This is the first in a series about 10 things the University Athletic Association needs to do to keep the Florida Gators at the top of the college sports mountain. Of the list of 10 suggestions some are legitimate, some are grandiose pats on the back. But all are possible.

10. FieldTurf for Soccer/Lacrosse field and practice facility.

The introduction of women's lacrosse presents a challenge to the UAA. Not only do you have to deal with educating a state on a brand new sport, but you have the added expense of a non-revenue sport. The easiest way to spend not as much money is by renovating Pressly Stadium by adding fieldturf and laying fieldturf at the soccer practice complex and UVS Field, which is traditionally a lacrosse field. It is a large expense in the short term, but you will have less long term headaches with field conditions and care expenses. Field conditions will be an even bigger issue if Florida adds Men's Soccer, our number three suggestion.

9. Monument Park/Hall of Fame

I have a thing for plaques. I used to read all the ones planted in front of buildings and dorms on campus. I loved how among a relatively young university, you had representation of history in these little places. I want to see something more. Sure there is a Florida Hall of Fame, and I'm sure Blue Key does something for their people. But those are hidden away. I want to see either a walking path or a park of plaques or statues representing Florida history.

Using North-South Drive or the patches of land at the corner of Museum and North-South and by the O'Connell Center, the University and the UAA should celebrate academics and athletics. You'd have marble stones dedicated to Dr. Robert Cade and Lawton Chiles next to Al Horford and Danny Wuerffel. How cool would that be?

I like the walking path along North-South with the academics section starting at Archer Rd. and the athletics section beginning at University Ave. They would meet at North-South and Museum by the Union where a new feature would be built. The idea for the new feature comes from user GainesvilleRamblings, who left this comment on a story from November.

That's right folks, a live alligator mascot. It would be perfect; the spot is insulated within campus but still in the middle of things. Of course, you have to figure out a way to protect the alligator from things being thrown into his (or her) habitat. But we invented Gatorade so I think we can figure something out. And yes, I know there are alligators in Lake Alice but that's kind of far from the stadium.

So those are our first suggestions; fieldturf for lacrosse/soccer and a set of monuments dedicated to the University with an alligator habitat as the center piece.

If you have any suggestions or comments, you can leave them below or email us at alligatorarmy@gmail.com

Over the past several weeks, Alligator Army has been collecting the New Year's Resolutions of Gators and people connected with college sports.* Here are a select few.

• I resolve to make a decision and stick with it. - B. Donovan
• I resolve to park my car in legal spaces. - T. Joiner's girlfriend
• We resolve to stop rooting for the Big Ten while we are on the air. - K. Herbstreit, C. Spielman, T. Blackledge, ESPN
• I resolve to get in shape so I'm not sucking wind in the second half. - M. Speights
• I resolve to stop calling plays like I'm a ten-year old playing X-Box. - D. Mullen
• We resolve to not suck. - Florida Baseball's second and third starters
• I resolve to spend more time helping the orphans in Manila and bring them the Word of God. - G. Hayes. Oh, sorry that's T. Tebow.
• We resolve to make sure our athletes are better prepared for their open book music history tests. - FSU Athletic Department
• I resolve to stop taking money that UF needs and giving it to pet projects at my alma mater. - C. Crist

*Might not be true.

Quite possibly the most important man in the history of the University of Florida died this morning.

Until an UF alum becomes President of The United States, Dr. Cade will be the greatest person affiliated with the University. His invention not only brought the school millions, but it's our best advertisement. What other school can boast a product with its mascot in the title?

But, Dr. Cade's invention did more than just rehydrate, replenish, and refuel athletes. In spring of 2006, I was in a sports production class and I got to sit in on an interview he did with Gatorzone. Not only was he a cool guy (his research team would discuss the drink formula over pitchers of beer), but he was more proud of the ways Gatorade was used outside of athletics in oral rehydration for children. In Third World countries, many children still die from diarrhea and cholera. Gatorade and other formulas have been used to drastically reduce the number of deaths from those illnesses.

While Dr. Cade and his fellow researchers had been at odds with UF over royalties, the University had been honoring him recently. But if UF really wants to do something to really honor Dr. Cade, I have an idea; There are plenty of water fountains on campus. So why can't we make Gatorade fountains? This even came up this weekend as we were walking from the tailgate to the stadium. How cool would it be to walk up and press one button for water and another for Gatorade? Come on, IFAS, make it happen.

To Dr. Robert Cade, we raise a glass of lemon-lime Gatorade, the Champagne of Gatorade. He is a Gator Nation Hero.