The Orange and Blue "Kentucky Rain"

"The Kentucky rain keeps pouring down and up ahead's another football town.....and a game we'll sit thru......with the rain in our shoes....in the cold Kentucky rain."

My apologies to Ronnie Milsap and Elvis Presley. (The original song was written by Eddie Rabbitt)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UWDn2B-b7qQ

For me every football Saturday is about the same. A feeling of anticipation and dread, so much of my emotional well being on the line and all entrusted to a team comprised of 18 and 19 year old kids. I really believe when the Gators throw an interception, fumble or make some other grievous error, they do it to cause dismay to the person sitting in Section four, Row 23, Seat 21...that would be me.

For 15 years I went to every Gator game with a wonderful friend. Tragically he has passed away, but he always, on every single play, expected Florida to score. I, on the other hand, always anticipated a fumble or worse. Once we were driving to Gainesville from South Florida. We were playing Auburn and the War Eagles were undefeated and ranked fourth in the country. Our Gators had already lost three games. About seventy five miles South of Gainesville, my friend asked me for a prediction on the score. I replied that I thought Auburn would beat us about 45 to 7. Without a word, he pulled off the Turnpike and opened the car door. "Get the hell out!" he said. "What is wrong with you?" I asked. He replied, "I cannot take it anymore, 15 years I have tolerated you and your pessimism, just get the hell out of my car."
Eventually he relented andwe continued to Gainesville. A few years later, I told the story at his funeral. Larry Evan Vanscoy was a great Florida Gator fan and a wonderful human being and friend.