#1 Florida Gators vs #2 Alabama Crimson Tide
Saturday 1:00 PST
Howdy Gators:
Hope everyone had a nice Thanksgiving and enjoyed the thrashing of the Seminoles down in Gainesville last Saturday. As you have likely heard, the woeful performance by FSU marked the final coaching appearance of Bobby Bowden, who until recently led a perennial powerhouse and worthy foe to our beloved Orange and Blue. I am surprised to hear myself say this, but I'm sad to see him go and will miss seeing him pace the sidelines in his straw hat with the word "Dagummit" dripping from his lips. Indeed, the end of an era.
But on to more pressing matters. We are almost there, and the pressure and anxiety are palpable. So consumed have I been with this weekend's game that I've had nary a moment to focus on the salacious Tiger Woods saga. The SEC Championship game in Atlanta this Saturday is the event we have all been waiting for, and this matchup could not have bigger implications: the victor in this game will emerge as the SEC Champion and earn a spot in the National Championship game, while a strong performance by either Tim Tebow or Mark Ingram will solidify their Heisman hopes. Gadzooks, could there be a game with more significance?!!!
Come on out to watch the undefeated Gators and Alabama Crimson Tide shoot it out this weekend for all the marbles. The Gators looked very strong last Saturday against the Noles and are picked by the experts to win this one, but we can be certain that Bama will be far more determined and polished than they were against Auburn in the Iron Bowl. While Florida seems to be finally gelling late in the season, we can only hope that the extremely foolish (and frankly selfish) actions of a player who shall remain nameless will not provide too much of a distraction and impact our typically stalwart Defense.
I can hardly wait, but honestly am afraid to watch.
Go Gators,
Courtney
Eastside Viewing
Sideline Sports Bar
3720 Factoria Blvd SE Ste F
Bellevue, WA 98006
(425) 644-2781
Westside Viewing
Spitfire
2219 4th Ave
Seattle, WA 98121 (Belltown)
(206) 441-7966
Thursday, December 3, 2009
Tuesday, December 1, 2009
December Newsletter
Hello Gators!
Here’s your Seattle Gator Club newsletter for December 2009. A quick run-down of the info included:
Here’s your Seattle Gator Club newsletter for December 2009. A quick run-down of the info included:
- Southern Schools Gathering - Wednesday, 12/2/09 Barca Lounge Downtown Seattle
- Seattle Gator Club Young Alumni Event - Thursday, 12/3/09 at Garage Billiards Downtown Seattle
- Free Basketball Raffle at SEC Championship Game - 12/5/09 - Both Viewing Locations
- Upcoming Events For Planning Purposes
Southern Schools Gathering - Wednesday, 12/2/09 Barca Lounge Downtown Seattle - 6:00 - 9:00 PM
You're invited to join other alumni from Southern Schools at the Barca Lounge in downtown Seattle, Wednesday, 12/2/09 from 6:00 to 9:00 PM. Schools from all over the Southeast including the SEC will be represented. The address for Barca is 1510 11th Avenue, Seattle, WA. Phone is 206 325-8263. Their web site is http://www.barcaseattle.com. This event is listed on our Facebook page.
Seattle Gator Club Young Alumni Event - Thursday, 12/3/09 at Garage Billiards Downtown Seattle - 7:00 - 9:00 PM
You're invited to attend a networking event sponsored by the Young Alumni at Garage Billiards on Thursday, 12/3/09 from 7:00 to 9:00 PM. The club will be providing appetizers and free pool. Although this is a Young Alumni Event, it is open to all Gators. The address for the Garage is 1130 Broadway Avenue, Seattle, WA. Their web site is http://www.garagebilliards.com/mambo. This event is listed on our Facebook page.
Free Basketball Raffle at SEC Championship Game - 12/5/09 - Both Viewing Locations
The Seattle Gator Club has contributed over $12,000 to the Region 8 scholarship fund. In appreciation of your generous contributions, we will be holding a free raffle of a Billy Donovan autographed basketball at both viewing locations (Sideline and Spitfire). You must sign in to receive your free ticket. One ticket per club member. No additional tickets will be sold. Drawing will be held at halftime. Thank you very much for your generosity.
Upcoming Events for Planning Purposes
Save the following dates for upcoming Seattle Gator Club events:
- 2nd Annual Gator Bowl and Skate - 2/18/10
- Seattle Gator Club Ski and Snowboard Day - 3/6/10
- International Gator Day - 5/15/10
- 3rd Annual Picnic - Lighthouse Park, Mukilteo - 8/21/10
We look forward to seing you at one of our events in the future. Don't forget the free basketball raffle at the SEC Championship game this Saturday. This should be a fun event.
Go Gators!
Neil
President, Seattle Gator Club
#1 Florida Gators vs Florida State Seminoles
#1 Florida Gators vs Florida State Seminoles
Saturday 12:30 PST
Happy Thanksgiving Gators:
Hope everyone is enjoying the holidays and spending some quality time with family and friends. I am going to make this mail short, as I still have lots of preparations to make before the big meal this afternoon (the Swanson’s Hungry Man Dinner still hasn't fully thawed yet!).
Normally I would wax on ad nauseam about the big Florida State game, detailing the bitter history between the two teams and all that's at stake in this annual contest. However, given the Seminoles decline of late, it's difficult to sell this game as anything more than a superior team (although often fallible) facing off against an overmatched opponent (i.e. the Garnet and Gold). Yes, I am excited to watch this weekend and am fully aware that anything can happen in a rivalry matchup, but the mystique of the game has diminished over the years (the Gators have won the last five meetings), as FSU is now a shell of their former greatness.
Shake yourself out of the tryptophan coma and watch the Gators close out the regular season against our intra-state foe from Tallahassee. This will be the last home game for Tim Tebow (and perhaps the final regular season game for Bobby Bowden), so expect a very energetic performance from our quarterback. Let's hope Florida can put this game away early so we can rest up for the monumental challenge next week in the SEC Championship.
Go Gators,
Courtney
Saturday 12:30 PST
Happy Thanksgiving Gators:
Hope everyone is enjoying the holidays and spending some quality time with family and friends. I am going to make this mail short, as I still have lots of preparations to make before the big meal this afternoon (the Swanson’s Hungry Man Dinner still hasn't fully thawed yet!).
