Just got back to Houston a few hours ago after watching the Aggies break the losing streak on the road.

Random thoughts about our trip to Gainesville:

• My favorite road trip so far! Not just because we won. But read on.
• Decided to stay half-way between Jacksonville and Gainesville, aptly named "Middleburg" (airfare is crazy going into Gainesville and with flight schedule, it made more sense staying in between).
• Middleburg had a good steak place, but Saturday morning breakfast was great, a place called "Grumpy's".
• Drive to Gainesville was through some pretty landscape, probably because of the wildlife preserves.
• Perhaps Gator fans knew they were down, but... walking campus, in the game and after...
• Fans were very pleasant. Didn't hear one bad comment. One college age girl saw a BQ and his boots and with a judgmental tone asked her friend walking along "what is that?!", but it was more comical than rude, and not directed at us - we just happened to overhear it. Heard several "welcome"s and "safe travel" after.
• Campus - I thought was very picturesque / pretty, with the mostly red brick, and mix of palm trees and oaks with Spanish moss hanging almost everywhere.
• The Swamp - Really great in stadium atmosphere. One of the best I've seen (that includes Clemson, Auburn, Miami, several old Big 12 schools, Colorado, and ND --- BTW, for Ags thinking of going to ND next year, do yourself a favor and skip it... massively overrated and literally the worst fan base maybe, though I am not sure, just behind the sips).
• Great BBQ on the way back after the game, a place called Sonny's. Pulled pork was amazing.

Of course, us winning like we did added to the pleasure. But honestly, in terms of the sights, sounds, and at least having experienced a fan base as nice as what we experienced at Clemson, it is worth the trip whenever we go back again.

Great report - thanks for the effort

glad you had a good trip. thanks for sharing. agree on trip to South Bend

on ND next year, if it's like every other school….wear neutral colors and you're perfectly fine.

Went to ND in '00. Different now maybe, but no real issue w/fanbase. I didn't sit on side w/alums, but if you have a good team you dont worry about it.

Gainesville not really on my bucket list, but maybe a road trip when we play there again.

I made the trip to the swamp and would not go back. It was fun to check another SEC stadium off the list and of course see a win. Everything smelled, strange Florida people everywhere and the stadium was old and gross. Lightning delay and humid weather/ rain is probably impacting my review.

We drove in from Orlando(flew in from Austin friday) and parked near the Gator Aide shuttle pickup in downtown. Downtown is hit or miss with some very nice areas then a block over is deserted buildings and homeless everywhere. Ate lunch at Harry's which was very good upscale Cajun.

Had a drink at Loosey's near the shuttle pickup. Typical dive bar (which I like) and drinks are still priced like it was pre COVID.

Shuttle back after the game took a bit then had some solid wings and drinks at Loosey's again while letting the traffic empty out.

Parking was only $5 but the dang shuttle is $20 each.

Didn't have time to roam campus so cannot comment. Stadium is dated like Bama but I was impressed how many Gators stayed and shouted despite rain and getting dominated in the first half.

We were in section 44 (field level behind Aggie band). We saw two Aggies get removed from section C in the south end zone (I think in the third quarter or just before). Anyone know the story there?

I went to ND in 2000 and couldn't disagree more with OP.

South Bend is a dump but the ND campus is gorgeous, the history is palpable, and the fans were great. I could list probably 15 fan bases immediately off the top of my head that are worse before ND even entered my mind.

nice report- now go to ray gators swamp gas and share it with their fanbase.

My first trip there in a long, long time. Gator fans were very nice. The campus is really pretty, I like that they stayed with the same theme/style for the main campus with red brick. Very lush with tons of oaks and Spanish moss, etc. I think the fan base was ready for a loss and is ready to get rid of Napier. As far as the stadium goes, it indeed seems very dated. But the fans were loud at the start of the game and a surprising number of them stayed to watch during a pretty miserable rain.

KidDoc said:

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We drove in from Orlando(flew in from Austin friday) and parked near the Gator Aide shuttle pickup in downtown. Downtown is hit or miss with some very nice areas then a block over is deserted buildings and homeless everywhere. Ate lunch at Harry's which was very good upscale Cajun.

Had a drink at Loosey's near the shuttle pickup. Typical dive bar (which I like) and drinks are still priced like it was pre COVID.

Shuttle back after the game took a bit then had some solid wings and drinks at Loosey's again while letting the traffic empty out.

Parking was only $5 but the dang shuttle is $20 each.

Didn't have time to roam campus so cannot comment. Stadium is dated like Bama but I was impressed how many Gators stayed and shouted despite rain and getting dominated in the first half.

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Pretty sure we parked in the exact same garage, unless there was more than one downtown, we also did the shuttle. Downtown seemed sparse, but we didn't plan to spend time there anyway - we wanted to walk the campus. Guess my view is a bit slanted since we didn't walk around it, but we didn't see any homeless and at least driving through it, downtown seemed quant. After the game, we checked out Loosey's menu, but opted against bar food in favor of BBQ.

