floridatimesunion georgia florida 2015

/sports ThursDAY · OcTOber 29, 2015 E

Sports Editor Chet Fussman · (904) 359-4574 · [email protected]

Georgia-Florida 2015

PLAYERS BEHIND THE SCENES

A look at the people off the field who help make Georgia-Florida one of the most legendary games in college football.

E-2 THE TIMES-UNION · THURSDAY, OCTOBER 29, 2015 georgia-florida 2015

The Georgia-Florida

game will be played

at EverBank Field in

Jacksonville for the 80th time

on Saturday, a chapter of

football history for both teams

and for the city that began

in 1933.

The series in Jacksonville

was interrupted only twice,

by World War II in 1943; and

when the game went to the

respective campuses in 1994

and 1995 because of stadium

construction.

Anyone who has been to only

one game in the rivalry knows

it’s more than football. It’s a

festive four-day period that

begins on Wednesday with

the opening of RV City and

continues at the Jacksonville

Landing many hours after the

final play on Saturday night.

But what happens behind

the scenes to make the game

possible? How many moving

parts make it possible for more

than 80,000 fans to party,

watch one of college football’s

most storied rivalries, party

some more, then leave safely?

Times-Union college

football writer Garry Smits

interviewed representatives

of the two schools, the city,

SMG, the Jacksonville Sheriff’s

Office, the Jacksonville Fire

and Rescue Department, the

Jaguars, CBS and more than 20

other people with vital roles in

staging the game — many of

whom don’t get to see a down

of football.

Their main motivations are

a love of college football and a

strong sense of community.

Their stories fill this section.

The players you probably don’t know

Cathy Butler grew up in Jacksonville, moved away, then returned

after getting married.To that point, she still

had not attended a Geor-gia-Florida game.

But when her husband took her to her first, he pointed out one of the most iconic scenes of the week — RV City.

Fast forward a few years. Butler is not only familiar with the inner workings of Georgia-Florida, but as an event specialist for the city’s Sports and Enter-tainment office for the last nine years, she runs the gathering of recreational vehicles across the street from EverBank Field, su-pervising the RVs and the fans that come in on them from Wednesday to the day after the game.

Butler continues to be

pleased with the over-all good conduct of that many Gators and Bulldogs fans on the same piece of ground for four days.

“They’re very competi-tive about how they deco-rate their RVs, but they all get along,” she said. “We have police on site but it’s like a big family. We see the same RVers every year

and it’s a fun party. They have a lot of camaraderie with each other.”

The RVs begin lining up on Monday at 8 a.m., and are admitted to their spac-es in Lot E on Wednesday at 8 a.m., on a first-come, first-served basis. The Jacksonville Sheriff’s Of-fice assigns the spaces.

The cost is $125 per day.

After getting their space and parking, the RVers, as Butler calls them, begin setting up their home away from home.

“They bring furniture, TVs, satellite dishes, bars, grills ... anything you can

think of,” Butler said.They also begin deco-

rating their vehicles for Friday’s “Show Your True Colors,” contest for the most tricked-out RV. There are two other categories this year: best

decorated RVs for Georgia and Florida colors, and best decorated RV with a Halloween theme.

The city provides live entertainment on Thurs-day and Friday night at the “RV City Stage.”

SHE’S BEHIND THE WHEELSRV City comes alive early under Butler’s watch

“They’re very competitive about how they decorate their RVs, but they all get along,” — Cathy Butler, events specialist for Jacksonville’s Sports and Entertainment office, who runs RV City

[email protected]

Cathy Butler, and events specialist with the city, helps run the annual RV City during Florida-Georgia weekend.

The Times-Union

Georgia and Florida fans pull into RV City to prepare for the game in 2009.

Mark Clay, Nick Fedewa and a crew of a half-dozen

others paint the grass-covered canvas on which the Georgia-Florida game is played every year.

Clay, the director of the grounds crew for SMG properties, including EverBank Field, and Fedewa, his assistant, supervise the painting of the end zones, 50-yard line and other areas of the field where the logos of the two teams and the SEC appear. The process

requires 250 gallons of paint, applied with equipment called “airless painters.”

Clay said the annual game requires a bit more work than an average Jaguars games.

“There are more different colors involved, and more work in the end zones,” he said.

The colors required are obvious: red and black for Georgia and orange and blue for Florida. The SEC logo requires blue, yellow and white.

The end zones are a thing of beauty — well, at least one end for each fan base.

“Georgia” and “Florida” are spelled out across the entire 53-yard wide expanse of the area where touchdowns are scored and history is made. The letters in Georgia are usually painted red, with a black border; the Florida letters are blue, with an orange border. The background for both names is white.

Clay has worked for the city and SMG for 23 years, after performing a similar function in Miami at Sun Life Stadium. He is a St. Simons Island, Ga., native

but says he’s neutral about the rivalry.

“I’ve got to be,” he said. “I don’t want one side to think we don’t try just as hard for both teams.”

The process usually begins on the Tuesday before the game, and weather permitting, Clay and his crew are finished by the end of Thursday. The Bermuda 419 grass — which is a common strain on golf fairways — is cut to about five-eighths of an inch before the painting begins.

Weather can throw that schedule out of whack. Clay said there have been some years in which rain forced them to finish

painting on the morning of the game.

“There are times when we didn’t think we’d be able to finish,” he said. “But we manage every year.”

Fedewa, who has been working with Clay for 13 years, said the painters feel a bit more pride for Georgia-Florida because there are 20,000 more people in the stadium to view their artwork, and thousands who are there for the first time.

“We take pride in every field we do but Georgia-Florida is a little bit different because different people are coming every year,”

he said. “But it doesn’t matter whether it’s their first game or their 20th. We want every time to be special.

“We really take pride when we hear that kids walk into the stadium and see that field and all the colors for the first time, after their dads have told them it’s going to be a beautiful sight.”

Clay said for this particular job, he feels like an artist.

“We’re taking a blank field and turning it into a masterpiece,” he said. “We think the field looks great before we paint but we want to really make it come to life after that.”

THEY GIVE GAME ITS COLORWeather permitting, it takes about three days — and a lot of paint

[email protected]

Logan Horne (from left), Ben Wolosick, Nick Fedewa, Kevin Watterson and Tom Marsh will stripe, number and paint the blanket of green grass at EverBank Field for the Georgia-Florida game.

“We’re taking a blank field and turning it into a masterpiece.” — Mark Clay, director of the grounds crew for SMG

Photos by [email protected]

A stadium grounds crew worker paints the field ahead of the 2013 game between Florida and Georgia.

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 29, 2015 · THE TIMES-UNION E-3

Mike Kenny wants the 80,000-plus fans at EverBank Field for

the Georgia-Florida game to not only enjoy the game but feel safe — both from a physical and an emotional standpoint.

