MACON, Ga. — The Georgia vs Florida rivalry hits different for fans on both sides.
Major Zachary Purser is no different. He grew up in Cochran and graduated from Bleckley County High School.
He watched the rivalry game with his mom growing up. She graduated from the University of Georgia and worked at Robins Air Force base.
Purser said spending his youth surrounded by those planes gave him the desire to fly himself. Now, he is a major stationed at Eglin Air Force base in Florida.
He was able to participate in the UGA vs Florida flyover EverBank stadium to kick off the game. He flew an F-15 EX for the occasion. He said, as a son of a Georgia grad, he understood the assignment.
“It doesn't matter where anyone's ranked, it's always a good game. And so just being raised in that environment, knowing it's a big deal, it's one of the big things that really, really made this feel like an awesome accomplishment,” Purser said.
Purser graduated from Georgia Tech. So, he cheers for the Bulldogs always - except for when they’re playing the Yellow Jackets.
He said that makes for some interesting Thanksgivings.