Over 100 fans gathered under a tent just outside of Alltel Stadium to enjoy lunch and the ceremony. Just like we'll see on Saturday, half the place was filled with Georgia fans, and half the place was filled with Florida fans. Florida sat on the right side. Georgia, the left side.

Up on stage, a contingent of representatives from Georgia, Florida, and the city of Jacksonville joined the inductees. Ike Hilliard, a Tampa Bay Buccaneers receiver, could not be there in person.

One by one, the players were introduced with a video tribute and an explanation of why they are part of this elite group.

McGriff told the story of when he initially got a phone call telling him he would be a Hall of Famer.

"My first reaction was, 'Who is this?' Because I've got friends that are capable of making a call like that," McGriff joked. "(UF Athletic Director) Jeremy Foley is capable of making a call like that."

Before McGriff entertained the audience members, Hampton warmed them up.

"It's a great honor for me going in with Willie McClendon because he was my Running Backs Coach my junior year," Hampton said. "He got me prepared for the National Football League."

Hampton, a star for the New York Giants, was honored for his play during the 1989 game. Georgia trailed at halftime 7-3, and turned to the elusive tailback in the second half, during which Hampton scored the next two touchdowns of the game en route to a Bulldogs victory. In his three games against UF, Hampton carried 62 times for 288 yards.

"Since I'm a Hall of Famer," Hampton said, "I think I should get two tickets every year. So I need to find out who I need to talk to."

McClendon dazzled as a Georgia running back a decade before Hampton did. The Gators didn't like seeing much of McClendon. In three games, he had 46 carries, 276 yards, and three touchdowns. Even in his only loss to UF, McClendon rushed 10 times for 162 yards.

Then there was Ike Hilliard, who is remembered for his performance in one of the most forgettable games for Georgia fans in this historic series. In 1995, the game was played in Athens due to the construction of a stadium in Jacksonville for the Jaguars. Hilliard and the rest of the Fun-N-Gunners lit up the Dawgs in a 52-17 romp. Hilliard caught two touchdown passes that game. He finished his UF career with 20 TD catches, second all-time for a Gator.

Hilliard played in three different stadiums against the Bulldogs.

"One was at our home. One was at their home, and one was at Jacksonville," he said through a recorded video message. "But it was three really hard-fought games. We were fortunate enough to win all of them, and not to discredit those guys, but we were just pretty good at that time."

Hilliard said something that all four new Hall of Famers agreed with.

"I can only say that there's not a rivalry in college football like it. Even though there's so many great rivalries, ours is definitely one of the best."

"I can tell you from a player's point of view and a coach's point of view, there's an aura about this game that just doesn't exist (elsewhere)," McGriff said to the crowd. "Georgia and Florida both play other great games... huge games, great atmospheres. But this is unlike any other. The bands never stop playing. People never stop cheering. It's intense. It's got 84 years behind it. Players know that."

Four busts, one for each player, sat just in front of the stage. A large and attentive crowd watched on and applauded each of the four former standouts. After the ceremony, several fans formed a line at the stage to get autographs from Hampton, McClendon, and McGriff.

The unique part was that, even though these teams will go back to hating each other on Saturday, the Georgia fans cheered just as loudly for Hilliard and McGriff as they did for Hampton and McClendon, and the Gators fans did the same. These fans came to show pride in the accomplishments of Georgia-Florida. They temporarily forgot which guy played for which team.

We caught up with the Hall of Famers after they left the stage to ask them about their favorite memories of playing in the rivalry and how they prepared for the games.

McGriff told us about getting ready for the contest when it was played at the Gator Bowl, and the stands were made of metal.

"You could literally feel the crowd while you got dressed," he said. "I mean, you could hear, you could feel the pounding of feet. You could feel that crowd out there getting ready."

"I just had to blindfold myself," McClendon said. "Get the room dark as you can and just concentrate."

Hampton admitted to being anxious before the games.

"Before the game you're extremely nervous, but being a ball player, once the game starts, all the butterflies go away after the first play."

It'll be 50/50 at Alltel tomorrow. Half black and red. Half blue and orange. Everyone will be waiting to see which player rises above and becomes the next legend in the epic rivalry of Georgia and Florida.