A new tradition may be coming to all Florida Gators home football games.
The passing of rock and roll legend and Gainesville native Tom Petty saddened the world last week, but Florida’s tribute before the fourth quarter of the LSU game brought a little bit of that joy his music brings back.
Petty’s “I Won’t Back Down” played on the speakers at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium and fans payed a moving tribute to him by singing along in unison.
Now, according to a tweet from Florida’s athletic director Scott Stricklin, it might just become a permanent thing on game days.
The tribute not only touched the fans in the stadium, but people around the country, as videos of the crowd singing along went viral.
“It was hard not to notice it,” said head coach Jim McElwain. “I can’t say enough about the fans in The Swamp … And then to see that after ‘We Are the Boys,’ and to hear that place in unison – that was, it was special. Credit goes to the people who put it together, and more than that, the response then of the fans. And, ultimately, “I Won’t Back Down,” it kind of hits home for me.”