ONLY GATORS Get Out Alive…is STILL ALIVE!

By Adam Silverstein
October 1, 2010

As the old adage goes, “Time flies when you’re having fun.”

While owning and operating ONLY GATORS Get Out Alive for the last 12 months has certainly been fun, it has also resulted in long hours, late nights and more hard work then I could have possibly imagined.

Exactly one year ago, OGGOA was created to be THE stomping ground for die-hard Florida Gators fans on the World Wide Web – an online home base to serve as your all-inclusive, one-stop portal for everything you wanted or needed to know about your favorite team. Looking back on our accomplishments over the last 365 days, I am confident that goal is in the process of being reached and hope to continue providing content that you, the reader, will enjoy.

In normal anniversary fashion, allow me to recount what has been accomplished over the past year while simultaneously paying tribute certain individuals and organizations.

BRAGGING

As of press time, OnlyGators.com has registered 1.75 million total hits. We are also approaching 6,000 followers on Twitter and have just under 2,000 Facebook friends. OGGOA has published 1,424 posts on the website, tweeted 17,096 times (since August 2009), received almost 7,000 comments on the website and have been sent (and responded to) more than 2,000 reader e-mails.

FRIENDS and INTERVIEWS

Since last October, OGGOA has interviewed 13 Gators, 12 of which have been published on OnlyGators.com. We sat down for half-hour sessions with former dazzler now ESPN reporter Erin Andrews, New Orleans Saints defensive end Alex Brown, Heisman Trophy winner quarterback Danny Wuerffel and free agent tight end Cornelius Ingram; we were even granted extensive time with QB Tim Tebow.

OGGOA also interviewed Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Percy Harvin, Atlanta Hawks All Star Al Horford, New England Patriots linebacker Jermaine Cunningham, Chicago Bears safety Major Wright, Montreal Alouettes LB Earl Everett, free agent C Chris Richard, current Florida DE Lynden Trail and NFL scout Daniel Jeremiah.

MEDIA COVERAGE

Luckily breaking a number of news stories over the last year, OGGOA has been referenced, covered or linked to by a variety of major media outlets. We appreciate ESPN (four times), Sports Illustrated (two times), USA Today, The Huffington Post, SPORTSbyBROOKS, NBC Sports, AOL FanHouse, Newsday, the Orlando Sentinel (five times), the Palm Beach Post (two times), the Sun-Sentinel, The Press-Enterprise and WWSR radio for providing us with additional opportunities to reach the masses.

APPRECIATION

As mentioned previously, a lot of hard work has gone into making OGGOA a success. Without the following people and organizations (listed in no particular order) we may not have progressed as far as we have in such a short period of time.

– Acceleration.net (web hosting, site design, technical backing)
– Southeastern Conference
– Palm Beach Autographs and Steve Dodson
– Erin Andrews, Danny Wuerffel, Dan Shanoff, Jeremy Fowler, Brady Ackerman
– All of my friends who have supported and promoted this website

APPRECIATION PART DEUX

While everyone listed above has certainly influenced and assisted OGGOA in one way or another, no one has had more of an impact on us than you, our readers. In addition to your endless passion for the Gators, your enthusiasm for what we are doing here keeps us going day-in and day-out. In fact, between the commenters on OnlyGators.com and our biggest fans on Twitter, OGGOA has grown into a bit of an extended family.

Please continue “Liking” and sharing our posts [below each thread], commenting on articles you find interesting and letting us know what features and coverage we can add in order to help you enjoy your OGGOA experience even more.

I appreciate all of your continued support and dedication. It astounds me each day how many new visitors come to this site and how you have made OGGOA the fastest growing Gators website on the Internet. I am truly grateful.

Here’s to another year!

Adam Silverstein
Owner, editor

19 Comments

  1. Daniel M. says:

    Congratulations Adam, It’s obvious that you pour your heart and soul into this site. It’s the reason why OGGOA will become the first stop for Gator Nation when they want their Gator news. Keep the interviews coming. They are strong. When will the Urban Meyer interview be posted?

    I read this site every day. I do hold the distinction of posting the first comment ever on OGGOA. I was led to believe that because of that, I would be receiving an all expense paid weekend at a Sandals resort….it’s all inclusive you know. Still waiting.

    • Daniel- Urban Meyer interview will be posted when the University Athletic Association grants my request to interview him. (AKA – Never.) Additionally, if you can sign Sandals as a sponsor, you will get that vacation.

  2. Gator Boys says:

    Thanks Adam. Keep up the good work.

  3. Trent says:

    Congrats on the First Year! I’ve loved getting all your information from day one! Hardly a day goes by where I’m not on here reading the latest Gator news! Thanks for all the hard work and taking such pride in bring Gator News to the masses! Definitely one of the best Gator sites around!

  4. Luke says:

    Is the challenge of signing Sandals for the all expense trip open to anyone? Ha!

    Nice work, Adam. I definitely appreciate your site and it was hands down the number one site for Gator sports info over the past year. Keep it up!!

  5. Mr2Bits says:

    Nice work here Adam. Wasn’t here the day the ribbon was cut but pretty sure it was week one and come here every day since. Keep up the good work.

  6. Andrew says:

    Thanks Adam. Your doing a great job. Only gators is the one site I check multiple times a day.

    Go Gators!

  7. Denver Gator says:

    Great job Adam, this is the only site that I regularly check now. Thanks for all of your hard work keeping everyone up to date on the Gators.

  8. Michelle says:

    Thanks Adam! You’re the best when it comes the latest Gator news & updates. Keep up the good work! 🙂

  9. Mel Kiper, Jr. says:

    Keep up the good work, Adam, I’m not even sure if I could do a better job than you do!

  10. Timmy T says:

    The very first thing I do when I click on my computer in the AM is hit my favorites, scroll down to OGGOA, and get started on the day’s Gator news. I check back every hour or so as the “bits” get posted. Great work Adam, and I think I speak for everybody who visits your site when I say it is greatly appreciated. The Gator Nation is slam full of info-starved fans, and you help curb our appetites. Thanks man.

  11. vrobles41 says:

    Adam,
    I’m only discovered your website this summer, but I can tell you this is THE one and only place I can guarantee finding the latest on the Mighty Gators, regardless of sport.
    Congrats on your first year, and I wish you the best for many years to come.

    Go Adam, Go OGGOA, and GO GATORS!!!

  12. Fish-Gator-59 says:

    Congrats Adam,
    OGGOA is simply the best when it comes to the Gator Nation.

  13. John S says:

    Great work Adam, you do an excellent job and it is very much appreciated. I really like the practice notes, they help me make sense of the the game day decisions. Thank you.

  14. Gatorbuc15 says:

    Adam, Adam, he’s our man! If he can’t do it, no one can!

    Thank you Adam for creating the best Gator web site ever!

  15. Christy says:

    Congratulations!! Keep up the great work!

  16. brlgator says:

    Congrats Adam,

    If you check my most visited sites its onlygators espn and google. Keep on keeping on.

    And remember OGGOA nation the best compliment you can give to Adam and oggoa is getting your friends to become loyal readers too.

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