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USA Today Sports Media Group
USA Today Sports Media Group
Sport
James Morgan

Georgia DB on Florida rivalry: ‘This is old-fashioned hate’

Georgia Bulldogs junior defensive back Javon Bullard knows what it is like to play in a rivalry game. Georgia has a lot of rivalries. Bullard is one of Georgia’s defensive tone setters.

Georgia leads the all-time series 55-44-2 against Florida. The Florida-Georgia game is nicknamed as the World’s Largest Outdoor Cocktail Party and is typically played annually at a neutral site in Jacksonville, Florida.

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Georgia and Florida remain rivals year-round with the winner of the Florida-Georgia game earning bragging rights until next October. Both fan bases love to see their rival lose or fail.

Javon Bullard describes the Georgia-Florida rivalry with a similar nickname of the Georgia-Georgia Tech rivalry, which is known as Clean, Old-Fashioned Hate. The Georgia-Georgia Tech rivalry has been pretty one-sided in recent memory. Contrarily, the Georgia-Florida rivalry has seen a lot swings in the balance of power in the past couple decades.

This is old-fashioned hate. Georgia vs. Florida is one of the biggest rivalries ever. 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.

Georgia starting quarterback Carson Beck is one of many Georgia players to play their high school football in Florida. That is part of the reason why the Georgia-Florida game means more to so many players.

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. We have to do whatever we can to come out with the victory.

Javon Bullard, who played high school football at Baldwin High School in Milledgeville, Georgia, has 20 tackles and three pass deflections this season. He missed some action with an ankle injury, but feels good now.

This year, physically I’ve been banged up pretty good, but now I feel like I’m back. The coaches think I’m back. I’m ready to attack.

Georgia needs Bullard to have a big game against Florida. The Georgia defense needs to step up with star tight end Brock Bowers out over the next several weeks.

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