In my time at South Carolina, I knew quite a few Gamecock Club Spurs. They are the biggest donors at Carolina. I really had never met any Bull Gators for the University of Florida…until recently.

Since Carolina travels to the Swamp this weekend, I thought it would be fun to interview him about Will Muschamp, the last few years of Gator football and what it’s like to be a Bull Gator. He asked to remain anonymous so we will refer to him simply as Mr. Bull Gator.

Q. What does it take to be a Bull Gator for the University of Florida?

A. Mr. Bull Gator: “It really only takes a deep-seated love for the University of Florida and Gators football. Oh, and a pretty hefty yearly donation.”

Q. Why the deep-seated love for the Gators?

A. Mr. Bull Gator: “I attended Florida in the late 1980s. I walked on to play football during the Galen Hall days thinking I was a superior athlete. See, I had just recovered from blowing out my right shoulder and ending my baseball career. I thought I was still quite the athlete and when open tryouts were held in the spring there I was. Back then, we were on probation and had never really won anything. Not even a true SEC championship yet. Suffice it to say, making it as a walk-on was a hell of a lot easier than now.

“There I was when spring ball came around and I was certain this was for me. That is until a couple of weeks into it our safety, Louis Oliver, literally took my head off. (I was 6-foot-4 and 225 pounds then and I think he was 6-foot-3 and 230 pounds.)

“I was playing tight end and from what I’m told I ran a route across the middle. I vaguely recall the trainer and smelling salts. And so ended my illustrious football career. I wisely decided that chugging beer and chasing sorority girls was far more entertaining and far less dangerous. I never stopped cheering for my Gators though. I also met my wife there. We’ve been together for almost 25 years. I have a lot to thank the University of Florida. This is one of the ways I do it by supporting my team and my university.”

Q. How about coach Will Muschamp, do you and your fellow Bull Gators support him?

A. Mr. Bull Gator: “Personally, I like Muschamp. Let me say it to you this way, our program was left in a bit of shambles after the last coach left. Muschamp cleaned up those locker room problems. On the field, things haven’t been the greatest since 2012, but last year Florida had an unprecedented string of injuries that severely hamstrung this team. It was the perfect bad storm. This year we’ve had some bad bounces, but things are turning around. I am a Gator fan. Period. Muschamp is my coach until he isn’t the Gators’ coach. He has my support until Jeremy Foley decides otherwise.”

Q. What is the general feeling around Gator Nation about this season?

A. Mr. Bull Gator: “Well, again we’ve had some bad bounces. It was tough to watch a couple of these games particularly Mizzou. Gators fans were torn. I think most of the people I talk to like Muschamp as a coach and think he does things the right way, but it was hard watching things happen like they did in the Mizzou game. Fans were distraught. Treon Harris and the Georgia game turned that around though. Gator Nation is on a little high right now. Treon is an exciting player. There is a buzz about the program again.

Q. So tell me something. As a Bull Gator, what kind of access do you get? Any inside scoop about the team?

A. Mr. Bull Gator: “I have as much as access as you do and maybe less. That’s the truth. Just because you’re a donor doesn’t get you any level of access to the team or Jeremy Foley’s ear. The simple truth is it gets me great seats, a great parking and tailgate spot and a few other trinkets. That’s it. I know the thought is that Bull Gators control the program and that couldn’t be further from the truth. I’m sure there are a handful of big, big money boosters that might have Foley’s cell number, but they don’t influence his decisions either.”