Normally I would wax on ad nauseam about the big Florida State game, detailing the bitter history between the two teams and all that's at stake in this annual contest. However, given the Seminoles decline of late, it's difficult to sell this game as anything more than a superior team (although often fallible) facing off against an overmatched opponent (i.e. the Garnet and Gold). Yes, I am excited to watch this weekend and am fully aware that anything can happen in a rivalry matchup, but the mystique of the game has diminished over the years (the Gators have won the last five meetings), as FSU is now a shell of their former greatness.
Shake yourself out of the tryptophan coma and watch the Gators close out the regular season against our intra-state foe from Tallahassee. This will be the last home game for Tim Tebow (and perhaps the final regular season game for Bobby Bowden), so expect a very energetic performance from our quarterback. Let's hope Florida can put this game away early so we can rest up for the monumental challenge next week in the SEC Championship.
Go Gators,
Courtney
Thursday, November 19, 2009
#1 Florida Gators vs FIU Golden Panthers
#1 Florida Gators vs FIU Golden Panthers
Saturday 9:30 PST
Howdy Gators:
We have completed the SEC campaign, and despite some horrible scares (thank you Justin Trattou, thank you Justin Trattou....), the Gators have emerged undefeated at 8-0 from conference play. Certainly there have been frustrations along the way, particularly in regards to our often woeful Offense (word has it that the "Fire Steve Adazzio" domain has already been purchased), but we should not minimize the achievement of running through the always-tough SEC unscathed. It's a milestone Florida hasn't attained since the National Championship season of 1996, and it paves the way for the Orange and Blue to make a run at the National Championship. Now if only we can notch one more league win against the unbeaten and equally talented Alabama Crimson Tide, that would truly cap a magical two-year run.
The Gators still have some work to do however before the matchup with Bama in December. While we will almost definitely make quick work of FIU this coming Saturday, there's still the matter of the pesky Seminoles. Yes, FSU has been uninspiring this season to say the least (actually, it's been quite a few years of mediocre football from the Garnet and Gold), but we must not forget that they demolished a fairly talented BYU team in Provo and will approach the game against Florida with a nothing-to-lose attitude. A win for Bobby Bowden would save his season and perhaps temporarily mute his many critics in Tallahassee and the media at large.
Come on out Saturday morning to watch the Gators face the 3-8 FIU Golden Panthers. Let's hope we put the massively overmatched opposition away early this week so we can rest our starters and keep everyone healthy. Personally, I would like to see a healthy dose of John Brantley this weekend so Tebow can get his health and head in order for much bigger challenges in the coming weeks.
Go Gators,
Courtney
Please note that the game will only be shown at Spitfire in Seattle (sorry Eastsiders), and will not be televised on network TV.
Saturday 9:30 PST
Howdy Gators:
We have completed the SEC campaign, and despite some horrible scares (thank you Justin Trattou, thank you Justin Trattou....), the Gators have emerged undefeated at 8-0 from conference play. Certainly there have been frustrations along the way, particularly in regards to our often woeful Offense (word has it that the "Fire Steve Adazzio" domain has already been purchased), but we should not minimize the achievement of running through the always-tough SEC unscathed. It's a milestone Florida hasn't attained since the National Championship season of 1996, and it paves the way for the Orange and Blue to make a run at the National Championship. Now if only we can notch one more league win against the unbeaten and equally talented Alabama Crimson Tide, that would truly cap a magical two-year run.
The Gators still have some work to do however before the matchup with Bama in December. While we will almost definitely make quick work of FIU this coming Saturday, there's still the matter of the pesky Seminoles. Yes, FSU has been uninspiring this season to say the least (actually, it's been quite a few years of mediocre football from the Garnet and Gold), but we must not forget that they demolished a fairly talented BYU team in Provo and will approach the game against Florida with a nothing-to-lose attitude. A win for Bobby Bowden would save his season and perhaps temporarily mute his many critics in Tallahassee and the media at large.
Come on out Saturday morning to watch the Gators face the 3-8 FIU Golden Panthers. Let's hope we put the massively overmatched opposition away early this week so we can rest our starters and keep everyone healthy. Personally, I would like to see a healthy dose of John Brantley this weekend so Tebow can get his health and head in order for much bigger challenges in the coming weeks.
Go Gators,
Courtney
Please note that the game will only be shown at Spitfire in Seattle (sorry Eastsiders), and will not be televised on network TV.
Thursday, November 12, 2009
#1 Florida Gators vs South Carolina
#1 Florida Gators vs South Carolina
Saturday 12:30 PST
Hello Gators:
The Gators are 9-0. That's quite an accomplishment. Something we might be missing when evaluating their performance this season. In the days before the internet, cell phones, sushi, rap music, low air fares, mega cruise ships and microbrews, the Gators not only didn't have an offense, they didn't even have a defense. Special Teams, nothing was special about those teams. No matter how you look at this season, the Gators have done a great job of winning. A win is a win is a win, that's all we will remember at the end of the season. We just need five more wins (some Florida teams never had this many wins in a season) and we will have another National Championship.
There is no doubt the offense has struggled this season. Percy Harvin hit the nail on the head when he said they need to take the pressure off Tebow by giving him more time in the pocket to run the offense. I think we'll have to be patient, but the offense will return soon. We'll probably have to rely on the greatest Gator defense ever to help us win. The old ball coach will have his hands full calling plays against this bunch. I can't wait for him to throw his visor again and grab the quaterback by the shoulder pads to chew him out after an interception. It will be a tough game on Saturday but the Gators will pull out another one.
When I went to Florida, Larry Rentz was the quarterback. After one Gator victory, we put up a big sign on the balcony of our dorm which read "There's no defense for Larry Rentz". While Larry was a good player, there truly is no defense for Tim Tebow. We have five more games to watch probably the best player ever to play college football. There's no doubt some of these games will be close, but we all know Superman wins in the end. Enjoy these last games. You will forever be telling your friends and family about him and what a great time it was to be a Florida Gator.
