Seth Johnson
After a shocking 40-17 loss to the University of South Carolina last week, the Florida football team revamped, cutting two assistant coaches.
Heading into the match with Samford, the Gators had a 98 percent win probability, but the game turned into a nail biter in the middle with Samford’s Bulldogs leading 42-28 late in the second quarter before the Gators won, 70-52..
Despite light showers, the tailgaters showed up, tossing footballs and burgers both.
This fall Mainstreet Daily News will profile a group of Gator fans tailgating for each UF home game. These fans will claim the honor of Mainstreet’s TailGators of the Week.
Have someone you would like to nominate? Email us at editor@mainstreetdailynews.com.
TailGators of the Week 5 vs. Samford:
The Eidge family travelled up from Tampa and down from Georgia to make Saturday’s game―their fourth of the season.
How did you become a Gator fan?
Both Leland and Sally Eidge graduated from UF, in 1986 and 1987. Now, two of their three children are Gator alumnus with one UF daughter-in-law. The one non-Gator went south to UCF for event planning.
“She knows how to do the Chomp though, her whole life she’s been having to do that,” Sally said.
What are your favorite Gator memories?
Leland remembers watching Wilber Marshall playing defense in the Swamp his freshman year.
“He would go back and sack the quarterback every time. I mean he was phenomenal,” Leland said.
He still recalls when UF played Miami at home, and Marshall sacked Bernie Kosar as the crowd began to roar.
“That was the cover of the campus newspaper, The Alligator, and that was in my dorm room for first year,” Leland recalled.
Do you have special items or rituals you have for game day?
The Eidges are starting to pick up the tailgating habit, and are looking to find the right food to match.
“We’re experimenting with different foods. This is the third different kind of food,” Leland said.
They tried brats and hamburgers before moving onto Publix sandwiches, and against Samford, they’re trying breakfast with eggs and bacon frying and a box of Krispy Kreme doughnuts.
“Drinking is the constant,” Kelly, the Eidge’s daughter-in-law, said.
“Especially this year,” Michael chimed in.
She and Michael live in Atlanta and come down for the games. So far this year, they’ve caught the home Alabama and Vanderbilt games along with Georgia in Jacksonville.
Next week, the Gators will look to gain a winning record against Missouri before coming home to face FSU on Nov. 27.