Alligator Alley

Grew up a Gator fan in a family and town of UK fans. From Owensboro, KY, same town as Brad Wilkerson. I was in Little League when he was playing at Florida. My dad was president of the big little league in town, and hired Brad to umpire some games when he was in for the summer. I was at the field late every night with my dad helping him close up, but he told Brad that I was a huge fan of his and the Gators. So Brad stayed late to give me tips and throw BP. You can't imagine how awesome that was for a 10-11 year old. He even hosted a Gator camp with some of his teammates in town and I showed up decked in Gators gear. I was locked in for life. Got accepted to UF my senior year of high school but out of state tuition was unreal. Got close to a full ride to WKU so I had to take it. Never going to convince me that its wrong for me to be a fan.

I attended Florida, but didn't graduate. I ended up getting my degree from UCF, and I take a lot of crap for still being a die hard Gator. Can I get a ruling on that from the board? If being an alumnus makes you a Gator, and having never atteneded but rooting for makes you a Gator fan, what does attending and not being an almnus make you?

My parents went to UF. From the time I was born I was a Gator fan. I watched every game through my childhood all the way to graduation. I followed them religiously, and was just a diehard Gator. I eventually got the the point where I cared more than either parent. I only got into FSU, USF, UCF, and Miami. No UF for me. So I chose USF.

I get shit all the time for cheering for UF even thought I never went there. My question is, how is it ok that I can be a diehard for 18 years, but the instant I dont get accepted into the university, I'm now less of a fan and should cheer for the school I attend? Seems like that would make me a terrible fan of not only UF, but also USF.

Ill continue to consider myself a true Gator fan, and anyone that tells me otherwise can kiss my ass.

I went to UF, my wife went to UF, my son is in HS, and he is the biggest Gator fan of all of us. You don't have o attend UF to love the Gators, but it helps.

Hells no! You're a Gator or you're Gator Bait!

I share uffeesh's opinion on the matter

you can pull for whomever you want though. doesn't make you any less of a fan.