The OP question was: Who is the most famous GATOR TO GATOR FANS? That appears like a simple, straightforward question but, in fact, it’s rather complex. As recently pointed out, famous merely means known by a broad number of people. It’s interesting that most people replying to this thread have expanded beyond famous to include important, influential, or significant. The OP also put a qualifier on the question that it’s famous to Gator fans, which would exclude the broader population of non-Gator fans. So I come back to what I posted earlier, that most of the names mentioned are known to all Gator fans, and therefore essentially they are all tied for most famous. Another twist: what if the Gator fan knows who the person is but doesn’t realize they went to UF. Several celebrities mentioned in this thread I was well aware of but didn’t know they were Gators. But the question is even more complex. Are they asking who I as an individual Gator fan think is most famous, or who do I think is most known to the broadest number of other Gator fans. If the latter, then my opinion is only a tiny fraction of the answer. Again, I can’t imagine a Gator fan knowing who Tim is but doesn’t know who SOS is. It’s interesting that in the broader world, a celebrity can be extremely famous and yet not very accomplished. Hollywood is full of them. A good friend of mine used to laugh at the TV game show Hollywood Squares when a celebrity contestant was introduced with the occupation Hollywood personality. That was their only occupation, being a personality. This has been kind of a fun exercise for me, but I think I’ve become way to philosophical about it.
Being famous doesn't relate to most valuable, best, most important... etc. I can't see how, when talking about fame, anyone can top Tebow. Both young and old know who Tebow is. Don't forget SOS spent a number of years at USCE and wasn't relevant at that time to the youth growing up as Gator fans. If the question was most important in our history or most valuable in our history, you would have to place SOS at the top.. But he is not the most famous.
Nearly forgot about this famous former Gator along with Faye Dunaway. Ebsen graduated from Orlando High School in 1926. Initially interested in a medical career, Ebsen attended the University of Florida in Gainesville, Florida, from 1926 to 1927, and then Rollins College in Winter Park, Florida, from 1927 to 1928. Family financial problems caused by the collapse of the Florida land boom forced Ebsen to leave college at age 20.[citation needed]
I think once you factor in the Heisman house commercials you end up with a three way tie between him, Tebow, and SOS. The stick shift lesson one was hysterical.
Best players are those who actually honor their pledge to Florida and stay for all of their eligibility. Opt out players should never be honored as great Gators nor should those who go to the transfer portal. Spurrer, Danny, Tim and bunch of great players like Jack Youngblood, Kevin Carter, Collingsworth.... These guys and many others are true Gators opt outs and those who leave early are not!
Until I went to Florida, I had no idea Emmitt went to UF (I grew up in SoCal in the 80's and 90's and never watched much college ball other than Wisconsin (mom's alma mater) and SDSU (Marshall Faulk!) bc they were local. Not sure how abnormal that is, but I imagine nearly everyone, even non-sports fans, know of Tebow and UF. It's gotta be Tim.
Dara Torres - Known WORLDWIDE for decades - probably the most number of Olympics participated in than any other Olympian - I think she started her Olympic career in the mid to late 1980's
Young Gator fans, perhaps. Emmitt was the most important player for a Gator team ever, went on to crush NFL records, win Super Bowls, dances with the stars. Emmitt absolutely carried the team in the late 1980's. Not sure Galen would have won 20% of our games in that era without Emmitt. Danny and Tim were NFL busts, Emmitt certainly was not.
It's Tim Tebow, 100% Football fans know Emmitt, older college football fans know Steve, but everybody knows who Tim is. SNL did a sketch about him, he was general pop culture.
