Dawn of a new day! by danette

Dawn of a new day!

Thought I would capture the rising sun through the Gator I have in my backyard (everyone has a Gator in their garden, right?). I had gotten a more "cool" shot with the sun, but was unable to see and focus properly on that one. I'll have to try it again one day! Have a great Monday!
I have known some sports fans in my life, but nothing compared to you. I bet you even have Gator PJ's. What has caused such an allegiance to a college team?
October 22nd, 2012  
@skipt07 When I stop laughing, I will give you the long answer! Uf is my alma mater. When I went there (initially against my will!), a professor of mine equated Gator football to a religion. My youngest son graduated there 2 years ago. He worked in the football office. He is a life long fan (as is my oldest son). They were trained from an early age. :-) I am assuming you are not in the south, where college football is just a "bit" over the top! My son's girlfriend just moved here. She is from TX and went to school at Oklahoma, which obviously has a great football program. She loves college football, but thinks the Gators are insane. She has accompanied my son to a live game and to several games with area Gator Clubs. She thinks they are so dramatic! For the last two years, my son traveled the country to various universities as he worked for his fraternity. He said that football in the SE is much bigger than most other areas of the country (even accounting for Ohio State, Michigan, Notre Dame, etc.). My son will even have say over what his girfriend wears to the games (even when they attend just a local event at a sports bar). One day, I had to intervene to avoid a scuffle! Also, we had a "not great" year last year as we had a new coach. It appears this year they have gotten their rhythm back, which is quite exciting. Gator PJ's...no, but wait until I show you my Christmas Village with my Gator corner (which actually stays up all year). :-D
October 22nd, 2012  
Very cool shot! Light capture is great.
October 22nd, 2012  
Very cool shot although I'm a huge Vols fan. And yes, college football in the south is akin to religion. Things can get heated very fast! We can still be photo friends, right?? :)
October 22nd, 2012  
@skipt07 @rhondatn See what you started, Skip? :-) UT's stadium seats over 100,000 fans, even more than The Swamp. Rhondatn, wishing you all had beat GA! Thanks for your comments. I know it must have been hard. :-)
October 22nd, 2012  
@daisy Thank you, Kathryn! My other shots had more of a sunburst, but the focus was off.
October 22nd, 2012  
@danette - I am from the northeast. I live about an equal distance from Columbus, Ohio home of the Buckeyes and State College, Pa the home of the Nittany Lions. I didn't go to either college and not a big fan of either, but on occasion root for both. Now for the $60,000 dollar question. Were you or are you a fan of Tim Tebow? I look forward to seeing your Christmas Village!
October 22nd, 2012  
@skipt07 I also forgot to mention that when we went to parent orientation for my son, the firs they did was teach us the Gator Chomp. OSU has our old coach, Urban Meyer. There is some animosity about his departure, but we are not happy with our new coach. Tebow fan? If one is a Dolphin fan, ones hates the Jets with a passion. Yesterday, I was actually hoping the Jets would defeat NE and that was hard for me to say! I love Tebow and I wish him the very best. My son knew him on the football team and says he is a great human being. Whatever happens to him in football, he will be blessed in life.
October 22nd, 2012  
There is no known cure for what you have, Danette. We have a neighbor who suffers from severe Gatorizm...his wife is trying to get him to schedule a lobotomy.

I love the photo!!!! It's over the top!!!!

I grew up in the shadow of the ND stadium, but graduated from Valpo...go Crusaders!!!
October 22nd, 2012  
@billsouth Hahaha, Bill, you had me laughing! I don't think a lobotomy will help your neighbor! :-) A fellow Gator gave me a tour of the Notre Dame campus 2 years ago. Wouldn't you agree that the SE is a bit more rabid about football?
October 22nd, 2012  
@danette - I write this knowing that I am placing our "friendship" at risk being that you are such a sports fanatic. I have been a diehard Steeler fan all my life. Now I root for them, but not like I use to. I have grown tired of the behavior of some professional athletes. I used to root for the Dolphins when Dan Marino and Larry Czonka played. I rooted for the Jets when Joe Namath was their quarterback. I was also a Packers fan many years ago when everybody beat up the Steelers. I more am a fan of certain players then for a specific team. I like Tim Tebow the man and not Tim Tebow because he is a Jet. It baffles me when Tim Tebow is considered fair game to be criticized and mocked because of his faith but, when Ray Lewis and Ben Roethlisberger get away with what they got away with, no ones seems to care.
October 22nd, 2012  
@skipt07 I actually don't like pro football for the reasons you mention. Dan Marino is a great person, but I was not his fan. I loved the 1972 Dolphins and can recite every word of the Dolpins song. I think there is too much nonsense in pro football and I am flabergasted as to the hate people place upon Tebow for being a good person yet they will love on the ones behaving horribly. I do follow the Gators as they go into pro football and I am glad when they do well, such as Percy Harvin for the Vikings and several players now on the Patriots. That is a new area for me as I always hated the Patriots for a stunt they pulled against the Dolphins one Thanksgiving 100 years ago. Yes, I hold grudges! But not against you! I agree with your philosophy!
October 22nd, 2012  
LOL, that is hillarious. LOve your shot. Our allegiances here are with Chicago and New England teams. Are you coming to JAX for their game this saturday ?
October 22nd, 2012  
@danette Rabid is putting it mildly.
October 22nd, 2012  
Love the image and the stories!! Go Blue!!
October 22nd, 2012  
@bardejov Thank you for appreciating my allegiance! :-) I will not be at the GA game there in JAX. I actually have never been. My son has been once. Quite a wild atmosphere. I will miss the game altogether because I will be in Wisconsin. I intensely dislike their coach because of something he pulled a few years ago. I always want us to beat GA. Other teams are less painful.

@raineyday Go Blue? Oh No! You got it half right, of course (orange and blue!!). Thanks for appreciating it! Funny conversation!
October 22nd, 2012  
Love it - so creative!!
October 22nd, 2012  
Nice. Great use of the light!
October 23rd, 2012  
I love your photo....but can't get into sports that way...closest I got was when my son did speed skating....and of course the Olympics where I love to cheer on Canada.
October 23rd, 2012  
Oh my goodness, you really provoked a heavy dialogue that I have enjoyed very much. Great picture.
October 23rd, 2012  
@pjonas Thank you so much, Patty!

@sisarie Thanks, Lisa. Trying. To work with lighting more.

@lynnb Lynn, I think speed skating is a sport! Thanks for your comments!

@anazad511 Sports is provocative. I am glad you enjoyed it. So did I!!
October 23rd, 2012  
Wonderful perspective to get such effective lighting, Danette! No gators here. Well, except for the context-sensitive ad at the bottom of this web page!
October 23rd, 2012  
@rhoing Thanks for yur comments, Thom. Greatly appreciated!
October 23rd, 2012  
*your
October 23rd, 2012  
Funny shot! No...not everyone has a gator in their garden..
October 23rd, 2012  
Wonderful fun shot! Great light idea! :)
October 23rd, 2012  
Fun shot Danette!
October 23rd, 2012  
Cool & Fun shot!
October 23rd, 2012  
@skipt07 Clarification: we DO like our new coach. I had typed NOT instead of NOW.

@drewhuy You're missing out! Thanks for your comments!

@paintdipper Thank you for your comments!

@dreams Thank you, Karen. Had fun.

@chrismarfil Thank you very much, Chris!
October 23rd, 2012  
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