JACKSONVILLE BEACH, Fla. – It has been 11 years since the Florida Gators basketball team last played in the Final Four. This Saturday, the Gators will return to the tournament to face Auburn.
Gator fans are buzzing with excitement, and a local sports apparel store is preparing for a surge in business, especially if the Gators advance to the championship game.
The announcement that the Gators are headed to the Final Four has energized fans. News4JAX encountered several supporters playing a pickup game at the YMCA, including Joshua Anderson, who expressed his enthusiasm for the team.
“Clayton is a dog. I think Clayton is going to score 20. He’s popping off, so go Gators,” Anderson said.
Another fan, Malachi Wright, echoed that sentiment: “Man, Florida all the way. You already know. Florida all the way.”
Whether fans attend the Final Four in person, watch from home, or gather at viewing parties, they want to show their support in style.
News4JAX visited Sports Mania in Jacksonville Beach, where manager Mathew Smith shared his family’s connection to the Gators.
“The owner, my father, played football at the University of Florida, so the UF fanbase just follows us everywhere we go,” Smith said. “We have the most orange and blue in all of Jacksonville. We set up in Gainesville, and we’re going to be there for the victory parade when Florida wins it all.”
The store is stocked with a variety of Gators merchandise, from shirts to pullovers. Additionally, they are setting up a shop in San Antonio to provide even more Gator gear.
“We’ve got new stuff right here. This is one of the March Madness Final Four official shirts with the NCAA logo,” Smith said. “We’re going to have another six to eight designs out in San Antonio. So, if you want one of those official collectible on-site shirts, we will have them in Texas.”
Smith also highlighted a fun item for fans traveling to Texas: a life-sized teddy bear to keep company during the long drive.
“If you’re driving to Texas, you can tell everybody on your way that you’re a diehard Gator fan,” he said. “Or, if you’re going by yourself, we’ve got this life-sized teddy bear you can put in your passenger seat to keep you company the whole way to Texas because I-10 is a long drive.”