I will really miss being there in Neyland this Saturday where we have really done a great job ever since SOS revived the Gators. I saw all but one of those last seven trips to the home of Rocky Top. Living in the land of the Vols until 2004 was a fun time watching the Gators (and helping to get the Music City Gators going). I still have my "UF11" auto tag, now on the wall. Before 1990 the Vol fans I worked with had little respect for the Gators even though we had the occasional win. As the years flew by and the Gators advanced to lead the SEC it was great to witness the change in attitude of my co-workers. They still cheered for the Vols as much as ever but most of them grew to at least respect the Gators success while trying hard not to admit it. They hoped we would stumble but knew deep down they were the underdogs. To me the height of VOL frustration came in 1998. They could hardly remember the last time they had beat us in Neyland. We came in with the opportunity to once again knock them out of the SEC/ national championship race. It was a late afternoon game and I have never felt as much tension in the air before a game as around 110,000 fans filed into the stadium (including whatever minimum allotment they had to give UF-maybe 8 or 10,000??). It was literally a case of "we will beat those *******Gators **** tonight OR ELSE!!!" They just had to do it but were far from confident. The thought crossed my mind that leaving the stadium after the win I expected that night could be hazardous to my health wearing my Gator garb! Of course that missed field goal in overtime saved the game for the Vols as they let out a giant sigh of relief and I was almost (but not really) relived as well that we could walk out in relative safety as UT celebrated. One more note of trivia from that game-as we missed that final field goal the goal post came down nearly as fast the ball sailed by in the opposite direction!! It had to set a record of its own plus the remains of the CBS camera on that goal post were reportedly found somewhere on campus the next day.
Anyway, I look forward to Percy Harvin, Tebow and all the Gators celebrating Sat night leaving Neyland with little or no chorus of 'Rocky Top' to be heard! GatorTC From: [email protected] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of John Vega Sent: Tuesday, September 16, 2008 10:17 AM To: [email protected] Subject: [gatortalk] Re: [gatornews] [SUN]: Neyland has been good to the Gators On Sep 16, 2008, at 7:52 AM, Shane Ford wrote: Think about it. In the last seven trips Florida has made to Knoxville, the Gators have won five times. They would have won a sixth if not for a pair of blown calls. They could have won all seven if not for a case of fumble-itis and a missed field goal in overtime. Terry Jackson's knee was down. -Zeb --~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~ GATORS: ONE VOICE ON SATURDAY - NO VOICE ON SUNDAY! 1996 National Football Champions | 2006 National Basketball Champions 2006 National Football Champions | 2007 National Basketball Champions Three Heisman Trophy winners: Steve Spurrier (1966), Danny Wuerffel (1996), Tim Tebow (2007) - Visit our website at www.gatornet.us -~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~---
