Gators Saluting 'Sgt. Two Bits' Corey Garmon -- and Those Who Serve
Tuesday, November 17, 2015 | Football, Chris Harry
GAINESVILLE, Fla. -- Sgt. Corey Garmon grew up in Northeast Alabama in the town of Guntersville (population 8,200), a place best known as the “Daytona 500 of Bassmasters.” Over the years, Garmon hooked his share of largemouth from Lake Guntersville, but he also had another passion there in the heart of Crimson Tide and War Eagle country.
“I'm a huge Florida fan,” Garmon said. “I remember growing up just loving Steve Spurrier. My dad was a football coach and his personality reminded me so much of Coach Spurrier's. I just kind of fell in love with the Gators.”
His first live UF game was in 2005 at Tuscaloosa, where the Tide rolled the Gators 31-3. The outcome did not deter his affinity for the team.
Note: Neither did those national championships two of the next three seasons.
To date, the 2006 and '08 runs have marked Garmon's highlights as a Florida fan. That's likely about to change. On Saturday, when the No. 8 Gators (9-1) take on Florida Atlantic (2-8) at The Swamp, the game will be UF's annual “Saluting Those Who Serve" game, honoring military and first responders. Before the game, Garmon will be saluted by the Florida Field faithful as the honorary "Mr. Two Bits."
On July 11, 2012, Garmon lost his legs when he stepped on a mine during a tour of Afghanistan. For a year, he rehabbed at Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Bethesda, Md., often times wearing Gator garb. That year, President Obama visited patients there. When he ducked into Garmon's room, one of Obama's aids saw Garmon sitting in bed wearing orange and blue and playfully declined to come in the room.
“She's a Florida State fan,” the President said.
From the doorway, though, the aide chimed in.
“I have some great friends at the University of Florida,” she said. “I'm going to give them your contact info.”
A few weeks later, four huge care packages arrived, courtesy of then-coach Will Muschamp and defensive coordinator Dan Quinn.
“Florida looked after me when I was in my darkest days,” said Garmon, now 27. “The least I can do is cheer for them, win, lose or draw.”
And the least Gator Nation can do for Garmon is stand and cheer loudly for him -- on behalf of all who have served and sacrificed for America's freedom -- when he does the George Edmondson routine Saturday morning.
Preferably, loud enough to hear those cheers all the way back in Guntersville.
