Kirby Smart on college football’s future
Kirby Smart urges leaders to prioritize the game’s future over personal or conference agendas in playoff talks.
The Georgia-Florida football rivalry, formerly known as “The World’s Largest Outdoor Cocktail Party,” will have a new venue in 2026, much to the dismay of Bulldogs’ coach Kirby Smart.
With EverBank Stadium ― the home of the NFL’s Jacksonville Jaguars in Jacksonville, Florida ― set to undergo repairs, the game will be played at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta in 2026 and Raymond James Stadium in Tampa in 2027.
While the game has been played every year in Jacksonville except the 1994 and 1995 seasons, Smart still bitterly remembers the 1995 matchup in Athens. Steve Spurrier’s Gators blew out the Bulldogs 52-17 that season.
“Spurrier is always coming over to me talking, ‘Yeah, I set the record for scoring points.’ Whatever it was. Everybody forgets. That was 7 kickoffs. Guess who the kickoff return guy for Georgia was that year? You’re looking at him,” Smart said on SiriusXM radio on Friday. “Seven kickoff returns in 1 game. And brought them all out.”
Florida built up a 21-0 lead after one quarter, led 28-3 at halftime and 38-17 at the end of the third quarter. Gators quarterback Danny Wuerffel, who threw for 242 yards and five touchdowns, was relieved by backup Eric Kresser in the fourth quarter and proceeded to throw for two touchdown passes.
The Georgia defensive issues against Spurrier’s offense became a bigger issue for Smart.
“The headline picture after the game, it was 10 guys form tackling me at once on kickoff,” Smart said. “It was like boom, boom, boom. I had 7 kickoff returns. Broke a record. That means you’re really bad on…
Source link : https://www.onlineathens.com/story/sports/college/football/2025/05/31/kirby-smart-7-kick-off-returns-florida-georgia-football/83964111007/
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Publish date : 2025-05-31 15:19:00
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