Upcoming Viewing Parties

Basketball and Bowl Games

Hey Gators,

The regular football season may be over, but there’s still plenty of fun to be had with the Seattle Gator Club December and January.

Gator Basketball vs. Texas A&M
Saturday 12/17 11:30 AM PT
Bleachers Pub
8118 Greenwood Ave N.
Seattle, WA

Denver Broncos vs. New England Pats Party with Seattle Bronco Club
Sunday 12/18 1:00 PM PT
Le Bon Ton Roule
4332 Leary Way NW
(between 43rd St & Dock Pl)
Seattle, WA 98107
www.lebontonroule.com/

Gator Bowl Game: Florida v. Ohio State
Always fun to see these two teams play and, if you are like most of us, you have the day off anyway, so come on by to cheer on the Gators!
Monday, 1/2 10:00 AM PT
Spitfire
2219 4th Ave
Seattle, WA 98121

National Championship Game
Monday, 1/19 5:00 PM PT
We've reserved the back room at Spitfire, and will invite the local SEC clubs to join us.
We'll all be watching anyway: we might as well watch it together!
Spitfire
2219 4th Ave
Seattle, WA 98121

Unfortunately all venues are 21 and up (Washington law), however if you are interested in watching any of these games with children let us know of any family friendly restaurants and we will gladly let the club know.


Go Gators!

Upcoming Events

Gator Basketball vs Ohio State

Tuesday 11/15/2011 5:00PM
Buckley’s on Queen Anne
232 1st Avenue West

Come join fellow Gators for the first basketball viewing party of the year! We play Ohio State in what is prepping up to be an early season Showdown! Come show your love with fellow Gators!
The gators are coming of a 114-57 exhibition beatdown as they prepare for the opener against Jackson State on Nov. 11th. This all leads into the top 10 matchup against OSU.

Three gators were named to the SEC first team, Boynton, Walker and Young. Young actually played with the U-19 USA basketball team over the summer and looked great!Then of course we have Bradley Beal coming in, arguably the most hyped PG at Florida since Teddy Dupay? We can always take solace in the fact that the hangover from Gator Football season can be cured with this team. Expect big things this season!

November Happy Hour/ Karaoke Returns!

Wednesday 11/16/2011 9:30
Bush Garden
614 Maynard Ave S

Get ready to sing until your heart’s content. This month’s happy hour is at Bush Garden. A quaint Japanese bar & restaurant in the International District. Karaoke starts at 9:30pm and there is free onsite parking!

Florida Gators vs South Carolina Gamecocks

Florida Gators vs South Carolina Gamecocks
Saturday 9:00am PT
Spitfire

Stay afterwards to see a Seattle Gator Club Board Meeting in action, immediately after the game

Howdy Gators!

Well, we finally notched a victory, and while not a pretty win by any means, given the difficult times of late for Florida, you take what you can get! Indeed, it’s not been an easy season, to say the least, but it’s hard to get too worked up about a few losses when you look at the devastatingly sordid story unraveling up in Big 10 Country. When it comes down to it, football is just a game, and we all (myself definitely included) may sometimes forget that.

But on to much, much lighter matters. This weekend the Gators head to Columbia to face off against the #13 Gamecocks. After a very brief respite from the SEC grind (although Vandy was obviously no pushover), the Orange and Blue face off against the beloved Old Ball Coach. South Carolina is coming off a thorough beating to the Razorbacks down in Arkansas, and one can only assume they will be chomping at the bit for a win this Saturday. Given the powerful passing attack of SC, and the fact that our secondary has not looked particularly dazzling this year, presumably we will see a healthy dose of Air Spurrier. On the bright side for the Gators, their run defense has been looking stout of late, while the Gamecocks are seriously depleted in the offensive backfield, so perhaps we can drop back a bit and pull in a few INTs (hope springs eternal…)

As mentioned in a few previous mails this season, we face a very tough task ahead against a talented team. However, a good, competitive showing that demonstrates growth for the shaky Gators may just be enough to assuage the frustrations of this season. And if that doesn’t happen, well it’s only a game, and we should all just enjoy watching it.

Go Gators!
Courtney

November Newsletter

Seattle Gator Club
November 2011

EVENTS THIS MONTH:

November 15: Basketball Season Tip Off Gathering
We’ll be gathering for the first basketball game of the regular season. Guaranteed to be a good one.

UF vs Ohio State
5:00pm PT
Buckley's Queen Anne
232 1st Avenue West
Seattle, WA 98119

November 16: Karaoke Night
We’re taking the November Happy Hour and Networking to the stage with some Karaoke. What better way to get to know your fellow alumni than belting out a tune? Join us at Bush Garden in the International District. Karaoke starts at 9:30pm and there is onsite parking.

Bush Garden Restaurant
9:30pm PT
614 Maynard Ave S
Seattle, WA 98104
www.bushgarden.net

Football

Seattle:
Spitfire
2219 4th Ave, Seattle, WA

*NEW SHIRTS! With our awesome new logo available: $15 for UFAA member $20 for everyone else
* Return of Gator Trivia

November Football Games:
· Nov. 12 – Game v. South Carolina, 9:00am PT
· Nov. 19 – Game v. Furman, 10:00am PT
· Nov. 29 – Game v. FSU, TBA

Interested in getting involved with the Seattle Gator Club?
We are always looking for interested Gator Alumni who love to be involved behind the scenes here at the Seattle Gator Club. Feel free to contact us anytime or stop by our next board meeting, which will take place directly after the South Carolina game. We look forward to meeting with you!

