28 Days

In Steve McQueen's classic racing movie "Le Mans" he explains to the wife of a racing colleague who died the previous year in a fiery accident why he still races in a sport so fraught with danger, "For us there is only racing. The time in between...is just waiting." For Gator alumnus and fans alike its no different. There is Gator football season and all the time in between is just waiting. That's why hearing the news that Gator football practice started yesterday is like mainlining adrenaline. Being jacked for a new season and salivating at the prospect of another run at an SEC championship, revenge at Tuscaloosa for last years SEC Championship game loss, the debut of John Brantley as the new on the field leader of the offense, and the return of Urban Meyer makes the rush even greater.

That loss to Alabama last year in Atlanta still hangs in my throat along with a bad taste in my mouth that simply will not go away. I don't know if Brantley is the guy to make things right but the anticipation is almost unbearable. There is a lot to sort out. Will Andre DuBose be the guy we think he is capable of being? There's that issue of depth at linebacker. What's Meyer's plans for a possible appearance of Trey Burton with some wildcat time at QB. What can we expect from the Freshmen? And finally, the QB position. Will Brantley be the QB we think he can be? The time to sort all this out is almost upon us.

Yep. For us there is football season. All the time between is just waiting. That wait is almost over. In 28 days / 20 hours/ and 36 minutes its going to be game time at the swamp.

I'm already there.

The Golden Age of Gator Football?

Why is the man smiling?

You would be too with his record. A record btw that's unprecedented. Also, Sporting News has just annointed him the best coach in college football. I keep wondering if I'm dreaming.

In my senior year at the University of Florida the Gators went 0 - 10 - 1 (the tie was with Georgia Tech if you are wondering with Steve Spurrier as one of its assitant coaches). Up to that time the thing about the UF football's "golden age" is there wasn't one...not really. I guess the 1960's under Doug Dickey was about he best they could do and Spurrier's Heisman trophy year. Usually when you hear alumni from other schools talk about a "golden age" for their alma mater it seems it is always some x number of years ago that requires a taxing of their memory to get all the details just right.

I'm just lucky. There is no doubt we are in the golden age of Gator football. Spurrier stated it all and put us on the map. But Meyer has taken us to heights I never imagined. Two national championships in three years? Wow. I still can't believe it. If the football gods keep smiling it just might be three in four years. The only bad thing about that is where do you go from there? I don't want to turn into the model Alabama alumnus that always seems to favor digging up Bear Bryant and have a cadavor, or what left of it, as a preference over anyone of the replacements that have graced the sidelines since his departure.

But the thing of it is, I don't have to tax my memory. Its all on my DVD collection. And I can relieve it anytime when I feel like it. Damn. Someone pinch me. Let's see how long Urban can make this last. No matter what happens now, I'm satisfied with the memories I've got in HD.