Welcome home, fellow Gator.

The Gator Nation's oldest and most active insider community
Join today!
  1. Hi there... Can you please quickly check to make sure your email address is up to date here? Just in case we need to reach out to you or you lose your password. Muchero thanks!

This Is...The Swamp | The Power of Belief

Discussion in 'RayGator's Swamp Gas' started by tommyvee, Dec 23, 2024 at 7:23 PM.

  1. tommyvee

    tommyvee VIP Member

    18,046
    9,482
    3,293
    May 16, 2007
    Teared up a few times watching this. Yes, I’m soft.

     
    • Winner x 15
    • Like x 5
    • Fistbump/Thanks! x 3
    • Friendly x 1
    • Optimistic x 1
  2. Gatorrick22

    Gatorrick22 GC Hall of Fame

    89,009
    26,839
    4,613
    Apr 3, 2007
    Tommy, thank you for this early Christmas present, my good man. I really like this style of video production... ground views especially.

    I wish you and yours a great Holiday season, my friend.
     
    Last edited: Dec 24, 2024 at 3:56 PM
    • Like Like x 3
    • Agree Agree x 1
    • Winner Winner x 1
    • Friendly Friendly x 1
  3. tommyvee

    tommyvee VIP Member

    18,046
    9,482
    3,293
    May 16, 2007
    I’m flying back to Orlando to spend Christmas with my family tomorrow. Merry Xmas to you and your family and I appreciate it.
     
    • Like Like x 1
    • Friendly Friendly x 1
  4. Gatorrick22

    Gatorrick22 GC Hall of Fame

    89,009
    26,839
    4,613
    Apr 3, 2007
    Thank you. Merry Christmas to you and your family too, my friend. Have safe trip.
     
    • Like Like x 1
    • Friendly Friendly x 1
  5. proudgator1973

    proudgator1973 VIP Member

    This is an amazing production. So proud of those young men. They are building something special. Show that to every recruit, every potential transfer portal player.
     
    • Like Like x 4
  6. tommyvee

    tommyvee VIP Member

    18,046
    9,482
    3,293
    May 16, 2007
    I get that we need to win more games, but what Napier is giving these kids is way beyond wins and losses. I think he’s doing the right thing.
     
    • Like Like x 3
    • Agree Agree x 2
    • Winner Winner x 1
    • Friendly Friendly x 1
  7. gatorranger7

    gatorranger7 GC Legend

    608
    637
    1,988
    Jun 8, 2007
    It’s about more than football. Adversity doesn’t build character; It reveals it.
     
    • Like Like x 3
    • Agree Agree x 2
    • Winner Winner x 1
    • Optimistic Optimistic x 1
  8. GatorRider

    GatorRider GC Hall of Fame

    3,694
    595
    1,978
    Apr 12, 2007
    TommyVee, thanks for finding and sharing. Got online first thing this morning, Christmas Eve. What an uplifting present to share. Thank you. Merry Christmas to my fellow Gators!
     
    • Like Like x 5
    • Friendly Friendly x 1
  9. Absolutely Awesome!...Thank You for sharing Tommy!...Merry Christmas Everyone!!!

    GO GATORS!!!
     
    • Like Like x 3
    • Friendly Friendly x 1
  10. G8R92

    G8R92 GC Hall of Fame

    3,306
    378
    378
    Feb 5, 2010
    Fans had a difficult time buying into or even understanding the "process" CBN kept preaching patience on. I think part of that comes from the very limited access inside the program and locker room. Great to see some of those scenes in the video. The players have really bought in and care about each other.

    Biggest take for me was the bye week in which the players talked about getting back to winning the one-on-ones. Early in the season, we didn't look like we had the "dudes" that could win their one-on-one battles. Clearly a tale of two seasons since the bye week.
     
    • Like Like x 3
    • Agree Agree x 2
  11. MCB51

    MCB51 Moderator

    17,147
    11,019
    3,148
    Nov 23, 2015
    FL
    Glad to hear you say that ;)
    Have a safe trip home..
    Merry Christmas!
    Go Gators!
     
