Ticket, Please

It took a monumental networking effort, but I pulled it off.

I got tickets to Tuesday's Capital One Bowl in Orlando.

No exaggeration -- these were the toughest tickets in town. It's worth noting that I've been to the Cap One/Florida Citrus/Tangerine Bowl about a dozen times before -- I was there for the 1984 game when Georgia tied Florida State, the 1991 game when the halftime performance of the Cal band was the highlight of the day, and the 1980 game when Boomer Esiason led Maryland into battle against Florida. In all cases, I was more or less a kid -- sometimes literally, sometimes a "college" kid on Dad's one-day scholarship -- and I never had to go through any gymnastics to get the tickets. I just went.

Last year, I "just went" on the invite of a lawyer friend in Orlando who had a tent in the hospitality area on Tinker Field. It was Wisconsin-Arkansas. Again, the bands were the best part of the game. Well, Wisconsin's band, anyway. My wife and I had such a great time, we asked for a return invitation this year.

Riiiiiiight. That was all well and good until Florida got the bid.

Every Gator, would-be Gator, and part-time Gator in the Sunshine State was on the prowl for tickets this time around. It was easier to get BCS Championship Game tickets last year than it was to get Cap One Bowl tickets this year. But I'm in. Can't tell you how, but I'm in. And yes, I'm paying for the tickets. No free rides when Florida plays in O-town.

Enjoy your bowl season, and Happy New Year.