In The Swamp, Florida football has a reputation that exceeds the orange and blue.
It comes from a tradition shared by universities across the nation and that some may say the SEC does best: Homecoming.
Florida’s Homecoming football game, originally dubbed “Dad’s Day,” was created as an opportunity for students’ fathers to come to campus. But in 1916, it became the school-spirited event modern Gators recognize.
The first Homecoming game took place Oct. 21, 1916. Held at Fleming Field, which has since been removed and replaced by Ben Griffin Hill Stadium, Florida was defeated by the Alabama Crimson Tide 16-0.
Each year since, fans eagerly wait to watch the Gators and cheer them on, whether that's at home or on the TV screen.
This year’s Homecoming will feature familiar events like the Homecoming Parade, which has been held since UF’s first Homecoming, and the Gator Gallop Fun Run, a 2-mile run through campus and along the parade route.
Friday events close out with Gator Growl, a series of performances introduced by Florida Blue Key honor society in 1923, during which UF hosts celebrity actors, musicians and comedians. Comedian Nikki Glaser, who went viral in 2024 for “The Roast of Tom Brady,” headlines this year’s event.
The event is entirely student-run and the largest college pep-rally in the nation, according to the Gator Growl website. Campus organizations hold musical performances and skits for Florida students to enjoy ahead of the headliner. The event was free until 1972, and tickets currently range from around $26 to $62 depending on the section, according to Ticketmaster.
The Homecoming queen and king, roles introduced in 1953, are also crowned at the event.
From 1948 to 1964, Homecoming featured an aquatic ballet that performed the week leading up to the game, according to a UF News article. The Swimcapades, made up of over 100 synchronized divers and swimmers, would compose an underwater performance to dazzle the crowd.
Homecoming’s centerpiece game will kick off Saturday at 12:45 p.m. when No. 16 Florida will face the University of South Carolina Gamecocks in The Swamp. The Gators will seek to come back from their only loss of the season this far and leave Saturday’s matchup 5-1 (3-1 SEC).
Florida’s record stands at 72-26-2 for Homecoming games, and it holds a 31-10-3 lead over the Gamecocks in the all-time series.
Contact Alisa Gershman at agershman@alligator.org. Follow her on X @angershman.
Alisa Gershman is a freshman biotechnology major working as the women's tennis reporter this semester. In her spare time she enjoys playing tennis, baking, and hanging out with friends. Go Birds!
