Thoughts from a Gator

[Derek24650]

Up until November 29, 2003, I absolutely hated the Tennessee Volunteers. Maybe it was because I attended the game where you all kept us from going to the National Championship 2 years ago. Maybe it was because we were humiliated at home in our SEC opener this year. Whenever I'd hear a band play Rocky Top, I'd start humming along, then smack myself upside the head, realizing whose song it was (You can't blame me, you all do have the best fight song).

Then, last Saturday, I suddenly had no more hate left. Don't get me wrong, I've always supported Florida State... telling myself I should always get behind a Florida-based team (I like the 'Canes a lot), but by the end of the day, I was numb with rage. When you have no less than 4 turnover/point involved blown calls by the refs, (Check this page out) and still the Seminoles claimed to have "owned" us? Please...

I suddenly realized, "Why should I hate a team that has legitimately beaten you 2 out of the last 3 meetings?" (Maybe more if Claussen hadn't fumbled 900 times in the 2nd quarter last year.)

Now I know if a lot of you were like me, you might be thinking, "HAAAAHAHAHA!!! YOU GOT WHAT YOU DESERVED, YOU STUPID GATOR FAN!!!" I don't blame you, and I probably deserve it to a certain degree... but....... here goes nothing...........*gulp*.........g....g..............Go Vols.

Anyway, looking forward to an exciting SEC Championship game between zzzzzzzzzz.....................

 

[Freak]

Derek24650 welcome to VolNation!! I am glad to have you here, especially being a Gator fan. I think it makes things more interesting when we get fans of other schools here.

The Tennessee Florida rivalry has definitely been an intense one over the years. I have to say that the Gators have been my most hated team for the last decade probably due to the losses to you guys that cost us potential championships. However, the Dawgs have surpassed you guys as my most hated rival for now. It sucks that UF and UT have allowed these guys to win 2 straight SEC East titles. Its almost like now we have a common goal.....to knock off those pups and prove that those titles from the last 2 years are all we are going to let them have. Anyway, here's to one of us "dethroning" them next year. :good:

As for the FSU game I was pulling for you guys to win. And I have to say I was a bit jealous. What a great game! I didn't see the whole thing so I am not sure of the calls you are talking about but I have heard some other Gators mention it. It's a shame that you couldn't pull it out. It could have gone either way.

Unfortunately for us, I think the future is bright for Florida as they have a young team that is only going to get better.

 

[Derek24650]

Ahh... the poor 1-13 Bulldogs. No, I'm not talking about Mississippi State, but the Georgia Bulldogs vs. Florida the past 14 years. I don't understand. I never have, never will. It's almost as bad as Kentucky vs. any ranked team... they just LOSE! All that to say that it's hard to share your anger about a "pup" team that simply chokes in Jacksonville every year. Yeah, it's done us little good keeping them from getting into the SEC Championship game the past two years, but that's what we get for losing to Ole Miss both years... sigh.

As to UT vs GA this year... that end of the 2nd quarter was a kick in the pants. When you're driving, telling yourself, "Well, we're either gonna get a TD or a FG... " then it turns into a TD for the other team... that's hard to overcome coming out of the locker room in the 2nd half. So I think the rest of that game was unrepresentative of the Vols ability.

I agree... we will both knock off Georgia next year, and the game between UF and UT will decide the SEC East Champion, just like it was 2 years ago. (fat FAT FAT TRAVIS STEPHENS!!!!!) ahhh.......

Is this Claussen's a senior? And if so, do you have somebody to replace him yet?

 

[Freak]

.  (fat FAT FAT TRAVIS STEPHENS!!!!!)  ahhh.......

:huh: huh?

1-13 that's a nice little streak. You gotta like that home field advantage year after year. A lot better than 0-4 anyway :bad: .

Claussen is a senior and we have a couple of guys on the roster, but no real superstars. We are hoping to sign a big name QB this year. Could be a long year next year unless someone steps up.

 

[Derek24650]

That's true... Jacksonville is a little closer to Gainesville than Athens.

As to Travis Stephens, he is the UT RB that killed us two years ago... old habits die hard.

 

[Freak]

I knew who he was I was just curious about the fat part. Maybe I am a little slow

I think travis had a career day that day. It's usually the other teams players that have career days against us.

 

[LadyinOrange]

Hi Derek, I'm happy to add you to my ever-growing list of classy Gator fans who keep reminding me that it was SPURRIER that I hated and not the Gator fans. Well...not the fans like YOU, anyway. Welcome to the board and although I'll never be able to say Go G*****, I promise you'll never be flamed here by me either. I'm looking forward to many interesting conversations/debates in the future.

 

[Derek24650]

I puffed up with pride when you referred to a level of "class". Because, I only WISH you could go to a Florida, Florida State, and Miami game.

Go to a Miami game and it's a bunch of loudmouthed jerks who will turn on their team in a second, and leave at halftime if it's a blowout in either direction.

Go to a Florida State game and it's a bunch of halfwits pulling zip-lock bags of booze out of their underpants, looking to get in a fight.

Go to a Florida game, and half the stadium is elderly couples. The other half is divided between families and students who, when faced with a Florida loss, would rather cry than get mad... honestly, we're just a bunch of nerds who have no friends... just our school!

So I was so glad to hear you say that, because it's so true. We really love our team, and part of that was loving our old coach, Steve... maybe that's why we got a bad rap. But we're correcting that, as there's certianly not a lot of love for the new coach... but that's a whole new story...

 

[Freak]

I have never been to a Miami or FSU game, but I do have to say that the 4 times I have been to Gainesville it has been pretty rowdy. :unsure:

 

[Derek24650]

Yes... well like I said, we have our non-graduate morons, but that's why I said I wish you could go to the other two, FSU and Miami. I wasn't able to escape Tallahassee without property damage, myself. You'll be thankful for away games at The Swamp... though your last two trips weren't exactly a dissapointement... sigh....

 

[Freak]

wanna hear the bad part? I quit going in 1999. Just in time, huh? Now I am afraid if I go we will lose.