5 Random Things About The University of Florida

People who go to the University of Florida get all the perks; fantastic year-round weather, a stellar athletic program, and some great history as well. Here’s a list of 5 random thing about the greatest college on the planet. High school seniors, if you haven’t applied yet, you can find more information here.

1. The University of Florida was founded in 1853 as the East Florida Seminary in Ocala, FL. The university moved to its present location in 1906. The northeast portion of the campus is listed in the National Register of Historic Places.
2. The popular beverage Gatorade was invented at the University of Florida in 1965 after head football coach Ray Graves complained about the quality of the team’s practices during the hot summer months. Robert Cade, Dana Shires, Harry James Free, and Alejandro de Quesada were the researchers who came up with the magic elixir which the Gators credited with winning the 1967 Orange Bowl. To this day, the university receives royalties from the sale of Gatorade.

3. The University of Florida is the only school in NCAA history to win a basketball championship and a football championship in the same year. The Gators’ basketball team won the NCAA tournament in 2006 and 2007, while the Gators’ football team won the 2006 BCS National Championship Game in January of 2007.
4. Notable University of Florida alumni include 2 Nobel Laureates, 9 U.S. Senators, 40 U.S. Representatives, 11 state governors, and 8 U.S. Ambassadors. Notable alumni also include:
   • Actress Faye Dunaway
   • NFL Hall of Famer Emmitt Smith
   • Paul Tibbets, pilot of the Enola Gay (named after his mother), which dropped the atomic bomb on Hiroshima.
   • Sportscaster Erin Andrews
   • Me
5. The University of Florida hosts Gator Growl every homecoming weekend (since 1932). It is the largest student-run pep rally in the world.

Show your support for the Florida Gators with this framed, Sports Illustrated autographed by Tim Tebow!

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