In 1908, Gainesville merchant Phillip Miller, on a visit to Charlottesville, Va., went to the local Michie Company to see about having banners and pennants made to sell at his store in Gainesville for Florida games. When asked what picture to put on the penants, Miller realized the university had none.  With the state of Florida being home to millions of alligators, the alligator (or "gator") proved to be an appropriate and popular choice among members of the student body, and the Florida football team began to refer to itself as the "Gators" during the 1911 fall season.  The first rendition of Albert was given in the 1913 Yearbook.

Albert's first appearance on the field would come in the 1940's with a heavy wooden costume that had to be carried by multiple students.

Previously in the 1930's the university had brought in live alligators to serve in the mascot role occasionally as this photo demonstrates.

In 1953 it was decided that live Alligators on campus would serve as Florida's mascots at all games.  

Pep Club at campus alligator enclosure 1957


Unfortunately, the combination of college students and carnivorous reptiles didn’t go well and In 1970, Albert No. 7 — a female — won her release with the help of student protesters. She lived out her days in Lake Alice.   Given the trouble with actual alligators, it was time for an upgrade — a mascot costume that could bring Albert to life. In the early ’70s, a Pogo-style Albert sported a giant head and eyes.

In 1979 the University ordered a costume made by artists from Walt Disney World to replace the bubble-headed Albert with a toothy, menacing counterpart that was more realistic.  Temperatures inside the leather-and-vinyl costume reached 120 degrees.  Being made of leather and vinyl, it couldn’t be washed.  After a few years, the most ferocious thing about the costume was its smell.

The giant mechanical alligator was a prop from a film that was donated to UF and was used through the mid 80's.

In 1984 the first version of the plush Albert that we know today made his debut. Some didn’t immediately embrace the kinder, gentler mascot, calling this version “Fat Albert” but fans gradually took to the new Albert.  



Two years later in 1986, Albert was joined by Alberta making UF one of the only schools in the country with male and female mascots.  The early version of Alberta was bug eyed but that soon changed.

Immortalized in bronze at Emerson Alumni Hall, the Albert and Alberta statues quickly became the landmark of choice for new graduates’ photos.

With multiple national titles to celebrate and with over a quarter century patrolling the sidelines, Albert's recognition worldwide rose to the point where he took the top spot in Sports Illustrated’s mascot power rankings in 2007.  Albert is now the universally recognized and beloved symbol for the Gator nation.