Gators take Manhattan: Gotham Gators ready to root on Florida

Hundreds of New York-based UF alums pulling for Sweet 16 victory

NEW YORK – Liz Levine grew up just across the Hudson River from New York. As a kid in New Jersey, thought, she watched the Gators play on TV and decided that she wanted to go to school at the University of Florida.

Now, living in New York, Levine is excited for the chance to watch her alma mater play in Madison Square Garden for the second time this year. It’s a game she had anticipated since New York was named as a regional site in this year’s NCAA Tournament.

“I’ve been planning this since the schedule was released,” Levine, the vice president of communications for the Gotham Gators, a New York-based UF alumni club. “I said knew they could be in the east region. They could be in the Garden twice in one season because we played Duke in December. I could be there three times this year.”

The Gators and their fans are hoping for a better performance in Madison Square Garden than the December loss to Duke, and the Gotham Gators said that they would be rooting on their team, whether they are inside Madison Square Garden or at Jack Doyle’s Bar and Restaurant, the gathering place for New York-based UF Alumni.

“There’s going to be hundreds of Gator fans here for that game,” Levine said.

With the Gators success this season, Kim Schneider, the secretary for the Gotham Gators is looking forward to the atmosphere at Jack Doyle’s.

“It’s crazy,” Schneider said. “When we’re doing well it’s amazing, it really is.”

As for a prediction, the Gotham Gators are picking, of course, a Florida win.

“I think if Florida doesn’t fall asleep watching Wisconsin’s offense, I think the Gators win by eight,” Levine said. “And then, an SEC-rematch: Florida over South Carolina for a trip to Phoenix.