Go Gators,
Neil
President, Seattle Gator Club
Saturday 12:30 PST
Hello Gators:
The Gators are 9-0. That's quite an accomplishment. Something we might be missing when evaluating their performance this season. In the days before the internet, cell phones, sushi, rap music, low air fares, mega cruise ships and microbrews, the Gators not only didn't have an offense, they didn't even have a defense. Special Teams, nothing was special about those teams. No matter how you look at this season, the Gators have done a great job of winning. A win is a win is a win, that's all we will remember at the end of the season. We just need five more wins (some Florida teams never had this many wins in a season) and we will have another National Championship.
There is no doubt the offense has struggled this season. Percy Harvin hit the nail on the head when he said they need to take the pressure off Tebow by giving him more time in the pocket to run the offense. I think we'll have to be patient, but the offense will return soon. We'll probably have to rely on the greatest Gator defense ever to help us win. The old ball coach will have his hands full calling plays against this bunch. I can't wait for him to throw his visor again and grab the quaterback by the shoulder pads to chew him out after an interception. It will be a tough game on Saturday but the Gators will pull out another one.
When I went to Florida, Larry Rentz was the quarterback. After one Gator victory, we put up a big sign on the balcony of our dorm which read "There's no defense for Larry Rentz". While Larry was a good player, there truly is no defense for Tim Tebow. We have five more games to watch probably the best player ever to play college football. There's no doubt some of these games will be close, but we all know Superman wins in the end. Enjoy these last games. You will forever be telling your friends and family about him and what a great time it was to be a Florida Gator.
Go Gators,
Neil
President, Seattle Gator Club
Friday, November 6, 2009
#1 Florida Gators vs Vanderbilt Commodores
#1 Florida Gators vs Vanderbilt Commodores
Saturday 4:15 PST
Howdy Gators:
Going to have to make this a quick post again. I hope everyone is savoring the very nice win last week against the hated Georgia Bulldogs. The Offense finally came to life in Jacksonville, executing with the efficiency we have all come to expect. Tebow was virtually flawless in the effort, accounting for four scores while breaking Hershel Walker's SEC touchdown record. Certainly Tim did a ton to bolster his Heisman candidacy.
Come on out and watch Florida take the field against the Vanderbilt Commodores this weekend. The Gators have beaten Vandy 19 times straight and will almost certainly make it an even 20 this Saturday, as the squad from Nashville is quite weak this year and without their starting quarterback. This game could get exceedingly ugly for Lionel Richie and the Commodores, and should provide the Gators with further opportunity to hone their improving Offense.
Go Gators,
Courtney
Saturday 4:15 PST
Howdy Gators:
Going to have to make this a quick post again. I hope everyone is savoring the very nice win last week against the hated Georgia Bulldogs. The Offense finally came to life in Jacksonville, executing with the efficiency we have all come to expect. Tebow was virtually flawless in the effort, accounting for four scores while breaking Hershel Walker's SEC touchdown record. Certainly Tim did a ton to bolster his Heisman candidacy.
Come on out and watch Florida take the field against the Vanderbilt Commodores this weekend. The Gators have beaten Vandy 19 times straight and will almost certainly make it an even 20 this Saturday, as the squad from Nashville is quite weak this year and without their starting quarterback. This game could get exceedingly ugly for Lionel Richie and the Commodores, and should provide the Gators with further opportunity to hone their improving Offense.
Go Gators,
Courtney
Friday, October 30, 2009
#1 Florida Gators vs Georgia Bulldogs
#1 Florida Gators vs Georgia Bulldogs
Saturday 12:30 PST
As I sit here writing, draped in my orange and blue Snuggie, I am struggling with how to approach this mail. Yes, I should be happy that the Gators beat the Mississippi State Bulldogs on the road and remain 7-0 atop the BCS Standings, but I can't help but reflect on yet another very poor showing by the Florida Offense. I still can't get that pick-six interception out of my mind by the Bulldogs in the closing seconds of the first half. Rather than pretty much sealing the deal and going into the locker room at 20-3 or at worst 16-3, Tebow forced a throw and the Bulldog defender snatched the ball and returned it for 100 yards, making the score a very uncomfortable 13-10. It felt like a punch in the stomach and turned my optimistic outlook to despair in a matter of seconds. Not a pleasant feeling at all, but unfortunately one we all are becoming more accustomed to when watching our mistake-prone offense. Sure we can move the ball efficiently from one 20 yard line to the other, but we simply can't get it into the endzone on a consistent or even occasional basis. I really can't comment on the second half since I headed to Qwest Field to watch the Sounders game, but I have read enough to know that there were more shortcomings and bone-headed mishaps on display to cause even the most casual Gator fan to shudder in dismay.
One thing that's really been tough to swallow this week is the incessant ridiculing of the Gators by the sports pundits (I tore my Snuggie in anger as I watched Around the Horn on ESPN). While some of their criticism is overly harsh given that Florida is an undefeated team, some of it's certainly merited. The offensive play-calling and agony-inducing lack of execution by Tebow and Company has truly been awful, particularly for a team ranked #1 in the nation. Especially stunning is the sub-par play of #15, our resident Heisman Trophy Winner. Let's call a spade a spade - Tebow has not played well of late. But it's still hard to hear the Gators getting thrashed in the media when we all know they can and should be so much better. At one point during the savage onslaught of Tebow by the media, I started feeling like Terrell Owens, on the verge of uncontrollable sobbing for the affront to "my quarterback". OK, that's a bit of hyperbole - even I'm not as lame as TO (although my first name is "Terrence" (for real) - but it's still a tad dispiriting.
But somehow we continue to win. Actually, "somehow" is not accurate, as we all know that our Defense has been the key to our success. As troublingly ineffective as our offense is, our D continues to dominate and hold teams in check who likely would have beaten us otherwise. And we should be at full strength again this week, returning four starters, when Florida travels to Jacksonville to face our historic arch-rival, the Georgia Bulldogs (back-to-back games against Bulldogs, that must mean something I guess?). If I were a Georgia offensive player right now, I would be very nervous knowing that I will be facing a fully-staffed and likely quite angry Gator defensive squad this Saturday.
