Following its theme of "Nation of Champions," Gator Growl has added another championship-winning guest to its lineup of entertainers and UF athletes.
Billy Donovan, UF men's basketball coach, will appear with the team at Gator Growl.
The 84th annual Gator Growl, billed as the world's largest student-run pep rally, will kick off Nov. 2 at 7 p.m. in Ben Hill Griffin Stadium.
Aron Weingard, Gator Growl producer, said this is the first time he's heard of the basketball team and its coach appearing at the pep rally.
"I know the students will be pumped up to see Billy and Urban in the same night, live," Weingard said.
Weingard said his staff started looking into Donovan's appearance in the summer and made the final arrangement about two weeks ago.
The appearance only made sense, given the pep rally's theme, he said.
"It's a great opportunity for the students of UF to meet the new faces of Gators basketball," he said. "We're celebrating championships, and it wouldn't be complete without them."In a Gator Growl news release, Donovan said the team was excited about its scheduled appearance.
"We're thrilled and honored to take part in such a prestigious and time-honored tradition as Gator Growl," Donovan said. "It's one of the truly special events for this community and for the entire Gator Nation."
