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The UF Board of Trustees today officially approved a name change to Ben Hill Griffin Stadium. The new stadium name will be Steve Spurrier-Florida Field at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium. Many fans have called for the field to be named in some way after the former Gator player and head coach who gave the stadium its nickname of “The Swamp” when he coached so successfully at the University of Florida.
OFFICIAL NEWS…the @SC_HBC will be honored forever.
Steve Spurrier – Florida Field at Ben Hill Griffin Stadiumhttps://t.co/hwqS6JHsYi
— Gators Football (@GatorsFB) June 9, 2016
An official announcement has been made concerning the name change/addition. In a prepared statement, Gator Athletic Director Jeremy Foley said this was “an appropriate way to commemorate one of the most legendary figures in Gator athletics history. Coach Spurrier did more than win a Heisman Trophy, a national championship and a bunch of games. Coach Spurrier changed the culture of Gator athletics. We were an institution that always had a mantra of wait until next year and wouldn’t it be great to win just one championship. Coach changed all of that. The Gators won, won big and won with swagger.”
In addition it was announced that the arena portion of the Stephen C O’Connell Center will be named Exactech Arena, the result of a $5.9 million local sponsorship with the orthopaedic device company.
From @GatorsChris: O'Dome partners with Exactech in naming agreement https://t.co/vyGrt18E4t pic.twitter.com/0fLtbNdFcY
— Gator M-Basketball (@GatorsMBK) June 9, 2016
Spurrier will be honored at UF’s opening day football match up at home with Massachusetts with a ceremony that will include the unveiling of his namesake on the stadium. In a statement, Spurrier said in part that he was “humbled, honored, thankful and very appreciative that my alma mater, the University of Florida, believes that I am worthy and deserving to have my name placed on Ben Hill Griffin Stadium, also known as “The Swamp.”
