Seattle Gator Club

Update: Bowl Games/Viewing Parties/Winter Events

2012-01-03T15:21:00.001-08:00

Hey Gators,

We hope the Holiday season has been kind to our alumni! Come celebrate the New Year with the Gator Club.

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
http://www.spitfireseattle.com/

Gator Basketball vs. Tennessee
Saturday, 1/7 8:00 AM PT
The Gators have just beaten in state rival FSU and are on a role. Come join us as we terrorize the SEC!

Location: TBD

National Championship Game
Monday, 1/9 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
http://www.spitfireseattle.com/

Denver Broncos vs. TBD
TBD
Le Bon Ton Roule
4332 Leary Way NW
(between 43rd St & Dock Pl)
Seattle, WA 98107
http://www.yelp.com/biz_redir?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.lebontonroule.com%2F&src_bizid=JjUDR_pV_M3NqL3TRrTB2A&cachebuster=1324069003&s=93eab2ae105b285f7dbcf83d2f2bd4a9151f852ad59a4662cab49cbd67d14aed

If the Broncos win this weekend, they make the playoffs. We had a great time with the Seattle
Bronco club, so we are doing it again! More information will be provided if they in fact make the playoffs!

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 us know.

Winter Event Ideas
A number of Gator Alumni have contacted the club with a number of ideas for winter events. As it stands right now we are looking at a few events.

· Annual Ski Day
· Snowshoeing Event
· Game Night

If you have any other ideas, let us know!

Let’s make 2012 the year of the Gator!

Go Gators!

Upcoming Viewing Parties

2011-12-18T20:46:00.000-08:00

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

2011-11-13T23:09:00.000-08:00

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

2011-11-10T22:46:00.000-08:00

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

2011-11-08T22:04:00.000-08:00

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

2011-11-03T22:02:00.000-07:00

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

2011-10-28T22:24:00.000-07:00

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

2011-10-06T22:32:00.000-07:00

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

2011-10-03T22:19:00.000-07:00

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

2011-09-28T23:03:00.001-07:00

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

2011-09-22T14:00:00.000-07:00

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

2011-09-14T21:29:00.000-07:00

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

2011-09-08T19:38:00.000-07:00

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

2011-09-07T23:52:00.000-07:00

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

2011-08-30T11:53:00.000-07:00

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

2011-08-29T19:22:00.000-07:00

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

2011-08-29T19:21:00.002-07:00

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

2011-08-29T19:21:00.001-07:00

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

2011-06-10T11:19:00.000-07:00

Seattle Gator Club - June 11

May Newsletter

2011-05-03T21:05:00.000-07:00

Seattle Gator Club Newsletter - May 2011

Inaugural Monthly Happy Hour - Changes to Facebook

2011-04-18T01:04:00.001-07:00

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)

2011-03-16T13:56:00.000-07:00

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)

2011-02-21T20:29:00.000-08:00

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!!!!

2011-02-18T21:37:00.000-08:00

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

Third Annual Gator Roll-and-Bowl

2011-02-01T22:57:00.001-08:00

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

2011-02-01T22:54:00.000-08:00

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

2011-01-21T21:45:00.000-08:00

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

2011-01-21T12:17:00.000-08:00

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!

Florida Gators vs Penn State Nittany Lions

2010-12-28T20:31:00.000-08:00

Florida Gators vs Penn State Nittany Lions
Saturday, Jan 1st 10:00 AM PST
West Side Viewing Only

Seattle Gators:

Well this has been a whirlwind of a season hasn’t it! From “Mullen’s Mystery”, “Miles’ Miracle” and “Spurrier’s Statement” in the Swamp to “Saban’s Standoff” in Tuscaloosa and “Jimbo’s Jolt” in Tallahassee, we haven’t had the success we desired. Unconvincing and questionable offensive play calling, coupled with a lack of identity on offense and defense, most likely attributed to the lack of success experienced this season. If anything, this has been a wakeup call and a humbling experience for Gator Nation. Results like those could easily test our spirit, but in no way should it shake the foundation that has established Gator Nation.

On December 8th, after 6 loyal years, Urban stepped down as HBC for the Gators. I personally did not see this one coming, however I thank Coach Meyer for the success and memories he brought to Gator Nation over the course of his tenure. Who can forget the 2006 season highlighted Jarvis Moss’ not one, but two blocked kicks to squeak by the ‘Cocks in the Swamp in arguably one the loudest games since the 1997 FSU game. We can all remember “shocking” the world in Glendale, even though it was no real shock to Gator Nation. Two years later remembering us sending the Sooners back to Oklahoma with no trophy, but some nice parting gifts (see: Tebow Gator Chomp penalty). Urban brought with him a new “Swagger” seemed lacking since Spurrier’s departure (sorry Zooker).

On December 22nd, Temple announced the hiring of our OC, Steve Addazio (This warrants no discussion). No, seriously it does warrant a discussion apart from the standard “At Gator Nation we wish him the best of luck with his future endeavors”.
Ok… one… two… three… Now that I got that out, it is time to look forward. On December 11th, we welcomed our new HBC, Will Muschamp. His hire has its doubters, but the consensus is that Gator Nation is excited about his energy and defensive acumen. I personally want to welcome Coach Muschamp to the university. My only contention is the fact that he does share a beach house with FSU HBC Jimbo Fisher. This should be addressed at some point, because this feels like a tie, and like Bama Coach Bryant once said, “a tie is like kissing your sister”.

Though we have lost a number of recruits from the fallout, including CB Nick Waisome to FSU, we did hold on to a key recruit, QB Jeff Driskel. If you are not familiar with this kid, I promise you will not be disappointed. Jeff should be in school early admission in January. Once he steps foot in between the palms and pine, I will take a deep breath.
There is talk around the coolers that Muschamp will be deciding on an OC by the end of the week. We will keep you posted when new developments come in.
Finally I think it is time to talk about the game. On January first we invite all to join us to watch our Gators take on the Nittany Lions of Penn State.