Keep in Touch for all the latest

Facebook Fan Page and Facebook Group
Twitter
On the Web

Florida Gators vs Vanderbilt Commodores

Florida Gators vs Vanderbilt Commodores
Saturday 9:00 PT
Spitfire

- Breakfast with the gators. Top Pot Donuts!
- Gator Trivia. Winner gets a gift certificate to Yellow Leaf Cupcake Company!
- $5 dollar parking for 10 hours is located a block from Spitfire

In homage to the struggling Gators, I was initially thinking of composing a mail riddled with glowing grammatical errors and spelling misteaks (…), but after consideration I thought I would spare the sarcasm and vitriol following yet another crushing and, in this case, infuriating loss. Really, what else can you say other than this is a team in disarray and in need of quick dose of leadership. Sum total for the month of October: SEC Gauntlet (4 wins)/Orange and Blue (0).
To think that a game against Vanderbilt at home this weekend could have such consequence and be so in doubt is simply surreal. Not only is Florida on the longest losing streak in 23 years, they are in jeopardy of not making a bowl game. Huh?! Failing to qualify for a post-season game in these days when every hack business sponsors their own bowl is frankly difficult to do!
I was going to close the mail by saying “let’s hope” the Gators rally, learn from their innumerable mistakes and right the ship against the Commodores. However, “hope” hasn’t helped over the past four games. Florida players and coaches need to demand better execution and more heart from one another if the Gator Nation is see some light at the end of this very dark and lengthy tunnel. We may not have a great group of players (I have heard the expression “the cupboards are bare” quite a bit of late in reference to our squad), and the coaching staff may be exhibiting growing pains, to say the least, but I think we all agree that we are much better than the way we’ve been playing.

Go Gators!

Courtney

Florida Gators vs Georgia Bulldogs

Florida Gators vs Georgia Bulldogs
Saturday 12:30 PT
Spitfire

Howdy Gators:

Surely a week off from college football has been a welcome reprieve for all Florida fans from the past month of gridiron futility. Like many of you, I have honestly blocked out the details of the Auburn game (I recall it was played in Alabama, but luckily the remaining particulars of the contest escape me..), and have tried to take advantage of the bye week to enjoy the brisk and beautiful fall weather here in the Northwest.

Hopefully the brief respite from the grind has also allowed the battered Gators to regroup, recuperate and diagnose some of the many issues currently plaguing them. Unfortunately we face another extremely difficult challenge this weekend against our surging neighbors to the north, the Georgia Bulldogs. While it appeared in the early goings that UGA was headed for a dismal season of their own, and a likely ousting of Mark Richt from the helm, fortunes have turned in Athens, and they now share the lead in the SEC East. It just doesn’t get any easier, does it? But there may be help on the way, as John Brantley returns from injury and will hopefully lift the Orange and Blue from their recent offensive doldrums. Perhaps he might even channel Tim Tebow, ala the game against the Miami Dolphins last Sunday. Tebow! Tebow! Tebow!

Come on out and watch Florida face off against what has historically been our biggest rival, the Georgia Bulldogs, in the World’s Largest Outdoor Cocktail Party. UFhas owned this series for the past decade and has won the past three meetings, but as we all know the fates haven’t been kind to the Gainesville Faithful of late. If the Gators don’t show improvements over their last three utterly dismal outings, well… those cocktails are going to come in handy.

Go Gators,

Courtney

Florida Gators vs LSU Tigers

Florida Gators vs LSU Tigers
Saturday 12:30 PT

Eastside Viewing-Kid Friendly
Ixtapa
22350 NE Marketplace Drive
Redmond WA, 98053
(425) 868-8283

Downtown Viewing
Spitfire
2219 4th Ave
Seattle, WA 98121 (Belltown)
(206) 441-7966

Howdy Gators,

The word “OUCH” comes to mind, huh? What started out with such promise and fireworks for the Gators last weekend, resulted in a resounding thud. I won’t bother recounting the events in excruciating detail, but I think I speak for all when I say it was a painful thrashing in Gainesville at the hands of the Tide.

Yes, there’s lots of work to be done in all aspects of the game, and hopefully the “Beatdown at Ben” serves as a learning experience for Florida. Unfortunately the lessons don’t get any easier this weekend. In their second game of this brutal, four-game gauntlet (word to the UF scheduling committee - next season take it a bit easier on the Ol’ Orange and Blue!), the Gators head to Death Valley to face off against the, err… I shudder to say.., #1 team in the nation, the LSU Tigers. Truthfully, I haven’t seen LSU play much this year, but I understand they are quite good, have a tremendous (and may I say "hated") head coach and are currently deserving of their top ranking.

