re: Gator Week : Rembering the greatest game in Tiger Stadium history.

My sophomore year. It was awesome

I was at the ‘97 UF game and I was a kid. I was in high school for the ‘07 game and my family no longer had season tickets, so I watched that one on TV.

Even though I was so young, I still vividly remember how awesome the stadium atmosphere was for that ‘97 game. I think that’s the game that turned me into a permanent tiger fan!

My memory is kinda sketchy going that far back, but didn’t our fans start rushing the field and tearing the goal posts down for like every other home win after that Florida game?

quote:

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We didn’t win anything in 97.

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We might not have won any title in 97, but winning that game felt like winning a national championship and a million dollars at the same time for the pure joy that was in the air when the clock hit 00:00. LSU fans were so hungry back then and UF humiliated us for so long that it turned into the perfect storm that night. With DiNardo and the defensive coordinator bringing back the Chinese Bandit package for Florida, it was so unique too. The crowd went nuts every time they came running onto the field on 3rd downs. They outcoached Spurrier with the element of surprise.

UF was on a 25-game winning streak in the SEC and was winning by an average of 29 points per game during that streak. That 97 UF team beat #1, #4, #6 and #11 and only one of those came within 2 TDs (that was #1 FSU who was undefeated until they met up with UF in the last game of the season). Beating that team was an accomplishment. And it was the first time LSU had ever beaten the #1 team. There is no time like the first time.

2007 was phenomenal too and might have actually been a better game with the back and forth and 4th down conversions, but we were expected to win. In 1997, we shocked everyone and was the best feeling imaginable running onto the field. Steve Spurrier said the only time his wife was ever was scared on a trip was during 97 when LSU fans went up to the Gator bus and started rocking it. Enough said.

Worst game I ever went to. Sitting with my sister watching her son (my nephew) blocking Booger and thinking soon the Gators will bounce back. It wasn't to be. On the ride home I could see her tears in the rearview mirror and hearing her say how she should never have eaten that gator sauce picante at the pre-game tailgate we went too. She had never seen the Gators lose a game before (since her son was playing). And she will never forget that game. Tigers were just a bunch of meanies that night.

Best bud from HS stormed the field and took a piece of sod. Gave pieces of it to his buddies. Still have it in a display case.

My buddie, died 10 years ago. Here’s to you Kurt. Miss you.

I know 3 million people say they were there, not counting Brian Williams. But I certainly was. In fact, I had actually been a big Spurrier/UF fan up to that point. My family would go on to give me a lot of crap over it. But LSU was in dark times. That game was orgasmic. Had to shove my gf out of the stands and into the nearest exit tunnel to prevent from getting trampled on.

But alas.....a victory that OleMiss apparently didn't watch. We got creamed the next week.