As the Georgia Bulldogs prepare to take on the Florida Gators in a highly anticipated rivalry game in Jacksonville, Striplings General Store in Bogart, Georgia, is providing a distinctive way for Bulldogs fans to show their allegiance – by offering whole, skinned alligators for purchase. These alligators can be grilled and enjoyed at the “World’s Largest Outdoor Cocktail Party” event at TIAA Bank Field on Saturday or in Athens, and Striplings is ready to assist fans with their alligator culinary experience.
Bogart, Georgia, is conveniently located near Athens, the home of the University of Georgia.
Striplings humorously posted on social media, “Hey Bulldogs and Gator-haters! Get ready for the ultimate feast for the GA/FL game! Reserve your whole gator today or grab some GATOR MEAT!” They added, “While the Gators might 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 also issued a playful but passionate disclaimer, reserving the delicacy for “true Dawg fans who bleed red and black.”
These alligators, caught in Louisiana this year, are sold skinned and frozen. According to a store employee, they have a taste resembling chicken, though a bit gamey, making them an excellent choice for grilling or smoking.
Striplings recommends a “low and slow” cooking approach, involving grilling at a low temperature for approximately six to eight hours at 225 degrees. Each alligator even has its own name, with monikers like Spurrier and Urban in a nod to former Florida coaches Steve Spurrier and Urban Meyer.
As of Tuesday evening, the store reported having only two gators left for sale. For those unable to secure a whole gator, Striplings is also offering gator meat and gator “cakes.”
The Florida Gators, with a record of 5-2, will clash with the undefeated Georgia Bulldogs (7-0) at 3:30 p.m. on Saturday at Jacksonville’s TIAA Bank Field. In last year’s matchup, the Bulldogs triumphed over the Gators with a score of 42-20, maintaining their historical series lead.