The Florida / Georgia game is one of the more unique rivalries in college football, dating back to their first matchup in Jacksonville in 1915. Florida’s staff, led by Gator great Brandon Spikes, does a good job educating the roster on the history and importance of this game. Florida held a ‘Georgia day’ in the offseason, where transfers and freshmen came into the facility to learn about the rivalry.
One player that doesn’t need help understanding Florida / Georgia is junior edge rusher Jack Pyburn, who grew up playing high school football in Jacksonville and attending The World’s Largest Outdoor Cocktail Party annually.
“I can tell you for me it means everything,” Pyburn said on the Florida vs Georgia game. “Since I’ve been growing up, there is not a Georgia/Florida game that I can’t remember not going to. I’ve been to every single game since I remember what Florida/Georgia is…It’s a heated rivalry that truly is special.”
From support staff to his teammates on the gridiron, Pyburn makes sure everyone in the building knows how important this game is to the University.
“I remind everybody how important this game is. Whether it’s someone in EQ, whether it’s someone in the training room, whether it’s a player, whether it’s a transfer, everyone needs to understand the importance of this game and any rivalry at Florida because this place is a special place,” Pyburn said.
Pyburn has become a fan favorite because of his love for the university, effort on the football field, and aggressive playing style.
“I look forward to putting my face into someone and running through someone, if I’m being honest. I love contact,” Pyburn said. “It’s what I do, man. I love contact. At the end of the day you watch the best edges in the NFL, you watch the best edges in college football, the best edges are ones that set edges and set edges with violence.”
Pyburn has the fearless mentality you need to be an edge defender in the SEC, which has helped his play on the football field in 2024. Pyburn ranks second among Florida edge defenders in run defense and ‘win rate’ on pass rushes, according to Pro Football Focus.
“It’s better to be the hammer than the nail because if you’re the nail, you’re the one that’s getting hurt. If you are the hammer, you ain’t going to feel nothing,” Pyburn added. “So when I come there it’s a mentality that I’m going to run through your face, and you’re going to have to stop me. Hurts them a lot more than it hurts me. It’s fun.”
Pyburn is focused on upholding the Gator standard left by former players as Florida (4-4, 2-2 SEC) looks to take down No.2 Georgia (6-1, 4-1 SEC) in week 10.
“The rivalries that have been built over the years have been built because of the great players that have come through there,” Pyburn said. “We have to maintain that standard that those players have set and played for them and respect those that have come before us by playing our hardest we can every Saturday.”