HEAD COACH: Penn State is coached by legendary coach Joe Paterno. In fact, Joe Paterno has been coaching as long (46 years) as Urban has been alive. I think it is fitting that Coach Meyer’s last game as HBC be across one of the legends of the game. Though Coach Paterno has been around the game for all this time, he has only two of the four national champions to his name. That means Paterno has 2 championships in 46 at Penn State compared to Urban’s 2-6 in Florida, coupled with the fact that Joe has to deal with the myriad of issues of with his age (in 2006 he actually left the field mid-game) I have to give the Edge to Coach Meyer.
EDGE: Gators

OFFENSE: Is Adazzio still coaching from the sidelines? Yes? Ok
EDGE: Nittany Lions

DEFENSE: Both teams have been suspect this year and lacked Identity. I feel however we have a depth of young talent that will be showcased in this game.
EDGE: Gators

SPECIAL TEAMS: Once a standard of excellence by Coach Meyer, injuries have led to inconsistencies in the kicking game. Luckily we can rely on arguably the best punter ever to wear Orange and Blue in Chas Henry and a number of skilled young players on special teams.
EDGE: Gators

INTANGIBLES: Coach Meyer’s last game. He will outcoach Joe Pa (and Addazio) by himself.
EDGE: GATORS

I invite all gators to recover from all the New Years’ debauchery to spend time with the Orange and Blue as we say farewell to Coach Meyer. A fitting tribute to a man who helped put us back on the map. I look forward to speaking with you guys to get input for next season and hear any ideas you may have. I want to thank everyone for coming this season, and know that we will be taking the Orange and Blue to new heights in 2011.

Also, anyone interested meeting up for Gator Basketball games, feel free to email Mike.

Go Gators!

Mike

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

Florida Gators vs Florida State Seminoles

2010-11-24T10:33:00.000-08:00

Happy Thanksgiving Seattle Gators!

You are hearing from me this week since Courtney has decided to retire. For the last 8 years, his weekly announcements have been a Seattle Gator Club classic. No other Gator Club has been so fortunate to receive such informative and humorous updates during the season. Courtney is truly a very special Gator and we will miss hearing from him.

This season has been my toughest season in the 39 years I have been a Gator fan. I forgot the old saying; a positive attitude brings positive results. Now that I have had time to think about this season, the future looks bright for this young and talented team. They will be a lot better next year. Remember, we were 9-4 during Tebow's first season as the starting quarterback.
We are very fortunate to be members of one of the premier Gator Clubs. Part of what makes us such a great club is the people who volunteer their time and effort. Kelly and Marianne have managed our Spitfire and Sidelines viewing locations, and have wondered where all the Seattle Gators have been during these last few weeks.

Please bring your positive can-do Gator attitude and swagger and come view the FSU game with us at 12:30 this Saturday! We'll have a great halftime show, our new ladies club shirts for sale, and drawings for lots of Gator gear. In all kinds of weather, we'll all stick together!

As a tribute to Courtney, I have included below his email that he sent out for the FSU game last year. Thank you Courtney for keeping us entertained each week during the season. We will miss hearing from you, and are grateful for your 8 years of dedication to the Seattle Gator Club!.

Go Gators!
Neil Hang, President - Seattle Gator Club

#1 Florida Gators vs Florida State SeminolesSaturday 12:30 PST (see below for viewing locations)

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

Salsa Night

2010-11-20T15:30:00.000-08:00

The winter chill is upon us so get some of that Miami heat at Salsa Night with the Seattle Gator Club.

Put on those dancing shoes and join us for Salsa Dancing at Century Ballroom and Cafe in Capital Hill on Thursday, December 2. Lessons start at 9:00pm and the floor opens to everyone at 9:30pm. No partner required.

When: Thursday, December 2nd at 9:00pm
Where: Century Ballroom and Café
915 E Pine 2nd floor
Seattle WA 98122
Cost: $7 per person

Florida Gators vs Appalachian State

2010-11-17T22:43:00.000-08:00

Florida Gators vs Appalachian State
Saturday 9:30am PST (Spitfire Viewing Only)

Note that due to the early start time we'll only be viewing the game at Spitfire this week.

Go Gators.

#22 Florida Gators vs #23 South Carolina Gamecocks

2010-11-12T11:13:00.000-08:00

#22 Florida Gators vs #23 South Carolina Gamecocks
Saturday 4:15 PST

Howdy Gators:

Surprising situation we find ourselves in here, eh? Who would have thought a few weeks ago that we would have the chance to play for the SEC East title after losing three straight conference games in such a miserable fashion? But it looks like the Orange and Blue has finally woken up from the Offensive lethargy that plagued them earlier in the season. The three-headed quarterback (not to be confused withe the three-headed hound Cerberus who guards the gates to Hades) seems to be working well and taking pressure off John Brantley, who had seemed ill-equipped at times (OK, often) to function well in the Addazio scheme. Certainly having Chris Rainey back hasn't hurt either. Let's hope his off-the-field woes are behind him, as he has been a massive contributor over the past couple weeks.

Come on out this weekend and watch Florida face off against the Ol' Ball Coach for all the marbles (at least the Eastern marbles). The Gators seem to have arisen from their slumber, but you can be sure Spurrier will pull out all the stops to bring South Carolina it's first SEC East title. Certainly we all love Steve, but this is one game where I wouldn't mind seeing the Spurrier visor flying early and often.

Go Gators,

Courtney

Vandy Game at Spitfire Only

2010-11-05T10:34:00.000-07:00

Howdy Gators:

We have been advised that due to the early starting time for the Vanderbilt game, there will be no viewing of the game at Sidelines. We will be viewing the game tomorrow, 11/6/10 at Spitfire only.

Go Gators,

Neil

Florida Gators vs Vanderbilt Commodores

2010-11-04T15:28:00.001-07:00

Florida Gators vs Vanderbilt Commodores
Saturday 9:20 AM PST

Howdy Gators:

Yawner of a game last week, huh? I figured the Gators would emerge victorious over the Bulldogs when they were up ahead 21-7 at the half, so I flipped over to Masterpiece Theater on PBS. I hear there was an interesting ending, something involving a kick (a punt perhaps?) but I will just assume that Florida won 21-7, given that was the halftime score....

Very gratifying! I actually can't recall being so into a game or so giddy about a win, ugly as it was at times. For some reason, it was more satisfying than any of the Orange and Blue blowouts of the previous season. Being mediocre is quite liberating!

We all know we control our own destiny, but let's not flub up in Nashville. We have a date with the Ol Ball Coach down in Gainesville....

