Gator Growl

Today is the beginning of Homecoming Weekend at UF, which means that there will be a parade this afternoon and Gator Growl tonight. As a spirited UF student and Gator fan I have gone to every parade and Growl since freshman year. However, neither has ever been very good. There's some kind of internal pull (or obligation) I feel to these events. Every year I'd wake up to make it to see the parade at noon and drag myself to Gator Growl that night. And every year I'm a little disappointed.



Year One of my Gator Growl experience featured comedians Christopher Titus and Arnez J and musical group Sugar Ray. Neither of the two comedians are big time headliners (even though Christopher Titus used to have his own show) and Sugar Ray hasn't been relevant since about middle school. My dad came up for Gator Growl and the Homecoming game as my parents tried to do throughout my college career. Year Two of my Growl time featured comedian Dane Cook. Once again my dad made the trip up to Gainesville for Homecoming. This Growl experience was the most uncomfortable of all because Dane Cook does not do the type of comedy that you want to sit and listen to with your father. Year Three featured Wayne Brady. I've never been a Wayne Brady fan, but it was Gator Growl, so I went. Again, I was disappointed. You know, I feel like disappointed isn't even the right word to use. I know that it's never very good, so I know what to expect and go anyway. Last year wasn't so horrible because one of my favorite comedians, Jim Gaffigan, was the headliner. However, his set wasn't as good as past performances I've seen on tv.

Despite the fact that I've long decided that I'm not going to Gator Growl, I started feeling the pull today. I know that I'm not pumped up about seeing Lynyrd Skynyrd. I don't feel the need to see Frank Caliendo. Somehow though, I started feeling that I should go to Gator Growl. I was able to silence that, and I'll just enjoy myself and relax tonight. :)