Georgia coach Mark Richt explains last season's bench-clearing celebration against Florida. (T-G Photo by Danny Parker)

With six minutes left in the first quarter of the Georgia-Florida game last October, Bulldog tailback Knowshon Moreno plunged into the end zone from a yard out for a 6-0 lead.

What happened next has done nothing but add gasoline to the fire that burns brighter every year when it comes down to the annual showdown in Jacksonville.

Georgia coach Mark Richt told his team before the game that he wanted them to celebrate like heck after they scored their first touchdown, assuming that they weren't down 20-plus points, even if it meant getting a penalty.

What ensued was indeed a bench-clearing party that drew a 15-yard flag.

Richt did say he regretted the incident and even called Florida coach Urban Meyer to explain things. Richt noted at SEC Media Days that he expected it to be a team celebration, not an individual touchdown dance, but he did not think it would involve players leaving the sidelines like they did.

"I don't think there's any doubt it's intensified the rivalry. But what intensified the rivalry is that we won, OK? I mean, that's the reality," he said.

Bulldog receiver Mohamed Massaquoi downplayed it all and mentioned that it was the 35-14 loss to Tennessee that turned things around and eventually led to a Sugar Bowl victory over Hawaii.

The Gators stored it all in the back of their minds and they plan on using it when the two meet on Nov. 1.

"As far as the touchdown dance in the end zone, that did nothing for me but just fire me up," UF quarterback Tim Tebow said. "I'm not upset or bitter about it or anything like that. I think it was a good call by coach Richt, because that changed their season. That gave their players a spark, it gave them energy, it gave them something to be passionate about."

By the way, Georgia won that game 42-30.