✦ The 1911 University of Florida football team, boasting an all-Floridian roster, was the first to claim the iconic "Alligators" (later shortened to "Gators") nickname.

✦ This undefeated squad, led by quarterback and kicker Earle "Dummy" Taylor, started their journey nameless before conquering South Carolina's Clemson and USC on a pivotal road trip. The media frenzy surrounding their success solidified the "Alligators" label.

✦ Though several theories about the nickname's origin exist, historical evidence points to team captain Neal "Bo Gator" Storter and his association with the "Bo Gator Club," a popular student group embodying the spirit of early Florida students.