Pregame Scene: Bulls Fans Confident

Posted Sep 11, 2010 by Joey Johnston

Updated Sep 11, 2010 at 09:56 AM

GAINESVILLE—They were first in the Bull Gator parking lot. The unusual part: They were wearing green and gold.

In the hours before this afternoon’s USF Bulls-Florida Gators football game, there was a definite sense of history.

Tampa’s Brock Bjorn, a USF student whose mother, Judy, was a 1964 University of Florida graduate and one of the first Bull Gators, and his cousin, Jeb, along with Beda Rojas were in a confident mood this morning as they soaked up the pregame atmosphere outside Florida Field.

“I think we’re going to win,’’ Rojas said. “I’m so excited to be here. Go Bulls!’‘

“I’ve been coming to games here since I was about 1,’’ Brock Bjorn said. “It’s a family thing. But this is the first time I’ve worn green here. It’s a huge day for us. What a statement we can make.’‘

Brock Bjorn said he was stunned by the number of Bulls fans he saw driving along Interstate 75.

“Even our hotel was packed,’’ Brock Bjorn said. “When I went to the continental breakfast, it was all Bulls, all green. The spirit is awesome.’‘

Longtime Gators fan Craig Blackburn was here, along with his niece Emily Wilson of Brandon, a USF student.

“There will be a lot of Bulls sitting next to Gators today,’’ Blackburn said. “It’s going to be fun. There won’t be any problems. It’s all good.’‘

“But if we get ahead or win the game, we’ll see what it’s like,’’ Wilson said. “I’m really expecting a fun day.’‘