Caeleb Dressel is Tennessee 'Mr. Two Bits'

GAINESVILLE, Fla. — The town of Green Cove Springs, Fla., is about an hour from Ben Hill Griffin Stadium. As such, Caeleb Dressel grew up a rabid fan of the Florida Gators.

So when the invitation was extended, the UF (and U.S.) swimming superstar didn't need a history lesson.

"I know all about the tradition and everything behind it, so this is going to be very exciting for me," Dressel said. "I'm completely humbled and honored."

Say hello to the next celebrity Mr. Two Bits. Dressel, the 2017 Southeastern Conference and NCAA Swimmer of the Year who piled on those accolades with an historic performance at the World Championships, will do the yellow shirt/khaki pants routine before No. 24 Florida (0-1) takes on SEC East Division rival and 23rd-ranked Tennessee (2-0) in the league opener for both teams Saturday at the "Swamp."

The game will mark the home debut for the Gators after last weekend's date against Northern Colorado was cancelled as Hurricane Irma closed ranks on the state. The storm was a Category 1 hurricane when it rolled through town early Monday morning and left significant damage in its wake.

Instead of going home, Dressel stayed in town and volunteered his truck and his time to friends who needed assistance.

"There's a lot of cleaning up going on and a lot of people without power still," Dressel said. "Hopefully, with this game, we can all come together, let off some stress and cheer on the Gators."

And before that, Gator fans will cheer on Dressel, who with a dominant junior season has put himself in position to claim the unofficial crown as the greatest male swimmer in UF history.

In time, maybe even the most decorated UF athlete in world history.

UF's Caeleb Dressel (right) tied his 2016 Olympic teammate Michael Phelps (left) with seven gold medals at the 2017 World Championships in Budapest.

After winning the 50 freestyle, 100 butterfly, 100 free and teaming up for first-place finishes in relays at the SEC championships (and leading Florida to a fifth straight team crown), Dressel sped to NCAA titles in the 50 free, 100 fly and 100 free, along the way breaking the American, NCAA and U.S. Open marks in the 100 fly and free. He also pitched in to help the Gators garner All-America honors in four of the five relays at NCAAs, including top-three finishes in the 200 and 400 free relays.

When his junior year was done, Dressel ranked second in program history for career national titles with six, just one behind Ryan Lochte's seven.

Then came the summer, when Dressel went from national to international icon.

At the World Championships in Budapest, Dressel won seven gold medals to become just the second swimmer to win that many — joining Michael Phelps (2007) — in the meet's history. In capturing the 50 free, 100 free, 100 fly and taking party in wins in four relays (4x100 free, 4x100 medley, 4x100 mixed free and 4x100 mixed medley) Dressel also set four American records, etched his name to two world marks and was named the meet's Most Outstanding Performer.

"It's easy to day dream and think of goals, but none of it hits you until it happens," said Dressel, who arrived at UF in 2015 and laid out some very specific objectives with Coach Gregg Troy. "He's held me accountable to it all. As much as I hate what he puts me through sometimes, I've appreciated every second of that time we've spent working. It was nice to see it all come together."

Now comes a senior year for Dressel. How does he top it?

Well, he can start by wearing that yellow shirt and those khaki pants.

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