The annual Gator Bowl game is more than the football matchup on the field.
It entails events throughout the week, with festivities surrounding this year’s TaxSlayer.com Gator Bowl matchup between the Georgia Bulldogs and Nebraska Cornhuskers starting today.
Players from the Bulldogs will head to Latitude 30 from 6-8 p.m. tonight for an evening of food and entertainment, while Cornhuskers players will be there at the same time Saturday. There is no cost for fans and it is open to the public.
The coaches’ luncheon starts at noon Tuesday at the Prime Osborn Convention Center. The annual event showcases the best of “past and present” in the game’s history.
This year two former players, Donovin Darius, a former Syracuse Orangeman and Jacksonville Jaguars player, and Dennis Poppe from the University of Missouri will be recognized, along with two “Award of Excellence” scholarship winners.
Georgia Coach Mark Richt and Nebraska Coach Bo Pelini will attend. Tickets are $75 and available at gatorbowl.com.
The VyStar 5K Run is 1 p.m. New Year’s Eve. It starts at the Jacksonville Landing and winds its way through Downtown along the Riverwalk.
Entry fee is $25-$35 and can be paid at 1stplacesports.com.
Participants can also make a $10 donation to Wolfson Children’s Hospital. Last year’s race
raised almost $13,000.
Later that day, both teams will participate in pep rallies at the Landing.
The Big Ten rally
starts at 2 p.m. and the Southeastern Conference rally begins at 5 p.m. There is no cost for
either.
On New Year’s Day, the Budweiser Tailgate Party begins at 9 a.m. and concludes at noon, just before kickoff.
It’s at EverBank Field and costs $10 for “The Patch.” Gator Bowl membership cards also are accepted for entry.
The game will be broadcast on ESPN2.