Florida and Gainesville have been mourning the death of Gainesville native Tom Petty since his passing on Monday at the age of 66. On Saturday, the Florida Gators will honor him by adding to one of their most hallowed traditions: Playing Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers’ “I Won’t Back Down” after “We Are the Boys” between the third and fourth quarters of their game against LSU.
At the end of the third quarter, after the UF band plays "We Are the Boys from Old Florida" and fans lock arms and sway as they sing the UF spirit song, Petty's famous tune "I Won't Back Down" will blast across Steve Spurrier/Ben Hill Griffin Stadium to honor a local legend treasured by Gator Nation and far beyond.