Ten years. It's unreal, really. For perspective, I think of my grandson Liam on the date I started this place:
To Liam today:
By the way, that kid is going to be playing tackle football for the first time this fall. I hope like hell to be able to bore you guys to death with highlight videos.
During our ten year run, our Gators have gone 76-50, and won nothing that really mattered. In fact, the only real fun season I can recall in the last 10 was 2019, when Kyle Trask bailed out both Dan Mullen and the fans from having to sit through more hideous slogging football, and even then the team blew their chances at winning anything of substance. In short, it's a miracle any of us are still here on the Chatter. It's been like being beaten over the head repeatedly with a mallet and asking for more.
And yet here I am, asking for more. During this time of the year, I always find myself past the disappointment of the previous season and already excited and pumped to see that ball get kicked off again. It never seems to go away. Part of me doubts it ever will, no matter how much college football turns into NFL lite.
I appreciate those who have stuck around for both the football and my often bizarre and tumultuous leadership. We are currently living in an extremely negative world, and football was always supposed to be an escape for that. Hence, the relentless negativity around the program, no matter how justified, has depressed me a bit. I have to keep reminding myself that the venting that happens here is therapeutic for people in their own way.
It truly seems like the program was cursed from those crazy Meyer years. I can't think of a group that deserves a magical season more than Gator fans, who have paid whatever penance the football gods burdened them with. Unfortunately, one of those still seems so far away. All we can do is continue to snort up hopium.
I'd like to raise a glass of Zima to the following members that we verified passed on during the last decade. We've suffered some big losses without them:
Hotrod
GMDGator
crosscreekcooter
rogdochar
Frozen Gator
daytonacane
In closing, Gatorchatter isn't going anywhere, it never was. I wouldn't miss another season with this group. Thanks for making this place your chosen getaway for ten years.
Discuss.