“There’s a fine line between having the abil-ity to enjoy the college game-day experience and make sure fans and their families feel safe in their surroundings,” said Kenny, director of EverBank Field and event services for SMG, which manages the stadium. “We’ve got a lot of experts with their hands in the pot on this one and they have a lot of experi-ence. We want people who come for the game to feel comfortable, a place where they can come with their sons and daughters.”

Kenny knows that expe-rience well. He grew up a Georgia fan and estimates his father took him to 15 Georgia-Florida games. He counts those experiences as highlights of the rela-tionship he had with his father and wants the same for any family that comes to the game.

Security at the game is a team effort. In addition to the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office and the two private security companies that SMG hires, SAFE and Riv-er City, there are around 600 people involved in the process.

Kenny said another several hundred people employed by SMG guest services are vital to the operation. They are ushers at the gates and con-courses who assist people in finding and getting to their seat but also are “our eyes and ears” as Kenny puts it, spotting trouble

and quickly alerting JSO of SAFE.

Years ago, it used to be a game among fans to figure out the most innovative ways to sneak alcohol into the game. But since it’s free-flowing in the parking lots, SMG not only has most of the tricks figured out to appropriate bottles, flasks, minis and other containers, it also moni-

tors the behavior of fans as they walk up to the gates.

In short, if you appear inebriated, you’re not get-ting into the game.

“We want people in the building who have the capacity to enjoy the game and not ruin it for other fans,” he said. “We would like to have all 83,000 or so fans coherent and having a good time, but not hav-

ing indulged to the point where they create a nega-tive experience for others.”

Kenny doesn’t discuss specifics of the overall security measures, but said SMG, JSO, SAFE, the city of Jacksonville and the two schools are heavily involved in the process.

There’s a reason he or others involved in security will talk only in general

terms: they want to keep those who drink to excess or are inclined to be troublesome guessing.

Generally, there will be undercover officers patrol-ling the parking lots look-ing for under-age drinkers and those who provide alcohol to them. And vari-ous measures will be taken at the gates and inside the stadium to target unpleas-ant situations before they get out of hand.

Kenny said he heard how rowdy the game became in the 1970s, to the point where fans and police brawled on the field after games. He also knows things are better now.

“We can always im-prove,” he said. “We still cannot, at any step on the way, let down our guard. We are not going to do less. We will do more.”

Kenny said the emotion-al aspect to the long-stand-ing rivalry is something for security personnel to consider as the game goes on, and in the aftermath. Blowouts tend to result in one fan base leaving early, hence easing the flow out

of the stadium.When the game is de-

cided in the final minute, everyone leaves at once and half the fans are in a state of jubilation, the other half disappointed. The extremes in emotion could lead to problems.

“The drama of a game adds to the level of aware-ness we need to have,” Kenny said. “In general, if you have both teams doing really well and the outcome of the game determines the outcome of a season, there are a lot more emotional ties to the game. We have to be knowledgeable about that situation and be prepared.”

Kenny said he and his staff feel as much pressure as the two coaching staffs and players.

“Immense pressure,” he said. “We know the fan experience is pivotal in any situation. The home experience is very good right now — 100-inch TVs, cushy couches ... when fans come to EverBank, we have to give them an experience they can’t get at home.”

Though game’s rowdy image has improved, no letting down guard

[email protected]

SAFE event managers Codi McIntyre (from left), Jeff Crytzer and Owen Dresser work to make the Georgia-Florida gameday experience positive for fans of both teams.

[email protected]

Fans make their way through the security gates before the Georgia-Florida game in 2013.

‘EYES AND EARS’ A TEAM OPERATION“We want people who come for the game to feel comfortable, a place where they can come with their sons and daughters.”

— Mike Kenny, director of EverBank Field and event services for SMG

georgia-florida 2015


Susie Chapman some-times has to stifle a chuckle when she’s on

the phone in the Welcome Center across from Ever-Bank Field from Wednes-day through Saturday during the week of the Georgia-Florida game.

Fans call or visit the Welcome Center for all kinds of reasons: they’re lost and need directions, they want tips on good restaurants or they simply ask Chapman and her staff of volunteers, “what is there to do?”

But she actually gets

this request multiple times: does she have any tickets to sell?

“People do think we can do everything and we try our best,” said Chapman, a 26-year employee of the city of Jacksonville and a community relations specialist for the Sports and Entertainment Board. “But that’s not something we can do.”

Other fans have either called or pulled up and asked Chapman where they can park — on the day of the game.

“We can at least direct

them to the private lots,” she said.

The request that stands out the most was when one out-of-town fan walked up to the welcome center after the game and asked where they could catch the big boat to go across the St. Johns River.

“I told them there was a tender at The Jacksonville Landing but there was no big boat,” said Lenore Diaz, who has volunteered at the welcome center for seven years. “The person said, ‘no, I heard there was a cruise ship we could

take.’”But for the most part,

Chapman and her crew of about a half-dozen people on game day can offer help on almost anything else.

The welcome center opens each day at 8 a.m. The staff is armed with directions to any place on the First Coast, sells ice and a small amount of game merchandise, gives away pom-poms and buttons and sometimes simply talks to people.

“It’s a really amazing job,” Chapman said.

On occasion people with minor injuries will stop by, and there is a member of the Jackson-ville Sheriff’s Office and the Fire and Rescue De-partment close at hand.

The welcome center volunteers aren’t finished when the clock hits 0:00 in EverBank Field. Chap-man said a frequent call for help is from fans who have forgotten where they parked their cars.

“The area around the stadium is so large that it’s understandable people who are not from Jack-

sonville get confused on where they parked,” she said. “We’ll help them find their car.”

Diaz said Georgia and Florida fans “are the best.”

“They’re not obnoxious, just fans of a rivalry get-ting together and meeting in the middle,” she said. “I hear how bad it gets with other college rivalries but not this one. I’ve seen Florida fans invite Georgia fans to their RV to eat, or to their tailgate party, and the other way around. They really are good people.”

A SMILE, DIRECTIONS ... ... Chapman can even help find your car, just don’t ask her for tickets

“People do think we can do everything and we try our best.” — Susie Chapman, Welcome Center supervisor

“They’re not obnoxious, just fans of a rivalry getting together and meeting in the middle.” — Lenore Diaz, volunteer


Susie Chapman (left), a special events coordinator with the city, runs the welcome center during Georgia-Florida weekend and Lenore Diaz (right) works as a volunteer for the event.

The group is called the Unified Command.

