Steve Spurrier poses with the Gators gymnasts outfitted in their Spurrier-themed leotard. (Photo: Maddie Washburn/UAA Communications)
Carter's Corner: Gators Gymnastics Team Pays Homage to Spurrier in Unique Fashion
Friday, January 24, 2025 | Gymnastics, Scott Carter
GAINESVILLE, Fla. — Last fall, Gators gymnastics coach Jenny Rowland was inspired when she took the designer of the Gators' leotards to dinner at Spurrier's Gridiron Grille.
The company that makes the leotards is based in Australia and sent the designer and another representative to UF to tour Florida's facilities and watch the Gators practice.
"We were there just revising leotards on the spot that we had already designed and started a new one there," Rowland said this week. "The designer, she's like, 'OK, what should we call it?' And we were at Spurrier's. It's more Gatory than we usually make our leotards."
Hence, when the Gators host Southeastern Conference rival Georgia on Friday night at the O'Dome, they will be performing for the first time in their newest leotard, "The Spurrier."
On Thursday, the Head Ball Coach, working in his office at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium, chuckled at a much different kind of honor than he is accustomed to receiving.
"A Spurrier leotard,'' he said. "I've had ballparks and stadiums and indoor stadiums named after me, but never a leotard. Maybe I need to model it."
Spurrier chuckled again, suggesting that is probably not the best idea. Perhaps a framed leotard on his office wall will suffice.
Regardless, the former Gators Heisman Trophy winner, national-champion head coach and two-time College Football Hall of Fame inductee is honored by the gesture. He recently took a photo (see above) with the Gators decked in the Spurrier-themed leotard. The body suit features a large Gator Head logo on the front, Gator-type scales and stripes reminiscent of a football jersey on the sleeves.
And plenty of Orange & Blue, too.
"I guess there's a first for everything,'' Spurrier said. "A leotard named after a football coach. Maybe that makes me the first."
Rowland is excited for the Gators to debut the outfit against Georgia, which Spurrier went 11-1 against in his 12 seasons as Florida's head coach. Rowland said Spurrier, a longtime supporter of UF women's athletics, calls each preseason to check in on the team and get her thoughts on the upcoming season.
Rowland said the Spurrier leotard is a small way to say thank you.
"How cool is that? You know you've made it big when a football coach gets a leotard named after him,'' Rowland said. "I will take all the good vibes from Coach Spurrier that I can get.
"He's the man."
The company that makes the leotards is based in Australia and sent the designer and another representative to UF to tour Florida's facilities and watch the Gators practice.
"We were there just revising leotards on the spot that we had already designed and started a new one there," Rowland said this week. "The designer, she's like, 'OK, what should we call it?' And we were at Spurrier's. It's more Gatory than we usually make our leotards."
Hence, when the Gators host Southeastern Conference rival Georgia on Friday night at the O'Dome, they will be performing for the first time in their newest leotard, "The Spurrier."
On Thursday, the Head Ball Coach, working in his office at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium, chuckled at a much different kind of honor than he is accustomed to receiving.
"A Spurrier leotard,'' he said. "I've had ballparks and stadiums and indoor stadiums named after me, but never a leotard. Maybe I need to model it."
Spurrier chuckled again, suggesting that is probably not the best idea. Perhaps a framed leotard on his office wall will suffice.
Regardless, the former Gators Heisman Trophy winner, national-champion head coach and two-time College Football Hall of Fame inductee is honored by the gesture. He recently took a photo (see above) with the Gators decked in the Spurrier-themed leotard. The body suit features a large Gator Head logo on the front, Gator-type scales and stripes reminiscent of a football jersey on the sleeves.
And plenty of Orange & Blue, too.
"I guess there's a first for everything,'' Spurrier said. "A leotard named after a football coach. Maybe that makes me the first."
| No. 3 Florida vs. No. 13 Georgia | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Exactech Arena at the Stephen C. O'Connell Center (gates open at 5 pm) |
| Time: | 6:15 p.m. |
| TV: | SEC Network |
| Tickets: | FloridaGators.com |
Rowland is excited for the Gators to debut the outfit against Georgia, which Spurrier went 11-1 against in his 12 seasons as Florida's head coach. Rowland said Spurrier, a longtime supporter of UF women's athletics, calls each preseason to check in on the team and get her thoughts on the upcoming season.
Rowland said the Spurrier leotard is a small way to say thank you.
"How cool is that? You know you've made it big when a football coach gets a leotard named after him,'' Rowland said. "I will take all the good vibes from Coach Spurrier that I can get.
"He's the man."
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