Urban Transit - The Official Gator Bus Blog

And so here we are...another season starting with very high expectations.  We have SEC championship dreams, and are making plans for the BCS championship in Miami.  I'm getting ahead of myself again.  Let's talk about this week.

 

Well not much has changed on the bus, not that it needs to.  The bus was good enough to bring us a national championship as is.  But, in an effort to always try and improve, we did do a few things.  First off, we upgraded thekegerator.  The old one was a conversion I did on a mini fridge, and as suc it only accomodated pony kegs.  That's fine, except the selection in the ponies is somewhat lacking.  So the new one is a little larger and, while it was full of bottles this week, will serve up its first few kegs next week against Miami.  It should also look more "Gator-ified" next week...stay tuned for that.

 

The next big upgrade came to the video setup.  The TV from the past couple of seasons took a beating, thanks especially to the constant in and out of the component video cables.  So this year Vince added a new high strength HDMI cable as well as a new 42" 1080p LCD. Take a look at it in action in the pictures.

 

So, with the bus all sparkling clean, we headed out for the first tailgate (oh, and game too). The only thing hotter than a football game in August in Florida is a football game at noon in August in Florida.  But for once, the opposing team is usedto the heat and humidity.  But I'm sure they at least get a sea breeze in Hawaii.  So with the early start time, we made an early entrance just after 10am.  Setup was a snap and we enjoyed College Gameday and a little of the hurricane-rescheduled LSU game before kickoff of our season opener. 

 

After a quick downpour, the game got underway.  After a slow first quarter, the gators got it rolling with a strong defense and an even stronger running game; two things that have been lacking the past year.  Sure, this isn't the Hawaii of last year, but it was a better test than a Western Kentucky (which is turns out isn't even a state!).

 

Due to the heat and rain, most people showed back up to the bus around the third quarter.  And to our delight, Raycom sports now broadcasts the games in HD!  Very nice.  We enjoyed the end of the game there.  But even more entertaining was watching Cam disect the pig he'd been smoking since the evening before.  Typically you face the knife away from yourself when slicing, but Cam's method worked too.  Though not all of the blood belonged to the pig at serving time, I unfortunatly did not find a championship ring in my pulled pork.  Oh well.

 

We played some chase quarters and then some beer pong before calling it quits.  All in all it was a great tailgate.  It's nice to have some lower-key tailgates mixed in with the big time blowouts, the likes of which we'll see next week when Miami comes to town.  I'm not sure which type of hurricane annoys me more: the tropical ones or the fair weather ones (the UM fans).  At least this game is early in their season, so Miami will still have fans.  They only stick around all year if the canes are in contention, which hasn't happened since they lost to the championship game whipping dogs of the SEC, also known as the Ohio State Buckeyes.  I forgot they actually knew how to win a big game (even if it did take more than four quarters).

 

So that's all.  I'll try to give some details for next week's party beforehand so you can plan your day.  Go Gators!

Sorry I haven't kept up on the blog this year...I've been too hungover until this morning.  I'm good now.

 

You see, we've decided to err on the side of too much beer this year, meaning I've got a keg on ice in my garage that I've been nursing all week.  It's a glorious thing to have cold draft beer at home.  Simply glorious.

 

Anyhow, one could argue the first two weeks were preseason for us just as it was for the Gators.  The first week was a comedy of errors.  First off, the game was at noon, so there was only a little bit of time for tailgating.  First there was the keg fountain.  One of the connections of the beer hose wasn't tight after the cleaning, resulting in a lovely beer shower.  We eventually got that worked out.  Then there was the dish...we had no problem getting a signal in our dry run, but we sure did in week one.  Eventually that got resolved too, just in time for the end of gameday and the beginning of our game. 

 

Week two was much better.  We rearranged the bus to put ourselves parallel with University Ave as opposed to perpendicular.  Made for instand dish signal and a nice buffer from our adoring fans.  Remember the bus we parked next to in Atlanta for the final four (see pics)?  They've come to the same lot as us.  It's like a school bus showroom over there.  Now if only they'd lay off the train horn they just installed.  Jeesh!

 

So this is the big weekend where it really starts.  We'll be out there in time to watch gameday from start to finish.  Then there are a few other good games we'll be able to watch before our kickoff.  As always, the game will be on in HD at the bus for those of you without tickets.  And the party will continue on in to the evening after the game.

