Took my family and my 20 year old nephew from California to the game. Did the usual fun pre-game stuff (university ave, burrito bros, tailgating).

Since the last game I took my kids to was the Ga. southern game, I wanted them to experience the excitement of a season opener. And a win.

Got to our seats by 6:45. Weather still was pretty good but players were not on field, countdown clock stopped at 31:21.

I learned at that time about the SEC's 8 mile lightening radius 30 minute delay rule. In retrospect, that rule seems both right and wrong. 8 miles is a large radius. In retrospect, I think the could have played from 7 to 7:30 last night. Of course, TStorms are unpredictable so the SEC call is correct. But I also now appreciate that it should have been clear to me by 8 pm that there was no way the game was going to be played. I don't know what I would have done differently. Not get my hopes up maybe?

Family and I Ducked up into stadium sometime after 7:15. Hit the Gator store. Less than an hour into the delay, still not really bad. Gator band did a cool 20minute set that rocked. Highlight of the evening for sure.

Then it got dark and storms came.

At 9:20 ish we get a break in the weather. Team comes out close to 9:30. we're out there. Team is pumped up. Crowd is jacked up. 40 to 50 thousand fans sound like 100,000 people. Ball game. Then more rain. No one leaves. Then the 4 minute ACDC "thunderstruck". ( not abbreviated one bit while the Idaho team is lined up to kick the ball and UF ready to receive---really, is another delay necessary?)

Kick off, one great return. Hive fives and hugs abound. Rain stops. Here we go!

Nope. Officials conferring on the field. PA announcer mentions something about a Lightening strike. Game delayed. Fan in our section start booing and chanting "bull sh:t"

I get it. You don't mess with lightening and the field was soaked. After the year we had last year, I don't want yo see any players injured because of a bad field. Postponement and then cancellation was the right call. But man, what a disappointment.

We leave for home. Make it to 26th street and then the skies open up. Get soaked some more. Did not have a change of clothes. Get in car and hit a CVS on 34th and Archer. Get the last towel (singular) that they own and some cheap shirts.

I-75 southbound was harrowing for about 10 minutes with the rain. But the rain cleared up thank God. Saw more vehicles full of other disappointed fans heading southbound like me for the next 2 hours. Listened to post "game" on RUF until I lost the signal.

Get home at 1:00 am

Family assures me they had a great time. We tried to make the best of our 3 hours and 30 minutes in the stadium.

But I feel like hell today--wasted. Maybe coming down with something. Wish I went to beach yesterday instead of Gainesville.

Don't get me wrong,

It's great to be a Florida Gator.

But unless I happen to bein Gainesville for another reason, there is no way I will ever make the trek for a game where there is a weather forecast calling for a greater than 35% chance of TS. Hell, 20% might be enough to keep me away. I guess that makes the "in all kinds of weather" line more figurative for me than literal. So be it.

Go Gators. See you next week. Weather permitting.==============================