The Pride of the Sunshine
| The University of Florida Fightin' Gator Marching Band | |
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| School | University of Florida |
| Location | Gainesville, Florida |
| Conference | SEC |
| Founded | 1914 |
| Director | John M. Watkins, Jr. |
| Assistant director | Archie G. Birkner IV |
| Members | 325 |
| Uniform | Blue shako with white plume, half white and half blue jacket, white or blue pants (director's choice, both are used equally), white shoes, white gloves |
The University of Florida Fightin' Gator Marching Band, also known as The Pride of the Sunshine, is the official marching band for the University of Florida. They perform at every Florida Gators home football game at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium and also at various other events such as pep rallies, parades, and the annual Orange and Blue spring scrimmage game. A full band usually travels to one away game a year while at other games a small/medium-sized pep band will attend. Members of the Gator Band, as well as other University of Florida students, are encouraged to join other ensembles such as concert band, jazz band, basketball band, and volleyball band. The majorettes (twirlers) for the marching band are called the Gatorettes. The color guard is called the Florida Visual Ensemble.
The band was the recipient of the 2013 Sudler Trophy, receiving the award on 9 November 2013.
The first band at the University of Florida was founded by "Pug" Hamilton in 1914. It had 16 members and was called "The Cadet Band". The first band office was in Anderson Hall and the first band room was in the Women's Gymnasium. One of the first women in Gator Band was Sophy Mae Mitchell of Sebring, Florida in 1948. After marching with the banner in her first year in the band, Mitchell was invited back to play the bell lyre for the remainder of her college career. She frequently returns to the Alumni Band games along with over 100 other Gator Band alumni. In 1972 Gator Band was featured at the opening of Walt Disney World in Orlando, Florida. In 1997 Gator Band participated in the Walt Disney World 25th Anniversary Celebration.
The Steinbrenner Band Hall at the University of Florida was made possible by a generous gift from George Steinbrenner and his wife Joan in 2002. The facility was completed in 2008 and houses the Stephen Stills Band Rehearsal Room in addition to offices, instrument storage, the band library and an instrument issue room.
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