George Edmondson performs his Mr. Two Bits cheer prior to the Gators-Citadel game in 2008 at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium. (Photo: Matt Marriott/UAA Communications
Carter's Corner: Mr. Two Bits Was No Act for Mr. Edmondson
Friday, July 5, 2019 | General
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – With Tim Tebow on the way to winning the Heisman Trophy and Florida State mired in mediocrity near the end of Bobby Bowden's tenure, the 2007 Gators-Seminoles matchup at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium lacked in captivating storylines.
Well, at least until FSU linebacker Geno Hayes popped off the week of the game and announced unprompted that Tebow was "going down" and that the Seminoles would crash the Swamp party. That's one way to make headlines.
Of course, Hayes' bravado had little impact on the game as Tebow threw for three touchdowns and ran for two more as Florida crushed FSU 45-12. The final scene featured Hayes barking at Florida fans as he was escorted off the field.
In what now seems like an alternate universe, I was the Florida State beat writer for The Tampa Tribune at the time. My Tribune colleague stationed in Gainesville, Andy Staples, covered the Gators and had written about 15,000 Tebow stories that season.
In kicking around non-Tebow ideas to preview a game few gave the Seminoles a chance, we landed on inviting the two most famous fans of each school – George Edmondson (aka Mr. Two Bits) and Jenn Sterger (aka the FSU Cowgirl) – to the Tribune's downtown Tampa headquarters for a photo shoot to centerpiece in the sports section. Both lived in the Tampa area and had universal appeal -- for very different reasons I might add -- among the fan bases of each school.
The Tribune's media partner, local NBC affiliate WFLA, also was located in the same building, so we had potential for our own little multi-media bonanza as the Gators and Seminoles prepared to meet for the 52nd time.
I made the arrangements with Sterger and Staples worked out the details with Mr. Two Bits. Since Tallahassee was a four-hour trip and Gainesville only two, Staples got the assignment of driving to Tampa to facilitate the meeting.
As a former walk-on offensive lineman for the Gators, he also was more equipped to play referee should the friendly rivalry turn not-so-friendly. Fortunately, no one came to blows.
Sterger, flashing signs of her eventual career as a stand-up comedian, offered a memorable quote in meeting Mr. Two Bits for the first time.
"I would love to do what I'm doing as long as you've done what you're doing,'' she said. "But I don't think gravity is going to allow that."
While Sterger was a newcomer to the spotlight, Edmondson was as comfortable in front of the cameras or 90,000 fans as he was telling tales to his Tampa neighbors. His passion and enthusiasm for the Gators bubbled over for everyone to see as he made the rounds in his famous game-day attire.
Edmondson became a fan favorite in Gator Nation starting in 1949, his famous cheer becoming one of the great traditions in school history and college football. His death at age 97 earlier this week has led to an outpouring of nostalgia and affection for what he has meant to the Gators for the past 70 years.
Already in his mid-80s when he showed up for that photo shoot, one memory has stuck all these years after talking to Staples later that night about how everything went. While Sterger was admittedly playing a role that Brent Musburger helped create when he referred to her during an FSU-Miami telecast a couple of years earlier, Edmondson was not.
He was Mr. Two Bits as much as George. He was no one-hit wonder.
Edmondson was his usual feisty self during the shoot, uncertain of what to make of this FSU Cowgirl in his presence. He understood the reason for them coming together to promote the game, but he made sure everyone knew his connection to the Gators was genuine and not to be treated as a novelty act.
He had nothing to worry about. Anyone who had been in his presence or talked to him about why he got up and cheered on the Gators all those years ago walked away a believer.
The last time I spoke to Edmondson was in 2013 when he was 91 and his health declining. He had officially retired at the end of the 2008 season and was pleased to hear the Gators had started to honor him by inviting a celebrity to serve as honorary Mr. Two Bits prior to each home game.
"That's great,'' Edmondson said. "I was pleased to hear about it. They wanted to check with me before they did it and I told them I think that's a great idea. I feel honored that some of these celebrities would portray me out there on the field before the game."
The honor was all ours, Mr. Two Bits.
Much like Hayes and the Seminoles failed to bring down Tebow that night 12 years ago, Edmondson's place in Gators lore won't be toppled.
