Florida Gators football , 1906 – 09 The Florida Gators football team represents the University of Florida in the sport of American football . The University of Florida ( then known as the " University of the State of Florida " ) fielded its first official varsity football team in the fall of 1906 , and has fielded a team every season since then , with the exception of 1943 . During the early 1900s , the Florida football team competed in the Intercollegiate Athletic Association of the United States ( IAAUS ) , but was not affiliated with an athletic conference . The University of Florida did not adopt the " Florida Gators " nickname for its sports teams until 1911 , and the early Florida football teams were known simply as " Florida " or the " Orange and Blue . " The Florida football teams played their home games in a variety of locations , including the university ' s Gainesville , Florida campus . This article includes a game - by - game list of the Florida football team ' s first four football seasons from 1906 to 1909 . During the early 1900s , the Florida team was coached by Jack " Pee Wee " Forsythe ( 1906 – 1908 ) and George E . Pyle ( 1909 – 1913 ) . Forsythe and Pyle compiled an overall record of 20 – 7 – 3 ( . 717 ) during the decade . 1906 . Season overview . The 1906 Florida football team was the first official varsity team fielded by the new University of the State of Florida ( now known as the University of Florida ) . The 1906 Florida gridders were known as " Pee Wee ' s Boys " in honor of their coach , Jack " Pee Wee " Forsythe , a former Clemson Tigers lineman who played for coach John Heisman from 1901 to 1903 . " Pee Wee ' s Boys " beat the Rollins College Tars 6 – 0 in their first game played in Gainesville , Florida on October 26 , 1906 , and finished their inaugural season with a winning record of 5 – 3 . 1907 . Season overview . The 1907 college football season was Jack Forsythe ' s second as the head coach of the Florida football team . The Orange and Blue lost to the Mercer Bears for the second season in a row , beat the Rollins College Tars in Gainesville , Florida , and tied the Tars on their home field in Winter Park , Florida . Forsythe ' s 1907 Florida football team posted an overall record of 4 – 1 – 1 in their second varsity season . 1908 . Season overview . The 1908 college football season was Jack Forsythe ' s third and last as the head coach of the Florida football team . The Florida football team lost to the Mercer Bears for the third consecutive season . Florida also played the Stetson College Hatters for the first two times , beating them 6 – 5 on the Orange and Blue ' s home field in Gainesville , and tying them 0 – 0 on the Hatters ' home field in Deland , Florida . Forsythe ' s 1908 Florida football team posted a record of 5 – 2 – 1 in their third varsity season , and Forsythe finished his three - year tenure as Florida ' s football coach with an overall record of 14 – 6 – 2 . 1909 . Season overview . The University of the State of Florida officially shortened its name to the University of Florida in 1909 , and the 1909 college football season was George E . Pyle ' s first as the head coach of the University of Florida football team . The 1909 Florida football team played the Stetson College Hatters twice in the same season for the second year , losing 0 – 26 on the Hatters ' home field in Deland , Florida , and tying them 5 – 5 on the Orange and Blue ' s home field in Gainesville . Florida also defeated the Rollins College Tars twice , and Pyle ' s 1909 Florida football team finished its fourth varsity football season 6 – 1 – 1 .