Come on out this Saturday and watch the Gators face the Bulldogs of Athens this weekend. One can only hope that this is the weekend where the Offense finally clicks and begins to show their true potential. Otherwise, win or lose, the "World's Largest Outdoor Cocktail Party" could turn into the "Angst-Ridden, Binge-Drinking Fest" (hey, that's kinda catchy!).
Go Gators,
Courtney
Saturday 12:30 PST
As I sit here writing, draped in my orange and blue Snuggie, I am struggling with how to approach this mail. Yes, I should be happy that the Gators beat the Mississippi State Bulldogs on the road and remain 7-0 atop the BCS Standings, but I can't help but reflect on yet another very poor showing by the Florida Offense. I still can't get that pick-six interception out of my mind by the Bulldogs in the closing seconds of the first half. Rather than pretty much sealing the deal and going into the locker room at 20-3 or at worst 16-3, Tebow forced a throw and the Bulldog defender snatched the ball and returned it for 100 yards, making the score a very uncomfortable 13-10. It felt like a punch in the stomach and turned my optimistic outlook to despair in a matter of seconds. Not a pleasant feeling at all, but unfortunately one we all are becoming more accustomed to when watching our mistake-prone offense. Sure we can move the ball efficiently from one 20 yard line to the other, but we simply can't get it into the endzone on a consistent or even occasional basis. I really can't comment on the second half since I headed to Qwest Field to watch the Sounders game, but I have read enough to know that there were more shortcomings and bone-headed mishaps on display to cause even the most casual Gator fan to shudder in dismay.
One thing that's really been tough to swallow this week is the incessant ridiculing of the Gators by the sports pundits (I tore my Snuggie in anger as I watched Around the Horn on ESPN). While some of their criticism is overly harsh given that Florida is an undefeated team, some of it's certainly merited. The offensive play-calling and agony-inducing lack of execution by Tebow and Company has truly been awful, particularly for a team ranked #1 in the nation. Especially stunning is the sub-par play of #15, our resident Heisman Trophy Winner. Let's call a spade a spade - Tebow has not played well of late. But it's still hard to hear the Gators getting thrashed in the media when we all know they can and should be so much better. At one point during the savage onslaught of Tebow by the media, I started feeling like Terrell Owens, on the verge of uncontrollable sobbing for the affront to "my quarterback". OK, that's a bit of hyperbole - even I'm not as lame as TO (although my first name is "Terrence" (for real) - but it's still a tad dispiriting.
But somehow we continue to win. Actually, "somehow" is not accurate, as we all know that our Defense has been the key to our success. As troublingly ineffective as our offense is, our D continues to dominate and hold teams in check who likely would have beaten us otherwise. And we should be at full strength again this week, returning four starters, when Florida travels to Jacksonville to face our historic arch-rival, the Georgia Bulldogs (back-to-back games against Bulldogs, that must mean something I guess?). If I were a Georgia offensive player right now, I would be very nervous knowing that I will be facing a fully-staffed and likely quite angry Gator defensive squad this Saturday.
Come on out this Saturday and watch the Gators face the Bulldogs of Athens this weekend. One can only hope that this is the weekend where the Offense finally clicks and begins to show their true potential. Otherwise, win or lose, the "World's Largest Outdoor Cocktail Party" could turn into the "Angst-Ridden, Binge-Drinking Fest" (hey, that's kinda catchy!).
Go Gators,
Courtney
Friday, October 23, 2009
#1 Florida Gators vs Mississippi State Bulldogs
#1 Florida Gators vs Mississippi State Bulldogs
Saturday 4:30 PST
Howdy Gators:
Ok, now we can exhale!
Last Saturday was painful, verging on humiliating, but we emerged with a win nonetheless. I think we can all agree that the previous week’s outing against the Arkansas Razorbacks was very troubling. Yes, we won the game, but there’s not much pride in eking out a victory on Homecoming Day against a 24 point underdog when you are the supposed #1 team in the nation. One might even say that we would have lost the game had it not been for a bad kicking game by the Razorbacks and some very fortuitous (and frankly questionable) penalties late in the game that worked in the Gators' favor (interestingly, the officiating crew from last week’s game was suspended by the SEC for a phantom personal foul against Arkansas that gave Florida much needed yardage in the fourth quarter). Not the type of victory that imbues you with confidence midway into the season. Let’s face it, our offense is not very good and will need to show dramatic improvements to have any shot of finishing out the season undefeated and competing against the likely winners of the SEC West, the Alabama Crimson Tide (although Bama did not astound the college football world in their win over the Gamecocks last weekend).
Breaking with recent tradition, I am not going to wax on and on about the “Mighty” Gators as I typically do in the closing paragraphs of these fairly formulaic emails. Suffice to say we should all be a tad nervous about this weekend’s game against Mississippi State following last week’s near debacle. Lest we forget, the Bulldogs head coach is Dan Mullen, who led the Gator Offense a mere nine months ago, and he is presumably well-schooled in Florida’s defensive tendencies. But I suspect last week’s game may have been a wakeup call and learning experience for a Gator squad, which to date has failed to dazzle as expected this season. At least that’s what I hope.
Go Gators,
Courtney (your critical but forthright Gator commentator)
NOTE: If you plan to watch the game at Sideline, they will be showing UFC (aka, brutal blood sport) at 7:00 and will turn up the volume so all can hear the savage, bone-crushing beatings in full Dolby Stereo.
Saturday 4:30 PST
Howdy Gators:
Ok, now we can exhale!
Last Saturday was painful, verging on humiliating, but we emerged with a win nonetheless. I think we can all agree that the previous week’s outing against the Arkansas Razorbacks was very troubling. Yes, we won the game, but there’s not much pride in eking out a victory on Homecoming Day against a 24 point underdog when you are the supposed #1 team in the nation. One might even say that we would have lost the game had it not been for a bad kicking game by the Razorbacks and some very fortuitous (and frankly questionable) penalties late in the game that worked in the Gators' favor (interestingly, the officiating crew from last week’s game was suspended by the SEC for a phantom personal foul against Arkansas that gave Florida much needed yardage in the fourth quarter). Not the type of victory that imbues you with confidence midway into the season. Let’s face it, our offense is not very good and will need to show dramatic improvements to have any shot of finishing out the season undefeated and competing against the likely winners of the SEC West, the Alabama Crimson Tide (although Bama did not astound the college football world in their win over the Gamecocks last weekend).