Someone posted above it smelled (I think they meant in general and in and around the stadium) and Florida fans were strange. I honestly didn't experience that at all. Rather the opposite. Gainesville is a small town surrounded by nature reserves, and thought the air, though humid, was very clean (perhaps even cleaner than College Station). Their fans seemed mostly upscale everywhere.

But I do agree the Swamp is dated and could easily be called a dump in some places. After it rained, it seemed like a swamp on the concourse, as either people were tracking it in or there were leaks letting water inside. The men's bathrooms were as bad or worse than the old Kyle Field bathrooms. Urinals were so close to each other that you stood shoulder to shoulder (as in, like touching or almost touching your fellow pisser). There were some smells inside on the concourses, but at least to me, it was expected with rain, lots of people, etc.

To the one that posted they were in 44, I was too. And I didn't see what happened, think I had gone for a beer, but recall my travel buddies mentioned a couple Ags were taken out. Sad it happened, since again, their fans seemed very well behaved and nice to us.

We went. Pretty great experience. Campus is a typical SEC school campus in a small town. Great fan support for a really bad team. Every Gator fan we ran into was extremely nice and cordial. Thanked multiple times for coming to the game and told to come back. Fans around us in Section D were super. Cheered their team on, but also let us do our own cheering. Absolutely no trash talk and nothing inappropriate.

As for the stadium, it's definitely seen better days. Doesn't seem like it holds as many people as it does, but the sight lines I thought were great. We were warned prior to coming in by some fans that it was going to be super loud. I never really felt like it got loud in there other than the "Too bad you suck" chant, which was pretty funny. Of course, Marcel and the D took them out of the game from the get go

I would definitely go back to a game there, but I have to tell you everytime I go to a road game I am reminded just how special Kyle is. Florida has like three cheers they do and they are as high school as they come. 2 bits, 4 bits; Give me a G, given me an A; and the Go Gators stuff along with that band with the big fez caps and the baton twirlers, its just all very amateurish. I know we often bag on the yell leaders, and they are pretty cringe, but the experience at Kyle is just night and day from these other places (LSU, UT, Florida, Auburn).

Generally agree, and good to hear you still had a good experience sitting among Gators. I sat in the A&M section behind the band.

Agree on the atmosphere. It was a great "this is what SEC is" experience. Had no idea what the "you suck" cheer was after penalties, it sounded like "Aggies suck", but "too bad, you suck" makes sense after penalties. I didn't take offense, since we have the "Beat the hell outta..." yell.

I read about their "Two Bits" tradition before going. I wouldn't bag on high schoolish cheers too much, since it actually has a tradition going back decades. So I respect that.

But yea, I agree, I came away with the feeling we don't really appreciate what we have in College Station. Florida should be proud of it's gameday atmosphere, best I've seen so far on a road trip, but it is similar to other SEC schools, just different on its cheers, hand gestures, etc.

I can imagine better now how opponent school's fans are likely intrigued at Kyle Field more than any other school at what they experience on gameday. I know so in the case of Clemson, as one of their fans made a point to give me a two dollar bill stamped with a tiger paw at the end of our game in College Station, said she was blown away with what she experienced... asked if we were always that loud and said she was going to have trouble describing it to her friends back home.

We are very lucky to have Kyle. It is a great place for football.

I went in with low expectations, as I'd heard Gator fans were…….not necessarily hostile, but kind of rude and dismissive.
Absolutely untrue. The Gators we encountered were generally great fans. Inquisitive about A&M and our traditions, not obnoxious or off putting at all (although I did find it odd how many of them had no clue what "A&M" stands for. I bet I was asked at least 3 or 4 times…..). Took the time to explain their traditions and why they do some of the things they do (the Mr Two Bits thing was kinda cool and interesting). And of course the "I Won't Back Down" thing, although not a long standing tradition is still very cool……although I have to say the irony of that many fans hanging around to sing "I Won't Back Down", and then bailing immediately after the song was over because they were getting their ass kicked, was not lost on me. I'd say stadium was a little over half full after the singalong. Campus was very old and historic, as befits a school that has existed for over 170 years. And yes, there were hotties. LOTS of hotties. UF definitely brings the talent. Good bar scene.

Definitely a top 5 road trip. Would encourage everyone to give it a shot next time we play there. Maybe it was because of their self deprecation and low expectations for the game……they want Napier gone so bad it's palpable. They booed the crap out of a "don't drink and drive" PSA on the video board because he was in it.

