- Jun 10, 2014
- 4,102
- 12,632
Founding Member
As I sit watching bowl games and chatting in the box, it gives me a chance to be reflective on 2018 and appreciative of this motley crew of reprobates, pirates, ne’er-do-wells, and otherwise seedy individuals that I would likely avoid in public, but somehow have a real affinity for here.
2018 has been an interesting year personally and professionally - as many of you know I travel a lot, and there is a certain “grind” to my profession that causes me to look for escapes, and this place provides exactly that. Passionate exchanges, good-natured ribbing, and some absolutely laugh-out-loud moments are all memories here in the past year.
I remember the optimism (mixed with pessimism) as we entered the year with a new coach, the blasé of the spring game, and the gnashing of teeth into the season start. I rolled into Gainesville for Charleston Southern, enjoying the cupcake win and the board agreeing we had no idea what we have still.
Then...Kentucky. It was inevitable, but the absolute dejection, anger, and resolution on the board led to some of the most passionate exchanges we’ve ever had. I remember the thread about Gator football being “over”, and how it elicited strong responses on either side.
What got me past the pain was the preparation for “The First Annual GCMB Jabber Memorial Tailgate Blowout Extravaganza” The First Annual GCMB Jabber Memorial Tailgate Blowout! 15-Sep, Colorado State, making new friendships and memories, and throwing my arm out trying to throw a dart completely through Butters’ face. It was a righteous memorial...I just wish Jabber had shown.
After beating the gaptooths and the exciting defensive struggle at MSU, the next trip south for me was for LSU, and possibly one of the most exciting games I’ve witnessed in the Swamp, and certainly one of the loudest moments there ever with the game ending pick 6. That was the moment I thought “maybe we’ve got something here”. The board was electric, and the tailgate was as much fun as a couple of weeks earlier.
Vandy here in Nashville (Swamp North) was frustrating, as it often is, but the team showed a game-ending toughness that would be repeated later in the year.
I went to JAX for the WLOCP for only my 2nd time, and really felt like we won the first half...but too many miscues and the reality that the buttlickers just had more talent and ended our hope, and got the board going again. Angst, arguing, pumping, dumping....it was glorious!
Work travel kept me from making the trip to Gainesville for Mizzou and the fighting Muschumps, but closing out the tailgate season with Idaho was a great way to finish up another fun home season.
Humiliating the clowns was fantastic, and the whole board, even @Swamp Donkey, found positive that tempered some of the preseason angst about the Mullen hire. He might actually be the right guy.
Then it was recruiting and early NSD...and holy crap was it on again! Pumpers! Dumpers! Dumping-pumpers! (Guilty as charged). The board rocked, and got me through some stressful times.
Going to Atlanta for the Peach Bowl was an incredible experience. I’ve been to the SEC championship twice in the Georgia Dome, but I’ve never actually been to a bowl game before this on. Meeting new members was the cherry on top of the incredible experience of a Big 10 beatdown and ridding ourselves of the Michigan monkey on the back. I also hones my scooter skills...awesome.
It’s the people of this board thought that make all of it that much better - I got to maintain great relationships, and meet a whole new group of members. In no particular order..THANK YOU to @Swamp Queen , @Captain Sasquatch , @jaywalker72 , @oxrageous, @stephenPE , @Slevin , @aka , @Detroitgator , @Gator98MD , @Gatorphan , @bradgator2 , @Phineus Maximus , @GatorTruth133 , @MADGator , @Swampy! , @Nomadigator , @Gator by the Sea , @Treebeard , @Bama&GatorFan , @Homer J, @RocketCityGator @Thick&ThinG8r - all GCMB members I met this year (apologies to anyone I missed!).
I was also going to call out others that I haven’t yet met, but make my time on GCMB special...but there are just too many to name. Thank you ALL for making my 2018 Gator year a great one - It’s GREAT...
I hope you use this thread to share your favorite GCMB moments this year!
