My First Gator Game

The Florida Gators started their football season yesterday.  Most of my class got season tickets and a seating block together, so I was looking forward to some tailgating with friends and some SEC football.

Little did I know that the weather forecast yesterday for central Florida was exactly the same as what was predicted for the surface of the Sun.  I have literally never been so hot in my entire life.  It was hot, but bearable, during the tailgate since there was at least a little shade.  But once we got to the stadium, holy cripes was it hot.  It didn't help that this week our block was about 10 rows from the top of the stadium on the sun side.  I was just sitting there pouring sweat.  Like, it was soaking through my shorts and running down my arms, face, and legs.  I don't even sweat that much during an hour of playing basketball.  Needless to say, most of us didn't make it to half-time before bailing.

But, it was still cool to get out, be with friends, and see the spectacle that surrounds Florida football.  I'm sure it will be so much nicer in a few weeks when things have started cooling down a little bit.

Members of my PA class that came to the tailgate.

 Apparently, somebody thinks it's a great idea to funnel tens of thousands of students into one entrance.  It was hot as Hades and everybody was dripping with sweat.  I felt like I was a cow in really stinky a stockyard.

Ben Hill Griffin Stadium aka The Swamp.  Seating capacity: 88,548.

OK, so, I went to a few football games at BYU.  BYU is not a small school.  It has almost 33,000 students, which makes for a lot of BYU fans/alumni.  They are proud of their team and Provo sees a good influx of people on gameday.  But it is nothing in comparison to what I saw this weekend in Gainesville.  Gator football is a lifestyle here.  I mean, just look at that stadium!  Look at all those people.  And this was just for the home opener against Bowling Green.  Wait til the LSU game.  Craziness.

Gator chomp!