Gators coach Jim McElwain flanked by Krista Frey (left) and Kristin Birdsey (right), founders of Education Station & Preschool of Gainesville, after personally bringing them their 2016 season tickets.
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Wednesday, July 20, 2016 | Football, Chris Harry
UF coach Jim McElwain brings season tickets to local Gator fans.
GAINESVILLE, Fla. — They were childhood friends who grew up in Gainesville together, went to high school together, attended the University of Florida together and cheered the Gators passionately together.
Eventually, they started a local child-care business together.
This week, the confluence of those community ties — especially the orange and blue ones — earned Krista Frey and Kristin Birdsey, graduates of the UF College of Education and founders of Education Station & Preschool, a surprise visit from a certain Gator.
As the UF ticket office began sending out its 2016 season-ticket packages, Frey and Birdsey got theirs hand-delivered by Jim McElwain. The Florida head coach's custom-designed bus pulled into Thornbrook Village a few minutes after Frey and Birdsey put their tots down for noonish naps. They were doing a joint interview with GatorVision, having been told they'd been selected for a profile story focusing on their homegrown roots and Gator ties.
They didn't know the visitor was coming when he pushed open the door.
"Thank you guys for not only your support, but raising all those future Gators," McElwain said. "You're getting that next generation on that next step."
With tickets soon in the hands of fans, the football team's "next step" is to report for duty Aug. 3 and begin practice Aug. 4.
The Gators open the 2016 season at home Sept. 3 against Massachusetts.
Eventually, they started a local child-care business together.
This week, the confluence of those community ties — especially the orange and blue ones — earned Krista Frey and Kristin Birdsey, graduates of the UF College of Education and founders of Education Station & Preschool, a surprise visit from a certain Gator.
As the UF ticket office began sending out its 2016 season-ticket packages, Frey and Birdsey got theirs hand-delivered by Jim McElwain. The Florida head coach's custom-designed bus pulled into Thornbrook Village a few minutes after Frey and Birdsey put their tots down for noonish naps. They were doing a joint interview with GatorVision, having been told they'd been selected for a profile story focusing on their homegrown roots and Gator ties.
They didn't know the visitor was coming when he pushed open the door.
"Thank you guys for not only your support, but raising all those future Gators," McElwain said. "You're getting that next generation on that next step."
With tickets soon in the hands of fans, the football team's "next step" is to report for duty Aug. 3 and begin practice Aug. 4.
The Gators open the 2016 season at home Sept. 3 against Massachusetts.
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