That Time of Year Again

As I sit here reflecting tomorrow's momentous occassion I am reminded of the first game I attended in the Swamp (no it was not called that then) back in 1989. This is the 20th Anniversary of my first game. As a child, my Dad and I were huge fans, but he usually had to work on Saturdays so I would listen to the game on the radio (no we did not have a million channels with every game on it...usually got to see one or two games on TV a year if you were lucky). My Dad had been dating my step mom in 1989 and she was a lifelong booster and season ticket holder. This was his first game as well and it was my freshman year at UF.

The field was artificial turf, a man by the name of Emmitt Smith was the star and we were not nearly as good as we are now, but the memories of the roar of the crowd still give me goose bumps and still make the hair on the back of my neck stand on end. No I am not going to tomorrow's game, I usually try to go at least once or twice a season just to relive those memories and rekindle that lifelong love affair (not that I need it because I bleed orange and blue but it is more like an annual pilgrimage). This is a momentous occassion because we have a chance for an undefeated season (I know we did it in the 1995 regular season but we all know how that bowl game ended up....I know I try not to remember that either). What a way to end a magical four years, winning two Heisman trophies, three national championships including back to back championships and a perfect season. I almost feel like talking about it will jinx it. Here come the GAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAATORS!