Gainsville, FL – As Gator fans crave the return of football and are reliving the best of seasons gone by, the University of Florida is launching the officially licensed Ring of Honor merchandise collection to commemorate some of the best of Florida football. Unveiled in September 2006, the Ring of Honor recognizes a select group of football players and coaches that have achieved remarkable achievements such as winning a Heisman Trophy, NFL Hall of Fame induction, collegiate category leaders, and multiple consensus All-American honors, among others.

The specially curated Ring of Honor collection, which was developed with the help of the university’s exclusive licensing agent, CLC, will feature the former players that have earned the prestigious honor. The collection will highlight two players each year for the next three years, with Emmitt Smith and Jack Youngblood kicking off this inaugural season. In addition to the merchandise program, the Athletic Department will be developing ways to celebrate these honorees throughout the season.

Jack Youngblood, regarded as one of the best defensive ends in Gator history, was named to the All-SEC team for the decade of the 1970s. He was enshrined into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1992 and became the first player from Florida to be inducted into the NFL Hall of Fame in 2001.

Emmitt Smith was a unanimous first-team All-America selection who held numerous collegiate and NFL rushing records. He was enshrined in the College Football Hall of Fame in 2007 and the NFL Hall of Fame in 2010.

The Ring of Honor merchandise collection will feature officially licensed, Florida branded apparel and non-apparel items, including a collectible jersey, from best-in-class licenses such as Nike/Jordan Brand, Top of the World, Highland Mint, and others.

• Nike – Jerseys, Tees, Performance Gear
• Top of the World – Headwear
• Highland Mint – Collectibles (coins/medallions/framed prints)
• Gametime Sidekicks – Drinkware
• FOCO – Bobbleheads (available at retail in October)

Dick’s Sporting Goods will be a carrying men’s and youth jerseys and men’s t-shirts in up to 17 stores. Fanatics will sell apparel through the online Gator Sports Shop and its own website.

Ring of Honor Emmitt Smith and Jack Youngblood merchandise will be available beginning July 24 at 10:00 a.m. on Fanatics, Gator Sports Shop, and other key retail partners, including Gator Nation, the University of Florida bookstore, Dick’s Sporting Goods, and Alumni Hall

About the Florida Gators

The University Athletic Association’s strategic purpose is to provide a championship experience with integrity on and off the field for student-athletes and the Gator Nation. The Gator athletic program supports 21 teams and more than 500 student-athletes, giving them the opportunity to compete at the highest levels of collegiate athletics while receiving an education from a top-10 public university. Florida is the only school in the nation to finish in the top-10 nationally in all-sports rankings in each of the last 36 years and has posted 11 consecutive top-five finishes. Florida has won a national championship in each of the last 11 seasons and boasts 41 championships overall. Florida leads all Southeastern Conference schools with 247 league championships and overall has 256 conference titles to its credit. The UAA commits nearly $15 million to fund scholarships for student-athletes, who posted a graduation success rate of 89 percent and a 3.40 GPA in the Spring of 2020.

About CLC

CLC is the nation’s leading collegiate trademark licensing company and part of Learfield IMG College, which unlocks the value of college sports for brands and fans through an omnichannel platform. The company’s extensive commerce, experiential and media solutions create ultimate opportunities for fan engagement. The Learfield IMG College suite of services includes licensing and multimedia sponsorship management; publishing, broadcasting, digital and social media; ticket sales and professional concessions expertise; branding; campus-wide business and sponsorship development; and venue technology systems. Headquartered in Plano, Texas, the company has long had the privilege of being an advocate for intercollegiate athletics and the student-athlete experience. Since 2008, it has served as title sponsor for the acclaimed Learfield IMG College Directors’ Cup, supporting athletic departments across all divisions.

For more information, please contact:

Alicia Longworth, University of Florida Athletics Association – AliciaL@gators.ufl.edu, 352-692-6156

Tammy Purves, CLC – tammy.purves@clc.com, 404-932-3266

Tammy Purves

Sr. Director –Corporate Communications

1075 Peachtree Street, Suite 3300 | Atlanta, Georgia 30309

O: 770-799-3275

M: 404-932-3266

F: 770-955-4491

E: tammy.purves@clc.com