One other little side note…….i know there was no Jackass of The Game thread, but if there was one, I'd nominate the OD's. Many road fans look on the Corps/Yell Leaders with kind of a weird fascination, of course we defend them and have to explain the tradition etc……..but when the OD's are literally square dancing and skipping around like a bunch of little girls during the playing of the War Hymn, it's kind of hard to defend. That was "cringe" to say the least. If I ever see them doing that again within view of a TV camera, ESPECIALLY on the road………ugh. That was horrifying.

So glad I missed the ODs dancing.

I forgot to mention in my recaps that (agree) their fans even seemed interested in knowing some things about Texas and A&M.

I was in the concourse waiting out the rain....

1 - A Gator parent was there too, and we got to chatting somehow. She mentioned she was coming to Texas for their game with tu, so we got to chatting about things in and around the Austin area. They don't have the same disdain for the sips (yet), so I stayed away from tainting her with comments about the sips directly (and I didn't want to seem petty about it either). But I did describe gameday in Austin and asked her if she had been to College Station. She hadn't, but after I described how a gameday in Austin was more of an "urban" experience whereas College Station would be more similar to Gainesville, she mentioned she probably would like College Station better as it sounds like Austin was too similar to Miami (I agreed... I went to Miami last year, many similarities).

2 - Standing in the same area, a student was walking swiftly by with his friends. He stopped suddenly and asked me what an "Aggie" was. Paused for a split second as I wasn't sure at first if it was smack, but the look on his face quickly registered better and he was truly interested. I think he and his friends must have been debating it and he decided to settle it. After I explained it, he quickly thanked me and ran off to catch up with his friends.

I would say it's hard to tell which fan base I liked better - Clemson, Auburn or Florida.

Clemson - Their fans were welcoming and I had at least two thank me for coming and saying they hope I was having a good time "because you Aggies treated us so well when we came to College Station last year."

Auburn - The humble side of Alabama, found them welcoming at a couple tailgates.

Road trips like this reinforce for me the importance or our unwritten tradition of being welcoming to opponent fans. I've been on road trips before where the opponents' fans completely ruin it, even when I am wanting to like their traditions, sites, etc. As mentioned, ND is one of them - jackholes from the time we stepped on campus to the time we left. Colorado as well. No sense in having a deep passion for your traditions if your guests hate you and them for their experience. Glad we tend to be welcoming and respectful of guests.

This was my second game at UF. I visited my brother, who's an Aggie and has been a professor there for 35+ years, took me to a UF-FSU game many years ago. This was the first game where I was wearing opposing team clothing. We sat in with Gators and all were friendly. One person actually came up before leaving early in the 4th quarter to say he hoped we were enjoying the experience.
The cheer about "you suck" after a penalty used to be "Too bad, go back". They've changed it to "you suck". Where "you" is the school name or in this case Aggies

I was part of a group of 10 making the trip to Gainesville. For the past 14 years minus COVID year, we have been picking a new SEC location. This UF trip is top 2 for me, up there with a visit to Athens.

The UF fans were very respectful and welcoming. We got the red carpet treatment all weekend including having us over to their house for pre-game tailgating.

Ben Hill Griffin is older, yet still grand. No issues with mobility in their stadium (unlike Neyland Stadium last year). Wont Back Down was awesome. We did the Pledge of Allegiance before the National Anthem which is new to me at CFB games. Flyover of KC-135 was special because of the Aggie pilot on board.

In general, it was a great visit. Would recommend it.
Looking forward to hosting their fans next year in College Station.

I went for the first time with my wife and besides the humidity, it was fantastic. Rain actually cooled things off but for about 15-20 min before kickoff we were absolutely miserable in the sun.

Stadium is old and smallish, with the suites doing a lot to boost attendance numbers- one thing I noticed is most suites had to crack a window other wise the AC would have fogged up the window. Again, humidity in the swamp is no joke. I did my research tho and sat in section 20 with enough shade and cover from rain to keep me dry and cool off when the rain came through.

I sat amongst season ticket holders and they we all quite pleasant. I actually sat behind a Florida fan and gainesville resident that was born in College Station! When he heard the drums from our band outside the stadium before the game he said he ran to watch them march, having known them from when he was younger. Another older gentleman went out of his way to shake my hand and compliment Kyle field and aggie fans- he had made the trip to Aggieland twice he said.

Then we got up 20-0 and the rain came, and quite honestly it was so refreshing to witness another fan base vent their anger at their program. The refs didn't make it any better and the crowd booed Billy during his halftime address about not drinking and driving. It was great

Parking and walking to the game was very easy, especially for someone that has never been to the area. All in all great gameday experience... now imagine if it was deeper into the fall and the gators were actually good- THAT would be a top tier cfb experience. Will have to look at going again when that time comes....



Side note- we flew into Orlando but stayed in St Augustine. Orlando makes me ashamed to be an American, but St Augustine was bad ass. Cool history, great views, supremely walkable with so much to do you can't possibly do it all in a weekend. Highly recommend.