A Half Million Hits, a Thank You

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Somewhere after 9 pm on Wednesday evening, GTP Refugees received its 500,000th hit. If you’re a GTP “OG” like many of us, I think we can all agree that the news of the Senator’s passing last season hit us all hard. His insights, wit, and education on everything from football to NCAA legislation to music provided a friendly place for us to get together and yell at each other in the comments or cuss out loud about Florida, Bobo, or whatever we were passionate about. His perspective was spot on, and felt like he always knew what was going on in our collective heads. GTP was my first and often last stop every day for Dawg news. Usually, it was my first website check every morning for years.

In the days that passed after the Senator’s death, it felt empty. I’m grateful that Otis took a leap of faith to keep the spirit of GTP going. I’m likewise grateful that Otis solicited the Knights as collaborators, and that I could be a contributor. Somedays it feels like I’m a part of a cover band, trying to capture the spirit of the Senator’s riffs on a Epiphone 1959 Les Paul while I haplessly strum chords on my Mexican Stratocaster. To the audience it might not sound like the real thing, but it’s a familiar enough tune and fun to follow along with…and it’s also a hell of a lot of fun to be a part of the band.

Thanks to all of you who come here, comment here, and have continued to follow and persevere through technical snags along the short life of GTP Refugees (we’re still working on it, promise). The Senator’s last posts on GTP were about NIL, NCAA legislation, Florida football, Alabama fans melting down about Saban’s resignation, and Bobo’s crayon box. Hopefully we’ve kept playing the same tunes, and we look forward to continuing to grow together as a community united by our shared experiences with the Senator, and by a common love for Georgia football.

-JP

22 thoughts on “A Half Million Hits, a Thank You”

  1. We appreciate all that ALL of you do!!
    Like Lone Watie (Chief Dan George) said in The Outlaw Josie Wales, we must……
    Endeavor To Persevere. 💪

    HBTFD

  2. Thank y’all. Thank you Otis. Weird internet wonkiness has tried to derail it but it has t worked. Being able to keep our little home here has been nice.

  4. I’m not sure you guys realize just what a NEED this site was/is. Creating that bridge from ‘well, what do we do now?’ to ‘let’s honor the Senator and move forward’ was a big deal and I still don’t think all you writers realize how successful it was, even with technical glitches.
    I like to think of this place as the Hardees in the run down district where old men never-the-less meet every morning, drink coffee, and talk about everything dear to them. The shitty breakfast doesn’t matter, it’s about conversation.
    So a heartfelt thanks to all the contributors.

  5. Thank you to all that contribute and keep this place going. About a month after the Senator’s passing I gave up searching for this “new” site. I’m so glad it’s here.

    I do also enjoy the playpen. I won’t always comment in there but it’s entertaining to read and contemplate.

    • The genius that was the Senator is exemplified in the Playpen. It removes the three topics we can never talk about in polite society, religion, politics, and “does this dress make my butt look big,” to a segregated area that can be enjoyed or avoided as you wish. Most importantly, it cleansed the day to day topics from being derailed by a yahoo that felt triggered. “Save it for the Playpen,” the Senator used to say, right before, “You’ve been warned, one more time and you’re out of here!”

      I also miss his Wednesday Buffet, where he one-lined items with links allowing us to scan quickly the offerings (like a buffet) instead of page down, page down from article to article. He was a genius and what he got done every day is unbelievable, he must have never slept. Happy to be able to contribute on my Moog whenever asked.

  6. I BIG thanks to you all for creating this. I was lost wondering the vast empty Internet for quality Georgia content until I got the email about the GTP tailgate for the Auburn game. I know the Senator created HUGE shoes to fill, but y’all are doing a fine job and it is a daily read for me.

  8. Y’all are doing the Lord’s work, JP. It’s much appreciated.

    P.S. Why you throwing off on the Meheecan Strat? I love mine! My wife, neighbors, and any noise sensitive dog within earshot? Not so much…:)

    • Lol. When you’re trying to be Stevie Ray Vaughan and suddenly realize you don’t have the same setup, you realize you’re lacking. Plus I don’t have any strumming talent, so there’s that. Let’s just say the Senator was to sports blogging what Brock Bowers is to tight ends…a unicorn that can’t be replaced, you can just hope to achieve what he did by committee. Thanks for following along and commenting…it’s warmth to know we’re all still here.

  9. merci beaucoup for keepin the GTP 18 wheeler rollin!
    fuck the gators to hell and eternal damnation

  10. Thank yall for doing this! The Senator is irreplaceable but the community lives on. I really appreciate all the time and energy that all of you put into making this site happen.

  11. You are doing the Lord’s work. Many of us wondered if the Senator had a staff of researchers and ghost writers to provide his content. We know he didn’t, of course, but I’m sure the entire cast behind GTPR can attest to how amazing Bluto was.

  12. Appreciate you scamps taking up the mantle of the late, great Senator. DGD’s, all of you!

  13. I just want to second JP’s sentiments. And, ask that y’all hang in there with us, we’re looking for a way out of all the technical issues crap.

  15. Losing the Senator and his pithy insight was devastating. He was indeed a special talent. The time from his passing until the rebirth of the GTP community with this site were dark days indeed. A heartfelt thank you to all of you who made this happen. Even though I have never laid eyes on a single one of you (that I’m aware of), it felt like I had rediscovered a bunch of long-lost friends with the relaunch (warts and all)

  16. My can’t miss daily blog site. Thanks for everything all of you are doing to keep the Senators vision going. Huzzah!

  17. Thank you and Otis and all the contributors. I don’t know that any single person could match The Senator, but collectively you do a great job.

  18. I lost the Senator, and it seemed like 2 minutes later I lost Ranger Russ.
    I was lost and depressed. You guys did more for me than you will ever know.
    Thanks to all that got this up and running.

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