A QUICK LOOK AT - Florida

by Jack Witthaus

The Institution

School Quick Facts

Official Name:

University of Florida

Nickname:

Gators

Location:

Gainesville, FL

Enrollment:

49,589

Founded:

1853

Mascot:

Albert and Alberta

Fight Song:

"Orange and Blue"

SEC Division:

East

The University of Florida is the seventh largest campus in the nation and the second largest school in the SEC behind Texas A&M.

However, there’s no tall tale surrounding the selection of its mascot. In fact, the choice of the “Gator” might be the most incidental mascot story out there. In 1911, six years after moving the campus to Gainesville, a vendor who sold school pennants printed the Gator on them.

Although the image of a Gator might conjure a swamp-like, vile image, Florida tried to keep its athletics clean in its early years. In 1928, president John J. Tigert started the one of the first scholarship programs in the nation for U of F athletes. At the time, most colleges discretely paid players.

Academically, Florida has a very competitive admissions program. The 2011 incoming freshman class averaged a 4.23 GPA and a 30 on the ACT.

Florida is one of the top public universities in the US and is a designated “Public Ivy” school, a public school that demonstrates Ivy League-like academic rigor.

Famous Olympic alumni include Abby Wambach, Heather Mitts, Ryan Lochte and Dara Torres.

Florida Football

Football Quick Facts

Venue Name:

Ben Hill Griffin Stadium (aka The Swamp)

Venue Capacity:

88,548

Venue Surface:

Natural Grass

First Season:

1906

Overall Record:

669-385-40

Last Season:

7-6 (3-5 SEC, Gator Bowl winner)

Head Coach:

Will Muschamp (7-6)

Football Rivals:

FSU, Georgia, Tennessee, LSU, Auburn, Miami

Over their 106-year history, the Gators have had some good football teams. Since 1990, however, they’ve been the best. With 217 victories, Florida has won more Division I-A games than any other team.

Overall, Florida has collected three National Championships, three Heisman trophies, eight conference titles and 20 bowl games. The program boasts 31 All-Americans. Famous alumni include Emmitt Smith, Steve Spurrier, Tim Tebow and Rex Grossman.

The success started at the turn on the century in 1905. In the early years, the Gators adopted their colors from the two universities that joined together to create the Univeristy of Florida.

Florida quickly became rivals with Auburn, Georgia, and Alabama. In 1911, the Gators posted their only undefeated season with a 5-0-1 record.

Florida’s president John Tigert continued to make waves in the college football realm. In 1930, Tigert created Florida’s only football stadium, Florida Field. Two years later, he lent a huge hand in the creation of the SEC.

An interesting cheer started in 1946. Up until 2008, George Edmondson Jr. ran out into the field, blew a whistle, and whipped the crowd up with the “Two Bits” cheer. The tradition continues today, but it’s now led by the mascots.

The Gators won their first bowl, the Gator Bowl, in 1953 over Tulsa. Not to be confused with the Florida football program, the Gator Bowl takes place each year at EverBank Field in Jacksonville, FL.

Former Florida Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback Steve Spurrier returned to the program in 1990. Spurrier won a National Championship in 1996 over Florida State and 7 Conference championships (including Florida’s first in 1991). Spurrier resigned in 2002 to take a job with the Washington Redskins.

Urban Meyer took the helm in 2004 after Ron Zook failed to impress as head coach. Meyer won an unbelievable two National Championships in three years in 2006 and 2008. Meyer also started a young Tebow as quarterback in 2007. That year, Tebow, a sophomore, won the Heisman trophy.

Currently, Will Muschamp heads the Florida program.

Mizzou will take on Florida at “The Swamp” on Nov. 3.

Florida Basketball

Basketball Quick Facts

Venue Name:

O'Connell Center

Venue Capacity:

12,000

First Season:

1915

Overall Record:

1258-1033

Last Season:

26-11 (10-6 SEC)

Head Coach:

Billy Donovan (356-158, 422-178)

NCAA Final Fours:

4

NCAA Championships:

2 (2006,2007)

The Gators basketball program was pretty much awful for most of the 20th century. For a 67-year span, Florida never finished higher than fourth in the SEC.

Part of the problem rested in coaching. Most of the time, Florida coaches were volunteers or assistant football coaches.

The pitiful program turned around when Norm Sloan stepped on campus. Sloan led the Gators to the NIT from 1984-1986. He also brought home an SEC title in 1989.

A drug scandal forced Sloan to resign and Lon Kruger coached the Gators to their first Final Four in 1994.

Billy Donavan started coaching in 1996 and certainly has turned the program in a competitive force. Since his arrival, the Gators have captured two National Championships, three Final Four berths, and 12 NCAA Tournament appearances. Donavan has also captured three SEC tournament championships.

In 2006 and 2007, the Gators became the second team in NCAA history to win the National Championship in back-to-back seasons. The team is the only one to repeat the feat with the same starting five.

Florida has five All-Americans to its name and 10 Gators currently play in the NBA.

St. Louis hoops star Bradley Beal helped land the Gators an Elite Eight appearance this year. Beal was drafted third overall by the Washington Wizards this year.