My first game to see the Gators in person was at Florida Field October 5, 1968. It was a 31 - 14 victory over Mississippi State who at that time was traditionally our first SEC game of the year. There was a battle back then for the starting quarterback position between local Gainesville boy, Jackie Eckdahl, the diminutive Larry Rentz from Coral Gables, and Harmon Wages from Jacksonville.
For me, and I think it is true for a lot of fans, your level of interest is never as great as it was when you were a student. Of course, that doesn't hold for everyone, and there are numerous posters on this board who certainly have maintained a high level of interest over the years.
One thing I have noticed as the years have gone by, and it is not just for Florida football but all over, is that the level of interest is tied more to a team's chance of winning a national championship. At least this maybe true for the top 20 or 25 programs that even have a chance to be number one. Back then the focus was more regional and not national. To be one of the top teams in the South was the goal. Regional rivalries meant a lot and they still do, but we have lost some of our great rivalries -- Miami and Auburn come to mind. We used to have some great games with Georgia Tech when the Engineers were in the SEC.