Time to lick our wounds and get back in the ring. The only thing the Gators can do this weekend in Baton Rouge is play with anger and try not to be too bogged down by the events of last Saturday. Clearly it won’t be an easy task (particularly while starting the mildly gimpy, freshman QB Jeff Driskel), but one can, at the very least, hope we show some fight and set the tone for the remainder of this still very young season.

Go Gators,

Courtney

October Newsletter

Seattle Gator Club
October 2011

EVENTS THIS MONTH:

October 9: Fall Fun at Carleton Farm
Please join the Seattle Gator Club on Sunday, October 9th for an afternoon of Fall fun at Carleton Farm in Lake Stevens! Gators of all ages will enjoy touring the farm on a tractor-pulled hay wagon, picking through the pumpkin patch, checking out the farm animals, running through the corn mazes, firing the pumpkin cannon, and chomping down on farm-fresh produce and other snacks. Carleton is open from 10am to 7pm; we'll be meeting at 1pm. General admission is FREE and there are nominal charges for some of the activities such as the cannon, kids' play area, and train. The farm is located at 830 Sunnyside Blvd SE in Lake Stevens, just minutes directly east of downtown Everett. Wear shoes you don't mind getting muddy!

Check out the Carleton Farm website for more information:
http://www.carletonfarm.com/activities
If you have any questions, contact the club at seattlegators@hotmail.com. See you there!


October 20: October Happy Hour and Networking Event
It’s a bye week for the Gators, but that doesn’t mean the fun has to stop. Join us for the October Happy Hour and Networking event at Bravehorse Tavern in South Lake Union. Enjoy some shuffleboard, darts, drinks and networking. There’s plenty of free street parking surrounding the location, which is located just off I-5. Everyone is welcome so feel free to bring your non-Gator friends.

Time: 6:00-8:00pm
Bravehorse Tavern
310 Terry Ave N
(between Thomas St & Harrison St)
Seattle, WA 98109
bravehorsetavern.com


Football
October is ushering some of the biggest games of the season and the Gators will definitely be in for a challenge. They’ll be counting on us to turn up in Orange and Blue to cheer them on!

Eastside:
Ixtapa
22350 NE Marketplace Dr. #106 Redmond, WA 98053
Kid-friendly venue!

Seattle:
Spitfire
2219 4th Ave, Seattle, WA

October Football Games:
· Oct. 8 – Game v. LSU, 12:30pm PT, Showing at Spitfire and Ixtapa
· Oct. 15 – Game v. Auburn, TBA
· Sept. 24 — Game v. Georgia, 12:30pm PT

Interested in getting involved with the Seattle Gator Club?

We are always looking for interested Gator Alumni who love to be involved behind the scenes here at the Seattle Gator Club. Feel free to contact us anytime. We look forward to meeting with you!


Keep in Touch for all the latest

Facebook Fan Page and Facebook Group
Twitter
On the Web

Florida Gators vs Alabama Crimson Tide

Florida Gators vs Alabama Crimson Tide
Saturday 5:00 PT

Calling All Gators: One of the biggest games of the season is being played 3,000 miles away, but never fear, we’ve got you covered with tons of Gator spirit at our Puget Sound Swamps

Eastside Viewing-Kid Friendly
Ixtapa 22350 NE Marketplace Drive Redmond WA, 98053 (425) 868-8283

Downtown Viewing
Spitfire 2219 4th Ave Seattle, WA 98121 (Belltown) (206) 441-7966

Howdy Gators,

It’s a big one this week, and one can safely assume the atmosphere at Ben Hill will be raucous, and that the libation-fueled fans will have a massive influence on this game. Whether on the field, in the stadium or at the Gator Clubs (both East and Westside locationsJ), the Orange Blue Nation needs to show up for this one! Let’s show Alabama that not only will our team show up for this games, but so do our fans!

Last week we saw another game against Kentucky and, dare I say, another predictable win. Thankfully, this one was never really a contest, as the Gators held a hefty lead over the lowly Cats by the end of the first quarter. Once again, the running attack was unstoppable, rallying up 262 yards and demonstrating that it’s almost undoubtedly the speediest backfield in the NCAA. Quite honestly, I don’t know how you defend against Rainey, Demps, et al, and I am sure the rest of the SEC defensive coordinators don’t have a clear idea either.

Certainly the Gators have looked very impressive in the early stages of the Muschamp regime, but we all know the games leading up to this weekend have been mere primers. Quite nice to be 2-0 in the SEC East, but now we have to face perhaps the best team from the seemingly stronger West division. I must admit I was skeptical about Alabama in the early stages of their game against Arkansas last weekend (their QB seems a bit, oh well, Brantley-like), but my doubts were quickly diffused when I saw the speed of their defense and the power of Trent Richardson. Surely they must be fallible in some respect, but no other team has yet to reveal any shortcomings.

And that’s where the Gators come in! We will have to play a nearly flawless game to beat The Tide, but our backs may be just too fast, even for the swift defense of Alabama, to stop from turning the corner and breaking a big one. And of course our Defense is nothing to sneeze at either. They continue to dominate in all phases (dumb penalties being the exception) and should be extremely amped for the night game in Gainesville.

