I don’t know about you, but whenever I go to the University of Florida, there are always two things that I never fail to see. The first thing that I always see are the gators, poking their heads above the lakes. The second thing that I always see are the Gators – as in the students, the faculty, and the staff.

Almost every single Gator (especially the students) has some form of Gator gear: a shirt, a pair of shorts, a sweatshirt, etc. It is so prominent that when my eyes look over a sea of Gators, all I can see is a beautiful mesh of orange and blue. But why do these students wear such attire so adamantly? What’s the big deal? What exactly is the symbolism behind the Gator gear?

To say it simply, it’s the school pride. The fact that so many students wear University of Florida affiliated clothes or carry around items that are from (or by) this university only showcases the immense sense of school pride that is in the heart of every Gator. It’s pretty straightforward, but it’s also pretty magnificent.

Of course, at a superficial glance, this Gator gear is just the image of the two mascots – Alberta the Gator and Albert the Gator – that outline our every football game. However, at a deeper level, all this Gator gear also symbolizes the silent hum of the very energy and the very enthusiasm that allows the University of Florida to grow and to thrive. It is the day to day appreciation and affiliation with the vitality that exists in the atmosphere of the foundation of the Gator nation.

It is the acknowledgment of the student who believes that yes, I go to the University of Florida, a university that wholesomely cares for every single Gator. It is the symbol that reigns every victory and the one that invigorates every failure. And, of course, it is the intimate connection between every Gator, whether at the University of Florida or abroad, that gives them a reason to befriend each other, regardless of the situation.

All in all, Gator gear is the outstanding symbol of the pride, the belonging, and the admiration. When these Gators wear orange and blue, they believe that it is more than just the act of wearing such clothing. When they wear orange and blue, it is because they truly believe that they bleed orange and blue, too.

They recognize that they are the genuine embodiment of what makes this university so special, both in Gainesville and everywhere else. They realize that they are walking around with a symbol so complex and rich and glorious. They know that when they color the swamp orange and blue, they’re doing it through the deep and immense pride that every single Gator has in them.