When did you become a Gators fan?

GatorJB

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For me it started in 5th grade. My teacher was a big college football fan, and she wanted us to do a semester long group scrapbook on a SEC football team. My dad, who attend school in Illinois, is a bigger NFL fan so I didn't watch much college at that time. I wanted to choose Florida because I new I had several relatives that went there, but everyone else in my group wanted to do Miss St.

I decided to watch more gator games that year anyways, and the year was 1996. Long story short, I've been a big fan ever since. Also helped that most of the annoying people I knew we're vol fans, so it was fun rooting for the team they hated most.
 

Homer J

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1980 - my grandparents to moved to FLA and started sending me Gator shirts. She sent me one fsu shirt and it got bleached and thrown away. My school colors were ORANGE & BLUE and our two rival schools were Canastota (garnet & gold) and VVS (red & black).
 

Jbossgator8

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I was born a Gator in 1979. I remember watching Emmitt in the late 80s and was sad when he left for the NFL. My Dad used to tell me stories about a QB that he loved that kicked a field goal that won him the Heisman. I really got hooked on Gators Football in 1990 when SOS was hired. I've been bleeding Orange and Blue ever since. Go Gators!!

:chomp::chomp::chomp:
 

SeabeeGator

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I was born a Gator in 1979. I remember watching Emmitt in the late 80s and was sad when he left for the NFL. My Dad used to tell me stories about a QB that he loved that kicked a field goal that won him the Heisman. I really got hooked on Gators Football in 1990 when SOS was hired. I've been bleeding Orange and Blue ever since. Go Gators!!

:chomp::chomp::chomp:
No wonder you’re the eternal optimist. You were born at the absolute lowest point in Gator history. Everything has to look good compared to that.
 

GatorBart

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Fall of 87, Emmitt’s Bama game. It was my first semester on campus for grad school. Growing up in the Midwest and hearing Big10 this Big10 that all of my life, that game sold me on SEC football and buying in to being a Gator.
:chomp:
 

Okeechobee Joe

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My Dad took me to the 1949 Florida vs dwags game. Been going ever since...

1949: Hunsinger ends Georgia's streak

The post–World War II 1940s were a tough slog for the Florida Gators. Coached by Raymond Wolf, the Gators' collection of recent high school graduates and returning war veterans suffered the indignity of four consecutive losing seasons—the lowest point in the history of the Gators football program, ironically remembered by the close-knit players as the "Golden Era." But there were still stars and bright moments; Wolf's 1949 Florida Gators were led by senior lineman Jimmy Kynes and running back Chuck Hunsinger. Given little chance by anyone to beat coach Wally Butts' Georgia Bulldogs in Jacksonville, Kynes inspired his two-way linemen to their outstanding effort of the season, stopping the Bulldogs' running game on defense, and blocking for Hunsinger on offense. Hunsinger rushed eighteen times for 174 yards and three touchdowns, and the Gators won 28–7, breaking a seven-game Georgia winning streak. Wolf's overall coaching record doomed his four-year tenure in Gainesville, but on that day he was carried from the field by his players.

Interesting that you go back before Ray Graves, even back before Bob Woodruff, all the way back to Raymond "Bear" Wolf. I know a little about Chuck Hunsinger from reading Gator history. There was a popular song written about him "Hunsinger the Humdinger" penned by two Birmingham sportswriters after Hunsinger tore through the Crimson Tide returning a kick-off 96 yards.

The link below is to a dedication program naming the high school football stadium in Harrisburg, Illinois after Hunsinger. It is worth the while of every Gator fan to click on the link and read it. I wish we had more athletes and men today like Chuck Hunsinger.

http://www.cflapedia.com/Players/h/hunsinger_chuck_statium.pdf
 

CGgater

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Late 70s, which is NOT an easy way to start one’s fandom. Wes Chandler had just left and the offense died.
 

B52G8rAC

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Moved from Pensacola (Cantonment) to Jax when I was 6. 50-yard line tickets to every FL-Ga game. Loved being a Gator since then = '51. UF student in '63. Watched Spurrier play & win Heisman.
My Uncle worked at the papermill there. Said that awful smell was 'bacon and eggs.'
 

rogdochar

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My Uncle worked at the papermill there. Said that awful smell was 'bacon and eggs.'

St.Regis bought that Cantonment mill, including all the employees. Thus, they moved my entire neighborhood, all us elementary school chums to north Jax. I had my same friends & classmates @ 500 miles away.

Right next door, Cantonment Tommy, 2 years older than me (& dumber) was unpacking in his freshman dorm at FSU, when Michael walks in as his unbeknownst roommate. Michael lived right next door to Tommy in Cantonment, but wasn't papermiller, so was left behind there for 12 years. Now here he appears after 12 years of no contact or knowledge.
 
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oxrageous

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I can guarantee that the OP has made his first and last post. Maybe he's writing a paper on college football fans and needed material or something, but not only do I doubt he's a Gator fan, my money is that he's never watched a college football game in his life.
 

78

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He warned everyone Saturdays were better. He grabbed his $7 in Oxbucks and hauled ass into immortality.
 

Okeechobee Joe

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Who writes "When did you become a Gators fan?" ? You write "When did you become a Gator fan?"
 

JDW

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I figured like most ppl his grammar sucked...on a more important note...what are oxbucks?
 

RocketCityGator

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Before I started at UF in '91, I was mostly and NFL fan, Cowboys and Bucs. Grew to really appreciate college sports. Can't stand the NFL now. Go Gators!
 

Swamp Donkey

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on a more important note...what are oxbucks?
A new virtual currency. Very hot. Latest thing.

100 oxbux will buy you a 1/10,000 chance at a sweatshirt.
 

rogdochar

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......on a more important note...what are oxbucks?

Silly, oxbucks is oxdoe.

(Knowing ox, 5,000 oxbucks gets you an over-nighter with a fine looking oxdoe?)
 

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