Five best moments from Florida-Georgia football rivalry
By John Buhler
4. The Timeout
The Gators had already won the previous three meetings over the Bulldogs entering their annual meeting in Jacksonville in 1993. This would be the final game in the rivalry series played at the Gator Bowl in Jacksonville. The city was getting an NFL team in the form of the Jacksonville Jaguars and needed to renovate/rebuild the stadium to accommodate getting an expansion NFL franchise.
Florida had become a viable aerial attack under head coach and former Heisman Trophy winning quarterback for the Gators Steve Spurrier. However, the late October rain befuddled Florida and it kept Georgia in the game.
The Bulldogs were driving down the field with strong-armed quarterback Eric Zeier, down 33-26 with 1:30 left in the game. Georgia appeared to have completed a game-tying touchdown with a pass from Zeier to Jerry Jerman with five seconds left, assuming a made PAT.
However, Florida freshman cornerback Anthone Lott called a timeout just before Zeier got the snap off. On the very next play, Lott would get called for a defensive pass interference. Georgia would get the ball at the Florida two-yard line for one last shot at tying the game. Zeier’s pass to Jeff Thomas fell incomplete and Florida would win 33-26.
Spurrier let out a huge sigh of relief in topping Georgia in 1993. Under Spurrier, the Gators would go on to win the next three SEC Championships. Georgia wouldn’t beat Florida until the 1997 NCAA season, ending the Bulldogs’ longest skid to the Gators at seven games (1990-96).