BOOSTER BULLETIN Quarterly Newsletter — 3rd Quarter 2017 Cut and post for reference Note from Phil... Dear Gator Boosters, Important Dates This Quarter August 2017 In our last newsletter, we talked about wrapping up the semester and • Late July/Early August - 1st wave of Football Membership still had several of our teams compet- Kits arrive (for those that renewed by June 1) ing for championships. Well, compete • Early August - Season Ticket Packages arrive they did! Three of the Spring highlights • Mid-August - 2nd wave of Football Membership Kits were Coach Kevin O’Sullivan and our arrive (those that renewed before July 1) Gator baseball team winning the pro- • August 15 - Basketball Season Ticket Payment processed gram’s first National Championship, (those on payment plan) Coach Mike Holloway and our Gator September 2017 track team winning their 4th Outdoor National Champion- • September 1 - Official “Chomp Rally” in Dallas, TX - ship, and Coach Roland Thornqvist and our women’s tennis Friday, 6pm at the Omni Dallas Downtown team capturing a 7th National Championship. • September 15 - Basketball Season Ticket Payment pro- These championships and the high finishes of several oth- cessed (those on payment plan) er teams propelled the Gator program to a 3rd place finish in the Learfield Director’s Cup. Winning championships re- quires many things, including championship effort from our October 2017 student-athletes and coaches, and championship support from • Beginning of October - Basketball Membership Kits will our Boosters. Thanks for being part of the winning formula. arrive We competed in the classroom, too. This past academ- • October 6 - Gator Growl ic year our student-athletes earned 7 academic All-American • October 7 - Homecoming honors, 254 academic All-SEC honors and we graduated 89 • Mid-October - Basketball Season Tickets arrive student-athletes. This is what your contributions are supporting: champi- onship results in both athletics and academics. Part of our mission is to provide a “championship experience with integ- rity” and you play a vital role in making this possible. Building Reminder: Football Away Game Tickets will facilities and funding scholarship costs are the reasons Gator be sent within 3 weeks of the event date. Boosters exists, so please know that Gator athletics doesn’t survive without your support. We’re looking forward to an- other great year in all 21 of our sports and hope you’ll be able to be with us in Gainesville whenever possible. Enjoy the summer and Go Gators. Mailing Address Phone Web Gator Boosters, Inc. (800) 34-GATOR (42867) www.gatorboosters.org @GatorBoosters P.O. Box 13796 Gainesville, FL 32604 (352) 375-GoUF (4683) [email protected] facebook.com/GatorBoosters BOOSTERBULLETIN (continued, pg. 2) Keep an Eye Out for... Food Trucks and VIP Tailgating Coming to the Swamp Fans who have enjoyed Gator Walk will now have another reason to come to the North Lawn even earlier. The Gator Walk Village(a premium tailgate set up), along with Gator Walk and food trucks will add to the pre-game atmosphere on the North Lawn in between University Avenue and Ben Hill Griffin Stadium. Partnering with the Tailgate Guys for the fifth sea- son, the Athletic Association will have 14 shaded tents set up along the Gator Walk that will provide a turn- key tailgating experience that includes set up, drop off, bell-hop service, catering and beverage, televisions and parking. Fans will also be able to enjoy food truck options as Cilantro Tacos, Vanarchy Sandwiches, Monsta Lobsta, Latin American Fusion, Kona Ice and more. Participat- ing vendors will vary each week and open about three hours before kickoff. “Gator Walk always attracts a good crowd when the team arrives two and half hours before kickoff,” Execu- tive Associate Athletic Director for External Affairs Mike Hill said. “We think the atmosphere and vibe around that area will enhance the game day experience for our fans. It will be the place to be well before the game.” An additional bathroom, which is similar to the others on Florida’s campus, will be located near the food trucks on the North Lawn. Fans enjoying the pre-game food and atmosphere will be in prime position for the football team’s first Gator Walk of the year, which will occur at 5:05 PM for Florida’s home opener against Northern Colorado on Sept. 9. Gator Walk is a chance for fans to see and interact with UF’s student-athletes as they enter The Swamp. In addition to the tailgates setup along the brick path on the North Lawn surrounding Gator Walk, Tailgate