    • Like Like x 2
  12. SJB612

    SJB612 GC Hall of Fame

    5,654
    1,365
    2,088
    Apr 12, 2007
    Thanks for posting. That was well done and enjoyable.
     
    • Like Like x 2
    • Agree Agree x 1
  13. fox

    fox GC Hall of Fame

    18,214
    28,958
    3,328
    Apr 3, 2007
    Florida Beachland
    Catnip for Gators! Love it. We found ourselves and are going to build on it with good momentum.
     
    • Like Like x 3
    • Agree Agree x 1
  14. 4everaGator

    4everaGator GC Hall of Fame

    2,328
    1,931
    1,948
    Aug 3, 2010
    Central Florida
    Love this! The commitment, the desire and brotherhood! How these guys love playing for one another...
    Great to get a little insight into the locker room, the magic happening there that brought about what we saw on the field!
     
    • Like Like x 2
  15. reptilicus

    reptilicus Freshman

    47
    40
    168
    Sep 22, 2023
    That’s an amazing film. Of all the great moments, the one that truly put me inside the head of a player was Jaden Baugh talking about carrying the football and how the crowd noise goes away, returning as soon as the play ends.

    Seeing this also explains why the guys never stopped playing hard for Billy, throughout all the losses over the last three years. He seems so different with the players than in the coachspeak pressers.
     
    • Like Like x 3
    • Agree Agree x 2
  16. ETGator

    ETGator Long-Time Gator Stuck In East Tennessee Moderator VIP Member

    13,476
    8,553
    3,213
    Sep 15, 2007
    These are usually very good. This was great. Thanks for posting it.
     
    • Agree Agree x 2
    • Like Like x 1
  17. gatorranger7

    gatorranger7 GC Legend

    608
    637
    1,988
    Jun 8, 2007
    Each of those well-spoken young men said their words with emotion and conviction. Dike seemed on the verge of tears during his last discourse.

    There were some more low points after the A&M game that weren't shown. Obviously, hope is not the expectation of success, but the thing to which you return, to to start the work again, maybe with worn out tools.

    "Hope is not a course of action." we used to say in the Army. It's a powerful thing, a force-multiplier, an over-the-horizon glow that draws you from the dark of despair. But it is only the basis for a plan to move forward and upward, a foundation on which a plan rests. Because no plan survives first contact, hope knows there will be setbacks.

    As fans, we want to see the scoreboard reflect the light of victory. As an alumnus, I want to see these men demonstrate in their futures that, because of their time as Gators, they became better equipped to thrive in society. They have been given a great gift. Victory isn't assured out here, and losses sometimes, oftentimes, outweigh wins. I hope they have learned enough about themselves while Gators, to cling to hope, yet to know that a course of action must be built on top of it.
     
    • Like Like x 4
    • Fistbump/Thanks! Fistbump/Thanks! x 1
  18. fox

    fox GC Hall of Fame

    18,214
    28,958
    3,328
    Apr 3, 2007
    Florida Beachland
    Makes me sad for players who are lured away to portal by voices around them.

    And appreciate even more the guys who would never break the bond and stick it out.
     
    • Agree Agree x 4
  19. audiogatorjim

    audiogatorjim GC Hall of Fame

    1,819
    842
    1,833
    Mar 15, 2009
    Brilliant!
     
    • Like Like x 2
  20. gatorranger7

    gatorranger7 GC Legend

    608
    637
    1,988
    Jun 8, 2007
    No right answer. How many times do we see people leave great work situations for the allure of some desired title, or comp number, or package...leaving what might have been a better thing...or maybe not. As employers who find more talented people are compelled to make room for them on a payroll/budget at another's expense. And sometimes, it works out, other times it doesn't. As married couples - who promised many things - retract those promises for "reasons." It's life. I hope Jack Pyburn, et als, still grew as people and were taught something that either helps them in life, or causes them to see their mistakes. Me? I hope he regrets leaving, is envious of what he had in his hands. I don't wish him ill, but neither do I wish him success there either. "The moving finger writes; and having writ, moves on. "
     
    • Like Like x 1