The most loyal ‘Nole I know gave up
before halftime against Boston College. LSU fans left their own stadium when
the Gators led by 10 with 7:27 left to play. Dawgs fled Jacksonville when
Georgia trailed by two touchdowns in the 3rd
quarter. As Gators,
we’ve recently had the pleasure of being on the other side of leaving early. Charleston
Southern, Troy, most of the ’08 season. Despite the margin of victory Gator
fans have become accustomed to, I refuse to leave a game early. Settle in boys
and girls. I'm about to have a "back in my day" story time moment...

In 2005, I went to my first UF-Vandy game in the Swamp. Vanderbilt was never
serious competition, but a sports-conscious friend once told me never to
discount any SEC team. I learned my lesson that night.

I was tailgating with new friends. We went to the game together, and with 4:11
left in the 4th quarter, we pulled our keys out to taunt the
Commodores a bit. The score was UF 35, VU 21. They decided that Vandy QB Jay
Cutler couldn't score twice in four minutes, so it was safe to go return to
grilling and drinking.

We took our time strolling through campus to the tailgate. Imagine our dismay
when we got to a truck parked in front of Century Tower with a very
distraught-looking worker listening to his radio blaring, "Vanderbilt just
tied the game! With 52 seconds left!" We stared at each other, wide-eyed
and horrified, for the next 52 seconds before the game clock hit zero and the
five of us sprinted to our own truck, thankfully still stockpiled with booze.

I have never felt anything as frustrating as listening to overtime on a truck's
crappy radio, knowing that I could have still seen the field in front of me.
The Gators managed to win it in overtime, thanks to an interception. I never
tailgated with these people again and attended three more games with them. They
left each game early, and I stayed behind, alone.

This weekend, when Vandy returns to the Swamp, remember this little tale and
stay till that game clock hits zero. Besides, there is nothing more fun than
watching the Gators win. Why not stay and watch our second (or third) string
learn what it's like to dominate? Sing the alma mater and the fight song, and
get the full game day experience. Enjoy how great it is to be a Florida Gator!