Go Gators,

Courtney

Florida Gators vs Georgia Bulldogs

2010-10-28T16:35:00.000-07:00

Florida Gators vs Georgia Bulldogs
Saturday 12:30 PST

Howdy Gators:

Well, we have had a week off to lick our wounds and reflect on what has happened to our beloved Gators during this horribly lame 2010 season. Sure we all expected a dropoff this year after the departure of Tebow and company, but I don't think anyone anticipated such a dramatic decline. Losing back to back games at home and three in a row in the SEC is something most of us simply can't recall. I won't belabor the point, but we all know the abysmal Offense is largely to blame, and if things don't change soon in Gator Country we are going to have to resign ourselves to the fate of the Michigan Wolverines, a once perennial power that fell off the cliff and has yet to recover.

This weekend we face the surging Georgia Bulldogs, who have scored 40+ points in their last three contests. It's going to take a lot more than a bunch of uninspired dive plays and bubble-screens to beat these guys, so let's hope the Gator's Offensive (perhaps the lower-care "offensive' is more apropos) "braintrust" has been staying up late trying to conjure up some magic.

As dismal as it's seemed, however, Florida still controls its own future, so if we can somehow miraculously win our remaining conference games, we can still make an appearance in the SEC Championship game. If not, we could be playing in the highly coveted Beef O' Brady or Meineke Car Care Bowl. Alas, let's hope this is not our destiny!

Go Gators,

Courtney

Editor's Note: Opinions expressed herein by our intrepid football analyst are not necessarily the opinions of the Seattle Gator Club :-).

Reminder: Karaoke Night

2010-10-19T10:16:00.001-07:00

Karaoke Night
Thursday, Oct. 21 at 8:30pm
Bush Gardens, 614 Maynard Ave S Seattle, Wa 98104

Happy hour begins at 8:45pm and the singing begins at 9:30pm

This week, come join us at Bush Gardens in the International District for some free apps and a sing-a-long to raise our spirits. Happy hour begins at 8:45pm and the singing begins at 9:30pm. To RSVP or for more information, contact your official Karaoke hosts, Jenn and Kathryne for more information.

#22 Florida Gators vs Mississippi State Bulldogs

2010-10-13T22:44:00.000-07:00

#22 Florida Gators vs Mississippi State Bulldogs
Saturday 4:00 PST

Howdy Gators:

Is anyone else still feeling the sting from last Saturday’s loss to the incredibly lucky Les Miles? The defeat is sticking with me like a bad toothache! Novacaine, please! Florida played a horrible game, so I won’t bother recounting the excruciating details of the contest, except to say that our Offense seems to be regressing even further as the season marches on. Call it poor execution or atrocious coaching, but 54 first-half yards in front of a raucous home-field crowd is simply unacceptable. Something clearly has to change. However, given the seeming unwillingness to alter our game plan and take advantage of all our weapons, I am not optimistic for a revival of our historically high-scoring and entertaining Offense. If you can stomach it (not sure I can…), come on out and watch the Gators face the Mississippi State Bulldogs (4-1) this weekend. I really can’t muster up much enthusiasm for this team, so the best I can say is let’s hope we win. Certainly we will need to score some points given that we will be facing a real Offensive Coordinator in Dan Mullen, who formerly walked the sidelines for the Orange and Blue during our recent years of glory (ah, those were the days….).

Go Gators,
Courtney

Editor's Note: Opinions expressed herein by our intrepid football analyst are not necessarily the opinions of the Seattle Gator Club :-).

#12 Florida Gators vs #9 LSU Tigers

2010-10-06T21:40:00.000-07:00

#12 Florida Gators vs # 9 LSU Tigers
Saturday 4:30 PM PST

Howdy Gators:

Courtney is taking the week off. He's trying to get over our loss last week to Alabama. He took it pretty hard like most of us.

This week, the Gators are looking to their senior leadership to get them on the winning track. Since I'm a Senior Gator, I'm going to try and put the Alabama loss in perspective. This loss doesn't even rate in the Top 10 of all losses. How about when our quarterback threw the ball out of bounds on 4th and long to stop the clock in the waning moments of the Mississippi State game with the Gators behind less than a touchdown? What about the time they decided to switch the offensive and defensive coaches before the Georgia game? The result was a 35-0 first quarter score and one of the worst losses ever to the Dawgs. These losses don't even compare to the Alabama loss. We'll have another chance to beat Alabama again in a couple of months.

Last year at this time, we were wondering if Tim Tebow would be able to play in the LSU game after sustaining a concussion in the Kentucky game. Brantley is banged up but should play in this game on Saturday. He had a tough game last week and is looking to redeem himself to the Gator Nation. He'll have a lot of his teammates trying to do the same. I think the defense can contain LSU and make it a long day for their quarterbacks. I have a good feeling that the offense will shine in the Swamp this Saturday. Everything is going to come together offensively, center snaps, Oline, running backs, receivers and Brantley and Burton will be unstoppable. This game will be reminiscent of the days of the Old Ball Coach. Bring lots of Touchdown Dollars, I have a strong feeling that this game is going to be a blow out.

We were advised by Spitfire that we will not have the backroom this week. They booked a private party for 6:00 PM which will interfere with our viewing of the game. We'll be watching the game on the South side of the bar. Spitfire will be providing free appetizers since we won't be able to watch the game in the backroom. Kelly and company are looking forward to seeing you at Spitfire. We'll also be viewing the game at our Eastside location, Sidelines. There won't be a UFC fight on Saturday night, so come on over to Sidelines to view the game. Rose Marie and Cathy will be your hosts for the game. And don't forget to bring lots of Touchdown Dollars, you're going to need them. Go Gators!

Neil

Karaoke Night at Bush Gardens

2010-10-06T21:38:00.000-07:00

**Unleash your inner superstar with the Seattle Gator Club**

Karaoke Night
Thursday, Oct. 21 at 8:30pm
Bush Gardens, 614 Maynard Ave S Seattle, Wa 98104
Happy hour begins at 8:45pm and the singing begins at 9:30pm

Our boys in Orange and Blue may have the week off but let's keep the party going with a Karaoke meet up!! Come join us at Bush Gardens in the International District for some free apps and a sing-a-long. Happy hour begins at 8:45pm and the singing begins at 9:30pm. To RSVP or for more information, contact your official Karaoke hosts, Jenn and Kathryne for more information.

