Carter's Corner: A Gator Chomping Albert Bobblehead
Wednesday, October 24, 2018 | General, Scott Carter
GAINESVILLE, Fla. -- There will be a lot of Gator Chomps on display Saturday at TIAA Bank Field in Jacksonville.
Florida fans will do it in honor of their beloved Gators. Georgia fans will do it to mock the Gators.
Either way, the Gator Chomp is an instantly recognized tradition in college sports.
When the SEC Network launched in August 2014, the network featured the history of the Gator Chomp. Former UF pep band members Monty Musgrave and Rob Hyatt created the version of the Gator Chomp that we know today.
"It did just take off like wildfire," Hyatt said.
Here is the backstory from a blog I wrote then:
Meanwhile, one of the Gators' most famous traditions is now featured as part of a new Albert bobblehead doll.
The National Bobblehead Hall of Fame and Museum recently unveiled an Albert bobblehead that can do the Gator Chomp.
Florida fans will do it in honor of their beloved Gators. Georgia fans will do it to mock the Gators.
Either way, the Gator Chomp is an instantly recognized tradition in college sports.
When the SEC Network launched in August 2014, the network featured the history of the Gator Chomp. Former UF pep band members Monty Musgrave and Rob Hyatt created the version of the Gator Chomp that we know today.
"It did just take off like wildfire," Hyatt said.
Here is the backstory from a blog I wrote then:
The story goes that in 1981 when Hyatt and Musgrave were at a Florida football game against Mississippi State in Jackson, Miss., the Gator Chomp was born.
Hyatt was director of the Gators pep band at the time and noticed Mississippi's tuba section playing the theme to "Jaws" and the school's cheerleaders making a rhythmic motion with their arms.
He turned to Musgrave and said, "we need to do this." Musgrave agreed.
When they got back to Gainesville, plans were set in motion to create a new song and cheer. What they originally called "Gator Jaws" was performed for the first time the following week during Florida's game at LSU. The pep band introduced the new cheer to fans at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium during a 15-10 win over Maryland on Oct. 10, 1981.
A tradition was born.
After some legal wrangling with "Jaws" composer John Williams was settled, UF landed on "Gator Chomp" as the official title of its now-famous composition and cheer.
"It was a spontaneous thing,'' said UF historian Norm Carlson. "Look at it now."
Fans all over the world, whether in the bleachers at The Swamp or on the streets somewhere far away, often greet one another with the Gator Chomp.
"You know what they are talking about,'' former band member Adren Q. Hance Jr. said. "The band developed it and the Gator fans perfected it. It's now one of the most iconic cheers in sports."
Hyatt was director of the Gators pep band at the time and noticed Mississippi's tuba section playing the theme to "Jaws" and the school's cheerleaders making a rhythmic motion with their arms.
He turned to Musgrave and said, "we need to do this." Musgrave agreed.
When they got back to Gainesville, plans were set in motion to create a new song and cheer. What they originally called "Gator Jaws" was performed for the first time the following week during Florida's game at LSU. The pep band introduced the new cheer to fans at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium during a 15-10 win over Maryland on Oct. 10, 1981.
A tradition was born.
After some legal wrangling with "Jaws" composer John Williams was settled, UF landed on "Gator Chomp" as the official title of its now-famous composition and cheer.
"It was a spontaneous thing,'' said UF historian Norm Carlson. "Look at it now."
Fans all over the world, whether in the bleachers at The Swamp or on the streets somewhere far away, often greet one another with the Gator Chomp.
"You know what they are talking about,'' former band member Adren Q. Hance Jr. said. "The band developed it and the Gator fans perfected it. It's now one of the most iconic cheers in sports."
Meanwhile, one of the Gators' most famous traditions is now featured as part of a new Albert bobblehead doll.
The National Bobblehead Hall of Fame and Museum recently unveiled an Albert bobblehead that can do the Gator Chomp.
Can you believe there's an @AlbertGator bobblehead that does the Gator chomp? cc @BobbleheadHall https://t.co/zAwR4NSz1Shttps://t.co/ALeZ7ZGg8X
— Florida Gators (@FloridaGators) October 24, 2018
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