I have traveled all over the SEC to watch the Gators play, but there is nothing like a game day in the Swamp. The campus transforms overnight into a sea of orange and blue where tailgating at 10 a.m. is normal and greeting strangers with a hearty “Go Gators!” is customary.
In order to have a successful game day experience, the key is preparation. Even though the game is just a few hours long, there are many planning factors that are often overlooked.
We are in the middle of the season, which means times and weather varies for games week-to-week. There are a few things to check before heading to tailgate.
The night before the game make sure to check the forecast and tip off time. Florida has some of the most unpredictable weather in the world, and it is better to be ready for all types of weather, just as the famous “We are the Boys” (INSERT HYPERLINK http://www.gatorzone.com/multimedia/?p=traditions)song indicates.
If it is a noon game, chances are it is going to be hot, even if the calendar says it is fall. Make sure to have plenty of sunscreen and water to hydrate in between drinking other tailgating liquids, which will dehydrate you quickly.
If the game is in the 3 p.m. slot, be weary of rain. The stadium can actually get swampy. Umbrellas aren’t allowed in the stadium so raincoats are a safe investment.
For night games, it can get chilly toward this time of year. While it is annoying to tailgate holding a sweatshirt all day, you won’t regret having it to keep you warm instead of trying to get a friend to warm you up.
No matter what time of year it is, wear comfortable shoes. Driving anywhere on game day is impossible, so give your legs a break by wearing supportive shoes. To go along with your shoes, wear clothes you don’t mind getting a little sweaty in. I have no idea how girls wear dresses and wedges to games. I get being a sorority girl and going to an SEC school calls for wearing a dress, but we are attending a football game, not prom. I am in a sorority, and I prefer shorts and a Gator tank top to wearing a dress any day. There is no way these girls are comfortable or able to move around easily in game day dresses.
Once you know what to wear, checking for the essentials is next.
Put your ticket and Gator One in whatever purse or pockets you will be using for the game. It is really an unfortunate situation to make it all of the way up the ramp to the student section and realize you left everything in the wrong pair of pants.
Make sure you have sunglasses and a hat to along with sunscreen. There is no shade in the student section, and the sun has no mercy even when it cools down. After tailgating outside all day and then standing in the stadium you will be hot and your skin will burn.
Check the colors of the team we are playing. For games like Kentucky and Auburn, where the colors are orange and blue, make sure to wear the opposite color or something that clearly identifies you as a Gator fan. You would not want to be identified as the opposition on your own turf.
Take some cash with you for purchases inside the stadium. There are lines for cash only and lines for credit cards only. You are more likely to wait less if you have cash.
If your tailgate isn’t planned for you by family, friends or the Greek system, it isn’t difficult to make your own.
The first step is inviting people and designating items for everyone to bring. Make a Google document or a Facebook event to ensure there aren’t duplicated items.
Choosing a location for a tailgate can be tricky. Many places on campus are occupied by long-time tailgaters. People take their spots seriously, so make sure you aren’t disrupting the spot of a fan who meets there every week regularly.
There are open container laws in Gainesville and game day is no exception, so be careful. Even though the police are often lenient on game day, don’t give them any reason to investigate you while tailgating. Pour things into Solo cups and dispose of bottles and cans.
When you are finished tailgating, there are plenty of places to stop by on campus before heading to the game.
A cool tradition to partake in if you are near the stadium before the game is the Gator Walk. Started by Urban Meyer, fans line up where the players exit the busses on the corner of University Avenue and Gale Lemerand Drive. The players walk up the sidewalk into the stadium on their way to the locker room. It is the perfect opportunity to take photos of your favorite players and wish them luck before the game.
The Stephen C. O’Connell Center usually has various sponsors and organizations inside and outside offering freebies. On a hot day you can find icy towels to cool off with. Sometimes there are food vendors promoting new items, and there are always fun trivia games to participate in.
However you spend your day, make sure to make it into the stadium a few minutes before tip off or you will miss out on Gator traditions. Right before the team enters the field, the infamous quote “The Swamp where only Gators get out alive” is said along with the stretched out “Here come the Gators” call. Even though Mr. Two Bits retired, his cheer is still chanted, and, of course, doing the Gator chomp as the opposing team enters the field never gets old.
The only thing left to do is play ball. Just remember all the cheers and stay hydrated. Let the players do the rest.
