Gator hate is over the top

[jagator0]

Tim Brando is even ripping us for not selling out our allotted tickets. He said the fans didn't care enough to buy tickets and that effects how the team perceives the game. Well, how then did FSU beat Northern Illinois by 21 points? If there was ANY team that had to be disappointed with where they ended up it was Georgia. How did they do in the game against Nebraska?

And oh by the way, yes we may be spoiled. But show me a fan base that wins as much as we do that isn't. Do you think Alabama fans flocked to the Capital One Bowl a couple of years ago?

I was at the Cap One Bowl this year. And yes the Dawg fans showed up. But why wouldn't they? They've never been to the BCS title game before. To them, a Capital One Bowl is still a pretty big deal. Two years ago they bowled in Memphis against UCF. They remember bowl trips to Shreveport, Nashville, Atalanta, or not going at all. So driving down to Orlando to watch them play the Nebraska Cornhuskers sounds like a good idea.

But let's not forget, Florida was expecting to play Okahoma in this game. And they end up with Louisville. No disrespect to Louisville but how many national championships and Heisman trophies do you have? Oklahoma is a big name opponent like a Nebraska. Louisville is a basketball school..

Plus, let's not forget that in our state we hosted seven bowls this year. IF you are a football fans from Florida, and many are probably also Gator fans, if you want to watch one more college football game before the season ends, you don't have to follow your team to New Orleans. There are several good games right in your back yard. How many bowl games are there in Kentucky? Or Alabama? Or Georgia?

From where I live, I can go to bed after New Year's Eve, wake up the next morning, decide I want to go to a football game today, get in my truck and drive to one of three games, and if I go to either Orlando or Jacksonville, I can be back home in time to watch the second half of the Rose Bowl game.

So yeah, some of us decided it was not worth it to drive for an entire day to get to New Orleans at $4.00 per gallon, stay in a hotel, but tickets, and drive an entire day to get back, to watch us play Louisville. So sue us. But if you were in our shoes, what would you do? I went to the UGA Nebrakska game and probably didn't drop anywhere near $100.00 food and gas included. If UGA fans were in our shoes, I bet they'd do the same thing.

[oxrageous]

[SC Gator]

also the fact it is a Jan 2 night time means missing having to miss two more days of work and its Louisville. Despite beating us last night, prior to that they had no panache or history or rivalry to get Gator fans to say I have to see this game.

[Ancient Reptile]

Gator fans didn't want to see the game; Gator players didn't want to play it. Both pretty much got what they wanted.

[jagator0]

A little bit yes. These idiots compare apples to oranges and act like its apples to apples. Pure laziness on their part.

[NVGator]

Gator fans didn't want to see the game; Gator players didn't want to play it. Both pretty much got what they wanted.

[Beauregard]

Gator fans didn't want to see the game; Gator players didn't want to play it. Both pretty much got what they wanted.

Pretty much sums it up.

[jagator0]

Gator fans didn't want to see the game; Gator players didn't want to play it. Both pretty much got what they wanted.

And yet, somehow that's our fault. Did we put Northern Illinois in the Orange Bowl? No. Do you think maybe a UF-OU game would have been a bit bigger ticket draw?

[diehardg8r]

I think UF/OU would be a bigger draw and I think they need to put these games on Saturdays instead of a freaking Wednesday night if they want people to show up. Kids started back to school on Jan. 2 in most districts and people have already burned vacation time over the xmas holiday. Can some of these ridiculous bowl games and put the BCS games in slots that people can travel on and can watch with parties as such. Or don't complain about 25k empty seats.

[murdamal86]

I think they need to put these games on Saturdays instead of a freaking Wednesday night if they want people to show up. Kids started back to school on Jan. 2 in most districts and people have already burned vacation time over the xmas holiday.

With wild card weekend in the NFL starting, that will never happen w/them putting these games on Saturday although it would be wise to do it that way.

[NVGator]

I'm going out on a limb here, but I believe tonight's game between KSU and OU will be a sell out, if not close to a sell out.

Just a hunch. Seems they travel well.

[SavannahGator]

I think UF/OU would be a bigger draw and I think they need to put these games on Saturdays instead of a freaking Wednesday night if they want people to show up. Kids started back to school on Jan. 2 in most districts and people have already burned vacation time over the xmas holiday. Can some of these ridiculous bowl games and put the BCS games in slots that people can travel on and can watch with parties as such. Or don't complain about 25k empty seats.

