Students lined outside of the Stephen C. O'Connell Center holding signs that read “Cake Me,” and “It’s my birthday!” Friday night, eagerly anticipating the cake-throwing, Grammy-nominated DJ Steve Aoki.
Aoki headlined the 102nd Gator Growl for an opening to Homecoming weekend. Students, alumni, and families gathered to show their school spirit — some dressed in orange and blue, others trading Gator gear for stiletto boots and black outfits.
The student-run Gator Growl, also known as the “largest pep rally in the nation,” started more than a century ago ahead of the annual Homecoming game.
Nicole Rogoff, an 18-year-old UF accounting freshman, said she attended Gator Growl because she loves the type of music Aoki performs. Growing up, Rogoff and her siblings often talked about Aoki’s unique music style and his fun performances, she said.
“When I heard it was Aoki, I knew it was going to be fun,” she said, her multi-colored sequin top catching in the light. “I didn’t want to miss it.”
Aoki delivered a different musical genre than previous Gator Growl headliners, like country artist Dustin Lynch and pop singer Jason Derulo. An electronic dance music artist, his hits include “Just Hold On” with Louis Tomilson and “Pursuit of Happiness” with Kid Cudi.
The doors opened at 6 p.m., and the concert started at 7 p.m. Students lined outside of the O’Connell Center to head for the rails in hopes of being “caked,” one of Aoki's signature moves where he throws a cake into the crowd at a designated fan.
Prior to the headliner, Gator Growl opened the show with school pride. Sabor Latino, the UF Soulfest winner, took the stage first. The dance group entered cheering and pumping their arms, putting on a hip-hop Latin fusion dance performance in gray two-piece suits. They danced to a remix of “Conteo” by Don Omar, matching each step with the beat.
The UF cheer team, school mascots Albert and Alberta and the Mic man then led the crowd through cheers while the speakers played “Go Gators.” The UF Dazzlers, the school's dance team, flipped onstage while performing to “Grillz” by rapper Nelly.
The display of school pride resonated with Mary Collier, a UF alumna who came with her daughters, Liza, Ella, Celia, and husband, Jason Collier. All are big Gator supporters, she said. Each came decked in Florida colors and designs.
For Mary, the annual concert holds some nostalgia. She and her now-husband Jason used to go to Gator Growl when they were UF students, where the cheer team also performed.
“We love Gator Growl,” Mary said. “We see a lot of familiar faces.”
Tyler White, a UF student also known as DJ artist TWhite, opened for Aoki. He prepared the screaming crowd with strobing lights and song remixes. The crowd sang along to mixes like “Rock Your Body” by Justin Timberlake as they waited for Aoki.
Students continued to fill in the stadium, bringing with them the smell of popcorn and Pepsi as the festivities carried on. Two girls in bright pink and blue bob wigs struggled to find their seats, three boys with neon shoes danced and a pair of rainbow light-up gloves shone from the pit.
Bailee Purdue, a student crowned as Miss UF in the Spring, introduced this year’s Homecoming court shortly afterward. Monish Vijayaraghavan and Freddi Rappoport, both members of Student Government, were crowned as homecoming King and Queen, earning applause from the crowd.
But when the lights dimmed, the cheering grew. Out came Aoki.
“University of Florida, let's go!” he cheered.
He opened with “Just Hold On,” and “No Broke Boys.” The crowd danced to the remixes and beat drops as smoke machines went off, transforming the O’Connell Center to a rave.
Aoki played a never-performed remix he said he made just for UF. “Takedown,” the song featured in Netflix's hit movie “KPop Demon Hunters,” was part of the remix, and scenes from the movie played on the screen.
Aoki ended his performance by launching cakes into the crowd. He started with the people in the front who held up signs, leaving them “caked” and covered in icing. Fans roared as he continued to throw 10 more further into the crowd, still dancing to the “Cake” remix playing behind him.
Students piled out of the O’Connell Center around 9:30 p.m., some stopping to take pictures in front of it with their signs and cake covering their faces and clothes.
Isabella Gee, an 18-year-old UF kinesiology freshman, said she decided to come to the concert because she thought it was a good closing to Homecoming week and an opening to the weekend.
“I just wanted a fun way to end the week before the game tomorrow,” Gee said. “This was the perfect answer.”
Contact Madeline Herring at mherring@alligator.org. Follow her on X @m_herring06.
Madeline is a first-year journalism and environmental science double major and the Fall 2025 general assignment reporter. In her free time she enjoys reading, binging new television series, and browsing the isles of target with her friends.
