I didn’t make up my mind to go to Atlanta until Thursday night, 2 days before the big game.  I got some great airline and hotel rates to Atlanta. I told Michelle, I am outta here.  Got to catch a 6:10 a.m. redeye to Atlanta. She could only roll her eyes at me.

Before I left I emailed several of my gator friends looking for tickets. No luck.  I got on ebay and craigslist and still no luck on a ticket to the game.  I arrived in Atlanta at 9:30 a.m. and headed straight to my hotel and luckily they let me check in early.  I got on my laptop and an email was asking me if I still needed a ticket to the game.  I assured the person I was and we bargained back and forth and I finally negotiated a GREAT price for the ticket.  He also told me he was a former player for the University of Florida.  I thought to myself, yeah right. 

I got his cell phone number and immediately called to make sure he was legit.  He answered and assured me he would be in Atlanta before the game.  He was driving down from North Carolina.  Ok, I said, Just don’t sell that ticket.  Game day arrived and I was nervous, my stomach was churning.  Not only about the game but also was I going to get into one of the biggest games of my life.  I started making alternative plans just in case.  I found out the Atlanta Gator Club had transformed a former fire station into their headquarters.  A huge gathering was anticipated for the Big game.  Then the cell phone rang.  It was my ticket seller, you know the former UF gator player.  He was in Atlanta looking for a parking spot and we agreed to meet next to where Gameday was set up.  As I walked over to the meeting place I noticed 2 guys.  One was about 6 foot 5 and every bit of 300 plus pounds.  Wow. We introduced ourselves and I gladly handed him over the cash and told him I wasn’t sure if I was going to sit with him or a couple of other friends of mine who had come up from Jax.  I knew it was going to be a sellout so chances of me finding another seat in the stadium was slim to none.  I got to my seat an hour and a half before kickoff.  I just love watching a stadium fill up before a big game.  The Texas Gator was ready for this one.  Next to me was a true redneck from Alabama and I introduced myself but he was reluctant to shake my hand.  His girlfriend next to him said something and they got into a small exchange of words.  I didn’t say another word.  2 seats over was anther Alabama couple.  I was surrounded by the enemy.  Great, I thought.  But if I can sit amongst 40,000 Georgia fans and send them home early surely I could make it through this. As seats around me started filling up more and more Gator fans started to arrive.  I was feeling a little better.  Then at about 15 minutes before Kickoff Jonathan arrived and sat next to me.  I squeezed back down to my seat closing my legs together.  This guy is huge.  Yeah he could have played for the Gators.  But even better, Now I had me a Bodyguard.  My Gator Buddies in Jax know what I am talking about. They cover my back at the Cocktail party every year. I get rather intense at Gator games and I truly leave it on the field. My friends who have attended a Gator game with me know what I am talking about.  And this one was one of the biggest of all.  #1 vs. #2 and the winner goes to the NC game. 

I warned Jonathan that I got rather intense at Gator games.  He just smiled at me and said it was a pleasure to sit with a true gator fan.  I started talking to him about his days with the Gators, where he played and about Zook and Meyer.  What an unbelievable experience.  I have been going to Gator games all over the country for over 40 years but this was truly the first time to really sit with a true Gladiator off my favorite team in the world.  He played guard for the Gators from 2001-2005.  Just missed out on a NC game in 06.  I also asked him to give me his prediction on the game.  31-18 he said.  I hope so, I said and just smiled back.

The Stadium was starting to fill.  The largest crowd to ever witness an SEC championship game in the Dome.  The Million Dollar Alabama band struck up the music and the Tide fans went wild.  I was just thinking a couple hours earlier I was on the front row of Gameday with my sign that read, “ Tebow can kill an elephant with a slingshot.”  Boy were the Alabama fans loud.  Then the Gator Band came on and Up I went cheering my band on. Game hasn’t even started yet and I am yelling my head off for the fighting Gator Band. I looked at Jonathan,  Boy I am nervous.  Me too, he said. Bring it on Bama, I yelled.  Then the two teams enter the stadium and my ears started ringing.  Yeah, this was a big one.  I knew my team, with my help would bring home a victory.  I am the ever optimist Gator fan.  I was at the 1995 game in Tempe when we played Nebraska for it all.  And yes, I stayed till the very end.

The gator players were dancing on the sidelines getting the crowd into it.  I was looking for #1 Percy Harvin.  Was he playing?  Damn, he was hobbling on the sidelines.  That was not a good sight. Maybe they will use him as a decoy, I thought.  But we still had a lot of playmakers.  We would be ok.  The entire stadium was standing yelling their lungs out as we kicked off to Alabama.  Please don’t run it back I thought.  On our first defensive series Alabama threw a pass and the Gators leveled the receiver.  I came unglued out of my seat.  Reminded me of the 2^nd play of the Georgia game when Spikes leveled NOSHOMoreno and got into his face.  We came to play, Baby…We came to play.  I knew right then my voice would be gone before this one was over.  My Alabama buddy next to me was not too happy with me. I could have cared less. I thought, you want some of me.  You got to go thru my bodyguard first. I ignored the redneck the rest of the game.  I was too much into my Gators. Florida scored first and I was going crazy.  I knew how important it was for us to score first.  We made a statement.  We were going to blow this team out by halftime.  Another easy romp just like the last eight. NOT.  This was Alabama.  Undefeated.  A great defense and a good coach.  Alabama scored, Florida scored and the Gators were up at the half 17-10.  I was worn out by halftime.  My newfound buddy Jonathan was just smiling at me. I went down and grabbed a coke a pretzel and just tried to relax.  Talked to lots of my gator buddies and texted more messages than I have for the last 5 years during the halftime break. 

