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I started watching the Gators in 1980 thanks to my Grandfather, who was as Bull a Gator as there could be.
Through the winless season, Lindsey Scott, getting ripped from our 1984 recognition, the Bull&@#%dawgs upset in '85, the Galen Hall removal, the '89 Auburn game, Kyle Morris, the arrival of Coach Spurrier, the 1990 unrecognized SEC champs season, through the SEC titles, the domination of Georgia, the 1995 loss to NEB, the subsequent championship, the loss of our (formerly) signature coach, the Zooker, to now; the greatest stretch of Gator memories to date.
This is a tsunami of success that folks simply wouldn't have thought possible 20 years ago. We would have thought we'd find ways to lose it.
But now, we're champions, and champions in a way that surpasses my greatest dreams.
My (Abridged) Thank You's:
Chris Leak, for never complaining and daring yourself to grow into the champion you promised yourself you would be when you came here. When you committed to be a Gator, you ended up defining what being a Gator should be.
Urban Meyer, for taking us to a level above the former HBC that I thought couldn't exist. You have changed the way we think about how to win games. You have made us believe that you are special. There is a new "Gator Way", and I for one of many am really proud.
Jeremy Foley, for having the vision for what you wanted for your section of the University and being dedicated to being the best. Champs in Basketball. Champs in Football. Checkmate, America.
Steve Spurrier, Charlie Pell, Galen Hall, Ray Graves, and the legion of people who built the long 100 year foundation of the Greatest University. No, we didn't always know how to put all the pieces together, but without your efforts we could not stand so high today.
All my fellow alumni, old and new: These are great days. Let us never forget the path to this place or the how the journey felt to get here. Let us never forget the folks who gave so much to have us feeling the way we feel today.....like Champions.
As I watched the celebration, the pride beaming from the faces of men who fought all season, who never let the hearts sink, who never quit playing at the top of their game, even when tides turned and mistakes were made, I felt an unmistakable feeling of family. I felt as if they did it not only for themselves, but for their university, of which all of us from all generations are part.
Thank you to all of them, to every person who wears the Orange and Blue, to every man, woman and child who has ever said to me, "Go Gators!".
This is our day. These are our years.
We have shown what it truly means to say:
IT'S GREAT TO BE A FLORIDA GATOR!
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Thank You For the Golden Years jaywalker72 1/9/2007 - 11:24 a.m.
