Gator Growl

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Gator Growl is a student run pep rally at the University of Florida. It marks the culminating moment of Homecoming Week at the university. Generally regarded as the largest student-run pep rally in the world, the show is held annually in Ben Hill Griffin Stadium (also known as "The Swamp") at the University of Florida. In the past, Gator Growl has attracted well-known entertainers such as Robin Williams, Dennis Miller, Jerry Seinfeld, Dave Chappelle, Bill Cosby, Billy Crystal, Richard Jeni, Paula Poundstone, Bob Hope, and Dane Cook. A special portion of the show is reserved for celebrity cameo appearances. In the past, cameo appearances have included former Presidents George H. Bush and Bill Clinton, as well as entertainment icons such as David Letterman, Katie Couric and "Nature Boy" Ric Flair.

This year, the theme of Gator Growl is "Road to the Swamp", a politically-charged theme chosen for the event's proximity to Election Day. Gator Growl will present comedian Jon Reep, winner of "Last Comic Standing", as its main performer on October 24, 2008. Gator Growl's musicial talent for 2008 will be the Steve Miller Band [http://www.alligator.org/articles/2008/09/08/news/campus/080907_growl.txt]

Gator Growl is credited with inspiring Orange Peel (event), a similar event held annually at Oklahoma State University after a group of students, faculty and alumni traveled to Gainesville in 1995 to witness the event.

History

Gator Growl has been a University of Florida tradition over 80 years. Gator Growl has its roots in the tradition of “Dad’s Day,” a turn-of-the-century tradition in which fathers of the then all-male student body were invited to visit the new campus. In 1916, a pep rally replaced Dad’s Day and “Gator Growl” was born. At the original pep rally, freshmen contributed their weight in wood to a giant bonfire, known as “firing up” enthusiasm for the next day’s football game. In 1925, the tradition grew as skits, musical performances and guest speakers expanded the rally into a variety show. Students & alumni continued to express their Gator spirit by participating in cheers and enjoying performances by UF’s Marching Band, Cheerleaders and Dazzlers.

Over time, the Gator Growl production grew with the advancement of technology to its current scale. Today, it is a showcase of athletic talent and spirited tradition; a spectacle of fireworks, light displays, live music, and comedy. More than 500 student volunteers work for thousands of hours to coordinate the night of festivities for the University of Florida community. Producers, assistant directors, and staff members are in charge of the production, execution, promotion and dismantling of the show. These student volunteers earn Gator Growl its beloved nickname, “the world’s largest student-run pep rally!” Gator Growl is also primarily produced and run by members of UF's large Greek community, who hold almost all of the leadership positions.

The majority of the manual labor associated with this major production, however, is provided by University of Florida students who work at the Stephen C. O'Connell Center, the University of Florida's on-campus arena. The event takes more than a week to physically set up and requires more than 200 student employees to do so. Because Gator Growl is always held the night before a home football game, these students must work all night to remove every trace of the event by the following morning. Like all aspects of Gator Growl, the physical construction is also student-run with primary responsiblity falling on the Production Lead--the student technician charged with coordinating and supervising all of the other student employees. The Production Lead and the Head Electrician (also a student) will typically serve as an apprentice to the position the year prior.

In its long history, Gator Growl has been recognized by "Good Morning America", Comedy Central, "Entertainment Tonight" and many other popular culture outlets—“What is Gator Growl?” was even the response to an answer on "Jeopardy!".

Past Comedians and Performers

External links

* [http://www.gatorgrowl.org/ Official Website of Gator Growl 2008: Road the Swamp presented by Verizon Wireless]
* [http://www.fbk.org/ Florida Blue Key]
* [http://www.alligator.org/articles/2007/10/19/news/campus/show.txt "Alligator" article about Gator Growl]
* [http://www.ufhomecoming.org/ Official Website of University of Florida Homecoming 2008]
* [http://www.oconnellcenter.ufl.edu/ Stephen C. O'Connell Center]