Breaking with recent tradition, I am not going to wax on and on about the “Mighty” Gators as I typically do in the closing paragraphs of these fairly formulaic emails. Suffice to say we should all be a tad nervous about this weekend’s game against Mississippi State following last week’s near debacle. Lest we forget, the Bulldogs head coach is Dan Mullen, who led the Gator Offense a mere nine months ago, and he is presumably well-schooled in Florida’s defensive tendencies. But I suspect last week’s game may have been a wakeup call and learning experience for a Gator squad, which to date has failed to dazzle as expected this season. At least that’s what I hope.
Go Gators,
Courtney (your critical but forthright Gator commentator)
NOTE: If you plan to watch the game at Sideline, they will be showing UFC (aka, brutal blood sport) at 7:00 and will turn up the volume so all can hear the savage, bone-crushing beatings in full Dolby Stereo.
Thursday, October 15, 2009
#1 Florida Gators vs Arkansas Razorbacks
#1 Florida Gators vs Arkansas Razorbacks
Saturday 12:30 PST
Spitfire Only
Howdy Gators:
We have decided to view the Arkansas game together at Spitfire this week. We look forward to having our Sideline Gators visit our Seattle Swamp. It's an exciting place to view the game and we will have a fired up Seattle Gator crowd.
We will be raffling off the Urban Meyer autographed football at halftime. Tickets are $2 each with a maximum of 320 tickets to be sold. Plenty of tickets still remain. The ball and trophy case will be on display at the game. All proceeds from the raffle go to the scholarship fund. Bring your Alumni membership cards to the game. We will have a special raffle for our Alumni Members to thank them for their membership. We received a check in the amount of $513 from the UF Alumni Association as a rebate from their alumni membership dues. The money we receive from the Alumni Association is used to run the club and pay for the picnic, young alumni events and other Gator Gatherings.
Gee, It's Great to Be a Florida Gator! and that was especially true last Saturday. It was a very sweet victory over a good LSU team. I don't think we have ever seen such a conservative Gator offense. It was so conservative that it made Rush Limbaugh look like a left winger. Where have the days gone when the Old Ball Coach played conservative in the second half with a big lead only to let the offense score touchdowns at will? When the Old Ball Coach was asked why he ran up the score, he replied "It's not our job to stop the Gators from scoring; it's their defense's job." Maybe Urban Meyer should show some film of those old Spurrier game blowouts to the offense to get them going? Charlie Strong showed the defense film of how they played last year and they responded with the best defensive effort I can remember since the 2006 National Championship game.
Arkansas is fresh off their victory over undefeated Auburn at home last week. They thoroughly dominated Auburn and deserved to win the game. I don't expect to see another conservative game plan this week from the New Ball Coach (may be the words Ball Coach will fire up the offense?). Last week, our receivers blocked and ran short routes to protect Tebow. Now that number 15 is healthy, they can light up the offense. The Razorbacks will be in for a good whopping thanks to a stingy defense and a new 90's attitude on offense.
I look forward to seeing everyone at Spitfire on Saturday.
Go Gators!
Neil
President, Seattle Gator Club
Saturday 12:30 PST
Spitfire Only
Howdy Gators:
We have decided to view the Arkansas game together at Spitfire this week. We look forward to having our Sideline Gators visit our Seattle Swamp. It's an exciting place to view the game and we will have a fired up Seattle Gator crowd.
We will be raffling off the Urban Meyer autographed football at halftime. Tickets are $2 each with a maximum of 320 tickets to be sold. Plenty of tickets still remain. The ball and trophy case will be on display at the game. All proceeds from the raffle go to the scholarship fund. Bring your Alumni membership cards to the game. We will have a special raffle for our Alumni Members to thank them for their membership. We received a check in the amount of $513 from the UF Alumni Association as a rebate from their alumni membership dues. The money we receive from the Alumni Association is used to run the club and pay for the picnic, young alumni events and other Gator Gatherings.
Gee, It's Great to Be a Florida Gator! and that was especially true last Saturday. It was a very sweet victory over a good LSU team. I don't think we have ever seen such a conservative Gator offense. It was so conservative that it made Rush Limbaugh look like a left winger. Where have the days gone when the Old Ball Coach played conservative in the second half with a big lead only to let the offense score touchdowns at will? When the Old Ball Coach was asked why he ran up the score, he replied "It's not our job to stop the Gators from scoring; it's their defense's job." Maybe Urban Meyer should show some film of those old Spurrier game blowouts to the offense to get them going? Charlie Strong showed the defense film of how they played last year and they responded with the best defensive effort I can remember since the 2006 National Championship game.
Arkansas is fresh off their victory over undefeated Auburn at home last week. They thoroughly dominated Auburn and deserved to win the game. I don't expect to see another conservative game plan this week from the New Ball Coach (may be the words Ball Coach will fire up the offense?). Last week, our receivers blocked and ran short routes to protect Tebow. Now that number 15 is healthy, they can light up the offense. The Razorbacks will be in for a good whopping thanks to a stingy defense and a new 90's attitude on offense.
I look forward to seeing everyone at Spitfire on Saturday.
Go Gators!
Neil
President, Seattle Gator Club
Thursday, October 8, 2009
#1 Florida Gators vs #4 LSU Tigers
#1 Florida Gators vs #4 LSU Tigers
Saturday 5:00 PST
Howdy Gators:
Hope everyone enjoyed the week off from Gator football and spent some time outdoors in the beautiful fall weather we are having. More importantly, I hope Tim Tebow used the brief hiatus from the gridiron to recover from the truly terrifying hit he suffered during the trouncing of Kentucky a couple weeks ago. Like everyone in Gator Nation, I watched in fear as Gainesville’s favorite son lay immobile on the turf following a crushing tackle that resulted in a trip to the hospital and a concussion. After watching the video of the collision again and again, in excruciating slow-motion on ESPN, (it felt like watching the Abraham Zapruder film after awhile… frightening stuff!), it dawned on me that Tebow, though seemingly superhuman, is mortal and perhaps needs to be a tad more careful if he wants to extend his career beyond the college ranks.
