Ok, so you have booked your tickets to the upcoming UF game, but you are not too sure about what to expect. I know what it is like going to your first new game, you are not sure about the chants, the colors to wear or even what mascots to expect to see bouncing up and down the pitch.
The good thing about game day at the University of Florida is that it never changes. The rituals that are in place today have been going for years and things are only getting more enjoyable and wacky as time goes on.
So what can you do to stop yourself from sticking out like a sore thumb as the “newbie” at the next University of Florida game day? Take a look at the following list of 5 rituals that you will have a blast taking part in at the game. Have a read over them in order to get familiar with everything that will happen when you arrive at the stadium.
Table of Contents
Quick Facts and What You Need To Know
- The Florida Gators play American Football.
- The Florida Gators’ colors are orange and blue.
- The Florida Gators’ mascots are two alligators.
- Some of their chants and songs include “We are the boys” and “It’s great to be a Florida Gator”
Tailgating Before The Game
Only the best game day traditions start with a good ol’ grub up and thankfully the Florida Gators are all about loading in the carbs before the game. You can expect to see fans arriving early and pitching tents way before kick off in order to fire up a smoker and get some meat on a grill. Tailgating is a great way to get to know new football fans and helps to bring everyone together before the game starts. It also helps to ramp up the atmosphere ready for kick off.
Know All Of The Songs & Chants
Are you ready to lock arms? During the third and fourth quarter of the game, all of the fans lock arms and sway while singing to Florida Gators’ “We are the boys”.
Don’t forget the Gator fight song! – which celebrates the team’s colors – orange and blue. Make sure you have a listen to that one so you can sing along when you arrive at the stadium. Not only that, but I am sure you will hear the students shouting “Orange!” and “Blue!” back and forth to one another across the stadium as the match is being played.
One of the most important chants is shouted when the Gators are winning, it helps to really stir up the emotions of the crowd. Fans will start to do “the chomp” – waving right arms over left before music is played and everyone chants in unison “Gator bait”!
Get Dressed In Gator Colors
You can’t turn up at a football game wearing the wrong colors, not if you wish to get out alive that is, so make sure you’ve got the Florida Gator colors imprinted in your mind – orange and blue. In fact, these colors are so important for the Gators that they are the name of their fight song!
If you fancy getting your paws on one of the sporty “Beat” shirts that Gator fans have then you will only need to pay a membership fee or participate in the “Beat” T-Shirt giveaway after a home game.
Meet The Most Awesome Mascots
Albert and Alberta are the team mascots that you must meet at your next University of Florida game. Albert and Alberta are plush alligators and are a great laugh on the pitch. But you may be wondering – why alligators? Alligators are commonly found throughout the state of Florida and were the inspiration for this teams’ mascots. Remember- it’s no real match without snapping a selfie with these two!
Attend The Gator Growl
When the football season begins all of the Florida Gators meet up at the stadium for a fantastic show with live music and fireworks. If you are looking for a great way to meet new Gators then you cannot miss this event!
Conclusion
So before you attend your very first University of Florida Gators game, make sure you get savvy on all of the Gator traditions so that you can join in on all of the fun.
Make sure you do all of the following so that you can have the very best Gator experience:
- Arrive early to the match so that you can start tailgating, chow down on some grub and meet new fans.
- Learn the songs and chants to be able to sing along with the rest of the Gators.
- Pick up a “Beat” T-Shirt and dress in the Gator colors – orange and blue.
- Snap a selfie with the best alligator mascots in football.
- Attend the Gator growl to start the football season off with a bang.
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