Orange and Blue Game thread

Apr 13 (Thu) 7:30 PM Gators Sports Network

Orange and Blue Game
Gainesville, Fla. Ben Hill Griffin Stadium

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GAINESVILLE, Fla. — This time last year, Lauren Lemasters held the post of chief of staff to University of Florida student body president Cooper Brown. A couple weeks before the annual Orange & Blue Spring Game, the program's public debut under new Coach Billy Napier, Brown got an email from the University Athletic Association asking if he'd be interested in being the first honorary "Mr. Two Bits" for a spring game.

The answer was a resounding yes.

Seated in the stadium's front row, Brown had a few members of his cabinet, Lemasters among them, on hand for an up-close look at the role most often reserved for Gator Greats.

"I think it was the highlight of his year," she said.

Fast forward to present day, with the 2023 O&B game set for Thursday night at "The Swamp." As it turned out, Brown's presidential "Two Bits" bid was so well received (and apparently, so deftly executed) that the UAA reached out to the sitting student body president with the same honorary invitation in what is looking like the start of a tradition.

Here's betting Lemasters, winding down her term in office, will have an experience worthy of another UF presidential seal of approval.

"One of the the things that student government focuses on a lot are the big traditions. They bring everyone together," Lemasters said. "The whole 'Two Bits' is so unique. The chant. The yellow shirt and tie. It's just something that reminds everyone about coming together for football and cheering on the Gators."

Lemasters is a fifth-year from Jacksonville already with degrees in political science and criminology and currently finishing work on a master's in management. She got involved in politics in high school, as student body vice president, and took advantage of opportunities through Young Leaders Conference to be even more active at the high school level.

Her interest carried over once she got to UF, eventually leading to her chief of staff position, where in addition to that front row seat for Brown's "Two Bits" routine she also had a front-row seat to take in everything that comes with being a student body president.

"It's been awesome," she said. "UF just lets students be leaders. We got to set our major priorities for the year and work toward them. It's been really cool to build a team and build a culture and put people in position to thrive. It's been awesome, really fun and I've learned so much over the past 12 months."

Now comes a different kind of fun. The chant. The yellow shirt. The tie. And the memories.

Anything special planned?

"No," Lemasters said. "I think I'm going to keep it classic."

Chris Harry / Senior Writer

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Chris joined FloridaGators.com in 2011 after nearly three decades as a sports reporter at newspapers in Tampa and Orlando, including 10 years covering the UF athletic program and another 10 covering the NFL.

 

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Gator Nation will get a sneak peek of their 2023 Florida Football team during this year's Orange and Blue Game, scheduled to take place Thursday, April 13. The game will serve as a way for fans to experience a Gators game day at the Swamp as the teams will split into Orange and Blue squads for an evening of competition.

Admission is with free and kickoff is set for 7:30 p.m.

• Gates Open at 6 p.m.
• General admission is free.
• Fans are encouraged to arrive early to enjoy all the pre-game activities.
• Pregame Fan Fest on the North lawn opens at 4:30pm.
• Gator Walk is scheduled for 5 p.m.
• Kickoff is at 7:30 p.m.
• All non-reserved parking on campus will be available starting at 3:30 p.m.
• General parking at Flavet Field will be available starting at 8 a.m.
• Free shuttle services from Parking Garage 109 start at 5:30 p.m.
• Public and Student Giveaways: UF students and general public can enter to win special prizes.
• Gators Volleyball vs. UCF at 6:00 p.m. (Exactech Arena at Stephen C. O'Connell Center). Admission is Free.
• The game will be streamed live of ESPN+/SECN+

Giveaways
UF Student Giveaways
All UF students should enter Ben Hill Griffin Stadium via gates 12 and 15. The first 1,000 students will receive an Orange and Blue reversible Florida Gators bucket hat courtesy of American Campus Communities. Additionally, the Tough Guys Cookies food truck will be stationed outside gate 12 to give away cookies to the first 1,000 students.

One lucky student will also be selected to win a $500 Wawa gift card.




