Florida senior Caeleb Dressel is arguably the number one swimmer in the NCAA this season, as well as one of the biggest names in the world of swimming. The six-time NCAA champion and 2017 NCAA swimmer of the year led a crowd of nearly 88,000 people in the famous “Mr. Two Bits” chant on Saturday during Florida’s home football game against Tennessee.
The game is the home debut for the Gators football team as last week’s game against Northern Colorado was cancelled because of Hurricane Irma. Dressel actually stayed in town last week and volunteered his truck for assistance to those in need.
Florida’s pre-game tradition began with George Edmondson Jr., a retired insurance salesman from Tampa. He began leading the crowd at home games in the cheer in 1949 and did it until he retired from the duties in 2008.
Since then, the school has had a number of former Gator greats from all sports lead Ben Hill Griffin Stadium in the cheer while wearing the yellow shirt and khaki pants.
Maybe Dressel fired up the crowd a little bit? Florida ended up winning the game after a Hail Mary by the Gators as time expired.
Original report from the University of Florida is here.
Tommy Lutter