He was a rarity among us -- a true original.
Well, at least until FSU linebacker Geno Hayes popped off the week of the game and announced unprompted that Tebow was "going down" and that the Seminoles would crash the Swamp party. That's one way to make headlines.
Of course, Hayes' bravado had little impact on the game as Tebow threw for three touchdowns and ran for two more as Florida crushed FSU 45-12. The final scene featured Hayes barking at Florida fans as he was escorted off the field.
In what now seems like an alternate universe, I was the Florida State beat writer for The Tampa Tribune at the time. My Tribune colleague stationed in Gainesville, Andy Staples, covered the Gators and had written about 15,000 Tebow stories that season.
In kicking around non-Tebow ideas to preview a game few gave the Seminoles a chance, we landed on inviting the two most famous fans of each school – George Edmondson (aka Mr. Two Bits) and Jenn Sterger (aka the FSU Cowgirl) – to the Tribune's downtown Tampa headquarters for a photo shoot to centerpiece in the sports section. Both lived in the Tampa area and had universal appeal -- for very different reasons I might add -- among the fan bases of each school.
The Tribune's media partner, local NBC affiliate WFLA, also was located in the same building, so we had potential for our own little multi-media bonanza as the Gators and Seminoles prepared to meet for the 52nd time.
I made the arrangements with Sterger and Staples worked out the details with Mr. Two Bits. Since Tallahassee was a four-hour trip and Gainesville only two, Staples got the assignment of driving to Tampa to facilitate the meeting.
As a former walk-on offensive lineman for the Gators, he also was more equipped to play referee should the friendly rivalry turn not-so-friendly. Fortunately, no one came to blows.
Sterger, flashing signs of her eventual career as a stand-up comedian, offered a memorable quote in meeting Mr. Two Bits for the first time.
"I would love to do what I'm doing as long as you've done what you're doing,'' she said. "But I don't think gravity is going to allow that."
While Sterger was a newcomer to the spotlight, Edmondson was as comfortable in front of the cameras or 90,000 fans as he was telling tales to his Tampa neighbors. His passion and enthusiasm for the Gators bubbled over for everyone to see as he made the rounds in his famous game-day attire.
Edmondson became a fan favorite in Gator Nation starting in 1949, his famous cheer becoming one of the great traditions in school history and college football. His death at age 97 earlier this week has led to an outpouring of nostalgia and affection for what he has meant to the Gators for the past 70 years.
Already in his mid-80s when he showed up for that photo shoot, one memory has stuck all these years after talking to Staples later that night about how everything went. While Sterger was admittedly playing a role that Brent Musburger helped create when he referred to her during an FSU-Miami telecast a couple of years earlier, Edmondson was not.
He was Mr. Two Bits as much as George. He was no one-hit wonder.
Edmondson was his usual feisty self during the shoot, uncertain of what to make of this FSU Cowgirl in his presence. He understood the reason for them coming together to promote the game, but he made sure everyone knew his connection to the Gators was genuine and not to be treated as a novelty act.
He had nothing to worry about. Anyone who had been in his presence or talked to him about why he got up and cheered on the Gators all those years ago walked away a believer.
The last time I spoke to Edmondson was in 2013 when he was 91 and his health declining. He had officially retired at the end of the 2008 season and was pleased to hear the Gators had started to honor him by inviting a celebrity to serve as honorary Mr. Two Bits prior to each home game.
"That's great,'' Edmondson said. "I was pleased to hear about it. They wanted to check with me before they did it and I told them I think that's a great idea. I feel honored that some of these celebrities would portray me out there on the field before the game."
The honor was all ours, Mr. Two Bits.
Much like Hayes and the Seminoles failed to bring down Tebow that night 12 years ago, Edmondson's place in Gators lore won't be toppled.
He was a rarity among us -- a true original.
Florida Soccer | the work doesn't stop 😤
Monday, February 09
Florida Softball Highlights | Kansas/USF | February 8, 2026
Monday, February 09
Florida Men's Tennis | Pablo Perez Ramos UNBEATEN in Singles Play 😤
Monday, February 09
Florida Softball | Jocelyn Erickson Stirrin' the Sauce After First HR of 2026
Sunday, February 08
