Bonds of Brotherhood
By Jeff Moffitt
@moffittjc (126714)
Gainesville, Florida
September 26, 2025 11:33am CST
In life, we all have experiences that attract us to and bond us to others who share in that one special moment in our life, whether it be childhood best friends, classmates at school, co-workers, or neighbors. Such is the case with me with friends I met in college at the University of Florida.
I started at UF in 1987, and met some incredible guys that have become lifelong friends. We have known each other, and shared in each others lives for 38 years. We've laughed together, cried together, got in trouble together, encouraged each other, and shared in the overall ups and downs of life.
In 1992, facing graduation before us, 12 of us got together and decided that we would continue honoring traditions we had learned and/or started during our time at the University of Florida. One of those was tailgating and attending Gator home football games. Every year since 1992, the 12 core group of us have met as much as possible to share in the bonds of brotherhood. Not all 12 can always make it to every football game, but we generally have a good representation, and all 12 will make it to at least one football game annually. Additionally, other classmates and friends will also drop in from time to time.
The attached photo shows eight of us at a recent Gator football game, just as we were setting up our tailgate spot near the football stadium.
Do you have a core group of lifelong friends that just can't be separated or broken up by time and distance? If so, how did you all meet, and what drew you together?
13 people like this
11 responses
@porwest (111771)
• United States
27 Sep
I guess I could say fortunately, or unfortunately, no. I do not have a core group. I don't really ever hang out with anyone. But glad you found a great group of people actually worth hanging out with. Long ago I decided that friends were that in name only, and so I removed all of them from my life.
I have never looked back and am happier than ever for it.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (126714)
• Gainesville, Florida
1 Oct
@porwest People find it surprising about me as well. Naturally, I’m introverted. But I have learned to be extroverted due to requirements in my professional life. Buts it’s emotionally exhausting for me.
1 person likes this
@porwest (111771)
• United States
28 Sep
@moffittjc I have always been pretty much an introverted person. Some people find that surprising. But it's true.
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@porwest (111771)
• United States
4 Oct
@moffittjc I get you 100%. I tried to explain the "emotional exhaustion" part once or twice and it always lands with confusion. But it's a real thing. When I was in sales I had to be an extrovert. It made it VERY difficult for me, AND exhausting. Sometimes I think part of my success in sales was DUE to being an introvert even if that might seem like a weird thing to say.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (368123)
• Rockingham, Australia
27 Sep
That's wonderful that you'll still all getting together after so many years. We have a core group which was once 11 but now down to four couples. We're been regularly meeting for 27 years and sharing various activities. I hope your group continues for many more years. I'm sure it will.
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@moffittjc (126714)
• Gainesville, Florida
4 Oct
@JudyEv How wonderful! I think more people in the world should learn to play the piano!
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@moffittjc (126714)
• Gainesville, Florida
28 Sep
I also hope your group of 4 couples continue on for many, many more years! Where did you first meet your core group of couples?
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@JudyEv (368123)
• Rockingham, Australia
3 Oct
@moffittjc We all belonged to the same parish and I taught piano to children from three of the families.
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@rakski (149377)
• Philippines
27 Sep
@moffittjc
it is much difficult when friends are abroad so we make it a point that we really plan when we they get here
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@moffittjc (126714)
• Gainesville, Florida
27 Sep
Our group lives all over the United States, which is why it is rare to get all 12 of us back together at the same time, but it usually does occur at least once each year. Of course, none of my friends live abroad, which understandably would make it more difficult to get everyone back together again.
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@moffittjc (126714)
• Gainesville, Florida
29 Sep
@rakski I’m sure it takes quite a bit of planning to get everyone together!
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@moffittjc (126714)
• Gainesville, Florida
26 Sep
I played mens and co-ed softball after college and met some lifelong friends there as well. Some of my former teammates I still keep in touch with today, although not as much as my college buddies.
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@TheHorse (233287)
• Walnut Creek, California
26 Sep
@moffittjc We all have "stories to tell."
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@moffittjc (126714)
• Gainesville, Florida
26 Sep
@TheHorse I think some of my best stories are things that happened with my softball buddies! lol
Our entire co-ed team (I think we played together as a team for 6 years) used to take a trip to NYC every year and just party it up in Manhattan. Boy, there's some great stories from those trips!
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@JESSY3236 (21274)
• United States
30 Sep
I don't have a group of friends. I do have a best friend. I met her in fourth grade. Her name is Jessica like mine. We met at after school daycare.
I also have a friend that I met when I was three or four years old. She lived down the street from me. Her name is Raven. But over the years we lost touch until I found her on myspace and then facebook. But she had a terrible car accident and doesn't really remember me.
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@moffittjc (126714)
• Gainesville, Florida
1 Oct
A oh no, I’m sorry to hear about your friend’s car accident. That’s horrible that she can’t remember you.
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@lovebuglena (48448)
• Staten Island, New York
28 Sep
I’m connected to some people on FB I went to high school with but they were not really my friends though.
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@moffittjc (126714)
• Gainesville, Florida
28 Sep
I have done the same thing. High school classmates whom I connected with on Facebook not because they were my friends, but by virtue of going to the same high school at the same time I did.
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@snowy22315 (200636)
• United States
27 Sep
No, I wish I did. Seems like it would be great
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@moffittjc (126714)
• Gainesville, Florida
28 Sep
I used to be Mr. Social, but these days I am more quiet, reserved and introverted. But for some reason, my outgoing personality shines through when I am with my group of college buddies.
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@FourWalls (81319)
• United States
27 Sep
There's a group of people, we call ourselves "trivots." We met playing trivia in chat rooms on AOL back in the $3.95/hr dial-up days. One of them was even on Jeopardy, and Alex Trebek said, "You're all triviots?" Someone made a sound wav out of it. 
Many have passed on in the 30-plus years since, but we are still a tight knit group.
Many have passed on in the 30-plus years since, but we are still a tight knit group.1 person likes this
@Juliaacv (54681)
• Canada
27 Sep
My son and his friends hang like you and yours do too.
Some of them met when our son began at a new school back in grade 3, and have been friends over the years, never losing contact with each other.
Last weekend 4 of them, which isn't the entire group, took a golf weekend together.
They played 18 holes in the morning, and then checked into their hotel, hung out and had a decent supper together. They played on another course the following morning, after checking out, and then drove a couple of hours back home again.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (126714)
• Gainesville, Florida
28 Sep
I love hearing stories about lifelong friendships. It's incredible that the bonds of friendship can last over so many years or decades. I'm still best friends with a guy who moved in as my neighbor when we were both kids, about 5 or 6 years old. We grew up together, went to school together, were Best Man in each other's weddings, etc. We live 4 hours apart now, but you would never know it from how close our bond is.
1 person likes this
@RasmaSandra (92228)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
26 Sep
You all look like the best of friends, Nice to have so many, I have a handfull of friends scattered about and a large group of online friends and other than that I am totally alone,
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@moffittjc (126714)
• Gainesville, Florida
27 Sep
Thanks, we are definitely a crazy bunch when we all get together.
Even online friends, such as yours, can yield lifelong friendships.
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@LindaOHio (209247)
• United States
27 Sep
You are really blessed to have such a large core group of friends. I keep in touch with some of my classmates through email and Facebook. They are scattered all over the country. One is in London.
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@moffittjc (126714)
• Gainesville, Florida
28 Sep
I have high school friends scattered across the country too, and as much as I dislike Facebook, I'm thankful for the platform that allows me to easily keep in touch with them all.
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