Gator Nation Essay

1214 Words3 Pages

Introduction
The University of Florida is a SEC powerhouse as well as one of the best public universities in the nation. Florida has made a name for itself by proving dominance in almost every sport. As a University of Florida student, I know how much sports mean to the school, and all the privileges they provide. The athletic department is a source of energy for its student body. From the Gator “chomp” to game days in the swamp, the University of Florida’s athletics bring the student community together as a whole. The Gator Nation is proof of the school’s strong school spirit; alumni willingly donate and fundraise millions of dollars each year to improve the quality of the school.

The Gator Nation
School spirit can be defined as a student’s …show more content…

Everybody loves their gator gear and wears it proudly; hats, socks, shirts, backpacks, you name it. Besides showing their support with Florida gear, students show their gator pride by excelling in the classroom. A study was done by Varsity Brands in 2015 with the attempt to discover how school spirit is connected to the way students learn, lead and grow (NFHS). The study’s results were that students with school spirit perform better academically, are more engaged in social and civic concerns, and are happier overall (NFHS). Students that love their school are more motivated and active in the student/school community. A female principal confirms this in her response to the Varsity Brands study saying, “When students feel a sense of efficacy, they tend to be more involved, more in tune with the great opportunities which exist on their campus.” (NFHS). Arguably the best time of the year, during football season, students bring their overwhelming spirit to the Swamp to celebrate and cheer for their beloved …show more content…

With 88,548 seats, The Swamp is recognized as one of the loudest football stadiums on the planet from its passionate and emotional fans (Sallee). Its special concrete structure makes it seems as if the fans are right on top of the stadium (Sallee). UF even holds a program before the first week of school for its incoming freshman at the Swamp; new students are taught the game day chants and songs we sing on game day. From the very beginning in life as a gator, we are taught to love and embrace The Swamp. Students, alumni and families all come together, to cheer on their beloved gators. Sternberg described game day at OSU by saying, “It makes life on the campus much more fun and boosts morale and a feeling of identification with the institution.” (Sternberg). When you wake up on game day at UF, there is nothing that can compare to the feeling of seeing the blue and orange tailgating tents all over

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