College Sports Established
1906
Location
Gainesville, Florida
College Name
University of Florida
Collegiate History
1973 - Present / NCAA Division 1
1915 - 1973 / University Division of the NCAA
Conference History
1932 – Present / SEC Conference
1922 – 1932 / Southern Conference
1911 – 1921 / Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Association
Nickname
Gators - The Florida Gators are one of the most storied teams in college sports, and their nickname has become synonymous with excellence. But did you know that the origins of this iconic moniker date back nearly a century ago? Let’s take a look at how it all began!
In 1911, when the University of Florida students were debating what to call their new football team, they decided on “Gators” as an homage to local wildlife. The Everglades region was home to many alligators and crocodiles, which made for great mascots - plus, they had plenty of tenacity, just like UF athletes! It wasn’t until later that year when then-athletic director William G. Kline wrote an article about why he chose Gators as the team name: “We must select some kind animal emblematic [of] our purpose…the Alligator is peculiarly fitted for such service." This marked the first time anyone officially referred to UF's athletic teams by its now-famous nickname –– The Florida Gators!
Fast forward more than 100 years later, and not much has changed; today, we still refer proudly refer ourselves as "Gator Nation" or "The Gator Family," but no matter what you call us, we will always be proud members who stand behind our beloved mascot Albert E. Gator®. Go gators!!
NCAA Championships
Baseball 1
2017
Men's Basketball 2
2007, 2006
Women's Basketball 0
Football 3
2008, 2006, 1996
Soccer 0
- 1906
- 1953
- 2006
- 2008
- 2013
- 2017
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Florida plays its first intercollegiate football game
In 1906: Florida plays its first intercollegiate football game against Stetson and wins 6-0 -
Florida men’s soccer team wins the SEC championship
In 1950: Florida fields its first men’s soccer team and wins the SEC championship in 1953 -
Florida men’s basketball wins its first national championship
In 2006: Florida men’s basketball wins its first national championship, defeating UCLA in the NCAA final. Coach Billy Donovan is named SEC Coach of the Year and AP Coach of the Year -
Gators National Champs in Football 2008
The 2008 Florida Gators football team represented the University of Florida in the sport of American football during the 2008 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Gators competed in the Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) and the Eastern Division of the Southeastern Conference (SEC) and played their home games in Ben Hill Griffin ... -
Florida soccer wins its second national championship
In 2013: Florida soccer wins its second national championship, defeating UCLA in a penalty shootout after a scoreless draw -
College World Series Winners Gators 2017
The 2017 NCAA Division I Baseball Tournament began on June 1, 2017, as part of the 2017 NCAA Division I baseball season. The 64-team, double-elimination tournament concluded with the 2017 College World Series (CWS) in Omaha, Nebraska. The CWS started on June 17 and ended on June 27. The 64 participating NCAA Division I college baseball teams were selected out ...
To qualify as the greatest player for this team, the player must have played one season for this team. If not, we will remove the player.
* verifies that player has played for this team as an added player by a fan.
History of the Gators
Throughout history, the team has been known for its strong defense, often called "the Gator Defense." This is due to their ability to shut down opponents’ offenses regularly while simultaneously creating turnovers that lead directly to points for the offense. Their defensive prowess was especially evident during their 2006 National Championship run when they allowed just 13 points per game over an entire season!
In addition to great defensive performances throughout its illustrious history, the Florida Gators have also had tremendous success on offense with several Heisman Trophy winners, including Steve Spurrier (1966), Danny Wuerffel (1996), Tim Tebow(2007), and Emmitt Smith(1989). These four stars combined for over 20 All-American selections between them! Furthermore, each player became an NFL Hall Of Fame Inductee, further cementing themselves among some of College Football's best players.
Since its formation in 1906, The University Of Florida Football Program has gone from strength to strength, becoming one of College football's most recognizable programs. With 3 National Championships, 11 Conference Titles, 9 Bowl Games, 4 Heisman Winners & 20+ All-Americans, It is easy to see why fans flock to Gainesville every year, hoping that this could be their year!
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