Gators’ season-ticket sales surging

GAINESVILLE — The Florida Gators have re-established themselves in the Swamp during coach Jim McElwain’s two seasons — on the field and in the ticket office.

McElwain’s Gators are 11-1 at home. Entering 2017, the Gators are on pace to sell 50,000 season tickets for the first time since 2013, on the heels of a 11-win season in Year 2 under former coach Will Muschamp.

With the Sept. 9 home opener against Northern Colorado a month away, UF has sold more than 48,500 season tickets — the most in four years. Also, just around 2,000 of the 20,500 student-ticket allotment remain. “That’s a good deal,” McElwain said. For McElwain’s team to maintain such a sterling home record will not be easy. Following overmatched Northern Colorado’s visit, the Gators’ schedule is as good as it has been in years. Tennessee, Vanderbilt, LSU, Texas A&M and Florida State all visit the Gators.

Former UF coach Steve Spurrier gave his audience its money’s worth during Wednesday’s appearance at the Independence Bowl kickoff luncheon in Shreveport, La.

Spurrier was 250 miles northwest of Baton Rouge but could not resist a quip directed SEC West rival LSU Tigers.

“You can have good ball players and still not win football games — all you LSU fans know about that,” Spurrier said. Spurrier was 11-1 against the Tigers, who visit UF Oct. 7. Next game: UF vs. Michigan (Arlington, Texas), Sept. 2, 3:30 p.m., ABC