Go Gators,

Courtney

Florida Gators vs Kentucky Wildcats

Florida Gators vs Kentucky Wildcats
Saturday 4:00 PDT

Locations:

Eastside Viewing
· Ixtapa 22350 NE Marketplace Drive Redmond WA, 98053 (425) 868-8283
· Due to construction, the bottom of Novelty Hill is closed...alternate directions below

Downtown Viewing
· Spitfire 2219 4th Ave Seattle, WA 98121 (Belltown) (206) 441-7966

Happy Autumn Gators:

Well it certainly wasn’t the prettiest of victories against the Vols last weekend, but a win over Tennessee is always satisfying! Had it not been for the innumerable pass interference penalties (were there really five?!!) and dropped INTs, this one very well could have been an epic blowout. But you can’t always have perfection, and this was certainly a great early season win for the Orange and Blue.

Not that we should ding the Gators too much for what seemed like a nail-biter contest (at least to me). While the Defense did make several mistakes, their play against the UT running “attack” was absolutely outstanding. Holding Tennessee to a mere -9 yards on the ground, The Florida D turned in its third stellar performance of the season, and now stands atop the NCAA in run defense.

On the offensive side of the ball, what more can you say about Chris Rainey’s play thus far? He is quite simply electric and a threat to take it all the way whenever he touches the ball. With a total of 233 all-purpose yards against the Vols, including a scintillating 83 yard scamper (yes, the three yard toss from Brantley counted as an 83 yard TD pass), Rainey is undoubtedly putting himself in the Heisman discussion (I can only hope I didn’t just jinx him with this proclamation….) For his brilliant effort last Saturday, Rainey was awarded the SEC Co-Player of the Week, and one can only assume there are more accolades to come.

This weekend the #15 Gators face off against the 2-1 Wildcats for a night game in Lexington. True, Florida has beaten the UK Felines 24 straight times, and likely will win again the way our Defense is playing; however, lest we forget about the time we needed a miracle throw from Wuerffel to Doering, we should never take an SEC opponent lightly when playing on the road. Let’s hope the Offense shows some improvement in the red-zone this Saturday, and that we clean up the penalties on Defense. While a win against Kentucky would indeed be sweet, we also need to iron out some kinks, because we have much bigger fish to fry when we face Bama the following week under the lights in Hogtown.

Go Gators,
Courtney

Alternate Directions to Ixtapa

From Bellevue:
Take 520 to the end and the first right (traffic Light) onto Union Hill Road. Follow Union Hill to 208th (traffic light at top of hill) and take a left, take a right onto Novelty Hill and then a right at Marketplace (no light but first right after the first traffic light you drive through on Novelty Hill).

From Kirkland:
Take 124th (Totem Lake) all the way to Avondale, take a left on Avondale and then an immediate right onto 132nd, take a right on 133rd (just past fire station), take 133rd through Trilogy (it turns into Trilogy Parkway), take a right on Novelty Hill (at entrance to Trilogy), take a left into Marketplace (just after light at Redmond Ridge Road).

From Woodinville:
Take Woodinville-Duvall Road to Avondale, take a right on Avondale and a left onto 132nd, take a right on 133rd (just past fire station), take 133rd through Trilogy (it turns into Trilogy Parkway), take a right on Novelty Hill (at entrance to Trilogy), take a left into Marketplace (just after light at Redmond Ridge Road).

From Samammish:
Take Remond Fall City Road to 236th (Albertsons on the corner) and head north on 236th which turns into 238th (stay straight at the stop sign at top of hill) turns into Redmond Ridge Road. Take a left on Novelty Hill and an immediate left into Marketplace

Florida Gators vs Tennessee Volunteers

Florida Gators vs Tennessee Volunteers
Saturday 12:30 PDT

Locations:

Eastside Viewing
Ixtapa 22350 NE Marketplace Drive Redmond WA, 98053 (425) 868-8283

Downtown Viewing
Spitfire 2219 4th Ave Seattle, WA 98121 (Belltown) (206) 441-7966

Drawing for Will Muschamp Gator Signed Football (winner will be announced at Florida-Georgia Game)
Only 100 Tickets to be sold. $5 each

For the first time ever we will be doing a joint viewing party with both locations via Skype, plus potentially other Gator Clubs across the country. Come enjoy the experience.

Howdy Gators:
For the second week in a row the Orange and Blue trounced a clearly unworthy opponent in their tune-up for the conference season. Yes, it was a lopsided affair, but still a very entertaining game to watch, and a conspicuous indicator that we have improved upon the early goings of last year. While the Offense was not as wide open as expected (one can only assume we are hiding all our cards to keep our SEC foes in the dark…), the Gators still managed to put on an impressive display, registering over 500 yards. Chris Rainey and his backfield crew are playing like men possessed, and it looks as if the running game will be a focal point of the Florida attack this season. But of course, there's always room for improvement - failing to convert on some early scoring opportunities, the Gators must become more efficient in the red-zone. Field goals may work against the minor league teams, but they will become a real issue against the likes of LSU and The Tide.

On the defensive side of the ball, the Gators continue to look dominant, particularly at the DL position. Holding UAB to a whopping zero points, the Defense once again played with great spirit and athleticism. And to think that Sharrif Floyd, who is presumably quite irate and amped after his unwarranted suspension, will return to the lineup, we should expect another heavy dose of Booyah! at Ben Hill Griffin this weekend.

