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

Page 28 text:

Ynu can't help but feel a great sense of pride w hi 1e ta i lga ting, before the footba ll ga mes. Sometimes, Albert and Alberta will stop by just to make sure you're feeling, the. Gator Pride. Plltilfns bf; I086 L.?l'cm Delta Upsilon alumni stop by the house to remember the good old days as Gators. Photo by lose Otero Greek organizations often hold events that involve tailgating before the footballs games. Often, alumni stop by to Visit as well. Photo by I036 Otero Campers, RVs and tents litter campus on gamedays. No matter where you go, even near the O'Connell Center, you can find people having a good time. Photo by Jose Otero 24 TAILGATING Sophomore Noelle Casagrande celebreates the ESPN Game day with her parents before kick-off. Tailgating on campus allows students and parents great bonding time. Photo by lose Otero

Page 27 text:

The Rowdy Reptiles are known as fierce fans at Gator basketball games. The Gator Chomp is a . longtime tradition of UP and is used to scare off threatening opponents. Photo by Jose Otero Sam Saxon, housedad for Pi Kappa Phi fraternity, proposes in front of some of his brothers. This process, known as lavaliering, is an age old tradition in the Greek system. Photo by Jose Otero CAMPUS TRADITIONS The University of Florida finished celebrating its 150th anniversary this year and through the last century and a half, many traditions have come and gone. The traditions at UF were a big part in my choosing to attend Florida, said freshman Ed Maldonado . In the past, traditions concentradted heavily on in- coming freshman, 0r rats, and their treatment from upper division students. Wether they were forced to wear rat caps or salute seniors, many of the freshman- orientecl traditions were meant to train the incoming students. Homecoming has alWas been a big event on campus. Freshman were woken up in the middle of the night and were forced to carry their weight in wood to the bonfire. Ever attended a football game? Fans should ready themselves for a plethora of Chants, songs and arm movements to cheer on the Gators. The chomp has become symbolic of UP football tradition as well as We are the Boys of Old Florida and It's Great to Be a Florida Gator. It's gauranteed that Mr. Two-Bits will make an appearance at everyone home game, as he has done for over 50 years. But footb all isn't the only sport On campus with a wide , variety of traditions. Any event in the O'Connell Center is plagued with the Rowdy Reptiles and their undaunting school spirit and loud behavior. Reading the Alligator has been a campus tradition since 1906. As the largest, student-run, college newspa- per in the nation, the Alligator has a national reputation that it strives to maintain. From painting the 34th Street wall to decorating caps at graduation, Gainesville and UP are ripe with tradi- tions old and new. -Adrienne Alexandria Sorority Bid Day is, perhaps, a dream come true for many college girls. It is the day that campus sororities issue their welcome to the new pledge class every year. Photo by Jose Otero CAMPUS TRADITIONS 23

Page 29 text:

TAILGATING The scene is crawling with trucks, cars, motor homes, tents and of course people. Homeowners who are looking to make a little extra while fans socialize, eat and ex- change tickets with family, friends, or even perfect strang- ers rent out their yards. The term tailgating generally imposes the image of piCk-up trucks, but there is so much more to the pre- kickoff madness. ust as many people can be found at the fraternity-sorority barbeques and Emerson Alumni Hall. Some go back and forth between where they Choose to spend their pre-game hours. In a grassy spot right outside the stadium was where third-year marketing student David Manz was for the Ole Miss game. He said he doesn't usually tailgate there, but was entertaining a visiting friend that weekend with the outside festivities. In the alumni hall, you can find stu- dents from long a go, like John Giblin, from the graduating Class of 1952. Although it's been over 50 years since he attended Class here, he still makes the 340-mile trip to Gainesville with his son-in-law to the occasional game. The two of us have been coming to games for ten years or so, says Giblin. He enjoys it. On any given home game day, pretty much anyone and everyone in the Gaines- ville area is taken hold of by Gator game day spirit. As long as UF football has been a tradition, so has been tailgating, which is not just limited to current students only. People of all ages, from infants and Children to alumni and senior citizens, can be found in any available space on campus and the surrounding area. People such as Cory Veiley, who faithfully shows up with his camper, tent, grill, and cooler to the baseb all field every time the Gators are in The Swamp and who has not missed a home Gator football game since 1969. I've been to every Florida-Georgia game since l69, the one in Athens and the one here, all the games in Tallahassee and all the games here. I've got the oldest motor home in the parking lot. He, his father, and now his son have allbeen University of Florida students at one time or another. -Alyssa Tormillo Parents and students celebrate the Parent's Weekend barbeque on campus before heading to the football game. Photo by lose Otero TAILGATING 25