It is officially Florida hate week, so with that may the good times roll. 

In times past the “Georgia-Florida” game, as called by Georgia starting quarterback Stetson Bennett, has definitely been more anticipated. But because of Florida’s production, or lack thereof, and Georgia enters this game favored by 22.5 points.

The Gators haven’t seen the play they’ve expected out of their guys, but that’s not stopping Bennett from showing them the respect that he’s built up for them over years of living less than two hours from the game. 

He said it’s “a little bit closer to home down there” playing in Jacksonville. Being from Blackshear, Georgia, he’s grown up in closer “proximity” to the game and has a better understanding of the rivalry living closer to Florida fans. 

“You can throw records, or whatever you want, out of the window,” Bennett said on Monday.

He understands what this game means to his team, his school and his state, so even though he’s coming in as the top dog, he refuses to let it get the better of him saying, “You can throw records, or whatever you want, out of the window… They’re always going to be a force to be reckoned with down there.”

Bennett has a special respect for Florida head coach Billy Napier especially. Napier recruited Bennett back when the super senior was still slinging it in high school, but as we all know Bennett had to reject Napier’s offer to live out his dreams as a Georgia football player and eventually lead the Bulldogs to a national championship run.

His words tell us a couple things about how this team is dealing with its success. This team continues to reject complacency by not listening to the outside. The team has been ranked at No. 1 for a significant portion of the season, and the supposed best team in the nation never stops talking about what it can still fix.