Wait til next year

Football season is just six weeks away. College football, of course, the other kind doesn't count. The Florida Gators set out to defend their national championship, and by golly, they just might do it.

I can hear you now. They won it last year. They won it two years before that. They won it in 1996. What's the big deal? Everybody hops on the bus when it's a winner.

But they haven't always been a winner. Oh, they've only had two losing seasons in the 37 years I've been following them, but you gotta know the history to understand why I'm so excited.

When I first paid attention back in 1971, the Gators were mired in mediocrity. Although Bear Bryant knew their potential when he referred to them as a "sleeping giant", they never realized that potential. Up to the early 1980's, their history was ... well ... kind of sad.

1906 Gators play first game against Gainesville Athletic Club. So embarrassed that their first game is not even against another school, they officially move the game later in time by two months.

1911 Gators finally win a game against somebody you have heard of (Clemson).

1916 The ultimate futility -- zero wins, three points scored for the season.

1918 Undefeated! Played just one game against an army unit.

1928 Undefeated and headed for the Rose Bowl, Gators fall to Tennessee. No Rose Bowl.

1935-1951 The "Golden Age" -- Gators enjoy exactly one winning season.

1942 Gators lose to Georgia 75-0. Georgia's Heisman winner Frank Sinkwich plays the entire game.

1966 Gators steal a game from FSU when Lane Fenner is ruled out-of-bounds. You decide.

1968 Coach Ray Graves gets so disgusted with assistants blaming each other that he switches them, making offensive coaches coach defense and vice versa. Bad idea. Gators lose 51-0.

1969 Gator QB John Reaves sets national record by throwing 9 interceptions in one game.

1971 The Great Gator Flop. Defense lets Miami score so Gator QB can break a record.

1974 Gators miss out on SEC championship when they lose to Georgia.

1975 Gators miss out on SEC championship when they lose to Georgia.

1976 Coach Doug Dickey goes for it on 4th down from his own 20 yard line. Georgia wins going away.

1984 Herschell Walker destroys Gators on national TV, 44-0.

1979 Penultimate futility -- Gators go winless (although they tie one).

2001 Undefeated and headed for the Rose Bowl, Gators fall to Tennessee. No Rose Bowl. Hey, that sounds familiar.

2003 FSU steals a game from the Gators in the Swindle at the Swamp. Five turnovers are decided incorrectly by the officials -- all of them in FSU's favor.

Ok, I think you see where I'm coming from now. The most common word associated with the Gators when I attended was "choke". "Wait til next year" was the unofficial motto, often shouted by students near the end of yet another disappointing loss. My roommate and I had a long discussion about whether the Gators could ever (meaning in our lifetimes) win a national championship. Conclusion: doubtful.

So today I enjoy every success the Gators have. I ain't no front front runner. I've put up with a lot over the years; now it's time to enjoy the rewards.