University of Florida - Tower / Seminole Yearbook (Gainesville, FL)

Page 10 text:

The First Million Dollar Pep Rally The biggest pep rally of them all, Gator Growl, was thrown on October 28 by the biggest party .gator of them all, Albert the Alligator. Once again, this crowd-pleasing mascot hosted UFls biggest bash and this year's homecoming theme was, ilGators Have the Winning Ticket, the winning lottery ticket that is. The evening kicked off as Albert, along with a Growl audience of more than 70,000 students, faculty and alumni, watched the Florida Lottery Instant Game Million Dollar Drawing make Robert P. Rowell of Jacksonville $1 million richer. Following this was a performance by UF's marching band and the arrival of the Golden Knights, the 0.8. Army parachute team. The Knights, who dropped in on the festivities from a plane circling high above Florida Field, make a - spectacular entrance amidst a cheering crowd. The student skits followed with subjects such as Fruit 8 Fiberglass cereal and rednecks gunning down skateboarders at Turlington Hall. 6 Gater Growl Crowned the 1988 Homecoming Sweetheart was Missie Medolla, a 21-year-old advertising senior from Largo, Fl. The headline entertainment of comedians, Steven Wright, the man with the monotone, and Jerry Seinfeld, kept the audience in tears from non-stop laughter. Seinfeld, a Long lsland-raised comedian, put on an outstanding performance making hilarious the problems of everyday life like hair on shower walls, something he detests. Wright, the 29-year-old philosophical comedian from Boston, was the headliner and he pleased the audience with statements like, ilMy school colors were clearfi to which he added, illim not naked, I'm in the band. The evening was topped off with a spectacular fireworks and laser show that kept the crowd in their seats and cheering until the end of the three-hour show. 4 Dawn Douglass

Page 9 text:

Homecoming Parade Attains National Status During the final week of each Gainesville October, people of all walks of life are driven by an uncontrollable force. This force draws them to University Avenue where they sit, stand, hang from trees, perch on rooftops, or the shoulders of someone they trust and here they stay for at least an hour and a half. A hour and a half, sometimes more, sometimes less, depending on one's tolerance of the accompanying sun that bakes and broils everything below. They don't really do much while they're sitting, standing, hanging or perching. They may eat or drink or clap, whistle or yell but unanimously, they watch University Avenue. What is it that draws these people to gather and crowd together in the hot sun? It's the kick-off of the University of Florida's homecoming week-end. Its the exciting sound of marching bands, the bright colored floats, the special units, such as the Shriners and the Clowns, and the feeling of Gator spirit that saturates the mood of all in attendance. It's the. parade. This year's parade was undoubtedly one of the biggest to date with 128 units floating, walking, running, dancing, marching, rolling . . . you get the picture. Of the 40 floats, a panel of judges chose the best of four categories: High School; Business; Campus Organization; and Greek. The judges were Linda Gray, UF Spokeswoman; Mayor David Coffey; Chamber of Commerce President Steve deMontmollin; Elaine Hall, wife of Galen Hall; and George Evans, Mr. Two-Bits. And the winners were: High School - P.K. Yonge Business - Gainesville Regional Utilities Campus Organization - School of Building Construction Greek - Delta Chi Fraternity 8 Alpha Chi Omega Sorority Parade director David Winton estimated that 110,000 attended the event he spent seven months working on. iiThis paradetwas a media-watch success, Winton said. iilt was on channels 5 and 20 and we also made national news and Newsweek. - Dawn Douglass Homecoming Parade 5

Page 11 text:

AV: N xxENkk Gator Growl 7