to a complete stranger who in just a few minutes reminded me again how special it is to be a Florida Gator. I was with friends at a beach bar on St. Pete Beach on Friday night when I looked to my left and saw some dude wearing a hunting hat and spitting chew. I looked at him and asked, "did you just spit?" He laughed a little in a really child like innocent way and it cracked me up. His buddy wearing an old, dirty Gator hat then poked his head forward. Of course, I asked him if he is a Gator. He said he has been for life. His buddy then explained that they were from Missouri and this was the first time either one had ever been out of the state of Missouri. Naturally, I asked how he became a Gator fan then and he explained that when he was a kid he watched Danny Wuerffel and the Gators play and that was it for him. He spent his whole life dreaming about getting to see the Gators play. I asked him if he bought tickets for the game and he said the he couldn't find them anywhere. He was disappointed but incredibly excited that he got to see Gainesville. He pulled out his phone and proceeded to show me the pictures from their stop in Gainesville, with his favorite being the one with his head in the giant Gator jaw.

After checking with my friend about changing our plans, I offered him my tickets. You would think I had just offered him my winnings from the lottery. Giving him those tickets was really fun. He and his buddy are young firefighters who have never had the opportunity to travel. He started taking pictures of the tickets and of us to send to his friends. All he kept saying is that he can't believe he is going to a Gator game. We got a text later that night from his friend who said he fell asleep holding the tickets. We also got pictures from the game. 

I learned what I suppose I already knew -- that the Florida Gators have had a phenomenal influence on kids throughout the country over many years. I'm talking about the sort of influence that should make us all proud. I'm not talking about "swagger" or the thuggery that some (University of Miami) pride themselves on, but the kind that makes kids want to grow up doing good things. I could not have aksed for a better way to use my tickets.

Go Gators!