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Georgia Celebration Still On Everyone's Mind

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By MICK ELLIOTT

The Tampa Tribune

Published: July 25, 2008

HOOVER, Ala. - Here is a guaranteed sign your long-heated college football rivalry has found fresh gasoline for the fire: One team celebrates excessively, the other doesn't like it, benches clear, punches are thrown and almost a year later the incident remains alive and sensitive.

Not that anyone on either side of the Georgia-Florida series needs a reminder, but last year's 42-30 victory by the Bulldogs created something of a situation - not to mention one of the most memorable moments of the season.

"Somebody asked me what's the top five questions I have been asked," Georgia senior defensive tackle Jeff Owens said Thursday at the Southeastern Conference preseason football gathering. "No. 1 is about the celebration against Florida."

That is because the Bulldogs scored in the opening quarter to take a 6-0 lead, and they partied like it was graduation day, their entire bench emptying to pile into the end zone and dance.

Penalty flags filled the air. Words were exchanged. There was pushing and shoving. More penalty flags.

Although not pretty, the moment was a landmark event in a series that figured to have produced just about everything possible on the football field.

Now it even has a complete explanation.

"Yeah, I'm going to tell you what happened," Georgia coach Mark Richt said.

"I was a coach desperate to try to get some enthusiasm, and I was willing to take a 15-yard penalty. Now, in hindsight, I shouldn't have done it."

Famous last words: It just seemed like such a good idea at the time.

From Georgia's side, however, there is good reason to suggest its quality hasn't changed. After beating Florida, the Bulldogs went on to run the table, finishing 11-2 and No. 2 in the nation. They return this year as a top pick in the SEC and No. 1 in the nation according to at least two preseason rankings.

From the moment they rubbed Florida's nose in it, the Bulldogs were a different team.

"It did fire us up big-time," Owens said. "I felt like we had our swagger back after that."

Nevertheless, Richt still seems somewhat dazed by the moment he created and the chapter it will take in the series' history.

Georgia, losers in 15 of its last 17 meetings against Florida at the time, was arriving in Jacksonville with little momentum. The Bulldogs came into the game having just squeezed past Vanderbilt after being beaten handily by Tennessee.

During an open date in preparation for Florida, Richt lamented his team's lack of enthusiasm and baited the Bulldogs with a challenge.

"After the first score against Florida, I want you guys to celebrate so hard that the referees throw a flag."

During practice, Richt watched as different players spiked the ball or dunked over goalposts following scores against the scout team. It wasn't what he had in mind.

"Right before we left the hotel to go play Florida, I said, 'No. 1, I'm going to stay true to my word and let you celebrate after the score,'" he said. "'But I don't want some individual to do a little dance. I want it to be a team celebration.'

"I'm thinking 11 guys celebrating. We score the touchdown, then, bang. Guys start leaving the sideline. I was in shock as much as anybody else. But when I saw the exuberance, when I saw the energy, the passion and the fire unleashed that had been dormant in the football team, I got excited. I didn't think that it could probably have turned into a melee."

Richt says he called Florida coach Urban Meyer the next day with an explanation.

Still, the Gators weren't happy. And that hasn't changed.

"Oh yeah, we know they are going to be gunning for us after the celebration," Owens said.

As usual, the two schools meet this year on the first Saturday of November. If you are ready to believe preseason predictions, both teams have a fair chance at arriving undefeated.

Party on.

Reporter Mick Elliott can be reached at (813) 281-2534 or melliott@tampatrib.com.

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