Public Giveaways
Fans can pick up the official 2023 Florida Football Orange & Blue Game poster and team roster cards inside the stadium gates while supplies last. Magnet schedules for the 2023 season will also be available.

The Gators 50/50 raffle is back for the Orange and Blue game, and all fans in attendance will receive one free entry into the pool, with the ability to purchase additional raffle tickets. All 50/50 raffle tickets can be purchased at Gators5050.com.

All fans who claim their free 50/50 raffle ticket will also be entered to win prizes such as two 2023 Florida Football season tickets, a Throwback Florida Football helmet, four Single Day Passes to Busch Gardens, a James Bates three-piece art set, and more.

One lucky fan in attendance will win a new 2023 John Deere XUV560E Crossover Utility Gator, presented by Ag Pro.




Prize winners will be announced throughout the game and fans must be present at the Orange and Blue Game to win. Prizes can be claimed at the marketing table on the North Endzone Concourse.

Game Format
The team will split into two teams and will practice separately during the last week of spring camp. On game day, the teams will run out of separate tunnels using both the home and visiting locker rooms.

The game will feature four quarters, a 15-minute halftime and a running clock with the exception of the last four minutes of each half. The clock will also stop for penalties, change of possession and scores.

Competition between the two teams will serve as a way for fans to experience a Gators game day at the Swamp.

Join The Pregame Fun
Tailgating, Gator Walk Village and Gators Fan Fest set the tone for the action in The Swamp.

Gators Fan Fest
Fans should visit Gators Fan Fest beginning at 4:30 p.m. hosted by Gators Sports Properties. UF Health, Learfield Amplify, Auto ER, Florida Blue, Wawa, Florida Credit Union, Cruises.com, Good Greek Moving & Storage, Meldon Law, DJ Elio, Pepsi, Florida Credit Union, BMW and Sports Mall will host activities including games, contests, giveaways, interactive displays, and more.

Admission is free and it will be located on the North Lawn along University Avenue just outside Ben Hill Griffin Stadium.

Fans can also swing by the Gator Sportshop to gear up for gameday.

Once in the stadium, fans can enjoy connectivity with #GatorsWIFI and pre-game activities, such as fireworks, Mr. Two Bits, and the team entrances.

Gator Walk
Fans can cheer on the team as they arrive for Gator Walk on the north side of the stadium. Gator Walk begins at 5 p.m.

Gates Open at 6 p.m.
Gates at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium will open at 6 p.m. Gates 1, 2, 3, 4, 7, 8, 12, 15 and 18 will open for fan entry. General admission seating will be located on the west and east stands, as well as the lower north and south endzones.

Access to the premium seating will require tickets and is reserved for premium season ticket holders.

Premium season ticket holders can access their tickets by logging into their account via the Florida Gators App or at www.floridagators.com/myaccount.

Clear Bag Policy and Prohibited Items
In the interest of fan safety, the UAA's clear bag policy will be in effect at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium during this year's Orange and Blue Game.

Fans should also be familiar with the list of prohibited items at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium.

Click here for more information regarding UF's clear bag policy and the list of prohibited items.



Parking and Traffic
All non-reserved parking on campus, including Flavet Field, Lots 114 and 109 and the Stephen C. O'Connell Center garage, will be available starting at 3:30 p.m. on a first-come, first-served basis.

Free shuttles from Parking Garage 109, located at the intersection of Archer Road and Gale Lemerand Drive, begin running at 5:30 p.m. The shuttles will run until approximately 60 minutes after the game ends.

The shuttles drop-off and pick-up location is on Stadium Road and Gale Lemerand Drive, near UF Gator Dining.

Parking on the grass and sidewalks is not permitted and any vehicles doing so are at risk of being towed.

Road Closure
In an effort to manage security around the stadium, no vehicular traffic will be allowed on Lemerand Drive between University Avenue and Stadium Road, and on Stadium Road between Gale Lemerand Drive and Buckman Drive starting at 5:30 p.m. The closure will remain in effect until after the end of the game.

