Florida Football: Should the Gators have stayed for the Alma Mater?

Following its loss to Kentucky, Florida football made sure to get out of Lexington as quickly as it could. It was symbolic of how the day went.

In its wake, very few Gator players stuck around the sing the Alma Mater with the band.

Should more of the squad have taken place in the postgame tradition?

Florida Football: Hail Florida Hail

Given the name of our website, one might think our argument on this subject is going to be direct and obvious.

It was noted by Jacob Rudner and Nick de la Torre that very few players stuck around on the field post-game, and most bee-lined it to the locker room.

Both Rudner and De la Torre said that Florida football officials told them that players are not required to stay for the song during road games due to factors such as travel times.

But the fact that some players stayed showcases that not everyone got that memo if the Gators were deeply concerned about travel times.

There is a fair argument for why the Alma Mater is silly after a beatdown like the Gators suffered in Lexington.

But part of what makes college football special compared to the NFL is the connection fans have with the school/team itself.

The Alma Mater goes beyond whether or not anyone actually knows the words. It is more of a symbol of that connection between the fans and the team. Much like in European soccer, where players acknowledge their supporters section after each game with a simple clapping gesture, it’s a way to tell the fan base, “Thank you for coming to support us.”

If they don’t want that support, cool. Compete in front of 20 fans like the cross-country team.

I can say that; I ran cross country at an FCS-level school.

The lack of players sticking around post-game is emblematic of the lack of fight the Gators had on Saturday. From the opening whistle until the plane took off, Florida football looked like it wanted to be anywhere but Lexington on Saturday.