| The Swamp is the nickname for
Ben Hill Griffin Stadium at Florida Field. A 74 year old stadium
that has evolved over the years into a place where only Gators
survive. It is the 4th most hostile crowd in NCAA Football according
to ESPN, and the
Atlanta Constitution called The Swamp "The loudest, most obnoxious
and notorious piece of real estate in all of college football" (this
is coming from those classy DAWGS....). It is the largest stadium in
the state of Florida and top five in the country in college football
attendance.
Florida Field's initial capacity was 21,769.
Today its official capacity is 88,548, but another couple of
thousand squeeze their way in (I once climbed over the fence behind
the athletic dormitory and watched the game from inside the rafters)
and find themselves screaming for our beloved Gators. Only four
times we have lost in Gainesville in the 90's.
Despite a no-alcohol rule, you can find the
occasional leather boot, plastic baggie, or even re-cycled coke can
containing booze of any sort (they do serve alcohol and great food
in the skyboxes). Also, Florida was one of few schools that issued a
"passout" so you can take a break from the sometimes hot and crowded
confines, only to find most of the people "passing out" at the
Purple Porpoise (a local bar famous for its wings across the street
on University Ave). They stopped this in 2000.
Florida Field is a bowl stadium with some
openings, but for the most part it has seats all the way around. Due
to this bowl configuration and its steep (believe me, when you sneak
in... you must stand all the way up there) seating angle it gets
very, very LOUD!!
I have had the pleasure of being in every
area of the stadium and there is not a bad seat in the house. During
the off-season, its open to anyone. I have walked around the place.
It is majestic and walking on that grass brought me chills. Between
the 3rd and 4th quarter, their is a dizzying effect from fans
singing "We Are The Boys From Old Florida". During a game its
nothing but orange and blue. To listen at the alumni side compete
with the student side in the traditional ORANGE AND BLUE chant is
amazing. More importantly, lets not forget
Mr. Two-Bits.
George Edmundson was Mr. Two-Bits for 40+ years. He went around the
whole stadium in the goofy yellow shirt and tie, getting everybody
in a seating section all pumped up with "2-bits, 4-bits, 8-bits, a
dollar.... all for the Gators get up and HOLLER!!!!!!" Not sure if
he got replaced.
Recently, construction was completed on a two-year $50M expansion/renovation
project that adds 2,900 luxury box seats, expands the press level,
and enlarges the suites for big time Gator boosters. This will no
doubt bring mo' money to Florida Field, but it will also bring more
noise!
It is an incredible experience that I dearly
miss. |
