The Swamp crowd singing Tom Petty’s “I Won’t Back Down” after the third quarter Saturday was such a big hit that it looks like it’s going to become a new Florida Field tradition.
UF athletic director Scott Stricklin posted on Twitter on Monday that the practice will continue, following the traditional “We Are the Boys” before the start of the fourth quarter
McElwain and the players will be glad to hear that.
“It was hard not to notice it,” UF coach Jim McElwain said of the Petty tribute. “I can’t say enough about the fans in The Swamp, and I had some comments from their people afterward: ‘Mac, unbelievable environment.’ It was. I credit our fans that show up and cheer our guys on.
“And then to see that after ‘We Are the Boys,’ and to hear that place in unison — that was, it was special. Credit goes to the people who put it together, and more than that, the response then of the fans. And, ultimately, I won’t back down. It kind of hits home, for me.”
Tribute to Tom Petty
Tribute to Tom
Posted by Gatorsports on Saturday, October 7, 2017
The players also noticed.
“I thought it was really cool,” junior offensive guard Tyler Jordan said. “I was sitting on the bench with coach (Brad) Davis and he was chalking stuff up. People started singing and I was looking around and I kind of forgot because my adrenaline was going and I was in the flow of the game. I just kind of forgot that we were going to play ‘I Won’t Back Down’. But, it was a really cool experience.”
Way cool! Gator gans get it!
After watching the latest McElwain/Nussmeier collapse, “Free Fallin” would have been more appropriate.
You’re jammin’ me…
Unfortunate that it took Tom Petty’s passing to get the Gainesville/UF recognition as a favorite son. I know he didn’t attend UF, but he was connected with the University.
Great idea to honor him, great song to remind our competitors that we don’t give up, even when the season is not turning out the way we want it to. Keep up the good fight, boys!
I’m an Gator in Austin Texas. We had ACL this weekend and Friday’s main guest was Jay Z. Before his show started they played Tom Petty’s at ACL in 2008. This was a jay z crowd from teenagers to people in their 50’s. They played the song Free Falling and regardless of age or skin color the entire crowd sang along. That struck me just how much Tom Petty was revered by everyone. Very moving moment!
It was a great one time thing. So, now we are going to have visiting bands playing over We Are The Boys like the classless lsu band did so this can be played after. It will fizzle out after the new wears off anyway.
Still no official word from the UAA though. In the meantime, please help make this a tradition, and sign the petition.
https://www.change.org/p/university-of-athletic-association-make-tom-petty-s-won-t-back-down-a-tradition-at-gator-games
Let it go… the sequel is never as good as the original.