Newsflash: the pride and joy of this university, regardless of how overrated or grossly revered it is, isn’t having the best season. The Florida Gators Football Team have succeeded in losing three straight games to Louisiana State, Missouri, and Georgia.
Not only have the Gators fallen from their Top-Ten Grace, but it seems Gator fans have jumped ship before disaster strikes again. Suddenly, the Boys from Old Florida aren’t so joyful in their song.
We’ve been losing...but are we really losers? I don’t think so. Sometimes we just have to remind ourselves of what it means to be a Florida Gator.
For you sports fanatics, the Gator Volleyball team under the amazing Coach Mary Wise have been dominating against strong teams and claiming numerous awards: they enter their final stretch of the season at No. 5 in the SEC. Gator Soccer, also at No. 5 in the SEC, secured the SEC title against Georgia on Halloween - the third year in a row in doing so. The No. 1 Gator Men Swimming and Diving host their second meet this Thursday with Alabama in Gainesville. Finally, No. 10 Men’s Basketball open their season on Friday against North Florida.
Not only are we outstanding athletes, we are nerds. As President Machen and the University of Florida strive to break into the top ten public universities in the nation, U.S. News and World Report has bumped UF up as the fourteenth best public university - sharing the honor with the University of California at Irvine.
In addition to being praised in the United States, those across the world have recognized the university: Times Higher Education in the UK recently released their Academic Ranking of the World’s Universities with UF at No. 71.
Lastly, with over 980 clubs and organizations on campus, student life is unprecedented here at UF. Not to mention our preeminent career services, or outstanding facilities, or the Florida Alumni Network, or any of the hundreds of aspects that make UF such an amazing place.
It’s Homecoming Week and there is no reason that students shouldn’t be proud of the University. With Gator Gallop and the Homecoming Parade on Friday, in addition to the largest student-run pep-rally in the world, Gator Growl, it’s time for students and Gator fans alike to celebrate the Orange and Blue.
For those of you who haven’t sold your Vanderbilt tickets at low prices and are leaving Gainesville this weekend, let Homecoming serve as a reminder that we are so lucky to be here at UF - regardless of what happens on the field.
Even though football may suck this year, it’s STILL great to be a Florida Gator.
