Absolutely Dedicated.

Being a Florida graduate, I literally believe that I bleed orange and blue. Matter of fact, majority of my Gainesville friends bleed orange and blue. Of course there are the few odd balls that are or have been Gators yet there hearts are else where. I have to give them credit, they are at least loyal to their team. Whether I pass someone on the street, serve them at the bar, high five them in the gator club, or ski down the mountain and pass a person in a Gator jacket...I can always say Go Gators! We speak the same language. We don't actually have to converse any more then Go Gators to give me that little smirk I get thinking about all the good times I had being a Gator.

I flip on the television tonight and see that the Olympic swimming trials are on. I watch the first race with Michael Phelps blows away the competition (well not really but pretty close) and then the ladies 800m come on. I look up at Sam and say, "oh, I wonder if their are any gators in this race." She looks at me straight face and said, "is there ever a day that you don't look for a fellow gator?" I thought about it, and then responded I am sure there has been at least one day, that I haven't vocalized my search for the Gators. She just laughed, but she is right. I live and die the Florida Gators. I never thought, I'd be one of those type of fans. Although, now I am pretty happy that I have that reputation. I know that the Gators wont always be on top of all the sports categories, and thats okay...everybody has their rebuilding years. Of course, we would like to win every game, year in and year out. The thing about the Gators is I think that if you asked any Gator if they would rather win a blow away or lose a close game...they would all say I will take a good close game anytime. Of course, all sports teams have those idiots that would rather see the their team win 70-3 just to say they did it, but those fans are few and far between in the Gator Nation. The thing about the Gators are that they are die-hards...loyal to the day that we die. I am proud to be part of the Gator Nation.

Oh by the way, their were two gators in the ladies 800m free style, unfortunately they did not finish in the top 2 spots to move on to the Olympics. Win or lose, I am happy to see there were two Gators in the last 8 standing for a chance to compete in the Olympics. That is quite an accomplishment. Go Gators!