Gators running backs coach Tim Skipper instructs a participant in the inaugural "Ladies Huddle" event. (Photo: Deidra Church, UAA)
Gators' Ladies Huddle a Hit with Female Football Fans
Tuesday, April 5, 2016 | Football
Share:
The event was held Friday night, the first under head coach Jim McElwain
By: Taryn Bray, Writing Intern
GAINESVILLE, Fla. -- The UF campus was a happening place on Friday night. There was a baseball game, softball game, track and field relays, and a men's tennis match.
But amidst all that excitement was a buzzing indoor football practice facility filled to the brim with 250 passionate Gator football fans.
Women of all ages came together for the 2016 Ladies Huddle event for the chance to feel like a part of the football team.
The music was blaring from the speakers, the intensity high and energy radiating throughout the facility.
It was easy to tell just by observing these women that this event meant a lot to them.
Gators head coach Jim McElwain and participants in the inaugural "Ladies Huddle." (Photo: Allison Deutch for UAA)
One alumni, Heidi Acke, had been to women's football events at UF in the past but made it a point to differentiate between this year's and the ones before.
"I feel good about this coach just through the event," she said. "It's well-planned, very well-run and there were things women actually liked which hasn't always been the case in the past."
The physical portion of the event kicked off with swamp jacks just as a typical Gator football practice begins.
The ladies were then separated into different groups for different stations to do offensive, defensive and kicking drills all being run by coaches and players.
They ran through drills just as the members of the team would actually do.
Among some of those players who helped out on a Friday night after they had just finished a scrimmage was offensive linemen Fred Johnson and Nick Buchanan.
At the end of each round of drills, chants of "DBU!" were ringing throughout the facility from the defense.
Being able to run through the drills was certainly the highlight of the night.
"I thought it was a lot of fun to go out and do what the players do," said first-time participant and UF student Elain Williams. "We had the chance to run drills and not just talk to people which was cool."
It was astounding to see so many different types of people come together for an event like this to celebrate their fandom and support of simply one football team.
One station in particular that the women very much enjoyed was being able to have a photo op with Coach Mac. It was selfies galore.
He wasn't just there to show his face, he actually interacted with the women and took part in the event which has played an important role in his previous coaching jobs.
When asked about the event, in typical McElwain fashion he said while smiling, "You get an opportunity to actually put people through drills and who knows, maybe we'll find a player out of it."
When all was said and done and the event was wrapping up, the ladies huddled up around McElwain to hear him speak.
To close out the event he began a familiar chant that can be heard miles away on a hot Saturday in fall: "I said it's great…to be…a Florida Gator."
