It’s been yet another football season of blessings for the Florida football program. A Heisman Trophy winning quarterback, an opportunity to see some tremendous young talent that figures to have the Gators competing for a conference and potential national titles over the next two years, and a date with Michigan in the Capitol One Bowl.
Seriously….
Keep their families and friends in your thoughts and prayers: Michael “Sunshine” Guilford and Ashley Slonina died when Guilford’s motorcycle hit a median on October 12th. Guilford, a redshirt freshman from Quincy was a popular member of the squad who tremendously helped with the Gators scout team. Slonina was a 20 year old junior from Lynn Haven. She was the girlfriend of freshman cornerback Joe Haden.
Avery Atkins: Atkins died tragically this past summer. Please keep Avery Atkins family in your thoughts and prayers as well. Atkins was an extremely talented young man who took some bad turns and couldn’t seem to get back on the right path.
Thanks…
Bob and Pam Tebow: Thanks for setting a fine example of good parenting. In a day and age when parents need to step up and lead by example, while teaching, the Tebow’s do just that. I’m not saying that there aren’t some other fine examples her, but I thought it proper to give them due credit. The fact of the matter is that they love all of these kids. I remember speaking to Bob Tebow at the St. Augustine/Nease game the evening that Sunshine Guilford and Ashley Slonina died, Bob Tebow said that Tim had prayed with Joe Haden and that Joe was really taking it very hard.
Gateway of Champions: It’s a little more than six months away and although it is long overdue- it also couldn’t come at a better time. Consider this, the media exposure will be unbelievable with the return of a talented, young Florida football team led by Heisman Trophy winning quarterback Tim Tebow. That bodes well for high school players sitting at home or in the stadium watching the shots of this June 2008 completed project.
My how time flies: Two and half years ago, Florida was undergoing some radical coaching changes. Presently the following programs are being questioned or in flux…Florida State, Miami, Arkansas, Georgia Tech, Ole Miss, Tennessee, etc. And now Florida is a beacon of stability and an example for others to follow.
Thanking the little man: I’m grateful for Kentucky, Vanderbilt, and Mississippi State for making the Southeastern Conference better from top to bottom. Finding a conference patsie has never been more difficult. Can you say that about any other 12 team conference in the country? Nope.
You must be joking…
June Jones: Thanks to the misguided remarks of Hawaii head football coach June Jones, an exciting season opener will now be in focus sometime after the July 4th holiday. Jones isn’t certain that Tebow can run his system. Pssssst June…that’s Heisman Trophy winning quarterback Tim Tebow to you.
Mark Richt: This series needed a kick in the pants and Mark Richt and the Bulldogs provided one. Georgia’s players ran right by him after the Bulldogs scored their first touchdown of the game. Despite replays that clearly demonstrated his assistants waving the Georgia players onto the field, Richt stated in a letter to the SEC that he thought it would only be the players on the field. If so, then where was the surprise when the bench emptied with players sprinting by you onto the field. Wasn’t this the same Mark Richt who shoved his players off the V at Vanderbilt?
Yes. Richt did this series a huge favor. Win or lose, we wouldn’t be quite as eager to go the The River City if this decision hadn’t been made. I can’t wait for this one.
Brandon James: Even when James isn’t running away from would-be tacklers on special teams, he gets flagged by the officials. Look up the Southeastern Conference stats and explain to me how it is that Brandon James is not the SEC Special Teams Player of the Year? And payback for Arkansas’ Felix Jones is not a logical explanation.
“Renegrade”: You can lead a horse to water, but you can’t make him think. Chief Osceola and Renegade might be the only people associated with the Florida State football program who didn’t have the Music History answers. This whole sorry situation smells rotten. Connect the dots and you can already make a case for lack of institutional control. Will the NCAA deliver?
Have a Merry Christmas and a safe New Year from all of us at Gator Country!