Billy Napier reveals date for black uniforms for Florida Gators this season
Billy Napier has set a date for when the Gators will debut their black uniforms and “Black Out The Swamp” for military appreciation.
The University Athletic Association has announced themes and designations for all 6 home games of the 2023 football season, including the Saluting Those Who Serve and UF Family Weekend. That will come on Nov. 4 against Arkansas. Florida will honor members of the armed forces, veterans and local first responders.
For each ticket purchased, the UAA will donate an Arkansas game ticket to a local military hero, up to 2,000 tickets. Additionally, the UF campus will be transformed into Orange & Blue in celebration of UF Family Weekend.
Last May, during his first spring speaking tour, Florida coach Billy Napier revealed that his team would be wearing black uniforms this season in honor of military appreciation for the nearest game around Veterans Day. Veterans Day is on Saturday, Nov. 11, but the Gators play at LSU that weekend.
“We’re going to take these black jerseys every year and we’re going to auction some of them off,” he said, per On3 Sports. “We’re going to take the money and we’re going to give it families of people in the military that were wounded or maybe had some type of setback.”
“So, it’s a win-win for everybody. We get to Black Out The Swamp. We get military appreciation. We get to create some awareness and education so we can be grateful for these freedoms that sometimes I think we take for granted.”
BREAKING: A date has been set for when the #Gators will debut their black unfirms and “Black Out The Swamp” for military appreciation.
Details inside on when it will be and #UF‘s other home game themes and designations.
STORY: https://t.co/8IRM2DUXad pic.twitter.com/Yupig7zra9
— Zach Abolverdi (@ZachAbolverdi) May 25, 2023
Florida will honor members of the armed forces, veterans and local first responders…………BY WEARING BLACK, all righty then, congrats G8rN8n, the woke university continues to lead by example…I wonder if the G8rs are goint to sport their cool looking ALL WHITE uniforms to honor MLK day or something…
Where’s Delandman when you need him? I think Huggie is a great name for baby woke…
Didn’t uga do one of those black outs back in 08 vs Bama .. hmm how did that one work out ? It’s no wonder you have an issue with a back out humper .
Uf is a huge advocate of first responders and military members and has been for years .
I am serving active duty member currently and see no issue with the team wearing a black jersey .
As an active duty member by all means please tell me how black uniforms honor you? Like I told fuzzy the only military force I can recall wearing black was the SS, I’m sure the uniform choice isn’t to honor them is it? Then of course there was that one exception when our brave troops employed wearing black while on street patrols in Iraq. They wanted to blend in with the local iraqi special forces folk in an effort to not stand out to isis snipers and martyrdom seekers, perhaps your G8r administrators are saluting them this year, yes?
Humper The black of the uniform isn’t where the honor comes from… It’s from the money donated to the armed forces from the auctioning of the black uniforms Einstein!!! But I’m sure you already knew that as well!!!
So you’re comparing one of UGA’s uniform colors to SS uniforms?
The British SAS wear black. The Indian armored corps wear black. United States Navy SDBs look black but are actually very dark blue. Iraqi special forces wear black uniforms. And spec ops operators may wear black on night missions.
Which even muddles the picture even more, lilpo. The UAA is going to auction of “some” of the jerseys and donate the proceeds to families of injured service members, and don’t get me wrong, that is really awesome, and I have no doubt that Mertzy the Mertzyfull’s jersey will fetch millions…but it still doesn’t tie in the overall theme together…You say the black uniforms isn’t where the honor comes from yet it the article “Billy Napier has set a date for when the Gators will debut their black uniforms and Black Out The Swamp for military appreciation”…sure sounds like UF will honor members of the armed forces, veterans and local first responders by wearing all black to me…yes?
First, Nash…as you are well aware of, the 2007 blackout game against Auburn wasn’t touted as “military appreciation”, the 2007 game against Hawaii wasn’t “military appreciation”, the 2008 game against Bama wasn’t either, nor was the 2016 ULL game…so NO, UGA’s black jerseys have never been to salute any military, even the SS…
Secondly, as you are acutely aware of, black isn’t a very good camoflauge color, hence that lack of military use (excluding the occasional night ops and as I said earlier…in cases where our troops wanted to blend in with Iraqi special forces). Nice try tho…keep being you.
I don’t believe I said anything about the UGA 2007 blackout game, but rest assured that I will continue to be me.
