Fired Up Fridays: Football is back, Hall of Fame Game, and Gators Prep for the Season
Hall of Fame Game
August is here and there are signs everywhere that football, both NFL and college, is just around the corner! In fact, the Hall of Fame game was just last night!
The Chicago Bears and Houston Texans faced off during the annual Hall of Fame game in Canton, Ohio. The game featured a new tweak to the kick off rule, which is supposed to increase kick returns but do it safely, whatever that means.
Houston scored first, but then in the second quarter the Chicago Bears crawled their way back leading 14-10 at the half.
Sadly, the game was cut short at the end of the third due to inclement weather with the game going to the Bears as the winners.
Football’s back tonight: pic.twitter.com/hJ6lc3qxnS
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) August 1, 2024
Florida Gators Report to Fall Camp
Also, college football camps have started, including my Florida Gators. Coach Napier and company opened football camp for the Florida Gators on Monday, July 29 and expectations are at an all-time high.
Coach Napier said, “This camp will be the most competitive camp that we’ve had since I’ve been at the University of Florida, and we have more competitive depth. We have more experience.”
Went up and got it. 👀#GoGators | @ewil_iii pic.twitter.com/kJOWfbqdNy
— Florida Gators Football (@GatorsFB) August 1, 2024
I hope that’s true because the Gators need to rebound from an abysmal 2023 season where they didn’t make a bowl game.
Biggest concern is we have no depth at the quarterback position. While I have no issue with veteran Mertz, my concern is with freshman backup DJ Lagway. Lagway, who is ranked 4th nationally by 247Sports, is very impressive at the high school level. He played 42 games at Willis High School in Willis, Texas amassing 4,604 yards and 58 touchdowns his senior year. That said, though, he just doesn’t have the experience needed for the next stage in his football journey. Hopefully, DJ can get some solid reps during camp, but more importantly, I hope Mertz can stay healthy.
#Gators QB Graham Mertz -> WR Aidan Mizell @GrahamMertz5 @AidanMizell @GatorsIllust pic.twitter.com/6TcsCCNeY2
— Cam Parker (@camparker25) August 1, 2024
Like I’ve said many times before, anything short of a positive record and a bowl game I would consider this season a failure and would not object to the University of Florida football program looking for another coach.
Hopefully, that does not happen!
The weekend is upon us! Time to get fired up!

Around the Interwebz …
Good morning, football is here! 🐊#GoGators | #jOURney pic.twitter.com/GDqQUXUPqu
— Florida Gators Football (@GatorsFB) July 31, 2024
July 31, 1987: The Lost Boys was released in theaters. #80s Revisit my interview with G Tom Mac who performs "Cry Little Sister" > https://t.co/HzvwNsuD96 pic.twitter.com/Q5vRS0Af74
— Old School 80s (@OldSchool80s) July 31, 2024
What could have been #GoGators pic.twitter.com/aHx4bD9kDy
— 🏈 Pigskin Petey 🏈 (@pigskinpetey) July 31, 2024
Back in action. 🎬 pic.twitter.com/BLJmTjaUqz
— Florida Gators Football (@GatorsFB) July 31, 2024
Huge shoutout to all of our Influencers and Ambassadors out there rocking the Grunt Style lifestyle every day!! Tag the biggest Grunt Style fan you know!#gruntstyle #influencers #ambassadors #freedom pic.twitter.com/Z8PcqbGiqk
— Grunt Style (@Gruntstyle) July 31, 2024
WHO BUT RAFFY!!! pic.twitter.com/OLyDu0BUtK
— Red Sox (@RedSox) July 31, 2024
Your 2024 Red Sox. pic.twitter.com/1sQ4rIex3m
— Red Sox (@RedSox) August 1, 2024
COLLEGE FOOTBALL IS BACK THIS MONTH
— PFF College (@PFF_College) August 1, 2024
pic.twitter.com/rxGAc17hLA
Fit check for Fan Fest@DaimlerTruckNA | #KeepPounding pic.twitter.com/2h1CZ3RiNs
— Carolina Panthers (@Panthers) August 1, 2024
OTD in 2013, Daniel Nava capped off a 6-run 9th inning come-from-behind walk-off win. pic.twitter.com/XPpvnMIy0D
— Red Sox (@RedSox) August 1, 2024
Minot North Dakota, why not Minot… pic.twitter.com/PsAmAoQVE9
— USAFVet (@BollingerTodd) July 31, 2024
— Alaskan Tequila (@LTequila4) August 1, 2024
Can you relate? pic.twitter.com/tR5i6LSnUH
— Illy! Not Lilly 💋 (@IllyNOTLilly) August 1, 2024
A night for the fans@DaimlerTruckNA | #KeepPounding pic.twitter.com/WPVo9Vp3AM
— Carolina Panthers (@Panthers) August 2, 2024
Panthers 🤝 @ClemsonFB @DaimlerTruckNA | #KeepPounding pic.twitter.com/5JnXDf3Vzb
— Carolina Panthers (@Panthers) August 2, 2024
Whoever made this masterpiece did great. Freebird is one of America’s great anthems, but which song is the best? pic.twitter.com/KweTcFiwRF
— • ᗰISᑕᕼIᗴᖴ ™ • (@4Mischief) August 1, 2024
The Lipton Brisk Ice Team Yankees commercial was such a classic pic.twitter.com/gSvUEF68Gs
— BaseballHistoryNut (@nut_history) July 29, 2024
— Retro Toys and Cartoons (@toys_retro) August 2, 2024
— @OLDROWVIRAL (@calicocutpant) July 31, 2024
Be the man on the right. pic.twitter.com/AFDEGvI99G
— Swig 🇺🇸 (@OldRowSwig) July 31, 2024
Wearing RED is a way for us at Grunt Style to remember our sons and daughters, brothers and sisters, mothers and fathers, our friends, and all those far from home, still fighting for our Freedom and those who didn't make it back. Join us this Friday, and wear RED.#redfriday #usa pic.twitter.com/7MAmb2kkOr
— Grunt Style (@Gruntstyle) August 2, 2024