The Southeastern Conference is known for its members having colossal stadiums with exuberant atmospheres, and the University of Florida is no different. 

Ben Hill Griffin Stadium, popularly known as “The Swamp,” is the largest stadium in Florida and the 12th largest in the United States. It was originally titled Florida Field until it was renamed in 1989 in honor of Ben Hill Griffin Jr., an alumnus and major donor of the university and its athletic program. 

“The Swamp” was coined by former quarterback and head coach Steve Spurrier in 1992. 

“A swamp is where Gators live,” Spurrier told The Gainesville Sun 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.” 

“The Swamp” and the famous tagline, “Only Gators get out alive,” quickly gained traction and have been commonly used ever since, having gained a reputation for being one of the most difficult stadiums for opposing teams to play in.

A major contributing factor during the construction of the stadium was that the field was placed below ground level, creating a sinkhole layout. Further expansions enclosed the playing surface with steep stands on all sides, allowing the fans to be within just feet of the field. As a result, the crowd noise gets entrapped within the stadium, creating sound levels as loud as 115 decibels. 

The amount and volume of Gator fans, along with the stadium design, make “The Swamp” one of the loudest stadiums in the U.S. These factors create an intimidating environment, making it difficult for opposing teams to hear play calls and execute them, creating an immense home field advantage for the Gators.

Florida’s unique football traditions also make for a lively game day experience. The “Gator Chomp” has become an iconic cheer in college football and is the most recognizable symbol of Florida athletics. The cheer began during a game between the Gators and Mississippi State in 1981. Two members of the Florida band noticed that when Mississippi State’s band played the theme from the movie “Jaws,” the cheerleaders would make a motion with their arms. The Florida band members soon decided to adopt the motion, a symbol of two jaws clamping down. It was first coined as “Gator Jaws,” but after legal issues with famous composer John Williams, it was renamed the “Gator Chomp.” 

In addition to “Jaws,” the band plays “We Are the Boys from Old Florida” at the end of the third quarter while fans lock arms and sway back and forth. The singing of the song has been a tradition since the 1930s when Florida was an all-male school. Furthermore, Tom Petty’s “I Won’t Back Down” is played through the stadium speakers. This became a tradition after Tom Petty, who was a Gainesville native, died in 2017. 

Despite the slide in success in recent years, the players and coaches of the team can always count on Gator Nation to show up and show out every game.