The annual gathering of Gators and Bulldog fans that has been going on for generations in Jacksonville will soon be hitting fever pitch in RV City, located across from EverBank Field.
Some of the fans have been here since Monday in preparation for Saturday’s annual Florida-Georgia football matchup.
Georgia fan Richard Edmonds was outside his RV Wednesday afternoon tending to a smoker full of meats.
“We got everything; we’ve been planning for the last 364 days after last year’s game. And we do this every year and it’s all family,” said Edmonds, decked out in his Bulldog gear with a matching Georgia tent outside.
Edmonds considers the Gator fans his family.
His RV next door neighbor is Rusty Shortridge, a die-hard Florida fan and a good friend. The two are sharing a split flag. One side has the Georgia Bulldogs on it, the other has the Florida Gators.
Shortridge’s RV is equally decked out in fan gear, but with Gator logos. He even brought orange and blue trash cans as decorations.
“That’s right. Do our big time cooking together and just party it up and it’s kind of sad when Sunday morning gets here because we all have to leave,” said Shortridge.
"Every year Rusty and I go, and you see we got this spot and Georgia and Florida, we’re all one big family when it comes to this, we’ll let them settle it on the ball field Saturday," said Edmonds.
Florida-Georgia Kickoff is set for 3:30 on Saturday at EverBank Field.
Intern Reporter Kelton Givens can be reached at newsteam@wjct.org,(904) 358-6317 or on Twitter @Kelton_Givens