#7 Florida Gators vs #1 Alabama Crimson Tide

2010-09-29T18:09:00.000-07:00

#7 Florida Gators vs #1 Alabama Crimson Tide
Saturday 5:00 PST

Howdy Gators:

This is going to be a short mail, as I am quite busy at the moment with non-Gator-related activities (yes, I know, where are my priorities?!). Suffice to say the brevity of this mail doesn't match the magnitude of this weekend's contest in Tuscaloosa.

Revenge will be on the minds of the Orange and Blue this Saturday as they take the field against the Crimson Tide, the team that ousted Florida from the SEC and National throne last season. If we can somehow muster an offensive performance like last week's (can we count on Trey Burton for another six TDs?) and emerge victorious over the Tide, there may be no stopping the 2010 Gators; however, if we regress to the level of the first three games, it could be a long and dreary evening in Sweet Home Alabama.

But let's keep things in perspective - win or lose, both teams are still in control of their own destinies and very likely could end up facing each other in Atlanta again for the SEC crown.

Go Gators,
Courtney

#9 Florida Gators vs Kentucky Wildcats

2010-09-23T11:58:00.000-07:00

#9 Florida Gators vs Kentucky Wildcats
Saturday 4:00 PST (see below for viewing locations)

Howdy Gators:

Well another week and another nail-biting contest for our strangely sputtering Gators. Not to dismiss a win in Knoxville, which is never an easy task, but we obviously still don't seem to be clicking on Offense. To paraphrase an article I read recently, one week is an aberration, two weeks is a worrisome pattern, but after three weeks of mistake-filled, uninspiring football, quite possibly it is what it is. Perhaps it's youth, perhaps it's the excruciatingly conservative scheme of the not-so-creative Steve Adazzio, but I think we all realize that something is not quite right for a Florida offense that has historically dazzled and entertained.

OK, now that I have that off my chest, I think we can celebrate the fact that we beat the lowly Vols for the sixth straight time and still remain undefeated. But it wasn't easy! Were it not for an extremely gutsy fake-punt call (which I only actually saw on replay after temporarily turning away in disgust on what appeared to be a three-and-out by the Gators), we might have limped out of Neyland Stadium with a crushing "L." Hats off to Urban for realizing that the momentum had shifted and that the Orange and Blue needed to snatch it back or else fall prey to a clearly less talented UT team. And kudos to John Brantley for playing relatively mistake-free football (no thanks to the pitifully inept Mike Pouncey) and making some big third-down conversions. Hopefully Adazzio will realize he has a passing talent under his tutelage and open up the offense a bit more (Note to Steve: Tebow graduated. Move on!). And finally, large props again to our Defense. Despite a couple missteps by our secondary, the Gator D once again came up big, forcing some crucial turnovers and holding the Vols offensive attack largely in check.
Come on out this Saturday and watch Florida face off against the Kentucky Wildcats in Gainesville. While this contest has been lopsided for the past 25 years (UK hasn't won since 1986), Kentucky is looking strong thus far under offensively-minded first year coach Joker Philips, so the Gators will need to put some points on the board to emerge with a victory. I am looking at you Adazzio - open up the offense and use all your weapons, daggummit!

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

Florida Gators vs Tennessee Volunteers Tide; 12:30 PST (East and West-side Viewing Locations)

2010-09-16T10:39:00.000-07:00

#10 Florida Gators vs Tennessee Volunteers
Saturday 12:30 PST (see below for viewing locations)

Howdy Gators,

After a sluggish start last week against South Florida, it appeared that the Gators lousy outing against Miami of Ohio might not be an aberration. However, something obviously clicked at the end of the second quarter, and the Gators turned on the jets for the remainder of the contest, scoring 31 second-half points largely on the heels of Jeff Demps (Percy Lite?) and our other diminutive speedsters. There was hardly a snap mishap this time around, and the offensive line appeared to gel late in the game, opening up huge holes for our swift backs and giving Brantley ample protection. The Defense also came up strong again with four interceptions and a fumble recovery, albeit they gave up quite a few rushing yards to the talented USF quarterback. Despite the big win the Gators fell another two spots to #10 this week, as the nation’s sportswriters seem unconvinced that the 2010 Florida team has overcome the early season jitters and is now firing on all cylinders.

This week Florida heads to Good Ol' Rocky Top to face their perennial foe, the Tennessee Volunteers. The Vols looked sharp against the Oregon Ducks in the first half last week, but were blown out before a raucous home-crowd in the second. From the looks of things, Tennessee has a tough time defending the run, so expect the Gators to go at them with a healthy dose of Demps, Gillislee (love this guy thus far!) and Moody. But the young Gators will need to be on guard, as it’s never easy to play in front of 110,000 rowdy fans in Knoxville (the one plus is that it's not a night game). Additionally, the Gators will not be fueled this time around by their desire to beat the oh-so-obnoxious Lane Kiffin, who abandoned the Vols after an infamous one-year stint at the helm of Tennessee.

Come on out this weekend and watch the Orange and Blue take the field against the Vols. As mentioned last week, we will now be showing the games on both the West and Eastside. Hopefully we will see the Gators celebrating early and often in the checkerboard endzones of Neyland Stadium!

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

Reminder - Sidelines Opens Saturday 9/18 - Vols Game

2010-09-16T09:57:00.000-07:00

Gators vs The Vols
Spitfire & Sidelines Sports Bar
Saturday, September 18, 2010 - 12:30 PM

Eastside Gators,

Just a reminder that we will be opening our Eastside viewing location this Saturday, September 18 at 12:30 PM. Sidelines has updated their televisions to HD and made other changes to improve your viewing experience. Marianne, Rose Marie, Cathy and Paul have volunteered to be your hosts. We are still in need of a few more volunteers to help run the Eastside Swamp. If you are interested in helping out, please feel free to contact us.

In case you forgot, Sidelines is located at Loehman's Plaza in Factoria. The address for Sidelines is:

3720 Factoria SE
Bellevue, WA

I look forward to seeing everyone again at Sidelines*,

Go Gators!
Neil Hang
President, Seattle Gator Club

* - our Westside location at Spitfire will also be open as usual

Gators v Vols Sep 18 12:30PM

2010-09-14T18:36:00.000-07:00

Quick Update

Our first week at Sidelines and Spitfire.
We'll be doing our first drawing of the year at Spitfire and if you want to keep Sidelines as a viewing venue, volunteer to help out and show up in numbers!

