Tony’s Take | Missed Opportunity | Neutral | MLB | Hurts | Super 6 + 1 | Edition 118 

By Tony Duckworth, [email protected]

Missed Opportunity.  Promoted as the World’s Largest Cocktail Party, with few exceptions, the UGA Florida game has been played in Jacksonville since 1933.  The games have shifted to Atlanta and Tampa this year and next due to major renovations to the EverBank Stadium reduced capacity to 43,500.  The venue typically holds over 80,000 fans. 

Tradition can’t be ignored, and both universities are content with the neutral site location.  With corporate and media rights dictating neutral game locations, the powers that be missed an opportunity to play the Cocktail on campus in the upcoming games. 

While neutral-site rivalry games have charm, with an even number of university colors in the grandstands, an on-campus game would have been a fan pleaser during this detour from Jax.  Breaking tradition takes courage, and the fan bases would have loved hosting the other on their home turf. 

For now, Dawg and Gator Nation needs to accept the cards they have been dealt and see how the next two matchups will add to this rich rivalry story.      

Neutral.  Given the Iron Bowl, played annually between Auburn and Alabama is no longer played in Birmingham, there are only two other neutral-site matchups that remain off campus besides the UGA-Florida game.   

The Red River Rivalry, played at the Cotton Bowl in Dallas each year, features Texas and Oklahoma.   

The Army-Navy game does not have a designated site.  This annual classic rotates between various stadiums, which creates a different mystique to this matchup.  

MLB.  In the era of launch angles and power pitching, the Milwaukee Brewers are proving that traditional baseball is a winning formula.  Traditional?  No, it’s just how the game is played. 

For those of us who cheer on the Braves, many long for a lineup that scratches out runs, values every pitch, raises the pitch count, and plays small ball to create scoring opportunities.  The Braves’ feast-or-famine approach at the plate can be tough to stomach when you know the traditional style baseball is played produces results.  For the record, the Braves did match the Brewers, ending the 2026 season series tied at 3 – 3.  The Brewers won a MLB best 103 games to the Braves’ 94 (4th best). 

Milwaukee made MLB history by producing video game offensive production, scoring eight runs with two outs against Tampa Bay in the 5th inning of game 3 of the World Series.  The Brewers strung together seven straight hits during this inning while scoring the eight runs without the benefit of a homerun. 

The game 3 win pushed the Brewers to series 3 – 0 lead, which helped them establish a 10 – 1 record in the playoffs, setting up the inevitability of being crowned world champions.   

Hurts.  Jalen Hurts has been shut down this season.  The Super Bowl-winning Philly Quarterback has a blood clot that presents too much risk to compete the remainder of the season. 

According to reports, Hurts was advised of the clot on October 10 but chose to play against the Jaguars the following day.  Hurts was placed on injured reserve and ruled out indefinitely on the 19th.  The NFL and players association are launching an investigation.   

The burning question is: was Hurts provided with the appropriate risk information? Players compete with injuries regularly, but given the risks associated with Hurts condition, one has to wonder if there was enough information provided that led to him continuing to play despite the life-threatening risks.   

Throughout the history of the NFL, medical staff have provided avenues to allow their assets to play despite risks, but this incident should be evaluated if the decision-makers crossed the line.  

Super 6 + 1.  #3 UGA v #17 Florida | Auburn @ #12 OLE MISS | Clemson @ FSU | #22 Arizona @ #13 TX TECH | Falcons @ BUCS | Vikings @ LIONS | Bears @ SEAHAWKS | Record 30 – 19 

Tony Duckworth is a Macon native and President and CEO of the Albany Area YMCA. Tony worked in intercollegiate athletics for thirty-one years. He served as an NCAA Division II Director of Athletics at three universities after ten years as head men’s basketball coach at two colleges. eMail Tony Duckworth at [email protected].