A beloved former Gator will return to The Swamp on Saturday night.

The school announced that Percy Harvin will be Celebrity Mr. Two-Bits for the game against Florida State.

Despite all of his highlights from 2006-08, serving as Mr. Two Bits offers a unique route. Harvin said he is practicing the routine this week with his wife and family as his audience.

“I’m definitely honored,” he said. “It will be intimidating and it will be great to be in front of the fans and just to get the team pumped up,” Harvin said. “I’ve kind of been nervous, I know I will be a little intimidated, but I’m looking forward to it.”

The atmosphere, especially at night, is unique across his career.

“I’m going to tell you, playing in that ‘Swamp,’ it’s a top-three or four kind of stadium,” Harvin said in an interview with Scott Carter of FloridaGators.com. “When it turns to night, I really believe in my heart, having played in different stadiums, even NFL stadiums, at night there ain’t too many places that get you the football atmosphere that ‘The Swamp’ has. ‘The Swamp’ at night, that was one of my favorite all-time games at any level, all the way to professional.”

Harvin said he has strong memories of George Edmondson, the original Mr. Two Bits, who passed away in July. Harvin remembers the impact Edmondson had on the crowd during his playing days.

“That’s honestly one of the bigger reasons I wanted to do it,” he said. “I figured there was no bigger fan than Mr. Two Bits, cheering us on, and that’s probably the reason I feel honored doing it. Mr. Two Bits, he didn’t go to school there, he didn’t get paid to do it, he didn’t receive anything for it. It was really just a fan cheering for his team.

“I think just to be able to follow someone who did it just for the passion, for the love of the game, I think there is no bigger game to come out there and show my gratitude and to try and get the fan base pumped up than against one of our biggest rivals.”

Here are some key highlights that Gator fans will no doubt love to recall:

  • In his only home night game against the Seminoles in 2007, Harvin rushed for 157 yards and a touchdown in Florida’s 45-12 romp.
  • In 2008 when Steve Spurrier, whose name is now attached to the Gators’ home, brought his South Carolina team to “The Swamp,” Harvin rushed for a career-high 167 yards and two touchdowns. His 80-yard run on the first play of the second half left Spurrier stunned in silence and shaking his head as the Gators dealt Spurrier his worst loss, 56-6.
  • And who can forget the 2008 win over LSU, which entered ranked fourth and winners of 19 consecutive night games. Harvin grabbed a pass from Tim Tebow that was tipped by Tigers safety Danny McCray and raced for a 70-yard touchdown reception on Florida’s opening drive. They still talk about how loud “The Swamp” was as Harvin sprinted toward the end zone.