I agree with most of the above.
Jacksonville airport is much improved since the renovation. There are THREE speed traps on US301: Lawtey, Starke, and Waldo. Count on spending 30 minutes to get through Starke; I kid you not, the place is a zoo, and there is no reason whatsoever.
Arrive early. I agree it's hard to tailgate when you're just in for the day, but it CAN be done. Donate a couple of steaks and a beer to a likely-looking group in return for the use of their grill. Use a disposable styrofoam cooler for your drinks. Buy pre-made burgers or sandwich fixin's.
Get your picture taken with the Albert statue, or the "real" gator statue outside the North End Zone, or the one on North-South Drive on the SW corner of the stadium. Check out the Hare Krishnas just north of the stadium. The student union duckpond has fallen on hard times; I can't recommend it anymore.
I like the Gator gear shop at the north end of the stadium. You can't get to it from inside, just from outside, and it closes before the game starts. It's always jammed, but they have a good selection, and hey, you arrived early, right?
Refuse to call it Ben Hill Griffin Stadium. Insist on calling it Florida Field. The Swamp is also acceptable.
Check out the scalpers, even if you don't need a ticket. Ask them their price (off campus; it's illegal on campus) and just shake your head and walk away. Eventually that makes it cheaper for the rest of us!
I recommend cruising the tailgate areas and University Ave before the game. There are some strange folks out there and the atmosphere is wonderful. Coeds have recently adopted the Deep South fashion of wearing dresses to the game -- ah, progress!
The Gator Walk starts two hours before the game. Like the others said, you need to be earlier to get a good view.
Get to the stadium about an hour before kickoff and watch the warmups. Definitely don't miss the Swamp video right before the team comes on the field.
Wear sunscreen. The west stands go into shadow about 3:30pm. Depending on the seat, the east stands can be in sunshine right up to sunset. The east stands look directly into the sun, so a cap or visor is advised.
November can be either hot or cold. I have been to games then where it was over 90 degrees, one that was sub-freezing, and one that I started in short sleeves and ended up shivering in a sweatshirt.
Get your food and water before the game starts. Pretzels are good, hot dogs and pizza acceptable. The lines at halftime are formidable and you'll miss the halftime show. Besides, the footroom is tiny and it's hard to get in and out of your seat. They sell Pepsi (and sometimes water) in the stands, but the Pepsi is pretty poor quality.
Consume your alcohol before or after the game. Other threads report that they're clamping down on it inside the stadium. Outside, the open container law isn't enforced in tailgating areas, but it is on the sidewalks, and they seem to target out-of-towners.
If you're in the student section, prepare to stand the entire game. If you're in the alumni section, prepare to be asked to sit down, although I've found that people are very understanding about standing on a long play, turnover, fourth down, or when your view is blocked.
Stick around after the game is over. Watch the players sing the alma mater and fight song. If you get down to the first row, you might get a high five from Tebow or another player.
Definitely check out Lake Alice after the game. It's a great place to unwind. I didn't know about the bats, or that they leave Gate 7 open. I'll add that to my Gameday list.
Enjoy your first Swamp experience! By Gawd, it's great to be a Florida Gator.
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I stay with relatives when I go but there are several good night spots Fri night for college agers. Why not stay in Gainesville?
It has been 15 years since I was last there.
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