LOOK: Florida Gators unveil American flag script white helmets for 20th anniversary of 9/11 game

By Adam Silverstein
September 9, 2021

Football

When the No. 13 Florida Gators (1-0) face the South Florida Bulls (0-1) this Saturday at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, the Gators will look like they never have before. The program on Thursday revealed special helmets that Florida will wear for the game as a way of honoring the United States on the 20th anniversary of 9/11.

Though the Gators have been wearing white helmets for a few years now, this will be the first time that they will be modified with colors other than orange and blue. The stars and stripes of the American flag are laid inside the script “Gators” font on either side of the helmet, while the blue and orange stripes remain on the top of the lid.

Florida will also wear all-white uniforms for the second straight week to open the 2021 season.

Twenty years ago Saturday, 2,977 people — mostly Americans — died during an unprecedented, coordinated terrorist attack on the United States when hijacked flights AA 11 and UA 175 hit the World Trade Center in New York; flight AA 77 hit The Pentagon; and flight UA 93 attempted to hit either the U.S. Capitol or White House in Washington, D.C.

With the country in mourning, entertainment and sporting events across the nation were canceled. Florida was scheduled to play against Tennessee on Saturday, Sept. 15, 2001, but the game was postponed until the end of the regular season.

When the Gators returned to the field on Sept. 22, 2001, at Kentucky, there are iconic shots of the team taking the field with American flags, scarfs, bandanas and the like. One day before the 10-year anniversary of 9/11, UF took similar steps during a Sept. 10, 2011, game against UAB.

Florida will face South Florida in the neutral-site game on Saturday at 1 p.m. ET. It will air on ABC.

Check out additional photos below.