Guys will continue to have loca- tions just south of Ben Hill Griffin Stadium on the Reitz Union Lawn. Join Gator Boosters for our Chomp Rally! Join Gator Boosters and the UF Alumni Association at the Omni Dallas Hotel from 6-7pm on Friday, September 1st for our Chomp Rally! Click here for more informa- tion 22 BOOSTERBULLETIN (continued, pg. 3) Featured Boosters & Major Gift Donors of the Quarter This Quarter We Honor Chris & Jenna McCarthy Chris and Jenna met in October 2009. He was a proud UF alumnus; she had no college affiliation and zero interest in college football. Chris took Jenna to her first college football game about a month after meeting. The game was UF vs FSU and Tim Tebow’s last home game. The McCarthys had nosebleed seats, but the atmosphere was incredible. The Gators won and Jenna was hooked. When the chance arose for Chris and Jenna to buy season tickets in 2010, they signed up immediately. As the years went by, Jenna learned more and more about our rivals, the SEC, and the ins-and-outs of college football. This soon became a real love for the Gators, much to Chris’ delight! Chris & Jenna’s first Gator Game together - UF vs. FSU 2009 The year 2014 marked a new level for the McCar- thys. The Gator couple decided to go to EVERY game; before the game starts and we stay until the end. No attending every minute of every game that year, includ- matter what. Win or lose, rain or shine. “In all kinds of ing the bowl game! weather we all stick together.” We have our tickets and Facing the 2015 and 2016 seasons, they committed a picture of us from every game we have ever attend- to maintaining their streak and maintain it they did! ed!” Chris and Jenna have attended every home, away, bowl, The McCarthys tailgate for all home games as well. and championship game since the 2014 season. The Starting at 6:30am, no matter the game time, they are upcoming 2017 season is no exception and they plan to ready with their Gator spirit and gameday gear. Even attend every game. When we asked Jenna about their on the road, they wait for the players after every away gameday routine, she said, “We are always in our seats game to congratulate them on a victory or support them after a loss. Gator Boosters, Inc. considers it a privilege to have the support of donors like Jenna and Chris. They contribute to our program for the love of it, “We have come to love the program even more as we have got- ten involved. We give to Gator athletics for one sim- ple reason: to support the Gator nation. It’s an honor knowing that we played a part in helping these incredi- ble kids achieve their dreams. Florida excels at so many other sports besides football and we want to see them all succeed, along with the student athletes we should all be so proud of.” In addition to their season tickets, the McCarthy’s have now committed to supporting the Football Stand Chris & Jenna at a Gator game in the Swamp Alone Complex with a new gift to show their generous support for our program. 23 BOOSTERBULLETIN (continued, pg. 4) 24 BOOSTERBULLETIN (continued, pg. 5) Featured Student-Athlete - Ryan Larson “By receiving a scholarship from UF it not only gave me an opportunity to win a national championship, but it also gave me access to a great education. The people and relationships I made at UF are what re- ally made it all worth it. As I look to move on from UF this summer I know companies will look at me differently because of UF. “ - Ryan Larson (Outfielder, UF Baseball Team ) Ryan Larson (UF Baseball, 2014-2017) - Part of this year’s National Championship Baseball Team. Photo on right - holding the National Championship trophy) Meet the Staff FEEDBACK CORNER We would like to feature a booster each The Gator Booster Staff consists of 14 quarter. If you have a great Gator Boost- employees all dedicated to serving our er story, please email us so we can share Boosters, our athletes and the University it in our next newsletter. Send it to: of Florida. This quarter we are highlighting [email protected] Colby Smith. Please let us know what you think of Assistant Controller this newsletter and help us be the best Colby joined the Gator Boosters Staff Booster organization in America. in January 2013 and handles all account- Send to: ing responsibilities for Gator Boosters, [email protected] Inc. Originally from Starke, Florida, Colby graduated from Florida Southern College with a Bachelor’s Degree in Accounting. Colby is married to Heather and they have two children, Ella and Luke. (352) 375-4683 ext. 5005 [email protected] 25 .