WUFT-TV/FM | WJUF-FM
1200 Weimer Hall | P.O. Box 118405
Gainesville, FL 32611
(352) 392-5551

A service of the College of Journalism and Communications at the University of Florida.

© 2025 WUFT / Division of Media Properties
News and Public Media for North Central Florida
Donate
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

Photos: UF Homecoming and Gator Growl rocks the O'Connell Center

WUFT | By Augustus Hoff
Published October 6, 2023 at 10:42 AM EDT
Sammy Adams sings to the crowd at the University of Florida’s Homecoming and Gator Growl at the Exactech Arena at the Stephen C. O’Connell Center in Gainesville, Fla. on Oct. 5, 2023. Adams has over 700,000 monthly listeners on Spotify alone. (Augustus Hoff/WUFT News)
Sammy Adams sings to the crowd at the University of Florida’s Homecoming and Gator Growl at the Exactech Arena at the Stephen C. O’Connell Center in Gainesville, Fla. on Oct. 5, 2023. Adams has over 700,000 monthly listeners on Spotify alone. (Augustus Hoff/WUFT News)
Jason Derulo sings and dances at the University of Florida’s Homecoming and Gator Growl at the Exactech Arena at the Stephen C. O’Connell Center in Gainesville, Fla. on Oct. 5, 2023. Derulo has over 33 million monthly listeners on Spotify alone. (Augustus Hoff/WUFT News)
Jason Derulo sings and dances at the University of Florida’s Homecoming and Gator Growl at the Exactech Arena at the Stephen C. O’Connell Center in Gainesville, Fla. on Oct. 5, 2023. Derulo has over 33 million monthly listeners on Spotify alone. (Augustus Hoff/WUFT News)

Jason Derulo dances with his background dancers at the University of Florida’s Homecoming and Gator Growl at the Exactech Arena at the Stephen C. O’Connell Center in Gainesville, Fla. on Oct. 5, 2023. (Augustus Hoff/WUFT News)
Jason Derulo dances with his background dancers at the University of Florida’s Homecoming and Gator Growl at the Exactech Arena at the Stephen C. O’Connell Center in Gainesville, Fla. on Oct. 5, 2023. (Augustus Hoff/WUFT News)

Jason Derulo dances at the University of Florida’s Homecoming and Gator Growl at the Exactech Arena at the Stephen C. O’Connell Center in Gainesville, Fla. on Oct. 5, 2023. (Augustus Hoff/WUFT News)
Jason Derulo dances at the University of Florida’s Homecoming and Gator Growl at the Exactech Arena at the Stephen C. O’Connell Center in Gainesville, Fla. on Oct. 5, 2023. (Augustus Hoff/WUFT News)

Jason Derulo poses with his background dancers at the University of Florida’s Homecoming and Gator Growl at the Exactech Arena at the Stephen C. O’Connell Center in Gainesville, Fla. on Oct. 5, 2023. (Augustus Hoff/WUFT News)
Jason Derulo poses with his background dancers at the University of Florida’s Homecoming and Gator Growl at the Exactech Arena at the Stephen C. O’Connell Center in Gainesville, Fla. on Oct. 5, 2023. (Augustus Hoff/WUFT News)

A backup dancer for Jason Derulo strikes a pose at the University of Florida’s Homecoming and Gator Growl at the Exactech Arena at the Stephen C. O’Connell Center in Gainesville, Fla. on Oct. 5, 2023. (Augustus Hoff/WUFT News)
A backup dancer for Jason Derulo strikes a pose at the University of Florida’s Homecoming and Gator Growl at the Exactech Arena at the Stephen C. O’Connell Center in Gainesville, Fla. on Oct. 5, 2023. (Augustus Hoff/WUFT News)

The crowd listens to music at the University of Florida’s Homecoming and Gator Growl at the Exactech Arena at the Stephen C. O’Connell Center in Gainesville, Fla. on Oct. 5, 2023. (Augustus Hoff/WUFT News)
The crowd listens to music at the University of Florida’s Homecoming and Gator Growl at the Exactech Arena at the Stephen C. O’Connell Center in Gainesville, Fla. on Oct. 5, 2023. (Augustus Hoff/WUFT News)

Homecoming King Joseph Rhinvil and Queen Naomi Rozenberg of the 2023 UF Homecoming Court celebrate their recent win at the University of Florida’s Homecoming and Gator Growl at the Exactech Arena at the Stephen C. O’Connell Center in Gainesville, Fla. on Oct. 5, 2023. (Augustus Hoff/WUFT News)
Homecoming King Joseph Rhinvil and Queen Naomi Rozenberg of the 2023 UF Homecoming Court celebrate their recent win at the University of Florida’s Homecoming and Gator Growl at the Exactech Arena at the Stephen C. O’Connell Center in Gainesville, Fla. on Oct. 5, 2023. (Augustus Hoff/WUFT News)

