Autumn Spectacle: Trip Captain at Florida

"Gator Bait!"

“…We are all strong for old Florida,
down where the old Gators play
in all kinds of weather,
we'll all stick together...for F-L-O-R-I-D-A”

Gainesville, Florida, a thriving urban area of over 109,000, is home to Florida University, the state’s largest and oldest university, established in 1853. Cap just recently visited Al E. Gator in The Swamp for Tennessee vs. Florida: an old fashioned smashmouth SEC showdown.

Getting There
Gainesville is located in north central Florida, 117 miles from Tampa, southwest, and 99 miles from Orlando, southeast; 65 miles from Jacksonville to the northeast; 124 miles from Tallahassee to the northwest; 297 miles from Miami; 36 miles from Ocala, south; 40 miles from Lake City, 97 miles from Valdosta, Georgia, and 309 miles from Atlanta, to the north.

Gameday
Trip Captain put in his favorite fight song CD as he drove south on I-75 past Valdosta, Georgia, and into Florida, the “Sunshine State,” early on a hot, humid Saturday morning, in mid-September. On south past Lake City, to Exit 390, Newberry Road, Gainesville.

He rolled east on Newberry, which turned into University Ave., past Ballyhoo's Grill and Bar, through several intersections, until he saw it, ahead on his right, rising through the palms - Ben Hill Griffin Stadium - The Swamp, “...where the old Gators play.”

Cruising slowly past the stadium, shops and restaurants across the street, he was on the lookout for parking. After a short search he found what he needed: just north across University, on 3rd St., a lot where he could park “unblocked” - for an extra fee, of course.

Cap strolled along University Ave., searching for Gator gear and souvenirs. There was plenty to choose from, Orange and Blue, everywhere. He wandered through the shops, picked up a Gator coffee mug for his collection, and stopped at The Swamp Bar and Grill for an early snack. The place was already packed, and he put his name on the list.

“Outside or inside?” the hostess asked. The patio looked inviting, but the air outside was already thick and humid. “Inside,” he answered, and found a place to stand, watching ESPN GameDay from Chestnut Hill, where Florida State would take on Boston College, later.

As Cap waited, he noticed that nobody was leaving. These folks were settled in to watch the early games - the place was gridlocked, and looked to stay that way. Cap had heard about this place, and wanted to try it out, but it was time to make a move. He sought directions to the student union, and stepped back out onto University Ave. Outside, he could feel the intensity increasing with every breath. The air was heating up, fans were swarming into the area - and it was still 8½ hours until kickoff.

Cap crossed University at the light with a crowd, and headed south down Newell Drive, onto the huge campus. UF is one of the six largest universities in the nation, with an enrollment of over 48,000 and more than 900 buildings spread over 2,000 acres.

Century Tower

Past Turlington Hall, the Chemistry Lab and Century Tower, then turning southwest through the opening in the Computer Sciences Engineering-Morton Science Library (CSE-MCL) complex and past the “french fries” – two pieces of modern art which resemble french fried potatoes – past the HUB, across the large grassy, quad area, up the steps and into the J. Wayne Reitz Union.

TC was starving. The girl at the Information counter pointed him to the Food Court. He fell in with a steady stream of students and fans, and soon had a full tray – pizza, then pasta and a tall Dr. Pepper. He asked some fans at the next table about the exact time and place of “Gator Walk” - a pre-game ritual, established by new coach, Urban Meyer. His inquiry proved fruitless - these folks were as clueless as he was.

But a few seconds later, his prayers were answered. A woman approached his table. “I couldn't help overhearing,” she said, “I have a son on the team, and I can tell you about ‘Gator Walk.’” She wore a button with a picture and number 67 - Drew Miller, sophomore starting guard from Sarasota. She gave him the scoop, when and where: 2 hours, 10 minutes before kickoff, just north of the stadium, at Gate 8. Cap thanked her and pulled out his game ticket. What a coincidence, he thought - that's my gate.

Cap had started his ticket search early, and had rung the bell - landing a prime seat location through blind luck. He had done it once more. He would be “in the house” - every fan's quest - and once again he could say the three most beautiful words in the

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- Matt Hayes,
The Sporting News