As the Florida Gators get ready to face the Georgia Bulldogs, there's one storyline that's starting to get some local attention: Gators head coach Will Muschamp is a born and raised Georgian. He grew up in Rome, Georgia, and he played college football with the Bulldogs. And now, he's coming into town the head coach of a large regional rival. Duh duh DUH!
↵Needless to say, Muschamp switching loyalties to the Gators hasn't gone over well with locals. In particular, Bulldogs radio announcer (and former quarterback) Eric Zeier is still in disbelief:
↵↵↵"It's not received very well," he said. "I probably got 30 messages in five minutes when he accepted the job, 'Can you believe Muschamp just took the Florida job?'
↵"There are some hurt feelings on the Georgia side that a Georgia boy is coaching the Gators. So many Georgia fans can't even fathom putting on blue and orange. People are in disbelief that he actually went to Florida. I'm sure some think he's a traitor."
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Muschamp has downplayed all the talk, as well he should; the calls of "traitor" are huge overreactions and are simply the result of people wanting to cause a stir. Loyalty to a school and team is all well and good, but a job is a job is a job. When you're offered the head coach position for a top SEC school, you'd have to be delusional -- or a really in-demand coach -- to turn it down.
↵This certainly won't be the last time we hear about Muschamp's history with Georgia, as I'm sure it will get mentioned during this weekend's game at some point. But hopefully the announcers will leave the word "traitor" out of it.