Additionally, the following roads are closed due to construction:

• Museum Road from Newell Drive to Center Drive
• Museum Road from Gale Lemerand Drive to Hume West

Shuttles
Free shuttles from Parking Garage 109, located at the intersection of Archer Road and Gale Lemerand Drive, begin running at 5:30 p.m. The shuttles will run until approximately 60 minutes after the game ends.

The shuttles drop-off and pick-up location is on Stadium Road and Gale Lemerand Drive, near UF Gator Dining.

Restrooms
Inside the Stadium: Please refer to the Stadium Map.

Outside the Stadium: Before entering the Stadium, fans may utilize restrooms in the North Lawn starting at 4:30 p.m. and inside the main atrium of Exactech Arena at Stephen C. O'Connell Center at 5 p.m.

Baby Changing Stations are located in various restrooms throughout Ben Hill Griffin Stadium.

• North End Zone: Gate 8 (Women's) & Gate 7 (Men's)
• South End Zone: Gate 18 (Men's)
• East Side: Section 36 (Women's) & Section 40 (Men's)
• West Side: Gate 2 (Men's & Women's)

Gators Volleyball takes on UCF
The Gators Volleyball team will host the UCF Knights inside the Stephen C. O'Connell Center beginning at 6 p.m. Admission to the match is free.

In-Game Experience and Traditions
The Swamp is home to one of the most unique environments in college football. Once in their seats, fans will be able to experience and take part in the traditions that make Gator Nation on of the most exciting fanbases in college football:

Honorary Two Bits
Join in one of the Swamp's most iconic moments prior to kickoff with the Celebrity "Mr. Two Bits" cheer.

UF's Student Body President Lauren McMasters will be the Orange and Blue Game's Celebrity "Mr. Two Bits."

I Won't Back Down
Florida Gators fans honor Gainesville, Florida, native Tom Petty in between the third and fourth quarters by singing "I Won't Back Down," one of the late artist's biggest hits. The song first played on Saturday, Oct. 7, 2017, against the LSU Tigers in which 90,000 fans sang along.

Download the Gators Mobile App and join the Gator Lights Show during "I Won't Back Down" in the third quarter break.

Spring Awards
2023 Spring Awards will be presented at halftime to current football student-athletes.

Postgame Experience
After the conclusion of the Orange & Blue Game, the field will be open exclusively for 2023 season ticket holders. Each 2023 season ticket holder along with up to four guests has been invited to walk Steve Spurrier-Florida Field.

2023 Football Season Tickets
After four sold out games in 2022, fans can now secure 2023 season seats for the six home games in The Swamp with matchups including Tennessee (Sept. 16), Arkansas (Nov. 4) and Florida State (Nov. 25).

New 2023 season ticket packages are available for only $390 per ticket, plus a required Booster Contribution based on seating location. All current UF faculty & staff and recent UF graduates are entitled to special season ticket pricing. Click here for more information and to reserve your seats today.

For questions, contact the Gator Ticket Office at (352) 375-4683.

 

Former Gators RB Carthon Built a Thriving Career as a Team Builder

Scott Carter / Senior Writer
Ran Carthon, 20 years after his final season as a UF football player, returned to campus as a first-time NFL general manager for Florida's Pro Day.

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GAINESVILLE, Fla. — Ran Carthon returned to his old stomping grounds on Thursday to evaluate the UF players participating in Pro Day.

As Carthon and former Gators receiver Willie Jackson chatted inside the team's indoor practice facility, Carthon kept pointing in different directions. He recalled the gate to the old practice fields somewhere over that way and a few shade trees somewhere over there. Meanwhile, Carthon knew that the Heavener Football Training Center was where McKethan Stadium once stood.

"Got a chance to see the new facility just as they were laying the floors," he said of a trip to town last summer so his oldest daughter could attend a class on campus. "My family got the hard-hat tour for that."

Carthon signed with the Gators in 1999 out of Key West High, and after a redshirt season, he developed into a productive running back who rushed for 1,353 yards and 11 touchdowns and caught 56 passes for 511 yards over his career.

