Few college football rivalries carry more animosity than Florida-Georgia. But for Alabama running backs coach Robert GIllespie, a former Gators running back, Georgia hate passes with maturity.

"The older you get, I think the word goes to respect. Anybody or anything you respect, you want to outdo," Gillespie said. "You want to beat 'em. I think hate is a word for fans, and I get that. But me in this profession, I respect them. They're a really good program, but even when I was a player, we knew we'd get the best out of them."

It can't be said that Gillespie's college coach, Steve Spurrier, ever outgrew his distaste for Georgia. The former Heisman Trophy-winning Florida quarterback cast barbs at the Bulldogs to the end of his coaching days and beyond. Heck, just this week, he picked them to lose to Alabama. Gillespie, however, sees the Bulldogs now simply as the next challenge on the schedule − but he's well aware it's a big one. The US LBM Coaches Poll currently ranks Georgia No. 1 and Alabama No. 4 in the nation ahead of Saturday's clash at Bryant-Denny Stadium (6:30 p.m. CT, ABC).

Gillespie rushed for 1,854 yards in four seasons as a Gator from 1998-2001, and emerged as a key receiving figure as a senior with 41 catches out of the backfield. Early in his career, Georgia head coach Kirby Smart was roaming the Bulldogs secondary. Gillespie said he couldn't remember his record as a player against Georgia, but couldn't recall ever losing to UGA in the annual rivalry game played in Jacksonville, Fla. His recall is good enough, however; Florida beat Georgia in all four of Gillespie's seasons there, which happened to be Spurrier's last four years as coach.

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Reach Tuscaloosa News columnist Chase Goodbread at cgoodbread@gannett.com. Follow on X @chasegoodbread.

This article originally appeared on The Tuscaloosa News: Georgia hate week? Not for ex-Gator on Alabama football coaching staff