In the 3^rd quarter Gators would get the ball first and we would take it down the field and score.  We would go up 24-10 and I would feel a whole lot better.  BUT, Bama stopped the Gators and Florida was backed up.  And then a huge punt down to the 9.  WOW, what a punt.  We flipped the field on them.  But then it happened.  My worst nightmare.  Alabama was starting to flex their muscle and RB Coffee was running right up the gut on us. All the way down the field.  A 91 yard drive and we couldn’t stop them. This was Alabama’s M.O.  Run, Run and then Run more.  Wear out your opponent and they would submit in the 4^th quarter.  We were falling right into their prey.  We would be victim #13.  I looked over at Jonathan and I could see a worried look on his face.  Oh No, I thought. Gators need me now. We are in a battle, a WAR with the Number one ranked team in the country.  Best team wins.  You know all the clichés. Alabama bulls their way into the endzone and scores. We are tied 17-17.

Our offense got the ball and once again we were unable to move on Mount Cody and the Alabama Crimson Tide Defense.  I was getting worried now.  Could it finally happen.  Could a team in America stop this Gator potent offense that had been putting up Gaudy like numbers ever since that 1-point loss to Ole Miss.  Bama gets the ball and started driving again.  Coffee to the left, Coffee to the Right and great pass and catch to Julio Jones.  Damn, that guy is good.  I wish we had him.  BUT, the Gators held and Bama had to settle for a field goal.  20-17 Alabama had the lead and we started the 4^th Quarter.  Jonathan bobbed his head up and down, we’ll be ok, he told me.  I wasn’t as confident.

Jonathan and I wrapped our arms around each other and swayed to “We are the Boys.”  Something about that song was very calming for me.  35,000 Gator fans were united arm in arm and all Alabama fans could do was watch in AWE.  “In all kinds of weather we all stick together….” I was ready for the 4^th quarter and I let my Alabama redneck friend next to me know it.  I was yelling as loud as I could directed straight at the team on the sideline.  They heard me.  They also heard the loudest roar of the evening as Tebow started fist pumping the fans in the end zone.  We’re behind you, We got your back Tebow.  And then it happened. My GOD, what a 4^th quarter it was.  The Gator machine behind one of the best quarterbacks to ever play college football started willing his team to victory.  Nothing would stop him.  Tebow started pounding Alabama. 3^rd down near the goal and Tebow flips a shuttle pass to Aaron Hernandez and he rambles 6 yards for a first down.  Two plays later Tebow flips a toss around left end to Jeffrey Demps…. TOUCHDOWN Gators. A 62-yard drive in 11 plays.  I was fist pumping, yelling, screaming. 24-20 Gators.   I was going nuts in the stands.  Gator fans were delirious.  Jonathan never stood up.  Just clapped and smiled.  I smiled with him.  Tebow ran over to the kickoff team and threw his body into the huddle.  I thought I was pumped.  Damn.  Tebow was ready.  This Gator team was pumped now.  Tebow was facemask to facemask with Spikes.  I can only imagine that conversation.  I couldn’t sit down now.  My team needed me.  I wasn’t going to Let Tebow or the Florida Gators down now. Not now.  I looked up at the clock, 7:27 left, and started chanting low then louder, “ROLL CLOCK, ROLL CLOCK.”  Gator fans were laughing their keisters off. Gators once again held Alabama and on 3^rd down sacked John Parker Wilson and Alabama had to punt.  Superman Tim once again willed the Gators down the field.  Laser perfect passing….A beautiful 33 yarder to Louis Murphy. Down to the one.  And then. A 5 yard penalty for sideline infraction.  YOU GOTTA BE KIDDING ME.  I was madder than Meyers.  A HUGE Penalty. The candy stripers backed us up 5 yards. No Problem for Captain Comeback.  Mr. Tebow fired a pass to his roommate Riley Cooper inches off the ground….  TOUCHDOWN Gators. It all happened right in front of me. We were up 31-20 with 2:50 remaining on the clock.  Game Over.  I was starting my victory dance.  And when JPW threw that final interception to Joe Haden my Alabama buddy and his girlfriend quickly exited the stadium…..Didn’t even say goodbye to me. Go figure.  What an amazing 4^th quarter.  130 yards for Florida and Alabama 1 yard…. YES, 1 yard of offense in the 4^th quarter. Who has the better Defense now Mr Cody. They were TEBOWED. I shook Jonathan’s massive hand and once again thanked him profusely.  We had our picture taken together and I asked him to send me a copy.  He assured me he would.  I went down and watched the post game crowning of the 2008 SEC Champions.  How Nice.  As I exited the stadium I got a call from my friend in Jax.  We’re in, he said.  He got tickets for me and the four of us were heading to Miami.  When I hung up the phone.  I looked up to the heavens and said, God it’s “GREAT TO BE A FLORIDA GATOR.”