Gator Growl is a student-run pep rally at the University of Florida, founded in 1924. It is produced by Florida Blue Key with artists funded by Student Government Productions, and marks the culmination of Homecoming Week at the university.

Since 2021, the show has been held annually at the Stephen C. O'Connell Center at the University of Florida. Until 2013, it was held at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium, the on-campus football stadium. From 2014 to 2019, the rally was held on Flavet Field. There was no show held in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Gator Growl is credited with inspiring Orange Peel, 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 for almost 100 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, legend has it that freshmen contributed their weight in wood to a giant bonfire known as "firing up" enthusiasm for the next day's football game. In 1923, 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, directors, 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!"

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 indoor sports 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 responsibility 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.

As a longstanding tradition at the University of Florida, the event was moved from the Ben Hill Griffin Stadium to Flavet Field in 2014. The venue change also reduces the need for an extensive single-stage setup, thus making the event tremendously more cost-effective.

In its long history, Gator Growl has been recognized by Good Morning America, Comedy Central, Entertainment Tonight and was even featured as an answer on Jeopardy!.

Content

The main purpose of the pep rally is to motivate the Florida Gators to victory in their Homecoming football game. The show features performances from the UF Dazzlers, the University of Florida cheerleaders, and The Pride of the Sunshine marching band.

In addition to the cheers, there are performances from guest comedians, musicians, and entertainers who perform for the assembled students and alumni.

A special portion of the show is reserved for celebrity cameo appearances. In the past, cameo appearances have included celebrities such as David Letterman, Katie Couric, "Nature Boy" Ric Flair, Jonah Hill, and B.o.B.

List of comedians and performers Year Comedian(s) and Performers 1977 Gabe Kaplan 1978 Helen Reddy 1979 Bob Hope 1980 George Burns 1981 Rodney Dangerfield 1982 Robin Williams 1983 Bob Hope, Irene Cara 1984 Bill Cosby, Herbie Hancock 1985 The Smothers Brothers 1986 Billy Crystal 1987 Jay Leno 1988 Steven Wright, Jerry Seinfeld 1989 Richard Jeni, Paula Poundstone 1990 Paul Provenza, Jeff Foxworthy 1991 Brian Regan, Tom Parks 1992 David Alan Grier, Larry Miller 1993 Garry Shandling, Dennis Miller 1994 Sinbad, Bobby Slayton 1995 Kevin Pollak, Anthony Clark 1996 Paul Rodriguez, Craig Shoemaker 1997 Howie Mandel, Jeremy Hotz, Michael Buffer, Sister Hazel 1998 Ray Romano, Dave Chappelle, Carlos Mencia, Larry the Cable Guy 1999 Pablo Francisco, Carrot Top, Craig Shoemaker 2000 Mitch Hedberg, John Pinette, D. L. Hughley 2001 Daniel Tosh, Dave Attell, Jim Breuer 2002 Bill Cosby, Harland Williams 2003 Sugar Ray, Christopher Titus, Arnez J 2004 Bill Engvall, Dane Cook 2005 Greg Giraldo, Wayne Brady 2006 Jim Gaffigan, Gabriel Iglesias 2007 Frank Caliendo, Lynyrd Skynyrd 2008 Jon Reep, Steve Miller Band 2009 Dana Carvey, O.A.R., JabbaWockeeZ 2010 Aziz Ansari, Kevin Hart, Dan Levy 2011 Joel McHale, Goo Goo Dolls 2012 Tracy Morgan, Josh Turner, Dara Torres 2013 The Fray, Sister Hazel, New Directions Veterans Choir 2014 Brooks Wheelan, Foster the People, Ludacris 2015 Jana Kramer, Echosmith, T.I. 2016Passion Pit, Timeflies, Maddie and Tae, Waka Flocka Flame 2017Snoop Dogg, Daya 2018 Walk the Moon, Ty Dolla $ign 2019 Chase Rice, Lanco, Blanco Brown 2021 Titus O'Neil, Gunna, Neon Trees 2022 Flo Rida, Fletcher, Danny Wuerffel 2023 Jason Derulo, Sammy Adams, Tommy Townsend 2024 Dustin Lynch 2025 Steve Aoki

References

Historical voice of Gator Growl Karl Kaufmann, a 39-year tradition continues with his daughter Kelli Kaufmann https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tDzer-WI5ec

External links Official Website of Gator Growl Florida Blue Key Alligator article about Gator Growl Official Website of University of Florida Homecoming Stephen C. O'Connell Center