I have never had a greater passion in my life than I have had for sports. Growing up, nothing came close to the thrill of turning a game on TV, whether it was a New York Mets matinee in the middle of the summer, a Dallas Cowboys Sunday night football matchup or a Saturday afternoon of college football with the Florida Gators ready for a SEC clash.
That passion and thrill has stayed with me for all of my 21-plus years on Earth and has only grown since enrolling at the UF four years ago. I’ve been given countless amazing opportunities during my years in Gainesville, and maybe the greatest of all was given in my final semester.
Being the baseball beat writer for The Alligator this spring has been nothing short of incredible. While the team has had its ups and downs, the excitement of going to the ballpark three, four, five times a week never wavers.
Parking my car at Condron Family Ballpark, hanging the season-long media pass around my neck, taking the elevator to the third floor of the stadium and finally finding my seat in the press box is a feeling I wish never had to stop.
The live tweeting during every game, the excitement in the crowd that reverberates around the ballpark in big moments and the laughs and tough conversations that were had in press conferences after wins and losses will all stay with me forever.
The Alligator has taught me many things. It has made me a better writer, yes, but it has also given me connections with my peers that I will endlessly revere.
While I only was a part of the staff for a few short months, I do not take for granted the time that I spent in meetings on Sundays or the talks I had with the editors trying to come up with story ideas.
So while I say goodbye to The Alligator, I also say thank you. Thank you to Jack Meyer and the rest of the editorial staff for believing in me and entrusting me with this amazing position. Thank you to the players and coaches who were so gracious with their time. And thank you to all of you who were a part of my journey.
I was brought home from the hospital in May 2003 wearing a Florida Gators onesie. Almost 22 years later, I can now say I’ve had multiple feature stories published in print on the Gators baseball team and one on Florida’s third national championship in basketball.
Our time together has been short, but it has been an experience I will cherish for a lifetime.
Hugh Green was the Spring 2025 baseball reporter.
Hugh is the Spring 2025 baseball beat reporter for The Alligator. He is a fourth-year journalism sports and media major. In his free time, Hugh enjoys watching all kinds of sports with his friends.