I live in Savannah GA (obviously). It's a 10 hour drive from here to NOLA. The tickets to the game would have cost less than the time to drive to NOLA, staying in a hotel 2 nights, and eating. I am not a season ticket holder, but I do go to 2 or 3 home games each year - it's only a 3 hour 15 min drive to UF. Gators living in FL may have to go even farther than me - what if you live in Ft Myers, Sarasota, Broward, or my home town of MIA. You either have to fly ($$$) or it's a two-day drive. Maybe Brando should get his head out of his a** and look at the geography of the state of FL. Then he'd realize that traveling to NOLA for this game could be all of New Year's Day going (or more) and all of today (or more) returning.

For those who have the Benjamins, it may still be more about the time taken to go than the $$$. I bet if we had been in the Capital One Bowl, or even the Outback Bowl, attendance against a name Big-Ten (er 12) team would have been better, as more Gators would have been able to make the trip. Heck, I might have even gone.

I am a prof of Information Technology (my degree at UF was CIS) at a university here in Savannah. Class doesn't start til Monday, but faculty had to return today. Could I have really afforded today away from work to attend that game? NO. Diehard, you are right. NCAA has to quit kowtowing to the NFL and put these games on weekends or expect the lousy attendance.

[law98gator]

I'm going out on a limb here, but I believe tonight's game between KSU and OU will be a sell out

Just a hunch. Seems they travel well.

It's just a hunch, but if I lived in Kansas or Oklohoma, I'd leave as often as possible (and never go back).

[gatormark]

Tim Brando and his three fat ass both monkeys dont know jack sheet about Florida fans. Brando needs to stick to his stupid Beano Cook impersinations and keep his opinions to himself.

[kelryan12]

lets see a 10 hour or more drive there, motel, food, tickets and the middle of the week!!!! yeah that makes it easy on the working folk to get there. not retired yet so these type of games are hard to get to. wish i was paid to be there like Brando and his ilk... What a joke he is

[Amazin1]

i'm right with savannah but, i am a season ticket holder. i drive 2 hours both ways every home game. there was no way in hell i could afford the tickets, the gas, the hotel,the food, etc. plus the 9 hour drive it is from here to nola. i'm one of the biggest Gator fans you will EVER find but, with this economy there was no way for me to pull it off...

[Amazin1]

and if they would have played capitol one or outback there is no doubt i would have been there....because i could have afforded too. these talking heads who make all this money and think we all have the same means as them are a bunch of damn idiots...reality check genius...

[MrAmbition2]

Hello?? Gator hate has been over the top FOR YEARS and ALWAYS will be.....the Steve Spurrier Era started it and the Urban Meyer/Tim Tebow Era AMPLIFIED it. We win championships. We've had great but cocky, undiscipline PLAYERS. The majority of our fan base is rowdy, arrogant and at times WISHY WASHY! Add the fact that we have MORE heated rivalries out of all schools in the nation (Tenn. LSU, Georgia, FSU, now South Carolina) then what do you get? Gator Envy, Hater GatorNation!

[DaddyGator]

I went to the Sugar in 2010. You remember- Tim's last game, Urb's "retirement", etc. Same sort of turnout for the same Big East opponent (Cincinnati). Lots of Cincinnati fans were there enjoying their moment on the big stage as you might imagine. Whole sections were empty on our side of the field. The best explanation I've got for it is that the BCS bowls just crap out on matchups that the fans want to see with the conference tie ins. I noticed some our player twitter feeds before the game wondering why they didnt see more fans in Nawlins. Gotta be disappointing but it isnt excuse for our team not showing up, either.

[GulfG8r]

Unless you're a good shopper, a hotel downtown was gonna set you back almost $1000 before you even leave the house and head for the freeway or the airport. New Orleans took gouging to an art form and they deserve the lousy attendance.

BUT. . . If Gator fans aren't outnumbered by Louisville fans, then these arguments (excuses) have some merit. There are one hell of a lot more Gator fans out there than Louisville fans and they still outnumbered us 2:1. It's embarrassing for UF really. Bama fans outnumber us in Atlanta. Hell even Cincinnati fans made a better showing and I don't think they really care about the shape of the state of Florida or how far New Orleans is from Tampa or Miami.

Bottom line, Gator fans don't travel well to support the team. Brando can kiss my a$$, but we have become the worst of the spoiled fans.

Oh wait, I just remembered, this game didn't mean anything.