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The Gators were not always known as the Gators. In fact, when the team was first organized, they had no official nickname or mascot at all. They were occasionally referred to as the "Cadets", and for a time "PeeWee's Boys" after coach J.A. (PeeWee) Forsythe 1906-1908. How did the Gator become the nickname?
In 1908, a local store owner wanted to print and sell banners and needed something to put on them. With Florida being home to millions of alligators, the "gator" was a popular choice.