2010 Gator Fan Day

Monday, 16 August 2010 18:28

We asked writer/sports enthusiast Jennette Holzworth (well, technically, she volunteered) to hunt down Gator autographs at Football Fan Day, which ended up being a whole lot like waiting in lines at an amusement park—you wait 45 minutes or longer for just 3 minutes of gratification. But was it worth it?

By Jennette Holzworth; Photos by Rodney Rogers

The seconds melted off the clock and exploded into the screaming buzzer signaling it was time for the team to leave. I was seventh in a line of 10 fans eagerly clutching their free poster at UF’s Football Fan Day, just hoping to get signatures from the University of Florida corps of wide receivers. But it didn’t look like I was going to get through today.

I had spent two hours of my Sunday afternoon shuffling through lines and getting kicked by pre-teens trying to pretend they weren’t with their parents. The football team arrived 15 minutes late, and after waiting in line for more than an hour, all I had earned were signatures from the team’s five running backs. It seemed the day had dragged by, and the excitement I initially held diminished significantly, which was to be expected. There was just so much red tape.

I had ignored the rain as I eagerly approached the Stephen C. O’Connell Center, clutching my Wilson football I hoped to get signed by a few of my favorite players. But, to my surprise, I was turned away. I had to return the football to my car, and settle for generic university-provided posters instead. Lame. (NCAA rules prohibit the sale of items with collegiate athlete’s signatures, and the generic posters are supposed to discourage that behavior.)

Some of the football players seemed as if they’d rather be doing something else with their weekend, and if more than your shoulders were visible above the three-foot folding table where they sat, they didn’t engage.

A comment to Emmanuel Moody that he looked so enthused to be here was returned with a shy smile and fervent scribbling. Imagine signing your name for two hours straight all the while maintaining a smile. I couldn’t do it.

But other players seemed to lap up the attention. At the end of the wide receivers’ table, Chris Rainey posed for pictures with fans despite the Gator marketing associate’s protests that Football Fan Day was over and no more pictures were allowed.

Other receivers stopped the line in order to share their numbers with a couple of female fans who had passed their way.

But despite the hype and excitement, Fan Days have never really appealed to me. I’ve never been one to try and snag an autograph after a game or slap hands with a player as he runs off the field or sneak a picture when I see one gallivanting about. That is, save the time I saw Chris Leak drive into the back of the Swamp as I headed for a game. I got a shot with him, but there’s only one problem with it: My head completely blocks Leak’s. Ugh.

So there I was, trying to earn my signatures the right way. It’s not that I wasn’t excited. I would’ve just rather seen them in action than cooped up in a marketing cage, being forced to play nice.

After meeting Jeffrey Demps, Emmanuel Moody and the rest of the running backs, I headed to Urban Meyer’s table, since the line had significantly decreased. When we first arrived, a scouting lap showed the longest lines were for tables hosting quarterbacks and coaches, so I decided waiting was the best option.

I spotted Urban as I walked down the east bleachers to the lower level, and was really excited when I saw the entire line vanish as I walked up to the table. They were gone because Urban was, too.

But not to worry, the defensive backs were the next table over and are my personal team favorite. There’s nothing I like more than a great interception, hence the hero status in my book.

I finished my signature sweep with just over 20 minutes remaining in the event and quarterbacks was where I wanted to head next.

But a tactical choice needed to be made. My limited time meant I would only be able to visit one table, so I had to weigh my desire for potential star John Brantley or the entire wide receivers corps.

That split-second debate almost cost me both opportunities. The marketing associate had closed the plastic chain-link barrier while I was a mere five feet away. I sweet-talked my way in, but there was no promise that any of the wide outs would put ink on my poster.

With eight minutes left, I was optimistic. Until I realized dads with their young sons were swarming me—obviously an advantage. Who’d turn away a little kid?

But when the two-minutes mark passed, and the line had barely moved, my hope faded. Fifty seconds, thirty, fifteen, five, buzzer. Players from around the O’Dome began filing out to their next weekend stop.

But the wide outs didn’t budge. Eight fans, five, three, then finally, my turn. Rainey kept posing and smiling for pictures, and Deonte Thompson kept sneaking behind marketing associates to give away one more picture.

I got my signatures, said my deepest thanks, handed out some high-fives and wished them luck on a great season. My virgin Fan Day experience was complete and most definitely worthwhile. Now, all I need is a frame.