Really this site is one of the more “civilized” Gator forums… actually most likely the most (at least pay sites). I see disagreement here, even fairly intense sometimes… what I seldom see is the absolute vitriol most of other Gator venues seem to embrace ( of course I don’t venture on the “Too Hot” sections). I peruse all of them, but this is the only one I post on… and then not that often, because almost everyone here is reasonable in their differences (notice I said almost). I don’t block anyone, and I don’t believe I’ve ever given a negative rating. (even to our rival posters who I sometimes vociferously disagree with) Point being, if all of us would venture out sometimes, we would appreciate this site a lot more.
I get it Kes. I guess I've become a bit more accepting of our realities as a team over the last decade. It was a mandatory three days of mourning after every loss previously. Now I'm pretty much recovered by Sunday, and just suffering from a slight low-grade sports depression. It's an emotional thing this sports stuff. Especially when your connected and have been for so long. Next year I would assume will be a little less miserable. Just with the kids desire to win alone we're in most games. The mighty Gators have fallen far. Other teams suffer much more. We've tasted the glory, so that muscle memory is still there. I have absolutely zero concerns about our return to the summit. It will happen. Just not on our timelines. We just can't keep getting new coaches. Napier is a refreshing change. After three years of his system and recruiting I would expect our competitiveness to change considerably for the better. The old days when we played other teams they'd just be phreaked and pee themselves..."Oh no, the Gators. Yikes." Now, Tenn is good, Georgia, Bama...we'll see. For right now it's like getting your heart yanked out through your chest. This will change. Just not immediately. When you experience a full Swamp on a Saturday night, you know- It's great to-be a Florida Gator. Alums, the young kids, the organization, the facilities. We just need the 5 star kids and a good dose of patience. My overall Gator experience is one of the single most rewarding experiences in my life. The glory, my Gator friends, it is all slowly ramping back up. We might still be losing, but there is a underlying and fundamental shift occurring. Perhaps the paradigm we must embrace right now is acceptance. Go Gators.
This right cheere. "They" have ruined the game for me- (the portal, NIL, targeting, no more "gator bait" the band playing the same generic worn out song. Prima donna players putting on a show after a simple tackle while being down by 2 scores...etc Much like everything else these days regarding culture and tv viewing. I'll always be a gator- But my priorities have changed and I'm thankful for that. Even if the team were undefeated and ranked #1 -I couldn't care less.
The valleys have been depressing and the mirages have been perplexing. It seemed Mullen was the great hire, but him and his agent had their own timeline for his PERSONAL success and when that didnt happen it all went down hill. At the end of the day, this is a form of entertainment. Sounds like its not entertaining for you anymore and as we get older priorities do change. Be well.
I'm right there with you. Been a Gator fan for (believe it nor not) over 70 years. Stuck with them through thick and thin (lots of thin). My Saturdays were owned by my beloved Gators. Everything else was put on hold or skipped. Sat in those bleachers until I got too old to do it. The cost in effort and money now far exceeds the reward. Now I mostly wait until the game is over then review the highlights on YouTube (if I remember to do it). It's not about the coaching. I'm fine with CBN because I know he has as good a chance as anyone of reviving the program. I just don't have any more emotional energy or time to waste on mediocrity. The Gators will have to draw me away from more important things I can accomplish on Saturdays. I truly hope that happens.
I’m only about 25% invested these days. It’s not that Florida has been that bad; it’s just that it seems insurmountable to ever be elite again. I know CFB has never had true parity, but it seems like talent used to be more spread out and things were more wide open only 15 years ago. I just have a hard time being invested in any league in which my team has no chance ever of being as good as the top teams. To me the NFL and NBA are more interesting because of draft picks and salary caps.
Overall the replies seems to me to be pretty civil. Which responses surprise you? The OP was asking folks "you have become me?"
About the 30 year comment. I live out of state and I remember which games were televised. here's our schedule that year and if I could see the game on live TV. Uk- yes, UT- yes, Miss State on a Thursday night- Yes. (I missed Seinfeld to watch it.) So yes to the first 3 games that year, which was a mixed blessing since we were 1-2. LSU and Auburn- don't remember. Probably no. Louisville- definitely no. Ga- yes. So glorious to take down Garrison Hearst. So. Miss- no, USCe- I think yes, Vandy- probably no, but I'm not 100% FSU, Bama in the SECCG, GAtor bowl game- all yes. So that's at least 7 games televised from 1992, probably 8 counting USCe. Then as we started dominated the SEC in 93, even more games were on TV. At least 9 per year, maybe 10. So it's probable that a fan could see 9-10 games per year in the last 30. Absolutely. We came off probation in 86 and I graduated and moved out of state in 87, and even in the late 80s we were on 6-7 times per year. (And we weren't good.) I was the only Gator I knew, I had tough few years right out of college,I was a huge crazy fan, so I lived for these games. 3 hours on fall Saturdays was for me was time travel back to an easier, better time in my life. It's not that way any more. To connect back to the OP- I like SEC football a lot but it's less important to me now.
To answer the op, yes. Went offshore fishing Saturday (scored!). Watched bits of the game on my phone but thrilled I didn’t sit in my house disgusted. The key to my indifference is how blatantly college football is a business now. Not just nil, but coaches paid tens of millions (often not to coach), no rules on academia/recruiting, and conferences grabbing billions. With players becoming the last pigs to feed at the trough, nobody in the game really cares about their school. The notion that this beast represents a university mission has become farcical. My kids went to UF, and while my daughter kind of cared (went to many games), my son doesn’t care. So I go to one game/year with buddies to run around Gainesville and love it, but the heart of the product isn’t there to me. It is possible that when we get better I’ll get jazzed up, but I never watched pro football and I think college is looking pretty similar now. Still passionate about the university but not the game of cfb. I blame spurrier… for spoiling me. Heisman winner, PURE gator, funny, explosive offense… That was magic!
