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It's Florida week. Finally. Thank God. And there's nothing like Florida week, at least for me.
It's 2001. I was a young whipper snapper as you old folks like to say, and didn't care about college football. I loved Braves baseball, John Elway, Shaquille O'Neal and Barry Sanders. College football was never on my mind. I knew that my family wore orange. I just thought they liked the color. I knew two rules: Don't bother pappaw while the UT game is on, and don't bother Dad when the UT game is on. I thought it was silly, but still. You don't stand in front of the TV either. Apparently, the remote had a device that located kids' heads standing in front of the TV. At least that is what my pappaw told me. And grandfathers never lie.
It's Florida week 2001. My pappaw (who lived right beside my house for ten years) is anxious. He says it's Florida week. "It ain't Alabama week" he says, basically shaking his head at the youngsters who think Florida is our biggest rivals, "but this is still big. You'll understand later." I never thought much of it, but I found a football and put on a UT jersey from my dad's closet. I was intrigued.
We are at my pappaw's house, watching the UT-UF game in December. It's intense. Chavis has unleashed the Prowler defense. The O-Line is clearing the way for the great Travis Stephens. Casey Clausen is looking so cool as always. Everything is tense in the first quarter. I'm laying there with my football, wanting to know what the heck is going on, but knowing I can't ask questions. But there was something about the Florida colors that intrigued me. Please forgive my two minutes of complete ignorance (I was eight), but I liked Florida's colors and mascots. I assumed since I was eight, I could cheer for Florida, but wanted to make sure it was okay.
"Pappaw, can I cheer for Florida? Their logo is so..."
"No. You either cheer for that beautiful orange T or you can leave. And yes, I'm being serious" he says with a smile on his face.
Well, that was good enough for me. What grandpa says go, am I right? And I mean, UT does kind of have a cool logo. And man, that orange is something. And that night was a Vol fan was born. Actually, that's an incorrect statement. I was born a Vol fan, but that's the night I was "baptized" into UT football. And I never looked back. Travis Stephens is still my favorite Vol. Casey Clausen>Rex Grossman. I watch the 2001 UT-UF game once a year. It's still my favorite game ever. It's my favorite memory with my late pappaw, and my favorite sports memory (and always will be). Just a grandfather passing down family tradition to a grandson he truly loved. I'm not really sure if there's anything better in the world.
So, that is what Florida week means to me. I think everyone is ready to beat them. Gameday is here. ESPN primetime will show the game. We have the most talented QB in the country. The team is sky high. I cannot wait.
Time. To. Destroy. Florida.
It's 2001. I was a young whipper snapper as you old folks like to say, and didn't care about college football. I loved Braves baseball, John Elway, Shaquille O'Neal and Barry Sanders. College football was never on my mind. I knew that my family wore orange. I just thought they liked the color. I knew two rules: Don't bother pappaw while the UT game is on, and don't bother Dad when the UT game is on. I thought it was silly, but still. You don't stand in front of the TV either. Apparently, the remote had a device that located kids' heads standing in front of the TV. At least that is what my pappaw told me. And grandfathers never lie.
It's Florida week 2001. My pappaw (who lived right beside my house for ten years) is anxious. He says it's Florida week. "It ain't Alabama week" he says, basically shaking his head at the youngsters who think Florida is our biggest rivals, "but this is still big. You'll understand later." I never thought much of it, but I found a football and put on a UT jersey from my dad's closet. I was intrigued.
We are at my pappaw's house, watching the UT-UF game in December. It's intense. Chavis has unleashed the Prowler defense. The O-Line is clearing the way for the great Travis Stephens. Casey Clausen is looking so cool as always. Everything is tense in the first quarter. I'm laying there with my football, wanting to know what the heck is going on, but knowing I can't ask questions. But there was something about the Florida colors that intrigued me. Please forgive my two minutes of complete ignorance (I was eight), but I liked Florida's colors and mascots. I assumed since I was eight, I could cheer for Florida, but wanted to make sure it was okay.
"Pappaw, can I cheer for Florida? Their logo is so..."
"No. You either cheer for that beautiful orange T or you can leave. And yes, I'm being serious" he says with a smile on his face.
Well, that was good enough for me. What grandpa says go, am I right? And I mean, UT does kind of have a cool logo. And man, that orange is something. And that night was a Vol fan was born. Actually, that's an incorrect statement. I was born a Vol fan, but that's the night I was "baptized" into UT football. And I never looked back. Travis Stephens is still my favorite Vol. Casey Clausen>Rex Grossman. I watch the 2001 UT-UF game once a year. It's still my favorite game ever. It's my favorite memory with my late pappaw, and my favorite sports memory (and always will be). Just a grandfather passing down family tradition to a grandson he truly loved. I'm not really sure if there's anything better in the world.
So, that is what Florida week means to me. I think everyone is ready to beat them. Gameday is here. ESPN primetime will show the game. We have the most talented QB in the country. The team is sky high. I cannot wait.
Time. To. Destroy. Florida.
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