Come join us this Saturday and watch the #16 Gators square off against Tennessee. Despite the Vols recent downward trend, the annual game against UT has always been a special one. From the days of Heath Shuler, to Peyton Manning, to Tee Martin, the third game of the season has typically been an exciting matchup. Notching over 40 points in their first two games, Tennessee looks to be stronger this season than in years past and seems to have another talented quarterback in their ranks. Charlie Weis (who is apparently moonlighting in Quantico for the FBI?), will need to dial up an equally potent attack to keep pace with the boys from Good Ol’ Rocky Top and ensure an opening win in the SEC East. As, always it should be an interesting
contest.

Go Gators,
Courtney

Florida Gators vs UAB Blazers

Florida Gators vs UAB Blazers
Saturday 4:00 PT

Eastside Viewing
Ixtapa 22350 NE Marketplace Drive Redmond WA, 98053 (425) 868-8283
The game will be streamed via computer from ESPN3.com.
Come share in the excitement with fellow Gators and meet the new Club President.

Downtown Viewing
Spitfire 2219 4th Ave Seattle, WA 98121 (Belltown) (206) 441-7966
We'll be on the North Deck up front, but will return to our usual back room for Tennessee
Ezell's chicken, as well as southern side dishes and desserts, will be served!

Howdy Gators:

Well certainly the first contest of the 2011 campaign was a far more satisfying experience than last year's opener against Miami of Ohio! I vividly recall watching that game live on a flight back from NYC, and yearning for an ejector seat to shield me from the near debacle. But that was then, and this is now (to quote coming-of-age author S.E. Hinton), and I think we all have reason to be optimistic about the new-look Gator squad! While I didn't get to actually see the game against FAU, just reading the recap was more entertaining than watching the often unimaginative offensive system under Steve Addazio. From what I can gather, Florida definitely seems to have regained some of their offensive swagger, sans the incessant dive play up the middle. The ultra-speedy tandem of Jeff Demps and Chris Rainey appear unstoppable, and John Brantley seems to have found a greater comfort zone in the revamped, pro-style scheme. Of course, one game does not make a season, but it seems that we will have a more dynamic offense with Charlie Weis managing the helm and using the entire Gators arsenal. On the defensive side of the ball, it looks like there's a pronounced spike in overall energy and enthusiasm, which is not surprising given Will Muschamp's credentials as a defensive guru. Once again, a single impressive performance doth not make a season, but some writers speculate that this year's defensive front may be the most dominant we have had in years. This weekend the #18 Gators return to Florida Field to face off against the University of Alabama Blazers - so named because of their penchant for stylish, double-breasted jackets (OK, that might not be entirely accurate....) For UAB, this will be the opening game of the season, and presumably they won't fair very well in the raucous environs of TheSwamp, particularly given the nighttime kickoff. Let's hope Florida continues to exhibit the exuberance of last week, and uses this game as an opportunity to accentuate the positives and improve upon some of the facets of their game where they fell a tad short (the two interceptions and the seemingly inevitable muffed snap come to mind). Come on out this Saturday and watch the Gators deliver another spirited performance and gear up for their upcoming battle against the dreaded (or perhaps dreadful?) Tennessee Volunteers. Yes, once again, it's very early in the season, but based on the somewhat lackluster performances by some of our SEC brethren last weekend (I'm looking at you Georgia, Auburn and South Carolina), perhaps it's not too bold to conclude that Florida could be something of a force in the conference this year.

Go Gators, Courtney

September Events

EVENTS THIS MONTH:

September 11: Annual Alumni Picnic

Join us for some fun in the sun at the beautiful Golden Gardens Beach and Park in Ballard for the Seattle Gator Club Annual Picnic

• Games for the whole family-water balloon toss, horse shoes, three-legged race and more!
• Hot dogs, hamburgers and veggie burgers grilled up by our very own grill master
• Access to the beach and lush forest trails
• Gator temporary tattoos for the kids and adults

We’ll be providing some side dishes and non-alcoholic beverages, but please feel free to bring your favorite picnic dish to share and any other beverages you would like.

Golden Gardens Park
http://www.seattle.gov/parks/park_detail.asp?ID=243
8498 Seaview Pl NW
Seattle

September 15: September Happy Hour and Networking Event

Join us for the first Happy Hour and Networking event of the football season at The Lookout in Capital Hill. We’ll be gathering at 6:00pm and happy hour runs from 4-7pm. The Lookout is a great place to enjoy the September weather with an outdoor patio with a view of South Lake Union, Queen Anne, and Puget Sound.

The Lookout
Capitol Hill
757 Bellevue Ave E
Seattle, WA 98102

Football
We kicked off the season with a win against FAU. Join us the rest of the season at our two locations:

Eastside:
Ixtapa
22350 NE Marketplace Dr. #106 Redmond, WA 98053
Kid-friendly venue!

Seattle
Spitfire
2219 4th Ave, Seattle, WA
Under new management!