The first word is exactly why an executive committee involving the Mayor’s office, the Office of Emergency Prepared-ness, the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office and the Jacksonville Fire and Res-cue Department is able to coordinate their respective skills and resources to do the job of moving more than 80,000 people into EverBank Field and its sur-rounding parking lots for the Georgia-Florida game, then out again safely.

“A lot of professional folks have been doing this for a number of years,” said Charles Moreland,

the director of community affairs for Mayor Lenny Curry. “They could do a lot of this with their eyes closed. There are always a few tweaks here and there but the goal, and what is the Mayor’s desire, is to provide a safe environment for everyone and that the schools have a wonderful experience.”

The other members of the group are JFRD direc-tor and chief Kurtis Wil-son, director of Emergency Preparedness Steven Woo-dard and JSO chief of com-munity affairs and special events Robert Connor. As is the case in most years, they’ve been meeting with each other and their re-

spective departments since August — much like a col-lege football coaching staff begins their preparation for an upcoming season.

“We put together a plan that tries to address every-thing and brings everyone to the table,” Connor said. “We [JSO] have a great relationship with JFRD and we work great together on game day.”

The Unified Command, which also works on Jaguar games and events such as the Air Show and the Taxs-layer Bowl, blankets every city, law enforcement and public safety agency. The laundry list of items on their to-do list every Geor-gia-Florida game is about a football field long — traffic patterns, parking, medical aid, law enforcement and the affects of weather.

On game day, more than

1,000 police, firemen, res-cue, public works and em-ployees from an estimated 10-to-12 city agencies are involved.

Since estimates show around 100,000 people are within the footprint of the Unified Command’s area of concern (from the stadium to the Jacksonville Landing, and from the St. Johns River north, past the Sports Complex), it’s a massive job.

However, the inter-agen-cy partnership is credited with making it work.

“I’ve worked in events all over the world and Jacksonville is one of the best cities for planning and hosting major events,” said Woodard, who led security teams at FEMA and the U.S. Secret Service for such diverse functions as Super Bowls, Presiden-

tial inaugurations and UN general assemblies. “It’s because we work together every day.”

Connor said he’s trav-eled to other areas of the country to study how they run large outdoor events and said people there “are astounded we have fire and police sitting down at the same table.”

“Having the system and the relationships we have is more then exception than the rule,” Connor said.

Nothing is perfect. People within the area of the stadium or the Land-ing have died in falls and in fights, usually incidents fueled by alcohol.

But last year, JSO ar-rested only about 20 people on game day, Connor said. Wilson said JFRD person-nel within and outside the stadium made “patient

contacts” with around 300 people and around 60 had to be transported to medi-cal facilities.

“Given 100,000 people, those numbers are ex-tremely small,” Wilson said.

Connor said the vast ma-jority of fans are there for a good time and not to cause JSO any difficulty.

“There are a very small percentage who will overindulge and make poor decisions,” he said.

He also said traffic will never be easy because of the location of the stadium and the quirkiness of some city streets.

“We have a great team of people who have been doing this for a long time, and I think they do a pretty good job of getting people in and out in a timely man-ner,” he said.

TACKLING SAFETY, TRAFFIC, PARKINGWith nearly a dozen agencies involved, it’s a big job with lots of planning

[email protected]

The group of city officials responsible for public safety for the Georgia-Florida game: Charles Moreland (from left), Directory of Community Affairs for the mayor’s office, Chief Robert Connor, Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office of Community Affairs and Special Events, Steven Woodard, Chief of the Emergency Preparedness Division for Jacksonville Fire and Rescue Department, and Kurtis Wilson, Director/Chief JFRD.

“I’ve worked in events all over the world and Jacksonville is one of the best cities for planning and hosting major events.” — Steven Woodard, Chief of Emergency Preparedness for JFRD

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 29, 2015 · THE TIMES-UNION E-5georgia-florida 2015

Temporary seats at sporting events and other activities used

to be simple: plywood laid out over an inexpensive framework.

Mark Reed, who founded a company called Sounds Good Audio in Lansing, Mich., in the 1970s, sup-plied the equipment and technical know-how for enhanced sound sys-tems for large functions. While breaking down his speakers and wires at one outdoor event, he noticed the temporary seats were being bulldozed and de-posited in dump trucks to be hauled to landfills.

He then added another service for his company: Installing quality tempo-rary seats that could then be removed, packed away and used again.

Thus was born SGA Production Services, which has been one of the leading providers of staging, audi-ence risers and seating for large events.

The biggest annual event for SGA is the Georgia-Florida game, where 13,000 temporary seats are installed to bring the con-tracted total from 69,917 for Jaguars games to 82,917 — ensuring each school can sell 40,000 tickets each.

The cost to the city this year is $1.34 million.

“It’s by far the biggest one we do,” said Mindy Meadows, an executive with SGA who travels to Jacksonville each year to supervise the construction of the seats. “It’s also the toughest job for us, given the limited time frame and the enclosed space. You have to build yourself out of the space.”

Meadows said other events SGA has on the horizon are this year’s Orange Bowl at Sun Life

Stadium in Miami and next year’s College Football Playoff championship game at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa.

SGA also has built seat-ing for events as diverse as the Carrier Classic, the Florida vs. Georgetown basketball game held on a Navy ship three years ago, and at WWE wrestling venues.

Meadows said the

two years that SGA has installed the seats at EverBank “have made us a better company.”

“We have sometimes had to figure things out as we go,” she said. “But we’ve been able to take things we learned here and apply them to other jobs.”

Work begins at Ever-Bank Field about three hours after the end of the Jaguars game that’s usu-

ally scheduled two weeks before Georgia-Florida (the Jaguars do not play a home game the week before). The fan venues at each end of the field, such as outdoor tables and the ca-banas, need to be removed. The swimming pools are emptied and by 8 a.m. on Monday, the framework of the seats begin going up.

Meadows said the supervisors are brought to

Jacksonville from Lansing. However, the 100 work-ers needed are all hired locally.

Keith Van Der Leest, the assistant general man-ager for SMG, said about a half-dozen other general contractors are required for the project, such as removing the fan amenities in the end zones, electrical work and the operation of four huge cranes at each

corner of the stadium.This is the 20th Georgia-

Florida game in which temporary seats have been brought into EverBank Field. SGA is in the second year of a five-year contract.

“We have the best team we could get right now,” Van Der Leest said. “I used to lose sleep before the game a few years ago. Now I don’t. I still worry, but I can sleep.”

SEATING? NOT SO LIMITEDThis is the crew — and the company — that help bring in 13,000 more fans

“It’s by far the biggest one we do.” — Mindy Meadows, SGA executive who supervises construction of the extra seats for the game

[email protected]

Members of the rigging crew who are some of the workers setting up the extra bleachers for Saturday’s Georgia-Florida football game are Macie Ilaug (from left), Misha Benjamin, Paul Carrillo Jr., Erik Steele, Matthew Huston and John C. Boyles III.

Georgia and Florida fans arrive to the an-nual game at Ever-

Bank Field in every mode of street transportation possible: cars, buses, taxis, RVs, tricked-out trucks and bikes.

That’s on dry land. Across the stadium, a virtual flotilla of boats begins arriving at the city-owned Metropolitan Park Marina on the Northbank of the St. Johns River two days before the game.

It’s the maritime equivalent to RV City.

“It’s not as many boats as RVs and not quite as active,” said Jim Suber, the city of Jacksonville’s dockmaster. “But it has some action.”

Suber said 75 boats can fit at the marina under normal circumstances. With a process he calls “rafting,” another 60 or so can be accommodated, depending on the size of the boats.

On a normal sunny Sat-urday, perhaps a handful of boats will dock there. For the bigger concerts such as Jimmy Buffett or the Jazz Festival, the ma-rina is three-fourths full.

Like almost any aspect of Georgia-Florida, the impact is much higher. The city opens a reserva-tions page on its website the day after Labor Day ever year, at 10 a.m.

Suber said reservations closed at 10:05 a.m. this year.

“It’s the fastest for the marina to get sold out than I’ve seen in a long, long time,” he said. “We’ve

got a full marina and full rafting. People are still calling every day in case there’s a cancellation.”

The city requires a three-night minimum. Boats begin arriving on Thursday before the game and Friday night, like RV City, is the big party night.

Suber said the split at the marina is usually 60 percent Florida fans.

“We have security there, but everyone is pretty well-behaved,” he said. “They like to decorate their boats, depending on who their team is. It’s a pretty fun atmosphere.”

IT’S RV CITY,BUT ON THE WATER

Reservations for city’s Northbank marina tend to go lightning fast

[email protected]

Capt. Jim Suber, dockmaster for city of Jacksonville, and his crew keep things floating during Georgia-Florida weekend.

“It’s the fastest for the marina to get sold out than I’ve seen in a long, long time.” — Jim Suber, dockmaster for city of Jacksonville

E-6 THE TIMES-UNION · OCTOBER 29, 2015

Senior executive producer

Larry Rosen (left) and engineer

Sam Thompson in

the control room. They

will be operating the giant

video boards during the

Georgia-Florida game on Saturday at EverBank

Field.

[email protected]

Jaguars senior executive video producer Larry Rosen and his game-day crew of around five

dozen technicians, camera opera-tors and computer whizzes don’t have to be overly concerned if a member of the Houston Texans makes a big play against the Jag-uars at EverBank Field.

“We’ll do a replay but it won’t be the same as if one of our guys makes a big play,” said Rosen, who orchestrates the world’s big-gest video board, at more than a football field long (362 feet) and

VIDEO BOARDS GO NEUTRALUnlike Jaguar games, no playing favorites on world’s largest screens

“I’ve got to see and feel the crowd and how they react to what we’re doing.” — Larry Rosen, Jaguars video board producer on working the Georgia-Florida game


Georgia-Florida: By The Numbers

[email protected]

A look at the North end zone of EverBank Field during last season’s game between Florida and Georgia. The stadium is generally split between fans of the two teams.

20 Estimated number of arrests made by the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office at last year’s game.

30 Estimated tons of trash taken from the stadium parking lots and other areas after the game.

60Estimated number of injured people at game last year who had to be taken to a hospital.

[email protected]

The Times-Union

[email protected]

100 Workers required to install the temporary seats. 125 Attendants for the

reserve parking lots around EverBank Field.

130-150 Recreational vehicles that can fit into RV City, depending on the size.

135Number of boats that can be docked at the city marina the weekend of the game.

A by-the-numbers look At the gAme 19 Georgia-Florida games played

since EverBank Stadium renovation completed. 79

Georgia-Florida games played in Jacksonville. 92 Georgia-Florida

games overall (Florida records)

OCTOBER 29, 2015 · THE TIMES-UNION E-7

60 feet high. “If it’s a Jaguar, we show the replay multiple times, from multiple angles and we’ve got the guy’s stats ready to put up there.”

However, Rosen has to run a neutral show for the Georgia-Florida game. With nearly 84,000 fans split evenly between Bull-dogs and Gators, there are a lot of balls in the air, literally and figuratively.

If there are sports fans that will be sensitive to the notion that their team isn’t getting as many

replays and highlights as the other team, it will be the sea of red and black and orange and blue on Saturday.

One play could be a 50-yard pass. Rosen’s team must capture the play from different camera angles, and have stats and infor-mation ready for the quarterback and wide receiver.

On the next play, there could be a sack or an interception by the defense. That means repeating the process within seconds.

“It’s not necessarily harder,” Rosen said. “We just have to work smarter.”

Rosen has experience in play-ing it down the middle. He pro-duced a dozen Army-Navy games in Philadelphia.

Then there’s the prep work, which begins a month before the game. Instead of punching in stats, biographical information and video archives of 47 Jaguars and 47 players from the opponent, Rosen and his crew have to do it for more than 200 Gators and Bulldogs.

He works extensively with the sports information departments at both schools, who he said “are great to us,” with the amount of information they supply.

Rosen’s nerve center is not in a production truck. He’s in a box below the press box, close to field level and near the south end zone, to give him a better angle to see the video board looming over the north end zone. He also said he

needs to be close to the crowd to absorb the emotion and energy for himself.

“That’s 100 percent a part of doing my job,” said Rosen, who came to Jacksonville after 15 years as vice president of broadcasting with the Baltimore Ravens, after working for the Philadelphia Phil-lies as a reporter and producer on the team’s cable broadcasts. “I’ve got to see and feel the crowd, and how they react to what we’re doing. You can’t do that sitting in a closet.”

Last year was the first Georgia-Florida game since the video boards were unveiled in July of 2014, and fans seemed pleased with the quality of the video, the multiple camera angles and the

speed at which Rosen’s crew had replays and highlights up.

What about game’s biggest play, when Gators walk-on holder Michael McNeely took the snap on a fake field goal attempt, then dashed around the right side for a touchdown? Who would expect that?

Rosen said he always has a cam-era on the holder for just those kinds of plays.

“It was a great moment,” he said.

Rosen said the Georgia-Florida game provides all the elements for the kind of production he values.

“The color, the pageantry, the emotion of the players and fans all lend themselves to a great show,” he said.

VIDEO BOARDS GO NEUTRALUnlike Jaguar games, no playing favorites on world’s largest screens

“I’ve got to see and feel the crowd and how they react to what we’re doing.” — Larry Rosen, Jaguars video board producer on working the Georgia-Florida game


Georgia-Florida: By The Numbers

[email protected]

A look at the North end zone of EverBank Field during last season’s game between Florida and Georgia. The stadium is generally split between fans of the two teams.

