It is one of the biggest rivalry games each year and coach Urban Meyer wants to drink up the whole atmosphere. It's a game Meyer loves and he said after Tuesday's practice every college football fan should see Florida-Georgia at least once.
"This is one of my favorite games to coach in," Meyer said. "I've watched it for many years. It's awesome. I tell people there are certain things you can't miss in college football. You have to come see this game. If you're a college football fan you need to come watch the Florida-Georgia game."
Fifth-year senior wide receiver Andre Caldwell will be playing in his last Florida-Georgia game this weekend. Historically, he has had success in this matchup. Caldwell caught a 57-yard touchdown pass in a 31-24 loss in 2004. Last season in a 21-14 victory, Caldwell scored on a 12-yard run and caught a 40-yard touchdown pass from Chris Leak.
"A lot of us players could have gone to either school and we chose Florida," Caldwell said. "There's a lot of bad blood and a long history of games played between these two teams. It's no different (than Tennessee or Florida State).
"We still don't like either one of them. They don't like us. It's another game in the SEC East trying to get to the SEC championship…I don't think it has to be even in wins and losses just even talent across the board. There are no weaknesses on either team. That's what defines a rivalry."
Florida controls its own destiny and with wins against Georgia, Vanderbilt and South Carolina will advance to the SEC Championship in Atlanta. The Gators have won 15 of their last 17 against Georgia and 17 of the last 23 meetings.
And Caldwell is returning from a knee injury at the right time. Meyer said Caldwell, who caught a team-high six passes for 73 yards and a touchdown in a 45-37 win over Kentucky last week, is still not 100 percent. A sore back limited Caldwell in Tuesday's workout.
"I feel like I'm back," Caldwell said. "I have my swagger back. I'm feeling confident and I'm making plays for this team…(Georgia) plays a lot of man coverage and any person who plays man coverage I'm going to beat them and have big plays to help this team.
"I expect to go out there, play hard and give everything I have. Make a lot of big plays, score some touchdowns and help this team win."
Injury Updates
Meyer said sophomore defensive tackle Brandon Antwine has been hospitalized because of lower back muscle issues but said he expects Antwine to be released late Tuesday… Freshman safety Major Wright (broken thumb) and sophomore wide receiver Riley Cooper (broken finger) each had surgery and attended meetings Tuesday but did not practice. Meyer said he is an optimist and hopes to see Wright and Cooper at practice later this week.
More Meyer Quotes
On Cornelius Ingram switching from quarterback to receiver: "It's about as raw as I've ever seen other than being a very good athlete. He was a raw receiver. No concept of coverages or how to beat man coverage. He had great ball skills but he was very raw. That's not atypical. That's usually what happens."
On his evaluation of Tuesday's practice: "Excellent day today. I mean excellent day. I kind of like the direction this team is headed right now."
On Georgia sophomore quarterback Matthew Stafford: "Stafford has one of the strongest arms I've ever seen. I also think (Andre) Woodson is one of the best anticipation quarterbacks I've ever seen. A lot of experience and they're cut from the same mold. (They are) not very good runners but very good in the pocket and very accurate strong-arm throwers."