Stay Off The Field, Except for This One Instance!
By Jeff Moffitt
@moffittjc (128831)
Gainesville, Florida
November 19, 2016 7:24pm CST
I had a very fun day with my daughter. The University of Florida football team should have been playing a home game today. But thanks to Hurricane Matthew, the original game had to be canceled. Due to the craziness of each team's schedules, and a few inflated egos, the game ended up being moved to Baton Rouge, Louisiana, where the Florida Gators today played a "home" game at Louisiana State University's stadium.
Florida officials seized the opportunity to do something that's never been done before...open the Gators football stadium free to the public to come sit down on the field and watch the game live on the big Jumbotron screen at the stadium.
So my daughter and I did just that, and found the perfect spot dead center in the middle of the field. It was the perfect day to be outside watching a game, and although a nail biter of a game for a solid three hours, in the end the mighty Gator football team pulled out an upset win over LSU, making them the champions of the eastern division of the Southeastern Conference.
Being able to sit on the field with thousands of other Gator fans was incredible, and probably a once in a lifetime opportunity. My daughter suggested that I contact the University of Florida's Athletic Director and suggest to him that he make this an annual tradition. I'm happy that my daughter thinks I have that kind of clout in this city, but unfortunately I don't have the AD's direct line to make that kind of phone call! But it is a pretty good idea!
I thoroughly enjoyed getting to spend a great day with my daughter, capped off with a glorious Gator victory!
Have you ever been to a "watch party" of any kind, to cheer on a favorite team?
12 people like this
11 responses
@cindiowens (5120)
• North Myrtle Beach, South Carolina
20 Nov 16
I have only been to high school games except for the one time I went to see Va Tech vs Wake Forrest. I don't even remember who won, lol.
2 people like this
@moffittjc (128831)
• Gainesville, Florida
20 Nov 16
There was a time not too many years ago when both Virginia Tech and Wake Forest were both really good teams. Had you gone then, I imagine you saw an awesome game!
2 people like this
@cindiowens (5120)
• North Myrtle Beach, South Carolina
20 Nov 16
@moffittjc This was back in the 80's. It was pretty good.
2 people like this
@moffittjc (128831)
• Gainesville, Florida
20 Nov 16
@cindiowens I don't think Tech and Wake started getting really good until the mid to late 90's. But, being that it was a conference game for both teams, it probably was a very good game! Which one did you root for?
2 people like this
@infatuatedbby (94909)
• United States
20 Nov 16
I am not into sports but that's amazing how you watched the game on the big screen. Originally I thought you drove all the way to Louisiana but I continued reading 
Your son didn't want to go too?
Your son didn't want to go too?1 person likes this
@infatuatedbby (94909)
• United States
20 Nov 16
@moffittjc Oh I see that sounds like he's having a good time with his friends. PARTY AT YOUR PLACE!
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (128831)
• Gainesville, Florida
20 Nov 16
@infatuatedbby Oh no way! He's at his mom's house! No parties at my place unless I'm the one throwing them! haha
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (128831)
• Gainesville, Florida
20 Nov 16
He had a couple of his school friends over to spend the night, and they all wanted to go to the movies to see Dr. Strange.
1 person likes this
@LadyDuck (502208)
• Italy
20 Nov 16
@moffittjc This is very good, a great occasion to meet all together.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (128831)
• Gainesville, Florida
20 Nov 16
@LadyDuck We definitely had a good time, and we ran into so many friends who were there as well. It was a very fun day for us!
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (128831)
• Gainesville, Florida
20 Nov 16
Apparently, a lot of fans had the same idea as my daughter, as a story about it ran on the front page of our newspaper this morning. I'm hoping that it shows enough fan support that our athletic director will consider doing it again in the future.
