Name: Tad Royals
Alias: Swampthing
Age: 42
Occupation: Self-employed
Teams: University of Florida
Blog: GatorLane.com

As fate would have it I was born a “Gator,” in Gainesville, Florida, into an extended family of alums.  For as long as I can remember the excitement of football season and the “buzz” around the campus on game day was balanced by a horrible on the field product. 

One of my earliest memories, which no doubt scarred me for life was my Dad screaming at the television “NO, NO, NO, NO, NO” repeatedly as Tony Lilly watched Lindsay Scott race by him on the way to a last second, game winning score for arch-nemesis UGA. 

Sitting in the stands with trash bags over our bodies to stay warm watching the Tangerine bowl is etched in my mind forever as well, but the expectation of the worst, like a Cubs or Red Sox fan knowing a loss is guaranteed, was simply being realistic as a Gator Fan, at least prior to the Spurrier era. 

Now strangely enough a different kinship exists with Boston sports fans, as both the Gator nation and fans of the Sox, Pats, BC, etc. are enjoying heretofore unknown success.   It’s a completely different mindset when your hometown becomes known as “Titletown.” 

And since pride goeth before the fall, as I think it goes, I guess I should expect things to revert back to the “bad old days” any day now.  Certainly this football season has been frustrating at best, so we may already be there for all I know.  One thing’s for sure, it doesn’t matter.   If you made it this far, everything else is gravy for the Gator Fan.