Florida quarterback talks about Georgia upset

By Don Stewart | gargoyle@flagler.edu

The Florida vs. Georgia football game, formerly known as “the world’s largest outdoor cocktail party,” has taken place every year since 1992 on the last weekend of October.

Many Flagler College students make the 45-minute trek up I-95 to experience something Flagler can’t offer, college football game days and all of the festivities that go along with them.

Football is a religion in the heart of Gator country, and the Florida vs. Georgia game is a day that fans looks forward to. As the Gators transition to a new pro-style offense, they have hit their share of bumps in the road, especially in the month of October where they finished the month 0-4.

Florida senior quarterback John Brantley finished the game 12-34 for 245 yards and a touchdown, in a losing effort against the Bulldogs. It was his first game back since the Alabama game on Oct. 1, when he left in the second quarter with a high ankle sprain.

“It was feeling about 75 percent, but [my ankle] really started bothering me in the second half,” Brantley said.

Due to his lack of mobility, Brantley was forced to take all of his snaps in the shotgun, and the Gators were never able to establish any kind of run game.

“It’s never fun to lose, especially to the Bulldogs, but were not making any excuses, we’ve got to go out and execute better,” Brantley said.

After the loss to Georgia, the Gators hopes of claiming the SEC East were lost, but Brantley said there is still a lot to play for.

“I love these guys,” Brantley said. “We still have South Carolina and FSU left to play and there isn’t a guy in our locker room that doesn’t want revenge after what happened last season.”

The Gators will prepare for division rival South Carolina this weekend after coming off a 26-21 home win against the Vanderbilt Commodores. Brantley said his ankle is not yet at “100 percent” but did say it is feeling much better since the loss to Georgia.