The weather was chilly, but on the field everything was fine

The Gators had a date with the Ole Ball Coach this weekend to wrap up their conference schedule for 2007. The fall weather is officially here, and the weather couldn’t have been any better for football Saturday afternoon in Columbia. The problem, however, was that we played at night. By the time toe met leather, the temperatures had dropped to the low 50s, and I had been sent scrambling to the trunk of my car to find a sweatshirt I forgot I owned and a towel for my dad to wrap around his legs at the game.

South Carolina provided the Gator fans with the usual seats you’d expect for any away game, but Section 906? Has anyone ever even heard of a Section 906 in a stadium? Turns out they were located up in the breeze of the south end zone. What a great way to break my dad in on his first UF road trip, or his first UF road trip with me, at least. Dad pointed out to me on the drive up to South Carolina that he also attended the only Gator game played in Athens in recent memory. Trey, do you remember that day? (Hint: 52)

I often have said South Carolina is home to my favorite fans in the SEC. I have said that since I took a road trip there during Lou Holtz’s first year as coach. The Gamecocks were 0-9 coming into the game, yet the stadium was still full and the home crowd never once booed the home team. The Gamecocks went on to lose to us and the Clemson the following week, but bounced back the next year and enjoyed quite a bit of success under Holtz. I always was glad to see them achieve that success. I hope I never have to see our crowd cheer on an 0-9 team, but if I ever do, I hope we handle it with the same class.

So out of respect for the fans and the Ole Ball Coach, I’ll just say the following about the game. The Gators looked good in the 51–31 win. The Gamecocks struggled a bit to contain Tebow. The Gators were missing Percy Harvin, but still managed to pull off the victory. How’s that? Simple. Understated. Succinct.

Not saying much about the Gators will, of course, leave me plenty of room to talk about the Dawgs and the Noles this week. Hey Trey, what’s up with Richt? Is it just his Miami/FSU roots finally showing up? First he encourages his team to break the rules in our game, now his team has four unsportsmanlike penalties against Auburn. He’s got his team dancing around, getting penalties, hitting late and dressing in black. Is he just feeling nostalgic about the good old days in the Orange Bowl now that it has seen its last action? What’s next? Camouflage fatigues when they get off the team bus?

I have to hand it to him: In three weeks he has come up with two different ploys to motivate his team — the mob celebration against us and the black shirts against Auburn — but what happens when he runs out of gimmicks? To be sure, I’m not sure the Dawgs deserved all the penalties, but if it is true the refs are just getting even for the celebration, at what price has the motivation come?

And W.D., what have you to say after the thrashing at the hands of Va Tech? I know, I know your quarterback was hurt. So what? Our quarterback was hurt a couple of weeks ago when Georgia beat us and you (and every other Nole) didn’t hesitate to pile on the Gators. You thought you were back when you beat B.C.? B.C., however, was exposed this weekend and your “signature win” has been reduced to nothing more than a narrow escape over another ACC patsy. This week, Fear the Turtle!

The Gators play Florida Atlantic this week. I hope to see a lot of Cam Newton in an easy 52–3 victory.