[email protected]

[email protected]

[email protected]

200

Georgia-Florida games overall (Florida records) 93 Georgia-Florida

games overall (Georgia records) 49-41-2

Georgia lead in the series (Florida records) 50-41-2

Georgia lead in the series (Georgia records)

Approximate number of workers required to clear the trash out of stadium parking lots after the game. 250 Gallons of paint required for

the end zones, midfield and other field markings.

300Number of ushers, ticket takers and other fan service workers in the stadium on game day.

450Estimated number of media credentials issued.

[email protected]

Number of portable toilets.

1,900Estimated number of workers involved with food service on day of the game.

13,000Number of temporary seats installed at EverBank Field.

82,917Available seats at EverBank Field for Georgia-Florida, by contract.

83,004Announced attendance for last year’s 38-20 victory for Florida.

100,000Estimated number of people in the area from EverBank Field to the Jacksonville Landing on game day.

Sources: Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office, Jacksonville Fire and Rescue Department, city of Jacksonville, SMG


The running joke between Athens and Gainesville is that

Greg McGarity has the best won-loss record in the history of the Georgia-Florida game.

“I’ve been very fortu-nate,” he said.

Georgia’s athletic direc-tor began going to the game in Jacksonville in the late 1960s with his father, who worked in the career planning office at UGA and sold advertising for the game program in alternate years.

McGarity attended Geor-gia (where he played on the tennis team in 1973), then went to work in coaching and administration during the time Vince Dooley dominated the Gators. McGarity’s best memory is that Georgia went 15-7 when he was at the game during that time period.

He worked at Georgia until 1992 — when he

accepted a position as as-sociate athletic director at Florida, when Steve Spur-rier began his dominant period over the ’Dogs. Dur-ing that time, Florida was 15-4 against Georgia.

McGarity moved back to Georgia to become the ath-letic director in 2010, and UGA has won three of five since then. That means the school McGarity has attended or worked for has won more than 70 percent of the time.

“It’s an SEC game and they all count the same,” McGarity said. “But when you ride over the [Hart] bridge, see the pageantry in front of you, it does feel different.”

Since returning to Geor-gia, McGarity’s routine the week of the game has been to fly to St. Augustine with the team on Thursday.

The team hotel is at the World Golf Village and McGarity said Thursday

and Friday evenings are a good time to network with boosters.

“For fund-raising, Georgia-Florida week is valuable, absolutely,” he said.

On the day of the game, McGarity said he rises early “to get in a good run,” and gets to the stadium around noon.

“Then I have my game management hat on, walk-ing around, checking on things,” he said. “I go out and check the sections where our fans are going to be sitting and get an idea of what it’s going to be like for them, but all the heavy lifting has been done before game day.”

McGarity then has a brief visit with Bulldogs coach Mark Richt and heads to his box to watch the game.

McGarity has a favorite game from both sides of the field.

“From a Georgia stand-point, like a lot of people, it’s always going to be 1980,” he said of the game won on Lindsay Scott’s 93-yard touchdown pass from Buck Belue.

McGarity also cited the 1976 game, when the ’Dogs rallied from a two-touch-down deficit.

He said his first Georgia-Florida game as a UF administrator in 1992 remains his favorite Gators victory — but also said it was bittersweet.

“Shane Matthews con-nected on a third-down pass and they were able to go into the victory forma-tion,” McGarity said. “But it was so emotional to me because I knew everyone from Georgia. I had this new Gator family and I was pulling for Florida, but knowing all my buddies, friends, and staff people who were on the other sideline. It was tough.”

AD KNOWS BOTH SIDESGeorgia’s McGarity won this game often — especially at Florida

David Tulis Athens (Ga.) Banner-Herald

A large image of a Bulldog provides the background as Greg McGarity is introduced as the University of Georgia athletic director on Aug. 13, 2010, in Athens.

“It’s an SEC game and they all count the same. But when you ride over the [Hart] bridge, see the pageantry in front of you, it does feel different.” — Greg McGarity, Georgia athletic director

Craig Silver is holding out for a hero on the day of the Georgia-Florida

game — and if it’s an un-known player, so much the better.

Silver has produced the CBS telecast of around 25 Georgia-Florida games, by his estimation. He said one of the charms of the rivalry, which also makes for good television, are the number of unexpected game-changing performances from players who might have been known only to the most avid fans of his team.

Along with past Bulldog or Gator stars such as Herschel Walker, Danny Wuerffel, Gene Washington, Tim Tebow and Knowshon More-no, Silver said he can almost always count on plays that define games and careers.

“Good players become he-roes and great players become legends in this game,” Silver said. “The emotion of this ri-valry lends itself to producing those kind of moments.”

Silver said look no further than last year, when Gator placement kick holder and former walk-on Mike McNee-ly scored on a fake field-goal attempt when he ran 21 yards into the end zone and into Georgia-Florida lore.

McNeely reported for work at a Gainesville Publix the next day, where he bagged groceries.

“It’s crazy stuff,” said Silver, who received the National Football Foundation Legacy Award in 2007 and produced the NCAA bas-

ketball tournament game in 1994 when Christian Laettner hit the game-winning shot against Kentucky.

Silver and a CBS produc-tion crew of about 85 people arrive in Jacksonville on Thursday and he and color announcer Gary Danielson begin meeting with coaches and players to collect an archive of interviews to be used during the broadcast. Pre-production graphics and other videos are mapped out.

On the day of the game, Sil-ver is in one of two produc-tion trucks with a director and assistant director. Add-ing technicians, computer ex-perts and other personnel, he said between 35-to-40 people are in both trucks throughout the day.

He said the number of personnel and equipment required for Georgia-Florida exceeds that of any NFL reg-ular-season game CBS airs, with the possible exception of the marquee games that have Jim Nantz and Phil Simms in the broadcast booth.

Silver has produced games involving every SEC rivalry: Alabama-Auburn, Alabama-Tennessee, LSU-Ole Miss and Georgia-Auburn, to name a few. He didn’t want to single any one game out but said Georgia-Florida will always have a different feel.

“It’s the only SEC rivalry and one of only three games in the country [along with Texas-Oklahoma and Army-Navy] not played on the cam-puses every year,” he said. “The stadium is split in half and when someone makes a big play, one side is loud and the other side is quiet. There is a uniqueness to this game that you won’t find anywhere else.”

PRODUCINGMEMORIES

The game makes for good TV and CBS exec knows what to capture

Provided by CBS

CBS’ Craig Silver will produce the Georgia-Florida game again this year. He’s done it for more than two decades.

“Good players become heroes and great players become legends in this game.”

