Florida's rivalry game against Tennessee is officially SOLD OUT
GAINESVILLE, Fla. — It will be a packed house in The Swamp on Saturday night. The Florida Gators announced an official sell out Thursday for their SEC opener vs. No. 11 Tennessee.
Kickoff is at 7 p.m. and the game will be televised by ESPN. Florida fans have been encouraged by the University and Gators coach Billy Napier to wear blue to the stadium against the Vols.
“Look, I think what’s understood sometimes doesn’t need to be said, if that makes sense. This is Florida-Tennessee. I think our fan base pretty well-versed in this one,” Napier said this week. “We are encouraging our fans to wear blue. Look, our fans have an opportunity to contribute to the game. They are truly part of the team. They can impact the game.
“There’s an energy that they provide for our players, but there’s also an element where they can make it very difficult for the opponents. It’s one of the most iconic and more challenging venues in all of college football. I anticipate that Saturday night, it will be at its best. I know our people take great pride in their role and what they bring to the table.”
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The sellout is the fifth under Napier as there were four games sold out in his first season last year after having four sellouts since 2018 prior.
“We’re excited about playing in front of our crowd. Look, our players, they feed off of our fans. They bring great energy and certainly they can make it difficult for the other team to play and that is exactly what we want them to do. I know our fans are excited about the game,” Napier said.
“We have loyal fans, we have passionate fans and ultimately, it’s a motivator for me. The more people I meet, the more stories they tell me about the great memories they have of the success that’s been had here in athletics as a whole and in football in general, it’s a motivator.”
Florida has dominated this rivalry in the last two decades, although Tennessee has won twice in the past six years. UF has been victorious in 16 of the last 18 matchups.
The Gators haven’t lost a home game to the Volunteers since 2003, owning nine-straight home wins in the series. They led the series 31-21 with a 16-5 mark in The Swamp.
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![Florida Gators head coach Billy Napier walks during the first half at the Orange and Blue spring football game at Steve Spurrier Field at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium in Gainesville, FL on Saturday, April 13, 2024. [Matt Pendleton/Gainesville Sun]](https://on3static.com/cdn-cgi/image/height=215,width=393,quality=90,fit=cover,gravity=0.5x0.5/uploads/dev/assets/cms/2024/04/18141240/Untitled-design-72-2.png)
