Gator Country

Florida Buck end/linebacker Dante Fowler Jr. gets his jersey held as he sheds a block the Gators' 38-0 victory against Kentucky in Ben HIll Griffin Stadium. / Gator Country photo by Curtiss Bryant

By Alex Gray

For most, the month of October conjures up thoughts of the leaves beginning to change from a bright green to a deep, Alabama-shade of crimson or a Florida hue of orange. In October, a cool, crisp breeze supplants the stifling humid air that occupies the south during the summer months. Mention October, and for many, Halloween comes to mind; a festive holiday with two completely different sides to it. On one end, Halloween is a bright and merry occasion, allowing for children to scarf down all of the treats that their stomach can handle, and allowing adults to let their hair down for one night before beginning the grind of the holiday season. On the other end, Halloween also has a dark and grisly side. It’s a time when houses become haunted, and gruesome, ghoulish images are abound, attempting to frighten those brave enough to take a peak.

Much like Halloween, the month of October has been both cheerful and downright scary to the Florida Gators. While the second month of the season can be challenging for any team going into the heart of their conference slate, recently, October has offered Florida an onslaught of blood-thirsty SEC foes. The Gators have gone through two particularly difficult stretches during October in recent memory — one time sparking an eventual run to the national championship, the other, beginning an eventual dismal decline into college football’s cellar.

In 2006, it was referred to as “the gauntlet” by a number of people. An intimidating stretch that included a one-loss Alabama team (technically this was on the last day of September, but its close enough), No. 9 LSU, a motivated one-loss Auburn team on the road, and the always tough 'Cocktail Party' in Jacksonville against Georgia. The Gators, behind senior quarterback Chris Leak and a stellar, mature defense, were able to escape the month with only one hiccup—a controversial loss to Auburn in which the defense did not give up a touchdown — and used the treacherous stretch as a springboard to Glendale, Ariz., where they dispatched of the Ohio State Buckeyes to the tune of 41-14 in the BCS National Championship Game.

What a difference five years makes.

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