Media Day appearance,” The Head Ball Coach wrote. “He might wear a visor, but until he wins 11 out of 12 of the FLORIDA-Georgia game, I think we all know what it’s really called.”
As the Florida Gators’ head coach, Spurrier dominated the Georgia Bulldogs. He went 11-1 against Georgia during his time as Florida’s head coach. Throughout his career, Spurrier was 17-9 against Georgia, including 4-4 while at South Carolina.
1963-66 QB Florida: 2-2
1978 QB Coach Florida: 0-1
1979 QB Coach Georgia Tech: 0-1
1990-2001 Head Coach Florida: 11-1
2005-2012 Head Coach South Carolina: 4-4
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Florida-Georgia extend contract with city of Jacksonville
The Florida Gators and Georgia Bulldogs announced in May that the schools have exercised the option to play their annual rivalry game in Jacksonville during the 2024 and 2025 seasons.
The most recent game agreement, which secured the matchup in Jacksonville through the 2023 season, outlined an option to extend the rivalry game in the neutral site the following two seasons as long as the two schools notified the City of Jacksonville prior to June 30, 2023. The schools are formally notifying the city this week.
“The City of Jacksonville has been a historic host for one of the great rivalry games in all of college football,” Florida Athletics Director Scott Stricklin said. “We are excited to have the game in Jacksonville for another two seasons.”
“We are pleased with the decision to exercise the option that will keep the game in Jacksonville for 2024 and 2025,” said UGA J. Reid Parker Director of Athletics Josh Brooks. “We look forward to discussions that I’m sure will continue over the next couple years exploring all the options for 2026 and beyond. We continue to be appreciative of the working relationship we have with the University of Florida and the City of Jacksonville.”
