Men's basketball team to appear at Gator Growl

October 25, 2007

GAINESVILLE, Fla. —Gator Growl 2007 remains true to its theme “Nation of Champions” this year with appearances by the University of Florida’s athletic heroes.

Traditionally, Growl has always welcomed the senior football players and head coach to The Swamp. This year, for the first time ever, the University of Florida men’s basketball team and head coach Billy Donovan will be taking the Growl stage as well.

Gator Growl 2007 is themed “Nation of Champions” to recognize the current academic and athletic accomplishments The Gator Nation has achieved.

“This year’s theme was built largely on honoring the back-to-back championship titles and we are privileged to be able to host the title holders at Gator Growl,” said Aron Weingard, producer of Gator Growl 2007.

Although Midnight Madness will not be held this year, Gator Growl plans to showcase the men’s basketball team to the entire Gator Nation at this year’s show.

“We’re thrilled and honored to be invited to take part in such a prestigious and time-honored tradition as Gator Growl,” said University of Florida men’s basketball coach Billy Donovan. “It’s one of the truly special events annually for this community, and for the entire Gator Nation, and I think it’s a great platform to introduce the many new faces of our 2007-08 basketball team.”

As the head coach of the men’s basketball team, Donovan has embraced the University of Florida and the Gainesville community and is the epitome of Gator Spirit.

“Every year we try to host the best student-produced event in the country–and one of the ways to be the best is to partner with the best. In that vein, we’re proud to host the best basketball team in the country the last two years,” said Weingard.

Gator Growl 2007: Nation of Champions presented by Verizon Wireless will take place on Nov. at 7 p.m. at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium. Student tickets can be purchased at Gate 13 of Ben Hill Griffin Stadium, the University Box Office or by calling the G.A.T.O.R.S. hotline (352-384-3262). General public tickets are available through www.ticketmaster.com or at the University Box Office. Student tickets are $13 and general public tickets are $20.

For more information about the event, the performers, or tickets, please visit www.gatorgrowl.org.