“SWAMPING” THEIR OPPONENTS”
Following the 1991 season, Gator coach Steve Spurrier dubbed the school’s Ben Hill Griffin Stadium at Florida Field “The Swamp.” Since the former Heisman trophy winning quarterback returned to coach his school in 1990, Florida had developed quite a home field advantage. Florida spent most of the 1990s establishing one of the nations longest home winning streaks. Florida reeled off 30 straight home wins (1994-99) before falling to Alabama midway through the season.
The Gator’s often play in front of larger than capacity crowds (83,000) in the noisy and recently expanded stadium. The Sporting News dubbed Florida Field as the nation’s loudest in 1996 and ABC-College Football Analyst Bob Griese, has described it as deafening.
Florida ’s student section provides more trash talk than a New York landfill with words used that could make a sailor blush. Besides delighting in a Florida win, fans participate in the “Gator chomp,” an action that includes moving their arms up and down like a gator’s jaws. Another tradition is the “awesome slow-fast” wave and cheering along with Mr. 2 Bits, who has been a fixture at Florida games for years.
Florida student Amy Edridge has enjoyed hanging out in “The Swamp.” “It’s full of orange and blue and its tons of adrenaline,” said the political science major. “The whole game is awesome and it’s absolutely insane. Our fans get more involved and we have better chants than other schools. We don’t make Indian noises (take that FSU) the whole game.”
Edridge is quick to defend “The Swamp’s” reputation of being ruthless to opponents. “We don’t make fun of other teams because we’re too busy praising the Gators,” said Edridge.
FLORIDA-GEORGIA: WORLD’S LARGEST OUTDOOR COCKTAIL PARTY
Saying that Florida fans like to party is an understatement. At home games, the longstanding “beer run” tradition has been to issue passes so that people can leave the stadium to get a drink. Mix that Gator zest for a cold one with the rowdiness of Georgia Bulldog fans and watch out. The two schools battle annually in Jacksonville, Florida, in what is deemed as “The world’s largest cocktail party.” The neutral site for the SEC clash includes great tailgating that has spirits flowing in more than one way for the party that every year seems to have a game break out in the middle of it.
“SWAMPING” THEIR OPPONENTS”
Following the 1991 season, Gator coach Steve Spurrier dubbed the school’s Ben Hill Griffin Stadium at Florida Field “The Swamp.” Since the former Heisman trophy winning quarterback returned to coach his school in 1990, Florida had developed quite a home field advantage. Florida spent most of the 1990s establishing one of the nations longest home winning streaks. Florida reeled off 30 straight home wins (1994-99) before falling to Alabama midway through the season.
The Gator’s often play in front of larger than capacity crowds (83,000) in the noisy and recently expanded stadium. The Sporting News dubbed Florida Field as the nation’s loudest in 1996 and ABC-College Football Analyst Bob Griese, has described it as deafening.
Florida ’s student section provides more trash talk than a New York landfill with words used that could make a sailor blush. Besides delighting in a Florida win, fans participate in the “Gator chomp,” an action that includes moving their arms up and down like a gator’s jaws. Another tradition is the “awesome slow-fast” wave and cheering along with Mr. 2 Bits, who has been a fixture at Florida games for years.
Florida student Amy Edridge has enjoyed hanging out in “The Swamp.” “It’s full of orange and blue and its tons of adrenaline,” said the political science major. “The whole game is awesome and it’s absolutely insane. Our fans get more involved and we have better chants than other schools. We don’t make Indian noises (take that FSU) the whole game.”
Edridge is quick to defend “The Swamp’s” reputation of being ruthless to opponents. “We don’t make fun of other teams because we’re too busy praising the Gators,” said Edridge.
FLORIDA-GEORGIA: WORLD’S LARGEST OUTDOOR COCKTAIL PARTY
Saying that Florida fans like to party is an understatement. At home games, the longstanding “beer run” tradition has been to issue passes so that people can leave the stadium to get a drink. Mix that Gator zest for a cold one with the rowdiness of Georgia Bulldog fans and watch out. The two schools battle annually in Jacksonville, Florida, in what is deemed as “The world’s largest cocktail party.” The neutral site for the SEC clash includes great tailgating that has spirits flowing in more than one way for the party that every year seems to have a game break out in the middle of it.
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