The change in venue wasn’t the only tradition affected at Gator Growl this year.
Every year, the Collegiate Veterans Society at UF rolls out the American flag on the field during the national anthem. This presentation of the colors wasn’t included in the Oct. 17 show — the 50-foot by 30-foot flag was too large for Flavet Field to accommodate.
Understanding the flag’s logistical issues, the group’s president, Marcus Tucker, said he worked with Growl staff to stand on stage and wave during an appreciation video. But the night before dress rehearsals, he was verbally told the society would not be in the show. Tucker was not given wristbands allowing the group to be on stage.
Tucker said he first contacted the Growl committee in the summer about participating in 2014 Growl. When he didn’t get a response by September, he reached out to Alexander Wagner, director of UF Student Government’s Veterans Affairs cabinet.
In an Oct. 14 email from Growl producer Devin McDaniel to Wagner, she wrote the following:
“Unfortunately this year, due to the fact that we have no reserved seating, we need no volunteer ushers to assist our guests. And, because Gator Growl isn’t over Veteran’s Day Weekend, as it was for the past two years, we don’t have a ‘show block’ designated to recognizing those serving our Country. Please know that this is no disrespect to all of those working on our behalf both nationally and abroad. It simply has to do with the flow of the show which is focused on entertainment for a broad audience. We will continue to present The Colors and feature the National Anthem, but we won’t be able to showcase the College Veterans Society.”
Tucker said he never saw McDaniel’s email to Wagner. Wagner did not respond for comment.
“We weren’t doing it to be in the spotlight, but you’re telling us that November is the only appropriate time to do something towards the veterans,” he said.
McDaniel said this was a misunderstanding between the two organizations.
“Having a grandfather who was a veteran who recently passed, I have the utmost respect for veterans and would never do anything to offend them personally or their organization as a whole,” she said.
Tucker said he is disappointed in the way Gator Growl handled the situation. Some of the society’s members didn’t ride in the annual homecoming float this year because the event was under Florida Blue Key.
“The people who would be the future leaders of the club I’m sure will be very reluctant to have anything to do with Gator Growl next year,” Tucker said.
Homecoming Chairman Evan Schauder said the staff did not intend to exclude the society, and they still had the salute to the veterans during the National Anthem.
“They’re a huge part of this country and The Gator Nation, and we love showing off the veterans that we have on campus,” Schauder said. “We were in no way trying to disrespect them.”
[A version of this story ran on page 4 on 10/24/2014]