GO GATORS!

Sidelines
3720F Factoria Blvd. (Loehmann's Plaza)
Bellevue, WA
425 644 2781

Spitfire
2219 4th Ave
Seattle, WA 98121
206 441-7966

#8 Gators vs South Florida Bulls

2010-09-09T21:50:00.000-07:00

#8 Gators vs South Florida Bulls
Saturday 9:00 am PST
Spitfire 2219 4th Ave (Belltown)
(206) 441-7966

Howdy Gators:

Well that was an uninspiring outing by the Gators last week, huh? I watched the game on the flight back from New York (amazing that you can watch live college football 30,000 feet in the air!), and had to contain my cursing and pacing so as not to upset the other passengers and the FAA. Eight fumbles and 25 offensive yards through three quarters! Yikes, that’s atrocious! Had it not been for a few key interceptions by our Defense and some late-game scoring, Florida quite possibly could have opened the season with an epic thud. As it stands, they eked out a win over a supposedly inferior team in the Swamp and as a result have justifiably dropped to #8 in the polls.

Come on out this weekend and watch the Gators face the USF Bulls in game two of the 2010 season. Led by first year coach, Skip Holtz (son of Lou), the Bulls slaughtered their opening week opponent and are likely an athletically superior team to the Miami Redhawks. Certainly, if we play USF the way we played last week, the Gators will be looking a 1-1 record going into week three against Tennessee. Let’s hope that Mike Pouncey learned how to snap the ball during the off-week (word has it he and Brantley have ironed out the kinks) and that our offensive line starts to firm up with the return of a couple starters. Presumably, we can only improve from here…

Go Gators,

Courtney

#4 Gators vs Miami of Ohio Redhawks

2010-09-02T15:56:00.000-07:00

#4 Gators vs Miami of Ohio Redhawks

Saturday 9:00 am PST
Spitfire 2219 4th Ave (Belltown)
(206) 441-7966

Howdy Gators:I am writing this mail on the road from the excruciatingly humid home of the US Open, New York City. Unfortunately, I won’t be able to watch the first contest of the season, as I will be flying back to the Emerald City during the game (assuming Hurricane Earl doesn’t ground our flight…), but I will most definitely make a mad dash to the airport lounge once our flight lands to see the results of what I anticipate will be a lopsided affair. After a season of off-the-field drama in which Urban Meyer stepped down only to once again return to the helm a few days later, ala Billy Donovan, Florida kicks off the 2010 campaign with a squad that will be virtually unrecognizable to the Gator Faithful. Following the departure of our beloved quarterback and minor deity, Tim Tebow (aka Friar Tuck), the Florida Offense is sure to look very different from the teams of recent memory. Given the reported passing prowess of junior QB John Brantley, Meyer will most certainly make some major tweaks to the offensive scheme to take advantage of Brantley’s skill-set. Something tells me that this year’s team may resemble the pass-happy Spurrrier teams of old rather than the run-first offense of the past couple seasons. Dare we dub this team “the Fun 'n' Gun II?"

Florida also lost a great deal of talent on the defensive side of the ball to the NFL draft (the New England Patriots have been labelled the "Gators of the North"), but with the top recruiting class this past year, expect Florida to reload rather than rebuild. These baby Gators will have to grow up fast however, as Florida faces tough games on the road against Tennessee and Alabama over the next several weeks.

Come join us this Saturday as the Gators take on Miami of Ohio (hey, who said the Gators are afraid to put Miami on their schedule?) of the MAC conference at the Swamp. The Redhawks were a lowly 1-11 last year, so chalk this contest up as a much needed preseason game for our fresh-faced Florida squad. In the spirit of NYC, my home for the next few days, start spreading the news, the Gators are back!

Go Gators,
Courtney

CLUB NOTES:

We have a very cool, new Seattle Gator Club shirt this year. Bring your current UF Alumni Association membership card to receive a club discount. If you are not yet a member of UFAA or your membership has expired, please try and register this year. For every membership, the club receives $10, and if we have the most members for all the Gator Clubs in the country, we receive $500.

Reminder - Game Day Practice

2010-08-26T09:53:00.000-07:00

Seattle Gator Club Game Day Practice - Spitfire (2219 4th Ave. Seattle) - Thursday, August 26, 2010 - 6:00 -10:00 PM

Reminder Gators,

The Seattle Gator Club Game Day practice is tomorrow, Thursday, August 26, 2010 at Spitfire from 6:00 - 10:00 PM. We'll be previewing a couple awesome things to come this season at Spitfire, namely $1 kamikaze shots (nostalgic for those of us who remember the Purple Porpoise) and our NEW Seattle Gator Club shirts, which turned out incredible! We have 10 people for sure so far; it would be great to see more of you. These sorts of events are a good way to get to know your fellow local Gators. Plus, the rain is supposed to be coming back tomorrow...perfect time to come out, watch a championship game and hang with good folks, right?I hope to see you on Thursday! Go Gators!

Kelly Gordon
Spitfire Swamp Master

SEC Gathering – Jillian’s Lake Union - Saturday – August 28, 2010 – 5:00 – 8:00 PM

2010-08-24T12:51:00.000-07:00

Hello Seattle Gators!

You're invited to the 3rd annual SEC Gathering on Saturday, August 28th from 5:00 – 8:00 PM at Jillian’s on Lake Union. Their address is 731 Westlake Avenue North, Seattle. This is a fun event. Come on out and get to know your SEC and southern school counterparts. Let’s have a good showing of the Gator Nation at this event (we want to scare the heck out of them). I don't want to attend this event and be out numbered by Georgia fans so your attendance is mandatory. Be ready to give a good old Gator Cheer. There will also be a "Best Southern Accent" contest so practice your best Southern Drawl.

Go Gators!

Neil Hang
President, Seattle Gator Club

Game Day Practice - Thur. - 8/26/10 - Spitfire - 6-10 PM

2010-08-23T12:14:00.000-07:00

Hey Seattle Gator Fans!

We're at that exciting time of the year again...football season is only a couple weeks away! Are you ready? Are you sure? I think a practice run is in order...

