University of Florida Fans

Die hard fans of Florida relish in the sanctity that is 2007 Heisman winner Tim Tebow and mascots Albert and Alberta Gator. Tim is a bit of an icon around the swamp, noted for being the first sophomore Heisman trophy winner as well as the first college player to rush and pass for 20 touchdowns in a single season.

Known for their undying love of college football, Gator fans gather around The Swamp every Saturday morning, as early as 6am to begin the days tailgating festivities. In fact, the fans are so numerous in Gainesville, that they actually had to enlarge "The Swamp" so everyone could fit. Today it is Florida's largest stadium. A record setting crowd of 90,833 once filled the Ben Hill Griffin Stadium, and some say it's one of the loudest stadiums in the country. When Florida fans start cheering and singing "We Are The Boys From Old Florida" you'll know, whether you're front row or back bleacher.

University of Florida fans everywhere travel down to the Ben Hill Griffin Stadium to show their love and support of such a great gator team. Careful not to dress in anything other than blue and orange, or you might be a victim of the ol' saying "only gators get out of the swamp alive"! Arrive at the stadium early with some brats and a case of your finest because tailgating in Florida starts early and ends late.

If you are not sure what to expect one you make it down to gator country, here are some classic traditions that you'll be sure to see during every football exhibition. The first sign of gator life is usually seen a few weeks before labor day weekend (the official starting point of college football) and continues through into December. Fans continue to show their support in the off season by lugging around gator etched laptop messenger bags and show off their pride with Florida Gator college gear.

A menacing Florida tradition is to show a clip of real gators gathering in a ominous swamp, the camera then pans to one of the larger gators jaws which parlays into a scary sound bite "The swamp..... only gators get out alive!". During the game you'll find enticing cheers from the fans such as "ORANGE" and "BLUE", then at the end of the third period everyone swings and sways by rows where they sing "We are the boys from old Florida".

The reason so many adoring fans cherish Saturday afternoons where they pull 12-14 hours shifts at the swamp can only be summed up by two things, atmosphere and camaraderie. Nowhere else will in Division I football will you find louder, more dedicated fans. Florida is the sunshine state, but the real fans know it can be called nothing other than gator country. If you ever find yourself in the swamp, tread lightly.