— Craig SilverCoordinating Producer of College Football for CBS Sports

The Golden Isles wasn’t just crowded the week of the

Georgia-Florida game back in the day.

It was hopping. Swing-ing.

Golf tournaments at Jekyll Island. Parties at the beach on St. Simons Island and at the Sea Island Club. Parties at private homes from Ocean Forest back across the Torres Causeway to Brunswick.

And at some point, if you didn’t make it to Em-meline and Hessie, the area’s biggest restaurant on the Fredrica River, you weren’t cool.

“It was Super Bowl week for us,” said Dale Provenzano, the Glynn County (Ga.) com-missioner for District 2 (which includes St. Simons) and the chair-man of the commission. “You could go to Em-meline and Hessie and the restaurant would be full, the bar full — and it was a long bar — and 500 people would be out on the deck danc-ing. College football is the greatest sport going and Georgia-Florida has been an important part of our history and our economy.”

Georgia fans would stay for the week, board around three dozen buses for the trip to Jacksonville, and come back to either celebrate

or drown their sorrows.How important was

the area to Georgia-Florida week? Well, the Isles were part of Larry Munson’s famous radio call when Lindsay Scott sped 93 yards for the winning touchdown to lift Georgia over Florida in the iconic 1980 game.

“Do you know what’s going to happen tonight in St. Simons and Jekyll and all those places where those Dawg peo-ple have $400 condos,” Munson screamed into his mike. “Man, is there gonna be some property destroyed tonight!”

It’s toned down a bit

over the years. Emme-line and Hessie closed on Dec. 31, 1993. The construction of more hotels closer to Jackson-ville have resulted in a migration of Georgia fans who want to stay closer to the stadium.

But the week is still important to the Golden Isles and has been es-timated by the Visitors and Convention Bureau as bringing more than $1 million in economic impact.

“It’s always a boost to the Isles,” said Proven-zano, whose business background is in hotels, restaurants and enter-

tainment. “And it’s not just partying. A lot of private business people use the week to enter-tain clients. It’s still a big deal for us.”

The center of St. Simons Island is still crowded from Thursday to the day of the game. Restaurants, bars and gift shops reap a large percentage of their annual business from Georgia-Florida.

And a link to the past can be found at the popular sports bar Brogen’s — the original bar from Emmeline and Hessie.

However, some of the partying has gotten out of hand in recent years and law enforcement will be cracking down on under-aged drink-ing, traffic violations, disorderly conduct and driving while under the influence.

“Frat Beach,” an unofficial gathering the day before the game of mostly college students at St. Simons Island, will be especially targeted. Provenzano sent a let-ter to Georgia, Georgia Southern, the College of Coastal Georgia and area high schools notifying those officials of the plans.

Provenzano said one of the main problems is high school students skipping school and go-ing to Frat Beach.

“We’re not going to tolerate it,” he said. “As usual, it’s a small minor-ity of people ruining it for everyone else. All we’re going to do is fol-low the law.”

PARTY AT THE GOLDEN ISLES

Game is big part of area’s history — and economy

“College football is the greatest sport going and Georgia-Florida has been an important part of our history and our economy.” — Dale Provenzano, Glynn County (Ga.) commissioner


Glynn County Commissioner Dale Provenzano stands in front of Brogen’s in St. Simons Island’s pier village. The bar and grill is a favorite place on the island for Georgia fans celebrating the annual game against UF.

The flags were flying on the St. Simons Island beach as thousands of Georgia students and fans gathered in 2013 for what has become an annual beach party.


The butterflies start for Jeremy Foley when he hits I-10 East on the

day before the Georgia-Florida game.

“I get that feeling, that my stomach is in knots,” said the University of Flor-ida athletic director, who will see his 40th game in the rivalry on Saturday. “I’ve been doing this and coming to this game for

a long time, and there’s always butterflies.”

Foley’s first game was in 1976, when Georgia rallied to beat the Gators 41-27.

“We lost the SEC title with that game and from that point on, I recognized how big it was,” he said. “We’ve had some special wins and I’ve been blessed to be part of a lot of them, and be part of some losses.

If you’re around a long time, that will happen.”

Foley said he won’t pick out a favorite game.

“Any time the Gators win is my favorite game,” he said.

However, Foley said the Steve Spurrier and Urban Meyer eras, during which the Gators went 17-2 vs. the Bulldogs, remains special.

“The rain game, the performances by guys like Errict Rhett, Timmy [Tebow], Danny [Wuerffel] ... those were great games and great players.”

Foley’s game-day routine is relatively light because he said game manager Chip Howard, an associate AD at Florida, has done a lot of the hard work before the game.

Foley goes for a run along the beach (Florida players and staff stay in Ponte Vedra), then arrives at the stadium at noon. He greets the team when it arrives, visits the press box to mingle with report-ers, checks on the Florida presidents box to make sure all is in order, visits some boosters in their boxes, then goes to his box

to watch the game.“I don’t have a very

tough job on that day,” he said.

Like many people, Foley never takes the scene from the top of the Hart Bridge for granted.

“The stadium, the RVs, the flags, all the color is tremendous to see,” he said. “And it feels the same way every time.”

NEVER GETS OLD FOR UF ADFoley’s first was in 1976 and he still gets nervous well before game time

“Any time the Gators win is my favorite game.” — Jeremy Foley, Florida athletic director

Stephen B. Morton Associated Press

Longtime Gators athletic director Jeremy Foley on the sidelines during last season’s game between Florida and Georgia at EverBank Field.

Chip Howard’s job description the day of the Georgia-Florida

game can be summed in one word: everything.

The University of Flor-ida handles the functions of operating the game in conjunction with SMG and the city of Jacksonville. Howard, UF’s executive associate athletic direc-tor for internal affairs, has a hand in almost every aspect: credentialing, tickets, parking, luxury boxes, the entry points for the teams to enter the stadium, coordinating with game officials and CBS, food vendors and sideline security.

Howard has been the game manager since 2000. He has worked at Florida since 1993.

Florida begins its plan-ning meetings for the game in August, with a staff of around 15 people involved. Howard doesn’t rest easy until opening kickoff.

“Then I can be a fan,” he said. “I’m still carrying a radio and in communica-tion with everyone in case something unforeseen comes up. But the hard

work is done before the game starts. No matter how much work it is, it’s something we look for-ward to and embrace it. It’s fun, really fun. The facility is first class, the rivalry is second to none and it’s an exciting day.”

Howard usually rides to the stadium on game day with Florida athletic direc-tor Jeremy Foley. After making sure transporta-tion of the equipment staff, coaches and administra-tors’ wives is on schedule, Howard takes a walk around EverBank Field’s reserve lots and talks with lot attendants to make sure everyone is on the same page about which passes are good for which lots.

