Although the Gator will growl at tonight's pep rally, some UF students are scowling at its organizers for choosing an "unknown" comedian and a musical act that may be out of tune with their generation.
Some students say Gator Growl's entertainment should cater to students' interests and emulate the homecoming festivities of rival Florida State University, which will feature Jimmy Fallon this year.
Kelly Ann Packard, Growl spokeswoman, said producers try to pick acts that appeal to several generations, including students.
Making Gator Growl more student-friendly is a platform point of Student Government's Orange and Blue Party.
Sam Miorelli, party president, said bands such as Lynyrd Skynyrd, which performed at last year's Gator Growl, and the Steve Miller Band, slated to perform tonight, are not chosen with students in mind.
"This year, we've got a band who was kind of getting old when my dad was in college," Miorelli said.
Adam Fremd, a UF business junior, said he didn't know who Jon Reep, tonight's performer, was at first. Fremd said he recognized Reep after one of his friends told him he was the guy from the Dodge commercials who asked, "That thing got a Hemi?"
Fremd said he enjoyed Frank Caliendo last year and thought organizers would top last year's performance. Instead, they picked an "unknown," he said.
Packard said producers give three groups of people equal consideration when picking acts: students and faculty, alumni and Gainesville residents.
"We can't please everyone for every second," she said.
Ken Nguyen, a UF engineering junior, has never attended Gator Growl, but he attended FSU's PowWow when Stephen Colbert performed in 2006. Nguyen said he thinks Gator Growl producers' choices for acts seem biased toward older generations.
Jessica Redling, FSU's homecoming director, said PowWow acts are chosen by producers based on student polls. Redling said most of the 7,500 people who attended the concert, called Warchant, and the comedy event, called PowWow, in 2007 were students.
This year, PowWow will feature musical acts Lupe Fiasco and Augustana. Sarah Silverman performed in 2007.
FSU's Student Government Association is paying Fallon about $80,000 this year, Redling said, and the musical acts will get about $45,000 each.
Gator Growl, which drew about 45,000 people in 2007, will pay comedian Jon Reep $25,000 and the Steve Miller Band $160,000.
Growl is funded by corporate sponsorships, ticket and T-shirt sales.
Deanna Dempsey, a freshman attending her first Growl tonight, said she understands the night is not just for students.
"Homecoming is for (alumni) to come back and see what the school has become," Dempsey said. "It's not our weekend; it's theirs."