The University of Florida cheer squad and Mr. Two Bits cheer on at the University of Florida’s Homecoming and Gator Growl at the Exactech Arena at the Stephen C. O’Connell Center in Gainesville, Fla. on Oct. 5, 2023. This year marks 100 years of Homecoming and Gator Growl at UF. (Augustus Hoff/WUFT News)
The University of Florida cheer squad and Mr. Two Bits cheer on at the University of Florida’s Homecoming and Gator Growl at the Exactech Arena at the Stephen C. O’Connell Center in Gainesville, Fla. on Oct. 5, 2023. This year marks 100 years of Homecoming and Gator Growl at UF. (Augustus Hoff/WUFT News)

The crowd listens to live music at the University of Florida’s Homecoming and Gator Growl at the Exactech Arena at the Stephen C. O’Connell Center in Gainesville, Fla. on Oct. 5, 2023. (Augustus Hoff/WUFT News)
The crowd listens to live music at the University of Florida’s Homecoming and Gator Growl at the Exactech Arena at the Stephen C. O’Connell Center in Gainesville, Fla. on Oct. 5, 2023. (Augustus Hoff/WUFT News)

Sammy Adams sings to the crowd at the University of Florida’s Homecoming and Gator Growl at the Exactech Arena at the Stephen C. O’Connell Center in Gainesville, Fla. on Oct. 5, 2023. Adams has over 700,000 monthly listeners on Spotify alone. (Augustus Hoff/WUFT News)
Sammy Adams sings to the crowd at the University of Florida’s Homecoming and Gator Growl at the Exactech Arena at the Stephen C. O’Connell Center in Gainesville, Fla. on Oct. 5, 2023. Adams has over 700,000 monthly listeners on Spotify alone. (Augustus Hoff/WUFT News)

Sammy Adams sings and dances with his deejay at the University of Florida’s Homecoming and Gator Growl at the Exactech Arena at the Stephen C. O’Connell Center in Gainesville, Fla. on Oct. 5, 2023. (Augustus Hoff/WUFT News)
Sammy Adams sings and dances with his deejay at the University of Florida’s Homecoming and Gator Growl at the Exactech Arena at the Stephen C. O’Connell Center in Gainesville, Fla. on Oct. 5, 2023. (Augustus Hoff/WUFT News)

Sammy Adams performs during the University of Florida’s Homecoming and Gator Growl at the Exactech Arena at the Stephen C. O’Connell Center in Gainesville, Fla. on Oct. 5, 2023. Adams has more than 700,000 monthly listeners on Spotify alone. (Augustus Hoff/WUFT News)
Sammy Adams performs during the University of Florida’s Homecoming and Gator Growl at the Exactech Arena at the Stephen C. O’Connell Center in Gainesville, Fla. on Oct. 5, 2023. Adams has more than 700,000 monthly listeners on Spotify alone. (Augustus Hoff/WUFT News)

Strength and Conditioning Coach Mark Hocke hypes up the crowd before Jason Derulo comes out to perform at the University of Florida’s Homecoming and Gator Growl at the Exactech Arena at the Stephen C. O’Connell Center in Gainesville, Fla. on Oct. 5, 2023. (Augustus Hoff/WUFT News)
Strength and Conditioning Coach Mark Hocke hypes up the crowd before Jason Derulo comes out to perform at the University of Florida’s Homecoming and Gator Growl at the Exactech Arena at the Stephen C. O’Connell Center in Gainesville, Fla. on Oct. 5, 2023. (Augustus Hoff/WUFT News)

Johnny Townsend, a retired Florida Gators kicker, hosts the 100th annual Homecoming and Gator Growl event at the Exactech Arena at the Stephen C. O’Connell Center in Gainesville, Fla. on Oct. 5, 2023. (Augustus Hoff/WUFT News)
Johnny Townsend, a retired Florida Gators kicker, hosts the 100th annual Homecoming and Gator Growl event at the Exactech Arena at the Stephen C. O’Connell Center in Gainesville, Fla. on Oct. 5, 2023. (Augustus Hoff/WUFT News)
Tags
Arts and Entertainment Gator GrowlGainesvilleUniversity of FloridaFloridamusicUFwuft newsgatorsFlorida GatorsWUFTGator GrowlGainesvilleUniversity of FloridaFloridamusicUFwuft newsgatorsFlorida GatorsWUFT
Augustus Hoff
Augustus is a reporter for WUFT News who can be reached by calling 352-392-6397 or emailing news@wuft.org.
See stories by Augustus Hoff