Yesterday Tebow participated in practice, but it’s still unclear whether he will take the field this Saturday when the Gators travel to Baton Rouge to face the LSU Tigers. Urban Meyer made a statement today that he won’t pass down a verdict on Tebow until game-time, so we will all just have to wait and see. Some have speculated that this is just a ruse by Meyer to keep LSU guessing and to add to the overall drama of the game. Perhaps. We can only hope though that the reluctance to make a decision is not due to concerns over lingering effects from the concussion Tebow suffered.
As for the Tigers, they remain a bit of a mystery this season. Yes, they are ranked #4 and are undefeated, but if it hadn’t been for a goal-line stand against Mississippi State and an arguably game-changing, controversial call against Georgia last weekend, Les Miles and his boys could easily be limping into this week’s contest with an unimpressive 3-2 record. Particularly concerning for LSU is their offense, which, to put it mildly, has not been a juggernaut to date. If the Gator defense continues to dominate as they have thus far this season, I suspect the Tiger offense will continue their pattern of relative futility.
Come on out this weekend and watch the Gators take the field against the LSU Tigers. In recent years the Florida\LSU game has risen to become one of the more interesting rivalries in the country, and the upcoming contest will likely add another page to the scrapbook. It will be a night game in Death Valley so you can bet that the Tiger-faithful will be amply liquored up and in a raucous mood to dethrone the #1 team in the country. Given the rather favorable schedule the Gators have this season, a win over the Bayou Bengals could solidify Florida’s path to the Conference and National Championship games (although the game in Columbia, SC later this season looms large as well), so needless to say this is a very big game.
To quote the fine folks of Louisiana, “laissez les bons temps rouler!!”
Geaux Gators!
Courtney
Saturday 5:00 PST
Howdy Gators:
Hope everyone enjoyed the week off from Gator football and spent some time outdoors in the beautiful fall weather we are having. More importantly, I hope Tim Tebow used the brief hiatus from the gridiron to recover from the truly terrifying hit he suffered during the trouncing of Kentucky a couple weeks ago. Like everyone in Gator Nation, I watched in fear as Gainesville’s favorite son lay immobile on the turf following a crushing tackle that resulted in a trip to the hospital and a concussion. After watching the video of the collision again and again, in excruciating slow-motion on ESPN, (it felt like watching the Abraham Zapruder film after awhile… frightening stuff!), it dawned on me that Tebow, though seemingly superhuman, is mortal and perhaps needs to be a tad more careful if he wants to extend his career beyond the college ranks.
Yesterday Tebow participated in practice, but it’s still unclear whether he will take the field this Saturday when the Gators travel to Baton Rouge to face the LSU Tigers. Urban Meyer made a statement today that he won’t pass down a verdict on Tebow until game-time, so we will all just have to wait and see. Some have speculated that this is just a ruse by Meyer to keep LSU guessing and to add to the overall drama of the game. Perhaps. We can only hope though that the reluctance to make a decision is not due to concerns over lingering effects from the concussion Tebow suffered.
As for the Tigers, they remain a bit of a mystery this season. Yes, they are ranked #4 and are undefeated, but if it hadn’t been for a goal-line stand against Mississippi State and an arguably game-changing, controversial call against Georgia last weekend, Les Miles and his boys could easily be limping into this week’s contest with an unimpressive 3-2 record. Particularly concerning for LSU is their offense, which, to put it mildly, has not been a juggernaut to date. If the Gator defense continues to dominate as they have thus far this season, I suspect the Tiger offense will continue their pattern of relative futility.
Come on out this weekend and watch the Gators take the field against the LSU Tigers. In recent years the Florida\LSU game has risen to become one of the more interesting rivalries in the country, and the upcoming contest will likely add another page to the scrapbook. It will be a night game in Death Valley so you can bet that the Tiger-faithful will be amply liquored up and in a raucous mood to dethrone the #1 team in the country. Given the rather favorable schedule the Gators have this season, a win over the Bayou Bengals could solidify Florida’s path to the Conference and National Championship games (although the game in Columbia, SC later this season looms large as well), so needless to say this is a very big game.
To quote the fine folks of Louisiana, “laissez les bons temps rouler!!”
Geaux Gators!
Courtney
Thursday, September 24, 2009
#1 Florida Gators vs Kentucky Wildcats
#1 Florida Gators vs Kentucky Wildcats
Saturday 3:00 PST
Howdy Gators:
It's a busy time at work so this mail is going to have to be brief (perhaps some of you appreciate that :-)). After a less than stellar performance against the Tennessee Volunteers at The Swamp last weekend, the Florida squad heads north to Lexington to the play the Wildcats of Kentucky. Let's hope the mistake-prone and oft-sputtering offense shows improvements this week, or else the Gators could find themselves in a dogfight. After watching the USC\UW game last Saturday, I am quite wary that Florida too may face a formidable challenge and that their opponent, though seemingly undermanned, may rise to the occasion. This is truly a big test.
Go Gators,
Courtney
Saturday 3:00 PST
Howdy Gators:
It's a busy time at work so this mail is going to have to be brief (perhaps some of you appreciate that :-)). After a less than stellar performance against the Tennessee Volunteers at The Swamp last weekend, the Florida squad heads north to Lexington to the play the Wildcats of Kentucky. Let's hope the mistake-prone and oft-sputtering offense shows improvements this week, or else the Gators could find themselves in a dogfight. After watching the USC\UW game last Saturday, I am quite wary that Florida too may face a formidable challenge and that their opponent, though seemingly undermanned, may rise to the occasion. This is truly a big test.
Go Gators,
Courtney
#1 Florida Gators vs Tennessee Volunteers
#1 Florida Gators vs Tennessee Volunteers
Saturday 12:30 PST
Howdy Gators:
Hope everyone enjoyed the final preseason game last weekend and are ready for the regular season to kick off. I don’t know about you all, but I have felt a bit left out over the past couple Saturdays as other teams in the nation engaged in competitive, interesting battles while the Gators laced up against cosmetology and vocational-tech schools. Rather than spend a lot of ink poring over the details of last week’s drubbing of yet another very week opponent, I am going to jump right into this week’s proceedings.