You are correct Nash, it was gf8115 that mentioned the disastrous 08 blackout game vs Bama and I inadvertently muddled it with your UGa uniform color counterpunch…but to my point, UGa has never had a military appreciation day wearing black uniforms to honor our troops and vets…
Oh, and rest assured I am glad you continue to be you my compadre. You are a decent person…cheers
As someone who has been to Iraq and afghan multiple times I
Am proud of what uf does to honor mine as well as all others service . Maybe you should look into things before you
Criticize.. have you ever served in the military
Or been a first responder ? I would take a guess on a no answer .
That’s nice gf8115, and once again thanks for your service, my nephew was deployed 4 times over his career and has finally earned his E-9S and finishing up his commitment at Fort Gordon. For what it’s worth I was rejected by the armed services for having a titanium rod holding my femur together, so no, I didn’t serve. I was at the Pentagon on 911 ifthat counts for anything. Those of us that couldn’t serve directly find other ways to help out, if you know what I mean…but anyhoot you didn’t answer…As an active duty member by all means please tell me how black uniforms honor you?
As for the 08 Bama game, that wasn’t done in honor of the troops…but then you already knew that GF8115
Did I say it was in honor of troops humper.. no I did not
..
I just used it as a reference as to why you
Most likely do not like black outs .. take a little
Time
To read before you accuse me of saying something I did not
But this entire discussion is based on U of F choosing black out uniforms on military appreciation day isn’t it?
To your point, Why would you even mention UGa’s 08 game, while failing to mention the other 4 blackout games that UGa won?
Uh . . . slight bit of context needed here. UGA’s black jerseys have never been supportive of any cause. It’s because the school colors are red and BLACK, and the black has been understated in the football uniform design for decades (red helmets, red jerseys, silver britches). Just look at the unis in every other school sport – lots of black with the red.
Even tho the Spearchunkers spanked them pretty good last night, I thought the women’s black softball uniforms with the big G looked pretty cool…
Gator fan don’t take that seriously…woke is anything they don’t like or don’t agree with. Heck they could wear pink it’s the thought/sentiment that matters. Also I’m sure there is more too it than everyone wearing a particular color. Also what other colors would they do.
GatorFan8115………….At least our beatdown was alabama!!!!! I think they won it all that year? Still you’ll have a beatdown as well. Only it won’t be Alabama!!!!
PS. Arkansas, take them apart!!!! I hear Mertz is looking into the possibility of going back to high school!!! LOL
Negan
That’s it, little fella, show that ignorance on a Florida article just like you do on everything Tennessee. You show your low IQ with each and every post. Show us more of that stupidity, boy.
Not a big fan for black uniforms or any color other than our traditional orange and blue. Glad we are doing something to recognize/honor our vets and armed forces but, how does wearing black uniforms serve that purpose?
“any color other than our traditional orange and blue”
A Union 76 gas station globe, a can of Sunkist, the shag carpet colors of a 1970’s custom van, the University of Florida …
Moron
gatorkat45…I agree with you on the black unis. I guess I’m old school concerning every school’s uniforms. All white on the road and the schools’s colors at home games. That’s the tradition of college football & we’re losing too many traditions now.
Florida in black sounds strange. i would have picked some sort of camo set up, but who knows, maybe it will look good. Anything that gets money to those in need I have no problem with. Not sure why humper thinks wearing black means woke. I like the TN all black look and it dam sure dont mean woke. In reality florida still votes red and georgia is now voting blue so who is really woke…
Wearing black in upon itself certainly doesn’t mean woke, wearing black to honor the military and veterans, by all means tell me what message do you think that is sending?
I guess if you are a veteran of the Schutzstaffel, you may appreciate it…just saying…
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JANE YOU IGNORANT SL()T…love Dan
Thanks, I hate it.
Beyond our logo, color is the most recognizable aspect of our brand.
I’m all for honoring and supporting our vets and active service members, but maybe find a way that doesn’t include dressing our guys up in the color of our sworn enemy.
^this
Florida players families will be wearing black after the first 3 games as they see their professional opportunities go by the wayside. Florida fans will not be wearing black at the stadium because after the first two games they won’t show up anymore.
You can’t find a single sports writer or website who gives Florida a snow ball’s chance in hades of even being competitive this season.
2024 season will be worse than this year.
Mertz is gonna put the hurtz on Florida football.
Gaga, have you considered increasing the Vitamin D3 in your diet, or perhaps a prescription for anti-depressants?
You have Napier as your 5th ranked HBC in the SEC and you think he’s the one that needs anti-depressants?
