Basketball fans to try breaking world record

UF basketball fans will attempt to break the world record for the largest gathering of people wearing helmets at the men’s basketball game Thursday.

The promotion is to encourage scooter and bicycling safety on campus, said Stephen Glancy, a senior University Athletic Association marketing intern and Rowdy Reptile. The existing record to beat is 3,929, Glancy said.

Glancy, 21, said the idea would bring attention to the need for safety, which he said is important for the UF and Gainesville communities.

“It was really the perfect record for UF, with scooters and bikes being so popular and the issue of students not wearing helmets being so prevalent,” the UF sports management senior said.

The attempt will take place at the Exactech Arena at Stephen C. O’Connell Center at 7 p.m.

Breaking a world record is a way to catch students’ attention, assistant athletic director of marketing and promotions Alicia Longworth wrote in an email.

The attempt to break the record will be right before tipoff, after an announcement asking fans to put on helmets for five minutes.

Longworth said the athletic association partnered with Florida Pedestrian and Bicycling Safety Resource Center, who will provide 1,000 helmets to give to students entering at Gate 3. Glancy said fans should still bring their own helmet.

The UAA will also give away ten Gator-themed helmets and one scooter, Longworth said.

University Police officer John Savona helped put the athletic association in touch with New Scooters 4 Less, who partners with UPD to promote scooter safety.

Savona will assist the Florida Pedestrian and Bicycling Safety Resource Center in fitting helmets Thursday, he said.

“The issue is very important to me because when riders are not wearing a helmet, whether it be on a bike or a scooter, and they get into an accident, usually the outcome is not good,” he said.

Savona said students are aware of what a helmet can do to protect them, but until something happens to them, it doesn’t feel like a possibility.

Savona said he believes this event will help continue reminding students of the importance of wearing helmets while on the road.

“I would hope that they receive the message of the importance of helmet safety and encourage each other to wear them,” he said.