I've never seen anything like it in all my years of fandom anywhere. It was like we won the MNC. I knew something was up when reached the stop light at 34th and Univ. An SUV next to me started honking the "Go Gators" cheer. I honked along with him/her. But then the light turned green and I couldn't believe my eyes. People were standing along the road next to where they lived and chomping and cheering at every car that drove by. Again, I honked to show my support.

The crowd only grew thicker as I reached the bar district across from campus. People were flowing out of each bar and cheering and screaming and chomping. It was beautiful. And on the other side of the street students and fans were doing the same thing while standing on the brick walls that outline the campus. Then I reached the Swamp (bar not stadium). Toilet paper was flying and fans were screaming.

By this point I realized that I needed to be a part of this madness so I parked and joined the fray. (Fortunately, I knew a few folks were already celebrating). With every car that drove by we cheered. And the people in the cars cheered back. It was like a parade...a national title winning parade. Then when the bars closed the LARGE mass of people from the Swamp, Balls, Grog et al started moving toward the stadium screaming "Goal posts." So again, I joined the masses...I had to see this. UPD was already mobilized. There must have been at least 1,500 people but UPD was having none of it. Fortunately (or unfortunately...depending on how you view it) UPD was able to turn the crowd away despite the fact that they were severely outmanned. If the crowd really wanted to, it could have overcame the force. But I couldn't help but notice that the stadium was locked up so I don't know how people would have broken in.

Despite being turned away from BHG, the crowd was not ready to stop in it's hunt for posts. So they turned toward the practice fields. But they did so without me. I would have watched them tear down the posts at BHG, but practice field posts are where I draw the line. They don't count. It's like cutting down the net of basketball courts at Soutwest Rec.

However, I will take away an amazing feeling of Gator pride and unity that I have never experienced in my 2 1/2 years at UF. For one night the Gator Nation was NOT divided. There were no "bashers" and "Zookers." We were ALL Zookers. But more importantly, we were all Gators. We needed last night. It's been too long for our fan base, we've been starved of that kind of emotion for so long that it made last night all the more sweeter. IMHO, it's always great to be a Florida Gator, but last night it was exceptional to be a Florida Gator. I'll never forget the experience. Thank you boys. Thank you coaches. God bless.