Florida’s Sept. 9 home opener vs. Northern Colorado at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium is set for a 7:30 p.m. kickoff and SEC Network will televise the contest to a national audience.
For the first time in school history, all fans are encouraged to sport white attire to ensure a “White Out” for UF’s clash with the Bears.
UF will be celebrating the 25th anniversary of The Swamp. One year after the University of Florida’s Board of Trustees voted to add Steve Spurrier’s name to Florida Field, Spurrier will now be honored once again as it’s the 25th Anniversary of when the Head Ball Coach gave Ben Hill Griffin Stadium its nickname, The Swamp.
“The ‘Swamp’ is a place where only Gators get out alive,” Spurrier told then-Gainesville Sun columnist Mike Bianchi in 1992. “We feel comfortable there, but we hope our opponents feel tentative. A swamp is hot and sticky and can be dangerous. We feel this is an appropriate nickname for our stadium.”
Spurrier’s teams went 68-5 at home during his 12 seasons. Jim McElwain is 11-1 at home after going unbeaten in “The Swamp” last year.
The Gators open the season Sept. 2 in the 2017 AdvoCare Classic against Michigan at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, at 3:30 p.m. on ABC.
The Gators’ home game vs.Tennessee on Sept. 16 will also be televised, this time by CBS, and has a 3:30 p.m. kickoff.
