Exactly what do you do after we have thrown 8 interceptions in two games and scored 7 points via offense in six quarters of football. The wave?, the two-bit cheer?, just curious, how do you celebrate the fine gator football moments mentioned above? Are you suggesting that the team only deserves the support of fans when they give us something to celebrate? I was at every home game during the 1979 season, too. And I've been at every home game, as well as a number of away games, and every SECCG, and most of our bowl games since the mid-70s. I'm not surprised that those fans who have only come aboard during the past decade are distraught at the sudden downturn in fortunes, because they fortunately have not had to deal with so much adversity. But I expect more from those fans who were around to experience the pre-Spurrier era, when every game was considered a challenge, and every victory was something to be savored, and every season had its share of unfulfilled hopes. Having survived the frustrations of season after season of falling short and trudging away with heads hanging as other programs dominated the SEC, longtime Gator fans could feel a sense of satisfaction in the ascension of UF during the 90s that newer fans could never fully appreciate. Having seen other progams rise to preeminence and then fall over the years, however, older fans were always aware that even though the Gators under Spurrier came to dominate the league like no other team had, the seasons of celebration could not continue indefinitely. Now we are faced with the reality that the Gators are no longer so dominating and intimidating that we can expect to go out and win every week. Now we take our seats or turn on our televisions and await the kickoff with a mixture of excitement and uneasy apprehension, because the outcome is in doubt. It's no longer the equivalent of a James Bond movie, where the results are predictable and we are merely entertained by the details of the story. It's not a new reality--it's a return to reality. The questions that remain to be answered are (a) how will the team respond? and (b) how will the fans respond? Personally, I think the team is more likely to respond in a positive way if the fans are encouraging and supportive. That doesn't mean we aren't frustrated and disappointed; in fact, I'm sure the players and coaches are far more frustrated and disappointed than the fans. It doesn't mean we can't express criticism; the coaches and players are doing some of that, too. But what we have to ask ourselves is whether prolonged whining about what's wrong with the players or coaches does anything to help get the Gators back on track--which, I assume, is what we all want. (Okay, maybe there are a few participants here sporting rivals' icons who would be content to see the skid endure. But what's embarrassing is that many of those rival fans seem to have more confidence in UF's ability to rebound than our own fans.) Just as us "old timers" have seen dominating programs rise and fall, we've seen a number of them "resurrected" after suffering slumps. A good example is Oklahoma. The Gators are certainly as capable as any of scaling the mountain again. And there's no doubt that the climb will be less arduous if there is strong fan support. Each fan has a choice in how he or she will deal with this adversity. As you've said, when you pay for a ticket, you have the right to cheer or jeer. I would hope that the older Gators--those who have witnessed both the peaks and the valleys--would set an example for all those young fans who haven't had to deal with being down before. I suggest that we give these coaches a fair chance to achieve success. If they do, I'd like to look back and say that Gator fans deserve some credit for remaining dedicated. But if they ultimately fall short, I'd hate for it to be blamed on fickle fan support.