I wasn't going to ring in on this but I will anyway:
I have been a season ticket holder since I graduated in 1996. I bought back all my years of school also since 1991. I have donated more money to GT than probably 95% of the people on this board.
However, I am a product of this economy. My industry (Construction) has been hit harder than any industry in the United States.
I am 36 years old, have a wife and two little girls under the age of two and out of necessity last year, broke from my old company and started a new one. In the worst economy that my parents and grandparents have ever seen. I'm just trying to stay alive. At this point, not renewing my season tickets next year is a real threat. I have mouths to feed. It sucks but that's the truth. Never thought in my dreams I'd be struggling like I have recently.
Watching this GT team has been bitter sweet this year. After having pained through the Chan Gailey years supporting this team to the fullest, this was the first year ever I had to sell my tickets to any game. Typically, if I couldn't go to a game, I would give them freely to a GT fan. No charge. I still went to Clemson, VT, and the UGA games this year because there was no way I would miss those games.
When I realized that we were indeed going to have a special season, I knew that with my responsiblities around the house and trying to make a living and keeping my family afloat, more than likely I would not be able to go to any post season games.
Well, I ended up convincing my wife to let me go to one of the two, ACC Championship or Bowlgame. I chose the ACC Championship game because quite honestly, it was easier on my family and less expensive. I split a cheap hotel room with Wesley21, and drove us.
When we won the game, my wife and I tried to figure out any means necessary that we could go to the Orange Bowl. I know, first time in 43 years. Its big. Biggest game GT's been in since I've been a fan. And realistically, we couldn't figure out any situation that would allow for it.
Times are tough for many of us, even for me. I'm not going and it kills me. But I got two little girls to support and a company to build with zero work going on. I'm making as someone else put it in this thread, "Big Boy Decisions". Spending at the very MINIMUM $250 to sleep in the Cum Shot Inn, tickets, and gas to the game as opposed to buying my daughters Christmas presents, is a REAL choice for me. As I'm sure it is for many.
So while I appreciate the guys trying to pump the fans up to go to the game, you need to back the **** off some of us. I've read this thread and quite frankly would love nothing more than to tatoo some of you in the face with my fist. Seriously. The new font who comes on here and calls someone "puddin", pm me. I'll give you my home address and you can come to Savannah and call me puddin while I proceed to kick your ****ing teeth in. After that, the only word you'll ever say again is "puddin" because that's about the only thing the hospital is going to be able to ****ing feed you.
I'm glad there are those who can support GT right now, and if you can scratch together the cash to go to this game, I hope you go. I want nothing more than to see the White and Gold out in force. But for those of us who can't and have supported GT just as much if not moreso than you, I wish you'd just learn when to shut your ****ing trap. And that goes for you Hiveredtech. I appreciate the enthusiasm but some of us really can't go to this game. You want to make me feel worse about that than I already do? Go ahead... I'll give you my home address and you can do so in person.
Could I sacrifice going to this game? Sure I could... but that sacrifice is going to come at the expense of someone in my family and I'm just not going to do that. So kiss my ass.
