Gators now ‘strike up the band’ after big plays with the Baller Baton
GAINESVILLE, Fla. — After his first of three rushing touchdowns Saturday, Gators quarterback Anthony Richardson held it in the air to celebrate. After his second TD, he did a dance with it.
Florida running back Montrell Johnson grabbed it and walked with a strut after he scored. And it was the first thing handed to linebacker Amari Burney when he came to the sideline after his game-clinching interception in UF’s 29-26 win over Utah.
Is it a cane? Or a stick? Perhaps a scepter?!
“I don’t even know what to call it,” defensive end Tyreak Sapp said. “Isn’t it what the guys in the band have?”
Bingo.
The object in question has an official name. It is called the “Baller Baton” and was introduced to the football program by Tiger Jones, Florida’s director of speed improvement and skill development.
“He’s trying to start a new tradition,” UF receiver Ricky Pearsall told Gators Online.
Jones played eight years in the Arena Football League (AFL) and was the Wide Receiver of the Year in 2011. But if he didn’t play football at Louisville, Jones likely would have been a drum major.
His mother and aunt were both drum majors, so he grew up around the band. He incorporated that background into his touchdown celebrations in the AFL, which included a drum major step.
Jones would often “strike up the band” when he found the end zone. Now he’s having the Gators do it with the Baller Baton.
“Tiger’s a really good dude. He likes to have fun and make sure we’re having fun. Because this is football. It’s a game, so we still gotta enjoy it,” Pearsall said. “So, every time we score, we get it. ‘Strike up the band!’ That’s what he says. ‘Strike up the band!’ You know, the band starts playing when you score.”
The Baller Baton isn’t just reserved for touchdowns or offensive players. Defenders such as Burney can get their hands on it after a turnover.
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Players said Jones believes in capturing the momentum of big plays and giving players a way to celebrate those moments with their teammates.
“Coach Tiger, he started bringing that around with the receivers. And then that became a big thing all over the team. Now everybody pretty much is using that,” Sapp said.
“I just feel like it adds some more morale and some more excitement to, you know, actually making a play. Sometimes you do make a play and just take it for what it is. It should be, ‘Celebrate yourself a little bit. You made a play.’ Yeah, you did that.”
The goal is “strike up the band” all game long. Burney, Johnson and Richardson were awarded the Baller Baton during Florida’s season opener.
“That’s a great feeling to come back to the sideline and celebrate with it,” Johnson said. “I always do the walk with it.”
Pearsall doesn’t have any moves in mind for his first celebration with the Baller Baton but plans to experience it soon.
“It’s just going to come out naturally,” Pearsall joked. “I need to get it. This next game I will.”
