T’was the morning of Christmas… Gator style - 247Sports

T’was the morning of Christmas… Gator style - 247Sports

Santa Jaws (Photo: Scout.com)

Back is my annual frolic through the old Christmas story that most or all of us have heard and then with an orange and blue twist. I’ve been doing this for 15 years and have fun with it. This is nothing too serious, mostly fun, and all of it with the wishes that each and every one of you have a wonderful and blissful holiday season.

Before I get started, I want to share a few moments that I had less than a couple of weeks ago. Yours truly was dressed as the jolly old soul at my church for a few hours as the children in our church community participated in Christmas activities and got to spend a couple of moments telling Santa what they want for Christmas.

You could see it in their eyes that these moments mean so much to them. Little did I know that some of that time would make a mark on me as well.

I’ve played Santa on Christmas Eve for several years now, but this was a different event and there were many more kids. Tall ones, short ones, skinny ones, plump ones, there were all shapes and ages. There was the occasional teenager that mom dragged in and was forced to do the Santa picture thing. I of course played that up. There were a couple of really little ones that would have nothing to do with the big dude with way too much facial hair and a glowing red suit.

Then there were the ones that really, really wanted to tell Santa what they wanted for Christmas.

A few I thought I would share. One young lady that I won’t forget was asked what she wanted for Christmas and told Santa, “Anything is fine with me. I really have everything I need.”  Goodness, to hear a 5-6 year old tell Santa that. It was truly genuine. I tried to press on and she continued with that line.

Another young boy rattled off a few things that he really wanted and then started to step away before coming back to whisper in Santa’s ear. “I want to ride in your sleigh,” he said. He again started to step away and whispered, “and I want to feed your reindeer.” I really wished I could deliver on those.

The last I wanted to share was a moment when an older girl, just on the cusp of believing and not believing, approached Santa with eyes that looked as if they were about to pour. She said to Santa that she wasn’t going to see her mama this Christmas. She wanted Santa to know that mama was going to be lonely. After her younger siblings talked to the man in red, it was her turn. She told Santa that she “just wants her mama to get something she really wants and her not to be lonely.” Those weepy eyes suddenly leapt to Santa’s face and  nearly had to take a break.

Santa’s wife wanted me to share this stuff, and what I hope to convey is that in this time of family and friends and sharing in the midst of world of great turmoil we see, there are still the dreams of our youth. That youth is the promise for tomorrow and that they can dream of jolly old soul that climbs down the chimney and delivers goodies, they can dream bigger things for everyone and hopefully we can share in those dreams.

Now for the fun…

T’was the morning of Christmas and all through Hogtown,

The Gators were preparing for a Cavs beat down.

No Henderson, no Franks, will be there to see,

The orange and blue win easily.

This season it was not built in a day,

But 12 weekends of war when the Gators would play.

But alas, the success was built way before then,

With an offseason acquisition at defensive end.

Little did we know how import it would be,

For Greenard to join the SEC.

And make the league his little toy,

Like he did in the ACC and all those little boys.

The season would come and a much awaited game,

Against more of a tropical storm than a hurricane.

Manny built his boys up only to see,

Them running for cover with 10 sacks and a UF victory.

Eleven games later the Canes lost their soul,

As they prepare for the Walk-on’s Independence Bowl.

A 6-6 record and Manny looks beat,

As things heat up under his seat.

The next big date for UF had a season turning event,

As the Gators set out to revenge last year’s upset.

The Blue Grass was rockin’ to make it two years in a row,

And things looked scary with a quarter to go.

With a quarterback down and 11 points behind,

The Gators were looking for a major rewind.

Just 15 minutes to go and seemingly too much to ask,

From the ashes arose the mighty King Trask.

Down 31-20 and no time to spare,

Trask led the Gators on an offensive tear.

By the end of the night we all would see,

Exactly what Trask was able to be.

The Gators avenged the loss from the previous year,

And woke the quarterback for most foes to fear.

 He hadn’t started a game since a high school JV star,

But the next week he continued to raise the UF QB bar.

Back home versus Rocky Top was Trask’s first start,

And he threw for damn near 300 yards (293).

And Big Daddy Vol would crawl back in his cave,

As did the rest of the Vols that thought Pruitt would save.

After a 2-5 start the Vols are on a roll,

They’ve won five straight and head to the TaxSlayer Bowl.

They will beat Indiana and Pruitt will be,

Back in the blessings all across Tennessee.

A blowout of Towson was followed by the UF game of the year,

Against Auburn and their quarterback who came in as feared.

He went down four times by a fierce front line,

But the game was costly for this defense this time.

Greenard went down and Zuniga didn’t play,

The next game was crucial and for this game the Gators would pay.

Both tried to go against now No. 1 LSU,

But neither could finish and it was too much to chew.

Trask and the offense kept up for three quarters,

But without the two star ends the Gators struggled on the borders.

Eventually it was too much to ask for a defense with holes,

To steal one in Death Valley between touchdown poles.

So on to the next, another road game affair,

Against Muschamp who was feeling anupset in the air.

For his Gamecocks would pull the whammy a week before,

And knock Kirby Smart from his perch to the floor.

Through three quarters the Gamecocks pounded the ball,

Something all of us knew was Muchamps call.

But 21 points from UF in the final stanza,

Sent the Gamecock faithful fleeing the stands.

The Gators played against Muschamp with both ends sitting,

And saved them for Georgia, who was prime for the getting.

But Zuniga would succumb to the pain one more time,

And the Gators fell flat to their rivals in kind.

The Gators took Vandy at home and Mizzou on the road,

There wasn’t much trouble from the black and gold duo to bode.

Both were having sub-par years,

And the Gators had a finale that had them shifting gears.

It had been 10 years since UF beat the Noles in The Swamp,

That’s 10 too many and they wanted a romp.

Everyone was sad to see Willie go,

A terrific hire for every Florida State foe.

Senior night in The Swamp was a marvelous outing,

Seniors all over the field would take part in the blood letting.

Two touchdowns by Jefferson and two by Swain,

As the Gators continued to inflict the pain.

Annoyed were ex-Noles that they tweeted to get even,

It’s as if Mullen saw their tweets and scored another seven.

A fake punt up by 20 with little time to spare,

There was no love loss from the high ranking chair.

And so we have this game in five days,

A celebration for a group of seniors not set in their ways.

They gave all they had and went through a coaching change,

And pushed the Gators within championship range.

I leave you with a note this holiday time,

To remember why we are here and let it shine.

To root on the Gators and let them see,

That Gator fans are the best in the SEC.

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2019-12-25 05:32:52Z
https://247sports.com/college/florida/Article/Florida-Gators-Football-Twas-the-morning-of-Christmas-UF-style-141072755/
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