1 person likes this
@JamesHxstatic (29410)
• Eugene, Oregon
20 Nov 16
I stopped following sports of any kind long ago, but I can imagine how great the opportunity and experience were for you and your daughter.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (128831)
• Gainesville, Florida
20 Nov 16
I am pretty much down to only watching and following college sports. I have been so turned off by all the professional sports that I don't even bother watching or supporting any of the professional teams.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (128831)
• Gainesville, Florida
20 Nov 16
@JamesHxstatic I think the reason is that college sports are still about the game and the passion and the thrill of competition. By the time the athletes get to the pros, it is no longer about the game. At that point, it's all about making the money and looking good, and in essence most of them become overpaid, whiny crybabies
@JamesHxstatic (29410)
• Eugene, Oregon
20 Nov 16
@moffittjc College sports at least have an element of excitement that the pros never generated for me (since Joe Namath anyway.)
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (128831)
• Gainesville, Florida
20 Nov 16
"Watch parties" could be for other things besides sports! In fact, there was a nighttime rocket launch in Cape Canaveral, Florida tonight, and I'm sure there were thousands of people gathered all around Cocoa Beach to watch the rocket launch!
@moffittjc (128831)
• Gainesville, Florida
20 Nov 16
@paigea I actually got to see the rocket launch last night, although there wasn't much to actually see since I was so far away. But it did light up the night sky, even from being 120 miles away!
@fishtiger58 (29819)
• Momence, Illinois
20 Nov 16
I bet that was super fun. I have never been to something like that bout would love it. I live south of Chicago born and bred, been a die hard Cub fan for 50 years, I could have gone to that parade but 5 million people was a bit much for me so I watched on tv instead.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (128831)
• Gainesville, Florida
20 Nov 16
They had "watch parties" outside of Wrigley Field during the World Series! You could have gone to one of those! lol
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (128831)
• Gainesville, Florida
20 Nov 16
@fishtiger58 For events like that where I know the large crowd will be an issue, I factor that into my planning. If I know it will take 6 hours to get out of the event, then I'll have something planned to pass the time during those 6 hours. A lot of times, if I'm tailgating, I'll just set up the grill and cookout or something, just to help pass the time while we're waiting.
1 person likes this
@fishtiger58 (29819)
• Momence, Illinois
20 Nov 16
@moffittjc I considered it but the crowds and most especially getting out of Chicago would be a nightmare. My son went to the parade, took him about 6 hours to finally get a train out.
1 person likes this
@LovingMyBabies (85923)
• Valdosta, Georgia
20 Nov 16
No I have never done anything like that before. It sounds like fun! =)
1 person likes this
@BelleStarr (61463)
• United States
20 Nov 16
You could, however, suggest it to him on Facebook which should get a lot of attention.
!! lol
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (128831)
• Gainesville, Florida
20 Nov 16
There was a story about it in the Gainesville Sun this morning, so I'm pretty sure he already knows that fans want a repeat of yesterday's event!
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (128831)
• Gainesville, Florida
20 Nov 16
I was happy for my daughter, that she got to experience a day like that. She's been so overwhelmed with school work this year that it was nice to see her get a break to have some fun and enjoy herself!
@moffittjc (128831)
• Gainesville, Florida
20 Nov 16
There was a big article about it on the front page of the newspaper this morning, basically stating how all the fans were hoping that the university offers this again in the future. It seems like everyone else had the same thoughts as my daughter and I, that they should make it an annual tradition. The university has a brand-new athletic director, so he could immediately win thousands of fans over to his side by saying he's going to do this event every year!
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (381837)
• Rockingham, Australia
21 Nov 16
@moffittjc Let's hope it happens.
1 person likes this
@andriaperry (118793)
• Anniston, Alabama
20 Nov 16
No, I haven`t. I am glad you had a good day with your daughter.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (128831)
• Gainesville, Florida
20 Nov 16
It was an amazing day with my daughter! I have to cherish these moments as much as I can, because she's 17 now, and in the blink of an eye she'll be grown and out on her own.
