What You Should Know About Gators Florida Football

Introduction

The University of Florida is one of the largest schools in the United States, and every year, it attracts thousands of new students due to its academic merits. However, the school's football team, known simply as the Florida Gators, also attracts thousands of fans each year.

The Florida Gators are a part of the Southeastern Conference or SEC in the National College Athletic Association. The football team plays in Ben Hill Griffin Stadium, which is on the University of Florida campus. They have won three national championships and eight SEC titles throughout the last century and have played in 39 college bowl games, as of March 2012. Since 1990, the team has won more games than any other college football team. Of the many players who have worn the Florida Gators uniform, 82 have gone on to become first team All-Americans, 42 have become first-round NFL draft picks and three have won the Heisman Trophy.

Will Muschamp currently serves as the Florida Gators' head coach; 2011 was his first season. He is the 23rd man to hold this position.

 

 

 

History

The University of Florida declared its first official varsity football team in 1906, when the school moved to its current location in Gainseville, Florida. However, it didn't start playing at its current location until 1930. The stadium was originally called Florida Field, but the name changed to Ben Hill Griffin Stadium in 1989 to honor a popular alumnus. Even still, many students and sports fans refer to the staidum as "the Swamp."

It took a few years for the team to become the Florida Gators we recognize them as today. By 1910, they were playing teams that are still considered rivals, including the South Carolina Gamecocks and the Clemson Tigers. That year was the only year Florida has ever been undefeated.

In 1922, the team joined the Southern Conference, a Division I atheltic conference, and the Gators began to play teams such as the Georgia Tech Yellowjackets and Alabama Crimson Tide. During these years, under the guidance of coach Charlie Bachman from Notre Dame, the Florida Gators officially became a household name throughout the nation. In 1932, the Gators became one of the first teams to join the SEC, where they still play today.

 

 

Features

The official colors of the Florida Gators football team are orange and royal blue. While at home, the team has worn blue jerseys with white pants during almost every season, while they wear white jerseys with either blue or white pants for away games. There have been a few times when this has varied due to special occasions or preferences of certain coaches. The team's helments have changed over the years, but they currently wear orange helments with the word "Gators" written on the side. The team's logo is a green alligator head surrounded by a blue and orange background.

The school's two biggest rivals are the Florida State University Seminoles and the University of Georgia Bulldogs. The Gators and the Seminoles are in-state rivals that have played each other every year since 1964. The Georgia-Florida game, often referred to as the "World's Largest Cocktail Party," usually takes place at a neutral location. The two teams have matched up since 1915.

Many notable football players have passed through the Florida Gators' organization. These include Tim Tebow, Steve Spurrier, Danny Wuerffel, Cris Collinsworth and Jack Youngblood.

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