College football is built on tradition, and few places embody it like Gainesville and the University of Florida.
Game day isn’t something that starts when the gates open at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium. It starts hours earlier, when the campus fills with orange and blue, tailgates take over the lawns and streets, and thousands of fans make their way toward The Swamp.
That’s what makes UF different from a lot of college football destinations. The stadium isn’t miles from campus or tucked away on the edge of town. It sits in the middle of everything, surrounded by a campus that comes alive with the sights, sounds and energy of game day.
Once you’re inside The Swamp, generations of Gator traditions take over, from Mr. Two Bits and singing Gaineville native’s Tom Petty’s “I Won’t Back Down” to the deafening noise that makes Ben Hill Griffin Stadium one of the most intimidating venues in college football.
For first-time visitors, there’s a lot to take in. Where else can you tailgate in one of the country’s great college towns, spend the day immersed in UF tradition and feel the energy build across campus before walking into one of the most iconic stadiums in college football?
Whether you’re a lifelong Gator or making your first trip to The Swamp, here are five experiences that belong on every Florida football fan’s bucket list:
Tailgate your way through Gainesville
The town is buzzing from the moment you arrive, with grills going, music playing and orange and blue everywhere you look. Whether you’re partying with friends or wandering from tailgate to tailgate, soaking in that pregame atmosphere is part of the experience.
Get ready to Chomp
Nothing captures the spirit of Gator Nation like 90,000 fans doing the Gator Chomp in unison. Whether you learned it as a child or are a first-timer, joining the crowd as the arms go up and the jaws snap — often to the “Jaws” theme — is a quintessential UF experience.
@cfbtravelguy Chomp in the Swamp #florida #gators #gatornation #gogators #floridafootball #gatorfootball #chomp #gainesville #secfootball #collegefootball #cfb #cfbtravel ♬ original sound – College Football Travel Guy
Experience Mr. Two Bits
George Edmondson Jr., the original Mr. Two Bits, retired in 2008 and died in 2019, but honorary guests continue to lead the pregame cheer at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium. Those guests rally fans with the iconic “Two bits, four bits, six bits, a dollar! All for the Gators, stand up and holler!”
Sing ‘I Won’t Back Down’ with Gator Nation
One of the sport’s most unique traditions brings Gator Nation together as fans join in a thunderous singalong at the end of the third quarter. Born and raised in Gainesville, Tom Petty’s music is part of the city’s identity — and now, part of the The Swamp’s soundtrack.
The Cocktail Party in Jacksonville
OK, this one isn’t on campus, but experiencing the rivalry with Georgia in Jacksonville (it returns there in 2028) belongs on the bucket list. The neutral-site setting, the history, the intensity of the rivalry — and the parties! — make this one of college football’s must-see experiences.
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Mike Garbett is a content specialist working with McClatchy’s Content Innovation Lab.