September Football Games:
• Sept. 10 – Game v. UAB, 4:00pm PDT, Showing at Spitfire location only
• Sept. 17 – Game v. Tennessee, 12:30 p.m., Showing at Spitfire and Ixtapa on the Eastside
• Sept. 24 — Game v. Kentucky, TBA

What we’ve been up to lately
The Gators represented well at the SEC Alumni Event. It was a great time to chat with our fellow SEC football fanatics and brag on the Gators. See pictures here.

Seattle Gator Club was featured in the Gainesville Sun for our get-well t-shirt and gifts to Danny Wuerffel.

Interested in getting involved with the Seattle Gator Club? We are always looking for interested Gator Alumni who love to be involved behind the scenes here at the Seattle Gator Club. Feel free to contact us anytime.

Kick-Off to 2011 Gator Football Season-Sept. 3 at 4:00pm

2011 Gator Football Viewing Parties!

Kick Off Saturday, Sept. 3 at 4:00pm
Florida v. FAU

New Eastside kid-friendly venue!
Ixtapa at 22350 NE Marketplace Dr. #106 Redmond, WA 98053
Happy Hour prices / extensive children’s menu

Spitfire is under new management! 2219 4th Ave, Seattle, WA
The second TV is back!
A specialty Gator-themed beverage is in the works
A new menu!

For the past 245 days between official football games, we have sat with bated breath, waiting for football season to arrive. The offseason for Florida brought some big changes to the program that will certainly have an impact:

New Coaching Staff:
A new season brings new blood to the sidelines. We thank Urban for his tireless work for the university but welcome Coach Muschamp (Coach Boom). Muschamp comes to Florida as a longtime assistant to Mack Brown at the University of Texas.
Coach Boom’s first big move was to hire Charlie Weis as Offensive Coordinator. After a successful campaign as OC at New England and Kansas City (with a not so successful campaign as HC at Notre Dame), Weis brings experience and a genuine swagger that better suits John Brantley’s style of play.

New Players:
On Offense, expect to see Trey Burton, Jeff Demps and Chris Rainey play a new role in what Charlie calls F/HB positions. Though Weis has been impressed with Brantley’s leadership, this sentiment may not be shared by Gator Nation if he struggles early on. Freshman sensation Jeff Driskel (aka Tebow 2.0) looks to make his name early, and should see some time in the fourth quarter of the first game.
On Defense, the number 1 recruiting class from 2009 looks to assert their dominance. Remember these names, Ronald Powell, Sharrif Floyd, Jelani Jenkins, Matt Elam and Dominique Easley. If they play to their potential, they will strike fear into the hearts of SEC offenses all year!

This week’s opponent: Florida Atlantic University Owls (FAU)
You may not be aware of any talent on FAU’s roster, but there is no denying the legacy of their head coach. Howard Schnellenberger has four national championship appearances at the University of Miami under his belt and has led the Owls to back to back bowl wins.
Key players to watch are: RB Alfred Morris, P Mickey Groody (we will see A LOT of him) and LE Kevin Cyrille.

Still, there’s no question that the Owls will be Gator Bait come Saturday.

We can’t wait to celebrate a new season with you guys!

Go Gators!

Seattle Gator Club Annual Picnic

FUN IN THE SUN WITH THE SEATTLE GATOR CLUB!
Seattle Gator Club Annual Picnic
September 11 from 10:00am-2:00pm

Missing the sunny beaches of Florida? Want to feel the sand in your toes and splash around in the waves? Well, we can’t give you that, but we can give you one of the closest things Seattle has to offer. Join us for some fun in the sun at the beautiful Golden Gardens Beach and Park in Ballard for the Seattle Gator Club Annual Picnic on September 11 from 10:00am to 2:00pm.

· Games for the whole family-water balloon toss, horse shoes, three-legged race and more!
· Hot dogs, hamburgers and veggie burgers grilled up by our very own grill master
· Access to the beach and lush forest trails
· Gator temporary tattoos for the kids and adults

There is plenty of parking and we’ll have a covered picnic area as well as several more picnic benches.

We’ll be providing some side dishes and non-alcoholic beverages, but please feel free to bring your favorite picnic dish to share and any other beverages you would like.

Golden Gardens Park
8498 Seaview Pl NW
Seattle

New Kid-Friendly Eastside Football Viewing Venue

Hey Gators! Don’t want to make the trek across the bridge every Saturday? Looking for a venue that the whole family can enjoy? Come join your fellow Gators on the Eastside at our new location, IXTAPA!

You asked for it and here it is. The new venue features:
· Kid Friendly!
· Happy Hour Drink Prices
· Coloring Books for the kids
· Raffle to win Gator Gear
· $2.99 Kid’s Food on Saturday
· Free Parking

We’ll be showing the first game against FAU at 4:00pm PDT on September 3.

Location:
22350 NE Marketplace Dr # 106
Redmond, WA 98053
We have the back room

We look forward to seeing you guys there!

August Newsletter

Seattle Gator Club
August 2011
EVENTS THIS MONTH:

August 10: August Happy Hour and Networking Event
We're moving the Happy Hour and Networking to the Eastside this month so if you live or work on the Eastside, this is the perfect opportunity to meet up with your fellow Gators before the season kicks off. We'll be meeting at Joey's in Bellevue and we'll have some Gator items to identify ourselves. See you there!

