JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – With a decidedly Jacksonville flavor, the 2017 Florida Georgia Hall of Fame class was inducted Friday morning.
Both hall of fame representatives from the Gators hail from the area with cornerback Lito Sheppard from Raines High School and quarterback Tim Tebow from Nease High School.
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The Bulldogs were represented by Tebow's former teammate with the Denver Broncos, running back Knowshon Moreno and linebacker Randall Godfrey.
Before the event, the inductees were able to reminisce with each other about games from the past, one in particular still holds strong feelings from both the Gators and the Bulldogs. The 2007 "Gator Stomp" game where Georgia's entire team celebrated their first touchdown on the field, firing up everybody on both sides.
"Everyone always asks what it was leading up to that game," said the Bulldogs' Knowshon Moreno. "I think that year we just had that thing about us where we were ready to go each week and we wanted to bring that excitement back and that was one of the things we did."
Tim Tebow was on the other side of the field when the celebration occurred and still has feelings about it 10 years later.
"I was on the sidelines talking to Coach (Dan) Mullen when I heard the commotion and I looked up at the jumbotron then stood up and walked over there and it started to sink in a little bit. I didn't take it that well," said Tebow. "At first I thought it was a fight or something but it was just a celebration. To gain your team a little momentum that way, I don't know. At Florida we try to do that a little differently."
Talking to the media before the event, Tebow admitted that he does not like to get nostalgic about awards and recognitions like getting into the hall of fame, but appreciates the opportunity.
"I really believe in being in the present but having goals for the future. I've really kind of done that my whole life but I do think it is important from time to time to be able to reflect and enjoy moments. I'm talking about both the good and the bad ones you know, because we learn so much from them and this is one of those opportunities."