Come join us for a preseason warm-up this Thursday, August 26th from 6-10 PM at Spitfire. We'll be watching a National Championship (or two) in the back room. If we're lucky, we'll even get Jenny as our bartender. The club will be providing appetizers.

This is a wonderful opportunity to catch up with your fellow Gators, find out what's in store for this upcoming season and revel in some of our finer football moments. Suit up and come join us for practice on Thursday!

Go Gators!

Neil Hang for Kelly Gordon, Spitfire Swamp Master

Seattle Gator Club Picnic - August 21, 2010 - Light House Park - Mukilteo

2010-08-03T17:43:00.000-07:00

Seattle Gator Club 3rd Annual Picnic
Saturday, August 21, 2010 at Light House Park - Mukilteo
11:00 AM - 4:00 PM

You and your family are invited to attend the 3rd annual Seattle Gator Club Picnic on Saturday, August 21, 2010 at Light House Park in Mukilteo. This Gator Gathering is scheduled from 11:00 AM to 4:00 PM.

Light House Park is located on the water next to the Mukilteo Ferry Terminal. We have reserved the two covered pavilions for the picnic so weather should not be a problem. The park is very kid friendly with a great play area and beach access. Bring a kite to fly. The park has a boat ramp, volleyball net, grills and restrooms. Ivars restaurant and the Diamond Knot brewery are located just outside the park. For more information on Light House Park, you can refer to the City of Mukilteo web site, http://www.ci.mukilteo.wa.us/. The address for Light House Park is 609 Front Street Mukilteo, WA.

Directions to Light House Park

From Seattle South - Take I-5 North to exit 182, Mukilteo/525, follow 525 to the ferry and turn left at the last stop sign before getting on the ferry

From Bellevue - Follow I-405 North and continue on to Mukilteo when 405 turns into 525, follow 525 to the ferry and turn left at the last stop sign before getting on the ferry

From Everett North - Take I-5 South to the Boeing Freeway/526 (Mukilteo Ferry Exit), follow 526 until you come to 525, turn right on 525, follow 525 to the ferry and turn left at the last stop sign before getting on the ferry

From Whidbey Island - Take the Mukilteo ferry, when exiting the ferry, take the first right into the park

We will be providing hot dogs and hamburgers, cups, plates, utensils, etc. Please bring a dish to share and any beverages you and your family will need during the day. We will have drawings throughout the day for lots of Gator Gear. You can also be one of the first club members to purchase one of our *NEW DESIGN* Seattle Gator Club T-shirts (Hint: we have two fantastic designs). These shirts are still only $20.

If you plan to attend the picnic, please email me at neilhang@comcast.net with the number of adults and children in your party. This is an excellent opportunity for you to get to know your fellow Gators. I look forward to seeing you in Mukilteo on August 21, 2010.

Neil Hang
President, Seattle Gator Club

Seattle Gator Club 2010 Viewing Locations

2010-07-27T08:59:00.000-07:00

Hello Seattle Gators:

Football season is rapidly approaching. I’d like to update you on our viewing locations.

Spitfire (Downtown Seattle)

Kelly Gordon has agreed to run the Spitfire location in 2010. We both met with Spitfire management to discuss the upcoming football season. We asked them for drink specials, and they have agreed to provide us with a rotating “Gator Drink” each week, as well as $1 kamikazes to enjoy at halftime! They will reserve the backroom for our games and will provide us with overflow viewing immediately outside that room. It is because of YOU that Spitfire enjoys hosting our club. Thank you for being such great Gators and coming out to view the games during these last few years!

We will be viewing our first game at Spitfire only. They will open at 8:30 AM for the
9 AM game against Miami (OH). Arrive before kickoff to get a chance to win a prize by guessing the halftime score. We will also have our *NEW DESIGN* Seattle Gator Club T-shirts on sale for $20.

If anyone is interested in helping Kelly and other officers run this venue, please contact us.

Sidelines (Eastside)

Our first viewing location was Sidelines, and they have been good to us over the years. However, the demographics of our club are rapidly changing, and the majority of our members now live in the downtown Seattle area. There has been a decline in attendance on the eastside over the past few years. Toward the end of last season, we only had about 15 people show up for each game, whereas the attendance at Spitfire ranges from 30 to 150 people. We have discovered that it takes 4 people to properly run a viewing location, and we presently have only enough volunteers to adequately staff one location. The board has therefore voted to concentrate on our Spitfire location. If we cannot find at least 4 volunteers for Sidelines, including one who will host, we regret to inform you that there will be no eastside viewing location this fall.

If you are interested in volunteering to host or help out at Sidelines, please contact us. If we cannot find adequate volunteers by August 21, we will close our Eastside viewing location, and Spitfire will be our only viewing location in 2010.

We look forward to seeing everyone on September 4th at Spitfire for our first game.

Go Gators!

Neil Hang

President, Seattle Gator Club

Seattle Gator Club July 2010 Newsletter

2010-07-26T12:53:00.000-07:00

Hello Seattle Gators,

I wanted to update you on what the Seattle Gator Club has been doing since our last game. I apologize if this newsletter is a little long this time but we have been very busy getting ready for the upcoming season and planning events.

Since our last SEC game, we have hosted the Sugar Bowl Game, 2nd Annual Skate and Bowl Night, Ski and Snowboard Day, International Gator Day and Lady Gator Night Out. Rich Rayos and I attended the January leadership weekend in Gainesville. We received a bronze (3rd place) metal for most improved Gator club. In June, Rich and I attended the Region 8 Leadership meeting in Austin, Texas hosted by the Lone Star Gator Club. We enjoyed meeting all of the Gators who attended and were able learn a lot from these meetings.

President-Elect, Treasurer Elect, New Board Members and Volunteers Needed

Rich Rayos and I have been your Treasurer and President for the last 5 years. The new UF Alumni Association rules governing club officers now have term limits of two years for officers. While Rich and I have very much enjoyed representing the Seattle Gator Club, it’s time to bring new blood into the club. If you are interested in being the President or Treasurer, please feel free to contact me, Rich Rayos or one of our board members. These positions are great learning experiences, give you a chance to give back to the Gator Nation and would look good on anyone’s resume.

