Traditionally, Georgia and Georgia Southern play in football about every four years. But the schools have agreed to move up their next scheduled game a year and now will play on Nov. 21, 2015. It was originally slated to be played Nov. 19, 2016.
“Both schools agreed to do it,” said UGA Athletic Director Greg McGarity, who completed the $850,000 deal with Georgia Southern AD Tom Kleinlein on Jan. 27. “We just wanted to move it up to complete our non-conference. It’s not an addition. We just moved it up a year.”
The move cost Georgia an extra $325,000. The original contract called for the Bulldogs to pay Georgia Southern $525,000. But that deal was made when the Eagles were an FCS football program. They’ve since moved up to the FBS level.
A signed memo of understanding was provided to The Atlanta Journal-Constitution in compliance with a Feb. 10 freedom of information request for information on future game agreements.
The move completes Georgia’s non-conference schedule for 2015. The Bulldogs open with Southern University on Sept. 5, play host to Louisiana-Monroe on Nov. 7 and close the year as usual against Georgia Tech in Atlanta on Nov. 28, 2015.
Moving up Georgia Southern a year, of course, created a hole in the 2016 schedule. The Bulldogs have only the Tech game solidified for the non-conference slate that season.“But it gives us more time to fill that,” McGarity said.
Georgia and Georgia Southern have played five times overall and every four years since 2000. The Bulldogs are 5-0 in those games, having last won 45-14 in 2012.
