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Florida football: Analysis of Tom Petty’s actual boost to the Gators

By Benjamin Henderson

Sep 3, 2022; Gainesville, Florida, USA; a general view of fans at the The Swamp during the second half between the Florida Gators and Utah Utes at Steve Spurrier-Florida Field. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 3, 2022; Gainesville, Florida, USA; a general view of fans at the The Swamp during the second half between the Florida Gators and Utah Utes at Steve Spurrier-Florida Field. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports /
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The Florida Gators announced that on Saturday, October 15 it will be honoring Gainesville legend Tom Petty with its inaugural Tom Petty Day in The Swamp. After Petty died in 2017, his iconic “Won’t Back Down” was played between the 3rd and 4th quarters in a game against LSU. Florida football sang along in unison, and it was so popular that the song has been a staple ever since.

But just how much has “Won’t Back Down” actually come to fruition for Florida football? We take a look at every game since the song started being used and what kind of 4th quarter magic Petty has sparked for the Gators.

Florida football: Backed down a lot in 2017

The playing of “Won’t Back Down” was supposed to be a one-time tribute to Petty. Florida was trailing LSU 17-16 thanks to a missed extra point, but that didn’t stop the Gainesville faithful from having faith in the Gators.

The only problem was that Florida football took to heart the line “Stand my ground” a little too literal. In the fourth quarter the Gators’ possessions looked like this:

  • Three plays and a punt
  • Three plays and a punt
  • Six plays ending with back-to-back incomplete passes from Feleipe Franks to Brandon Powell

Florida lost 17-16.

Gators had a chance at redemption the following week against Texas A&M. Tied at 10 against Kellen Mond making his first start, Florida football backed down once again.

Florida took the lead on the first play of the 4th quarter to make it 17-10. The Aggies came back and kick a field goal. The Gators punted and the Aggies kicked another field goal. Now 17-16, the Gators punted, and the Aggies kicked a third field goal.

Florida lost 19-17.

Florida football head coach Jim McElwain was told to back down one game later after Georgia massacred the Gators. Florida had two more home games that season. They won the first against UAB 36-7, though Florida was outscored 7-3 after Tom Petty was blasted through the speakers.

The season finale against Florida State wasn’t much better. Trailing 2416 heading, into the fourth two FSU touchdowns sank Florida football to a 38-22 defeat.

For the 2017 season, Florida was outscored 30-16 overall after the playing of Tom Petty.

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