The Gator Guard launches, raises $5 million in over 24 hours

On3 imageby:Donavon Keiser•04/21/22•

KeiserDonavon

Weeks after donating $12.6 million to the Gator Boosters, the largest donation of its kind, CEO and long-time Florida fan Hugh Hathcock set up the Gator Guard, “a new, exclusive, very influential group of high-net-worth Gators.”

Darren Heitner, the lawyer involved with the Gator Collective and now the Gator Guard, announced the latter on Thursday. Heitner continued to tease the group’s launch, which surprised Florida fans when news of the Gator Guard hit Thursday. The Gator Guard came together over the last 48 hours.

The Gator Guard begins

Once the Gator Guard launched, the exclusive group had $3 million pledged to the cause, which quickly rose to $4 million minutes after the group went public. 18 minutes after hitting $4 million, the Gator Guard was at $5 million contributed.

“War chest only grows from here,” Heitner said.

While the Gator Collective continues to roll on, the Gator Guard is a separate entity. The Gator Collective continues to be an outlet for fans to donate money that goes back to the players, which was created with the help of Heitner.

The Gator Collective officially partnered with the Gator Guard and Hathcock on Thursday.

Throughout his career, Hathcock has had significant success in the business world, starting his fortune in customer relationships. A one-time student at UF, Hathcock dropped out to pursue business in the real world. As his life went on, Hathcock continued to be a savvy businessman.

With his donations to the Gator Boosters, Hathcock landed his name on the suite tower in Ben Hill Griffin Stadium and also on the basketball complex, which will be named the Hugh Hathcock Basketball Complex at the UF Basketball Practice Facility. Hathcock’s $12.6 million donation was the largest in the history of Gator Boosters.

Billy Napier speaks on NIL

In the lucrative world of NIL, the Gator Guard steps up to the plate to bring some of the most influential Gator boosters and alumni together. Head coach Billy Napier continues to have his program out ahead of NIL, including adding certain staffers dedicated to the idea. Things only get better for NIL surrounding the Gators with the addition of the Gator Guard.

“At the University of Florida, it’s going to be a strength,” Napier said about NIL. “We have more than 450,000 alumni; we have a very passionate fanbase; and we will have a meticulous NFL strategy. When you combine these factors, I think we will be able to take advantage of this new era of college football.

“As competitors, we recognize that NIL is a big component relative to having success going forward. If we can develop a really smart strategy within the rules, we can position ourselves for success.”

Stay tuned to Gators Online.

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