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Lost in a Sea of Garnet and Black

Visit all SEC football stadiums
     SEC football is unlike any college football found throughout the country.  The toughest conference to play in only makes for the most amazing rivalries & games to watch.  Another ongoing thing that is on my bucket list: I want to visit every SEC stadium (as of 2011).  The SEC stadium I look forward to the most: Tiger Stadium "Deaf Valley" in Baton Rouge and the rivalry I look forward to the most: Alabama vs. Auburn Game!
Ben Hill Griffin Stadium, Gainsville, FL| Home of the Florida Gators
     Pictures and/or words cannot even begin to describe this magical place.  "The Swamp" was originally built on a sinkhole and expansion efforts have enclosed the field on all sides, which helps to concentrate fan noise to field level. "Florida Gator fans are both loyal and loud, thus creating a tremendous home field advantage for the Gators.  The size and exuberance of the 90,000 home crowds, when combined with the stadium's close-in design of the seats, makes the Swamp one of the loudest stadiums in America and one of the best game day experience in college football."
     I can't remember exactly how old I was or what game it was, but I have been attending Florida games since I can remember.  My uncle Mike graduated from UF and has season tickets every year so I remember going all the time (especially when we lived in Florida) with him and my dad, grandpa sonny, and my cousins.  You can hear the crowd from miles away (no joke) as you walk up to the stadium screaming ORANGE & BLUE!!! It is such a fun and exhilarating experience!
Florida vs. Georgia Game, October 2007
with Drey Dailey, Dave Dailey, & Megan Carrasco 
 Field Level in THE SWAMP!! November, 2008
with Kenny Walters 
Williams-Brice Stadium, Columbia, SC Home of the South Carolina Gamecocks Okay, so back to my original thought....Lost in a sea of Garnet and Black.  I went to Williams-Brice Stadium this past weekend for the Florida vs. South Carolina game.  I went with 2 of my best friends who graduated from S.Carolina and it was a fun time.  It was a noon game, which never allots for enough time to tailgate.  I love a college atmosphere, crisp 70 degree weather, and a cold beer. 
     The stadium was honestly disappointing....I expected more! They have plans for renovations and expanding the stadium so only time will tell.  As for the South Carolina Fans: Extremely classy fans! Granted they were ahead the whole game, but they acted a lot classier towards me than I do towards opposing fans in the swamp.  
     It is hard to be a visiting fan, you feel like everyone is staring at you and you always want your team to win, but I REALLY wanted Florida to win considering I could only imagine what the nightlife in a college town had in store for me and my orange & blue jersey.  Besides everyone chanting "It's great to be a Florida hater!" and Megan trying to talk junk to me..."Mandy look at Florida's cheerleader pom pom's they are so ugly..." it was such a fun weekend!! I was a good sport about the loss....and to all you South Carolina  fans: You have beaten us 3 times since you've joined the SEC...so I suppose I don't mind if you celebrate... it will be years before you win again :)  
 with Kenny Walters, Megan Jenkins, and Brent Collins
with Megan Jenkins




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