BNAG8R
P.S. For the TL;DR crowd....basically it says “Screw you @bradgator2 , @Zambo , and @-THE DUDE-” .
2018 has been an interesting year personally and professionally - as many of you know I travel a lot, and there is a certain “grind” to my profession that causes me to look for escapes, and this place provides exactly that. Passionate exchanges, good-natured ribbing, and some absolutely laugh-out-loud moments are all memories here in the past year.
I remember the optimism (mixed with pessimism) as we entered the year with a new coach, the blasé of the spring game, and the gnashing of teeth into the season start. I rolled into Gainesville for Charleston Southern, enjoying the cupcake win and the board agreeing we had no idea what we have still.
Then...Kentucky. It was inevitable, but the absolute dejection, anger, and resolution on the board led to some of the most passionate exchanges we’ve ever had. I remember the thread about Gator football being “over”, and how it elicited strong responses on either side.
What got me past the pain was the preparation for “The First Annual GCMB Jabber Memorial Tailgate Blowout Extravaganza” The First Annual GCMB Jabber Memorial Tailgate Blowout! 15-Sep, Colorado State, making new friendships and memories, and throwing my arm out trying to throw a dart completely through Butters’ face. It was a righteous memorial...I just wish Jabber had shown.
After beating the gaptooths and the exciting defensive struggle at MSU, the next trip south for me was for LSU, and possibly one of the most exciting games I’ve witnessed in the Swamp, and certainly one of the loudest moments there ever with the game ending pick 6. That was the moment I thought “maybe we’ve got something here”. The board was electric, and the tailgate was as much fun as a couple of weeks earlier.
Vandy here in Nashville (Swamp North) was frustrating, as it often is, but the team showed a game-ending toughness that would be repeated later in the year.
I went to JAX for the WLOCP for only my 2nd time, and really felt like we won the first half...but too many miscues and the reality that the buttlickers just had more talent and ended our hope, and got the board going again. Angst, arguing, pumping, dumping....it was glorious!
Work travel kept me from making the trip to Gainesville for Mizzou and the fighting Muschumps, but closing out the tailgate season with Idaho was a great way to finish up another fun home season.
Humiliating the clowns was fantastic, and the whole board, even @Swamp Donkey, found positive that tempered some of the preseason angst about the Mullen hire. He might actually be the right guy.
Then it was recruiting and early NSD...and holy crap was it on again! Pumpers! Dumpers! Dumping-pumpers! (Guilty as charged). The board rocked, and got me through some stressful times.
Going to Atlanta for the Peach Bowl was an incredible experience. I’ve been to the SEC championship twice in the Georgia Dome, but I’ve never actually been to a bowl game before this on. Meeting new members was the cherry on top of the incredible experience of a Big 10 beatdown and ridding ourselves of the Michigan monkey on the back. I also hones my scooter skills...awesome.
It’s the people of this board thought that make all of it that much better - I got to maintain great relationships, and meet a whole new group of members. In no particular order..THANK YOU to @Swamp Queen , @Captain Sasquatch , @jaywalker72 , @oxrageous, @stephenPE , @Slevin , @aka , @Detroitgator , @Gator98MD , @Gatorphan , @bradgator2 , @Phineus Maximus , @GatorTruth133 , @MADGator , @Swampy! , @Nomadigator , @Gator by the Sea , @Treebeard , @Bama&GatorFan , @Homer J, @RocketCityGator @Thick&ThinG8r - all GCMB members I met this year (apologies to anyone I missed!).
I was also going to call out others that I haven’t yet met, but make my time on GCMB special...but there are just too many to name. Thank you ALL for making my 2018 Gator year a great one - It’s GREAT...
I hope you use this thread to share your favorite GCMB moments this year!
BNAG8R
P.S. For the TL;DR crowd....basically it says “Screw you @bradgator2 , @Zambo , and @-THE DUDE-” .
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