April 2008 Meeting

Tuesday-22nd

Special Guest-Bob Redman

Recruiting Coordinator & Associate Editor
Gator Country
www.gatorcountry.com

One day while standing at the top of a tower overlooking the University of Florida football practice field,
filming the Gators hard at work, James Bates began to serenade the whole team. He looked up at me and put his
hands on his heart, never missing a note as he belted out “My Way”. It was at that point and in that place that
I pondered the meaning of life. Was Steve Spurrier really Steve Superior? Was Luther Ogle really just James Bates’
alter-ego or was it the real Batesy, kind of like the crazy uncle that my family has kept in the attic all these years?
Did God really smile on the Gators and if he did, does that mean he actually told Coach Spurrier he was
going to do it? After the Spurrier years I found myself wondering if I, too, could make four hours of sleep the equivalent
of eight if only I slept fast.  After two years of working for Ron Zook, I never mastered the art of sleeping fast but I
did learn plenty about game planning, scouting, breaking down and grading performance on the field. That led me to my
fork in the road in life and I chose Gator Country, where I get to write football 365 days of the year, mostly about recruiting,
which is indeed an addiction. It’s either write about football or break out the old tuba that I used to play when I marched
in the Pride of the Sunshine Band and see if I can get a late night gig on Letterman. My wife says there is an art to
playing great tuba. I think there is an art to recruiting the top football class in the country every year. For now, at least, the
tuba’s locked away in the attic with the crazy uncle and I’m banging out recruiting info at Gator Country.
It’s nice work if you can get it.

Join us in welcoming a new friend to our club,
Bob Redman on April 22nd.

5:00 pm - 6:00 pm   Social Hour
6:00 pm    Meeting

MEETING LOCATION
Our Deck Down Under
78 Dunlawton Ave
Port Orange
(under the Port Orange Bridge)