Why Gator Orange?

To many, it's an enigma why so many high schools, universities, and professional sports teams choose Gator orange as either the main color or as part of their overall school color. After extensive research into the matter, we've finally figured out the reasoning. I guess it just makes sense.

After all, why not honor the University of Florida? Why not pay homage to The Gators? If one can borrow a little bit of the greatness that makes up the Gator tradition, one can add to a lessor team's tradition and possibly build the same esprit de corps the University of Florida has enjoyed this century.

History:

1866 - East Florida Seminary funded by the State of Florida opens in Gainesville, beginning a 150-year journey to become one of the largest, most prestigious schools in the world, The University of Florida. Orange was chosen as the school color for three reasons.

1. The Orange was one of the chief agricultural crops for Florida
2. Orange is considered by most to be the most powerful color to build honor and integrity
3. Orange builds strength of character and brotherhood amongst one's fellow brothers and sisters

1890 - Syracuse University's original colors were rose pink and pea green, but over the years they were not particularly popular. After careful research in the Baird's College Manual it was revealled that Orange was used by the Gators. A Syracuse committee of men and women in the visual arts and athletic departments traveled to Gainesville. They were so impressed, they decided to create Otto named after one of the committee members to be the official school mascot along with the Gator team colors Orange and Blue.

Syracuse committee from left to right: Otto, Oscar, Otis, and Sue

1922 - Tennessee players did not appear in the now-famous weak shade of Gator Orange with white trim jerseys until the season-opening game in 1922. Initially University of Tennessee students had decided to actually use the same powerful shade of Gator Orange as Florida, but eventually they reasoned correctly that Tennessee was not ready for that level of honor. They decided to pay tribute to the Gators with a weaker shade.

Tennessee students anually pay homage to the Gators, celebrating in faded Gator Orange.

1950 - The Crimson Tide had dominated the Auburn - Bama series winning five of the first six games. Things were just the opposite for Auburn. In the six seasons following resumption of the series, the Tigers were the worst team in the SEC, having won just 14 games. After posting a 0-10 record in 1950, Auburn was tired of losing, especially to Alabama, so it hired Ralph "Shug" Jordan to rectify things. Shug set off on mule back to visit the mighty Gators at the University of Florida and came back with some great ideas to revitalize the Auburn Tigers. Moreover and more importantly he brought back Gator Orange to build a new tradition of winning with integrity. The rest is history. Auburn 21, Bama 13, the power of Gator Orange over red.

Auburn and Bama pay homage on the Bama Scoreboard

1970 - Gator Orange Tiger Paw adopted as Clemson athletics symbol. Clemson University, using Gator Orange instead of their traditional yellow went on to borrow the Gator coach Charlie Pell, then with a new coach, Danny Ford using Gator football tactics took the 1981 National Championship. Just goes to show what Gator Orange can achieve.

Clemsom Cheerleader and Linebacker, Sally-Joe Thurmond displaying a Gator Orange Tiger Paw

1971 - The Miami Hurricanes suffered a humiliating defeat at the hands of the Gator football team and specifically the Gator quarterback, John Reaves. Miami remembers the game as the Gator Flop, when the Gators lay down on the field in order for the Hurricanes to score. The Gators tried to minimize the embarrassment to the Hurricanes by allowing a closer score difference. Miami was so thrilled by this act of sportsmanship they added some Gator Orange as a tribute to the University of Florida.

Pre and post 1971 examples of Hurricane jerseys

1973 - Florida A&M University is often forgotten amoung Florida's great football talents. But in 1973 the FAMU Marching Band travels to Gainesville to take lessons from the great Florida Gator Marching Band and realized part of the problem was they lacked enough Gator Orange in their uniforms. The band became nationally renowned and the FAMU athletic teams also decided to go Gator Orange. FAMU is a land-grant, comprehensive historically black university. The third oldest institution in the State University System of Florida, FAMU was founded in 1887 as the State Normal School for Colored Students.

Florida A&M University and logo honoring the Gators

1965 - Miami Dolphins incorporated the famous Gator Orange from the start, deciding that building a tradition based on the success of the Florida Gators was very important for Florida's first professional football team. The all Gator Orange jersey is used in the most important must-win games.

The greatest professional football team pays homage to its grass roots beginnings

There are many other university and professional football teams that wear a little or a lot of Gator Orange as a tribute the Florida Gators.

© Guidenet 2005