Georgia and Florida will both wear home jerseys this year during their annual game in Jacksonville.
The Bulldogs are actually the home team this year as the teams alternate that distinction from one season to next. Traditionally teams wear their school’s primary color of jersey when they’re the home team and the visiting team wears white.
But at the request of the Gators, both teams will sport their home colors this year, red for Georgia and blue for Florida.
“I wasn’t against it,” Georgia coach Mark Richt. “We’ll see how it goes.”
It has been done before. Back in the 1960s, both teams wore their home colors. That was pointed out to Florida Athletic Director Jeremy Foley by a Gators’ fan last spring and is what prompted the change, which Georgia and the SEC had to approve.
The main reason the visiting team usually wears white is so that game officials — not to mention quarterbacks — can easily differentiate opponents. The Bulldogs don’t think it will be a problem.
“I’m hoping our guys don’t think blue is red and the quarterback starts throwing to their guys,” Richt said. I don’t think it will be an issue. I don’t know who’s going to enjoy it. Hopefully the fans enjoy it. I think our players are fine wearing either jersey.”
Said Georgia senior wide receiver Michael Bennett: “I think blue and red is different enough. I think we’ll be all right.”
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