If you see a Gator wearing a sombrero, there's a reason
Tuesday, September 29, 2015 | Football, Volleyball, Scott Carter
GAINESVILLE, Fla. -- Deiondre Porter was dressed for work.
Still, he probably got some strange looks from fans as he made his way into Ben Hill Griffin Stadium on Saturday during Gator Walk.
Like his teammates, Porter wore the game-day attire implemented by first-year head coach Jim McElwain: boat shoes, tan khakis and a blue button-up Florida shirt.
However, Florida's redshirt freshman cornerback added a special accessory: a sombrero.
"It's a good-looking hat,'' McElwain said Monday.
That depends on your fashion sense. But for the Gators, the sombrero has special meaning.
"You know how each week there are certain guys, who knows how many plays they are going to play, but they need to show up,'' McElwain said. "They are wearing the sombrero."
Porter played an important role on special teams against Tennessee, which entered the game averaging nearly 40 yards per kickoff return.
The final stat sheet from Florida's 28-27 win shows Porter finished with one tackle, but according to McElwain, he lived up to the responsibility that comes with wearing the sombrero.
"This guy on special teams, when called on, did his job,'' McElwain said. "We're having guys understand from a selfish standpoint, it isn't about how many plays you play, it's about the quality in which you play.
"And [when you wear the sombrero] everybody on the team knows how important your role, your job, and how important you doing your job [is]. So it's symbolic. In this particular case, he had some huge roles for us in that game. I'm proud of him."
