The Super Gators

The Super Gators are a group of students and alumni from the University of Florida that attend football games dressed as super heroes. The group's legendary wardrobe consists of a neon orange hunting style beanie, face paint, orange sofee shorts, blue knee socks, a blue cape, and usually no shirt. Most super gators absolutely refuse to attend games out of costume, and their individual face paint designs are all unique and never vary from game to game. In 2008, for the University of Kentucky game, the tradition of every dressed out member having their individual face-paint pattern was broken to comply with the 'orange out' requested by Mr. Two Bits on his last homecoming game event. They march to the games each week, leading thousands of fans in cheers and posing for pictures.
The group began attending games in costume during the 2001-2002 football season, a season that would become last under head coach Steve Spurrier. The first students to dress in the traditional super gator outfit were Paul Johnson, Steve Gillbert, Brian Barnes, Mike Wallace, Dan Murphy and Dave Smith. All six of these men were then freshmen enrolled in the University of Florida's honor's program and resided in the Weaver Hall dormitory.
In 2002, the group added a few more members who would later be regarded as the "founding fathers" of the group. Johnson, Gilbert, Barnes, and Wallace remained, and were joined by Jarrod Morgan, Dustin Zeier, Michael Barnes, Jason Rupert, Lee Klinglesmith, Brandon Blake, and Josh Patterson. By the end of that season, the group would routinely swell to more than 14 fully dressed super gators per game.
Notoriety
The first TV appearance of the super gators was before the University of Miami vs University of Florida football game in 2002. The group was asked to shoot a promo and open sportscenter that morning. After that, the group was seen on CBS, Jefferson Pilot Sports, several more espn spots, an Old Spice Commercial, and local media outlets. Several Super Gators have been featured in various news papers also. On August 12, 2006, the super gators were featured in the lead picture on espn.com's homepage.
A few Super Gators also have taken on the role of Mascot. Original founding member, Paul Johnson, was the University of Florida mascott, Albert the Alligator, for a number of years. He is one of the most decorated Alberts in school history, having been on the court for the 2006 Basketball National Championship and on the field for the 2006 Football National Championship. The position was later taken over by another Super Gator, Mike Wallace who served as the beloved mascot until the completion of the 2007-2008 season. Samantha Shoaf, one of the first female Super Gators, is also a retired Alberta having graduated in 2008.
Continuing tradition
The spirit of the Super Gator has continued each season; as the original Super Gators have graduated and moved on, a host of younger students have stepped in to keep the traditions alive. The newest breed of the Super Gators are featured on the official 2008 Football Schedule poster and media guide issued by the University of Florida Athletic Department.

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