Entry #47: May 17, 2006

Camp Buehring, Kuwait (Somewhere near the Iraq border)

They wanna take the bourbon out of my mint julep, the Jack out of my Coke, and the scotch out of my Old-Fashioned. They is the universities of Florida and Georgia, who meet every fall for what is commonly called the “World’s Largest Outdoor Cocktail Party”. The presidents of these institutions have asked the media to refrain from using this unofficial name for the annual clash between the Bulldogs and the Gators. Talk about flushing tradition down the toilet.

Apparently, school officials on both sides of the border believe that the moniker, which has been in use since the 1950s, condones underage drinking and widespread abuse of alcohol. *Newsflash* Names for games do not cause people to drink too much. Any gathering of college students and adults relaxing on the weekend will have people who hit the sauce a bit too hard. Renouncing the unofficial name for this gridiron battle does nothing but detract from the culture and tradition of the game. Students and fans alike will change nothing. You will not hear someone say, “No thanks, I don’t think I’ll have another margarita. It’s not like this is the World’s Largest Outdoor Cocktail Party or anything.” Changing the name will not change the atmosphere.

I’m pretty sure my Uncle Harry and my brother Matthew will still meet over a cooler of beer, hang out, cheer on the Red and Black, and enjoy this reunion of family, friends, and football fans, like 100,000+ other folks who will gather in Jacksonville. I will still laugh at the ridiculousness of the Gator Chomp. I will still refer to the game as the World’s Largest Outdoor Cocktail Party. Some things just will not change. And so the Soldier’s life continues…