The lean years of the 1950s saw Florida winning six times in Jacksonville and then the Gators were victorious from 1960 through 1963, giving boys from Gainesville their first sustained success in the series.
At that point along came Vince Dooley and things changed dramatically as “Dooley Ball” became dominant to the extent that some Florida players felt that they were cursed.
Dooley’s 25-year record was sparkling 17-7-1 and five of those games were decided by seven points or less, which suggests that the Bulldogs either won or were “in the hunt” every year but two during the Dooley era.
Steve Spurrer has the best record of any coach in the series with an 11-1 record, but Georgia was not very competitive in many of those years. Spurrier was 1-2 as a player in Jacksonville and never could beat the Bulldogs to win the SEC championship.
The game is the main attraction but it long ago became a fall vacation for alumni of both teams, but especially for Georgia as Bulldog fans flocked to St. Simons Island, Sea Island, Jekyll Island, Amelia Island, Jacksonville Beach, and Ponte Vedra Beach.
A great number of fans were attracted to the countless golf opportunities that exist, but there were many fans whom enjoyed sitting on the beach and watching the tide roll in.
There were many who took advantage of the fishing options that are available during November. That is where I found the greatest pleasure for many years.
Staying with friends for years allowed for recreation and also introduced me to a delightful history of the Southeastern section of our state. I have been fortunate to fish Blackbeard Island, tour the Okefenokee Swamp and enjoy casual forays onto the barrier islands such as Sapelo, Cumberland and the jewel that few give the slightest attention — Little St. Simons Island.
With its pristine beaches and becoming marshes, this island is just like it was at its birth whenever that was, which is a sobering thought. Simply walking the beaches or taking a bike ride through its nature trails brings about soul cleansing moments.
You can only get to LSS by boat; there is no bridge, no public transportation, but making the effort to cross the Hampton River and spend a day there will make you commit for an encore.
When we were the guests of Jim and Anne Minter at St. Simons, there was opportunity to spend time with former governor, Ernest Vandiver, who was their next-door neighbor.
Vandiver, who refused to close the schools during the advent of integration, and Carl Sanders were two political leaders who emerged from the segregation era to provide progressive political leadership for our state.
John Donaldson, who played and coached for the Bulldogs, always maintained a residence in Jesup, but his coastal home at Shellman Bluff is where he spent as much time as possible.
He knew the rivers and creeks of Georgia’s coast better than anybody. It was a rare day that he could not find fish. When he filled his cooler with rainbow trout and spot tail bass, and then took them to his dock and cleaned them, his next move was to the kitchen.
When he and his wife, Anne, teamed up for supper you could not enjoy a more fulfilling meal. French fried potatoes, a vegetable salad, hushpuppies, fish from the Marshes of Glynn, and a glass of chardonnay brought about all the elements of a great meal.