The Pride of the Sunshine The University of Florida Fightin ' Gator Marching Band , also known as The Pride of the Sunshine , is the official marching band for the University of Florida . They play at every Florida Gators home football game in Ben Hill Griffin Stadium and also performs at various other events such as pep rallies , parades , and the annual Orange and Blue Spring Scrimmage game . A full band usually travels to one away game a year while at other games a small / medium sized pep band will attend . Members of the Gator Band , as well as other University of Florida students , are encouraged to join other ensembles such as concert band , jazz band , basketball band , and volleyball band . The majorettes ( twirlers ) for the marching band are called the Gatorettes . History . The first band at the University of Florida was founded by " Pug " Hamilton in 1914 . It had 16 members and was called " The Cadet Band " . The first band office was in Anderson Hall and the first band room was in the Women ' s Gymnasium . The first woman in Gator Band was Sophy Mae Mitchell of Sebring , Florida in 1948 . After marching with the banner in her first year in the band , Mitchell was invited back to play the bell lyre for the remainder of her college career . She frequently returns to the Alumni Band games along with over one hundred other Gator Band alumni . In 1972 Gator Band was featured at the opening of Walt Disney World in Orlando , FL . In 1997 Gator Band participated in the Walt Disney World 25th Anniversary Celebration . The Steinbrenner Band Hall at the University of Florida was made possible by a generous gift from George Steinbrenner and his wife Joan in 2002 . The facility was completed in 2008 and houses the Stephen Stills Band Rehearsal Room in addition to offices , instrument storage , the band library and an instrument issue room . 2012 London Summer Olympics . The band was invited and accepted to perform in London for the 2012 Summer Olympics . Members of the 2011 band were made aware of the trip during the fall of 2011 . The trip is being funded by donors and by payments from individual members . The Pride of the Sunshine will be abroad for nine days and seven nights with several performances and sight - seeing opportunities throughout the trip . Commitment . Course Description . MUN1110 and MUN 3110 is a performance course designed to improve individual marching and playing skills , to develop sight - reading skills , to improve the individual ’ s grasp of the essential elements of music and to assist the student in the personal and professional growth and development necessary for successful post - baccalaureate life . Additionally , this course will provide weekly live performance opportunities for the entire ensemble . It is the focus of this course to make these performances represent the highest level of artistic and aesthetic experience . Further , it is the goal of the Gator Band to provide entertaining halftime shows , and to provide energy and spirit at all events at which the Gator Band performs . Due to the highly visible nature of these performances , participation in all rehearsals and performances is pivotal to the success of the ensemble . Class meets Monday ( 6 : 15pm – 8 : 10pm ) , Tuesday ( 4 : 05pm – 6 : 00pm ) , Thursday ( 4 : 05pm – 6 : 00pm ) , and Friday ( 4 : 05pm – 6 : 00pm , for home games only ) every week . Though it does not cost anything to join the band , you must have the appropriate uniform . Uniforms rental is free . The band also rehearses on the morning of a home game . Tradition . Pregame . As soon as the field is clear the band marches into the Swamp from the entrance tunnel in a pregame block . They take the field opening to the " Gator Chomp , " while the Voice of the Gator Band , Gerre Reynolds , announces their entrance . < br > Gator Band Entrance < br > From the fanfare block the band plays the fanfare and takes the fight song ( " Orange and Blue " ) down the field , then forms the block " F . " Starting the " Men of Florida " march , they move into their ceremonial set , the outline of the state of Florida . From there they play " The Star - Spangled Banner " and the University of Florida ' s alma mater . < br > UF Pregame to this point < br > Finishing the national anthem , the band plays " We Are the Boys March " to enter into the Gator spellout preset . Next they play " Gimmie a ' G ' " while they spell out the word " Gators . " Then they play " Orange and Blue " and " Suwannee " to take " Gators " down the field toward the tunnel from which the team enters . < br > Second half of UF Pregame In the Stands . In the stands , the band plays a large number of school songs , many of them variations of the " Jaws " theme . The band plays " Gator Chomp , " " Gator Bait , " and " Gator Maximus " at various points in the game while the team is on defense , and " Let ' s Go Gators , " " Orange and Blue First Down , " and " Go Gators " while the team is on offense , among other various songs . Songs like " You Can Call Me Al " and " Hey ! Baby " are crowd favorites . The " Dragnet " theme song ( from the radio and television show of that name ) is played to signal a penalty made by the opposing team , followed by chants of " you can ' t do that " and hat waving in imitation of a referee ' s flag . Third Quarter . Perhaps the most well known tradition of the Gator Band is the playing of " We are the Boys " at the conclusion of every third quarter . Beginning with a short intro , the band sets the whole crowd into a swaying motion starting with the first words . End of the Game . One of the newest traditions was started by Florida head coach Urban Meyer in 2005 . After every game where the Gators win he walks over with the team and the team , band , and fans sing the alma mater and the fight song together and the head coach shakes the director ' s hand . This tradition has been continued by Will Muschamp , current head coach of the Gators . < br > Alma Mater and Orange and Blue Alumni Band . The Gator Alumni Band performs during one of the home halftime shows every year and consists of a volunteer group of former members of the Pride of the Sunshine who perform a short segment of the halftime show . The alumni band is most well known for the " Biggest Boom in Dixie " , a very large bass drum that is carted onto the field during the show . At some games , mascots Albert and Alberta have played the drum as well . Gatorettes . The Gatorettes are the baton - twirlers of The Pride of the Sunshine , and they perform acrobatics , cartwheel s , and flip s , and sometimes twirl multiple batons at one time . Their current director is June Stoeber , and under her direction the Gatorettes have won 5 national collegiate titles . The Gatorettes perform at Florida Gators football half - time shows , and they also compete at national events . In 2002 , they won three NBTA national titles . In 2008 , they also won two NBTA national titles as well . In 201 , 1 they won a NBTA national title . Kappa Kappa Psi . The Alpha Eta chapter of Kappa Kappa Psi has been providing service to the University of Florida band programs since 1931 . The Alpha Eta brothers have issued , cleaned and organized the uniforms and are currently responsible for providing water during rehearsals , setting orange cones for practice , cleaning the field , and distributing Gatorade on Gamedays . Since its installation , the Alpha Eta chapter has crossed over 1 , 000 members into the organization , including women in recent years . Tau Beta Sigma . The Beta Xi chapter of Tau Beta Sigma provides service to the Gator Bands , including the Pride of the Sunshine . The Beta Xi sisters currently help the UF marching band by lining the practice field with yard lines , hash marks and number boxes . The sisters also hand out a snack after the halftime performance at football games . Hundreds of dedicated men and women have become sisters of the Beta Xi chapter since the chapter was installed April 12 , 1958 . In the Spring of 2004 , the first male sisters were initiated into the chapter . The sisters of Beta Xi have also extended an honorary invitation to dozens of outstanding individuals of the Gator Band , including previous directors and graduate students . In 1999 , the chapter initiated Sophy Mae Mitchell , one of the first group of women to join the Pride of the Sunshine and a founding member of the club which later became the Beta Xi chapter .