 

We're getting bbq catered this week, so we'd like some help cash wise if you're going to partake.  As always, please feel free to tip if you'd just like some beer.  But we're thinking a $10 all you can drink/eat plan this week (including mixed drinks in the bus), to see how that goes.  Thanks for your help! 

 

So we'll see you out there this weekend!  Pics will be up soon, I promise.

It's that time again!  This was a big weekend for the bus, getting all primped and primed for the big season deubt next weekend.  I'll have more on that later, but first wanted to let you know where the party is at this year.  We've moved down the street to free ourselves from the volume-czar.  We're now right across university ave from the president's house (allowing us to stick it to the man throughout the season).  The house we'll be at is great, and we've got a spot right on the road.  He sells parking on gameday for $20, which is cheaper than any of the houses around him.  Get there early if you want to park in the same lot.

 

We plan to be there all season, but check back here for any updates.  The map is attached below.  We're at the orange and blue bullseye.

 

Also, since the game this week is at 12:30p, we'll do most of our tailgating after the victory.  We will get there in time for college gameday, and will have the tv setup during the game most likely.  Then we'll watch the 3:30 games before packing in.  Look for breakfast items and screwdrivers in the morning, with the keg tapping after the game.

 

See you there! 

Well it is!  Just wanted to give a plug to me.  My company, 352 Media Group, has a new blog up with posts related to Web development.  My specific portion is related to my role as VP of Marketing, and I talk mostly about interactive marketing news.  Please take a moment to check it out, as well as any of the other posters (a collection of talented web designers and programmers).

My last post was in April.  It's been a nice break.  But now its back to business.  With the season a mere 11 weeks out, its time to get the wheels in motion, excuse the pun.

 

One of the priorities coming off of last year was to upgrade the parking situation.  Last year we were desperate.  All of our energy was in getting the bus itself done, so we took the first spot that looked alright.  Sure, it was a nice reserved spot in a big lot close to the action.  That wasn't the issue.  The issue was a whiney attendant who would ask us to turn the volume down on the TV!  Um, this is a tailgate lot, right?  That, coupled with the very high price tag, led us to look elsewhere. 

 

So we made up a flier (see pic at the bottom of this entry).  It laid out what we needed, and what we'd offer in return.  In short, we needed a great space across from the stadium.  We offered money, fun, and even some beer, to the poor college students that live in those coveted homes.  Well, the bait worked, and fast!  I got an email from an interested party.  Well, after some back and forth, it turned out he was more than just any interested party.  Our new friend, Cam Brewer, with a great house right across from the president's pad, is also the owner of a ring.  A national championship ring.  Yes, that's right.  He was a member of the storied 2006 Gator football team.

 

So, after a few years in the military and a few more playing God's game, he decided to take it easy.  So he wanted the fan experience, and I think we can help there! We worked with him to reserve two spots at the southeast (closest to the stadium) side of his property.  As you can see from the photos on the left, that spot nestles up against a creek and a large deck.  The street is on the third site, and the TV side of the bus will have plenty of room on a level, gravel surface.  The picnic table in the pics will be moved back, and will offer even more sitting area.  Our host is really going above and beyond, offering use of his restroom and power outlets. 

 

We conducted a dress rehearsal to make sure the spot would work.  It needs to be much more than just a parking spot.  It needs a clear view to the Southwest for the dish signal.  It needs good shade for prime TV viewing.  It needs room to manuver in to, and room to congregate around it.  This spot has all that (and the creek). 

 

So after a great practice run with full dish signal, we headed back to base camp.  On the way we stopped by the Hoggetown Ale Works shop, our kegerator superstore, to get a cleaning kit for the beer lines.  The beer currently in the lines has called them home since Superbowl Sunday.  That extra fermentation time has made it pretty nasty.  Anyhow, we ran in to our second Gator football player there!  He and his family toured and signed the Bus.  James Smith, number 43, is our teams long snapper and a fullback. 

 

 

I digress.  Anyhow, James knows Cam, our parking buddy, and said he and a few teammates would come by after a game to check out the goings on.  Wow.  Good stuff!

 

Well its late and I have an early flight, so I'd better sign off.  I just wanted you to feel the relief I felt knowing the bus will be in a great spot for the year!  Go Gators!  The season can't come soon enough!