Joey's Restaurant
6:00pm - 9:00pm
800 Bellevue Way NE, Bellevue, WA 98004-4286
August 20: Movie Night
Pack a picnic, spread out the blankets, and join us for a move under the stars at Outdoor Movie Night at Carillon Point in Kirkland. They will be showing How to Train Your Dragon, rated PG. This is a great event for Gators and their families.

Movies are shown in the plaza of Carillon Point overlooking Lake Washington. The movie will start at dusk. The plaza will open 1 hour prior to dusk for seating. There is a $5 donation per person

Contact: Mike Leggett to RSVP. http://www.carillon-point.com/home/movie.html

August 27: SEC Event
Let’s show SEC nation that the Gator’s rule the Pacific Northwest. This year, we’ll be joining the other SEC alumni clubs in the area at the annual SEC event held at the Nickerson Street Saloon. This will be a great opportunity to connect with other people from our neck of the woods. The schedule includes a cheering contest with the winners getting bragging rights for the rest of the year. Wear you Gator clothes.

4:00-8:00pm
The Nickerson Street Saloon (next to the Fremont Bridge in Seattle)
318 Nickerson St., Seattle, WA
21 and up

Save the Date

Football Season is starting and we’ve got you covered for viewing parties from the first game to the last. More details to come:
· Sept. 3 – First Game of the Season v. Florida Atlantic, 4:00pm PDT, Showing at Spitfire location
· Sept. 10 – Game v. UAB, 4:00pm PDT, Showing at Spitfire location
· Sept. 11 – Annual Alumni Picnic at Golden Gardens from 10:00am to 1:00pm
· Sept. 17 – Game v. Tennessee, 12:30 p.m., Showing at Spitfire and Ixtapa on the Eastside
· Sept. 24 — Game v. Kentucky, TBA

What we’ve been up to lately
The Gator Hike was a great success on a beautiful day. Thanks to Robyn Wilson for taking some beautiful photos of the event.

Interested in getting involved with the Seattle Gator Club?
We are always looking for interested Gator Alumni who love to be involved behind the scenes here at the Seattle Gator Club. Feel free to contact us anytime at seattlegators@hotmail.com or on Facebook. We look forward to meeting with you!

Keep in Touch for all the latest

Email
Facebook Fan Page and Facebook Group
Twitter
On the Web

June Newsletter

Seattle Gator Club - June 11

May Newsletter

Seattle Gator Club Newsletter - May 2011

Inaugural Monthly Happy Hour - Changes to Facebook

Seattle Gators!

Upcoming Seattle Gator Club (SCG) Events:

April 24th (Thursday from 5:00-8:00 p.m.)

Inaugural Monthly Happy Hour

Rob Roy
2332 2^nd Avenue

Seattle, WA 98121

(206) 956-8423

Join us for the inaugural Seattle Gator Club Monthly Happy Hour to get to know your fellow Seattle Gators, learn more about the club and activities and have a good time. Happy Hour starts at 4, but please feel free to get there whenever you can make it.

Questions? Contact Seattle Gator Club at seattlegators@hotmail.com

Changes to Facebook

We are in the process of transferring the Seattle Gator Club from a Facebook group to page. Using a Facebook page will allow us to have all updates come more conveniently to your news feed and Twitter. Please join this page and remove yourself from the Facebook group. We appreciate your patience and understanding.

New Link:

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Seattle-Gator-Club/176812912368223

International Gator Day (Blitz Tackles MS, MS Walk)

April 3 (Sunday 8:30 a.m.)

International Gator Day

(Blitz Tackles MS, MS Walk)

Husky Stadium
University of Washington
Seattle, WA

It's that time of year again Gators, International Gator Day! A chance for Gator Alumni in Seattle to make a difference in the community! Following the success of last years event, the MS Walk, we decided to continue to help out a great cause for an even greater person!

Fellow Gator Alumnus (and Albert mascot) Ryan Asdourian was unfortunately diagnosed with MS a few years back. Presently Ryan works for Microsoft and is the Seattle Seahawks Mascot, Blitz. Ryan was determined to have a positive outlook on the diagnosis and take the disease head on. His commitment to a positive attitude and a desire to raise awareness for the disease made his cause, Blitz Tackles MS, the perfect candidate for our International Gator Day Volunteer Activity.

It is our plan here at the Seattle Gator Club to help volunteer and walk to raise awareness for MS. We would love for the alumni to take the time to help volunteer at the event either by walking, or contacting Ryan (links below) to see how we can help at the event. We had such a successful and wonderful time last year, and we look forward to continuing donating our time and efforts for a great cause, for a fellow Gator.

Gator Nation is Everywhere!