If you are like me, you have been anxiously awaiting this particular game against the Tennessee Volunteers and their very brash (and frankly idiotic), young coach, Lane Kiffin. Certainly I know Urban Meyer and the Gator squad have been chomping at the bit to face their once-vaunted rival from Knoxville. For those of you who did not follow the off-season drama and moronic utterances of Coach Kiffin, suffice to say, he ruffled quite a few feathers in Gainesville. In general, it’s probably a bad idea for a new coach, who was just unceremoniously fired by the Oakland Raiders, to strut into the most powerful conference in college football and throw the gauntlet down before the defending National Champ (i.e. the Gators). And I think Kiffin will see the errors of his ways this weekend when he brings his struggling Vols, fresh off a home loss to the UCLA Bruins, to a very raucous Swamp this Saturday. You can be sure that the Gators will be extremely motivated by the knucklehead comments of Kiffin and eager to embarrass Tennessee on a national stage.
Come on out and watch Florida launch the SEC season with the Seattle Gator Club this weekend. This should be an entertaining one and give us a better sense of how good this Gator team truly is. Oh, and be sure to wear blue, as this is a direct edict from Urban Meyer to the entire Gator nation.
Predictions:
• Tim Tebow will be absolutely amped for this game
• We will hear little of the annoying “Rocky Top” chant this Saturday
• The Gators will cover the 25 point spread (by the end of the first half?)
• Lane Kiffin will no longer be the Vols coach at the end of the year
In brief, “Don’t mess with the bull, young man, you’ll get the horns.” (to quote “The Breakfast Club”)
Go Gators,
Courtney
Saturday 12:30 PST
Howdy Gators:
Hope everyone enjoyed the final preseason game last weekend and are ready for the regular season to kick off. I don’t know about you all, but I have felt a bit left out over the past couple Saturdays as other teams in the nation engaged in competitive, interesting battles while the Gators laced up against cosmetology and vocational-tech schools. Rather than spend a lot of ink poring over the details of last week’s drubbing of yet another very week opponent, I am going to jump right into this week’s proceedings.
If you are like me, you have been anxiously awaiting this particular game against the Tennessee Volunteers and their very brash (and frankly idiotic), young coach, Lane Kiffin. Certainly I know Urban Meyer and the Gator squad have been chomping at the bit to face their once-vaunted rival from Knoxville. For those of you who did not follow the off-season drama and moronic utterances of Coach Kiffin, suffice to say, he ruffled quite a few feathers in Gainesville. In general, it’s probably a bad idea for a new coach, who was just unceremoniously fired by the Oakland Raiders, to strut into the most powerful conference in college football and throw the gauntlet down before the defending National Champ (i.e. the Gators). And I think Kiffin will see the errors of his ways this weekend when he brings his struggling Vols, fresh off a home loss to the UCLA Bruins, to a very raucous Swamp this Saturday. You can be sure that the Gators will be extremely motivated by the knucklehead comments of Kiffin and eager to embarrass Tennessee on a national stage.
Come on out and watch Florida launch the SEC season with the Seattle Gator Club this weekend. This should be an entertaining one and give us a better sense of how good this Gator team truly is. Oh, and be sure to wear blue, as this is a direct edict from Urban Meyer to the entire Gator nation.
Predictions:
• Tim Tebow will be absolutely amped for this game
• We will hear little of the annoying “Rocky Top” chant this Saturday
• The Gators will cover the 25 point spread (by the end of the first half?)
• Lane Kiffin will no longer be the Vols coach at the end of the year
In brief, “Don’t mess with the bull, young man, you’ll get the horns.” (to quote “The Breakfast Club”)
Go Gators,
Courtney
Thursday, September 10, 2009
Florida Gators vs Troy Trojans
#1 Florida Gators vs Troy Trojans
Saturday 9:20 AM PST
Howdy Gators:
Hope everyone enjoyed the massacre last weekend. I was unfortunately not able to see the game because I was away in Victoria, BC (Canadians don't appear to share our passion for college football; the only football game I could find on TV was the epic Montreal Alouettes vs. Winnpeg Blue Bombers game). However, I saw the highlights and perused the sports pages, and it appears we were flawless against the hapless Buccaneers. I only have one question though: who was responsible for allowing Chaleston to score three points! I can only assume that someone on the Gator squad ran laps after that defensive meltdown.
I kid of course. Florida truly did validate the consenus opinon that they are the top team in the nation with their lopsided wolloping of Charleston Southern. There's little doubt that the score would have been far more humilating had the Gators elected to play their starters for more than the first half (perhaps NCAA officials should consider a "mercy rule" in the wake of the Florida victory). While fun to watch, I think we all know that games such as last weekend's, against a ridiculously outmatched opponent, are not really an accurate barometer of where the 2009 team stacks up. Yes, odds are we are very good, but we will not know for certain until we face more formidable competition. And I suspect (correction: "I know") the upcoming matchup this weekend will do little to clarify the true nature of the Gators....
Come on out early Saturday morning and watch Florida match up against the Troy Trojans. It's sure to be another laugher and should give the Gators a chance to further fine-tune their "banzai offense" (that's what they call the new no-huddle approach) before they kick off SEC action against the oh-so-hated Vols. But tune in early if you want to see the starters play, as I am sure Tebow and company won't be in the game for more than three quarters.
Go Gators,
Courtney
Saturday 9:20 AM PST
Howdy Gators:
Hope everyone enjoyed the massacre last weekend. I was unfortunately not able to see the game because I was away in Victoria, BC (Canadians don't appear to share our passion for college football; the only football game I could find on TV was the epic Montreal Alouettes vs. Winnpeg Blue Bombers game). However, I saw the highlights and perused the sports pages, and it appears we were flawless against the hapless Buccaneers. I only have one question though: who was responsible for allowing Chaleston to score three points! I can only assume that someone on the Gator squad ran laps after that defensive meltdown.
