During football season, St. Simons Island feels like Athens-by-the-Sea. The island population includes quite a few University of Georgia alumni and many families have students currently enrolled at the college. This is also a favorite spot for families from Athens to visit the beach, so the ties here are strong. Because of our close proximity to Jacksonville, the site of the rivalry game dubbed in the 1950s by The Florida Times-Union sports editor Bill Kastelz as “The World’s Largest Outdoor Cocktail Party,” it is no more apparent than during Georgia-Florida Weekend. So, what’s this Bulldogs versus Gators rivalry all about?
Jack Davis
Amusingly enough, even the rivalry’s beginning is a dispute! UGA says it originated in 1904 with Georgia winning the first game 52-0 in Lake City (a predecessor to the current university). Florida argues that it didn’t begin until the “true” university teams met in 1915 (after Florida’s public universities were consolidated to create the University of Florida in Gainesville). In any case, from either date until 1920, Georgia was the victor on every occasion the teams met. In fact, the Gators didn’t even get on the scoreboard until the team’s sixth (according to UGA) meeting, where they still lost 32-9. Florida’s first win came in 1928. The rivalry game has been played in Jacksonville since 1933, with the exception of the games played on the school’s campuses in 1994 (Florida beat visiting Georgia 52-14 at The Swamp) and 1995 (The Bulldogs lost between the hedges 52-17). The “Okefenokee Oar,” 10-foot long oar carved from a 1,000 year-old cypress tree from the swamp that borders the states is awarded to the winning school. Over the years and decades, the teams have jockeyed positions of dominance, with the worst loss recorded being a 75-0 drubbing of the Gators by a top-ranked Georgia team in 1942. Using UGA’s numbers, the rivalry currently stands with the Dawgs leading the series 55-44-2. The rivalry is so unique that it even has its own Hall of Fame, established in 1995 by the Jacksonville Sports and Entertainment Office. The 2022 inductees included South Georgia’s own Champ Bailey. Gator hatin’ is more than a century-long tradition!
Keep It Clean
The back-to-back National Champion Georgia Bulldogs will take on the hated Gators of the University of Florida in Jacksonville at 3:30 p.m. on Saturday, October 28. The masses will begin descending on the Golden Isles in the days that precede the gridiron match to meet with friends and family to make the pilgrimage to EverBank Stadium. The Friday before the game is when East Beach on St. Simons Island becomes known as “Frat Beach.” This annual gathering of students, alumni, and other revelers, often in costume, has drawn crowds in excess of 6,000 to the beach party in prior years. Police and public safety presence is also out in full force to make sure that both visitors and residents remain safe while enjoying good, clean fun. We welcome the time-honored tradition which fills the island with college students and Bulldog faithful and celebrate with special events and sales at various locations around the island. It also means a BIG clean-up after the crowd dissipates too, however. We have some simple guidelines for enjoying the weekend:
Ed Hose
1) Be prepared. TO WAIT! Lines at the stores and restaurants are usually long, so be patient. If you can plan ahead by making reservations, grabbing carry-out or ordering catering, or doing your shopping early, that is best! Also, hydrate!
2) Stay off the roads. This is advice for locals who want to avoid the heavier traffic of this crowded island weekend. It also pertains to the walkers and partygoers. Keep to the sidewalk whenever possible, please. Drunk revelers meandering across the roadways are dangerous for everyone.
3) Golf carts. We prefer you just don’t, but if you do, please follow the rules about only driving where they’re allowed and pull over to let cars pass when they’re behind you.
4) Clean up after yourself! If you take stuff down to the beach, take it off the beach with you too. Trash bins are located at beach access points. Don’t litter in parking lots or other public areas. We KNOW your mama taught you better!
Everyone is invited to pitch in Saturday morning at the 16th Annual GA/FL Football Weekend Community Beach Sweep organized by Keep Golden Isles Beautiful. Volunteers are always needed for this day-after Frat Beach litter clean-up. The 7:30 a.m. sweep begins with volunteers receiving supplies and instructions at the Old Coast Guard Station Beach Access crossover and covers the entire beach area and all 41 beach access points. More hands make the work lighter. All ages can participate and bags and gloves are provided. It's a terrific way for your youth group, church, book club, work team, or family to get involved. We love seeing the UGA student groups who volunteer that morning before they head down to the game! For more information, visit kgib.org/events.
Get In the Game
If you’re here in the Golden Isles for a game day weekend, get off the sidelines and have some fun. We staged our football photo shoot at Catch 228 in Redfern Village because it’s a perfect place to watch the gridiron antics no matter whether you’re watching college or pro ball. Their make-your-own Bloody Mary bar is a huge hit on Sundays and they serve up some great specials during the games too. Platters of raw and steamed oysters and pitchers of cold beer will be ready and waiting for you!
Other popular spots to watch college games are Gnat’s Landing, just a hop-skip-and-a-jump from Catch 228 in Redfern Village, Brogen’s North on the north end of the island, and Brogen’s South in the Village by the pier. For grab-and-go deliciousness, stock up with ready-made or take-and-bake selections at Three Little Birds, Fly-In, Fly-Out and pick up your cold beverages and gourmet goodies at nearby Parker’s. If it’s pizza you crave, place your orders early at Sal’s Neighborhood Pizzeria because they get busy!
For those who prefer to escape the crowds, head up to Darien to Oaks on the River for a delicious meal with a stunning view of the river in the Oak Room, where they’re mixing special Georgia Bulldog Cocktails, the Bulldog Blitz and Sic ‘Em Sangria. While you’re there, make a reservation for a weekend away that includes a visit to their spa! You’ll also want to make a quick trip to Sugar Marsh Cottage in Franklin Square while you’re there to grab some Fleur de Sel Toffee or their other mouthwatering chocolate creations and handcrafted specialty confections. Indulge yourself or take them home for gifts and holiday treats.
Pack light and grab some new game day attire from Maggie’s or any of the boutiques we featured here in our fashion photos. As you can see, there’s plenty of red and black to be found! Shops like Shackelford, Yellow Canary, Tonya’s Treasures, and others around the island also have wide variety of apparel and accessories that will help you show off your team spirit from head to toe. Men, don’t feel left out, Bullington’s can suit you up in style too! And don’t forget to drop by Island Dog for the most paw-some selection of UGA collars, bandanas, shirts and other gear for your pup. (You know the cat won’t wear it!)
Remember it’s not ALL about the game though! Take some time to walk on the beach and catch the sunrise or enjoy the sunset with a scoop of ice cream at the pier. Make the climb to the top of the lighthouse, take in some history at the World War II Home Front Museum, a visit to Fort Frederica, or a walk through the cemetery at Christ Church Frederica. Hop on one of the trolleys for a guided tour. You’ll find dophin cruises and shrimp boat adventures available too. Visit the art galleries. Catch a local theatre production. if you have the time. If you don’t, no worries, just take a page from the Georgia Bulldawgs' playbook and come back to take it all.