Please Take the time to check out Ryan's Websites at:

Ryan's Story: http://www.blitztacklesms.com/ryan/

Blitz Tackles MS Page: http://www.blitztacklesms.com

Facebook Page: http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=300271047746

Questions? Contact Sharon Edelstein at sharoncavanaugh@alumni.ufl.edu or Ryan Asdourian at rasdo37@hotmail.com

Ski Day at Stevens Pass (Saturday, March 5th)

Seattle Gator Club Ski and Snowboard Day

Saturday, March 5, 2011 at Stevens Pass Ski Area

The snows gods have answered our prayers and a huge amount of snow is forecasted for this week and next. Skiing should be fantastic. Come join the Seattle Gator Club for the annual Ski and Snowboard Day on Saturday, March 5, 2011 at Stevens Pass Ski Area. The Stevens Pass Ski Area has terrain for all levels of skiers and snowboarders. The ski area is located on Highway 2 about 85 miles Northeast of Seattle. You can find out more about Stevens Pass at their web site, www.stevenspass.com . Stevens Pass rents skis and snowboards. They have packages which include lift ticket, ski/snowboard rental and a lesson.

If you have a ski pass from another ski area, now is the time to expand your horizons and enjoy the fantastic grooming at Stevens Pass. The groomed runs have never been in better shape. Their best groomer has returned from Salt Lake City where he did the grooming for the Winter Olympics. You’ll feel like an Olympian when you take off on one of their many perfectly groomed runs. You will easily record your personal best run in these perfect conditions. Remember, there is no speed limit at Stevens Pass.

Please email me at neilhang@comcast.net by March 1, 2011 if you are interested in attending the ski and snowboarding day. Please feel free to bring your family and friends. Let me know how many will be in your party, if you are interested in carpooling and if you are interested in volunteering to help out with this event.

Stevens Pass is a fantastic ski area and if you have never skied before, this is a great opportunity to learn. I look forward to seeing everyone on the slopes.

Go Gators!

Neil Hang

President, Seattle Gator Club

Come See The Gator's Tennis Team Play in the NCAA Quarterfinals Tomorrow!!!!

Gator Tennis NCAA Quarterfinals vs Duke

SATURDAY February 19, 2011 (Noon)

Nordstrom Tennis Center

3920 Montlake Blvd NE

Seattle, WA 98105

Nothing to do tomorrow? Want to show your gator pride? Want to actually see Gator Athletes here in Seattle? Then come see them play in the NCAA Men's Tennis Division I Quarterfinals vs. Duke!

Location:

Nordstrom Tennis Center (You may remember we walked by this during the MS Walk last year!)

http://www.gohuskies.com/facilities/nordstrom.html

February 24 (Thursday from 7-10:30 p.m.)

Third Annual Gator Roll-and-Bowl

Lynnwood Skate and Bowl
6210 200th Street SW
Lynnwood, WA

Here’s some good cheap fun for both adults and kids! Our annual Lynnwood Skate and Bowl offers kid-friendly bowling followed by adult roller-skating. SGC will contribute generously toward lane fees, shoe rentals, pizza and soda. Prizes for the highest (and lowest!) scores will be awarded. At 8:30 p.m., adults (18-years and older) can head over to the classic wood-floor roller rink. The skating session costs $6 and includes basic skate rental. In-line skates can be rented for a small additional charge. Spandex, side ponytails, and tube socks encouraged! There are snack bars, lockers, and video games on both the skating and bowling sides, as well as a sit-down restaurant and full bar on the bowling side. Parking is ample, and it’s easy to get there from both Hwy 99 and I-5. Please let us know if you need a ride or are interested in carpooling! RSVPs are greatly appreciated so we can get an idea of how many lanes to reserve. And, with most area schools on break, don’t forget to bring your kids!

Questions? Contact Pamela Landinez at seattlegators@hotmail.com

Gator Trivia Night

February 9 (Wednesday at 6 p.m.)

Gator Trivia Night

Ozzie’s

105 West Mercer Street

Seattle, WA 98119

(206) 284-4618

Which Gator alumni group just won two Clubbies? We did! Just don’t expect all the questions to be that easy. So put on your thinking caps and join us for Gator Trivia Night at Ozzie's! Don’t be late. The questions begin at 7 p.m.

Questions? Contact Jennifer Dabnor at jadabnor@yahoo.com

'National' Championship for Seattle Gator Club

Day 1 at the Gator Leadership conference in Gainesville is over. and the winner is....Neil Hang, Gator Clubs Leader of the Year. Kudos to Neil and the Seattle Gator Club for winning two Gator Clubbies. We also send out kudos to Courtney, Kelly, Adrienne, Pam, Jamie, Sharon, Neil and Rich as all contributed to our first clubbie of the evening Best 'Out of State' Communications.

A Gator Clubbie is an award like the Oscar. Its a coveted award as it shows how dedicated you are to the Gator Nation, a reward for hard work, creativity and won by those who 'bleed orange and blue'. These are the first clubbies Seattle has ever won as we are in one of the most competitive regions and we have to compete with all the great clubs in our region. They are both well deserved.

Great job Seattle Gators!

Seattle Gators at UFAA Leadership Conf 2011 Day 1

Dr. Machen gave a great talk on Florida Opportunity Scholarship program. Read an email from a graduate of this great scholarship program, this student now a Gator alum is living in Seattle working for Amazon. Kudos to Seattle Gators (and the club). Seattle Gator Club has donated to this great cause in the past and continues to support UF with our pledge to the Region 8 endowment. Gator Nation is everywhere!