“We also make sure we don’t have a bunch of cars taking up two spaces and in general that everything is flowing smoothly,” he said.

Howard then walks to

the area where the Gator players get off the buses. Barricades and security need to be in place for the Gator Walk and escorts for both teams need to be there well before the players.

After that, it’s up to the press box to check its operations, but Howard said he’s never concerned because Florida senior as-sociate athletic director for football communications Steve McClain usually has matters under control.

Back down the elevator Howard goes, to the field to work with security on the protocol for where the teams warm up and to re-view sideline credentials.

“Sometimes you have issues when the teams run out onto the field,” Howard said. “We’re down there to make sure that doesn’t happen.”

Howard also checks on the areas where the 13,000 temporary seats have been installed.

“Last year we had some obstructed views and we had to find those people other seats,” he said.

Howard said the major snafu since he became the game manager was in 2007 when there were more traffic problems than usual.

“And we couldn’t do anything about the prob-lem because Jeremy and I were stuck in it,” Howard said.

After that, the traffic pattern plans for the 2005 Super Bowl were institut-ed and Howard said things have flowed better.

Howard can finally go to his box a few minutes before kickoff and settle in for some football. He said the games are his reward for a hard day of work.

“There’s nothing like it,” he said. “The rivalry itself, with the stadium split down the middle [between the two sets of fans], at a neutral site, is a great at-mosphere. There’s usually an opportunity to win the SEC East for the winner, which means a little bit more to both sets of fans.”

Howard said his favorite game was in 2008, when the Gators thrashed the Bulldogs 49-10 — a year after Georgia players stormed the field after an opening touchdown.

Howard said one of the reasons for the success of the game is the joint effort by both schools, the city and others.

“We’re not running this by ourselves,” he said. “Everyone does a great job.”

HE’S THE GAME MANAGERAfter months of hard work, Howard doesn’t relax until opening kickoff

Florida’s Chip Howard is involved in nearly every aspect of the game.

“The rivalry itself, with the stadium split down the middle ... is a great atmosphere.” — Chip Howard, UF’s executive associate athletic director for internal affairs

LOCATE IT

Open the door to your dreams! The Classifieds are your best location for information about homes

and apartments.CALL 904.359.4321


Georgia-Florida: Series History

Murray Poole had seen enough.

The veteran sports editor of the Brunswick News figured Georgia was beaten in the 1980 game against Florida. The ’Dogs were trailing 21-20, backed up on their own 7 and quarterback Buck Belue wasn’t exactly the type to lead a quick-strike drive with just over a minute left.

On third-and-11, Poole started walking to the Ga-tor Bowl elevator — which was notoriously slow in those days. When he pushed the button and re-alized the car had to creak and groan from the ground up, he turned back.

“I figured I’d see one more play,” he said.

That play was a Belue to Lindsay Scott pass for 93 yards, still the most iconic moment in the long history of the series.

“Good thing the eleva-tor wasn’t there yet,” Poole said.

That game was the 19th consecutive Georgia-Flor-ida game that Poole had seen, either as a student at Georgia or with the Brunswick News. He has watched 34 more since, never missing a game.

Poole, 72, the editor of Bulldawg Illustrated since

he retired in 2005, will be in the press box at Ever-Bank Field on Saturday for his 54th Georgia-Florida game in a row.

Want to get someone riled up? Tell Poole you think the game should be

moved to the campuses or shared with Atlanta.

“It’s the greatest game in college football,” he said. “Why would anyone ever want to move it?”

Poole played baseball at Moultrie High School and

Norman Junior College be-fore transferring to Geor-gia in 1962. He saw his first game from the stands and watched the Gators win 23-15, the Bulldogs’ seventh loss in eight seasons.

“Those were the lean

years,” Poole said. “Then a couple of years later Vince Dooley got there [as the Georgia coach] and things got better.”

The Brunswick News didn’t have a Sunday edition during the years

Poole worked there, and published in the after-noons. His routine was to go to the locker rooms for quotes, come back to the press box to organize his notes and the game statis-tics, then drive home.

Poole would write a game story and a column on a Smith and Corona typewriter either Sunday or Monday morning.

Poole said his second-favorite moment in the series was the reverse to Georgia tight end Rich-ard Appleby, who pulled up and threw an 80-yard touchdown pass to Gene Washington in 1975 (Geor-gia won 10-7). He said he also has strong recollec-tions of Georgia’s 99-yard drive in 1981 and Herschel Walker’s 1-yard TD leap in a 26-21 victory.

Poole said the atmo-sphere around the stadium is about the same as when he first began going to the game, “but a little less hectic.”

“The stadium was more cozy but the tailgating around the bridges and the parking lots is about the same. The fans, I think, have gotten a little cruel to each other. They didn’t like each other back then but there was still some respect.”

ALWAYS IN CIRCULATIONBrunswick, Ga., editor will be in press box to watch 54th game in a row

“It’s the greatest game in college football. Why would anyone ever want to move it?” — Murray Poole, former sports editor of the Brunswick (Ga.) News

[email protected]

Murray Poole, in front of one of his walls of pictures of Sanford Stadium and himself with University of Georgia greats.

events scheduleThursDay5:30 p.m.: Jacksonville Bulldog Club meets at the Doubletree, 1201 Riverplace Blvd. Social hour followed by meeting at 6:30 p.m.7-11 p.m.: Live entertainment on RV City stage.

FriDay11:30 a.m.: Georgia-Florida Hall of Fame Luncheon at EverBank Field, West Club. Inductees are Richard Seymour and Rex Robinson (Georgia) and Chris Leak and Jabar Gaffney (Florida). Reserved seating is $60. For tickets, call (904) 630-7244.4-5 p.m.: “Show Your True Colors” campground decorating contest, RV City.5-11 p.m.: Tailgate at Metropolitan Park with the band Perry, Corey Smith, Jon Langston, Sister Hazel. Tickets available at any Jacksonville Mellow Mushroom location.6 p.m.: Doors open for Florida/Georgia Pep Rally Dance Party, Jacksonville Landing.7-11 p.m.: Live entertainment on RV City stage.8 p.m.-2 a.m.: Live music on the Coca-Cola Riverfront Stage, Jacksonville Landing.

saTurDay10 a.m.: Touchdown Showdown, a free interactive attraction outside EverBank Field south end zone. Games and activities, jumbo screens, merchandise sales, food and beverage.11 a.m.: Georgia BBQ tailgate party at Metropolitan Park with UGa pep band.11:30 a.m.- 1 hour post-game: JTA Game Day shuttle service. Locations: Skyway Convention Center (across from the Prime Osborn Convention Center); Kings Avenue Parking Garage, Bay Street (between Laura and Hogan Streets), Southbank hotels. Roundtrip fare is $7. Southside (JTB & Philips Hwy.), Beaches (Wingate Park, 501 Penman Road). Roundtrip $12.1:30 p.m.: Gates open at EverBank Field.3:30 p.m.: Georgia-Florida kickoff.7 p.m.-2 a.m.: Live music on the Coca-Cola Riverfront stage, Jacksonville Landing.