We are looking for new Gators to join our team for the coming year. We have lots of events and projects during the year that can use the skills you acquired in Gainesville and in the work place. You’ll find we offer a great atmosphere to bring up new ideas and events. We have a need for people to manage our Eastside viewing location, plan and host events, write announcements to the club, develop a club video and help improve our club. If you are interested in helping out or being a board member, please feel free to contact me or one of our board members.

Our board meetings are held every 3rd Thursday of the month from 7:30 to 8:30 PM at Buckley’s in Belltown. Their address is 2331 2nd Ave., Seattle. Our next board meeting is August 19, 2010. Please let me know if you plan to attend a board meeting.

3rd Annual Picnic – August 21, 2010 – Light House Park – Mukilteo – 11:00 to 4:00

The picnic this year is scheduled for Saturday, August 21, 2010 at Light House Park in Mukilteo. Light House Park is located on the water next to the Mukilteo Ferry Terminal. We have reserved the two covered pavilions for the picnic so weather should not be a problem. The park is very kid friendly with a great play area and beach access. Bring a kite to fly. The park has a boat ramp, volleyball net, grills and restrooms. Ivar’s restaurant and the Diamond Knot brewery are located just outside the park. For more information on Light House Park, you can refer to the City of Mukilteo web site, http://www.ci.mukilteo.wa.us/. The address of the park is 609 Front Street, Mukilteo. If you can find your way to the Mukilteo ferry, you can find your way to the park. Turn left into the park at the last stop sign before getting on the ferry.

We will be providing hot dogs and hamburgers. Please bring a dish to share and any beverages you and your family will need during the day. We’ll also be drawing for lots of Gator Gear. We’ll be previewing our *NEW DESIGN* Seattle Gator Club T-shirts at the picnic. Be one of the first club members to purchase one of these new shirts. Shirts are still just $20 each.

Pre-Season Warm Up – Spitfire – Thursday - August 26, 2010 – 6:00 – 10:00 PM

We’ll be holding a Pre-Season viewing of the National Championship Games at Spitfire on Thursday, August 26, 2010 from 6:00 – 10:00 PM. We are officially kicking off the football season with this meeting. Come see our new Seattle Gator Club T-shirts. You’ll want to have one of these. They are awesome and come in two *NEW DESIGNS*. Are you ready for some Gator Football?

SEC Gathering – Jillian’s - Saturday – August 28, 2010 – 5:00 – 8:00 PM

The 3rd annual SEC Gathering is scheduled for August 28 from 5:00 – 8:00 PM at Jillian’s on Lake Union. Their address is 731 Westlake Avenue North, Seattle. This is a fun event. Come and get to know your SEC and southern school counterparts. Let’s have a good showing of the Gator Nation at this event (we want to scare the heck out of them). Please let me know if you plan on attending by emailing me at neilhang@comcast.net.

First Game – Miami (OH) - Spitfire Viewing Only – Sept. 4 – 9:00 AM

Come view our first game with us at Spitfire on September 4, 2010. The game starts at 9:00 AM. Spitfire will be opening at 8:30 AM for this game. Arrive early and get a chance to win a prize by guessing the halftime score. Spitfire will be having specials for us this year and has agreed to reserve the backroom for each of our games. It’s because of YOU that Spitfire enjoys hosting our club.

It won’t be long before you will be receiving Courtney’ game day announcements and they’ll be saying “Here Come the Gators!” at the Swamp.

We look forward to seeing you at one of our events this year.

Go Gators!

Neil Hang
President, Seattle Gator Club

Gator Club Board Meetings

2010-05-04T19:28:00.000-07:00

If you would like to get involved in the Seattle Gator Club, we're always looking for people interested in participating on our board. If you think you might be interested or would like to learn more, feel free to join us at any of the following meeting times:

Place: Buckley's Belltown
Time: 7:30-8:30
Dates:

May 20, 2010
June 17, 2010
July 15, 2010
August 19, 2010
September 16, 2010

MS Walk Seattle April 11, 2010

2010-04-09T13:27:00.000-07:00

From Ryan......

It's Game Time! This email has all the logistics that you will need to know (hopefully). If you know someone who isn't registered on the team, please feel free to forward.

I hopefully covered all the important info here. To make sure you are there for team awards I would park around 8:30AM so you are in the stadium by 9. Above and beyond all, Sunday is about having fun! The hard work is over and this is a celebration. A celebration of what we, together as a team, have done to help everyone that lives a life fighting Multiple Sclerosis. It's been an incredible and humbling journey and I am glad I have been able to take it with all of you. So without further ado, here are the things you need to know:

WHERE: Husky Stadium (not Qwest Field :)) - We have two tents -- http://www.blitztacklesms.com/TeamTentsSeattle.pdf, we are tent #24 and #25

WHEN: 8:30am -12:30pm
Some very important times:

8:30 - Hanging out at Team Blitz, gettting your t-shirt, general shenanigans - if you want to come earlier, feel free, I will of course be there super early

9:00 - Event kicks off and Team Awards - I'm guessing we might win a few so will be good to be there

9:25 - Blitz magically appears

9:30 - I will be on stage doing the countdown and kicking off the walk

9:31 - DON'T start walking. Meet at the Team Blitz tent. We will take our big group picture as soon

9:45 - Team Blitz begins walking together

Walk will take varying amount of time

11:30 (or whenever you return to Husky stadium) - Hang out at Team Blitz tent and enjoy some food as a team

12:15 - I give a big group speech at Team Blitz tent (this may happen multiple times throughout the day)

12:30 - Silent Auction ends and second Team Photo taken for those that stick around

WHAT TO WEAR: Your party attire no matter what it is, as long as the t-shirt component is a Team Blitz t-shirt. If you one from the pub crawl, wear it. If not, t-shirts will be available at the Team Blitz tent. I would like to make sure everyone on the team gets a shirt, to cover the costs of the t-shirts, a suggested donation of $10 is appreciated for each shirt. All profits will be donated.

Remember, the Team Blitz t-shirt is how you will be identified as part of the team!

WHAT TO BRING: Anything you want, except for pets. Also your favorite Blitz/Seahawks themed chicken wing sauce for dipping suace competition (see directly below)

WHY ARE WE SPECIAL: As if you really needed to ask. Fine, I'll tell you what makes us special and different!

