Alberta and Albert, UF’s two alligator mascots, can be spotted at most Gator sporting events dancing around in large fluffy suits, creating school spirit and representing their school together.
People often think the pair are together romantically. However, a worrisome age gap between the furry friends makes a romance complicated: Albert appeared first in 1957, and Alberta didn’t hatch until 1986.
This age gap is why Sabrina Saucier, who played Alberta from 1997 to 2000, said Albert and Alberta are just the “best of friends.” Joy and playfulness fill the mascots’ friendly relationship, she said.
“It was almost like a brother-sister type relationship,” Saucier said.
Reflecting on her memories of being Alberta, Saucier said she had experiences she wouldn’t have normally had as a college student. Ironically, a special experience she had at UF, while behind the Alberta suit, was meeting her husband.
In a class they shared in Little Hall, Saucier said she caught her husband's eye while wearing spirit squad merch she received during her time as Alberta.
“I think he thought I was probably a cheerleader,” she said. “But lo and behold, I was actually Alberta.”
The pair started dating shortly after they met in 2000. Two years later, Saucier’s husband proposed to her in front of Little Hall.
The couple continued their love story on campus by getting married at UF’s Baughman Center. Now, they’re going on 23 years of marriage.
“It was probably the best thing that I ever did,” Saucier said. “I'm glad that I had the opportunity to do it, and I hope that maybe one day my daughter will do the same.”
The Albert and Alberta who got married
Other Albertas, like Kourtney LaPlant, have love stories in the Swamp, too.
Kourtney LaPlant portrayed Alberta from 2001 to 2005 and worked alongside her now-husband Brian LaPlant, who was Albert in 2002.
Brian, who entered UF a year after Kourtney, spent a lot of time with other Alberts and Albertas while helping Kourtney with her duties as Alberta. He was encouraged to join shortly after his arrival at UF.
Although the couple started dating in high school, working and performing together as Albert and Alberta is one of their favorite memories.
“Getting to do it with my best friend, my husband now,” Kourtney said, “was probably the best part.”
Because of their chemistry, Kourtney said it was easy to read each other's signals while dressed up. Holding hands and hugging were their way of communicating in the suit.
Brian said because they were in “giant fursuits,” it was easy to play the part of best friends.
“There are certain things you can express and things you can't express,” Brain said. “They're goofy, so interacting and playing around is really easy.”
Brian proposed to Kourtney at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium, and the couple got married in 2007, he said.
Just teammates
Emma Ostovar, who was on the mascot team representing Albert in 2023, said the LaPlants’ story is one of the reasons people assume Albert and Alberta are a couple.
Even though Albert and Alberta occasionally flirt with each other, Ostovar said she was taught the mascots’ relationship status is defined as just friends.
Albert and Alberta have also posted clarifications on their relationship, Ostovar said.
She said she saw the duo as teammates who worked alongside each other to bring people of all ages together.
“They’re supposed to represent UF and bring Gator Nation together,” Ostovar said. “They’re meant to be a team in that way.”
Contact Alabama Weninegar at aweninegar@alligator.org. Follow her on X at @AlabamaW40513.
Alabama Weninegar is a first-year journalism major and The Alligator's Spring 2026 University General Assignment Reporter. She also works a part-time job at Wyatt's Coffee downtown. In her free time, she enjoys watching her favorite shows on a rainy day or re-reading the Twilight series.