The 42-year-old Carthon spent a couple of seasons with the Colts as a player, but today he is known around the NFL as the new general manager of the Tennessee Titans. Carthon worked his way up the front-office ladder, starting as a scout for the Falcons, advancing his career in St. Louis, and then moving to the 49ers. He eventually became San Francisco's director of player personnel, the job he held before the Titans hired him in January.



"He did everything the coaches asked," said Steve Spurrier, who coached Carthon for three seasons at UF. "You knew he would be successful at whatever he did in life. I'll be pulling for the Titans."

A career in the front office has intrigued Carthon since his days as a teenager. He would tag along with his father, former Super Bowl-winning Giants running back Maurice Carthon, to Pro Days during Maurice's post-playing career.

"During that time — this time of year at Pro Days — and my dad was coaching in the NFL, I would be at Pro Days either clocking 40s for whoever the coach was, talking to the coach about our players, or watching film of players," Carthon said. "I did that for about five years for whatever staff my dad was on."

Carthon's passion and talent evaluation skills caught the Titans' attention, leading to one of his life's more memorable weekends earlier this year. He interviewed for the Tennessee job on a Friday, flew back to California to attend San Francisco's playoff game on Saturday, and then returned to Nashville for a second interview on Monday. That Tuesday evening, as he waited at the airport for his flight back to California, he got a call from Titans controlling owner Amy Adams Strunk to tell him he had the job. An elated Carthon flew home, grabbed some items from his 49ers office the next day, and returned to Nashville on Thursday for an introductory press conference.

"It's been great," Carthon said. "This is what I've always dreamed of, so I am just embracing it all."

Ran Carthon and his wife, Heaven Carthon, at his introductory press conference. (Photo: George Walker IV / Tennessean.com / USA TODAY NETWORK)
Florida's Pro Day was Carthon's fourth and final one as he prepares for his first NFL Draft as a general manager. With his wife Heaven and kids still in San Jose, Calif., Carthon has been living in a hotel, sleeping some nights at the office, and making the rounds in his new hometown. He threw out a ceremonial first pitch last weekend at the Triple-A Nashville Sounds' home opener.

Carthon considers it essential to hit the road for Pro Days.

"It's always helpful because you get to see the kids in their comfortable environment,'' he told Titans.com. "If you think about it — for the seniors, you see them at an all-star game, where they barely know which way to go for their drills, right? So that's uncomfortable. And then for the underclassmen, the first time you see them is at the combine, so that's an uncomfortable place."


Ran Carthon at Florida Field during his playing days. (File photo: Florida Today)

Carthon's return to Gainesville allowed him to visit with Jackson and several other former UF players in attendance. He reconnected with Spurrier in California late last year when Spurrier returned to San Francisco for a 50th anniversary of the 1972 49ers team.

"I got a chance to spend the morning with him and Miss Jerri," Carthon said. "His mind is still super sharp. He talked about our margin of victory versus SEC opponents from my 2001 season. He was talking about things I had forgotten about."

Sounds like the Head Ball Coach.

And now Carthon has a team to build, working closely with Titans coach Mike Vrabel to create a consistent winner in Music City.

In his six seasons as a member of San Francisco's front office, Carthon provided input on notable selections such as tight end George Kittle, defensive lineman Nick Bosa, receiver Deebo Samuel and quarterback Brock Purdy.

"From here, it's back to the office,'' Carthon said of his UF visit.

Carthon doesn't plan to stay away for long. His daughter Raven enrolls at her father's alma mater this fall to study journalism and communications.

Carthon is appreciative of the impact that UF has made on his life.

"I didn't get here alone,'' he said. "This university prepares you for everything. You hear all the time that Gator Nation is everywhere, and you brush it off because it's kind of a slogan. But then you get out there."

A few years ago, Carthon and his wife were in London during the annual Florida-Georgia game in Jacksonville. He wanted to watch the game but didn't know where to go. He found out that there is a London Gator Club.

Suddenly he had plans for the day.

"We actually watched the game with about 20-some-odd University of Florida grads,'' he said. "That really opened my eyes."

They have been open nearly 24/7 of late as he transitions into his new job.