Florida shares birthday tribute to late rock 'n' roll icon, Gainesville native Tom Petty
Three years ago, music fans everywhere were saddened by the shocking news of Tom Petty’s unexpected passing.
As a tribute to Gainesville’s most famous son, Florida football began playing Petty’s “I Won’t Back Down” over the PA system in The Swamp before the start of the fourth quarter. The “Full Moon Fever” smash was an instant hit with fans (and media members) and “I Won’t Back Down” was here to stay as a new Swamp tradition following.
Tuesday would have been Petty’s 70th birthday. Florida football’s official Twitter account recognized Petty’s birthday with a video clip of fans and players singing “I Won’t Back Down” over the past three years.
Happy Birthday, @tompetty 🙏 pic.twitter.com/3Ni42UW38p
— Gators Football (@GatorsFB) October 20, 2020
This year’s really made me look a bit differently at a college football stadium like in this clip full of people having a good time without a worry in the world and without a single mask in the house.
Can’t wait to get back to normal.
Couldn’t agree more.
Yeah I really miss TP. One of my favorites. Interesting fact, TP was a groundskeeper on UF’s campus. Now his music is revered across the world.
Petty was the man, homegrown talent
Petty’s inspiration for his hit song Even The Losers Get Lucky Sometimes was none other than his hometown turds.
It’s always cool to see a person from an intellectual and cultural sh*thole escape their surroundings and hit it big.
Or spend their days with a blow up doll and trolling SDS comments. Not quite as satisfying, but I’m sure you’re working on it.
Even on a non football story you still come across as a jacka$$.
Can’t help being a big ole Moron
Dumbs, is the equivalent of Atlanta sewer dung in July.