Florida Florida Gators Mascot History:

In 1907, The University of Florida acquired the name, "Alligators", from a Gainesville native, Austin Miller. Miller's motive behind the "Alligators" as Florida's mascot, came from his desire to have pennants and banners in his father's Gainesville drugstore hung out in time for the first football game of the 1908 season. Why "Alligators"? Because no other school had adopted the name and the alligator is native to Florida. 3 years later, Florida's athletic teams shortened "Alligators" to "Gators". "Albert" and "Alberta" now perform as leading "Gators" for Florida athletics.