DAN BOND: On the Road Again. In Texas. With Some Of The True Gator Road Warriors.

Dan Bond was there in College Station with his Gator Road Warriors. (Bond family photo)

On the road again

Goin’ places that I’ve never been

Seein’ things that I may never see again

And I can’t wait to get on the road again

--Willie Nelson, 1980

On the road again. Willie had it right. Ever since I moved away from Florida in 2006, mostly in Dallas, I’ve been on the road.

I saw the 2008 Gator softball team, with a record of 68-3, was coming to Oklahoma City for the Women’s College World Series. Only three hours away. I never had been to a softball game and it was there I would be introduced to a young Tim Walton, 38 then, and his Gator squad. Led by All-America pitcher Stacy Nelson. She finished 47- 5 that year. Just not enough run support that weekend to win it all.

The Gators lost their two games, 3-2 and 1-0, in a combined 17 innings. The final two games against Texas A&M, Florida split.

Another time I had another Gator sport to get excited about. It was a different atmosphere at the Women’s College World Series. Sure everyone wanted their team to win, but the fans were more friendly, a good family atmosphere. Unlike many road trips for football or in Gainesville, for that matter.

Goin’ places that I’ve never been. I traveled a few more times to Oklahoma City to watch Florida softball and in 2016 the Gators were coming to College Station. An easy drive from Dallas. I decided to take in the series.

They do it up right in Aggieland. (Dan Bond photo)

The old A&M stadium was mostly bench seating and not much to talk about, as far as stadiums go. Unlike the $21 million palace they built in 2019. The old stadium had “The Sugar Daddies,” a group of boyfriends/friends that would heckle -but not in a nasty way -- the opposing team and lead cheers. I thought it was great and was sad to see the PC Police shut them down by the time I came back in 2019.

In the third game, freshman Kelly Barnhill pitched. My friend that came with me, after hearing how loud Barnhill was when pitching, said, “The Sugar Daddies are going to just destroy her.” I always thought that was some motivation when Barnhill carried the Gators to the 2019 tournament title in College Station her senior year.

Seein’ things that I may never see again: The next visit to College Station for softball was 2019. The new A&M stadium is a gem, something to check out someday, if you haven’t been.

This was the regular season. I just went down for one game because I already had plans to attend the SEC tournament later in May of that year. Florida swept A&M that year in the regular season.

The 2019 tournament, WOW! The Gators were a low six seed. The opening game against South Carolina had a 5-hour delay due to a bad storm and a tornado touching down nearby. I hope to never see that again. Coach Walton rolled the dice and rested Barnhill for that game. UF got down 4-0 after three innings and 5-2 after seven innings. Jordan Matthews hit a walk-off, two run, double in the 7th to keep Florida alive. The rest of the weekend was The Barnhill show.

Beating LSU and Auburn 3-0 then holding number one seed Alabama to one run for the 2019 SEC title.

And I can’t wait to get on the road again. The people, the places and the game.

Some of the Gator Road Warriors on the Texas trip.(Dan Bond photo)

Gator nation is strong. It’s what makes going on the road fun. You know there are going to be Gators there to cheer on the mighty Gators.

As I mentioned, the softball community is a friendly one. You have many of the players family and friends attending. I ran into the Thomas family on a recent trip. Their daughter Bryn is a backup on the team. They came all the way from Trenton, Florida, just West of Gainesville, and have taken many road games.

The Hightower family out of Monticello. Their daughter Elizabeth is the ace this year. One of the larger groups was Reagan Walsh’s family out of California.

For Saturday’s` game the Gator fans took over a big portion of the parking lot near the stadium for a tailgate. Everyone wearing Orange and Blue was welcomed.

It was my brother Andrew’s first softball game this past weekend. He recently moved to Fort Worth from Denver with his wife Tracey. Thanks to a great series, a nice venue and a fun college town. We have another softball fan.

The food, let’s not forget the food. Being on the road means the diet is over and let’s find something tasty.

Maybe its barbecue, I prefer C&J barbecue despite Franz Beard’s love of Rudy’s in College Station. Maybe a steakhouse. There’s a newer section of stores and restaurants at University Ave southwest of Texas Ave that’s great.

Porters is a five-star steakhouse white tablecloth kind of place, if that’s your mood. It’s fun to find these places.

I’ve had great tips from LSU fans in Baton Rouge. Just ask the locals they’ll know where to go.

Soon Oklahoma and Texas will join the SEC, giving us Dallas Gators three easy road trip locations. I laughed at this idea: I will soon be closer to three SEC schools then when I lived in Jacksonville.

So browse those road schedules. Find a place and a time that works for you and GO! The life I love is makin’ games with my friends. And I can’t wait to get on the road again!

It's a brother deal. Dan (left) and brother Andrew whooping it up. (Bond family photo)