Hahah Nash he has got you there. No way is Napier the 5th best coach in the SEC
It sounds like Nash is hopeful and enjoying his team, whereas others are criticizing something that will benefit military families or the team that they’re supposed to be rooting for. Doesn’t sound to me like Nash is the one who needs anti-depressants…
This is where you are wrong GFA, no one is criticizing something that will benefit military families, just trying to draw a correlation between black uniforms and honoring our heroes…there is no correlation,right?
I guess we shall see how Napier turns out in the SEC, won’t we? Hump, I don’t think “anti-depressants” means what chu think it means.
I guess we’ll see how Napier turns out versus already power ranking him the number 5 coach of 2023 doesn’t mean whatcha think it does, Nash (:
Nash…lake is a lost cause. He’s masquerading online with a Gator-like avatar and dissing the Gator program. He needs to come clean and display his real avatar, Georgia or Tennessee.
You and Phil
Need to get back on your honeymoon “fake gator “ lake life
Kudos to Napier and the University of Florida for honoring our service members and first responders. Our Gators will surely look fierce in all black and I’m sure the players and recruits will all like the look.
Seems to me that Humper has woken up today in a very sour mood, ranting and complaining about things that need to be celebrated instead. What I have gathered by his comment train is that UGA does not set aside a special game or uni to honor service members. I think he should go rant and complain inthe UGA section and try to change that. Of course gaga came out from under the lake in support of Humper’s opinion. like they say, the company you keep, not a good look for Humper…..
Great thinking by fuzzy to point out that wearing black in support of the armed forces is not woke and that between Florida and Georgia, if you had to pick who is woke the latter wins hands down. Just ask your 2 senators and your choice of President. Heck delandman is moving to Georgia with his baby and will lead a petition to have UGA wear rainbow unis in 2024. Go rant about that
Honoring the service members has been a forever annual tradition in the Classic City…Obviously you weren’t in Sanford Stadium listening to Lee Greenwood sing G O D bless the USA in 2014, it was the most moving moment I ever had at a Dawgs game, even if the Charleston Southern game was a real yawner…by the way, the Dawgs didn’t wear black. Just sayin…
Obviously I wasn’t there. That Greenwood song is a great patriotic tune. Now wearing black beats hands down wearing rainbow. Delandman is already moving his petition through the University channels, be forewarned
If anyone at SDS happens to read this thread, your page reload code change after comment posts (reloading to the top of the page rather than at the comment post) is going to reduce clicks and average time on page.
Hat tip to UF or any University supporting our vets and active military.
There is nothing disrespectful with FL wearing black jerseys.
They should mix the black into their helmets as well.
Note: It won’t make your team play any better after 2 minutes :)
Happy Memorial Day to all.
Gators and SEC fans are good folks.
Hat tip and a wink ;)
SEC SEC SEC!
Thank you sir.
And I take back calling you uglyfacedmutt in a different story
lol! back atcha, it’s a badge of honor, Realcoj.
I love college football.
Go Dawgs.
There is nothing disrespectful with FL wearing black jerseys…
No one said it was disrespectful…the topic was how does wearing black respect the military and veterans? We wear black to funerals because it symbolizes mourning and a somber occasion…honoring my military and veteran heroes is neither
fair ’nuff.
Happy Memorial weekend compadre…
Again active duty military member here and I see no issue with wearing black jerseys military
Appreciation night …
The issue, while small, is that there is no correlation with black uniforms and the military. It’s a gimmick.
^Yup, Agree on both accounts, small issue but no correlation…happy Memorial Day to you and thx again for your service old man…
Thank you sir. It’s been a great day. Wife did the grilling today and everything turned out great. When the fireworks start, the fun is over. We have four dogs, and the noise freaks them out. Oh well. I’m just happy I’m not one of the veterans the country celebrates today.
The real problem with this story is that the photo is from Louisiana. There’s got to be an example of the uniform uf will wear somewhere
True, truevol.
They could make it really cool and have black helmets with blue lettering and gator tails hanging out the back of the helmet.
This is 100% in honor of selling tickets, let’s be honest. A struggling program needs to put rumps in seats. It has nothing to do with honoring military or first responders. You want to honor us, give us a free ticket, 2 hot dogs, and a cold beer.
Not true but you’re entitled to your flawed opinion.
The so called struggling program was top 3 in attendance in the SEC last year. There’s plenty of butts on them seats
All I can say is this…Whatever color uniforms you’re wearing; Go Gators !
Any marketing campaign is absolutely about selling tickets. Money is the only thing that matters. Don’t pretend like it’s not. Wearing some random color means nothing to us military folk.
That’s fine but maybe it will to the military families that will get the money being raised