For updates and added listings, go to jacksonville.com.

Year Site Result

2014 Jacksonville Florida 38, Georgia 20

2013 Jacksonville Georgia 23, Florida 20


















1995 Athens, Ga. Florida 52, Georgia 17

1994 Gainesville Florida 52, Georgia 14

























1969 Jacksonville Tie 13-13


























1943 No game











1932 Athens, Ga. Georgia 33, Florida 12

1931 Gainesville Georgia 33, Florida 6

1930 Savannah, Ga. Tie 0-0


1928 Savannah, Ga. Florida 26, Georgia 6




1919 Tampa Georgia 16, Florida 0



1904 Macon, Ga. Georgia 52, Florida 0

Georgia leads series 50-41-2. Florida counts it 49-41-2 and discounts the 1904 game.

Florida players celebrate with their fans after beating Georgia last year.

Florida coach Doug Dickey takes his victory ride in 1973.

Georgia coach Vince Dooley is carried off the field by his players after the 1985 victory.

Fans cheer on their teams in the 1949 game.

Times-Union photos

Florida quarterback Tim Tebow celebrates his second rushing touchdown in 2009.

Georgia’s Hines Ward makes a big return on the opening kickoff of the 1997 game.

Georgia running back Herschel Walker heads for the end zone during the 1981 game.

Florida quarterback Steve Spurrier avoids a tackle during the 1964 game.


Atlantic Blvd.

Old Kings Rd.

San

Pabl

o Rd

.

May

port

Rd.

Girvin Rd.

Heckscher Dr.

Mai

n St

.

Arlington Exressway

Univ

ersit

y Bl

vd.

Merrill Rd.

Southside Blvd.

Philips Hwy.

Monument Rd.

MLK Jr. Expressway

Beach Blvd.

295

95

BC

F

E

A

D

N

Time: 11:30 a.m. – 1 hour post-game.Cost: $7 for the downtown sites and $12 for all suburban lot locations.Shuttle passes can be pre-purchased online at www.jtafla.com. Passes can also be purchased during operational hours beginning at 11:30 a.m. at lot locations. Cash and credit/debit cards will be accepted. For more information on locations and fares, contact JTA Customer Service (904) 630-3100.

JTA game day stadium shuttle service

SAN MARCO

SOUTHSIDE

JACKSONVILLE BEACH

EverBank Field

Butler Blvd.

B

C

A

D Kings Avenue Parking Garage

Bay St. (at Laura and Hogan streets) adjacent to The Jacksonville Landing*

Skyway Convention Center lot

Fans staying at hotels on the Southbank should take the complimentary Skyway to the Central Station and catch the Hogan Street Shuttle and ride round-trip, non-stop service at The Jacksonville Landing to the game

295

* Please note: There is no JTA parking lot at the Landing. This location is for pick-up [email protected]: JTA

F

E Southside (J. Turner Butler & Philips Hwy.): Roundtrip $12Patrons coming from the Southside enjoy complimentary parking and ride the shuttle's round-trip, non-stop service from J. Turner Butler Blvd. and Philips Highway just off I-95 to the game.

Beaches - Wingate Park (501 Penman Rd. S): Roundtrip $12Patrons park free and ride the shuttle round-trip, non-stop service between the beaches and the stadium.

Other Suburban Park-n-Ride locations:

Shuttle drop off locationsKings Avenue, Beaches and JTB Park-n-Ride lot locations will use Lot B located east of the stadium across Haines Street between Gates 3 and 4.The Skyway Convention Center Park-n-Ride lot and The Jacksonville Landing locations will use the ramp area that is located at the north end of the stadium. This pick-up and drop off area is located on the stadium property between Gates 2 and 3.

Prohibited items iN stadiumn Purses or bags larger than 12 x 6 x 12 inchesn Cameras with lenses longer than six inchesn Coolers or containers including cans, cups and bottlesn Strollers or umbrellasn Pets (except special services)n Food or beverages from outside the stadiumn Seat cushionsn Video or audio recordersn Whistles, noise makers, air horns or laser pointersn Poles or sticksn Knives, guns or any type of weapons or explosivesn No smoking (except in designated areas)n No promotional materialsn Any other item deemed unacceptable by stadium managementn No re-entry

About this sectionSports Editor: Chet FussmanSection designer: Paris MouldenFront page photos: Will Dickey, Bruce Lipsky

Copy editors: Stuart Aase, Justin Barney, Al Gaspeny, Brian Hodges, Paul Runnestrand

Let’s face the truth, Florida and Georgia fans.

You don’t exactly leave your campsite cleaner than you found it.

But here’s one of the most remarkable things about the Georgia-Flor-ida game: those small mountains of bottles, cans, chicken bones and the remnants of about anything else someone might eat or drink in the parking lots of EverBank Field, are picked up and disposed of almost as fast as the fans could make it and leave it.

“It’s pretty amazing,” said SMG assistant gen-eral manger Keith Van Der Leest. “Anyone who has walked through the

parking lots two hours after the game knows how much is out there. But by 8 a.m., it’s pretty much gone.”

Aramark is the compa-ny that SMG hires to take care of the waste disposal after the Georgia-Florida game, but the company

does more than that. Its facilities services divi-sion provides a staff that cleans and maintains the inside of the stadium before, during and after the game.

Republic is the com-pany that handles the recycling.

The task is daunting. Van Der Leest estimated that more than 30 tons of trash and garbage are hauled away from the EverBank lots after the Georgia-Florida game — three times more than a typical Jaguars game.

Many fans hang out in the parking lot after the game to celebrate, drown their sorrows or simply lag behind to escape the worst of the traffic. Around 200 Aramark em-ployees are able to start the clean-up two or three hours after the game.

Around 10 hours later, it’s gone.

TIME TO TALK TRASHAfter the game it’s a wasteland, but it doesn’t last long

“Anyone who has walked through the parking lots two hours after the game knows how much is out there.” — Keith Van Der Leest, SMG assistant GM

Christina Kelso For the Times-Union

Darryl Arnold helps to clean the trash left behind by fans during Georgia-Florida festivities at the Jacksonville Shipyards located across the street from EverBank Field after the 2013 game.

[email protected]

A clean-up crew member hoses down the seats in EverBank Field after the 2011 game.

floridatimesunion georgia florida 2015

Documents