New Year's Day: Gator Bowl fun (Pt. 2)

Live from LAX, here comes part duex of Jacksonville craziness. New Year's Day started with a quick run around by the river down to the stadium and back. Some fans had already begun tailgating but for the most part this crowd was much more subdued than the southern skirmish formerly known as the World's Largest Outdoor Cocktail Party. Back at the hotel, I cleaned up and pretty soon the McEwan's and I were ready to go... with a quick stop by the gas station for some sodas, of course.

At the stadium we had a great parking spot and really enjoyed pregame activities. These included football tossing:



greeting the band:



socializing with cheerleaders:



meeting the horses:



and congratulating a fellow hoo on an awesome sign:



Finally, it was gametime. The weather for the game was perfect and even though Texas Tech scored first, UVA matched quickly and was actually controlling the game and holding the lead through the second and third quarters. At the same time, Eden and I were checking the Gators game on the TV in the lobby. They were in a tight game as well but for some reason I had a little more confidence in the Gators than the Hoos....





Unfortunately, all good things must come to an end and our day came crashing down very quickly. Virginia lost the lead with 3:10 to play, about the same time Florida fell behind for the last time. Then, about 15 minutes later what had been up to that point a delightful day all of the sudden went to shit. Dejected, we trudged back to the car and Jim was curtious enough to drive us home.