It's time for me to update about the incredible time we've had during this year's NCAA tourney. Now, if you're reading this and you know me well, you know that my best friend Katherine and I are bona fide Rowdy Reptiles, and we have been since 2002 when we decided, hey let's go to a basketball game- it's free and it's right across the street from my dorm. We didn't know it then, but we'd eventually be hooked, obsessed, whatever you want to call it.

Tonight, we're playing for the Nat'l Championship. If you don't understand sports, then you might just want to skip over all of this, because you're going to think I'm crazy. But I think us getting to this point just sums up the last 4 years for me. It's better than graduation. Pretty trophy > Paper diploma.
Now everyone across the country, and even the world is talking Orange and Blue. It's weird because we've been in our own little bubble for a couple years, getting excited when our game is on CBS or if we catch a glimpse of ourselves on Sportscenter. But this is the big time, and it's weird to see our boys on TV, at the press conferences, being talked about 24/7. I feel like I just woke up and BAM, we're in the championship game.

Anyway, we've been having a blast. At the last home game (against Georiga) we got pics with Adrian Moss because it was Senior Night.. and he jumped into the crowd with no shoes on after the game. During the SEC tourney, I watched with my parents at home and couldn't believe it when we pulled out another SEC tournament championship win. Then came the 1st and 2nd rounds of the NCAA... they were in Jax (only 90 miles away), so it was shaping up to be a good year for us to make it out of the first weekend--which hadn't happened since I've been here at UF. So we made it out of the weekend, and headed on to the Sweet 16. I decided not to buy a shirt. Maybe I knew?

So we all gathered here to watch the Georgetown game. It was awesome and we made so much noise that our neighbor across the hall came out to see what was going on (how could he not be watching?) Then 2 days later, it was time to face the very team that knocked us out depressingly in the 2nd round last year: Villanova. Same crowd, different apartment.. same result. We went crazy afterwards and ran through the hallway doing Gator cheers/yelling "FINAL FOUR!"... this time random people joined in.

Still didn't buy a shirt.

Saturday we had about 20 people over, and even Kyle was up here for the weekend.. well not just for the game, but I was glad I could celebrate with him. =) The entire week we had heard nothing but "Cinderella this, Cinderella that". Well, to quote the cliche Gainesville Sun headline: "The Clock struck 12". We sent Cinderella packing... and this time we celebrated Farva-style. We ran downstairs screaming, and Keith sacrificed two bud lights to re-create "Farva's number one! Farva's number one!" This time we all gathered in the parking lot, joined by other people from nearby buildings and did some Gator cheers. We're insane, we already know that.

Tonight, it's on.

I think I'm gonna buy a shirt......... tomorrow.

GO GATORS!!!! FLORIDA BASKETBALL.... IT'S FAAAANTASTIC!!!


Rowdy Reptiles for life.


BRING IT HOME, BOYS!!!