ATHENS, Ga. – GeorgiaIs preparing to play FloridaJacksonville. While coach Kirby Smart has been criticized for keeping the game there in the past, the coach offered an alternative view Tuesday night.
Smart, always hyper-focused on recruiting, has said before he would like to play Florida at home every other year, so he can show off Georgia’s facilities and campus as it plays its biggest rival. That’s why moving the game to Atlanta isn’t on the table; it’s all about a home-and-home series for Smart.
Smart, who played and coached the game almost continuously in Jacksonville ever since 1933, said that he still appreciates the tradition as well as the income it brings in.
“There’s really quality benefits to both,” Smart said. “When it comes down to it, there’s a very, very basic element of everything comes back to, number one money, and number two recruiting and getting good players. I firmly believe that we’ll be able to sign better players by having it as a home-and-home because we’ll have more opportunities to get them to campus. But, I also think there’s a financial factor that factors into that, with having the game there, and being able to make more money for the university, possibly, there. You have to weigh both those and make really good decisions.”
According to school officials, each child makes $3.3 million per year by playing the Jacksonville game. Florida and Georgia share the ticket proceeds. The city of Jacksonville also provides a small guarantee each year.
