Georgia store sells whole, skinned alligators ahead of rivalry football game against Gators
Do you hear that? The rumbling of barking and bellowing from the streets of Jacksonville?
It's the latest chapter of the Florida-Georgia football rivalry returning for their annual game, with University of Florida and University of Georgia fans flooding the Florida city.
The Florida-Georgia SEC football game will be Saturday, Oct. 28 at EverBank Stadium. While some fans usually show their loyalty with merchandise and crazy game day outfits, one Georgia general store got a bit more creative.
As a way to playfully poke fun at their team's rivals, the Stripling's General Store is selling whole, skinned alligators to Bulldogs fans. Perfect for the "gator-hater" in your life.
“That’s right, folks! While the Gators may be fierce on the field, they’re no match for our taste buds! So, why not celebrate our inevitable victory by sinking your teeth into some delicious gator meat?” the store wrote on social media. “We know you’ve been waiting for this moment all year long, so don’t miss out on the chance to savor the taste of victory AND some gator goodness!”
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Is this the first time the store has sold gator ahead of the rivalry game?
Stripling's General Store told the USA Today Florida Network that they have sold gators for years but this is the first year they've gotten more attention for it.
Manager Michelle Reinhart said they sell the gators around this time each year due the game's popularity in the region.
Where do the gators come from?
The gators were caught in Louisiana this year. They come skinned and frozen.
How much are they selling the gators?
The whole gators cost around $20 a pound and each gator weighs anywhere from 15 to 20 pounds.
Stripling's added a cheeky disclaimer on their social media about who can purchase the gators.
"Just remember, this delicacy is strictly reserved for the true Dawg fans who bleed red and black," they wrote.
Are they still available for sale?
According to Reinhart, they have one or two available for those still having a hankering for gator ahead of the big game.
Where is Stripling's General Store located?
Stripling’s General Store is a family-owned-and-operated market and butcher shop in Georgia, writing online that it "boasts a full-service butcher shop, world famous sausage and jerky, and unique Southern specialties that you can only get in one place."
They have locations in Bogart, Cordele, Perry, Tifton, Moultrie and Brunswick. The Bogart location is about 20 minutes from the University of Georgia's campus in Athens.
I just bought my gator. How do I cook it?
Striplings recommends cooking the gators at a low and slow place — about six to eight hours at 225 degrees.
Eating alligator is considered a southern staple, one that can be traced all the way back as a favorite food of Florida’s Seminole tribe.
Most people say the taste of gator meat closely resembles chicken, with a slight fishy taste and a gamey texture.
Although fried gator tail or gator bites are probably the most popular ways to eat swamp chicken, some people enjoy some less-common dishes like gator sushi, gator burgers, gator gumbo and even gator meatloaf.
Check out these recipes: What does gator taste like? These TikTok chefs have recipes for alligator hunting season
How to watch the Gators vs. Bulldogs game this weekend
Football fanatics can watch the big rivalry game on CBS Sports, with the game kicking off at 3:30 p.m. ET.
How to watch the UF vs. UGA game without cable
Viewers can stream the game on the CBS Sports app and CBSSports.com. It can also be watched with a Paramount+ subscription or free trial with Fubo.
Is it the Florida-Georgia game or Georgia-Florida game?
That usually depends on which state and/or which fan base you represent. In Florida, people say Florida-Georgia, in Georgia, it's Georgia-Florida.
This article originally appeared on Fort Myers News-Press: Gator meat? Georgia market sells whole alligators before UF vs UGA
