Dooley’s Dozen: 12 best Florida football traditions
One night when there were some adult beverages involved after a Florida game, I was involved in an argument with my sister-in-law.
I was making the point that Dan Jenkins did so many years ago before Steve Spurrier changed everything: Florida had the arrogance of Notre Dame and the tradition of Wake Forest.
She didn’t think it was fair.
“We have a lot of traditions.”
That’s where we get to the double meaning of the word. You can have fun traditions, but it doesn’t mean you have a winning tradition.
Yes, I lost that argument, too.
So, as penance, the latest Dooley’s Dozen brings you what I believe are the best 12 traditions in Florida football history. I’m also reminded of the story of Spurrier telling the older players there would be no more shaving of the heads of freshmen.
They called that tradition.
“You know what else is a tradition around here?” Spurrier said. “Getting your tails whipped by Georgia every year. We’re going to change a lot of traditions around here.”
Go … Bananas … Go, go … Bananas
Photo by SAUL LOEB/AFP
Man, I wish they’d bring the banana guy back. Maybe the students should not have thrown bananas at him in that one game. I was in school then, and it really got the students fired up. Let’s bring it back. No bananas were harmed in the making of this cheer.
The alma mater before the game
Doug Engle/Gainesville Sun
It is nice they do it after the game, but that has turned into kind of an embarrassment when only a player or two sing swith the band after a loss. Before the game, you have all kinds of hope and many of you burst with pride that you know all the words. It’s a Florida thing.
Passing the co-eds to the top of the stadium
Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
It’s pretty obvious why that doesn’t happen anymore. But it was certainly interesting in the 1970s. The student section was alive back in those days. And when she made it to the top, what a cheer.
The whole alligator thing
ANDREW WEST/USA TODAY
In the 1980s, the people from the movie “Alligator” gave UF a huge alligator on wheels and UF was going to try to make it glide across the field. Didn’t work. But it was out there for some games with smoke coming out of its nose. It’s more than that. You don’t see any elephants at Alabama, only captive Tigers at LSU and no ancient Greek war heroes at USC. But we have plenty of live alligators. And it really is a unique nickname.
People stopping the wave
Doug Engle/GainesvilleSun
And I applaud you. It was a big deal in the 1980s. But we can all give it a rest. Especially fans doing a noisy wave when their team has the ball. Come on. Nobody plays with Rubik’s Cube and Cabbage Patch Dolls anymore either. Now get off my lawn.
Booing the opposition’s entrance
Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
I remember this radio guy asking me in 2006 how Gator fans would react when Spurrier ran on the field at the start of the game as South Carolina’s coach. He was incredulous when I said they would boo. That’s what you do to the day’s enemy. Of course, there used to be a chant that went with this, but we will not get into that.
The massive tailgating footprint
Doug Engle/Gainesville Sun
I’m not saying it is unique to Florida, but you can stand at the entrance of the Swamp and walk five miles in any direction and be in a Tailgate City. Shoot, you can even hang out with the aforementioned ‘gators. And eventually, the North end zone will be a version of The Grove in Oxford.
The Gator Walk
Doug Engle/Ocala Star-Banner
What amazes me is that nobody thought of it before Urban Meyer walked in the door. Now, it feels like it has been around since the leather-helmet era. I was able to walk for two spring games and it was a rush. Imagine how the actual athletes feel.
We Are The Boys (And Girls)
Doug Engle/Gainesville Sun
The song that gets you swaying side to side is one of Florida’s oldest traditions since it started being played in the 1920s (no, I wasn’t there). The swaying and playing at the end of the third quarter started in the 1970s. And a few years later, we had the theme from “Jaws” to go with the Gator Chomp. Those band members were very creative.
I Won’t Back Down
Syndication: Gainesville Sun
The week that Tom Petty passed away, my wife and I were both a mess. Then, I got a call from Florida athletic director Scott Stricklin, who ran the idea by me of Petty’s iconic song being played after “We Are The Boys”. I loved it and still love it every time it cranks up, especially at night games. Miss you, Tommy.
The “Fun-nel”
Syndication: Gainesville Sun
That’s what I call it because it’s more than just the run out of the tunnel. It’s gathering in the foyer with your teammates and feeling the nerves and touching the Gator head and listening to fans beating in the tarps over your heads and watching the video and then running out to adoring Gator fans. Sounds like fun to me, or as a player once described it, “Like you’re in that Roger Rabbit movie with all of these colors flying by.”
Mr. Two Bits (original version)
Jason Parkhurst-USA TODAY Sports
I like that Florida kept George Edmonson’s larger-than-life character alive by bringing back athletes to do it. It’s great. But the late Mr. Edmondson is a part of the childhoods of so many Gator fans. When he’d pop up out of nowhere with his trademark clothes and whistle, your section was the envy of everyone. This, to me, is the best and most unique of all of the Florida traditions.
[listicle id=88195]
[listicle id=88059]
[listicle id=87823]
[listicle id=87510]
[listicle id=87129]
[listicle id=86843]
[listicle id=86735]
[listicle id=86519]
[listicle id=86339]
[listicle id=86266]
[listicle id=86046]
[listicle id=85883]
[listicle id=85653]
[listicle id=85559]
[listicle id=85370]
[listicle id=85296]
[listicle id=84861]
[listicle id=84805]
[listicle id=84663]
[listicle id=84232]
Follow us @GatorsWire on Twitter and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Florida Gators news, notes and opinions.
Let us know your thoughts and comment on this story below. Join the conversation today!
1
1
1
1
1
1
