The Sunshine Empire

The site has been relatively dormant for this week as I enjoyed an extended Thanksgiving vacation, but as the week is coming to a close it is time to get back to the vital work at hand. I have given thanks for the mountains of good fortune that I have experienced in my life, like family and football.

From birth I have been raised around the football program at the University of Florida. As a young child I began attending games at The Swamp and was fortunate enough to eventually attend and graduate from UF. Football and tailgating are almost a religion onto themselves and four years ago after a particularly tumultuous period in my life I started attending games with my mom and dad regularly. That same season a young kid also from Jacksonville, who had won a state football title for my high school alma mater, started what would be a legendary career. I saw Tim Tebow rush for the first of what would eventually be a SEC record number of touchdowns that first game against Southern Miss four years ago.

Much has changed in the four years since that first rushing touchdown as Tebow’s accomplishments have been well discussed in the sporting press. Most outside of the UF community understandably hate the over exposure of “Superman” but we all loved him because he was a part of our collective family. Yesterday evening as the sun set over Ben Hill Griffin Stadium, and Tebow rushed for his 56th touchdown I was glad to share it again with my mom and dad. The moment made me most thankful for my family. A possible third national championship in four years would make a wonderful late Christmas present though.