Some say it was the blue pants. Someone else said that his hat was the
reason. And yet another talked about his jersey. "The Gators are
invincible in blue pants." "I haven't worn this hat since the
Championship Game." "I forgot my Errict Rhett jersey." But perhaps the
real explanation doesn't lie in clothing. Maybe it lies in something less
tangible, in something more powerful than us all.
Three times in the last two years, the Gators have lost. Three times
in the last two years, the University of Florida Pride of the Sunshine
Marching Band didn't play "Hey Baby." The same three times.
- November 21, 1996, Tallahassee, FL
- In the erector set they call Doak Campbell stadium, the Gators were
literally beaten up by FSU. The band, being placed in the corner, was too
distracted by the taunts of the nearby Marching Chiefs and the hostile
environment to be in the spirit to play "Hey Baby." The result: the
Gators' comeback fell short and the season's championship hopes seemingly
ruined.
- October 11, 1997, Baton Rouge, LA
- Confident after destroying Arkansas, the Gators came to Death Valley without
too much concern. However, Doug Johnson's true ability was shown to lie in
baseball, not in football, as the Gators were upset 28-21. Perhaps
downtrodden because of falling behind 14-0, the band did not play "Hey
Baby." The result: the upset, and while the field was being rushed, a
group of LSU fans tried to knock the band director off with a torn-down
goalpost.
- November 1, 1997, Jacksonville, FL
- With Georgia known as our whipping boys the last seven years, this was
another game the Gators should've won. Then something happened that
normally does not happen: they began running the ball down our throats.
The band director failed to acknowledge our requests to play "Hey Baby"
and so the Gators' season was completely ruined, or so it seemed.
Three times the Gators should've have won, but didn't. Three times the
band did not play "Hey Baby." The same three times, but what about the
games that the band did play "Hey Baby"?
- January 2, 1997, New Orleans, LA
- At the time, this was the biggest game ever between UF and FSU. With the
first meeting being a close game, the same was expected. A little after
halftime, the Gators led 24-20, but the band played "Hey Baby" and the
Gators ripped the Seminoles for 28 unanswered points and their first
national championship.
- November 22, 1997, Gainesville, FL
- After concluding their pregame warmups, the Seminoles danced on the Gator helmet
painted at midfield and marched toward the band doing the chop. After the
first quarter, a small group of saxes led by me, yelled to the director to
play "Hey Baby" hoping that he wouldn't deny us like he did against
Georgia. Probably remembering me explaining to him the Hey Baby Theory,
he went for it, and the result: The Seminoles, after being held from two
yards out, kicked a field goal to make it 29-25. With under three minutes
to go, the Gators capped off a long and miraculous drive with a Fred
Taylor touchdown, and held on to win 32-29 to ruin the Seminoles' season
and salvage ours where "Hey Baby" wasn't played enough.
Doug Johnson to blame for the 1997 season? Blue pants led the Gators
to victory over the Seminoles twice? Gator fans: the next time you're at
a game and you hear "Hey Baby," turn to the person next to you and either
bet that the Gators will win, or just tell them and let them bask in your
greatness when your prophecy is fulfilled. Feel free to sing along if you
like, but please don't dance if we play the Macarena.
URL: http://grove.ufl.edu/~bdclary/gators/hb.html
Brian Clary
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