I kid of course. Florida truly did validate the consenus opinon that they are the top team in the nation with their lopsided wolloping of Charleston Southern. There's little doubt that the score would have been far more humilating had the Gators elected to play their starters for more than the first half (perhaps NCAA officials should consider a "mercy rule" in the wake of the Florida victory). While fun to watch, I think we all know that games such as last weekend's, against a ridiculously outmatched opponent, are not really an accurate barometer of where the 2009 team stacks up. Yes, odds are we are very good, but we will not know for certain until we face more formidable competition. And I suspect (correction: "I know") the upcoming matchup this weekend will do little to clarify the true nature of the Gators....
Come on out early Saturday morning and watch Florida match up against the Troy Trojans. It's sure to be another laugher and should give the Gators a chance to further fine-tune their "banzai offense" (that's what they call the new no-huddle approach) before they kick off SEC action against the oh-so-hated Vols. But tune in early if you want to see the starters play, as I am sure Tebow and company won't be in the game for more than three quarters.
Go Gators,
Courtney
Wednesday, September 2, 2009
Florida Gators vs Charleston Southern Buccaneers
#1 Florida Gators vs Charleston Southern Buccaneers
Saturday 4:00 PST
(see below for viewing locations)
Howdy Gators:
Welcome to a new season of Florida football! After having spent the offseason basking in the glow of another National Championship and the sometimes excruciating summer heat of Seattle (admit it Floridians, even for us it was bloody hot at times), it’s time to pull out the orange and blue attire, gather around the TV and belt out a few bars of “We are the Boys from Old Florida.” Fall is in the air (as my stunning autumnal fashions will attest to) and the pageantry of NCAA Football is upon us. And at top of the college football heap are our beloved Florida Gators, overwhelming preseason #1 and the odds-on favorite to win a third title in four years. Not a bad time to be a Gator, huh?
Let’s hope this season can be as successful as last year’s. As unfair as it may seem, certainly anything other than a title repeat will be a bit of letdown, particularly given the returning talent we have and favorable schedule. Tim Tebow (aka, “Minor Deity”) returns for his senior year and is surrounded by a stable of athletes on offense. On the defensive side of the ball, the Gators return all starters (I am pretty sure this is fact, but my assistant is currently researching on LexisNexis) and somehow manage to have Brandon Spikes still donning the team colors. Can you say "juggernaut"?
Speaking of a favorable schedule, this Saturday the Gators kick off the year against the not-so-mighty Charleston Southern Buccaneers (yes, I had to look that up... I did not know their team name either). While the Yucky Bucs, as their fans and loved-ones call them, did post a 7-5 record last year, their victories were largely against patsies the likes of Northern Greenville and Edward Waters (presumably they just played against a single guy named “Edward Waters;” hence the lopsided score in that one). This one could get quite ugly :-)
Come on out and watch the Gators launch the 2009 season with the Seattle Gator Club. Chances are we will only see the starting squad for the first two quarters, as I anticipate a halftime score of humiliating proportions. Nonetheless it should be fun to watch Tebow, Spikes and Company charge on the gridiron again and make a statement to the NCAA nation. Viewing arrangements will be the same as last year: Sideline in Factoria will be hosting the Eastside crowd and Spitfire in Belltown will be the site for the Seattle folks.
Go Gators,
Courtney
NOTE: Sideline will be opening at 3:30 for the game, so if you get there early you will have to while away your time at the pet shop next door, which is actually kinda fun.
Eastside Viewing
Sideline Sports Bar
3720 Factoria Blvd SE Ste F
Bellevue, WA 98006
(425) 644-2781
Westside Viewing
Spitfire
2219 4th Ave
Seattle, WA 98121 (Belltown)
(206) 441-7966
Saturday 4:00 PST
(see below for viewing locations)
Howdy Gators:
Welcome to a new season of Florida football! After having spent the offseason basking in the glow of another National Championship and the sometimes excruciating summer heat of Seattle (admit it Floridians, even for us it was bloody hot at times), it’s time to pull out the orange and blue attire, gather around the TV and belt out a few bars of “We are the Boys from Old Florida.” Fall is in the air (as my stunning autumnal fashions will attest to) and the pageantry of NCAA Football is upon us. And at top of the college football heap are our beloved Florida Gators, overwhelming preseason #1 and the odds-on favorite to win a third title in four years. Not a bad time to be a Gator, huh?
Let’s hope this season can be as successful as last year’s. As unfair as it may seem, certainly anything other than a title repeat will be a bit of letdown, particularly given the returning talent we have and favorable schedule. Tim Tebow (aka, “Minor Deity”) returns for his senior year and is surrounded by a stable of athletes on offense. On the defensive side of the ball, the Gators return all starters (I am pretty sure this is fact, but my assistant is currently researching on LexisNexis) and somehow manage to have Brandon Spikes still donning the team colors. Can you say "juggernaut"?
Speaking of a favorable schedule, this Saturday the Gators kick off the year against the not-so-mighty Charleston Southern Buccaneers (yes, I had to look that up... I did not know their team name either). While the Yucky Bucs, as their fans and loved-ones call them, did post a 7-5 record last year, their victories were largely against patsies the likes of Northern Greenville and Edward Waters (presumably they just played against a single guy named “Edward Waters;” hence the lopsided score in that one). This one could get quite ugly :-)
Come on out and watch the Gators launch the 2009 season with the Seattle Gator Club. Chances are we will only see the starting squad for the first two quarters, as I anticipate a halftime score of humiliating proportions. Nonetheless it should be fun to watch Tebow, Spikes and Company charge on the gridiron again and make a statement to the NCAA nation. Viewing arrangements will be the same as last year: Sideline in Factoria will be hosting the Eastside crowd and Spitfire in Belltown will be the site for the Seattle folks.
Go Gators,
Courtney
NOTE: Sideline will be opening at 3:30 for the game, so if you get there early you will have to while away your time at the pet shop next door, which is actually kinda fun.
Eastside Viewing
Sideline Sports Bar
3720 Factoria Blvd SE Ste F
Bellevue, WA 98006
(425) 644-2781
Westside Viewing
Spitfire
2219 4th Ave
Seattle, WA 98121 (Belltown)
(206) 441-7966
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