I was on the mailing list in the mid 90s. Started here and mudlizard. I’d post from my high school library and sister’s computer.
Wow, cool thread... Yep, joined in '96 when Swampie had his Rumor Mill....and Wheeler had a forum....and I had dial-up via AOL. Started out as EmoryGator, then BigEmoryGator after one of the transitions would not allow me to keep my original name. One of the coolest memories was hooking up with @PD (David) on here and getting him on my Flag Football team here in Atlanta way back in '98... One of the worst memories was waking up one morning that same year and logging on and seeing a picture of James McGriff splashed on the front page. His death was untimely and tragic...still think about the instant sinking feeling I got when I saw this. His future was unlimited. This place has been my "refuge" for many, many years. It has had its ups and downs...just like life in general. But like any strong individual, it keeps on going....usually coming out stronger than ever. I thank you Ray and all the people on here that make this such a special, fun place. B.E.G.
Joined sometime during the magical 96 season. Had a different username then. Got this username when I joined Nortel right out of college in the summer of 97. I left Nortel in 99 but the username has stuck for some reason. Hell, the company doesn’t even exist anymore. LOL. My earliest game day thread memory is with Domigator during the 99 UT game where Alex Brown destroyed Tee Martin. Ray, thank you for creating something that has been a part of my life every day for the past 22 years. It’s been an incredible ride so far and looking forward to the next 22 years.
I joined in 95-97. Remember going from free to pay. Also Swampie and Wheeler. Swampie has been around here lots since then but I don't remember seeing him lately. I think I have always had the same name which is short for Sarasota Gator.
yep, started out as therustygator. long time. back when nick and Andrew were getting their lunch money punked out of them in grammar school. been a crazy ride ray.
Swamp's rumor mill was pre-WWW. I remember using AOL Prodigy...around 1991....dial up service with that awful noise. It wasn't much different than a string and a can for a phone. Ray, when did Gator Country start? But it was damn sure better than calling Max Howell's 900 number...which my wife was convinced was a porno number until I made her call Max. ps...before that it was the Gator Bait newspaper. With Jack Hairston's red chips and blue chips. Graduated UF MBA in 1979 and became addicted to recruiting when Pell came and started crushing it in recruiting that year.
Wow, this is hard lol. I joined in late 95 or early 96 - screen name was 69gator, my clever way (or not) of saying that I am a Gator since birth haha. Changed it to sixty9gator while we were at scout, then to the alreegator once we left there.
It's been a long time but I think I joined the free boards in 2001 and went paid in 2002. GC is home and the only place I'll use to keep up with all our sports. I can't believe it's been over 15 years for me. Thank you Ray for creating GC and keeping it going all these years. You do a great job always keeping it true to it's roots.
I would guess it was 98 after UF and before moving back to Tally - it seems like ity had a few different iterations since i joined but the same great information and discussions
Around 1996 for me. Remember watching the site on signing day and being thrilled with Bo Carroll’s commitment.
1999 or 2000 for me. Was utahgator before the merge. Someone else was using that handle and we moved away from utah in 2007 so I changed.
I started in 97 as Alphagator (lived in Alpharetta, GA at the time), lost that during one of the transitions. Became Gatorduq (undergrad from Duquesne U). Joined the pay site when it started and haven't ever regretted it.