IN REAL TIME: Live updates from Florida Gators open practice
GAINESVILLE, Fla. — Gators coach Billy Napier is bringing an old tradition back. For the first time since 2014, the Florida football team will hold an open practice for the public during fall training camp.
Saturday’s session will take place from 2:30–4:30 p.m. inside Ben Hill Griffin Stadium. Admission is free and fans can enter through Gate 1 and 6 at 2 p.m. Gate 18 will be the only exit point afterward.
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Gators Online subscribers can get all the intel and observations from practice IN REAL TIME by following the link below …
*Live Thread: Updates and news from the Florida Gators open practice
On Thursday, Napier discussed his decision to open up practice for fans this weekend.
“Really just trying to bring back,” Napier said. “It’s a tradition a lot of places that I’ve worked, but I think also at some point here it was a tradition. It’s really a reward for the fans, ultimately, to get an opportunity to watch the team play in spring, early in training camp. For our fans, about a month out from the opener, to get a chance to sit The Swamp and watch our guys practice.
“And really see what goes into a football practice at this level and I think put on display hundreds of people and how they contribute, right? We’ve got a lot of people that allow us to run a really efficient practice. You get to see some of the young players you get to see some of the positions where there’s competition. But more importantly, just respect for the people in the organization that do a great job helping us practice the way we do.”
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Autograph signing at Gators open practice
Florida Victorious will also be hosting an exclusive autograph signing for its members with Napier and Gators football players on Saturday at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium.
The fan experience, which will follow the team’s open practice, will take place directly on Florida Field. The autograph session will begin at 4:30 p.m. and last 45 minutes.
“There’s going to be a unique opportunity for fans to watch his practice and then there’s also an opportunity to learn more about Florida Victorious,” Napier said. “There’s an autograph session post practice for about 45 minutes where if you’re a subscriber to Florida Victorious, you get an opportunity to participate in that. So, we encourage all of our fans to do both. Come to the practice and certainly hang around for the autograph session after practice.”
Florida Victorious members will be granted field access for themselves and one guest of age 12 or under via the north end zone near gate seven. Fans will find offense players on the west side of the field, and defense players and special teams on the east side. Members are permitted to bring one item of memorabilia to be signed.
