Tom Petty is a fixture for Florida fans, especially when they hear the opening notes of “I Won’t Back Down” in The Swamp.

Florida has paid tribute to Tom Petty since his passing in October 2017. The Saturday after Petty passed, against LSU, Florida played Petty’s “I Won’t Back Down” in between the 3rd and 4th quarters. The stadium sing-along was a hit with fans and became a new tradition.

This season, one of the best home environments came after 3 quarters of play when Florida led No. 11 Tennessee 26-10, and that led to a festive atmosphere in Ben Hill Griffin Stadium.

Tom Petty, who was born on October 20, 1950, was an old-fashioned rock superstar. Before his death, Petty recently completed a 40th-anniversary tour with his band, the Heartbreakers.

A native of Gainesville, Florida, Petty became a star in the 1970s and sold more than 80 million records. He was known for his everyman style. The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inducted Petty and the Heartbreakers in 2002, and called them “durable, resourceful, hard-working, likeable and unpretentious.”

During the 29-16 win over Tennessee this season

The new LED lights shined.

During the 2022 win over Utah

What a night.

During the 2021 win over Florida Atlantic

During the 2017 game against Texas A&M