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College Football Travel: In the Swamp with the Florida Gators

Where: Gale Lemerand Dr. [map], Gainesville, FL, United States, 32604
September 21, 2007 at 2:00 PM | by | Comments (0)

The college football season is in full swing, so where are the best road-trip worthy stadiums? We've got the teams, the games and the shenanigans covered on our College Football Travel map.

In 2006, the Florida Gators thumped OSU to become national champions. And despite losing a number of starters before this season, the Gators have a real possibility of going the distance again. In only three games this season, they've posted 167 points.

Under current head coach Urban Meyer, the Gators haven't lost at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium in Gainsville, a trend that should continue this year. But Florida's biggest game isn't at home this year: It's in Jacksonville on October 27 when they play the Georgia Bulldogs.

The venue:
Ben Hill Griffin Stadium seats more than 90,000, and you'd be wise to wear something lightweight: game-day temperatures can hit triple digits. (Better yet, drink some Gatorade, which was developed here to keep players hydrated in the heat.) Tickets for the rest of the season are sold out, so your best bet to find them is online through a ticket broker like Stub Hub. The game in Jacksonville is such a party mecca, it's known as the world's largest cocktail party. You can bet you'll rustle up some trouble on the Jacksonville Landing downtown.

At the Stadium:
While tailgating does happen, it's not the end-all, be-all in Gainesville. You'd be better served by heading to The Swamp Restaurant, getting a table outside and enjoying some drinks with die hard fans. But get to the stadium in time for the marching band's pre-game show. (And no matter what you do, don't resist if heavy-handed security guards ask you to do something. You may end up getting tased, bro.)

Insider's Tip:
The famous "Here come the Gators" called out as the team takes the field is actually a recording. The PA announcer who did it, Jim Finch, died in 2002.

Need a Gainesville hotel before or after the game? HotelChatter has you covered.

Related Stories:
· Florida Football [Official Site]
· The Swamp [Official Site]
· UF Student Tased at Kerry Forum [YouTube]
· College Football Travel coverage [Jaunted]
· College Football Map [Jaunted]

[Photos: ckirkman and jordanfischer]

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