ST. SIMONS ISLAND - It's the time of year when Tom Waller takes some of the prized portraits of Herschel Walker and canine mascot Uga off the walls at Brogen's tavern near the lighthouse on Georgia's St. Simons Island. This is one hurricane-season storm Waller can prepare for -- dressed in red and black, in cars flying Bulldog flags. Whether it's a few beer bottles or a window, something always gets broken at this party. <br>
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On the weekend of the Georgia-Florida football rivalry, the ``World's Largest Outdoor Cocktail Party'' spills from Jacksonville across the Florida line into St. Simons and its neighboring islands. With fans of undefeated Georgia smelling their first victory over the Gators since 1997, the islands' bars, restaurants and hotels anticipate one of their busiest weekend ever. <br>
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Georgia's undefeated season, coupled with Florida's lackluster 5-3 record, has whipped Bulldog fans into a frenzy anticipating their first victory over the Gators since 1997 and just their second in the past 12 years. <br>
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Georgia fraternities have posted clocks on their Web sites counting down the days, hours, minutes and seconds until kickoff. St. Simons hotels that booked their last rooms during the summer are turning away fans by the dozen. <br>
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Regulars of the annual Gator-hater bash say it's St. Simon's equivalent of the rowdy St. Patrick's Day revelry in Savannah. Waller says it's his busiest weekend of the year, more the tripling his normal business. <br>
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And this year's game coincides with Georgia's fall break with no classes Thursday or Friday, meaning more time for Athens students to head south and blow off steam -- and cash -- before Saturday.
