The Jaguars have announced a flavorful preseason schedule that includes an all-Florida series and the speedy return to Alltel Stadium of former University of Florida coach Steve Spurrier.
Spurrier and the Washington Redskins will be in Jacksonville on the final week of the preseason, set for Aug. 28-31.
In the two weeks prior to Spurrier's return, the Jaguars will play at Super Bowl-champion Tampa Bay in week three, Aug. 21-25, and will host Miami in week two, Aug. 14-18. The Jaguars will open their 2003 preseason with a trip to Minnesota in week one, Aug. 7-11, where the Jaguars will unveil the beginning of their new era under head coach Jack Del Rio.
Exact dates and times of the games will be announced later in the offseason.
The Jaguars will be playing against the Vikings and Redskins for the first time in the preseason. In 1995, the Jaguars scored their first-ever preseason win by beating the Dolphins in Miami. Last year, the Jaguars lost at home to Tampa Bay. In eight preseasons, the Jaguars are 19-14.
Wayne Weaver had lobbied for league help in arranging his preseason schedule, in exchange for agreeing to the league's divisional realignment plan. Clearly, the league assisted Weaver in putting together this attractive preseason schedule.