Chicken Wing Sauce Competition: A few awesome team members have decided to donate and cook chicken wings for us! (thank your chefs) So how does the competition work? The chicken wings will be cooked for us and anyone who feels inclined can bring a chicken wing sauce for people to try. The only rule is, it has to be Blitz/Seahawks themed. We'll be trying them all at the end of the Walk!

2 Masseuses and a Chiropractor - Enjoy them, they are there for us, free of charge

Silent Auction with autographed NFL memorabilia - some really great stuff to win

Team Blitz t-shirts, the coolest looking t-shirts in the land, will be available

We have already raised over $40,000 and have over 200 Team Members for a First Year Team!!!

Parking: http://www.blitztacklesms.com/SEA_Walk_parking.pdf

Loading and Unloading: For anyone bringing something big to the event, like tailgating equipment, you can drive trucks onto the statium track starting at 6:30. All trucks must be off the track by 7:15. Trucks can re-enter around 12:30 or possibly closer to 1.

Volunteers: I'm sure we could use a few people to come early and stay late to help us get organized and clean up. Please feel free :)

Thank yo all, I can't wait to see you on Sunday!

Ryan

#1 Florida Gators vs #2 Alabama Crimson Tide

2009-12-03T15:41:00.000-08:00

#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

December Newsletter

2009-12-01T11:00:00.000-08:00

Hello Gators!

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

2009-12-01T10:59:00.001-08:00

#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

#1 Florida Gators vs FIU Golden Panthers

2009-11-19T21:52:00.000-08:00

#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.

#1 Florida Gators vs South Carolina

2009-11-12T15:57:00.000-08:00

#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

#1 Florida Gators vs Vanderbilt Commodores

2009-11-06T13:28:00.000-08:00

#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

#1 Florida Gators vs Georgia Bulldogs

2009-10-30T12:17:00.000-07:00

#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

#1 Florida Gators vs Mississippi State Bulldogs

2009-10-23T12:53:00.000-07:00

#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.

#1 Florida Gators vs Arkansas Razorbacks

2009-10-15T17:38:00.000-07:00

#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

#1 Florida Gators vs #4 LSU Tigers

2009-10-08T13:47:00.000-07:00

#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

#1 Florida Gators vs Kentucky Wildcats

2009-09-24T17:51:00.001-07:00

#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

#1 Florida Gators vs Tennessee Volunteers

2009-09-24T17:49:00.000-07:00

#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

Florida Gators vs Troy Trojans

2009-09-10T09:32:00.000-07:00

#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

Florida Gators vs Charleston Southern Buccaneers

2009-09-02T17:49:00.000-07:00

#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

Seattle Gator Club

Update: Bowl Games/Viewing Parties/Winter Events

Upcoming Viewing Parties

Upcoming Events

Florida Gators vs South Carolina Gamecocks

November Newsletter

Florida Gators vs Vanderbilt Commodores

Florida Gators vs Georgia Bulldogs

Florida Gators vs LSU Tigers

October Newsletter

Florida Gators vs Alabama Crimson Tide

Florida Gators vs Kentucky Wildcats

Florida Gators vs Tennessee Volunteers

Florida Gators vs UAB Blazers

September Events

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

Seattle Gator Club Annual Picnic

New Kid-Friendly Eastside Football Viewing Venue

August Newsletter

June Newsletter

May Newsletter

Inaugural Monthly Happy Hour - Changes to Facebook

Inaugural Monthly Happy Hour

Rob Roy2332 2nd Avenue

Seattle, WA 98121

(206) 956-8423

International Gator Day (Blitz Tackles MS, MS Walk)

International Gator Day

(Blitz Tackles MS, MS Walk)

Husky StadiumUniversity of WashingtonSeattle, WA

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

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

Third Annual Gator Roll-and-Bowl

Third Annual Gator Roll-and-Bowl

Lynnwood Skate and Bowl6210 200th Street SWLynnwood, WA

Gator Trivia Night

'National' Championship for Seattle Gator Club

Seattle Gators at UFAA Leadership Conf 2011 Day 1

Florida Gators vs Penn State Nittany Lions

Florida Gators vs Florida State Seminoles

Salsa Night

Florida Gators vs Appalachian State

#22 Florida Gators vs #23 South Carolina Gamecocks

Vandy Game at Spitfire Only

Florida Gators vs Vanderbilt Commodores

Florida Gators vs Georgia Bulldogs

Reminder: Karaoke Night

#22 Florida Gators vs Mississippi State Bulldogs

#12 Florida Gators vs #9 LSU Tigers

Karaoke Night at Bush Gardens

#7 Florida Gators vs #1 Alabama Crimson Tide

#9 Florida Gators vs Kentucky Wildcats

Florida Gators vs Tennessee Volunteers Tide; 12:30 PST (East and West-side Viewing Locations)

Reminder - Sidelines Opens Saturday 9/18 - Vols Game

Gators v Vols Sep 18 12:30PM

#8 Gators vs South Florida Bulls

#4 Gators vs Miami of Ohio Redhawks

Reminder - Game Day Practice

SEC Gathering – Jillian’s Lake Union - Saturday – August 28, 2010 – 5:00 – 8:00 PM

Game Day Practice - Thur. - 8/26/10 - Spitfire - 6-10 PM

Seattle Gator Club Picnic - August 21, 2010 - Light House Park - Mukilteo

Seattle Gator Club 2010 Viewing Locations

Seattle Gator Club July 2010 Newsletter

Gator Club Board Meetings

MS Walk Seattle April 11, 2010

#1 Florida Gators vs #2 Alabama Crimson Tide

December Newsletter

#1 Florida Gators vs Florida State Seminoles

#1 Florida Gators vs FIU Golden Panthers

#1 Florida Gators vs South Carolina

#1 Florida Gators vs Vanderbilt Commodores

#1 Florida Gators vs Georgia Bulldogs

#1 Florida Gators vs Mississippi State Bulldogs

#1 Florida Gators vs Arkansas Razorbacks

#1 Florida Gators vs #4 LSU Tigers

#1 Florida Gators vs Kentucky Wildcats

#1 Florida Gators vs Tennessee Volunteers

Florida Gators vs Troy Trojans

Florida Gators vs Charleston Southern Buccaneers

Rob Roy
2332 2^nd Avenue

Husky Stadium
University of Washington
Seattle, WA

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