College Football

So last night was the College Championship, and after meeting a new client in Broward County, I drove the sporty Caddy to Palmetto Bay to watch the game at the Hole. The Hole is terrific -- literally a hole in the wall of a strip center, with awesome wings and beer and wine. Most of the denizens know each other, and though I go only a few times per year, I always feel like I'm welcome, too. Norman is off in Africa drinking wine, eating zebra and orangutan, and taking pictures of penguins, so he was notably absent. My neighbor and friend Pat the Broker was there, holding a table, and soon we were joined by his boy Pat the high school senior, Mike, and Pat's Gator friend, Rich Jeff. I call him Rich Jeff because he is -- sold a major truck leasing company named after his alma mater a few years back, and now giving his full time to youth groups and such. Mike and I drank soda, since neither of us was feeling too celebratory, what with our Canes stinking lately. Pat and Jeff drank beer, as they're all excited about the new coach at UF, and somehow still think they get credit for Urban Meyer -- the Ohio State coach. I questioned this, as Urban left the Gators like they were a once gorgeous wife who rapidly became fat and old, but they still like the guy. Go figure... Anyway, the game started off exciting, with Oregon marching down and scoring lightning fast, but then the Ohio State big boys took over and dominated. Still, the game was close until the 4th quarter, and we 5, all serious college football fans, happily reminisced about our programs and their glory days. Somehow, the Gator guys always talked about beating Tennessee, when they had Peytom Manning. Mike and I, after reminding everyone of our 5 !! rings, turned the reminiscing to great wins over the Gators, and the fact that the Gators dropped us. Young Patrick, his father's son and heading off to college depending on his choices the next few months, took a cerebral approach, but clearly is a Gator by birthright. Most of the crowd at the Hole was pro Oregon, or at least anti OSU, as we're still huring from a championship robbed of our Canes in 2002. There were a few enthusiastic Buckeyes there, though, including a young Latin guy, who was about 5 8 and well over 350 lbs, and kept dancing wonderfully each time OSU stopped the Ducks. Patrick the younger left at half time, to get ready for an Ivy League interview this am. Jeff the rich crowed about how both of his kids went to state schools -- one to UF and one to UCF, and how happy he was when private high school tuition ended. I guess he's rich for several reasons... Mike decamped for home in the 3rd quarter, and I left near midnight, with the game nearly over. So it was a happy night, with tinges of sadness -- sadness for how our once mighty Canes have fallen, and those glory days we all shared. Still, the Hole was a clean, well lighted place, as Hemingway would have said, and it was a fine place to be on a rainy Miami Monday night.