Long term the victory over Florida trumps all. I can, and do, laugh at the Gators every day. That outcome makes it all the sweeter.
I remember walking around the upper deck at halftime, and how awkward it was to be alongside so many Gator fans. I'm sure not all of them are idiots but you have to summarize it that way, considering who they root for. Can you imagine going through life as a Gator fan? I've struggled to think of anything comparable.
Lots of my friends have moved to the Orlando area, primarily to regain a culture similar to what they grew up with. Some of them couldn't find jobs in Miami due to not being able to speak Spanish. I tell them there's no chance I'd make a move like that, given the proximity to Gator fans. That variable trumps all. I visited my sister in the Orlando area over the weekend. The sportscasts lead off with Gator news. Go to Target and all the merchandise is Gators and Seminoles. We don't show at all. No thank you.
Right now my most satisfying memory is the North Carolina game. I decided to attend at the last minute, hoping to get away and occupy my mind on the anniversary of my father's death. It was interesting to tour the three nearby campuses that afternoon. It's hard to believe that the Canes went down in that basic little Duke stadium, the one that seemed so laughably unthreatening when I visited 90 minutes before kickoff of our game against the Tar Heels.
I was sitting low, in a mixture of Canes and North Carolina fans. Only one Tar Heel fan was particularly obnoxious. The second half seemed so hopeless, particularly the end of the third quarter. To pull out that game the way we did, and then spend an extra half hour in the stands chatting with fans of both teams, was immensely satisfying. It made the 3 hour wee hour drive back to Atlantic Beach very positive, and wide awake. I made sure to wear my Canes gear everywhere during the next few days, before departing the state.